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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 19 records

Committee on Atomic, Molecular and Optical Sciences

The Committee on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Sciences (CAMOS) is a standing activity of the National Research Council (NRC) that operates under the auspices of the Board on Physics and Astronomy. CAMOS is one of five standing committees of the BPA that are charged with assisting it in achieving its goals—monitoring the health of physics and astronomy, identifying important new developments at the scientific forefronts, fostering interactions with other fields, strengthening connections to technology, facilitating effective service to the nation, and enhancing education in physics. CAMOS provides these capabilities for the atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) sciences.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

SLAC All Access: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Science Instrument

John Bozek, a staff scientist at SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray laser who manages the LCLS Soft X-ray Department, takes us behind the scenes at the Atomic, Molecular and Optical Science (AMO) instrument, the first of six experimental stations now operating at LCLS. Samples used in AMO experiments include atoms, molecules, clusters, and nanoscale objects such as protein crystals or viruses. Science performed at AMO includes fundamental studies of light-matter interactions in the extreme X-ray intensity of the LCLS pules, time-resolved studies of increasingly charged states of atoms and molecules, X-ray diffraction imaging of nanocrystals, and single-shot imaging of a variety of objects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Partial Support of the Committee of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Sciences (Final Report, September 30, 2008 to June 30, 2014)

This report is the final report for the 2008-2014 cycle of DOE support for the Committee on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Sciences. Highlights of the committee’s activities over this period included: Meetings of the committee were held semiannually (Washington, DC in April and Irvine, CA in October) for four of the six years and annually the last two years (Washington, DC in April). Committee meetings included half-day focus sessions on each of the areas identified in the last AMO decadal survey as having great scientific promise and short summaries of the focus session were prepared and delivered to sponsoring agencies. CAMOS initiated a study that has been funded on high intensity lasers. DOE support for CAMOS has been of central importance to the committee’s ability to continue to fulfill its mandate to the Board on Physics and Astronomy and to the wider atomic, molecular, and optical sciences research community.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

The Atomic, Molecular and Optical Science instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source

The Atomic, Molecular and Optical Science (AMO) instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) provides a tight soft X-ray focus into one of three experimental endstations. The flexible instrument design is optimized for studying a wide variety of phenomena requiring peak intensity. There is a suite of spectrometers and two photon area detectors available. An optional mirror-based split-and-delay unit can be used for X-ray pump–probe experiments. Recent scientific highlights illustrate the imaging, time-resolved spectroscopy and high-power density capabilities of the AMO instrument.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

The time-resolved atomic, molecular and optical science instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source

The newly constructed time-resolved atomic, molecular and optical science instrument (TMO) is configured to take full advantage of both linear accelerators at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the copper accelerator operating at a repetition rate of 120 Hz providing high per-pulse energy as well as the superconducting accelerator operating at a repetition rate of about 1 MHz providing high average intensity. Both accelerators power a soft X-ray free-electron laser with the new variable-gap undulator section. With this flexible light source, TMO supports many experimental techniques not previously available at LCLS and will have two X-ray beam focus spots in line. Thereby, TMO supports atomic, molecular and optical, strong-field and nonlinear science and will also host a designated new dynamic reaction microscope with a sub-micrometer X-ray focus spot. The flexible instrument design is optimized for studying ultrafast electronic and molecular phenomena and can take full advantage of the sub-femtosecond soft X-ray pulse generation program.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Harnessing Light: Capitalizing on Optical Science Trends and Challenges for Future Research (Final Technical Report)

The committee has during the earlier period finalized their work on the report, Optics and Photonics: Essential Technologies for Our Nation (2013). The report did undergo review and initial editorial processing. The NRC released a pre-publication report on August 13, 2012. A final report is now available. The study director has been able to practice his skills in running a national academies committee. From a research perspective the grant has generated a report with recommendations to the government. The work itself is the meetings where the committee convened to hear presenters and to discuss the status of optics and photonics as well as writing the report.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Optics & Materials Science & Technology (OMST) Organization at LLNL

The Optics and Materials Science & Technology (OMST) organization at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) supplies optics, recycles optics, and performs the materials science and technology to advance optics and optical materials for high-power and high-energy lasers for a variety of missions. The organization is a core capability at LLNL. We have a strong partnership with many optical fabricators, universities and national laboratories to accomplish our goals. The organization has a long history of performing fundamental optical materials science, developing them into useful technologies, and transferring them into production both on-site and off-site. We are successfully continuing this same strategy today.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Photonic Integrated Circuits

Integrated photonics generally is the integration of multiple lithographically defined photonic and electronic components and devices (e.g. lasers, detectors, waveguides passive structures, modulators, electronic control and optical interconnects) on a single platform with nanometer-scale feature sizes. The development of photonic integrated circuits permits size, weight, power and cost reductions for spacecraft microprocessors, optical communication, processor buses, advanced data processing, and integrated optic science instrument optical systems, subsystems and components. This is particularly critical for small spacecraft platforms. We will give an overview of some NASA applications for integrated photonics.

Laser↗

Photonic Integrated Circuits

Integrated photonics generally is the integration of multiple lithographically defined photonic and electronic components and devices (e.g. lasers, detectors, waveguides passive structures, modulators, electronic control and optical interconnects) on a single platform with nanometer-scale feature sizes. The development of photonic integrated circuits permits size, weight, power and cost reductions for spacecraft microprocessors, optical communication, processor buses, advanced data processing, and integrated optic science instrument optical systems, subsystems and components. This is particularly critical for small spacecraft platforms. We will give an overview of some NASA applications for integrated photonics.

laser↗

Center for Astrophysics Optical Infrared Science Archive. I. FAST Spectrograph

We announce the public release of 141,531 moderate-dispersion optical spectra of 72,247 objects acquired over the past 25 yr with the FAST Spectrograph on the Fred L. Whipple Observatory 1.5 m Tillinghast telescope. We describe the data acquisition and processing so that scientists can understand the spectra. We highlight some of the largest FAst Spectrograph for the Tillinghast Telescope (FAST) survey programs, and make recommendations for use. The spectra have been placed in a Virtual Observatory–accessible archive and ready for download.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Adaptive methods of generating complex light arrays

Structured light arrays of various shapes have been a cornerstone in optical science, driven by the complexities of precise and adaptable generation. This study introduces an approach using a spatial light modulator (SLM) as a generator for these arrays. By projecting a holographic mask onto the SLM, it functions simultaneously as an optical convolution device, focusing mechanism, and structured light beam mask. Our approach offers unmatched versatility, allowing for the experimental fabrication of traditional beam arrays like azimuthal Laguerre–Gaussian (LG), Bessel–Gaussian (BG), and Hermite–Gauss (HG) in the far-field. Notably, it has enabled a method of generating Ince–Gauss (IG) and LG radial mode beam arrays using a convolution solution. Our system provides exceptional control over array periodicity and intensity distribution, bypassing the Talbot self-imaging phenomenon seen in traditional setups. We provide an in-depth theoretical discussion, supported by empirical evidence, of our far-field results. This method has vast potential for applications in optical communication, data processing, and multi-particle manipulation. It paves the way for rapid generation of structured light with high spatial frequencies and complex shapes, promising transformative advances in these domains.

Optics↗

Space Science Payloads Optical Properties Monitor (OPM) Mission Flight Anomalies Thermal Analyses

The OPM was the first space payload that measured in-situ the optical properties of materials and had data telemetered to ground. The OPM was EVA mounted to the Mir Docking Module for an eight-month stay where flight samples were exposed to the Mir induced and natural environments. The OPM was comprised of three optical instruments; a total hemispherical spectral reflectometer, a vacuum ultraviolet spectrometer, and a total integrated scatterometer. There were also three environmental monitors; an atomic oxygen monitor, solar and infrared radiometers, and two temperature-controlled quartz crystal microbalances (to monitor contamination). Measurements were performed weekly and data telemetered to ground through the Mir data system. This paper will describe the OPM thermal control design and how the thermal math models were used to analyze anomalies which occurred during the space flight mission.

Schmitz, Craig P.↗

Galaxy Evolution Spectroscopic Explorer (GESE): Science Rationale, Optical Design, and Telescope Architecture

One of the key goals of NASA’s astrophysics program is to answer the question: How did galaxies evolve into the spiral, elliptical, and irregular galaxies that we see today? We describe a space mission concept called Galaxy Evolution Spectroscopic Explorer (GESE) to help address this question by making a large ultraviolet spectroscopic survey of galaxies at a redshift, z approximately 1 (look-back time of approximately 8 billion years). GESE is a 1.5-m space telescope with an near-ultraviolet (NUV) multi-object slit spectrograph covering the spectral range, 0.2-0.4 micrometers (0.1-0.2 micrometers as emitted by galaxies at a redshift, z approximately 1) at a spectral resolution of delta lambda=6 A.

elliptical↗

Achievable Precision for Optical Ranging Systems

Achievable RMS errors in estimating the phase, frequency, and intensity of a direct-detected intensity-modulated optical pulse train are presented. For each parameter, the Cramer-Rao-Bound (CRB) is derived and the performance of the Maximum Likelihood estimator is illustrated. Approximations to the CRBs are provided, enabling an intuitive understanding of estimator behavior as a function of the signaling parameters. The results are compared to achievable RMS errors in estimating the same parameters from a sinusoidal waveform in additive white Gaussian noise. This establishes a framework for a performance comparison of radio frequency (RF) and optical science. Comparisons are made using parameters for state-of-the-art deep-space RF and optical links. Degradations to the achievable errors due to clock phase noise and detector jitter are illustrated.

estimation theory↗