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At least 19 records

All-Optical Micro Motors Based on Moving Gratings in Photosensitive Media

An all-optical micro motor with a rotor driven by a traveling wave of surface deformation of a stator being in contact with the rotor is being studied. Instead of an ultrasonic wave produced by an electrically driven piezoelectric actuator as in ultrasonic motors, the wave is a result of a photo induced surface deformation of a photosensitive material produced by a traveling holographic grating. Two phase modulated coherent optical beams generate the grating. Several types of photosensitive materials are studied such as photorefractive crystals, photosensitive piezoelectric ceramics, and side-chain liquid crystalline polyesters. In order to be considered as a possible candidate for micro motors, the material should exhibit surface deformation produced by moving grating of the order of 10 micron. Deformations produced by static holographic gratings are studied in photorefractive crystals of LiNbO3 using high vertical resolution surface profilometer Dektak 3 and surface interferometer WYKO. An experimental set-up with moving grating has been developed. The set-up uses a two-beam interferometry configuration with one beam being reflected by a thin mirror mounted on a loud speaker. A ramp voltage signal generator drives the speaker. Changing voltage, polarity, and frequency of the signal can easily generate vibrating gratings or moving gratings in both directions. A vibrating grating has been applied to a photorefractive crystal of BSO controlled by an external electric field of the order of 104 V/cm. We have additionally studied effects of moving grating interaction with light absorbing fluids such as solutions of 2,9,16,23-Tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H, 31 Hphthalocyanine in chlorobenzene in capillary tubes. The purpose of using a liquid is to show that the moving gratings can force a liquid to shift. The interaction of a single low power focused laser beam at 633 nm with such fluid produced an intensive circular motion, which also might be applied to all-optical micro motors or actuators.

Curley, M.↗

Stable powders made from photosensitive polycrystalline complexes of heterocyclic monomers and their polymers

The present invention relates to a low electronic conductivity polymer composition having well dispersed metal granules, a stable powder made from photosensitive polycrystalline complexes of pyrrole, or its substituted derivatives and silver cations for making the polymer composition, and methods of forming the stable powder and polymer composition, respectively. A polycrystalline complex of silver and a monomer, such as pyrrole, its substituted derivatives or combinations thereof, is precipitated in the form of a stable photosensitive powder upon addition of the monomer to a solvent solution, such as toluene containing an electron acceptor. The photosensitive powder can be stored in the dark until needed. The powder may be dissolved in a solvent, cast onto a substrate and photopolymerized.

Hodko, Dalibor↗

Photosensitized oxidation of unsaturated polymers

The photosensitized oxidation or singlet oxygenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon polymers and of their model compounds was reviewed. Emphasis was on cis and trans forms of 1,4-polyisoprene, 1,4-polybutadiene and 1,2-poly(1,4-hexadiene), and on 1,4-poly(2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene). The microstructural changes which occur in these polymers on reaction with O2-1 in solution were investigated by infrared H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The polymers were shown to yield allylic hydroperoxides with shifted double bonds according to the ene mechanism established for simple olefins. The photosensitized oxidation of the above unsaturated polymer exhibited zero order kinetics, the relative rates paralleling the reactivities of the corresponding simple olefins towards O2-1.

Golub, M. A.↗

All-Optical Micro Motors Based on Moving Gratings in Photosensitive Media

An all-optical micromotor with a rotor driven by a traveling wave of surface deformation of a stator being in contact with the rotor is being studied. Instead of an ultrasonic wave produced by an electrically driven piezoelectric actuator as in ultrasonic motors, the wave is a result of a photo-induced surface deformation of a photosensitive material produced by an incident radiation. A thin piezoelectric polymer will deform more easily LiNbO3 or metal when irradiated with light. The type of photosensitive material studied are piezoelectric polymers with and without coatings for connecting electrodes. In order to be considered as a possible candidate for micromotors, the material should exhibit surface deformation produced by a laser beam of the order of 10 microns. This is compared to the deformations produced by static holographic gratings studied in photorefractive crystals of LiNbO3 using high vertical resolution surface profilometer Dektak 3 and surface interferometer WYKO. An experimental setup showing the oscillations has been developed. The setup uses a chopped beam from an Argon ion laser to produce the deformation while a probe beam is reflected by the thin film into a fiber which is then detected on an oscilloscope. A ramp voltage signal generator will drive the piezoelectric film in another experiment to determine the resonance of the film. A current is generated when light is incident upon the film and this current can be measured. The reverse process has already been demonstrated in other piezoelectric actuators. Changing voltage, polarity, and frequency of the signal can easily generate vibrations similar to those when light is incident on the film. This can be compared to the effects of laser interaction with light absorbing fluids such as solutions of 2,9,16,23-Tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H, 31 H-phthalocyanine in chlorobenzene in capillary tubes, The possibility of using a liquid with the piezoelectric film would be a novel idea for a micromotor since the interaction of a single low power focused laser beam at 633 nm with such fluid produced an intensive circular motion.

Curley, M.↗

All-Optical Micro Motors Based on Moving Gratings in Photosensitive Media

This research effort was a feasibility study of the concept of an all-optical micro motor with a rotor driven by a traveling wave. The wave was a result of a photo induced surface deformation of a photosensitive material produced by a traveling holographic grating. Two phases modulated coherent optical beams were used to generate the grating in two types of photosensitive materials. The materials that were studied were photorefractive crystals and thin polymer films. Theoretical studies were performed on lithium niobate giving predictions of deformations of the order of nanometers. The experimental deformation size was also on the order of nanometers. The deformations were deep enough to provide conditions for the implementation of the all-optical motor using lithium niobate. We also were able to align micron-size dielectric particles along the holographic gratings by means of the periodic electric forces generated by the grating. These forces can also move the particles along the surface if the grating is moving. We then turned our attention on thin films and obtained a deformation visible on the order of 100 microns. An experimental breadboard demonstration of a prototype was done in the summer of 2001 at Glenn Research Center (GRC). The demonstration included the movement of clocks mechanical workings by an optically driven motor based on a polymer film. The application of this technology can be adapted to government as well as industrial uses. One such project is to make a chemical sensor for the detection of hazardous chemicals. The thin polymer film is highly suited for this purpose since a marker dye could be easily placed on the film in order to detect chemical compounds. This system could be a self-regulating chemical monitoring system used on launches of the space shuttle or locations where hazardous chemicals are present. The project provided support for two black minority graduate students targeting MS and PhD degrees in Applied Optics.

Adamovsky, Gregory↗

Photosensitive filler minimizes internal stresses in epoxy resins

Photosensitive filler is added to curable epoxy resins to minimize stress from internal shrinkage during curing or polymerization. Cinnamic acid resins and cinnamal ketones may be added in the amount of 1 to 3 percent by weight of the resin mixture.

Dillon, J. N.↗

Inspection of transparent surfaces using photosensitive paper

Window surface is laid flat on top of photosensitive paper. Opposite side of glass is covered by black cloth. Window edges are then illuminated by light flash through fiber optics. Exposed paper is processed and inspected. Paper shows scratches, bubbles, dust particles, and fingerprints on glass surface.

Minton, F. R.↗

Photosensitized oxidation of unsaturated polymers

A review of the photosensitized oxidation of singlet oxygenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon polymers and of their model compounds is presented. The cis and trans forms of 1,4-polyisoprene, 1,4-polybutadiene and 1,2-poly(1,4-hexadiene) are studied, and their microstructural changes which occur on reaction with (IO2) in solution were investigated by infrared, (H-1) and (C-13) NMR spectroscopy. The polymers yielded allylic hydroperoxides with shifted double bonds according to the 'ene' mechanism of simple olefins. It was shown that single oxygenation of unsaturated polymers is similar to their low molecular weight analogs, and that the differences are due to secondary processes affecting the (IO2)-reacted polymers.

Golub, M. A.↗

Silane and germane plasma diagnostics for depositing photosensitive a-SiGe:H films

Highly photosensitive a-SiGe:H films with a light-to-dark conductivity ratio of 8 x 103 and an optical bandgap of 1.40 eV have been produced by RF glow discharge using hydrogen dilution of SiH4 and GeH4 mixed gas plasma. The critical role of hydrogen dilution in GeH4 containing plasmas is to suppress the gas-phase polymerization and promote the incorporation of Ge into the film. It is observed that inelastic laser light scattering of the RF plasma is a sensitive method for monitoring the onset of the gas-phase polymerization. In situ coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy measurements have shown that the dissociation rate of GeH4 is a factor of three larger than that of SiH4.

Shing, Y. H.↗

Silica Integrated Optical Circuits Based on Glass Photosensitivity

Integrated optical circuits play a major rule in the new photonics technology both in communication and sensing due to their small size and compatibility with integrated circuits. Currently integrated optical circuits (IOCs) are fabricated using similar manufacturing to those used in the semiconductor industry. In this study we are considering a new technique to fabricate IOCs which does not require layers of photolithography, depositing and etching. This method is based on the photosensitivity of germanosilicate glasses. Waveguides and other IOC devises can be patterned in these glasses by exposing them using UV lasers. This exposure by UV light changes the index of refraction of the germanosilicate glass. This technique enjoys both the simplicity and flexibility of design and fabrication with also the potential of being fast and low cost.

Abushagur, Mustafa A. G.↗

Photosensitive plastic used to produce three-dimensional casting patterns

Patterns with small lettering and intricate designs are prepared by using two-dimensional artwork, photographic reduction and Dycril. Two-dimensional artwork and photographic processes replace conventional relief work. Artwork size is convenient and does not restrict lettering and design size in casting.

Willment, D. A.↗