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At least 199 records · Page 11

Long-Life, Lightweight, Multi-Roller Traction Drives for Planetary Vehicle Surface Exploration

NASA s initiative for Lunar and Martian exploration will require long lived, robust drive systems for manned vehicles that must operate in hostile environments. The operation of these mechanical drives will pose a problem because of the existing extreme operating conditions. Some of these extreme conditions include operating at a very high or very cold temperature, operating over a wide range of temperatures, operating in very dusty environments, operating in a very high radiation environment, and operating in possibly corrosive environments. Current drive systems use gears with various configurations of teeth. These gears must be lubricated with oil (or grease) and must have some sort of a lubricant resupply system. For drive systems, oil poses problems such as evaporation, becoming too viscous and eventually freezing at cold temperatures, being too thin to lubricate at high temperatures, being degraded by the radiation environment, being contaminated by the regolith (soil), and if vaporized (and not sealed), it will contaminate the regolith. Thus, it may not be advisable or even possible to use oil because of these limitations. An oil-less, compact traction vehicle drive is a drive designed for use in hostile environments like those that will be encountered on planetary surfaces. Initially, traction roller tests in vacuum were conducted to obtain traction and endurance data needed for designing the drives. From that data, a traction drive was designed that would fit into a prototype lunar rover vehicle, and this design data was used to construct several traction drives. These drives were then tested in air to determine their performance characteristics, and if any final corrections to the designs were necessary. A limitation with current speed reducer systems such as planetary gears and harmonic drives is the high-contact stresses that occur at tooth engagement and in the harmonic drive wave generator interface. These high stresses induce high wear of solid lubricant coatings, thus necessitating the use of liquid lubricants for long life.

Klein, Richard C.↗

Data-Driven Analysis of Multipactor Dynamics via Dynamic Mode Decomposition

Multipactor effect is a performance-limiting kinetic plasma effect that can occur in high-power microwave and radio frequency (RF) devices. Multipactor effect is of special concern in vacuum or near-vacuum conditions such as those in particle accelerators and spaceborne devices. In this work, we present a data-driven reduced-order model (ROM) based on dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) for modeling of multipactor effects. We study multipactor effects and the resulting nonlinear harmonic generation by processing high-fidelity data generated from electromagnetic particle-in-cell (EMPIC) simulations using the DMD algorithm. We also investigate time-delay embedding extensions of DMD with improved generalizability and accuracy for modeling the electron plasma current density behavior. Here, the results show that DMD provides valuable insights into multipactor phenomena by extracting relevant modal spatiotemporal patterns and frequencies. In addition, DMD offers the potential to time extrapolate EMPIC simulations at a minimal cost, thereby reducing overall simulation time.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

The advent of third-harmonic-generation laser systems: personal recollections

In the mid to late 1970s there was considerable debate as to which laser technology should be pursued—glass lasers (1-μm wavelength) or CO 2 lasers (10 μm). Based on target-physics considerations, theorists were advocating for shorter wavelengths. The physics understanding was confirmed by exciting results from the group at the École Polytechnique, who observed close to 100% target absorption with just a few joules of fourth-harmonic energy. These results motivated the leadership at LLE to plan similar experiments at the third harmonic, with a few more joules. This presentation covers a small time period from 1979 to 1980 during which highly efficient Third-Harmonic Generation (THG) became understood theoretically and demonstrated experimentally, leading to the worldwide adoption of THG with glass lasers for fusion research.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Towards critical and supercritical electromagnetic fields

Abstract The availability of ever stronger, laser-generated electromagnetic fields underpins continuing progress in the study and application of nonlinear phenomena in basic physical systems, ranging from molecules and atoms to relativistic plasmas and quantum electrodynamics. This raises the question: how far will we be able to go with future lasers? One exciting prospect is the attainment of field strengths approaching the Schwinger critical field ${E}_{\mathrm{cr}}$ in the laboratory frame, such that the field invariant ${E}^2-{c}^2{B}^2>{E}_{\mathrm{cr}}^2$ is reached. The feasibility of doing so has been questioned, on the basis that cascade generation of dense electron–positron plasma would inevitably lead to absorption or screening of the incident light. Here we discuss the potential for future lasers to overcome such obstacles, by combining the concept of multiple colliding laser pulses with that of frequency upshifting via a tailored laser–plasma interaction. This compresses the electromagnetic field energy into a region of nanometre size and attosecond duration, which increases the field magnitude at fixed power but also suppresses pair cascades. Our results indicate that laser facilities with peak power of tens of PW could be capable of reaching ${E}_{\mathrm{cr}}$ . Such a scenario opens up prospects for the experimental investigation of phenomena previously considered to occur only in the most extreme environments in the universe.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

In-Situ Nanoscale Focusing of Extreme Ultraviolet Solid-State High Harmonics

Extreme ultraviolet light delivering radiation with a wavelength shorter than approximately 100 nm is now available from solid-state sources. However, despite exceptional progress, efficient focusing of extreme ultraviolet photons to their ultimate diffraction limit remains a formidable challenge because of the precision of the focusing by curved, optical surfaces. Here we integrate coherent short-wavelength high-order harmonics from a MgO crystal, with a high-numerical-aperture, nanostructured, focusing element etched onto the surface of the crystal itself. We focus extreme ultraviolet light, seventh harmonic of an 800-nm laser, with a zone plate of numerical aperture 0.35, down to a waist radius of 150 nm, with 18% focusing efficiency. The estimated intensity approaches 10 7 W/cm 2 . Future developments may demonstrate nanoscale laser ablation and miniaturization of extreme ultraviolet coherent sources on a chip.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Submillimeter Laboratory Investigations: Spectroscopy and Collisions

Currently, millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave spectroscopy is conducted in our laboratory on several different types of spectrometers. Our standard spectrometer utilizes the output of a phase-locked klystron operating in the 40-60 GHz region, which is sent into a crossed-waveguide harmonic generator, or "multiplier". The high frequency millimeter-and submillimeter-wave radiation is transmitted via quasi-optical techniques through an absorption cell and then onto a detector, which is either an InSb hot electron bolometer cooled to 1.4 K or a Si bolometer cooled to 0.3 K. The detector response is sent to a computer for measurement and analysis. The frequency range produced and detected in this manner goes from 80 GHz to upwards of 1 THz. Spectra are normally taken with source modulation, with line frequencies typically measured to an accuracy of 50-100 kHz. Higher accuracy is available when needed. Recently, we developed a new, broad-band spectrometer in our laboratory based on a free-running backward wave oscillator (BWO) of Russian manufacture as the primary source of radiation. The so-called FASSST (fast-scan submillimeter spectroscopic technique) system uses fast-scan and optical calibration methods rather than the traditional locking techniques. The output power from the BWO is split such that 90% goes into the absorption cell while 10% is coupled to a 40-meter Fabry-Perot cavity, which yields fringe? for frequency measurement. Results from this spectrometer on the spectrum of nitric acid (HNO3) show that 100 GHz of spectral data can be obtained in 5 seconds with a measurement accuracy of 50 kHz. Currently, the frequency range of the FASSST system in our laboratory is roughly 100-700 GHz.

Herbst, Eric↗

Harmonic combiner and divider

The harmonic combiner and divider efficiently combines multiple harmonic signals onto a common transmission line. Combined harmonic signals can be used to generate fast, high-fidelity arbitrary waveforms by superimposing the harmonics described in their Fourier series. Fast arbitrary waveforms have applications in communications, radar, and can be used for manipulating and controlling charged particle beams. The harmonic combiner and divider also efficiently divides fast arbitrary waveforms into their constituent harmonics and provides an efficient mechanism for waveform analysis and for multi-channel communications.

Roberts, Brock Franklin↗

Giant electric field-induced second harmonic generation in polar skyrmions

Electric field-induced second harmonic generation allows electrically controlling nonlinear light-matter interactions crucial for emerging integrated photonics applications. Despite its wide presence in materials, the figures-of-merit of electric field-induced second harmonic generation are yet to be elevated to enable novel device functionalities. Here, we show that the polar skyrmions, a topological phase spontaneously formed in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 ferroelectric superlattices, exhibit a high comprehensive electric field-induced second harmonic generation performance. The second-order nonlinear susceptibility and modulation depth, measured under non-resonant 800 nm excitation, reach ~54.2 pm V −1 and ~664% V −1 , respectively, and high response bandwidth (higher than 10 MHz), wide operating temperature range (up to ~400 K) and good fatigue resistance (>10 10 cycles) are also demonstrated. Through combined in-situ experiments and phase-field simulations, we establish the microscopic links between the exotic polarization configuration and field-induced transition paths of the skyrmions and their electric field-induced second harmonic generation response. Our study not only presents a highly competitive thin-film material ready for constructing on-chip devices, but opens up new avenues of utilizing topological polar structures in the fields of photonics and optoelectronics.

Nonlinear optics↗

Scoping study of detecting high harmonic fast waves in NSTX-U hot core plasma directly using beam emission spectroscopy

In this paper, we used radio frequency (RF) full wave simulation to explore the feasibility of generating a density beat oscillation formed by high harmonic fast waves (HHFWs) in the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) and of measuring it numerically with 2D beam emission spectroscopy (BES). This oscillation is of interest as it can be used to determine the injected RF fields. We began by computing HHFW fields in NSTX-U under a variety of experimental conditions and antenna configurations with Petra-M, a 3D RF wavefield solver. These fields were then used to evaluate the amplitude of δne,beat/ne0 in the volume of measurement, which we predict to be between 5 × 10−10 and 10−9, although it is highly dependent on plasma parameters. Trends in magnetic field, core temperature, core density, and antenna phasing are presented, and the parameters most suitable to this measurement are identified. Finally, we developed a synthetic BES diagnostic to compare the experimental BES signal against.

Rutherford, Grant (ORCID:0000000163620037)↗

Table-top extreme ultraviolet second harmonic generation

The lack of available table-top extreme ultraviolet (XUV) sources with high enough fluxes and coherence properties has limited the availability of nonlinear XUV and x-ray spectroscopies to free-electron lasers (FELs). Here, we demonstrate second harmonic generation (SHG) on a table-top XUV source by observing SHG near the Ti M 2,3 edge with a high-harmonic seeded soft x-ray laser. Furthermore, this experiment represents the first SHG experiment in the XUV. First-principles electronic structure calculations suggest the surface specificity and separate the observed signal into its resonant and nonresonant contributions. The realization of XUV-SHG on a table-top source opens up more accessible opportunities for the study of element-specific dynamics in multicomponent systems where surface, interfacial, and bulk-phase asymmetries play a driving role.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Global gyrokinetic particle simulations of microturbulence in W7-X and LHD stellarators

Global gyrokinetic particle simulations of electrostatic ion temperature gradient (ITG) instability show that the most unstable eigenmode is localized to some magnetic fieldlines or discrete locations on the poloidal plane in the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator due to its mirror-like magnetic fields, which vary strongly in the toroidal direction and induce coupling of more toroidal harmonics (n) to form the linear eigenmode than in the Large Helical Device (LHD) stellarator. Nonlinear electrostatic simulation results show that self-generated zonal flows are the dominant saturation mechanism for the ITG instabilities in both the LHD and W7-X. Additionally, radial widths of the fluctuation intensity in both the LHD and W7-X are significantly broadened from the linear phase to the nonlinear phase due to turbulence spreading. Finally, nonlinear spectra in the W7-X are dominated by low-n harmonics, which can be generated both by nonlinear toroidal coupling of high-n harmonics and by linear toroidal coupling with large amplitude zonal flows due to the 3D equilibrium magnetic fields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Evidence for a single-layer van der Waals multiferroic

Here we searched for signatures of type-II multiferroic order in ultrathin van der Waals materials, to determine if such a state, comprising coexisting electrical polarization and spin order with strong magnetoelectric effects, could persist down to a single-atomic layer. We reported the first observation of such a state in triangular lattice material NiI 2 . This system has a layered structure and built-in magnetic frustration that promotes a complex magnetic ground state with proper-screw spin helices. The spin helix pattern breaks inversion symmetry and induces electrical polarization via magnetoelectric coupling. We use circular dichroic Raman measurements to directly probe the magneto-chiral ground state and its electromagnon modes originating from dynamic magnetoelectric coupling. Using birefringence and second-harmonic generation measurements, we detect a highly anisotropic electronic state simultaneously breaking three-fold rotational and inversion symmetry. The evolution of the optical signatures as a function of temperature and layer number surprisingly revealed a multiferroic state that persists down to the ultrathin limit of monolayer NiI 2 . These observations establish NiI 2 and transition metal dihalides as a new platform for studying emergent multiferroic phenomena, chiral magnetic textures and ferroelectricity in the 2D limit.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Plasmon-enhanced optical nonlinearity in graphene nanomeshes

Using the density-matrix formalism, here we show that graphene nanomeshes (GNMs)—graphene sheets patterned with antidots—have large plasmon-enhanced nonlinear optical response. GNMs can be designed to behave as quasi-one-dimensional plasmonic crystals in which plasmons with large propagation lengths are efficiently excited. The associated third-order Kerr and third-harmonic-generation susceptibility can be as high as 10 –7 and 10 –9 m 2 V –2 , respectively, over the mid-to-near-infrared frequency range. Furthermore, carrier-density tuning in GNMs can flip the propagation direction of plasmonic waves and enables bidirectional switching of optical signals.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Integrated back to back barrier-N-N(+) varactor diode tripler using a split-waveguide block

The back-to-back barrier-N-N(+) (bbBNN) varactor is a nonlinear device being developed for frequency multiplier applications above 100 GHz. Its symmetrical C-V characteristic, low series resistance, freedom from external bias and suitability to planarization make it an ideal choice for high frequency, low power, odd harmonic generation. In this paper, the performance of a 220-GHz waveguide tripler using, for the first time, a planar GaAs bbBNN device integrated on a quartz microstrip circuit is presented. A new split-waveguide block design has been employed to provide the proper embedding impedances to the device at the input and third harmonic output frequencies. A flange-to-flange tripling efficiency of 7% has been obtained at 220 GHz with an output power in excess of 700 mu W. This is believed to be the highest conversion efficiency yet reported for a tripler with an integrated device at this frequency. Theoretical calculations indicate that substantial improvement is possible with modest changes to the device and circuit parameters.

QUARTZ MICROSTRIP CIRCUITS↗

A Tripler to 220 GHz Using a Back-to-Back Barrier-N-N+ Varactor Diode

The back-to-back barrier-N-N+ (bbBNN) varactor is a nonlinear device being developed for frequency multiplier applications above 100 GHz. Its symmetrical C-V characteristic, low series resistance and suitability to planarization make it ideal choice for high frequency, low power, odd harmonic generation. In this paper, the performance of a 220 GHz tripler using integrated planar bbBNN devices is presented.

frequency multiplier↗

Integrated Back-to-Back Barrier-N-N + Varactor Diode Tripler Using a Split-waveguide Block

The back-to-back barrier-N-N + (bbBNN) varactor is a nonlinear device being developed for frequency multiplier applications above 100 GHz. Its symmetrical C-V characteristic, low series resistance and suitability to planarization make it ideal choice for high frequency, low power, odd harmonic generation. In this paper, development of an integrated planar multiplier device and its performance as a 220 GHz tripler is presented. A new split-waveguide block design has been used to provide the proper embedding impedances to the device. The performance over 200-240 GHz has been measured and the integrated bbBNN device is shown to provide as much as 734 microwatts output power. A flange-to-flange tripling efficiency of 7% has been obtained. This is believed to be the highest conversion efficiency yet reported for all planar tripler at this frequency. The performance is expected to be improved further with minor changes to the device and circuit parameters.

interstellar↗