Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “high harmonic generation”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13

Experimental parameters, combined dynamics, and nonlinearity of a magnonic-opto-electronic oscillator (MOEO)

We report the construction and characterization of a comprehensive magnonic-opto-electronic oscillator (MOEO) system based on 1550-nm photonics and yttrium iron garnet (YIG) magnonics. The system exhibits a rich and synergistic parameter space because of the ability to control individual photonic, electronic, and magnonic components. Taking advantage of the spin wave dispersion of YIG, the frequency self-generation as well as the related nonlinear processes becomes sensitive to the external magnetic field. Besides being known as a band-pass filter and a delay element, the YIG delay line possesses spin wave modes that can be controlled to mix with the optoelectronic modes to generate higher-order harmonic beating modes. With the high sensitivity and external tunability, the MOEO system may find usefulness in sensing applications in magnetism and spintronics beyond optoelectronics and photonics.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The effect of non-linear propagation in jet noise

An experimental investigation of the nonlinear propagation effects which occur in the noise radiated from low and moderate Reynolds number supersonic jets has been performed. An array of three condenser microphones was used to measure the waveforms propagated by axisymmetric, cold model jets of Mach numbers 2.1 and 2.5. Relatively low Reynolds numbers were obtained by exhausting the jets into a low pressure anechoic test chamber. The results show that phenomena normally associated with nonlinear acoustic propagation, such as wave steepening, harmonic generation and wave merging, are measurable in the high speed model jets.

Gallagher, J. A.↗

The development of a tunable, single-frequency ultraviolet laser source for UV filtered Rayleigh scattering

We present the development of a flexible, high power, narrow line width, tunable ultraviolet source for diagnostic application. By frequency tripling the output of a pulsed titanium-sapphire laser, we achieve broadly tunable (227-360 nm) ultraviolet light with high quality spatial and spectral resolution. We also present the characterization of a mercury vapor cell which provides a narrow band, sharp edge absorption filter at 253.7 nm. These two components form the basis for the extension of the Filtered Rayleigh Scattering technique into the ultraviolet. The UV-FRS system is comprised of four pieces: a single frequency, cw tunable Ti:Sapphire seeding source; a high-powered pulsed Ti:Sapphire oscillator; a third harmonic generator system; and an atomic mercury vapor filter. In this paper we discuss the development and characterization of each of these elements.

Finkelstein, N.↗

Contamination and Radiation Effects on Nonlinear Crystals for Space Laser Systems

Space Lasers are vital tools for NASA s space missions and military applications. Although, lasers are highly reliable on the ground, several past space laser missions proved to be short-lived and unreliable. In this communication, we are shedding more light on the contamination and radiation issues, which are the most common causes for optical damages and laser failures in space. At first, we will present results based on the study of liquids and subsequently correlate these results to the particulates of the laser system environment. We present a model explaining how the laser beam traps contaminants against the optical surfaces and cause optical damages and the role of gravity in the process. We also report the results of the second harmonic generation efficiency for nonlinear optical crystals irradiated with high-energy beams of protons. In addition, we are proposing to employ the technique of adsorption to minimize the presence of adsorbing molecules present in the laser compartment.

Abdeldayem, Hossain A.↗

High-intensity sound in air saturated fibrous bulk porous materials

The interaction high-intensity sound with bulk porous materials in porous materials including Kevlar 29 is reported. The nonlinear behavior of the materials was described by dc flow resistivity tests. Then acoustic propagation and reflection were measured and small signal broadband measurements of phase speed and attenuation were carried out. High-intensity tests were made with 1, 2, and 3 kHz tone bursts to measure harmonic generation and extra attenuation of the fundamental. Small signal standing wave tests measured impedence between 0.1 and 3.5 kHz. High level tests with single cycle tone bursts at 1 to 4 kHz show that impedance increases with intensity. A theoretical analysis is presented for high-porosity, rigid-frame, isothermal materials. One dimensional equations of motion are derived and solved by perturbation. The experiments show that there is excess attenuation of the fundamental component and in some cases a close approach to saturation. A separate theoretical model, developed to explain the excess attenuation, yields predictions that are in good agreement with the measurements. Impedance and attenuation at high intensities are modeled.

Kuntz, H. L., II↗

Influence of growth temperature of KTiOAsO{sub 4} single crystals on their physicochemical parameters and formation of domain structures

A potassium titanyl arsenate (KTiOAsO{sub 4}, KTA) crystal 50 × 80 × 60 mm in size has been grown by upgraded Czochralski method from flux (TGGS) with a decrease in temperature from 900 to 770 °C during pulling. It is shown that the spectroscopic properties of the parts of KTA crystals grown at 900 and 770 °C are close, whereas the electrical conductivity of the low-temperature (770 °C) KTA part turned out to be an order of magnitude lower than that of the high-temperature part. Visualisation of the domain structure by second-harmonic generation microscopy revealed a more efficient domain intergrowth (throughout the sample) in the low-temperature KTA, which is important for forming a regular domain structure (RDS) in a KTA-based nonlinear optical element. It is established that the quantum efficiency of parametric generation of light in the RDS formed in low-temperature KTA is several times higher than in the case of high-temperature KTA. The results obtained are important for optimising RDS parameters. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Quantitative Assessment of Fatigue Damage Accumulation in Wavy Slip Metals from Acoustic Harmonic Generation

A comprehensive, analytical treatment is presented of the microelastic-plastic nonlinearities resulting from the interaction of a stress perturbation with dislocation substructures (veins and persistent slip bands) and cracks that evolve during high-cycle fatigue of wavy slip metals. The nonlinear interaction is quantified by a material (acoustic) nonlinearity parameter beta extracted from acoustic harmonic generation measurements. The contribution to beta from the substructures is obtained from the analysis of Cantrell [Cantrell, J. H., 2004, Proc. R. Soc. London A, 460, 757]. The contribution to beta from cracks is obtained by applying the Paris law for crack propagation to the Nazarov-Sutin crack nonlinearity equation [Nazarov, V. E., and Sutin, A. M., 1997, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 102, 3349]. The nonlinearity parameter resulting from the two contributions is predicted to increase monotonically by hundreds of percent during fatigue from the virgin state to fracture. The increase in beta during the first 80-90 percent of fatigue life is dominated by the evolution of dislocation substructures, while the last 10-20 percent is dominated by crack growth. The model is applied to the fatigue of aluminium alloy 2024-T4 in stress-controlled loading at 276MPa for which experimental data are reported. The agreement between theory and experiment is excellent.

Cantrell, John H.↗

High-pressure control of optical nonlinearity in the polar Weyl semimetal TaAs

The transition metal monopnictide family of Weyl semimetals recently has been shown to exhibit anomalously strong second-order optical nonlinearity, which is theoretically attributed to a highly asymmetric polarization distribution induced by their polar structure. We experimentally test this hypothesis by measuring optical second harmonic generation (SHG) from TaAs across a pressure-tuned polar-to-nonpolar structural phase transition. Despite the high-pressure structure remaining noncentrosymmetric, the SHG yield is reduced by more than 60% by 20 GPa as compared to the ambient pressure value. By examining the pressure dependence of distinct groups of SHG susceptibility tensor elements, we find that the yield is primarily controlled by a single element that governs the response along the polar axis. Furthermore, our results confirm a connection between the polar axis and the giant optical nonlinearity of Weyl semimetals and demonstrate pressure as a means to tune this effect in situ.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Optical Bound States in the Continuum Enabled by Magnetic Resonances Coupled to a Mirror

Dielectric metasurfaces made of high refractive index and low optical loss materials have emerged as promising platforms to achieve high-quality factor modes enabling strong light–matter interaction. Bound states in the continuum have shown potential to demonstrate narrow spectral resonances but often require asymmetric geometry and typically feature strong polarization dependence, complicating fabrication and limiting practical applications. Here, we introduce a novel approach for designing high-quality bound states in the continuum using magnetic dipole resonances coupled to a mirror. The resulting metasurface has simple geometric parameters requiring no broken symmetry. To demonstrate the unique features of our photonic platform we show a record-breaking third harmonic generation efficiency from the metasurface benefiting from the strongly enhanced electric field at high-quality resonances. Our approach mitigates the shortcomings of previous platforms with simple geometry enabling facile and large-area fabrication of metasurfaces paving the way for applications in optical sensing, detection, quantum photonics, and nonlinear devices.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

High-efficiency, single-stage tunable optical parametric amplifier for visible photocathode applications

In this work we present a single-stage optical parametric amplifier (OPA) with an average conversion efficiency up to 38%, tunable between 1.01 and 1.18 µm. The OPA seed is produced by a gain-managed nonlinear fiber amplifier. Numerical modeling of the seed pulse generation shows a linear chirp, a smoothly broadened redshifted spectrum, and a high spectral energy density. When up-converted to the visible through second-harmonic generation, the signal pulses are suitable for visible photocathode excitation.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Ultrafast simultaneous manipulation of multiple ferroic orders through nonlinear phonon excitation

Recent experimental studies have demonstrated the possibility of utilizing strong terahertz pulses to manipulate individual ferroic orders on pico- and femtosecond timescales. Here, we extend these findings and showcase the simultaneous manipulation of multiple ferroic orders in BiFeO 3 , a material that is both ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic at room temperature. We find a concurrent enhancement of ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic second-harmonic generation (SHG) following the resonant excitation of a high-frequency fully-symmetric phonon mode. Based on first-principles calculations and phenomenological modeling, we ascribe this observation to the inherent coupling of the two ferroic orders to the nonequilibrium distortions induced in the crystal lattice by nonlinearly driven phonons. Our finding highlights the potential of nonlinear phononics as a technique for manipulating multiple ferroic order parameters at once. In addition, this approach provides a promising avenue to studying the dynamical magnetic and polarization behavior, as well as their intrinsic coupling, on ultrashort timescales.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Wave rectification in plasma sheaths surrounding electric field antennas

Combined measurements of Langmuir or broadband whistler wave intensity and lower-frequency electric field waveforms, all at 10-microsecond time resolution, were made on several recent sounding rockets in the auroral ionosphere. It is found that Langmuir and whistler waves are partically rectified in the plasma sheaths surrounding the payload and the spheres used as antennas. This sheath rectification occurs whenever the high frequency (HF) potential across the sheath becomes of the same order as the electron temperature or higher, for wave frequencies near or above the ion plasma frequency. This rectification can introduce false low-frequency waves into measurements of electric field spectra when strong high-frequency waves are present. Second harmonic signals are also generated, although at much lower levels. The effect occurs in many different plasma conditions, primarily producing false waves at frequencies that are low enough for the antenna coupling to the plasma to be resistive.

Boehm, M. H.↗

Variable frequency response testbed to validate protective relays up to 20 kHz☆

Microgrids operate in islanding or utility grid mode. In islanding mode, distributed energy sources with power electronics inverters can generate fault currents over a wide range of frequencies. To gain a better understanding of the nature of these events, it is crucial to measure currents at frequencies of up to 20 kHz at transient states with protective relays. Protective relays at these frequency responses should be tested prior to being installed in microgrids. However, testing at high-frequency currents cannot be done with Relay Test Equipment (RTE) that generate signals up to 50th Harmonic for 60 Hz (3 kHz). In this study, a frequency response method and testbed for high-frequency currents of up to 20.16 kHz was developed and tested. The testbed utilized a RTE and High-Frequency Power Source/ Amplifier. Furthermore, frequency relay experiments were run at frequencies of up to 1 and 20.16 kHz at a current magnitude of 0.1 and 0.5 A, respectively. The events were collected, and the current magnitude and frequency were plotted at time and frequency domain, respectively. The study of current magnitude and frequencies of up to 20.16 kHz for two overcurrent relays was performed and validated the variable frequency testbed and methodology.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Search for 3D topological superconductors using laser-based spectroscopy (Final Technical Report)

The three-dimensional topological superconductor (3D TSC) is a novel quantum phase of matter that is predicted to exhibit exotic thermal and electrical properties, which may serve applications ranging from precision thermal management and sensing technologies to fault-tolerant quantum information processing. Over the past decade, there has been an intensive effort to realize 1D and 2D TSCs by artificially engineering them from combinations of already existing materials. For example, coupling conventional superconductors to spin-orbit coupled 1D nanowires or to 2D topological insulator surfaces by the proximity effect provides a route to realizing 1D and 2D TSCs respectively. However no artificial engineering strategy is available for a 3D TSC. Therefore, current searches are limited to intrinsically superconducting compounds whose topological properties are difficult to predict. The overarching goal of this project was to realize and to identify 3D TSCs in bulk single crystals using novel laser-based spectroscopic techniques. One major thrust was to develop ultralow temperature and ultra-high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to directly measure the dispersion of Majorana excitations that are predicted to exist on the surfaces of 3D TSCs. Another major thrust was to develop a rational route to realize 3D TSCs by identifying their precursor phases. It is theoretically proposed that the critical fluctuations of certain ordered electronic phases can mediate Cooper pairing in odd-parity channels and lead to topological superconductivity. Therefore, 3D TSCs may potentially emerge upon suppressing these inversion symmetry broken precursor phases to a critical point with external perturbations such as pressure, strain or even light. To test this hypothesis, we studied candidate materials using a suite of symmetry-sensitive optical probes including rotational anisotropy optical second harmonic generation (RA-SHG) and time-resolved coherent phonon spectroscopy, all operable under high-pressure and low temperature environments.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Test Methodology Development for Experimental Structural Assessment of ASC Planar Spring Material for Long-Term Durability

A vibration-based testing methodology has been developed that will assess fatigue behavior of the metallic material of construction for the Advanced Stirling Convertor displacer (planar) spring component. To minimize the testing duration, the test setup is designed for base-excitation of a multiplespecimen arrangement, driven in a high-frequency resonant mode; this allows completion of fatigue testing in an accelerated period. A high performance electro-dynamic exciter (shaker) is used to generate harmonic oscillation of cantilever beam specimens, which are clasped on the shaker armature with specially-designed clamp fixtures. The shaker operates in closed-loop control with dynamic specimen response feedback provided by a scanning laser vibrometer. A test coordinator function synchronizes the shaker controller and the laser vibrometer to complete the closed-loop scheme. The test coordinator also monitors structural health of the test specimens throughout the test period, recognizing any change in specimen dynamic behavior. As this may be due to fatigue crack initiation, the test coordinator terminates test progression and then acquires test data in an orderly manner. Design of the specimen and fixture geometry was completed by finite element analysis such that peak stress does not occur at the clamping fixture attachment points. Experimental stress evaluation was conducted to verify the specimen stress predictions. A successful application of the experimental methodology was demonstrated by validation tests with carbon steel specimens subjected to fully-reversed bending stress; high-cycle fatigue failures were induced in such specimens using higher-than-prototypical stresses

fatigue testing machines↗

Quantitative Nonlinear Optical Polarimetry with High Spatial Resolution

Nonlinear optical microscopy such as in the optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) modality has become a popular tool today for probing materials in the physical and biological sciences. While imaging and spectroscopy are widely used in the microscopy mode, nonlinear polarimetry, which can shed light on materials’ symmetry and microstructure, is relatively underdeveloped. This is partly because quantitative analytical modeling of the optical SHG response for anisotropic crystals and films largely assumes low-numerical aperture (NA) focusing of light, where the plane-wave approximation is sufficient. Tight focusing provides unique benefits in revealing out-of-plane polarization responses, which cannot be detected by near-plane-wave illumination at normal incidence. Here, we outline a method for quantitatively analyzing SHG polarimetry measurements obtained under high-NA focusing within a microscope geometry. Experiments and simulations of a variety of standard samples, from single crystals to thin films, are in good agreement, including measured and simulated spatial SHG maps of ferroelectric domains. A solution to the inverse problem is demonstrated, where the spatial distribution of an SHG tensor with unknown tensor coefficient magnitudes is determined by experimentally measured polarimetry. The ability to extract the out-of-plane component of the nonlinear polarization in normal incidence is demonstrated, which can be valuable for high-resolution polarimetry of 2D materials, thin films, heterostructures, and uniaxial crystals with a strong out-of-plane response.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Interference effects in the high-order harmonic amplification process in the active medium of a plasma-based X-ray laser modulated by an optical field

We study the process of propagation of high harmonics of optical radiation in an active medium of a plasma-based X-ray laser, simultaneously irradiated by an intense optical field of fundamental frequency. It is shown that for moderate plasma dispersion of the active medium at the frequency of the modulating optical field, the energy and relative amplitudes of the harmonics at the output of the medium are determined by their phases at the entrance to the medium, as well as by the time-delay of the harmonics with respect to the modulating field. These dependences are due to interference of high-order harmonics with a set of multi-frequency fields generated by each of the harmonics in the process of coherent scattering in a modulated active medium. The possibilities of using these effects to increase the efficiency of harmonic amplification, to control the harmonic spectrum, and determine the relative phases at the entrance to the medium are discussed on the example of the active medium of hydrogen-like Li{sup 2+} ions (with a 13.5 nm wavelength of an inverted transition). (paper)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Reliable Determination of Pulses and Pulse-Shape Instability in Ultrashort Laser Pulse Trains Using Polarization-Gating and Transient-Grating Frequency-Resolved Optical Gating Using the RANA Approach

Devices that measure the presence of instability in the pulse shapes in trains of ultrashort laser pulses do not exist, so this task necessarily falls to pulse-measurement devices, like Frequency-Resolved Optical Gating (FROG) and its variations, which have proven to be a highly reliable class of techniques for measuring stable trains of ultrashort laser pulses. Fortunately, multi-shot versions of FROG have also been shown to sensitively distinguish trains of stable from those of unstable pulse shapes by displaying readily visible systematic discrepancies between the measured and retrieved traces in the presence of unstable pulse trains. However, the effects of pulse-shape instability and algorithm stagnation can be indistinguishable, so a never-stagnating algorithm—even when instability is present—is required and is generally important. In previous work, we demonstrated that our recently introduced Retrieved-Amplitude N-grid Algorithmic (RANA) approach produces highly reliable (100%) pulse-retrieval in the second-harmonic-generation (SHG) version of FROG for thousands of sample trains of pulses with stable pulse shapes. Further, it does so even for trains of unstable pulse shapes and thus both reliably distinguishes between the two cases and provides a rough measure of the degree of instability as well as a reasonable estimate of most typical pulse parameters. Here, we perform the analogous study for the polarization-gating (PG) and transient-grating (TG) versions of FROG, which are often used for higher-energy pulse trains. We conclude that PG and TG FROG, coupled with the RANA approach, also provide reliable indicators of pulse-shape instability. In addition, for PG and TG FROG, the RANA approach provides an even better estimate of a typical pulse in an unstable pulse train than SHG FROG does, even in cases of significant pulse-shape instability.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗