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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 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

The Visible Nulling Coronagraph--Progress Toward Mission and Technology Development

This paper describes a space mission for visible direct detection and spectroscopy of Earth like extrasolar planets using a nulling coronagraph instrument behind a moderately sized (approximately 4m) telescope in space. In our design, a 4 beam nulling interferometer is synthesized from the telescope pupil, producing a deep null proportional to theta (sup 4) which is then filtered by a coherent array of single mode fibers to suppress the residual scattered light. With diffraction limited telescope optics and similar quality components in the optical train (lambda/20), suppression of the starlight to 10 (exp -10) is achievable. We describe key features of the basic analysis, show how this effects a space mission design, present latest results of laboratory measurements demonstrating achievable null depth and component development, and discuss future key technical milestones.

coronagraph↗
NASA NTRS2009

Catastrophe Optics Method to Determine the Micro-Nano Size Profiles at TPL of Liquid Films on a Solid Surface

As discovered by recent studies, what directly affects the wetting and spreading is curvature in micro-region rather than the macroscopic contact angle. Measuring the profile of the micro-region becomes an important research topic. Recently, catastrophe optics has been applied to this kind of measurements. Optical catastrophe occurring in far field of waves of liquid-refracted laser beam implies a wealth of information about the liquid spreading not only for liquid drops but also for films. When a parallel laser beam passes through a liquid film on a slide glass at three-phase-line (TPL), very interesting optical image patterns occur on a screen far from the film. An analysis based on catastrophe optics discloses and interprets the formation of these optical image patterns. The analysis reveals that the caustic line manifested as the bright-thick line on the screen implies the lowest hierarchy of optical catastrophes, called fold caustic. This optical catastrophe is produced by the inflexion line on liquid surface at the liquid foot, which is formed not only in the spreading of drops but also in spreading of films. The generalized catastrophe optics method enables to identify the edge profiles and determine the edge foot height of liquid films. Keywords: Crossover region, Inflexion line, liquid edge foot, Catastrophe optics, Caustic and diffraction

Chao, David F.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Paths of Partial Coherence: Jim Wyant’s Influence on my Profession Career

Writing a tribute paper is fraught with peril. While it is supposed to be about the other’s impact upon your life, in really it cannot help but be all about the author. Back in 2012, after my initial reluctance, the paper I wrote for the Bill Wolfe tribute[1]was so cathartic, that I had to write one for Jim Wyant–to add a chapter to my story, to explain how a path of successes and failures have lead me to the present, and in the process to exorcise more ghosts from my subconscious. While our relationship is complicated, it has always been respectful. In many regards, Jim Wyant may be one of the most important people helping me reach my potential. I am NOT ‘A’ Wyant Student. I am ‘a’ Wyant student. I took three classes from Jim: Interference and Diffraction, Holography and Optical Testing. As a result of those classes, I found something that I loved, something at which I was good, something that became apart of me–I found my technical bliss. And beyond the classroom, my professional career has been inescapably connected with Jim Wyant.

history↗
DOE OSTI2014

Ultrafast transient grating radiation to optical image converter

A high sensitivity transient grating ultrafast radiation to optical image converter is based on a fixed transmission grating adjacent to a semiconductor substrate. X-rays or optical radiation passing through the fixed transmission grating is thereby modulated and produces a small periodic variation of refractive index or transient grating in the semiconductor through carrier induced refractive index shifts. An optical or infrared probe beam tuned just below the semiconductor band gap is reflected off a high reflectivity mirror on the semiconductor so that it double passes therethrough and interacts with the radiation induced phase grating therein. A small portion of the optical beam is diffracted out of the probe beam by the radiation induced transient grating to become the converted signal that is imaged onto a detector.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fundamentals of Defect-Free III-V Growth on Oxide-Nanopatterned GaAs Substrates

This talk describes the fundamentals underlying defect-free growth of large-area III-V devices on oxide-nanopatterned GaAs substrates, and applies them to the growth of 24.8% efficient GaAs solar cells with a dislocation density less than 5 x 10^5 cm^-2. In this application the nanopatterned oxide layer serves as a mechanically-weak layer for substrate separation and reuse, but in other applications it could serve as an optical element to diffract or redirect light. This presentation focuses on how the topology and dimensions of the oxide mask must be controlled to avoid defect formation wherever the epilayer coalesces over a mask feature.

ENGINEERING,SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Light field X-ray optics

Devices, systems and methods for performing X-ray scans with a single line of sight using a lens array for capturing the light field of the X-rays are described. In one example aspect, an X-ray optical system includes a primary optics subsection positioned to receive incoming X-rays after traversal through an object and to redirect the received incoming X-rays onto an intermediate image plane. The system also includes a microlens array positioned at or close to the intermediate image plane to receive at least some of the received incoming X-rays after redirection by the primary optics subsection to diffract the X-rays that are incident thereupon.

Kozioziemski, Bernard J.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Enabling phase quantification of anhydrous cements via Raman imaging

The phase composition of Portland cements is typically determined using conventional techniques like X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Rietveld analysis, optical microscopy point counting, and electron microscopy. However, these techniques have several limitations that may affect their accuracy in certain sample-specific scenarios. Here, we report a highly accurate phase quantification of 11 different types of commercial, anhydrous cements using a new and complementary technique: Raman imaging. Specifically, for the 4 principal phases, composition from our extensive data (250,000 Raman spectra per sample, error < 0.71%) and those obtained from XRD Rietveld and supplier data have high coefficients of determination (R{sup 2} > 0.98, mean deviation <2%). Additionally, we also quantify 8 secondary phases present in cement clinkers (gypsum, anhydrite, bassanite, syngenite, dolomite, calcite, quartz, and portlandite) with a high degree of confidence, thereby demonstrating that Raman imaging is a highly versatile tool for anhydrous phase quantification in a broad variety of cements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Improvement of diffraction efficiency of three-dimensional magneto-optic spatial light modulator with magnetophotonic crystal

We have developed three-dimensional magneto-optic spatial light modulators (3D-MOSLMs) that use magnetic domains as submicron scale pixels to represent holograms. Our display system uses a submicron-scale magnetic pixel array on an amorphous TbFe film to create a wide viewing angle hologram. However, in previous work the reconstructed images had a low intensity and a low optical contrast; brightness of the reconstructed image was 4.4 × 10{sup −2 }cd/m{sup 2} with 532 nm illumination light at 10.8 mW/cm{sup 2}, while display standard ISO13406 recommends 100 cd/m{sup 2} or more. In this paper, we describe our development of a 3D-MOSLM composed of an artificial magnetic lattice structure of magnetophotonic crystals (MPCs). The MPCs enhance the diffraction efficiency of reconstructed 3D images and reduce the power consumption for controlling the magnetic pixels by a light localization effect. We demonstrate reconstructed 3D images using the MPC and show significant brightness improvement.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Ba{sub 2}TeO: A new layered oxytelluride

Single crystals of the new semiconducting oxytelluride phase, Ba{sub 2}TeO, were synthesized from barium oxide powder and elemental tellurium in a molten barium metal flux. Ba{sub 2}TeO crystallizes in tetragonal symmetry with space group P4/nmm (#129), a=5.0337(1) Å, c=9.9437(4) Å, Z=2. The crystals were characterized by single crystal x-ray diffraction, heat capacity and optical measurements. The optical measurements along with electronic band structure calculations indicate semiconductor behavior with a band gap of 2.93 eV. Resistivity measurements show that Ba{sub 2}TeO is highly insulating. - Graphical abstract: Starting from a simple stacking of rocksalt layers, the final structure of Ba{sub 2}TeO can be obtained by accommodation of structural strain via atom displacements. Density of states calculations and optical absorbance measurements show that Ba{sub 2}TeO has a band gap of 2.93 eV, indicative of semiconductor behavior. - Highlights: • Single crystal synthesis of a new layered oxytelluride, Ba{sub 2}TeO. • The structure features inverse PbO-type BaO layers and NaCl-type BaTe layers. • Optical absorbance show Ba{sub 2}TeO to be a semiconductor with a 2.93 eV gap. • Density of states indicate a small hybridization between Te 5p and Ba 5d states. • The BaTe (BaO) layers dominate the heat capacity at low (high) temperatures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

An Optically Isotropic Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystal (OI‐AFLC) Display Mode Operating over a Wide Temperature Range using Ternary Bent‐Core Liquid Crystal Mixtures

Abstract We report on the synthesis and characterization of bent‐core liquid crystal (LC) compounds and the preparation of mixtures that provide an optically isotropic antiferroelectric (OI‐AFLC) liquid crystal display mode over a very wide temperature interval and well below room temperature. From the collection of compounds synthesized during this study, we recognized that several ternary mixtures displayed a modulated SmC a P A phase down to below −40 °C and up to about 100 °C on both heating and cooling, as well as optical tilt angles in the transformed state of approximately 45° (optically isotropic state). The materials were fully characterized and their liquid crystal as well as electro‐optical properties analyzed by polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, synchrotron X‐ray diffraction, dielectric spectroscopy, and electro‐optical tests.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Investigation of optical properties of epitaxial yttrium iron garnet films

In work we investigated yttrium iron garnet epitaxial films with a thickness of 10 µm and 55 µm which were grown on the surface of garnet substrate. Using the polarizing microscopy method the branching domain structure of films was shown with the period of domains 21.5 µm and 42.5 µm. Disappearance of domains at presence of an external magnetic field up to 100 Oe was noted. The optical transmission of films for the polarized beam of HeNe laser is investigated and zero diffraction order and odd diffraction rings orders were shown. Interconnection of the period of chaotically oriented domains with angles of axially symmetric diffraction rings orders was shown. Diffraction patterns at various longitudinal magnetic fields are investigated. Disappearance of odd diffraction orders and increasing in intensity of zero diffraction order were fixed. Optical transmission of epitaxial films was measured in range of 500 - 900 nm.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Mass of a weakly measured photon

Bohmian mechanics has garnered significant attention as an interpretation of quantum theory since the paradigmatic experiments which inferred the average trajectories of photons in the nonrelativistic regime. These experiments were largely motivated by Wiseman's formulation of Bohmian mechanics, which grounded these trajectories in weak measurements. Recently, Wiseman's framework was extended to the relativistic regime by expressing the velocity field of single photons in terms of weak values of the photon energy and momentum. Here, we propose an operational, weak value-based definition for the Bohmian “local mass” of relativistic single particles. For relativistic wave functions satisfying the scalar Klein-Gordon equation, this mass coincides with the effective mass defined by de Broglie in his relativistic pilot-wave theory, a quantity closely connected with the quantum potential that is responsible for Bohmian trajectory self-bending and the anomalous photoelectric effect. Here, we demonstrate the relationship between the photon trajectories and the mass in an interferometric setup.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Ultrasonic power measurement system based on acousto-optic interaction

Ultrasonic waves are widely used, with applications including the medical, military, and chemical fields. However, there are currently no effective methods for ultrasonic power measurement. Previously, ultrasonic power measurement has been reliant on mechanical methods such as hydrophones and radiation force balances. This paper deals with ultrasonic power measurement based on an unconventional method: acousto-optic interaction. Compared with mechanical methods, the optical method has a greater ability to resist interference and also has reduced environmental requirements. Therefore, this paper begins with an experimental determination of the acoustic power in water contained in a glass tank using a set of optical devices. Because the light intensity of the diffraction image generated by acousto-optic interaction contains the required ultrasonic power information, specific software was written to extract the light intensity information from the image through a combination of filtering, binarization, contour extraction, and other image processing operations. The power value can then be obtained rapidly by processing the diffraction image using a computer. The results of this work show that the optical method offers advantages that include accuracy, speed, and a noncontact measurement method.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Transmission x-ray microscopy at Diamond-Manchester I13 Imaging Branchline

Full-field Transmission X-ray Microscopy (TXM) has been shown to be a powerful method for obtaining quantitative internal structural and chemical information from materials at the nanoscale. The installation of a Full-field TXM station will extend the current microtomographic capabilities of the Diamond-Manchester I13 Imaging Branchline at Diamond Light Source (UK) into the sub-100 nm spatial resolution range using photon energies from 8 to 14 keV. The dedicated Full-field TXM station will be built in-house with contributions of Diamond Light Source support divisions and via collaboration with the X-ray Optics Group of Paul Scherrer Institut (Switzerland) which will develop state-of-the-art diffractive X-ray optical elements. Preliminary results of the I13 Full-field TXM station are shown. The Full-field TXM will become an important Diamond Light Source direct imaging asset for material science, energy science and biology at the nanoscale.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nonequilibrium Lattice Dynamics in Photoexcited 2D Perovskites

Abstract Interplay between structural and photophysical properties of metal halide perovskites is critical to their utility in optoelectronics, but there is limited understanding of lattice response upon photoexcitation. Here, 2D perovskites butylammonium lead iodide, (BA) 2 PbI 4 , and phenethylammonium lead iodide, (PEA) 2 PbI 4 , are investigated using ultrafast transient X‐ray diffraction as a function of optical excitation fluence to discern structural dynamics. Both powder X‐ray diffraction and time‐resolved photoluminescence linewidths narrow over 1 ns following optical excitation for the fluence range studied, concurrent with slight redshifting of the optical bandgaps. These observations are attributed to transient relaxation and ordering of distorted lead iodide octahedra stimulated mainly by electron–hole pair creation. The c axis expands up to 0.37% over hundreds of picoseconds; reflections sampling the a and b axes undergo one tenth of this expansion with the same timescale. Post‐photoexcitation appearance of the (110) reflection in (BA) 2 PbI 4 would suggest a transient phase transition, however, through new single‐crystal XRD, reflections are found that violate glide plane conditions in the reported Pbca structure. The static structure space group is reassigned as P 2 1 2 1 2 1 . With this, a nonequilibrium phase transition is ruled out. These findings offer increased understanding of remarkable lattice response in 2D perovskites upon excitation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2020

Free-Space Optical Communication for CubeSats in Low Lunar Orbit (LLO)

The NASA ARTEMIS Program will include LunaNet, a highly extensible, open architecture, lunar communications and navigation network. A constellation of CubeSats in Low Lunar Orbit (LLO), 100 km, could form an optical communications and navigation network as part of LunaNet, with terminals on the lunar surface, including mobile ones such as with astronauts and rovers. The proposed CubeSat nodes should provide data relay and navigational aid services. The proposed effort herein is to develop a fine pointing capability for laser beam pointing to augment body pointing by CubeSats. Body pointing was used by Aerospace Corporation for the CubeSats in LEO in NASA’s Optical Communications and Sensors Demonstration (OCSD) program [1]. Previously, this fine pointing capability was computer simulated for the OCSD program [2,3]. With fine pointing, the spot size on the Earth was reduced by a factor of eight with a reduction in laser output power by a factor of sixty-four, thereby mitigating the thermal load challenge on the CubeSats. The same reductions in spot size and laser output power can be achieved for CubeSats in LLO. A new method is described for optical data transmissions from satellites, which uses laser arrays for laser beam pointing. It combines a lens system and an array of vertical-cavity, surface-emitting lasers and photodetectors, an VCSEL/Photodetector Array, (both mature technologies), in a novel way. This system is applied to CubeSats in low lunar orbit, (LLO), which use body pointing. Also, It may be able to replace current architectures which use dynamical systems, (i.e., moving parts) to point the laser, and which may also use vibration isolation platforms. The computer simulations used the optics code, OpticStudio, from Zemax, LLC, which has the capabilities to model the laser source and diffraction effects from wave optics. These capabilities make it possible to model laser beam propagation over long space communication distances.

Goorjian, P. M.↗