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At least 73 records · Page 4

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2023

Nanometer flat blazed x-ray gratings using ion beam figure correction

With the development of nanometer accuracy stitching interferometry, ion beam figuring (IBF) of x-ray mirrors can now be achieved with unprecedented performance. However, the process of producing x-ray diffraction gratings on these surfaces may degrade the figure quality due to process errors introduced during the ruling of the grating grooves. To address this challenge, we have investigated the post-production correction of gratings using IBF, where stitching interferometry is used to provide in-process feedback. A concern with ion beam correction in this case is that ions will induce enough surface mobility of atoms to cause smoothing of the grating structure and degradation of diffraction efficiency. In this study we found however that it is possible to achieve a nanometer-level planarity of the global grating surface with IBF, while preserving the grating structure. The preservation was so good, that we could not detect a change in the diffraction efficiency after ion beam correction. This is of major importance in achieving ultra-high spectral resolution, and the preservation of brightness for coherent x-ray beams.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Phase-shifted Bragg gratings in a foundry silicon nitride platform

Bragg gratings are key optical elements for applications in communications, sensing, and lasers. Phase-shifted Bragg gratings are a special case where the simple periodic structure is altered to allow a narrow spectral passband within the optical bandgap. Here, we demonstrate phase-shifted silicon nitride gratings fabricated using 193 nm deep ultraviolet lithography (DUV) on the AIM Photonics 300 mm silicon photonics foundry line. We measure the grating properties and verify the results with a transfer-matrix method (TMM) model. The standard grating expressions for extracting the coupling coefficient κ and bandwidth do not apply and are updated to account for the phase shift. These results inform future designs for on-chip grating filters and distributed feedback (DFB) lasers.

Husko, Chad (ORCID:0000000271252518)↗

NASA NTRS1973

Electromagnetic diffraction efficiencies for plane reflection diffraction gratings

Results are presented of research activities on holographic grating research. A large portion of this work was performed using rigorous vector diffraction theory, therefore, the necessary theory has been included in this report. The diffraction efficiency studies were continued using programs based on a rigorous theory. The simultaneous occurrence of high diffraction efficiencies and the phenomenon of double Wood's anomalies is demonstrated along with a graphic method for determining the necessary grating parameters. Also, an analytical solution for a grating profile that is perfectly blazed is obtained. The performance of the perfectly blazed grating profile is shown to be significantly better than grating profiles previously studied. Finally, a proposed method is described for the analysis of coarse echelle gratings using rigorous vector diffraction that is currently being developed.

Marathay, A. S.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Absolute S- and P-plane polarization efficiencies for high frequency holographic gratings in the VUV

High frequency plane gratings (3500 and 3600 gr/mm) have been holographically ruled and blazed for the VUV spectral region. All gratings were coated with 70 nm Al + 25 nm MgF2. Absolute unpolarized and S- and P-plane polarization efficiencies have been measured for the first and second orders in the 120- to 450-nm spectral region at 18.5 and 30 deg angles of deviation. For deep grooves, anomalous features are more pronounced for the P-plane polarization efficiency than for the S-plane polarization efficiency. Holographic gratings can be tailored to produce high polarization or low polarization in the VUV. For comparison, efficiencies and polarization of the best conventional high frequency gratings were also determined. Measurements show that scattered light is significantly lower for holographic gratings in the VUV when compared with the conventional gratings.

Caruso, A. J.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Wavelength-division multiplexed optical integrated circuit with vertical diffraction grating

A semiconductor optical integrated circuit for wave division multiplexing has a semiconductor waveguide layer, a succession of diffraction grating points in the waveguide layer along a predetermined diffraction grating contour, a semiconductor diode array in the waveguide layer having plural optical ports facing the succession of diffraction grating points along a first direction, respective semiconductor diodes in the array corresponding to respective ones of a predetermined succession of wavelengths, an optical fiber having one end thereof terminated at the waveguide layer, the one end of the optical fiber facing the succession of diffraction grating points along a second direction, wherein the diffraction grating points are spatially distributed along the predetermined contour in such a manner that the succession of diffraction grating points diffracts light of respective ones of the succession of wavelengths between the one end of the optical fiber and corresponding ones of the optical ports.

Lang, Robert J.↗

NASA NTRS2006

"The Reflection Grating Spectrometer on Constellation-X"

The Constellation-X Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) is designed to provide high-throughput, high-resolution spectra in the long wavelength band of 6 to 50 angstrom. In the nominal design an array of reflection gratings is mounted at the exit of the Spectroscopy X-ray Telescope (SXT) mirror module. The gratings intercept and disperse light to a designated array of CCD detectors. To achieve the throughput (A_eff > 1000 cm2 below 0.6 keV) and resolution (R > 300 below 0.6 keV) requirements for the instrument we are investigating two possible grating designs. The first design uses in-plane gratings in a classical configuration that is very similar to the XMM-Newton RGS. The second design uses off-plane gratings in a conical configuration. The off-plane design has the advantage of providing higher reflectivity and potentially, a higher spectral resolution than the in-plane configuration. In our presentation we will describe the performance requirements and the current status of the technology development.

Cottam, J.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Diffraction gratings with two-orders-of-magnitude-enhanced dispersion rates for sub-meV resolution soft X-ray spectroscopy

Diffraction gratings with large angular dispersion rates are central to obtaining high spectral resolution in grating spectrometers operating over a broad spectral range from infrared to soft X-ray domains. The greatest challenge is of course to achieve large dispersion rates in the short-wavelength X-ray domain. Here it is shown that crystals in non-coplanar asymmetric X-ray Bragg diffraction can function as high-reflectance broadband soft X-ray diffraction gratings with dispersion rates that are at least two orders of magnitude larger than those that are possible with state-of-the-art man-made gratings. Additionally, this opens new opportunities to design and implement soft X-ray resonant inelastic scattering (RIXS) spectrometers with spectral resolutions that are up to two orders of magnitude higher than what is currently possible, to further advance a very dynamic field of RIXS spectroscopy, and to make it competitive with inelastic neutron scattering. Examples of large-dispersion-rate crystal diffraction gratings operating near the 930 eV L 3 absorption edge in Cu and of the 2.838 keV L 3 -edge in Ru are presented.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Fabrication and characterization of a full-size ultra-precise lamellar grating for the Cosmic beamline at ALS-U

We have developed a new process for the production of ultra-precise variable line spacing (VLS) lamellar diffraction gratings through nanofabrication. The process enables the fabrication of full-size X-ray gratings with sub-nanometre accuracy in groove depth, an optimal land-to-groove ratio, and uniform groove depth across the entire grating area. We also established a method for evaluating VLS groove density variation using stitched Fizeau interferometry. The measurements confirmed the exceptionally high accuracy of the VLS groove density in the fabricated gratings, which is well within the specification tolerances while the residual groove density errors are vanishingly small. The gold-coated grating demonstrated near-theoretical diffraction efficiency across the energy range of 100–1200 eV.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Nanoscale polarization transient gratings

Light manipulation at the nanoscale is essential both for fundamental science and modern technology. The quest to shorter lengthscales, however, requires the use of light wavelengths beyond the visible. In particular, in the extreme ultraviolet regime these manipulation capabilities are hampered by the lack of efficient optics, especially for polarization control. Here, we present a method to create periodic, polarization modulations at the nanoscale using a tailored configuration of the FERMI free electron laser and demonstrate its capabilities by comparing the dynamics induced by this polarization transient grating with those driven by a conventional intensity grating on a thin ferrimagnetic alloy. While the intensity grating signal is dominated by the thermoelastic response, the polarization grating excitation minimizes it, uncovering helicity-dependent responses previously undetected. We anticipate nanoscale polarization transient gratings to become useful for the study of physical, chemical and biological systems possessing chiral symmetry.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Spectral gratings-based phase-contrast imaging for materials characterization

Spectral X-ray detectors provide a direct observation of the energy spectrum of a transmitted X-ray beam, both for typical and phase-contrast gratings-based systems. The sensitivity of a gratings-based X-ray system to small-angle deflections from a given particle size is dependent on X-ray energy. Therefore, spectral (energy-sensitive) detectors could be sensitive to particle size, even with a broad spectrum from a commercial X-ray generator. Furthermore, these detectors allow direct observation of how the X-ray spectrum is changing as the beam is passing through an object and gratings, and how this affects grating visibilities used to determine the presence of small-angle deflections. This is a particular issue for higher-energy systems where artifacts from beam hardening are common. We present results exploring the particle-size dependent signatures that are available from a spectral gratings-based phase-contrast X-ray imaging system, and the feasibility of observing them with lab-based, broad-spectrum X-ray generators.

Gilbert, Andrew J.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Frequency-domain calculation of Smith–Purcell radiation for metallic and dielectric gratings

The intensity of Smith–Purcell radiation from metallic and dielectric gratings (silicon, silica) is compared in a frequency-domain simulation. Additionally, the numerical model is discussed and verified with the Frank–Tamm formula for Cherenkov radiation. For 30 keV electrons, rectangular dielectric gratings are less efficient than their metallic counterparts, by an order of magnitude for silicon, and two orders of magnitude for silica. For all gratings studied, radiation intensity oscillates with grating tooth height due to electromagnetic resonances in the grating. 3D and 2D numerical models are compared.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Highly efficient ultra-low blaze angle multilayer grating

We have developed an advanced process for blaze angle reduction of x-ray gratings for the soft, tender, and EUV spectral ranges. The process is based on planarization of an anisotropically etched Si blazed grating followed by a chemically selective plasma etch. This provides a way to adjust the blaze angle to any lower value with high accuracy. Here we demonstrate the reduction of the blaze angle to an extremely low value of 0.04°±0.004°. For a 100 lines/mm grating with a Mo/Si multilayer coating, the grating exhibits diffraction efficiency of 58% in the 1 st diffraction order at a wavelength of 13.3 nm. This technique will be applicable to a wide range of uses of high efficiency gratings for synchrotron sources, as well as for Free Electron Lasers (FEL).

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2022

Side-lobe reduction by cascading Bragg grating filters on a Si-photonic chip

Bragg-grating based cavities and coupler designs present opportunities for flexible allocation of bandwidth and spectrum in silicon photonic devices. Integrated silicon photonic devices are moving toward mainstream, mass adoption, leading to the need for compact Bragg grating based designs. In this work we present a design and experimental validation of a cascaded contra-directional Bragg-grating coupler with a measured main lobe to side-lobe contrast of 12.93 dB. This level of performance is achieved in a more compact size as compared to conventional apodized gratings, and a similar design philosophy can be used to improve side-lobe reduction in grating-based mirror design for on-chip lasers and other cavity-based designs as well.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2022

Visible (400- to 700-nm) chirped-grating-coupled waveguide spectrometer

An integrable on-chip spectrometer, based on a transversely-chirped-grating waveguide-coupler for the 400- to 700-nm visible spectral range is demonstrated. For a fixed angle of incidence, the coupling wavelength is dependent on the local grating period and the waveguide structure. The transversely-chirped-input grating is fabricated on a SiO 2 -Si 3 N 4 -SiO 2 waveguide atop a Si substrate by interferometric lithography in two sections on a single silicon substrate. A uniform period grating, separated from the input coupler by a propagation region, is provided for out-coupling to a 2048 element CMOS detector array. The incident light with wavelength spanning 400- to 700-nm is coupled into waveguide at 33.5° through the chirped grating coupler. A resolution of ∼ 1.2 nm is demonstrated without any signal processing reconstruction.

Wang, Xuemei↗

DOE OSTI2023

Polarization-independent photonic Bragg grating filter with cladding asymmetry

A photonic Bragg grating is a fundamental building block that reflects the direction of wave propagation through spatial phase modulation and can be implemented using sidewall corrugation. However, due to the asymmetric aspect ratio of a waveguide cross section, typical Bragg gratings exhibit a strong polarization sensitivity. Here, we show that photonic Bragg gratings with cladding asymmetry can enable polarization-independent notch filters by rotating input polarizations. Such Bragg gratings strongly couple transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes propagating in opposite directions, filtering the input signal and reflecting the rotated mode. We analyzed this polarization-rotating Bragg grating using the coupled-mode theory and experimentally demonstrated it on a silicon-on-insulator platform. Our device concept is simple to implement and compatible with other platforms, readily available as polarization transparent Bragg components.

Pimbi, Daniel (ORCID:000000025933203X)↗

DOE OSTI2020

Grating Polarizers at 170 GHz for ECRH Systems: Low Power Tests and Simulations

The elliptical polarization produced by a pair of sinusoidally profiled miter-bend grating polarizers has been measured experimentally and found to be in excellent agreement with theory. The polarizers were designed to be used at 170 GHz in the miter bends of a 63.5 mm corrugated metallic waveguide for creating the arbitrary elliptically polarized microwave beam needed for electron cyclotron resonance heating of plasma. Using a vector network analyzer to generate a linearly polarized HE11 incident mode, each polarizer was individually tested to measure the rotation α and ellipticity β of the elliptically polarized reflected microwave beam as a function of the grating rotation angle. The grating polarizers were then tested together to measure the elliptical polarization as a function of the angles of the combination of the two polarizers arranged sequentially on the transmission line. The map of the ellipticity versus grating angles agreed very well with numerical simulations using high-frequency structure simulator. Numerical simulations show that up to eight combinations of rotation angles of the two grating polarizers can provide the same ellipticity but with the varying ohmic loss, thus allowing the choice of settings to minimize the ohmic loss, a necessary consideration to minimize heating effects in megawatt power level systems.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1975

Replica grating study

Methods are outlined which were used to test the response of replica diffraction gratings to a space environment, specifically the response of the replica gratings to thermal-vacuum and electron irradiation stress. It is concluded that there probably is some degradation to thermal stress, but that there is probably no significant degradation due to a vacuum environment. It is further concluded that the degradation of performance of replica gratings because of electron irradiation is due to the interaction of the electrons and the replica grating substrate and not to the replication material itself. Replica and original gratings on the same substrate material should thus respond to particle irradiation in the same manner. A study is presented on the variation of refraction index of a space-related material, Nd:CaF2, with wavelength, percent neodymium doping, and temperature.

Gunter, R. C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Cooled echelle grating spectrometer

A cooled echelle grating spectrometer for detecting wavelengths between one micron and fifteen microns is disclosed. More specifically, the spectrometer has a cross-dispersing grating for ordering infrared energy and an echelle grating for further ordering of the infrared energy. Ordered radiation from the echelle grating is sensed by a detecting means. Also disclosed is use of a Schmidt camera for focusing the further ordered radiation from the echelle grating onto a detector array having individual detectors dispersed on a plane which substantially corresponds to a curved focal plane of the Schmidt camera. A spectrometer constructed according to the teachings of the present invention will continuously cover the spectrum between one micron and fifteen microns and have a resolution of 0.1/cm.

Beer, R.↗