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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 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Universal modal radiation laws for all thermal emitters

Significance Radiation laws must relate the fraction of incident radiation absorbed by an object and the amount of radiation emitted when it is hot so that objects can come to the same temperature just by exchanging electromagnetic radiation. Such laws are fundamentally important and set limits to practical applications such as in the conversion of light to electricity and in heat and thermal management generally. Kirchhoff’s classic results work well in many situations, but fail in others (specifically for “nonreciprocal” materials), and were derived using simplified models that do not apply to modern nanotechnology and light beams. We derive revised versions of laws that avoid these problems and discover additional and unexpected radiation laws that substantially expand the fundamental relations between optical absorption and emission.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Brightening of a dark monolayer semiconductor via strong light-matter coupling in a cavity

Engineering the properties of quantum materials via strong light-matter coupling is a compelling research direction with a multiplicity of modern applications. Those range from modifying charge transport in organic molecules, steering particle correlation and interactions, and even controlling chemical reactions. Here, we study the modification of the material properties via strong coupling and demonstrate an effective inversion of the excitonic band-ordering in a monolayer of WSe 2 with spin-forbidden, optically dark ground state. In our experiments, we harness the strong light-matter coupling between cavity photon and the high energy, spin-allowed bright exciton, and thus creating two bright polaritonic modes in the optical bandgap with the lower polariton mode pushed below the WSe 2 dark state. We demonstrate that in this regime the commonly observed luminescence quenching stemming from the fast relaxation to the dark ground state is prevented, which results in the brightening of this intrinsically dark material. We probe this effective brightening by temperature-dependent photoluminescence, and we find an excellent agreement with a theoretical model accounting for the inversion of the band ordering and phonon-assisted polariton relaxation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Phonons reveal coupled cholesterol-lipid dynamics in ternary membranes

Experimental studies of collective dynamics in lipid bilayers have been challenging due to the energy resolution required to observe these low-energy phonon-like modes. However, inelastic X-ray scattering (IXS) measurements — a technique for probing vibrations in soft and biological materials — are now possible with sub-meV resolution, permitting direct observation of low energy, phonon-like modes in lipid membranes. Here, in this study, IXS measurements with sub-meV energy resolution reveal a low-energy optic-like phonon mode at roughly 3 meV in the liquid-ordered (L o ) and liquid-disordered (L d ) phases of a ternary lipid mixture. This mode is only observed experimentally at momentum transfers greater than 5 nm -1 in the L o system. A similar gapped mode is also observed in all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the same mixture, indicating that the simulations accurately represnt the fast, collective dynamics in the L o phase. It’s optical nature and the Q range of the gap together suggest that the observed mode is due to the coupled motion of cholesterol-lipid pairs, separated by several hydrocarbon chains within the membrane plane. Analysis of the simulations provide molecular insight into the origin of the mode in transient, nanoscale substructures of hexagonally packed hydrocarbon chains. This nanoscale hexagonal packing was previously reported based on molecular dynamics simulations and later by NMR measurements. Here, however, the integration of IXS and MD simulations identifies a new signature of the L o substructure in the collective lipid dynamics, thanks to the recent confluence of IXS sensitivity and MD simulation capabilities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-Fluence Active Irradiation and Combined Effects Testing of Sapphire Optical Fiber Distributed Temperature Sensors

The goal of this work was to investigate the in-core performance of sapphire optical fiber temperature sensors and to develop clad sapphire optical fibers for in-core instrumentation. We fabricated clad sapphire optical fibers and evaluated the distributed sensing performance of these sensors via optical backscatter reflectometry under high fluence and combined radiation and temperature effects. A series of irradiations was completed to evaluate the effect of irradiation on sapphire optical fiber temperature sensors and to determine the operational limits of these sensors. (1) Objective 1: Fabricate sapphire optical fiber sensors. (2) Objective 2: Evaluate the clad sapphire fiber to verify single-mode behavior and determine and characterize the light modes supported by optical fibers. (3) Objective 3: Characterize the in-core temperature sensing of sapphire optical fiber, as well as the combined temperature and irradiation effects. (4) Objective 4: Evaluate the lifetime and performance of the sensor under irradiation to high neutron fluence. Objectives 1, 2, and 3 were completed during the first 2 years of the project. Due to the Covid pandemic, Objective 4, a high-fluence irradiation performed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor (MITR), was delayed, as partner facilities were subject to mandatory shutdowns and required a 1 year, no-cost extension. This irradiation was eventually completed on December 12, 2022. This work indicates that sapphire optical fiber sensors may be a solution for ultra-high-temperature applications in which traditional silica optical fibers are prone to fail. Sapphire sensors are potentially suitable for experiments featuring temperatures above 700°C for long periods of time, or for any length of time above 1000°C. Experiments featuring a low total fluence, such as irradiations conducted in the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility, also represent good applications for sapphire optical sensors. Additional work is required to characterize the sapphire fiber cladding performance, which falls outside the scope of this project, as well as the effects of high temperatures on the response of the fiber. A comprehensive material study is recommended as future work to evaluate the attenuation in sapphire under irradiation, and how that attenuation changes with irradiation temperature. The drift and attenuation in the fiber at temperatures of up to 1600°C and a total fluence of up to 2.9 x 10 17 n/cm 2 was minimal, and the fibers returned to baseline after being heated to 1600°C under irradiation. This is promising for the future use of sapphire optical fibers in advanced reactors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1979

Optical feedback effects on the performance of Pb/1-x/Sn/x/Se semiconductor lasers

The effects of optical feedback on the performance of Pb(1-x)Sn(x)Se semiconductor lasers are reported. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate that uncontrolled optical feedback can occur from optics external to the laser cavity and that these external optical elements can result in the formation of a composite cavity. This composite cavity can sustain a number of narrow closely spaced emission modes with the spectral characteristics of these modes dependent upon the parameters of the cavity. With weak feedback, the spectral width of the amplitude envelope of the new lasing modes resembles that of the original laser mode with no optical feedback. With strongly coupled feedback the envelope of the external cavity modes substantially broadens the apparent linewidth of the laser. It is shown that these effects can be eliminated, and, moreover, they offer the potential for obtaining spectrally narrow single-mode emission from Pb-salt lasers through the use of carefully designed external cavities.

Harward, C. N.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Passive state preparation in the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states quantum key distribution

In the Gaussian-modulated coherent-states (GMCS) quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol, Alice prepares quantum states actively: For each transmission, Alice generates a pair of Gaussian-distributed random numbers, encodes them on a weak coherent pulse using optical amplitude and phase modulators, and then transmits the Gaussian-modulated weak coherent pulse to Bob. Here we propose a passive state preparation scheme using a thermal source. In our scheme, Alice splits the output of a thermal source into two spatial modes using a beam splitter. She measures one mode locally using conjugate optical homodyne detectors, and transmits the other mode to Bob after applying appropriate optical attenuation. Under normal conditions, Alice's measurement results are correlated to Bob's, and they can work out a secure key, as in the active state preparation scheme. Given the initial thermal state generated by the source is strong enough, this scheme can tolerate high detector noise at Alice's side. Furthermore, the output of the source does not need to be single mode, since an optical homodyne detector can selectively measure a single mode determined by the local oscillator. Preliminary experimental results suggest that the proposed scheme could be implemented using an off-the-shelf amplified spontaneous emission source.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Role of Gd{sup 3+} ion on downshifting and upconversion emission properties of Pr{sup 3+}, Yb{sup 3+} co-doped YNbO{sub 4} phosphor and sensitization effect of Bi{sup 3+} ion

Dual-mode luminescence (downshifting-DS and upconversion-UC) properties of Pr{sup 3+}/Yb{sup 3+} co-doped Y{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x}NbO{sub 4} (x = 0.0, 0.5, and 1.0) phosphors synthesized by solid state reaction technique have been explored with and without Gd{sup 3+} ion. The structural characterizations (XRD, SEM, and FTIR) confirm the pure phase of YNbO{sub 4} phosphor. Further, with the Gd{sup 3+} ion co-doping, the YNbO{sub 4} phosphors having a random shape and the large particle size are found to be transformed into nearly spherical shape particles with the reduced particle size. The optical band gaps (E{sub g}) of Y{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x}NbO{sub 4} (x = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00) calculated from UV-Vis-NIR measurements are ∼3.69, 4.00, 4.38, and 4.44 eV, respectively. Moreover, YNbO{sub 4} phosphor is a promising blue emitting material, whereas Y{sub 1−x−y−z}Pr{sub y}Yb{sub z}Gd{sub x}NbO{sub 4} phosphor gives intense green, blue, and red emissions via dual-mode optical processes. The broad blue emission arises due to (NbO{sub 4}){sup 3−} group of the host with λ{sub ex} = 264 nm, whereas Pr{sup 3+} doped YNbO{sub 4} phosphor gives dominant red and blue emissions along with comparatively weak green emission on excitation with λ{sub ex} = 300 nm and 491 nm. The concentration dependent variation in emission intensity at 491 nm ({sup 3}P{sub 0}→{sup 3}H{sub 4} transition) and 612 nm ({sup 1}D{sub 2}→{sup 3}H{sub 4} transition); at 612 nm ({sup 1}D{sub 2}→{sup 3}H{sub 4} transition) and 658 nm ({sup 3}P{sub 0}→{sup 3}F{sub 2} transition) of Pr{sup 3+} ion in YNbO{sub 4} phosphor with λ{sub ex} = 300 nm and 491 nm excitations, respectively, has been thoroughly explored and explained by the cross-relaxation process through different channels. The sensitization effect of Bi{sup 3+} ion co-doping on DS properties of the phosphor has also been studied. The observed DS results have been optimized by varying the concentration of Pr{sup 3+} and Bi{sup 3+} ions, and the results are explained by the well-known simple band structure model. The study of Gd{sup 3+} co-doping reveals noticeable differences in DS characteristics of Y{sub 1−x}Pr{sub x}NbO{sub 4} phosphors: the overall decrement and increment (except for 612 nm emission) in intensity of DS emission on excitation with λ{sub ex} = 264 nm and 491 nm, respectively. These observations have been thoroughly explained, and the {sup 1}D{sub 2}→{sup 3}H{sub 4} transition (612 nm) of Pr{sup 3+} ion is found to be strongly dependent on surrounding environment of the host matrix. The UC properties of Y{sub 0.95−x}Pr{sub x}Yb{sub 0.05}NbO{sub 4} phosphors have been explored using Near Infra-Red (NIR) excitation. The material gives intense green and relatively weak blue and red UC emissions with λ{sub ex} = 980 nm. Interestingly, the UC emission intensity is further enhanced in the case of Y{sub 0.949−x}Pr{sub 0.001}Yb{sub 0.05}Gd{sub x}NbO{sub 4} phosphors. In addition, the less explored laser induced heating effect with the pump power as well as the irradiation time on the UC emission has been explored in Y{sub 0.949−x}Pr{sub 0.001}Yb{sub 0.05}Gd{sub x}NbO{sub 4} (x = 0, 0.5, and 0.949) phosphor samples, and subsequently, this feature has been found to be superior for Gd{sub 0.949}Pr{sub 0.001}Yb{sub 0.05}NbO{sub 4} phosphor. The comparative study between the two hosts, viz., YNbO{sub 4} and GdNbO{sub 4} shows that GdNbO{sub 4} is better than YNbO{sub 4} for UC emission behavior; however, a reverse is observed as for as DS behavior is concerned only for the particular excitation wavelength (λ{sub ex} = 264 nm).

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Generation of Hermite–Gaussian modes of high-power femtosecond laser radiation using binary-phase diffractive optical elements

We present the results of experiments on generation of Hermite–Gaussian modes up to the third order inclusive using binary-phase diffractive optical elements (DOEs) illuminated by subterawatt femtosecond laser pulses. We perform a compariosn of the mode formation using DOEs designed by the kinoform method and the fractional coding technique, when the DOEs are illuminated by both femtosecond radiation and cw laser radiation at close wavelengths. (laser beams)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

1.3-µm passively mode-locked quantum dot lasers epitaxially grown on silicon: gain properties and optical feedback stabilization

Abstract This work reports on an investigation of the optical feedback in an InAs/InGaAs passively mode-locked quantum dot (QD) laser epitaxially grown on silicon. Under the stably-resonant optical feedback condition, experiments demonstrate that the radio-frequency linewidth is narrowed whatever the bias voltage applied on the saturable absorber (SA) is; on the other hand, the effective linewidth enhancement factor of the device increases with the reverse bias voltage on the SA, hence it is observed that such an increase influences the mode-locking dynamic and the stability of device under optical feedback. This work gives insights for stabilizing epitaxial QD mode-locked lasers on silicon which is meaningful for their applications in future large-scale silicon electronic and photonic applications requiring low power consumption as well as for high-speed photonic analog-to-digital conversion, intrachip/interchip optical clock distribution and recovery.

Dong, Bozhang (ORCID:0000000158266723)↗
NASA NTRS1992

Two-mode elliptical-core weighted fiber sensors for vibration analysis

Two-mode, elliptical-core optical fibers are demonstrated in weighted, distributed and selective vibration-mode-filtering applications. We show how appropriate placement of optical fibers on a vibrating structure can lead to vibration mode filtering. Selective vibration-mode suppression on the order of 10 dB has been obtained using tapered two-mode, circular-core fibers with tapering functions that match the second derivatives of the modes of vibration to be enhanced. We also demonstrate the use of chirped, two-mode gratings in fibers as spatial modal sensors that are equivalents of shaped piezoelectric sensors.

Vengsarkar, Ashish M.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Coupled order parameters and photoinduced domain walls in the charge density wave of (TaSe 4 ) 2 I

The charge density wave in (TaSe 4 ) 2 I has drawn much attention recently as a controversial candidate for an axion insulator where the CDW breaks the chiral symmetry of the Weyl semimetal. Here we use ultrafast x-ray scattering to study the collective modes of this CDW. By measuring several diffraction peaks we find that the order parameter involves coupled optical and acoustic modes. For strong near-infrared excitation, the dynamics of the x-ray diffraction show evidence of photoinduced inversion of both components of the CDW order parameter, and associated domain walls. These results demonstrate the potential of ultrafast methods to induce topological defects through highly nonequilibrium dynamics. In (TaSe 4 ) 2 I these defects should lead to exotic electronic states due to the nontrivial topology of the band structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Selective acoustic control of photon-mediated qubit-qubit interactions

Quantum technologies such as quantum sensing, quantum imaging, quantum communications, and quantum computing rely on the ability to actively manipulate the quantum state of light and matter. Quantum emitters, such as color centers trapped in solids, are a useful platform for the realization of elementary building blocks (qubits) of quantum information systems. In particular, the modular nature of such solid-state devices opens up the possibility to connect them into quantum networks and create nonclassical states of light shared among many qubits. The function of a quantum network relies on efficient and controllable interactions among individual qubits. In this context, we present a scheme where optically active qubits of differing excitation energies are mutually coupled via a dispersive interaction with a shared mode of an optical cavity. This generally off-resonant interaction is prohibitive of direct exchange of information among the qubits. However, we propose a scheme in which by acoustically modulating the qubit excitation energies it is, in fact, possible to tune to resonance a preselected pair of qubits and thus open a communication channel between them. This method potentially enables fast (approximately nanoseconds) and parallelizable on-demand control of a large number of physical qubits. In this work, we develop an analytical and a numerical theoretical model demonstrating this principle and suggest feasible experimental scenarios to test the theoretical predictions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Meta-Optical Chirality and Emergent Eigen-polarization Modes via Plasmon Interactions

The response of an individual meta-atom is often generalized to explain the collective response of a metasurface in a manner that neglects the interactions between meta-atoms. Here, we study a metasurface composed of tilted achiral meta-atoms with no spatial variation of the unit cell that derives appreciable optical chirality solely from the asymmetric interactions between meta-atoms. The interactions between meta-atoms are considered to stem from the Lorentz force arising from the Larmor radiation of adjacent plasmonic resonators because their inclusion in a simple model accurately predicts the bonding/anti- bonding modes that are measured experimentally. We also experimentally observe the emergence of multiple polarization eigenmodes, among other polarization-dependent responses, which cannot be modeled with the conventional formalism of transmission matrices. Our results are vital to the precise characterization and design of metasurfaces.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nonlinear Spectroscopy of Collective Modes in an Excitonic Insulator

The nonlinear optical response of an excitonic insulator coupled to lattice degrees of freedom is shown to depend in strong and characteristic ways on whether the insulating behavior originates primarily from electron-electron or electron-lattice interactions. Linear response optical signatures of the massive phase mode and the amplitude (Higgs) mode are identified. Upon nonlinear excitation resonant to the phase mode, a new in-gap mode at twice the phase mode frequency is induced, leading to a huge second harmonic response. Excitation of in-gap phonon modes leads to different and much smaller effects. A Landau-Ginzburg theory analysis explains these different behaviors and reveals that a parametric resonance of the strongly excited phase mode is the origin of the photoinduced mode in the electron-dominant case. Here, the difference in the nonlinear optical response serves as a measure of the dominant mechanism of the ordered phase.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Noncolinear optical parametric oscillator for broadband nanosecond pulse-burst CARS diagnostics in gases

We report demonstration of broadband nanosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) using a burst-mode-pumped noncolinear optical parametric oscillator (NOPO) has been achieved at a pulse repetition rate of 40 kHz. The NOPO is pumped with the 355-nm output of a burst-mode Nd:YAG laser at 50 mJ/pulse for 45 pulses and produces an output centered near 607 nm, with a bandwidth of 370 cm –1 at energies of 5 mJ/pulse. A planar BOXCARS phase matching scheme uses the broadband NOPO output as the Stokes beam and the narrowband 532-nm burst-mode output for the two CARS pump beams for single-laser-shot nitrogen thermometry in near adiabatic H 2 /air flames at temperatures up to 2200 K.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2020

System and method for plasmonic control of short pulses in optical fibers

The present disclosure relates to an optical waveguide system. The system may include a first waveguide having a core-guide and a material portion surrounding and encasing the core-guide. The core-guide enables a core-guide mode for an optical signal travelling through the core-guide. A second waveguide forms a lossy waveguide on an outer surface of the first waveguide. The construction of the second waveguide is such as to achieve a desired coupling between the core-guide mode and the lossy waveguide to control an energy level of the optical signal travelling through the core-guide.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Chirped soliton solutions in optical medium

In this paper, we study a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with quintic nonlinearity, self-steepening and self-frequency shift terms describing the polarization mode in an optical fiber. As results, several new chirped soliton solutions not yet reported in the literature are obtained. These solutions are found without using computer codes. The solutions are bright, dark and cnoidal solitons. The method used here is very effective and simple and can be applied to other types of nonlinear equations.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
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↗