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At least 829 records · Page 46

Optical and Thermal Analyses of High-Power Laser Diode Arrays

An important need, especially for space-borne applications, is the early identification and rejection of laser diode arrays which may fail prematurely. The search for reliable failure predictors is ongoing and has led to the development of two techniques, infrared imagery and monitoring the Temporally-resolved and Spectrally-Resolved (TSR) optical output from which temperature of the device can be measured. This is in addition to power monitoring on long term burn stations. A direct measurement of the temperature of the active region is an important parameter as the lifetime of Laser Diode Arrays (LDA) decreases exponentially with increasing temperature. We measure the temperature from time-resolving the spectral emission in an analogous method to Voss et al. In this paper we briefly discuss the measurement setup and present temperature data derived from thermal images and TSR data for two differently designed high-power 808 nanometer LDA packages of similar specification operated in an electrical and thermal environment that mimic the expected operational conditions.

Vasilyev, Aleksey↗

An Integrated 520-600 GHz Sub-Harmonic Mixer and Tripler Combination Based on GaAs MMIC Membrane Planar Schottky Diodes

We present here the design, development and test of an integrated sub-millimeter front-end featuring a 520-600 GHz sub-harmonic mixer and a 260-300 GHz frequency tripler in a single cavity. Both devices used GaAs MMIC membrane planar Schottky diode technology. The sub-harmonic mixer/tripler circuit has been tested using conventional machined as well as silicon micro-machined blocks. Measurement results on the metal block give best DSB mixer noise temperature of 2360 K and conversion losses of 7.7 dB at 520 GHz. Preliminary results on the silicon micro-machined blocks give a DSB mixer noise temperature of 4860 K and conversion losses of 12.16 dB at 540 GHz. The LO input power required to pump the integrated tripler/sub-harmonic mixer for both packages is between 30 and 50 mW.

Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit, (MMIC)↗

An Integrated 520-600 GHz Sub-Harmonic Mixer and Tripler Combination Based on GaAs MMIC Membrane Planar Schottky Diodes

We present here the design, development and test of an integrated sub-millimeter front-end featuring a 520-600 GHz sub-harmonic mixer and a 260-300 GHz frequency tripler in a single cavity. Both devices used GaAs MMIC membrane planar Schottky diode technology. The sub-harmonic mixer/tripler circuit has been tested using conventional machined as well as silicon micro-machined blocks. Measurement results on the metal block give best DSB mixer noise temperature of 2360 K and conversion losses of 7.7 dB at 520 GHz. Preliminary results on the silicon micro-machined blocks give a DSB mixer noise temperature of 4860 K and conversion losses of 12.16 dB at 540 GHz. The LO input power required to pump the integrated tripler/sub-harmonic mixer for both packages is between 30 and 50 mW

passively cooled detectors↗

Reliability improvements in tunable Pb1-xSnxSe diode lasers

Recent developments in the technology of Pb-salt diode lasers which have led to significant improvements in reliability and lifetime, and to improved operation at very long wavelengths are described. A combination of packaging and contacting-metallurgy improvements has led to diode lasers that are stable both in terms of temperature cycling and shelf-storage time. Lasers cycled over 500 times between 77 K and 300 K have exhibited no measurable changes in either electrical contact resistance or threshold current. Utilizing metallurgical contacting process, both lasers and experimental n-type and p-type bulk materials are shown to have electrical contact resistance values that are stable for shelf storage periods well in excess of one year. Problems and experiments which have led to devices with improved performance stability are discussed. Stable device configurations achieved for material compositions yielding lasers which operate continuously at wavelengths as long as 30.3 micrometers are described.

Linden, K. J.↗

Fully Integrated, Miniature, High-Frequency Flow Probe Utilizing MEMS Leadless SOI Technology

This work focused on developing, fabricating, and fully calibrating a flowangle probe for aeronautics research by utilizing the latest microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), leadless silicon on insulator (SOI) sensor technology. While the concept of angle probes is not new, traditional devices had been relatively large due to fabrication constraints; often too large to resolve flow structures necessary for modern aeropropulsion measurements such as inlet flow distortions and vortices, secondary flows, etc. Mea surements of this kind demanded a new approach to probe design to achieve sizes on the order of 0.1 in. (.3 mm) diameter or smaller, and capable of meeting demanding requirements for accuracy and ruggedness. This approach invoked the use of stateof- the-art processing techniques to install SOI sensor chips directly onto the probe body, thus eliminating redundancy in sensor packaging and probe installation that have historically forced larger probe size. This also facilitated a better thermal match between the chip and its mount, improving stability and accuracy. Further, the leadless sensor technology with which the SOI sensing element is fabricated allows direct mounting and electrical interconnecting of the sensor to the probe body. This leadless technology allowed a rugged wire-out approach that is performed at the sensor length scale, thus achieving substantial sensor size reductions. The technology is inherently capable of high-frequency and high-accuracy performance in high temperatures and harsh environments.

Ned, Alex↗

radkit v1.2

The radkit software suite (python) consists of three primary libraries: stark, trajan, and curie. The trajan library provides the tools to analyze and manipulate data from lidar and inertial measurement unit (IMU) devices as well as trajectories from algorithms such as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). These components allow reading and writing standard data formats, performing rigid affine transformations, discretizing three-dimensional space, and visualizing data products. The curie library comprises a standard set of object-oriented tools for radiation data and analysis in the following modules: (1) listmode and binmode data classes with methods for manipulation, plotting, slicing and file IO; (2) radiological/nuclear source detection/identification analysis results; (3) source encounters of correlated analyses and (4) energy-dependent angular detector response functions. The stark package provides low-level tools that are leveraged by both curie and trajan. The tools are flexible for offline analysis as well as performant for real-time integrations. The radkit libraries have associated Robot Operating System packages for use in real-time and robotic systems.

Joshi, Tenzing↗

Mid infrared LHS system packaging using flexible waveguides

As mid IR fiber optic systems are rapidly approaching a reality, so is the feasibility of fiber optic laser heterodyne systems. Laser heterodyne spectroscopy for high resolution monitoring of atmospheric gaseous pollutants is necessarily in the mid IR, the region in which the absorption signature of gaseous species is most prominent. It so happens that the lowest theoretical loss due to Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering also lies in the mid IR. Prospects of highly efficient laser heterodyne systems are thus very good. Such fibers are now beginning to be commercially available, and a test program is being conducted for such fibers with ambient temperature ranging from cryogenic to above room, and stringest mechanical flexibility requirements. Preliminary results are encouraging. A program is being started to explore the possibility of mid IR fiber optic device applications, by taking advantage of this phonon rich region. The potential long interaction length in fibers coupled with predicted extremely low losses point to stimulated Brillouin scattering based devices in the mW range. The generation of backscattered sBs at low laser powers is significant not only as an ultimate power limiting factor for laser transmission in fibers in the mid IR, but also the presence of frequency-shifted multiple order sBs Stokes and antiStokes lines will certainly have severe effect on the laser beats crucial in high resolution heterodyne spectroscopy.

Yu, Chung↗

radkit base v1.6

The radkit (base) software suite (python) consists of three primary libraries: stark, trajan, and curie. The trajan library provides the tools to analyze and manipulate data from lidar and inertial measurement unit (IMU) devices, cameras, as well as trajectories from algorithms such as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). These components allow reading and writing standard data formats, performing rigid affine transformations, discretizing three-dimensional space, and visualizing data products. The curie library comprises a standard set of object-oriented tools for radiation data and analysis in the following modules: (1) listmode and binmode data classes with methods for manipulation, plotting, slicing and file IO; (2) radiological/nuclear source detection/identification analysis results; (3) source encounters of correlated analyses and (4) energy-dependent angular detector response functions. The stark package provides low-level tools that are leveraged by both curie and trajan. The tools are flexible for offline analysis as well as performant for real-time integrations.

Salathe, Marco [Lawrence Berkeley National Laborat↗

Final Technical Report - Rapid Surface Microanalysis using a Low Temperature Plasma

This project focused on improving our current understanding and scientific knowledge in the area of plasma-surface interactions and plasma assisted material synthesis related to advanced microelectronics and nanotechnology. Current challenges include: controlling the interaction of Low Temperature Plasma (LTP) with a single layer of atoms to manufacture integrated circuits, continued miniaturization of integrated circuits, LTP processing of material surfaces and thin films to enable industrial scale fabrication of advanced microelectronics, synthesis of new materials, nanomaterials, nanotubes, and complex materials, Technology developed in this subtopic is of value to either (i) enable scans of surfaces (~1 sq. cm area) using various microscopies (electron, optical, other) at high resolution (micron or sub-micron resolution) rapidly (hours or days rather than years to complete a high-resolution scan of such a large surface area), or (ii) enable scans of surfaces (~1 sq. cm area) using various microscopies (electron, optical, other) at relatively low resolution rapidly, then apply algorithms to select spots for micron-scale imaging. Sputtering occurs when particles of a solid material are ejected from its surface by energetic particles from a plasma. While the degradation of the solid material and the subsequent deposition of the ejected material onto vulnerable surfaces are the usual subjects of sputtering studies, plasma science has yet to be combined with sputtering to create new diagnostics devices and systems. Small changes in the design of the plasma discharge device make it possible to create broad plasma beams for rapid scanning or small plasma beams to obtain the distribution of ejected elements with micron resolution. In the high-resolution use, the ion flux is extracted from the gas-discharge plasma and focused by a spherical emission surface to micron sizes onto the target specimen, providing very local sputtering and local elemental analysis. We call this “self-focusing”. The radiation from the excited and ionized sputtered atoms is recorded by a spectrometer through a window and fiberglass cable and analyzed with standard software packages used for optical glow discharge spectroscopy. Computer simulations of beam formation were used to verify and optimize the designs to be tested. A prototype was designed, constructed, and used to start experiments of beam formation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

ISSI IS46DR16640B-25DBA25 DDR2 SDRAM Total Ionizing Dose Characterization Test Report

The purpose of this testing is to characterize the ISSI IS46DR16640B-25DBA25 parameter degradation for total dose response. This test’s purpose is to evaluate and compare lot date codes for sensitivity. In the test, the device is exposed to both low dose and high dose rate (HDR) irradiations using gamma radiation. Device parameters such as leakage currents, quantity of upset bits or addresses, and overall chip and die health are investigated to determine which lot is more robust. These parameters directly affect the functionality of the memory within a system and may determine thresholds necessary to mitigate failure.

Total Ionizing Dose (TID)↗

Variability and associated uncertainty in image analysis for soiling characterization in solar energy systems

The accumulation of soiling on photovoltaic modules and on the mirrors of concentrating solar power systems causes non-negligible energy losses with economic consequences. These challenges can be mitigated, or even prevented, through appropriate actions if the magnitude of soiling is known. Particle counting analysis is a common procedure to characterize soiling, as it can be easily performed on micrographs of glass coupons or solar devices that have been exposed to the environment. Particle counting does not, however, yield invariant results across institutions. The particle size distribution analysis is affected by the operator of the image analysis software and the methodology utilized. The results of a round-robin study are presented in this work to explore and elucidate the uncertainty related to particle counting and its effect on the characterization of the soiling of glass surfaces used in solar energy conversion systems. An international group of soiling experts analyzed the same 8 micrographs using the same open-source ImageJ software package. The variation in the particle analyses results were investigated to identify specimen characteristics with the lowest coefficient of variation (CV) and the least uncertainty among the various operators. The mean particle diameter showed the lowest CV among the investigated characteristics, whereas the number of particles exhibited the largest CV. Additional parameters, such as the fractional area coverage by particles and parameters related to the distribution's shape yielded intermediate CV values. These results can provide insights on the magnitude inter-lab variability and uncertainty for optical and microscope-based soiling monitoring and characterization.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Progress Toward a Format Standard for Flight Dynamics Models

In the beginning, there was FORTRAN, and it was... not so good. But it was universal, and all flight simulator equations of motion were coded with it. Then came ACSL, C, Ada, C++, C#, Java, FORTRAN-90, Matlab/Simulink, and a number of other programming languages. Since the halcyon punch card days of 1968, models of aircraft flight dynamics have proliferated in training devices, desktop engineering and development computers, and control design textbooks. With the rise of industry teaming and increased reliance on simulation for procurement decisions, aircraft and missile simulation models are created, updated, and exchanged with increasing frequency. However, there is no real lingua franca to facilitate the exchange of models from one simulation user to another. The current state-of-the-art is such that several staff-months if not staff-years are required to 'rehost' each release of a flight dynamics model from one simulation environment to another one. If a standard data package or exchange format were to be universally adopted, the cost and time of sharing and updating aerodynamics, control laws, mass and inertia, and other flight dynamic components of the equations of motion of an aircraft or spacecraft simulation could be drastically reduced. A 2002 paper estimated over $ 6 million in savings could be realized for one military aircraft type alone. This paper describes the efforts of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) to develop a standard flight dynamic model exchange standard based on XML and HDF-5 data formats.

Jackson, E. Bruce↗

The Virtual Tablet: Virtual Reality as a Control System

In the field of human-computer interaction, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have been rapidly growing areas of interest and concerted development effort thanks to both private and public research. At NASA, a number of groups have explored the possibilities afforded by AR and VR technology, among which is the IT Advanced Concepts Lab (ITACL). Within ITACL, the AVR (Augmented/Virtual Reality) Lab focuses on VR technology specifically for its use in command and control. Previous work in the AVR lab includes the Natural User Interface (NUI) project and the Virtual Control Panel (VCP) project, which created virtual three-dimensional interfaces that users could interact with while wearing a VR headset thanks to body- and hand-tracking technology. The Virtual Tablet (VT) project attempts to improve on these previous efforts by incorporating a physical surrogate which is mirrored in the virtual environment, mitigating issues with difficulty of visually determining the interface location and lack of tactile feedback discovered in the development of previous efforts. The physical surrogate takes the form of a handheld sheet of acrylic glass with several infrared-range reflective markers and a sensor package attached. Using the sensor package to track orientation and a motion-capture system to track the marker positions, a model of the surrogate is placed in the virtual environment at a position which corresponds with the real-world location relative to the user's VR Head Mounted Display (HMD). A set of control mechanisms is then projected onto the surface of the surrogate such that to the user, immersed in VR, the control interface appears to be attached to the object they are holding. The VT project was taken from an early stage where the sensor package, motion-capture system, and physical surrogate had been constructed or tested individually but not yet combined or incorporated into the virtual environment. My contribution was to combine the pieces of hardware, write software to incorporate each piece of position or orientation data into a coherent description of the object's location in space, place the virtual analogue accordingly, and project the control interface onto it, resulting in a functioning object which has both a physical and a virtual presence. Additionally, the virtual environment was enhanced with two live video feeds from cameras mounted on the robotic device being used as an example target of the virtual interface. The working VT allows users to naturally interact with a control interface with little to no training and without the issues found in previous efforts.

virtual control interface↗

Low Noise Frequency-Domain Multiplexing of TES Bolometers Using SQUIDs at Sub-Kelvin Temperature

Digital Frequency-Domain Multiplexing (DfMux) is a technique that uses MHz superconducting resonators and Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) arrays to read out sets of transition edge sensors. DfMux has been used by several Cosmic Microwave Background experiments, including most recently POLARBEAR-2 and SPT-3 G with multiplexing factors as high as 68, and is the baseline readout technology for the planned satellite mission LiteBIRD. Here, we present recent work focused on improving DfMux readout noise, reducing parasitic impedance, and improving sensor operation. We have achieved a substantial reduction in stray impedance by integrating the sensors, resonators, and SQUID array onto a single-carrier board operated at 250 mK. This also drastically simplifies the packaging of the cryogenic components and leads to better-controlled crosstalk. We demonstrate a low readout noise level of 8.6 pA/Hz1 1/2 , which was made possible by operating the SQUID array at a reduced temperature and with a low dynamic impedance. This is a factor of two improvement compared to the achieved readout noise level in currently operating Cosmic Microwave Background experiments using DfMux and represents a critical step toward maturation of the technology for the next generation of instruments.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Cost Estimates of Roll-to-Roll Production of Organic Light Emitting Devices for Lighting

White organic light emitting devices (WOLEDs) offerdistinct advantages as solid state lighting sources, including high energy efficiency, superior color quality,and a flexible, thin profile that can accommodate a vast array of possible fixture designs. Recent advances in device lifetime and high speed deposition suggest that mass production of WOLED panels is approaching an inflection point. To understand the tradeoffs in the volume manufacturing of WOLED lighting panels, in this work, we estimate the cost of white WOLED panel production based on vacuum and vapor phase deposition in a roll-to-roll production line envisioned to yield an annual capacity of at least 6 × 10 6 m 2 . Assuming a WOLED operating luminance at 10 klm/m 2 , we anticipate a $\$12.5$ /klm cost of a WOLED light engine that includes the cost of the current driverand packaging. With incremental reduction in material and driver costs and improved luminance, the costof WOLED lighting can be reduced to $\$6.3$ /klm in thenear term, potentially positioning WOLEDs for use innumerous premium lighting applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Single-Phase Dielectric Fluid Thermal Management for Power-Dense Automotive Power Electronics

This paper describes the design and performance of a dielectric fluid cooling concept for automotive power electronics. The concept combines a low-thermal-resistance package (which eliminates metalized ceramic substrates) with a high-performance convective cooling strategy (slot jets impinging on finned surfaces). Modeling was first used to design the cooling system to maximize thermal performance and minimize pumping power. Additionally, a prototype was then fabricated, and experiments were conducted to validate the model predictions using three fluids at various fluid flow rates (16.7 cm 3 /s [1 L/min] to 68.3 cm 3 /s [4.1 L/min]) and inlet temperatures (30C and 70C). The final design was compact (120-cm 3 total volume, including heat exchanger and conceptual power modules) and cooled 12 devices (e.g., silicon carbide). The validated model was then used to predict the junction-to-fluid thermal resistance and pumping power for various conditions, including 40C fluid temperature. The results predict thermal resistance values as low as 19 mm 2 K/W are possible using the dielectric fluid cooling approach. The dielectric fluid cooling system is predicted to provide thermal resistance and pumping power values that are approximately 56% and 90% lower, respectively, compared to an automotive power electronics cooling system.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

[Presentation Slides] Code-to-Code Benchmark Study for Thermal Stress Modeling and Preliminary Analysis of the High-temperature Single Heat-Pipe Experiment

In the heat-pipe-cooled microreactor, heat pipes remove heat from the reactor core as a passive heat-transfer device, so the fluid circulation is not required for cooling, which can substantially simplify the overall reactor design. However, given the extremely high temperatures in the core region and potentially large temperature gradients across the structure materials, thermal stresses need to be well-analyzed to ensure structural integrity during normal operations and accident scenarios. This presentation slides discuss finite element method-based thermal-stress analysis for the high-temperature single heat-pipe test article in the Single Primary Heat Extraction and Removal Emulator (SPHERE) facility at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), using two commercial software packages, Abaqus and Star-CCM+. A code-to-code benchmark study was performed to crosscheck the model setup and capability of each code and to gain preliminary insights into the potential thermal stress concerns from the current experimental setup. It is observed the significant thermal stresses happen at the inner surface of the heat pipe hole surrounded by electric heaters where the largest temperature gradients appear. The temperature fields have good agreements between Abaqus and Star-CCM+, while the induced thermal stresses show modest deviations probably due to differences of meshing engines used in these two codes. It is found that the local maximum thermal stresses may reach close to the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of structural material depending on the heater power. Ultimately, the coupled thermal-structural analysis will help guide the current experimental plan and ensure the facility safety for future experimental study.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

$\mathrm{DRAGON}$: A multi-GPU orbital-free density functional theory molecular dynamics simulation package for modeling of warm dense matter

As progress in electronic structure theoretical methods is made, ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) based on orbital-free density functional theory (OF-DFT) is becoming increasingly more successful at substituting the traditional, very accurate but computationally costly Kohn–Sham (KS) approach for simulations of matter at the challenging warm dense matter (WDM) regime. However, despite the significant cost alleviation of eliminating the dependence on the KS orbitals, OF-DFT MD runs require ~10 2 to 10 3 CPU cores running for days, or even weeks, for simulations of systems comprised of 10 2 to 10 3 atoms, depending on thermodynamic conditions. Here we present DRAGON, a multi-GPU OF-DFT MD code for fast and efficient simulations of WDM. With a relatively small allocation of resources (4 to 8 GPU devices) it can provide an order of magnitude speedup for simulations containing $\mathscr{O}$(10 4 ) atoms and target systems composed of $\mathscr{O}$(10 5 ) atoms at conditions within the WDM regime, which is currently outside the capabilities of CPU codes.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗