Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “OPTICAL MODES”

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 127 records · Page 7

Ultralow Thermal Conductivity in Diamond-Like Semiconductors: Selective Scattering of Phonons from Antisite Defects

In this work, we discover anomalously low lattice thermal conductivity (<0.25 W/mK at 300 degrees C) in the Hg-containing quaternary diamond-like semiconductors within the Cu2IIBIVTe4 (IIB: Zn, Cd, Hg) (IV: Si, Ge, Sn) set of compositions. Using high-temperature X-ray diffraction, resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, and transport properties, we uncover the critical role of the antisite defects HgCu and CuHg on phonon transport within the Hg-containing systems. Despite the differences in chemistry between Hg and Cu, the high concentration of these antisite defects emerges from the energetic proximity of the kesterite and stannite cation motifs. Our phonon calculations reveal that heavier group IIB elements not only introduce low-lying optical modes, but the subsequent antisite defects also possess unusually strong point defect phonon scattering power. The scattering strength stems from the fundamentally different vibrational modes supported by the constituent elements (e.g., Hg and Cu). Despite the significant impact on the thermal properties, antisite defects do not negatively impact the mobility (>50 cm2/(Vs) at 300 degrees C) in Hg-containing systems, leading to predicted zT > 1.5 in Cu2HgGeTe4 and Cu2HgSnTe4 under optimized doping. In addition to introducing a potentially new p-type thermoelectric material, this work provides (1) a strategy to use the proximity of phase transitions to increase point defect phonon scattering, and (2) a means to quantify the power of a given point defect through inexpensive phonon calculations.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Optical phonon modes in rhombohedral boron monosulfide under high pressure

Raman spectra of rhombohedral boron monosulfide (r-BS) were measured under pressures up to 34 GPa at room temperature. No pressure-induced structural phase transition was observed, while strong pressure shift of Raman bands towards higher wavenumbers has been revealed. IR spectroscopy as a complementary technique has been used in order to completely describe the phonon modes of r-BS. All experimentally observed bands have been compared with theoretically calculated ones and modes assignment has been performed. r-BS enriched by {sup 10}B isotope was synthesized, and the effect of boron isotopic substitution on Raman spectra was observed and analyzed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Optimization of Stabilization Modes of Optical Frequency Standards Based on the Saturated Absorption Resonance

A theoretical study is carried out within the framework of density matrix formalism of the error signal slope for frequency standards based on the resonance of saturated absorption excited in the field of two counterwaves. Two schemes of error-signal formation are considered: in the first case, the frequency of only the test field is modulated, and, in the second case, the frequency modulation of both waves is carried out. On the basis of the calculations, the optimal parameters of harmonic modulation are determined, at which the slope has the maximum value.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

A Portable 16-channel Magnetic Sensor for Human Magnetocardiographic Experiments

Here, we constructed a portable, low-cost 16-channel magnetic sensor for magnetocardiography (MCG) applications. The sensor is based on a high-sensitivity optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) with a novel configuration of nearly parallel pump and probe laser beams. The OPM-based 16-channel magnetic sensing is realized in a single module by using a fairly large rubidium vapor cell, broad pump/probe laser beams, and a 16-channel photodiode array, leading projected 10-fold reduction of the cost of sensors. The portability of the sensor is achieved by coupling the pump and probe lasers to OPM optics through multi-mode optical fibers. The 16-channel magnetic sensor is surrounded by a non-magnetic enclosure for safe operation. For MCG experiments with the sensor, its main components except lasers are located inside a magnetically shielded room (MSR), which reduces the ambient magnetic noise. The location of lasers and supporting electronics outside the MSR improves the sensitivity of the sensor. We report that the 16-channel magnetic sensor has a magnetic field sensitivity sufficient to directly detect the human cardiac magnetic signals.

16-channel magnetic sensing↗

A ladder of polariton branches formed by coupling an organic semiconductor exciton to a series of closely spaced cavity-photon modes

We construct a microcavity in which the extended optical path length of the cavity (5.9 μm) permits a series of closely spaced optical modes to be supported. By placing a J-aggregated cyanine dye into the cavity, we reach the strong-coupling regime and evidence a simultaneous optical hybridization between the organic-exciton and a number of the confined cavity modes, forming an effective ladder of polariton branches. We explore the emission from such cavities and evidence a polariton-population on adjacent polariton branches around k{sub ∥} = 0.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Selection and amplification of a single optical frequency comb mode for laser cooling of the strontium atoms in an optical clock

In this paper, we report on the active filtering and amplification of a single mode from an optical femtosecond laser comb with mode spacing of 250 MHz by optical injection of two external-cavity diode lasers operating in cascade to build a narrow linewidth laser for laser cooling of the strontium atoms in an optical lattice clock. Despite the low injection of individual comb mode of approximately 50 nW, a single comb line at 689 nm could be filtered and amplified to reach as high as 10 mW with 37 dB side mode suppression and a linewidth of 240 Hz. This method could be applied over a broad spectral band to build narrow linewidth lasers for various applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Piezoelectric Nano-Optomechanical Systems

Lithium niobate, due to its material properties, is often used for optical waveguides, optical modulators, and other linear and nonlinear optical applications. In this research, we present monolithically integrated microdisk resonators with an integrated ground plane fabricated from a commercially purchased lithium niobate on insulator wafer. Using this architecture, we demonstrate excitation of a 167MHz mechanical resonance as well as electro-optic modulation of a 1.93THz optical mode in a free-standing whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator. By hovering a signal probe above the disk while grounding the device using the integrated ground plane, an electric field can be applied across the device which both induces an electro-optic effect as well as drives mechanical motion via the piezoelectric effect. Detection of the mechanical mode and electro-optic shift was performed by coupling to the high quality factor (Q = 454,000) optical modes of the microresonator using a tapered optical fiber.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Quenching rattling modes in skutterudites with pressure

In this paper, a high-pressure study of the lattice dynamics in the filled skutterudite Eu 0.84 Fe 4 Sb 12 was carried out by means of x-ray powder diffraction and nuclear inelastic scattering. The anharmonicity of particular phonon modes was characterized by mode and element specific Grüneisen parameters. The large anharmonicity of the rattling optical mode that is hybridized with the acoustical phonons at ambient pressure is reduced at high pressure as the phonon modes decouple. Finally, this result suggests that anharmonic coupling between acoustic and optical phonon modes plays a central role in the reduced thermal conductivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Optical and mechanical mode tuning in an optomechanical crystal with light-induced thermal effects

We report on the modification of the optical and mechanical properties of a silicon 1D optomechanical crystal cavity due to thermo-optic effects in a high phonon/photon population regime. The cavity heats up due to light absorption in a way that shifts the optical modes towards longer wavelengths and the mechanical modes to lower frequencies. By combining the experimental optical results with finite-difference time-domain simulations, we establish a direct relation between the observed wavelength drift and the actual effective temperature increase of the cavity. By assuming that the Young's modulus decreases accordingly to the temperature increase, we find a good agreement between the mechanical mode drift predicted using a finite element method and the experimental one.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Optical filter having coupled whispering-gallery-mode resonators

Optical filters having at least two coupled whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) optical resonators to produce a second order or higher order filter function with a desired spectral profile. At least one of the coupled WGM optical resonators may be tunable by a control signal to adjust the filtering function.

Savchenkov, Anatoliy↗