Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Integrated circuits”

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 1,459 records · Page 81
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Modular chip-integrated photonic control of artificial atoms in diamond waveguides

A central goal in creating long-distance quantum networks and distributed quantum computing is the development of interconnected and individually controlled qubit nodes. Atom-like emitters in diamond have emerged as a leading system for optically networked quantum memories, motivating the development of visible-spectrum, multi-channel photonic integrated circuit (PIC) systems for scalable atom control. However, it has remained an open challenge to realize optical programmability with a qubit layer that can achieve high optical detection probability over many optical channels. Here, we address this problem by introducing a modular architecture of piezoelectrically actuated atom-control PICs (APICs) and artificial atoms embedded in diamond nanostructures designed for high-efficiency free-space collection. The high-speed four-channel APIC is based on a splitting tree mesh with triple-phase shifter Mach–Zehnder interferometers. This design simultaneously achieves optically broadband operation at visible wavelengths, high-fidelity switching (>40dB) at low voltages, submicrosecond modulation timescales (>30MHz), and minimal channel-to-channel crosstalk for repeatable optical pulse carving. Via a reconfigurable free-space interconnect, we use the APIC to address single silicon vacancy color centers in individual diamond waveguides with inverse tapered couplers, achieving efficient single photon detection probabilities (∼15%) and second-order autocorrelation measurements g (2) (0)<0.14 for all channels. The modularity of this distributed APIC–quantum memory system simplifies the quantum control problem, potentially enabling further scaling to thousands of channels.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

CMOS photonic integrated source of broadband polarization-entangled photons

We showcase a fully on-chip CMOS-fabricated silicon photonic integrated circuit employing a bidirectionally pumped microring and polarization splitter-rotators tailored for the generation of broadband (>9 THz), high-fidelity (90–98%) polarization-entangled photons. Spanning the optical C+L-band and producing over 116 frequency-bin pairs on a 38.4-GHz-spaced grid, this source is ideal for flex-grid wavelength-multiplexed entanglement distribution in multiuser networks.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrated photonic Galton board and its application for photon counting

The Galton board is a desktop probability machine traditionally used to visualize the principles of statistical physics from classical particles. Here, we demonstrate a photonic Galton board that enables on-chip observation of statistics from single-photon interference. The photonic Galton board consists of a directional coupler matrix terminated by an array of superconducting nanowire detectors to provide spatiotemporal resolution. This design also allows for photon-number-resolving capability, making it suitable for high-speed photon counting. Our results demonstrate the compatibility between single-photon detector array and photonic integrated circuits, paving the way for implementing on-chip large-scale quantum optics experiments and photonic quantum computing.

Qin, Hezheng (ORCID:0009000139348800)↗
DOE OSTI2026

CMOS-fabricated ultraviolet light modulator using low-loss alumina piezo-optomechanical photonics

Ultra-violet (UV) and near-UV wavelengths are necessary for many important optical transitions for quantum technologies and various sensing mechanisms for biological and chemical detection. However, all well-known photonic platforms have excessively high losses in the UV, which has prevented photonic integrated circuits (PICs) being used to address these and other important application spaces. Photonic waveguides using low-loss alumina cores and silicon dioxide cladding have emerged as a promising solution because of alumina’s large optical bandgap and the high quality of films enabled by atomic layer deposition. These properties allow passive, low-loss waveguide operation down to at least 266 nm using multimode widths. However, to the best of our knowledge, active alumina PICs have only been realized using thermo-optic tuning, which precludes switching speeds shorter than approximately 100 microseconds, high circuit densities, and cryogenically compatible operation. Here, we introduce a CMOS-fabricated, piezo-optomechanical PIC platform using alumina waveguides and piezoelectric aluminum nitride strain actuators. The platform allows for sub-microsecond switching times, high circuit densities, and cryogenic operation which is desired in many UV PIC applications. We demonstrate a high-performance, reconfigurable optical filter operating at wavelengths as low as 320 nm. The filter has a 6-nanosecond switching time, a loaded linewidth of 3.3 GHz, tuning rate of 28 V/linewidth, and a hold power of less than 20 nW at one linewidth detuning. This work establishes the foundations for a new class of CMOS-fabricated, rapidly reconfigurable, and low-power UV photonic circuits compatible with wavelengths as low as 225 nm.

Castillo, Zachary A. [Sandia National Laboratories↗
DOE OSTI2021

Dynamic performance and reflection sensitivity of quantum dot distributed feedback lasers with large optical mismatch

This work reports on a high-efficiency InAs/GaAs distributed feedback quantum dot laser. The large optical wavelength detuning at room temperature between the lasing peak and the gain peak causes the static, dynamic, and nonlinear intrinsic properties to all improve with temperature, including the lasing efficiency, the modulation dynamics, the linewidth enhancement factor, and consequently the reflection insensitivity. Results reported show an optimum operating temperature at 75°C, highlighting the potential of the large optical mismatch assisted single-frequency laser for the development of uncooled and isolator-free high-speed photonic integrated circuits.

Dong, Bozhang (ORCID:0000000158266723)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Eliminating Signal Bias Caused by Vacuum System Backstreaming in the Diagnostic Residual Gas Analyzer of ITER

In fusion neutral gas analysis, such as with the Diagnostic Residual Gas Analyzer (DRGA) for ITER, the primary measurement range of interest comprises the low-amu species (1 to 6), especially deuterium and helium. The challenge in successfully obtaining accurate measurements is two-fold. First, the sensitivity of the method must be sufficient to resolve trace amounts accurately; typically, one percent or less. Second, the gas signal from the fusion processes must be free of bias caused by the latent presence (from system outgassing and/or vacuum backstreaming) of these gases to enable accurate interpretation of the measured signal. This latter criterion can be problematic for the lightest gases since there is a propensity for some fraction of the pumped gas load to undergo a phenomenon known as backstreaming. This behavior is manifested in pumping systems for gas properties related to relative atomic weight (lightest) and size (smallest). Backstreaming results in a significant amount of the pumped gas undertaking a reverse flow and re-entering the measurement region; thus, contaminating the forward, real-time measurement. To fully eliminate this adverse effect, a conductance-limiting device – or orifice – has been installed in the high-vacuum pumping system of the present ITER DRGA prototype. The system was already equipped with a secondary turbomolecular pump (TMP), but with limited effectiveness against backstreaming in the inter-pump volume (IPV). This orifice is placed within the suction inlet coupling of the secondary TMP, which is downstream of the IPV. Its objective is to eliminate the backstreaming phenomenon by increasing the back pressure in the IPV. However, the orifice sizing must take into consideration other factors, such as the diagnostic measurement objectives. For example, in the ITER DRGA, one of the measurement requirements is a dynamic response time of ~1s. Fortunately, an added benefit of the pumping restriction created by the orifice is that the upstream pressure increase is beneficial for the DRGA’s optical gas analysis (OGA) sensors. These sensors are attached to the IPV in the present design. The glow discharges, when used as an OGA light source, will typically have a brighter light emission with increasing plasma cell pressure. In addition to the fusion machine research sector, there are other potential applications of this pumping technique where the monitoring of lighter gas concentrations is essential, such as the photolithography process for the semiconductor fabrication of integrated circuits. This presentation will describe the vacuum system used to demonstrate a process to eliminate backstreaming as well as show test results to verify the accomplishment of this critical objective.

Marcus, Chris↗
DOE OSTI2016

Moore’s Law: The Life of Gordon Moore, Silicon Valley’s Quiet Revolutionary Arnold Thackray, David C. Brock, and Rachel Jones

Five decades ago, Gordon Moore, who would go on to co-found Intel Corporation, made a prescient observation about the exponential advance of semiconductor technology with a corresponding decrease in device cost. His prediction about the pace of doubling of the number of transistors in an integrated circuit came to be known eponymously as Moore’s law and has held true for 50 years. He also foresaw, way back in 1965, the development of home computers, electronic controls in automobiles, portable communications systems, and electronic wrist watches. Moore’s fascinating life, characterized by relentless innovation, charity and breathtaking humility, is the subject of this comprehensive authorized biography. The enthralling narrative is the product of collaboration between an academic (Thackray), a technology historian (Brock) and a journalist (Jones), and draws its material from numerous interviews, Moore’s meticulously maintained notes and professional records, personal papers, industry data, published volumes, and news accounts.

biography↗
DOE OSTI2019

Study of Fluctuations in Undulator Radiation in the IOTA Ring at Fermilab

We study turn-by-turn fluctuations in the number of emitted photons in an undulator, installed in the IOTA electron storage ring at Fermilab with an InGaAs PIN photodiode and an integrating circuit. Our study was motivated by the previous experiment *. We propose a theoretical model for the experimental data from * and in our own experiment we attempted to verify the model in an independent and more systematic way. Moreover, these fluctuations are an interesting subject for a study by itself, since they act as a seed for SASE in FELs. We improve the precision of the measurements from * by subtracting the average signal amplitude using a comb filter with a one-turn IOTA delay, and by using a special algorithm for noise subtraction. We obtain a reasonable agreement between our theoretical model and experiment. Along with repeating the experiment from *, which was performed at a constant beam current, we also collect data for fluctuations in undulator light at different beam current values. Lastly, in our experiment we were able to see the transition from Poisson statistics to Super-Poisson statistics for undulator light, whereas in * only the latter statistics was observed.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Study of Fluctuations in Undulator Radiation in the IOTA Ring at Fermilab

We study turn-by-turn fluctuations in the number of emitted photons in an undulator, installed in the IOTA electron storage ring at Fermilab, with an InGaAs PIN photodiode and an integrating circuit. In this paper, we present a theoretical model for the experimental data from previous similar experiments and in our present experiment, we attempt to verify the model in an independent and a more systematic way. Moreover, in our experiment we consider the regime of very small fluctuation when the contribution from the photon shot noise is significant, whereas we believe it was negligible in the previous experiments. Accordingly, we present certain critical improvements in the experimental setup that let us measure such a small fluctuation.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Compressive sensing for nuclear security

Special nuclear material (SNM) detection has applications in nuclear material control, treaty verification, and national security. The neutron and gamma-ray radiation signature of SNMs can be indirectly observed in scintillator materials, which fluoresce when exposed to this radiation. A photomultiplier tube (PMT) coupled to the scintillator material is often used to convert this weak fluorescence to an electrical output signal. The fluorescence produced by a neutron interaction event differs from that of a gamma-ray interaction event, leading to a slightly different pulse in the PMT output signal. The ability to distinguish between these pulse types, i.e., pulse shape discrimination (PSD), has enabled applications such as neutron spectroscopy, neutron scatter cameras, and dual-mode neutron/gamma-ray imagers. In this research, we explore the use of compressive sensing to guide the development of novel mixed-signal hardware for PMT output signal acquisition. Effectively, we explore smart digitizers that extract sufficient information for PSD while requiring a considerably lower sample rate than conventional digitizers. Given that we determine the feasibility of realizing these designs in custom low-power analog integrated circuits, this research enables the incorporation of SNM detection into wireless sensor networks.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2013

High speed, multi-channel, user programmable digital data acquisition system.

As applications for radiation detection become more demanding, and in turn improvements are made in the technology of radiation detection, there is a need for high speed digital detector readout electronics matching these improvements. Specifically, full control over the on-line processing resources of modern digital electronics is desirable so that researchers can develop custom algorithms for special applications.In the proposed effort, the 500 MHz digital readout electronics previously developed by our company will be redesigned to allow user access to the on-line processing resources. In Phase I, the division of online processing into vendor and user firmware sections has been studied on existing hardware. In Phase II, the hardware will be upgraded to better facilitate the division, and the firmware will be restructured into a robust vendor logic block (providing standard functions such as host I/O, on-board memory I/O, energy computation, MCA spectra, timestamps, waveform capture, run statistics, and triggering and timing) and a user logic block for custom algorithms (with templates and examples for frequently used functions). Investigating several options to divide online processing, it was determined that the most promising approach is to “partition” a single FPGA integrated circuit into a vendor and user section, which is supported in newer devices. The analog front end of the existing electronics proved suitable for most applications, in particular high rate measurements with germanium detectors. The design architecture for new electronics was developed, combining one of the new FPGA device with the analog front end.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Student Support for EIPBN 2014 Conference - Final Report

The 58th International Conference on Electron, Ion and Photon Beam Technology and Nanofabrication (EIPBN), 2014, was held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, May 27 to 30, 2014. The EIPBN Conference is recognized as the foremost international meeting dedicated to lithographic science and technology and its application to micro and nanofabrication techniques. The conference brought together 386 engineers and scientists from industries and universities from all over the world to discuss recent progress and future trends. Among the emerging technologies that are within the scope of EIPBN is Nanofabrication for Energy Sources along with nanofabrication for the realization of low power integrated circuits. Every year, EIPBN provides financial support for students to attend the conference. Travel support for 43 students came from a mixture of government agencies and corporate donors. The Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences provided $5,000 to support student travel from US universities to participate at EIPBN 2014 through grant DE-SC0011789.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Complex Amorphous Dielectrics

This work focused on synthesizing a wide range of oxides containing two or more metals, and measuring their properties. Many simple metal oxides such as zirconium oxide, have been extensively studied in the past. We developed a technique in which we create a large number of compositions simultaneously and examine their behavior to understand trends and identify high performance materials. Superior performance generally comes in the form of increased responsiveness; in the materials we have studied this may mean more electrical charge for a given voltage in a capacitor, faster switching for a given drive in a transistor, more current for a given voltage in an ionic conductor, or more current for a given illumination in a solar cell. Some of the materials we have identified may find use in decreasing the power needed to operate integrated circuits, other materials could be useful for solar power or other forms of energy conversion.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2016

PV Systems Reliability Final Technical Report: Ground Fault Detection

We have examined ground faults in PhotoVoltaic (PV) arrays and the efficacy of fuse, current detection (RCD), current sense monitoring/relays (CSM), isolation/insulation (Riso) monitoring, and Ground Fault Detection and Isolation (GFID) using simulations based on a Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis SPICE ground fault circuit model, experimental ground faults installed on real arrays, and theoretical equations.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2017

Ultra-Low Noise Germanium Neutrino Detection system (ULGeN).

Monitoring nuclear power plant operation by measuring the antineutrino flux has become an active research field for safeguards and non-proliferation. We describe various efforts to demonstrate the feasibility of reactor monitoring based on the detection of the Coherent Neutrino Nucleus Scattering (CNNS) process with High Purity Germanium (HPGe) technology. CNNS detection for reactor antineutrino energies requires lowering the electronic noise in low-capacitance kg-scale HPGe detectors below 100 eV as well as stringent reduction in other particle backgrounds. Existing state- of-the-art detectors are limited to an electronic noise of 95 eV-FWHM. In this work, we employed an ultra-low capacitance point-contact detector with a commercial integrated circuit preamplifier- on-a-chip in an ultra-low vibration mechanically cooled cryostat to achieve an electronic noise of 39 eV-FWHM at 43 K. We also present the results of a background measurement campaign at the Spallation Neutron Source to select the area with sufficient low background to allow a successful first-time measurement of the CNNS process.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Zero-Power Radio Device.

This report describes an unpowered radio receiver capable of detecting and responding to weak signals transmit ted from comparatively long distances . This radio receiver offers key advantages over a short range zero - power radio receiver previously described in SAND2004 - 4610, A Zero - Power Radio Receiver . The device described here can be fabricated as an integrated circuit for use in portable wireless devices, as a wake - up circuit, or a s a stand - alone receiver operating in conjunction with identification decoders or other electroni cs. It builds on key sub - components developed at Sandia National Laboratories over many years. It uses surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter technology. It uses custom component design to enable the efficient use of small aperture antennas. This device uses a key component, the pyroelectric demodulator , covered by Sandia owned U.S. Patent 7397301, Pyroelectric Demodulating Detector [1] . This device is also described in Sandia owned U.S. Patent 97266446, Zero Power Receiver [2].

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2018

Visualization of Multi-Dimensional Imaging Data for the DIII-D National Fusion Facility

With funding provided from the Office of Fusion Energy Science’s program on Diagnostic Systems for Magnetic Fusion Energy Sciences, the PI and his team have pioneered the development of microwave imaging systems for magnetic fusion plasma diagnostics. Specifically, electron cyclotron emission (ECE) imaging [1], a passive radiometric technique, measures electron temperature fluctuations; and microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) [2], an active radar imaging technique, measures electron density fluctuations. These microwave imaging diagnostic instruments developed by UC Davis have made important contributions to fusion science in a relatively short period of time from their original installation on DIII-D. The microwave imaging diagnostic technique has matured considerably since the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with DIII-D and PPPL, and has also been adopted at preeminent tokamak facilities worldwide. As discussed in detail in the following, this has continued with the development of revolutionary microwave diagnostic instruments employing monolithic millimeter wave integrated circuit (MMIC) system-on-chip (SoC) technology. Specifically, “chip” receivers mounted in liquid crystal polymer (LCP) modules have been demonstrated to dramatically improve the performance of the electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) system including: 30x improvement in noise temperature thereby permitting absolute 2-D electron temperature images, outstanding shielding against out-of-band interference including microwave bursting which had plagued previous ELM studies using the old quasi-optical mini-lens ECEI system, and independent modules facilitating flexible repair and replacement. Under the “Visualization of multi-dimensional imaging data for the DIII-D National Fusion Facility” program, funding was provided for a research scientist postdoc and a Ph.D. student to support physics studies at DIII-D employing these instruments. This endeavor is synergistic with our current grant under the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program on Diagnostic Systems for Magnetic Fusion Energy Sciences. This support considerably increased the scientific output of the diagnostics. The activities were strongly focused in the areas of pedestal and ELM stability, energetic particle confinement, and the early detection and avoidance of tokamak disruptions employing the microwave imaging diagnostic instruments developed under the advanced diagnostics program where imaging of the ELM crash was made possible by the elimination of the interference from the associated microwave “bursts”

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2019

An ASIC With A Low Power Multichannel ADC For Energy and Timing Measurements

Densely packed gamma-ray imaging and spectroscopy instruments employing high performance multichannel electronics occupy large volume and dissipate excessive power. Therefore, the availability of a low power application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) incorporating multiple channels of ADCs and post processing electronics is of critical importance for nuclear physics (NP) instrumentation. Currently available 12-bit 0.2GSps ADC channel count is usually not exceeding 8. Coarse technologies at 130nm or 180nm node usually used for implementing ADCs do not permit achieving low power consumption and cannot be arrayed on a chip. Thus, a new ADC device is required to satisfy the need of electronics for NP and commercial systems. The research carried out during the Phase I project aimed to prove the feasibility of implementing a 28nm CMOS based 32 channel 12-bit ADC ASIC. Most importantly for NP instrumentation, in addition to including a 32-channel ADC array, our proposed ASIC aims to provide digitized signal post-processing function. In current systems digitized signal post-processing is implemented in FPGAs. Thus, the functionality our ASIC provides is equivalent to the functionality currently realized using 8 ADC parts (each containing 4 channels), an FPGA and a great number of wiring between the ADCs and the FPGA. By using a single part instead of 9, our solution offers a great reduction in volume, power consumption and cost.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗