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Photonic lantern adaptive spatial mode control in LMA fiber amplifiers

Published in:
Opt. Express, Vol. 24, No. 4, 22 February 2016, pp. 3405-13.

Summary

We demonstrate adaptive-spatial mode control (ASMC) in few-moded double-clad large mode area (LMA) fiber amplifiers by using an all-fiber-based photonic lantern. Three single-mode fiber inputs are used to adaptively inject the appropriate superposition of input modes in a multimode gain fiber to achieve the desired mode at the output. By actively adjusting the relative phase of the single-mode inputs, near-unity coherent combination resulting in a single fundamental mode at the output is achieved.
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Summary

We demonstrate adaptive-spatial mode control (ASMC) in few-moded double-clad large mode area (LMA) fiber amplifiers by using an all-fiber-based photonic lantern. Three single-mode fiber inputs are used to adaptively inject the appropriate superposition of input modes in a multimode gain fiber to achieve the desired mode at the output. By...

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Raman spectra and cross sections of ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, phosgene, and sulfur dioxide toxic gases in the fingerprint region 400-1400 cm-1

Published in:
AIP Advances, Vol. 6, No. 2, February 2016, 025310, doi: 10.1063/1.4942109.

Summary

Raman spectra of ammonia (NH3), chlorine (Cl2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), phosgene (COCl2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) toxic gases have been measured in the fingerprint region 400-1400 cm-1. A relatively compact (< 2'x2'x2'), sensitive, 532 nm 10 W CW Raman system with double-pass laser and double-sided collection was used for these measurements. Two Raman modes are observed at 934 and 967 cm-1 in NH3. Three Raman modes are observed in Cl2 at 554, 547, and 539 cm-1, which are due to the 35/35 35/37, and 37/37 Cl isotopes, respectively. Raman modes are observed at 870, 570, and 1151 cm-1 in H2S, COCl2, and SO2, respectively. Values of 3.68 ± 0.26x10-32 cm2/sr (3.68 ± 0.26x10-36 m2/sr), 1.37 ± 0.10x10-30 cm2/sr (1.37 ± 0.10x10-34 m2/sr), 3.25 ± 0.23x10-31 cm2/sr (3.25 ± 0.23x10-35 m2/sr), 1.63 ± 0.14x10-30 cm2/sr (1.63 ± 0.14x10-34 m2/sr), and 3.08 ± 0.22x10-30 cm2/sr (and 3.08 ± 0.22x10-34 m2/sr) were determined for the differential Raman cross section of the 967 cm-1 mode of NH3, sum of the 554, 547, and 539 cm-1 modes of Cl2, 870 cm-1 mode of H2S, 570 cm-1 mode of COCl2, and 1151 cm-1 mode of SO2, respectively, using the differential Raman cross section of 3.56 ± 0.14x10-31 cm2/sr (3.56 ± 0.14x10-35 m2/sr) for the 1285 cm-1 mode of CO2 as the reference.
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Summary

Raman spectra of ammonia (NH3), chlorine (Cl2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), phosgene (COCl2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) toxic gases have been measured in the fingerprint region 400-1400 cm-1. A relatively compact ( 2'x2'x2'), sensitive, 532 nm 10 W CW Raman system with double-pass laser and double-sided collection was used for these...

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Comb generator design for SWaP-constrained applications

Published in:
2016 IEEE Radio and Wireless Symp., RWS 2016, 24-27 January 2016.
Topic:
R&D group:

Summary

Many wireless devices have requirements that emphasize low size, weight and power for increased functionality and extended lifetimes. The additional complexity of these devices mandates the need to dynamically verify that all sub-system functions are fully operational. These tests can only be performed internal to the unit, and a circuit that could be utilized to meet this demand should be constructed to be as simple as possible. This paper presents both a novel set of equations to represent a compact comb generator circuit using a step recovery diode as well as unique sequential measurements of a prototype to provide greater insight into the design. The analyzed circuit requires no bias voltage, and effectively produces harmonics up to 2 GHz with a 2 MHz input signal, which is sufficient for adding built-in-test capability to most wireless devices.
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Summary

Many wireless devices have requirements that emphasize low size, weight and power for increased functionality and extended lifetimes. The additional complexity of these devices mandates the need to dynamically verify that all sub-system functions are fully operational. These tests can only be performed internal to the unit, and a circuit...

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Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) mobile testbed

Published in:
2016 IEEE Radio and Wireless Symp., RWS 2016, 24-27 January 2016.
Topic:
R&D group:

Summary

Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) systems typically utilize multiple cancellation layers to improve system isolation and avoid self-interference. The design of these different layers must be evaluated both individually and as a whole to determine their effectiveness in various environments. A flexible and reusable mobile testbed was constructed to aid in the development and assessment of these different STAR technologies for both stationary and non-stationary applications. The usefulness of this platform was confirmed during the integration of an example STAR system that measured greater than 100 dB of total system isolation over a 30 MHz bandwidth centered at 2.45 GHz.
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Summary

Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) systems typically utilize multiple cancellation layers to improve system isolation and avoid self-interference. The design of these different layers must be evaluated both individually and as a whole to determine their effectiveness in various environments. A flexible and reusable mobile testbed was constructed to aid...

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Reagent approaches for improved detection of chlorate and perchlorate salts via thermal desorption and ionization

Published in:
Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., Vol. 30, No. 1, 15 January 2016, pp. 191-8, DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7427.

Summary

RATIONALE: Techniques for improving the detectability of chlorate and perchlorate salts with thermal desorption based ionizers (i.e. radioactive, corona discharge and photoionization-based) are desired. This work employs acidic reagents to chemically transform chlorate and perchlorate anions into traces of chloric and perchloric acid. These high vapor pressure acids are easier to detect than the originating salts. METHODS: The efficacy of the reagent chemistry was quantified with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer interfaced with a custom-built thermal-desorption atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (TD-APCI) source. Additional experiments were conducted using tandem IMS/MS instrumentation. Reagent pKa and pH values were varied in order to gain a better understanding of how those parameters affect the degree of observed signal enhancement. RESULTS: Samples of chlorates and perchlorates treated with liquid acidic reagents exhibit signal enhancement of up to six orders of magnitude compared with signals from untreated analytes. Three orders of magnitude of signal enhancement are demonstrated using solid-state reagents, such as weakly acidic salts and polymeric acids. Data is presented that demonstrates the compatibility of the solid-state approach with both MS and IMS/MS platforms. CONCLUSIONS: Several methods of acidification were demonstrated for enhanced vaporization and detection of chlorates and perchlorates. For applications where rapid surface collection and analysis for chlorates and perchlorates are desired, the solid-state approaches offer the simplest means to integrate the reagent chemistry into MS or IMS detection.
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Summary

RATIONALE: Techniques for improving the detectability of chlorate and perchlorate salts with thermal desorption based ionizers (i.e. radioactive, corona discharge and photoionization-based) are desired. This work employs acidic reagents to chemically transform chlorate and perchlorate anions into traces of chloric and perchloric acid. These high vapor pressure acids are easier...

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Photothermal speckle modulation for noncontact materials characterization

Summary

We have developed a noncontact, photothermal materials characterization method based on visible-light speckle imaging. This technique is applied to remotely measure the infrared absorption spectra of materials and to discriminate materials based on their thermal conductivities. A wavelength-tunable (7.5-8.7 um), intensity-modulated, quantum cascade pump laser and a continuous-wave 532 nm probe laser illuminate a sample surface such that the two laser spots overlap. Surface absorption of the intensity-modulated pump laser induces a time-varying thermoelastic surface deformation, resulting in a time-varying 532 nm scattering speckle field from the surface. The speckle modulation amplitude, derived from a series of visible camera images, is found to correlate with the amplitude of the surface motion. By tuning the pump laser's wavelength over a molecular absorption feature, the amplitude spectrum of the speckle modulation is found to correlate to the IR absorption spectrum. As an example, we demonstrate this technique for spectroscopic identification of thin polymeric films. Furthermore, by adjusting the rate of modulation of the pump beam and measuring the associated modulation transfer to the visible speckle pattern, information about the thermal time constants of surface and sub-surface features can be revealed. Using this approach, we demonstrate the ability to distinguish between different materials (including metals, semiconductors, and insulators) based on differences in their thermal conductivities.
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Summary

We have developed a noncontact, photothermal materials characterization method based on visible-light speckle imaging. This technique is applied to remotely measure the infrared absorption spectra of materials and to discriminate materials based on their thermal conductivities. A wavelength-tunable (7.5-8.7 um), intensity-modulated, quantum cascade pump laser and a continuous-wave 532 nm...

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The evolution to modern phased array architectures

Author:
Published in:
Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 104, No. 3, March 2016, pp. 519-529.
Topic:
R&D group:

Summary

Phased array technology has been evolving steadily with advances in solid-state microwave integrated circuits, analysis and design tools, and reliable fabrication practices. With significant government investments, the technologies have matured to a point where phased arrays are widely used in military systems. Next-generation phased arrays will employ high levels of digitization, which enables a wide range of improvements in capability and performance. Digital arrays leverage the rapid commercial evolution of digital processor technology. The cost of phased arrays can be minimized by utilizing high-volume commercial microwave manufacturing and packaging techniques. Dramatic cost reductions are achieved by employing a tile array architecture, which greatly reduces the number of printed circuit boards and connectors in the array.
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Summary

Phased array technology has been evolving steadily with advances in solid-state microwave integrated circuits, analysis and design tools, and reliable fabrication practices. With significant government investments, the technologies have matured to a point where phased arrays are widely used in military systems. Next-generation phased arrays will employ high levels of...

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Enhancing the far-ultraviolet sensitivity of silicon complementary metal oxide semiconductor imaging arrays

Summary

We report our progress toward optimizing backside-illuminated silicon P-type intrinsic N-type complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices developed by Teledyne Imaging Sensors (TIS) for far-ultraviolet (UV) planetary science applications. This project was motivated by initial measurements at Southwest Research Institute of the far-UV responsivity of backside-illuminated silicon PIN photodiode test structures, which revealed a promising QE in the 100 to 200 nm range. Our effort to advance the capabilities of thinned silicon wafers capitalizes on recent innovations in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) doping processes. Key achievements to date include the following: (1) representative silicon test wafers were fabricated by TIS, and set up for MBE processing at MIT Lincoln Laboratory; (2) preliminary far-UV detector QE simulation runs were completed to aid MBE layer design; (3) detector fabrication was completed through the pre-MBE step; and (4) initial testing of the MBE doping process was performed on monitoring wafers, with detailed quality assessments.
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Summary

We report our progress toward optimizing backside-illuminated silicon P-type intrinsic N-type complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices developed by Teledyne Imaging Sensors (TIS) for far-ultraviolet (UV) planetary science applications. This project was motivated by initial measurements at Southwest Research Institute of the far-UV responsivity of backside-illuminated silicon PIN photodiode test structures...

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Secure architecture for embedded systems

Summary

Devices connected to the internet are increasingly the targets of deliberate and sophisticated attacks. Embedded system engineers tend to focus on well-defined functional capabilities rather than "obscure" security and resilience. However, "after-the-fact" system hardening could be prohibitively expensive or even impossible. The co-design of security and resilience with functionality has to overcome a major challenge; rarely can the security and resilience requirements be accurately identified when the design begins. This paper describes an embedded system architecture that decouples secure and functional design aspects.
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Summary

Devices connected to the internet are increasingly the targets of deliberate and sophisticated attacks. Embedded system engineers tend to focus on well-defined functional capabilities rather than "obscure" security and resilience. However, "after-the-fact" system hardening could be prohibitively expensive or even impossible. The co-design of security and resilience with functionality has...

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A near-quantum-limited Josephson traveling-wave parametric amplifier

Published in:
Sci., Vol. 350, No. 6258, 16 October 2015,pp. 307-10.

Summary

Detecting single photon level signals--carriers of both classical and quantum information--is particularly challenging for low-energy microwave frequency excitations. Here we introduce a superconducting amplifier based on a Josephson junction transmission line. Unlike current standing-wave parametric amplifiers, this traveling wave architecture robustly achieves high gain over a bandwidth of several gigahertz with sufficient dynamic range to read out 20 superconducting qubits. To achieve this performance, we introduce a sub-wavelength resonant phase matching technique that enables the creation of nonlinear microwave devices with unique dispersion relations. We benchmark the amplifier with weak measurements, obtaining a high quantum efficiency of 75% (70% including following amplifier noise). With a flexible design based on compact lumped elements, this Josephson amplifier has broad applicability to microwave metrology and quantum optics.
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Summary

Detecting single photon level signals--carriers of both classical and quantum information--is particularly challenging for low-energy microwave frequency excitations. Here we introduce a superconducting amplifier based on a Josephson junction transmission line. Unlike current standing-wave parametric amplifiers, this traveling wave architecture robustly achieves high gain over a bandwidth of several gigahertz...

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