Cryogenic Silicon Optical Reference Cavities

Thermodynamical fluctuations in temperature and position exist in every physical system, and show up as a fundamental noise limit whenever we choose to measure some quantity in a laboratory environment. Thermodynamical fluctuations in the position of the atoms in the dielectric coatings on the mirrors for optical cavities at the forefront of precision metrology (e.g., LIGO, the cavities which probe atomic transitions to define the second) are a current limiting noise source for these experiments, and anything which involves locking a laser to an optical cavity. These thermodynamic noise sources scale physical geometry of experiment, material properties (such as mechanical loss in our dielectric coatings), and temperature. The temperature scaling provides a natural motivation to move to lower temperatures, with a potential huge benefit for redesigning a room temperature experiment which is limited by thermal noise for cryogenic operation.

We design, build, and characterize a pair of linear Fabry-Perot cavities to explore limitations to ultra low noise laser stabilization experiments at cryogenic temperatures. We use silicon as the primary material for the cavity and mirrors, due to a zero crossing in its linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) at 123 K, and other desirable material properties. We use silica tantala coatings, which are currently the best for making high finesse low noise cavities at room temperature. The material properties of these coating materials (which set the thermal noise levels) are relatively unknown at cryogenic temperatures, which motivates us to study them at these temperatures. We were not able to measure any thermal noise source with our experiment due to excess noise. In this work we analyze the design and performance of the cavities, and recommend a design shift from mid length cavities to short cavities in order to facilitate a direct measurement of cryogenic coating noise.

In addition, we measure the cavities (frequency dependent) photo-thermal response. This can help characterize thermooptic noise in the coatings, which is poorly understood at cryogenic temperatures. We also explore the feasibility of using the cavity to do macroscopic quantum optomechanics such as ground state cooling.

A novel fiber Bragg grating high-temperature sensor

A novel fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor for the measurement of high temperature is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The interrogation system of the sensor system is simple, low cost but effective. The sensor head is comprised of one FBG and two metal rods. The lengths of the rods are different from each other. The coefficients of thermal expansion of the rods are also different from each other. The FBG will be strained by the sensor head when the temperature to be measured changes. The temperature is measured basis of the wavelength shifts of the FBG induced by strain. A dynamic range of 0-800 degrees C and a resolution of 1 degrees C have been obtained by the sensor system. The experiment results agree with theoretical analyses. (c) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Wideband two-port beam splitter of a binary fused-silica phase grating

The usual beam splitter of multilayer-coated film with a wideband spectrum is not easy to achieve. We describe the realization of a wideband transmission two-port beam splitter based on a binary fused-silica phase grating. To achieve high efficiency and equality in the diffracted 0th and -1st orders, the grating profile parameters are optimized using rigorous coupled-wave analysis at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Holographic recording and the inductively coupled plasma dry etching technique are used to fabricate the fused-silica beam splitter grating. The measured efficiency of (45% x 2) = 90% diffracted into the both orders can be obtained with the fabricated grating under Littrow mounting. The physical mechanism of such a wideband two-port beam splitter grating can be well explained by the modal method based on two-beam interference of the modes excited by the incident wave. With the high damage threshold, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and wideband high efficiency, the presented beam splitter etched in fused silica should be a useful optical element for a variety of practical applications. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.

Desenvolvimento de um sistema de detecção fotoacústico utilizando dois microfones: aplicações em medidas de difusividade térmica

Neste trabalho, desenvolveu-se um sistema de detecção fotoacústico para medidas simultâneas e independentes dos sinais fotoacústicos dianteiro e traseiro, utilizando dois microfones e um único feixe de excitação. Utiliza-se a diferença de fase entre estes sinais para a determinação da difusividade térmica de materiais, com base na abordagem teórica da técnica da Diferença de Fase dos Dois Feixes (T2F). Na metodologia apresentada não há a necessidade de se alternar o feixe de excitação entre as faces da amostra. Esta característica torna mais rápido o procedimento de medida e simplifica o monitoramento automatizado de processos dinâmicos que afetam a difusividade térmica do material, como a cura de resinas poliméricas. É apresentado o procedimento utilizado para determinar a diferença entre as fases intrínsecas dos microfones e o método empregado para compensar tal diferença e, assim, obter a defasagem entre os sinais fotoacústicos dianteiro e traseiro. O sistema de detecção desenvolvido é avaliado em medidas de difusividade térmica de amostras metálicas (aço inoxidável AISI 304 e aço SAE 1020) e poliméricas (polipropileno e polietileno de baixa densidade). Os resultados obtidos concordam de forma satisfatória com dados disponíveis na literatura. Finalmente, a aplicação do sistema proposto ao monitoramento de cura de amostras de resina epóxi indicou sua potencialidade de acompanhar, em tempo real, este tipo de processo dinâmico.

Influence of synthetic method on the properties of La0.5Ba0.5FeO3 SOFC cathode

Power Point presentado en The Energy and Materials Research Conference - EMR2015 celebrado en Madrid (España) entre el 25-27 de febrero de 2015

混合碱效应对磷酸盐包边玻璃性质的影响

高功率大尺寸激光玻璃硬包边技术对于提高激光玻璃的饱和增益系数具有非常重要的价值。本文采用传统的玻璃熔制方法，研究了Li-Na混合碱效应对磷酸盐包边玻璃折射率、热膨胀系数α、玻璃转变温度Tg、膨胀软化温度Td以及溶解速率（DR）的影响规律。研究结果表明：当Li/(Li+Na)=0.5时，Tg、Td和DR取得极小值，表明混合碱效应既能降低包边玻璃的转变温度，又能提高包边玻璃的化学稳定性，这些性质对于包边玻璃的设计是非常可贵的。

高硅氧发光玻璃的制备及其荧光性能

abstract {Silica glass is an attractive host matrix for the emission ions of rare earth and transition metal ions because it has small thermal expansion coefficient, strong thermal resistance, large fracture strength and good chemical durability and so on. However, a major obstacle to using it as the host matrix is a phenomenon of concentration quenching. In this paper, we introduces a novel method to restrain the concentration quenching by using a porous glass with SiO₂ content > 95% (in mass) and prepare intense fluorescence high-SiO₂ glasses and high-SiO₂ laser glass. The porous glass with high-SiO₂ content was impregnated with rare-earth and transition metal ions, and consequently sintered into a compact non-porous glass in reduction or oxidization atmospheres. Various intense fluorescence glasses with high emission yields, a vacuum ultraviolet-excited intensely luminescent glass, high silica glass containing high concentration of Er³⁺ ion, ultrabroad infrared luminescent Bi-doped high silica glass and Nd³⁺-doped silica microchip laser glass were obtained by this method. The porous glass is also favorable for co-impregnating multi-active-ions. It can bring effective energy transferring between various active ions in the glass and increases luminescent intensity and extend range of excitation spectrum. The luminescent active ions-doped high-SiO₂ glasses are potential host materials for high power solid-state lasers and new transparent fluorescence materials.}

不同氧磷比对磷酸盐包边玻璃性质的影响规律

包边技术是提高大尺寸激光玻璃饱和增益系数的关键技术。采用传统的方法熔制玻璃,研究了 P2O5含量对 P2O5-Al2O3-B2O3-CuCl-Na2O-ZnO磷酸盐包边玻璃的折射率、热膨胀系数、玻璃转变温度、膨胀软化温度以及化学稳定性的影响。结果表明：当 P2O5的摩尔分数为 60%左右,玻璃样品具有最高的折射率（1.522 0）、最低的玻璃转变温度（352.4 ℃）、较好的化学稳定性[0.52 mg/（cm^2·d）]和适宜的热膨胀系数（128.427×10^-7/℃）,是用作钕磷酸盐激光玻璃硬包边的理

微晶玻璃在大功率脉冲氙灯封接中的应用

：为提高大功率脉冲氙灯的封接强度，将微晶玻璃作为封接材料引入到氙灯封接应用中. 以 Bi2O3,ZnO,Al2O3,MgO,CaCO3,SiO2,BaO,H3BO3,P2O5,Na2O 为原料，通过高温熔融制备了大功率脉冲氙灯封接 用微晶玻璃样品. 测试了样品的热膨胀系数,并通过差热分析(Differential Thermal Analysis，DTA)对脉冲氙灯 微晶玻璃的封接温度进行了讨论，用X 射线衍射(X-ray diffraction ，XRD)表征了封接玻璃，并进行了分析. 将 制得的样品磨成玻璃粉末，制成膏剂状玻璃焊料，对大功率脉冲氙灯进行封接，得到大功率脉冲氙灯的微晶 玻璃封接件. 通过氦质谱检漏仪检测，1#、2#、4#封接件气密性良好，达到10-6 Pa.

Crystal growth and properties of Yb : FAP laser crystal

A large and transparent Yb:FAP crystal with dimensions up to circle divide 30 mm x 85 mm has been grown by the Czochralski method. The preparation of the raw material has been investigated. X-ray power diffraction studies of Yb:FAP crystal confirm that the as-grown crystal is isostructural with the FAP crystal. The crystalline quality has been studied using X-ray rocking curve analysis. The segregation coefficient of Yb3+ in the Yb:FAP crystal has been also determined. Linear thermal expansion coefficients in [001] and [100] directions have been measured in the 30-800 degrees C temperature range. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

γ-LiAlO2晶体生长、改性和热学性质研究

采用快速提拉法生长出了透明、完整的γ-LIAlO2晶体，但是晶体的高熔点和易挥发性限制了γ-LiAlO2晶体质量．采用气相传输平衡法（vapor transport equilibration technique，VTE）工艺对晶体改性，半高宽（FWHM）值从116．9arcsec降至44．2arcsec，继续升高VTE处理温度至1300℃，FWHM值反而升高至55．2arcsec．快速提拉法生长出来晶体，[100]方向和[001]方向的热膨胀系数分别为17．2398×10^-6／K，10．7664×10

Defects in LPE-grown beta-barium borate (beta-BaB2O4) thin films

Morphological defects in beta-barium borate (beta-BBO) thin films grown on Sr2+ -doped alpha-BBO substrates by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) technique were studied by scanning electron micrograph (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical spectroscopy. The present results indicate that the main defects exit in beta-BBO thin films are microcracks and hollow structure. The formation of microcrack is due to the lattice mismatch and the difference of thermal expansion coefficients between substrate and film. The hollow structure might be caused during the combination of islands, which formed in the initial stage. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

LBO晶体上1064，532nm倍频增透膜的镀制及性能分析

用电子束蒸发沉积方法在X切LBO（X-LBO）晶体上镀制了两种不同膜系结构的1064和532nm倍频增透膜，其中一种膜系结构为基底／ZrO2／Y2O3／A12O3／SiO2／空气，另一种为基底／0．5Al2O3／ZrO2／Y2O3／A12O3／SiO2／空气，两种膜系结构的主要差别在于有无氧化铝过渡层。测量了薄膜的反射率光谱曲线，发现两种增透膜在1064和532nm处的反射率均小于0．5％，实际镀制结果与理论设计曲线的差异主要是由材料折射率的变化引起的。且对样品在空气环境中进行了温度为473K的退火处理，

A self-regulating valve for single-phase liquid cooling of microelectronics

This paper reports on the design, optimization and testing of a self-regulating valve for single-phase liquid cooling of microelectronics. Its purpose is to maintain the integrated circuit (IC) at constant temperature and to reduce power consumption by diminishing flow generated by the pump as a function of the cooling requirements. It uses a thermopneumatic actuation principle that combines the advantages of zero power consumption and small size in combination with a high flow rate and low manufacturing costs. The valve actuation is provided by the thermal expansion of a liquid (actuation fluid) which, at the same time, actuates the valve and provides feed-back sensing. A maximum flow rate of 38 kg h-1 passes through the valve for a heat load up to 500 W. The valve is able to reduce the pumping power by up to 60% and it has the capability to maintain the IC at a more uniform temperature. © 2011 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Liquid salt cooled flexible conversion ratio fast reactor: Neutronic design

This paper presents the neutronic design of a liquid salt cooled fast reactor with flexible conversion ratio. The main objective of the design is to accommodate interchangeably within the same reactor core alternative transuranic actinides management strategies ranging from pure burning to self-sustainable breeding. Two, the most limiting, core design options with unity and zero conversion ratios are described. Ternary, NaCl-KCl-MgCl2 salt was chosen as a coolant after a rigorous screening process, due to a combination of favourable neutronic and heat transport properties. Large positive coolant temperature reactivity coefficient was identified as the most significant design challenge. A wide range of strategies aiming at the reduction of the coolant temperature coefficient to assure self-controllability of the core in the most limiting unprotected accidents were explored. However, none of the strategies resulted in sufficient reduction of the coolant temperature coefficient without significantly compromising the core performance characteristics such as power density or cycle length. Therefore, reactivity control devices known as lithium thermal expansion modules were employed instead. This allowed achieving all the design goals for both zero and unity conversion ratio cores. The neutronic feasibility of both designs was demonstrated through calculation of reactivity control and fuel loading requirements, fluence limits, power peaking factors, and reactivity feedback coefficients. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.