Optimization of {sup 6}LiF:ZnS(Ag) Scintillator Light Yield Using Geant4

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yehuda-Zada, Y.; Ben-Gurion University; Pritchard, K.

2015-07-01

Neutrons provide an effective tool to probe materials structure. Neutron diffraction is a method to determine the atomic and magnetic structure of a material based on neutron scattering. By this method a collimated incident beam of thermal neutrons heat the examined sample and based on the obtained diffraction pattern information on the structure of the material is provided. Research for developing a novel cold neutron detector for Chromatic Analysis Neutron Diffractometer Or Reflectometer (CANDOR) is underway at the NIST center for neutron research. The system unique design is aimed to provide over ten times fold faster analysis of materials thanmore » conventional system. In order to achieve the fast analysis a large number of neutron detectors is required. A key design constraint for this detector is the thickness of the neutron sensitive element. This is met using {sup 6}LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillation material with embedded wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers conducting scintillation light to silicon photomultiplier photo-sensors. The detector sensitivity is determined by both the neutron capture probability ({sup 6}Li density) and the detectable light output produced by the ZnS(Ag) ionization, the latter of which is hindered by the fluorescence absorption of the scintillation light by the ZnS. Tradeoffs between the neutron capture probability, stimulated light production and light attenuation for determining the optimal stoichiometry of the {sup 6}LiF and ZnS(Ag) as well as the volume ratio of scintillator and fiber. Simulations performed using the GEANT4 Monte Carlo package were made in order to optimize the detector design. GEANT4 enables the investigation of the neutron interaction with the detector, the ionization process and the light transfer process following the nuclear process. The series of conversions required for this detector were modelled: - A cold neutron enters the sensor and is captured by {sup 6}Li in the scintillator mixture ({sup 6}Li (n,α) {sup 3}H reaction). The study of investigating the capture process probability for neutron energy of 5.1 meV to 2.27 meV (4 - 6 A) is presented. - Alpha particles and tritons travel for a few microns in the scintillation material (α ∼0.007 mm, T ∼0.04 mm) losing energy and ionizing the ZnS. The mean free path of the two particles in each of the component materials and the complete compound was investigated. - The ionization of the ZnS(Ag) scintillation material produces blue light photons with luminescence wavelength of 450 nm. The amount of light output produced for different grain sizes of ZnS is discussed. - A large portion of the scintillation photons are reabsorbed during their passage through the scintillation material. - The blue photons that reach the WLS fibers are absorbed by fluorescent dye and are re-emitted as green photons, conducted by the fiber to the SiPM photo-sensor. This work presents the CANDOR unique design and its design constrains, the results measured by the ultra-thin {sup 6}LiF:ZnS(Ag)-based neutron detector versus the simulation results for several binder concentrations. The light measurement attenuation results along with the measured stopping power were utilized to predict the sensitivity results of configuration with different ZnS grain size, weight ratios and fibers geometry (number and location). The simulations enable to optimize the final sensor design. This design successfully achieved both the high gamma rejection with a sensitive and accurate neutron event detection of 80 percent. (authors)« less

Temporal dosimeter and method

DOEpatents

Warner, Benjamin P.; Lopez, Thomas A.

2003-09-30

The invention includes a temporal dosimeter. One dosimeter embodiment includes a housing that is opaque to visible light but transparent to ionizing radiation. The dosimeter also includes a sensor for recording dosages of ionizing radiation, a drive mechanism, a power source, and rotatable shields that work together to produce a compound aperture to unveil different portions of the sensor at different times to ionizing radiation. Another dosimeter embodiment includes a housing, a sensor, a shield with an aperture portion, and a linear actuator drive mechanism coupled to the sensor for moving the sensor past the aperture portion. The sensor turns as it moves past the aperture, tracing a timeline record of exposure to ionizing radiation along a helical path on the sensor.

Investigation clogging dynamic of permeable pavement systems using embedded sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razzaghmanesh, Mostafa; Borst, Michael

2018-02-01

Permeable pavement is a stormwater control measure commonly selected in both new and retrofit applications. However, there is limited information about the clogging mechanism of these systems that effects the infiltration. A permeable pavement site located at the Seitz Elementary School, on Fort Riley, Kansas was selected for this study. An 80-space parking lot was built behind the school as part of an EPA collaboration with the U.S. Army. The parking lot design includes a permeable interlocking concrete pavement section along the downgradient edge. This study monitored the clogging progress of the pavement section using twelve water content reflectometers and three buried tipping bucket rain gauges. This clogging dynamic investigation was divided into three stages namely pre-clogged, transitional, and clogged. Recorded initial relative water content of all three stages were significantly and negatively correlated to antecedent dry weather periods with stronger correlations during clogged conditions. The peak relative water content correlation with peak rainfall 10-min intensity was significant for the water content reflectometers located on the western edge away from the eastern edge; this correlation was strongest during transition stage. Once clogged, rainfall measurements no longer correlated with the buried tipping bucket rain gauges. Both water content reflectometers and buried tipping bucket rain gauges showed the progress of surface clogging. For every 6 mm of rain, clogging advanced 1 mm across the surface. The results generally support the hypothesis that the clogging progresses from the upgradient to the downgradient edge. The magnitude of the contributing drainage area and rainfall characteristics are effective factors on rate and progression of clogging.

Durability tests of a fiber optic corrosion sensor.

PubMed

Wan, Kai Tai; Leung, Christopher K Y

2012-01-01

Steel corrosion is a major cause of degradation in reinforced concrete structures, and there is a need to develop cost-effective methods to detect the initiation of corrosion in such structures. This paper presents a low cost, easy to use fiber optic corrosion sensor for practical application. Thin iron film is deposited on the end surface of a cleaved optical fiber by sputtering. When light is sent into the fiber, most of it is reflected by the coating. If the surrounding environment is corrosive, the film is corroded and the intensity of the reflected signal drops significantly. In previous work, the sensing principle was verified by various experiments in laboratory and a packaging method was introduced. In this paper, the method of multiplexing several sensors by optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) and optical splitter is introduced, together with the interpretation of OTDR results. The practical applicability of the proposed sensors is demonstrated in a three-year field trial with the sensors installed in an aggressive marine environment. The durability of the sensor against chemical degradation and physical degradation is also verified by accelerated life test and freeze-thaw cycling test, respectively.

The MRIS feasibility study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neece, Robert T.; Cross, Aubrey E.; Schrader, James H.

1993-01-01

The Microwave Reflectometer Ionization Sensor (MRIS) is an instrument being developed for use in detecting and ranging of electron density layers in the reentry plasma of a space transfer vehicle. The rationale for the selection of the Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSBSC) system used in the feasibility study for the MRIS is presented. A 25 GHz single-oscillator system and a 220 GHz double-oscillator system are described. The 25 GHz system was constructed and tested in the laboratory and test results are presented. As developed, the system employs a sideband spacing of 160 MHz. Based on an estimated electromagnetic wave velocity in the plasma, a round-trip phase shift measurement accuracy of +/- 7.6 degrees was required for the desired +/- 1/2 cm distance measurement accuracy. The interaction of parallel ground and reflecting planes produces interference that prevents the basic DSBSC system from meeting the accuracy goal so a frequency modulation was added to the system to allow averaging of the measured phase deviation. With an FM deviation of +/- 1 GHz, laboratory measurements were made for distances from 5 to 61 cm tip free space. Accounting for the plasma velocity factor, 82 percent of the data were equal to or better than the desired accuracy. Based on this measured result a sideband spacing to 250 MHz could be expected to yield data approximately 96 percent within the accuracy goal.

Characterization of the Multi-Blade 10B-based detector at the CRISP reflectometer at ISIS for neutron reflectometry at ESS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piscitelli, F.; Mauri, G.; Messi, F.; Anastasopoulos, M.; Arnold, T.; Glavic, A.; Höglund, C.; Ilves, T.; Lopez Higuera, I.; Pazmandi, P.; Raspino, D.; Robinson, L.; Schmidt, S.; Svensson, P.; Varga, D.; Hall-Wilton, R.

2018-05-01

The Multi-Blade is a Boron-10-based gaseous thermal neutron detector developed to face the challenge arising in neutron reflectometry at neutron sources. Neutron reflectometers are challenging instruments in terms of instantaneous counting rate and spatial resolution. This detector has been designed according to the requirements given by the reflectometers at the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden. The Multi-Blade has been installed and tested on the CRISP reflectometer at the ISIS neutron and muon source in U.K.. The results on the detailed detector characterization are discussed in this manuscript.

Experimental investigation of RC beams using BOTDA(R)-FRP-OF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Zhi; He, Jianping; Huang, Ying; Ou, Jinping

2008-04-01

Brillouin based fiber optic sensing turns to be a promising technology for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). However, the bare optical fiber is too fragile to act as a practical sensor, so high durability and large range (large strain) Brillouin distributed sensors are in great needs in field applications. For this reason, high durable and large range optical fiber Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (Reflectometer) sensors packaged by Fiber Reinforcement Polymer (FRP), named BOTDA(R)-FRP-OF, have been studied and developed. Besides, in order to study the large strain, crack and slip between the rebar and concrete in reinforced concrete (RC) beams using BOTDR(A) technique, five RC Beams installed with BOTDA(R)-FRP-OF sensors have been set up. And the damage characteristics of the RC beams were investigated by comparing the strain measured by the BOTDA(R)-FRP-OF sensors and the strain from traditional electric strain gauges and Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors, respectively. The test results show that the BOTDA(R)-FRP-OF sensor can effectively detect the damage (including crack and slip) characteristic of RC beam, and it is suitable for the long-term structural health monitoring on concrete structures such as bridge, big dam and so on.

AmeriFlux Measurement Component (AMC) Handbook

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reichl, K.; Biraud, S. C.

An AMC system was installed at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility’s North Slope Alaska (NSA) Barrow site, also known as NSA C1 at the ARM Data Archive, in August 2012. A second AMC system was installed at the third ARM Mobile Facility deployment at Oliktok Point, also known as NSA M1. This in situ system consists of 12 combination soil temperature and volumetric water content (VWC) reflectometers and one set of upwelling and downwelling PAR sensors, all deployed within the fetch of the Eddy Correlation Flux Measurement System. Soil temperature and VWC sensors placed at two depthsmore » (10 and 30 cm below the vegetation layer) at six locations (or microsites) allow soil property inhomogeneity to be monitored across a landscape. The soil VWC and temperature sensors used at NSA C1 are the Campbell Scientific CS650L and the sensors at NSA M1 use the Campbell Scientific CS655. The two sensors are nearly identical in function, and vendor specifications are based on the CS650 unless otherwise stated.« less

Scrape-off layer reflectometer for Alcator C-Mod.

PubMed

Hanson, G R; Wilgen, J B; Lau, C; Lin, Y; Wallace, G M; Wukitch, S J

2008-10-01

A two-frequency x-mode reflectometer operating from 100 to 146 GHz is deployed on Alcator C-Mod to measure the density profile and fluctuations in the scrape-off layer (SOL) immediately in front of the new J-port ICRF antenna and the new C-port lower hybrid launcher. The reflectometer covers densities from 10(16) to 10(20) m(-3) at 5-5.4 T. To provide the greatest flexibility and capability to deal with density fluctuations approaching 100% peak-to-peak in the SOL, both full-phase and differential-phase measurement capabilities with sweep speeds of approximately 10 micros to >1 ms are implemented. The differential-phase measurement uses a difference frequency of 500 MHz, corresponding to cutoff layer separations ranging from about 0.1 to 1 mm. The reflectometer has six sets of launchers: three on the ICRF antenna and three on the lower hybrid launcher. Both the ICRF antenna and the lower hybrid launcher incorporate reflectometer antennas at their top, bottom, and midplane locations.

NASA Hybrid Reflectometer Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lynch, Dana; Mancini, Ron (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Time-domain and frequency-domain reflectometry have been used for about forty years to locate opens and shorts in cables. Interpretation of reflectometry data is as much art as science. Is there information in the data that is being missed? Can the reflectometers be improved to allow us to detect and locate defects in cables that are not outright shorts or opens? The Hybrid Reflectometer Project was begun this year at NASA Ames Research Center, initially to model wire physics, simulating time-domain reflectometry (TDR) signals in those models and validating the models against actual TDR data taken on testbed cables. Theoretical models of reflectometry in wires will give us an understanding of the merits and limits of these techniques and will guide the application of a proposed hybrid reflectometer with the aim of enhancing reflectometer sensitivity to the point that wire defects can be detected. We will point out efforts by some other researchers to apply wire physics models to the problem of defect detection in wires and we will describe our own initial efforts to create wire physics models and report on testbed validation of the TDR simulations.

Planar SiC MEMS flame ionization sensor for in-engine monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rolfe, D. A.; Wodin-Schwartz, S.; Alonso, R.; Pisano, A. P.

2013-12-01

A novel planar silicon carbide (SiC) MEMS flame ionization sensor was developed, fabricated and tested to measure the presence of a flame from the surface of an engine or other cooled surface while withstanding the high temperature and soot of a combustion environment. Silicon carbide, a ceramic semiconductor, was chosen as the sensor material because it has low surface energy and excellent mechanical and electrical properties at high temperatures. The sensor measures the conductivity of scattered charge carriers in the flame's quenching layer. This allows for flame detection, even when the sensor is situated several millimetres from the flame region. The sensor has been shown to detect the ionization of premixed methane and butane flames in a wide temperature range starting from room temperature. The sensors can measure both the flame chemi-ionization and the deposition of water vapour on the sensor surface. The width and speed of a premixed methane laminar flame front were measured with a series of two sensors fabricated on a single die. This research points to the feasibility of using either single sensors or arrays in internal combustion engine cylinders to optimize engine performance, or for using sensors to monitor flame stability in gas turbine applications.

Simultaneous measurements of X-ray reflectivity and grazing incidence fluorescence at BL-16 beamline of Indus-2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Das, Gangadhar; Kane, S. R.; Khooha, Ajay

2015-05-15

A new multipurpose x-ray reflectometer station has been developed and augmented at the microfocus beamline (BL-16) of Indus-2 synchrotron radiation source to facilitate synchronous measurements of specular x-ray reflectivity and grazing incidence x-ray fluorescence emission from thin layered structures. The design and various salient features of the x-ray reflectometer are discussed. The performance of the reflectometer has been evaluated by analyzing several thin layered structures having different surface interface properties. The results reveal in-depth information for precise determination of surface and interface properties of thin layered materials demonstrating the immense potential of the combined measurements of x-ray reflectivity and grazingmore » incidence fluorescence on a single reflectometer.« less

Soil Water Content Sensors as a Method of Measuring Ice Depth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitaker, E.; Reed, D. E.; Desai, A. R.

2015-12-01

Lake ice depth provides important information about local and regional climate change, weather patterns, and recreational safety, as well as impacting in situ ecology and carbon cycling. However, it is challenging to measure ice depth continuously from a remote location, as existing methods are too large, expensive, and/or time-intensive. Therefore, we present a novel application that reduces the size and cost issues by using soil water content reflectometer sensors. Analysis of sensors deployed in an environmental chamber using a scale model of a lake demonstrated their value as accurate measures of the change in ice depth over any time period, through measurement of the liquid-to-solid phase change. A robust correlation exists between volumetric water content in time as a function of environmental temperature. This relationship allows us to convert volumetric water content into ice depth. An array of these sensors will be placed in Lake Mendota, Madison, Wisconsin in winter 2015-2016, to create a temporally high-resolution ice depth record, which will be used for ecological or climatological studies while also being transmitted to the public to increase recreational safety.

Structural health monitoring of IACC yachts using fiber optic distributed strain sensors: a technical challenge for America's Cup 2000

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murayama, Hideaki; Kageyama, Kazuro; Kimpara, Isao; Akiyoshi, Shimada; Naruse, Hiroshi

2000-06-01

In this study, we developed a health monitoring system using a fiber optic distributed strain sensor for International America's Cup Class (IACC) yachts. Most structural components of an IACC yacht consist of an aluminum honeycomb core sandwiched between carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates. In such structures, delamination, skin/core debonding and debonding between adhered members will be result in serious fracture of the structure. We equipped two IACC yachts with fiber optic strain sensors designed to measured the distributed strain using a Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) and to detect any deterioration or damage to the yacht's structures caused by such failures. And based on laboratory test results, we proposed a structural health monitoring technique for IACC yachts that involves analyzing their strain distribution. Some important information about structural conditions of the IACC yachts could be obtained from this system through the periodical strain measurements in the field.

AmeriFlux Measurement Component (AMC) Instrument Handbook

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reichl, Ken; Biraud, Sebastien C.

2016-04-01

An AMC system was installed at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility North Slope of Alaska (NSA) Barrow site, also known as NSA C1 at the ARM Data Archive, in August 2012. A second AMC system was installed at the third ARM Mobile Facility deployment at Oliktok Point, also known as NSA M1. This in situ system consists of 12 combination soil temperature and volumetric water content (VWC) reflectometers and one set of upwelling and downwelling photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) sensors, all deployed within the fetch of the Eddy Correlation Flux Measurement System.more » Soil temperature and VWC sensors placed at two depths (10 and 30 cm below the vegetation layer) at six locations (or microsites) allow soil property inhomogeneity to be monitored across a landscape.« less

CMOS sensor as charged particles and ionizing radiation detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cruz-Zaragoza, E.; Piña López, I.

2015-01-01

This paper reports results of CMOS sensor suitable for use as charged particles and ionizing radiation detector. The CMOS sensor with 640 × 480 pixels area has been integrated into an electronic circuit for detection of ionizing radiation and it was exposed to alpha particle (Am-241, Unat), beta (Sr-90), and gamma photons (Cs-137). Results show after long period of time (168 h) irradiation the sensor had not loss of functionality and also the energy of the charge particles and photons were very well obtained.

Methods to Determine the Deformation of the IRVE Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Young, William R.

2011-01-01

Small resonant targets used in conjunction with a microwave reflectometer to determine the deformation of the Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) during reentry are investigated. The reflectometer measures the distance to the targets and from this the HIAD deformation is determined. The HIAD is used by the Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE) which investigates the use of inflatable heat shields for atmospheric reentry. After several different microwave reflectometer systems were analyzed and compared it was determined that the most desirable for this application is the Frequency Doubling Target method.

NIST High Accuracy Reference Reflectometer-Spectrophotometer

PubMed Central

Proctor, James E.; Yvonne Barnes, P.

1996-01-01

A new reflectometer-spectrophotometer has been designed and constructed using state-of-the-art technology to enhance optical properties of materials measurements over the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) wavelength range (200 nm to 2500 nm). The instrument, Spectral Tri-function Automated Reference Reflectometer (STARR), is capable of measuring specular and diffuse reflectance, bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of diffuse samples, and both diffuse and non-diffuse transmittance. Samples up to 30 cm by 30 cm can be measured. The instrument and its characterization are described. PMID:27805081

Seismic damage identification using multi-line distributed fiber optic sensor system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ou, Jinping; Hou, Shuang

2005-06-01

Determination of the actual nonlinear inelastic response mechanisms developed by civil structures such as buildings and bridges during strong earthquakes and post-earthquake damage assessment of these structures represent very difficult challenges for earthquake structural engineers. One of the main reasons is that the traditional sensor can't serve for such a long period to cover an earthquake and the seismic damage location in the structure can't be predicted in advance definitely. It is thought that the seismic damage of reinforced concrete (RC) structure can be related to the maximum response the structure, which can also be related to the cracks on the concrete. A distributed fiber optic sensor was developed to detect the cracks on the reinforced concrete structure under load. Fiber optic couples were used in the sensor system to extend the sensor system's capacity from one random point detection to more. An optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) is employed for interrogation of the sensor signal. Fiber optic sensors are attached on the surface of the concrete by the epoxy glue. By choosing the strength of epoxy, the damage state of the concrete can be responded to the occurrence of the Fresnel scattering in the fiber optic sensor. Experiments involved monotonic loading to failure. Finally, the experimental results in terms of crack detection capability are presented and discussed.

Application of Time Domain Reflectometers to Urban Settings

EPA Science Inventory

Time domain reflectometers (TDRs) are in-situ monitoring probes that produce a temperature-compensated signal proportional to soil moisture content of the surrounding material when calibrated to a particular media. Typically used in agricultural settings, TDRs may also be applied...

Performance assessment of geotechnical structural elements using distributed fiber optic sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monsberger, Christoph; Woschitz, Helmut; Lienhart, Werner; Račanský, Václav; Hayden, Martin

2017-04-01

Geotechnical structural elements are used to underpin heavy structures or to stabilize slopes and embankments. The bearing capacity of these components is usually verified by geotechnical load tests. It is state of the art to measure the resulting deformations with electronic sensors at the surface and therefore, the load distribution along the objects cannot be determined. This paper reports about distributed strain measurements with an optical backscatter reflectometer along geotechnical elements. In addition to the installation of the optical fiber in harsh field conditions, results of investigations of the fiber optic system in the laboratory and the most significant results of the field trials are presented.

Assessment of Clogging Dynamics in Permeable Pavement Systems with Time Domain Reflectometers

EPA Science Inventory

Infiltration is a primary functional mechanism in green infrastructure stormwater controls. This study used time domain reflectometers (TDRs) to measure spatial infiltration and assess clogging dynamics of permeable pavement systems in Edison, NJ, and Louisville, KY. In 2009, t...

Techniques to Determine Maintenace Frequency of Permeable Pavement Systems with Time Domain Reflectometers (TDRs

EPA Science Inventory

As the surface clogs in permeable pavement systems, they lose effectiveness and require maintenance. There is limited direct guidance for determining when maintenance is needed to prevent surface runoff bypass. Research is being conducted using multiple time domain reflectomete...

Optimal design of reflectometer density profile measurements using a radar systems approach (invited) (abstract)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doyle, E. J.; Kim, K. W.; Peebles, W. A.; Rhodes, T. L.

1997-01-01

Reflectometry is an attractive and versatile diagnostic technique that can address a wide range of measurement needs on fusion devices. However, progress in the area of profile measurement has been hampered by the lack of a well-understood basis for the optimum design and implementation of such systems. Such a design basis is provided by the realization that reflectometer systems utilized for density profile measurements are in fact specialized forms of radar systems. In this article five criteria are introduced by which reflectometer systems can be systematically designed for optimal performance: range resolution, spatial sampling, turbulence immunity, bandwidth optimization, and the need for adaptive data processing. Many of these criteria are familiar from radar systems analysis, and are applicable to reflectometry after allowance is made for differences stemming from the nature of the plasma target. These criteria are utilized to critically evaluate current reflectometer density profile techniques and indicate improvements that can impact current and next step devices, such as ITER.

Pressure-Water Content Relations for a Sandy, Granitic Soil Under Field and Laboratory Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandler, D. G.; McNamara, J. M.; Gribb, M. M.

2001-12-01

A new sensor was developed to measure soil water potential in order to determine the predominant mechanisms of snowmelt delivery to streamflow. The sensors were calibrated for +50 to -300 cm for application on steep granitic slopes and deployed at three depths and 2 locations on a slope in a headwater catchment of the Idaho Batholith throughout the 2001 snowmelt season. Soil moisture was measured simultaneously with Water Content Reflectometers (Cambell Scientific, Logan, UT), that were calibrated in situ with Time Domain Reflectometry measurements. Sensor performance was evaluated in a laboratory soil column via side-by-side monitoring during injection of water with a cone permeameter. Soil characteristic curves were also determined for the field site by multi-step outflow tests. Comparison of the results from the field study to those from the laboratory experiment and to the characteristic curves demonstrate the utility of the new sensor for recording dynamic changes in soil water status. During snowmelt, the sensor responded to both matric potential and bypass-flow pore potential. Large shifts in the pressure record that correspond to changes in the infiltration flux indicate initiation and cessation of macropore flow. The pore pressure records may be used to document the frequency, timing and duration of bypass flow that are not apparent from the soil moisture records.

Development of frequency modulation reflectometer for KSTAR tokamak: Data analysis based on Gaussian derivative waveleta)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Seong-Heon; Lee, K. D.

2012-10-01

A frequency modulation reflectometer has been developed to measure the density profile of the KSTAR tokamak. It has two channels operating in X-mode in the frequency range of Q band (33-50 GHz) and V band (50-75 GHz). The full band is swept in 20 μs. The mixer output is directly digitized at the sampling rate of 100 MSamples/s. A new phase detection algorithm is developed to analyze both amplitude and frequency modulated signal. The algorithm is benchmarked for a synthesized amplitude modulation-frequency modulation signal. This new algorithm is applied to the data analysis of KSTAR reflectometer.

Application of Time Domain Reflectometers in Urban Settings

EPA Science Inventory

This is a poster for the Million Trees NYC research symposium in New York City, NY, March 5-6, 2010. The poster gives a summary of how time domain reflectometers can be installed in urban fill soil, engineered bioretention media, and recycled concrete aggregate to document the ...

Three-Axis Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Measurement in 3D Woven Composite Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Castellucci, Matt; Klute, Sandra; Lally, Evan M.; Froggatt, Mark E.; Lowry, David

2013-01-01

Recent advancements in composite materials technologies have broken further from traditional designs and require advanced instrumentation and analysis capabilities. Success or failure is highly dependent on design analysis and manufacturing processes. By monitoring smart structures throughout manufacturing and service life, residual and operational stresses can be assessed and structural integrity maintained. Composite smart structures can be manufactured by integrating fiber optic sensors into existing composite materials processes such as ply layup, filament winding and three-dimensional weaving. In this work optical fiber was integrated into 3D woven composite parts at a commercial woven products manufacturing facility. The fiber was then used to monitor the structures during a VARTM manufacturing process, and subsequent static and dynamic testing. Low cost telecommunications-grade optical fiber acts as the sensor using a high resolution commercial Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometer (OFDR) system providing distributed strain measurement at spatial resolutions as low as 2mm. Strain measurements using the optical fiber sensors are correlated to resistive strain gage measurements during static structural loading. Keywords: fiber optic, distributed strain sensing, Rayleigh scatter, optical frequency domain reflectometry

Human health monitoring technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Byung-Hyun; Yook, Jong-Gwan

2017-05-01

Monitoring vital signs from human body is very important to healthcare and medical diagnosis, because they contain valuable information about arterial occlusions, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, autonomous nervous system pathologies, stress level, and obstructive sleep apnea. Existing methods, such as electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor and photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor, requires direct contact to the skin and it can causes skin irritation and the inconvenience of long-term wearing. For reducing the inconvenience in the conventional sensors, microwave and millimeter-wave sensors have been proposed since 1970s using micro-Doppler effect from one's cardiopulmonary activity. The Doppler radar sensor can remotely detect the respiration and heartbeat up to few meters away from the subject, but they have a multiple subject issue and are not suitable for an ambulatory subject. As a compromise, a noncontact proximity vital sign sensor has been recently proposed and developed. The purpose of this paper is to review the noncontact proximity vital sign sensors for detection of respiration, heartbeat rate, and/or wrist pulse. This sensor basically employs near-field perturbation of radio-frequency (RF) planar resonator due to the proximity of the one's chest or radial artery at the wrist. Various sensing systems based on the SAW filter, phase-locked loop (PLL) synthesizer, reflectometer, and interferometer have been proposed. These self-sustained systems can measure the nearfield perturbation and transform it into DC voltage variation. Consequently, they can detect the respiration and heartbeat rate near the chest of subject and pulse from radial artery at the wrist.

A tripolar-electrode ionization gas sensor using a carbon nanotube cathode for NO detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Hui; Li, Kun; Li, Quanfu

2018-06-01

Nitric oxide accounts for more than 95% of the total NO X emission from power plants, which is a major air pollutant. Therefore, it is imperative to accurately detect NO for environmental protection. A tripolar-electrode ionization sensor with a carbon nanotube (CNT) cathode is proposed for NO detection. The non-self-sustaining discharge state and the tripolar-electrode configuration ensures a long nanotube life, which ensures a good stability and fast response of the sensor. Experimental results demonstrate that the tripolar-electrode ionization sensor with 120 µm separations has an intrinsic monotonously decreasing response to NO and exhibits a fast response time of 7 s and recovery time of 8 s. More consumption of the two metastable states N2(A3  ∑  u +) and N2(aʹ1  ∑  u +) of N2 with the increasing of NO concentration is responsible for this. The tripolar-electrode ionization sensor also shows excellent long-term stability of at least one month due to the long CNT life. In addition, the weak effect of SO2 introduction on NO response indicates a good selectivity of the sensor to NO.

Development of Surfaces Optically Suitable for Flat Solar Panels. [using a reflectometer which separately evaluates spectral and diffuse reflectivities of surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

A reflectometer which can separately evaluate the spectral and diffuse reflectivities of surfaces is described. A phase locked detection system for the reflectometer is also described. A selective coating on aluminum potentially useful for flat plate solar collector applications is presented. The coating is composed of strongly bound copper oxide (divalent) and is formed by an etching process performed on an aluminum alloy with high copper content. Fabrication costs are expected to be small due to the one stop fabrication process. A number of conclusions gathered from the literature as to the required optical properties of flat plate solar collectors are discussed.

A millimeter-wave reflectometer for whole-body hydration sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W.-D.; Brown, E. R.

2016-05-01

This paper demonstrates a non-invasive method to determine the hydration level of human skin by measuring the reflectance of W-band (75-110 GHz) and Ka-band (26-40 GHz) radiation. Ka-band provides higher hydration accuracy (<1%) and greater depth of penetration (> 1 mm), thereby allowing access to the important dermis layer of skin. W-band provides less depth of penetration but finer spatial resolution (~2 mm). Both the hydration sensing concept and experimental results are presented here. The goal is to make a human hydration sensor that is 1% accurate or better, operable by mechanically scanning, and fast enough to measure large areas of the human body in seconds.

A novel technique for real-time estimation of edge pedestal density gradients via reflectometer time delay data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zeng, L., E-mail: zeng@fusion.gat.com; Doyle, E. J.; Rhodes, T. L.

2016-11-15

A new model-based technique for fast estimation of the pedestal electron density gradient has been developed. The technique uses ordinary mode polarization profile reflectometer time delay data and does not require direct profile inversion. Because of its simple data processing, the technique can be readily implemented via a Field-Programmable Gate Array, so as to provide a real-time density gradient estimate, suitable for use in plasma control systems such as envisioned for ITER, and possibly for DIII-D and Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. The method is based on a simple edge plasma model with a linear pedestal density gradient and low scrape-off-layermore » density. By measuring reflectometer time delays for three adjacent frequencies, the pedestal density gradient can be estimated analytically via the new approach. Using existing DIII-D profile reflectometer data, the estimated density gradients obtained from the new technique are found to be in good agreement with the actual density gradients for a number of dynamic DIII-D plasma conditions.« less

Photon small-field measurements with a CMOS active pixel sensor.

PubMed

Spang, F Jiménez; Rosenberg, I; Hedin, E; Royle, G

2015-06-07

In this work the dosimetric performance of CMOS active pixel sensors for the measurement of small photon beams is presented. The detector used consisted of an array of 520  × 520 pixels on a 25 µm pitch. Dosimetric parameters measured with this sensor were compared with data collected with an ionization chamber, a film detector and GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations. The sensor performance for beam profiles measurements was evaluated for field sizes of 0.5  × 0.5 cm(2). The high spatial resolution achieved with this sensor allowed the accurate measurement of profiles, beam penumbrae and field size under lateral electronic disequilibrium. Field size and penumbrae agreed within 5.4% and 2.2% respectively with film measurements. Agreements with ionization chambers better than 1.0% were obtained when measuring tissue-phantom ratios. Output factor measurements were in good agreement with ionization chamber and Monte Carlo simulation. The data obtained from this imaging sensor can be easily analyzed to extract dosimetric information. The results presented in this work are promising for the development and implementation of CMOS active pixel sensors for dosimetry applications.

2D microwave imaging reflectometer electronics.

PubMed

Spear, A G; Domier, C W; Hu, X; Muscatello, C M; Ren, X; Tobias, B J; Luhmann, N C

2014-11-01

A 2D microwave imaging reflectometer system has been developed to visualize electron density fluctuations on the DIII-D tokamak. Simultaneously illuminated at four probe frequencies, large aperture optics image reflections from four density-dependent cutoff surfaces in the plasma over an extended region of the DIII-D plasma. Localized density fluctuations in the vicinity of the plasma cutoff surfaces modulate the plasma reflections, yielding a 2D image of electron density fluctuations. Details are presented of the receiver down conversion electronics that generate the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) reflectometer signals from which 2D density fluctuation data are obtained. Also presented are details on the control system and backplane used to manage the electronics as well as an introduction to the computer based control program.

Optical Fiber Distributed Sensing Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Strain Measurements Taken During Cryotank Y-Joint Test Article Load Cycling at Liquid Helium Temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allison, Sidney G.; Prosser, William H.; Hare, David A.; Moore, Thomas C.; Kenner, Winfred S.

2007-01-01

This paper outlines cryogenic Y-joint testing at Langley Research Center (LaRC) to validate the performance of optical fiber Bragg grating strain sensors for measuring strain at liquid helium temperature (-240 C). This testing also verified survivability of fiber sensors after experiencing 10 thermal cool-down, warm-up cycles and 400 limit load cycles. Graphite composite skins bonded to a honeycomb substrate in a sandwich configuration comprised the Y-joint specimens. To enable SHM of composite cryotanks for consideration to future spacecraft, a light-weight, durable monitoring technology is needed. The fiber optic distributed Bragg grating strain sensing system developed at LaRC is a viable substitute for conventional strain gauges which are not practical for SHM. This distributed sensing technology uses an Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometer (OFDR). This measurement approach has the advantage that it can measure hundreds of Bragg grating sensors per fiber and the sensors are all written at one frequency, greatly simplifying fiber manufacturing. Fiber optic strain measurements compared well to conventional strain gauge measurements obtained during these tests. These results demonstrated a high potential for a successful implementation of a SHM system incorporating LaRC's fiber optic sensing system on the composite cryotank and other future cryogenic applications.

Local Contributors and Predictability of Flash Drought at the Marena Oklahoma In Situ Sensor Testbed (MOISST) During 2012

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basara, J. B.; Otkin, J.; Mahan, H. R.; Anderson, M. C.; Hain, C.; Wagle, P.; Xiao, X.

2014-12-01

The Marena Oklahoma In Situ Sensor Testbed (MOISST) site was installed in May 2010 as part of the calibration and validation program for the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. The site includes more than 200 soil, vegetation, and atmospheric sensors installed over an approximately 64 hectare pasture in Central Oklahoma with 4 main stations and multiple sensors installed in profiles. Additional sensors located at the site include a COsmic-ray Soil Moisture Observing System, global position system reflectometers, a passive distributed temperature system, an eddy correlation flux tower, and a phenocam. During 2012, flash drought conditions occurred at the MOISST location as conditions transitioned from no drought in late April to D4 (exceptional drought) in mid August. The array of instruments captured the dramatic transition of land-surface conditions at the MOISST site, in particular during a period spanning approximately six weeks in July and August in whereby drought conditions changed from abnormally dry to exceptional drought and ecosystem collapsed occurred. Results for the analyses demonstrated that both soil moisture and vegetation dynamics were critical components to flash drought development. Further, when the Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) was applied to the MOISST site during 2012, the results demonstrated that the predictability of drought conditions were increased to nearly six weeks prior to flash drought development that began in July.

Fabrication of gas sensor based on field ionization from SWCNTs with tripolar microelectrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Shengbing; Zhang, Yong; Duan, Zhemin

2012-12-01

We report the nanofabrication of a sulfur dioxide (SO2) sensor with a tripolar on-chip microelectrode utilizing a film of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as the field ionization cathode, where the ion flow current and the partial discharge current generated by the field ionization process of gaseous molecules can be gauged to gas species and concentration. The variation of the sensitivity is less than 4% for all of the tested devices, and the sensor has selectivity against gases such as He, NO2, CO, H2, SO2 and O2. Further, the sensor response presents well-defined and reproducible linear behavior with regard to concentration in the range investigated and a detection limitation of <˜0.5 ppm for SO2. More importantly, a tripolar on-chip microelectrode with SWCNTs as a cathode exhibits an impressive performance with respect to stability and anti-oxidation behavior, which are significantly better than had been possible before in the traditional bipolar sensor under explicit circumstances at room temperature.

Novel analysis technique for measuring edge density fluctuation profiles with reflectometry in the Large Helical Device.

PubMed

Creely, A J; Ida, K; Yoshinuma, M; Tokuzawa, T; Tsujimura, T; Akiyama, T; Sakamoto, R; Emoto, M; Tanaka, K; Michael, C A

2017-07-01

A new method for measuring density fluctuation profiles near the edge of plasmas in the Large Helical Device (LHD) has been developed utilizing reflectometry combined with pellet-induced fast density scans. Reflectometer cutoff location was calculated by proportionally scaling the cutoff location calculated with fast far infrared laser interferometer (FIR) density profiles to match the slower time resolution results of the ray-tracing code LHD-GAUSS. Plasma velocity profile peaks generated with this reflectometer mapping were checked against velocity measurements made with charge exchange spectroscopy (CXS) and were found to agree within experimental uncertainty once diagnostic differences were accounted for. Measured density fluctuation profiles were found to peak strongly near the edge of the plasma, as is the case in most tokamaks. These measurements can be used in the future to inform inversion methods of phase contrast imaging (PCI) measurements. This result was confirmed with both a fixed frequency reflectometer and calibrated data from a multi-frequency comb reflectometer, and this method was applied successfully to a series of discharges. The full width at half maximum of the turbulence layer near the edge of the plasma was found to be only 1.5-3 cm on a series of LHD discharges, less than 5% of the normalized minor radius.

Measurement of ICRF wave propagation using a microwave reflectometer with fast antenna switching on GAMMA 10

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikezoe, R.; Ichimura, M.; Itagaki, J.; Hirata, M.; Sumida, S.; Jang, S.; Izumi, K.; Tanaka, A.; Sekine, R.; Kubota, Y.; Shima, Y.; Kohagura, J.; Yoshikawa, M.; Sakamoto, M.; Nakashima, Y.

2017-12-01

Slow Alfvén wave in ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) is a powerful tool to heat ions confined in a mirror field. In spite of its efficient heating effect that has been attained in the central cell of GAMMA 10, there are still unknown characteristics concerning boundary condition, transient variation of heating effect, exact picture of cyclotron damping, and so on. To study these characteristics in detail, a multi-point measurement of the waves inside the hot plasma has been recently developed by using a microwave reflectometer. In addition to a radial profile measurement that is available by a usual reflectometer, an axial measurement has been achieved by arraying transmitting and receiving horn antennas in the axial direction, which are repeatedly switched in time during a discharge with PIN diode switches. Another transmitting and receiving horn antenna pair was newly added to the system and probing at five cross sections was achieved in a single discharge with time resolution of about 1 ms at each antenna pair position. With the upgraded reflectometer system, axial and radial distributions of wave-induced fluctuations and those temporal behavior were clearly observed, offering valuable data on wave physics in a hot mirror plasma.

Novel analysis technique for measuring edge density fluctuation profiles with reflectometry in the Large Helical Device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Creely, A. J.; Ida, K.; Yoshinuma, M.; Tokuzawa, T.; Tsujimura, T.; Akiyama, T.; Sakamoto, R.; Emoto, M.; Tanaka, K.; Michael, C. A.

2017-07-01

A new method for measuring density fluctuation profiles near the edge of plasmas in the Large Helical Device (LHD) has been developed utilizing reflectometry combined with pellet-induced fast density scans. Reflectometer cutoff location was calculated by proportionally scaling the cutoff location calculated with fast far infrared laser interferometer (FIR) density profiles to match the slower time resolution results of the ray-tracing code LHD-GAUSS. Plasma velocity profile peaks generated with this reflectometer mapping were checked against velocity measurements made with charge exchange spectroscopy (CXS) and were found to agree within experimental uncertainty once diagnostic differences were accounted for. Measured density fluctuation profiles were found to peak strongly near the edge of the plasma, as is the case in most tokamaks. These measurements can be used in the future to inform inversion methods of phase contrast imaging (PCI) measurements. This result was confirmed with both a fixed frequency reflectometer and calibrated data from a multi-frequency comb reflectometer, and this method was applied successfully to a series of discharges. The full width at half maximum of the turbulence layer near the edge of the plasma was found to be only 1.5-3 cm on a series of LHD discharges, less than 5% of the normalized minor radius.

Test and Evaluation of Fiber Optic Sensors for High-Radiation Space Nuclear Power Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Klemer, Daniel; Fielder, Robert S.; Stinson-Bagby, Kelly L.

2004-07-01

Fiber optic sensors can be used to measure a number of parameters, including temperature, strain, pressure and flow, for instrumentation and control of space nuclear power systems. In the past, this technology has often been rejected for use in such a high-radiation environment based on early experiments that revealed a number of degradation phenomena, including radiation-induced fiber attenuation, or 'graying', and Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) fading and wavelength shift. However, this paper reports the results of recent experimental testing that demonstrates readability of fiber optic sensors to extremely high levels of neutron and gamma radiation. Both distributed Fiber Bragg Gratingmore » (FBG) sensors and single-point Extrinsic Fabry Perot Interferometer (EFPI) sensors were continuously monitored over a 2-month period, during which they were exposed to combined neutron and gamma radiation in both in-core and ex-core positions within a nuclear reactor. Total exposure reached approximately 2 x 10{sup 19} cm{sup -2} fast neutron (E > 1 MeV) fluence and 8.7 x 10{sup 8} Gy gamma for in-core sensors. FBG sensors were interrogated using a standard Luna Innovations FBG measurement system, which is based on optical frequency-domain reflectometer (OFDR) technology. Approximately 74% of the 19 FBG sensors located at the core centerline in the in-core position exhibited sufficient signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to remain readable even after receiving the maximum dose. EFPI sensors were spectrally interrogated using a broadband probe source operating in the 830 nm wavelength region. While these single-point sensors failed early in the test, important additional fiber spectral transmission data was collected, which indicates that interrogation of EFPI sensors in alternate wavelength regions may allow significant improvement in sensor longevity for operation in high-radiation environments. This work was funded through a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract with the Nasa Glenn Research Center. (authors)« less

Breakdown voltage reduction by field emission in multi-walled carbon nanotubes based ionization gas sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saheed, M. Shuaib M.; Muti Mohamed, Norani; Arif Burhanudin, Zainal, E-mail: zainabh@petronas.com.my

2014-03-24

Ionization gas sensors using vertically aligned multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are demonstrated. The sharp tips of the nanotubes generate large non-uniform electric fields at relatively low applied voltage. The enhancement of the electric field results in field emission of electrons that dominates the breakdown mechanism in gas sensor with gap spacing below 14 μm. More than 90% reduction in breakdown voltage is observed for sensors with MWCNT and 7 μm gap spacing. Transition of breakdown mechanism, dominated by avalanche electrons to field emission electrons, as decreasing gap spacing is also observed and discussed.

Low Energy Electrons in the Mars Plasma Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Link, Richard

2001-01-01

The ionosphere of Mars is rather poorly understood. The only direct measurements were performed by the Viking 1 and 2 landers in 1976, both of which carried a Retarding Potential Analyzer. The RPA was designed to measure ion properties during the descent, although electron fluxes were estimated from changes in the ion currents. Using these derived low-energy electron fluxes, Mantas and Hanson studied the photoelectron and the solar wind electron interactions with the atmosphere and ionosphere of Mars. Unanswered questions remain regarding the origin of the low-energy electron fluxes in the vicinity of the Mars plasma boundary. Crider, in an analysis of Mars Global Surveyor Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer measurements, has attributed the formation of the magnetic pile-up boundary to electron impact ionization of exospheric neutral species by solar wind electrons. However, the role of photoelectrons escaping from the lower ionosphere was not determined. In the proposed work, we will examine the role of solar wind and ionospheric photoelectrons in producing ionization in the upper ionosphere of Mars. Low-energy (< 4 keV) electrons will be modeled using the two-stream electron transport code of Link. The code models both external (solar wind) and internal (photoelectron) sources of ionization, and accounts for Auger electron production. The code will be used to analyze Mars Global Surveyor measurements of solar wind and photoelectrons down to altitudes below 200 km in the Mars ionosphere, in order to determine the relative roles of solar wind and escaping photoelectrons in maintaining plasma densities in the region of the Mars plasma boundary.

Coal-shale interface detection system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, R. A.; Hudgins, J. L.; Morris, P. W.; Reid, H., Jr.; Zimmerman, J. E. (Inventor)

1979-01-01

A coal-shale interface detection system for use with coal cutting equipment consists of a reciprocating hammer on which an accelerometer is mounted to measure the impact of the hammer as it penetrates the ceiling or floor surface of a mine. A pair of reflectometers simultaneously view the same surface. The outputs of the accelerometer and reflectometers are detected and jointly registered to determine when an interface between coal and shale is being cut through.

Coal-shale interface detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reid, H., Jr. (Inventor)

1980-01-01

A coal-shale interface detector for use with coal cutting equipment is described. The detector consists of a reciprocating hammer with an accelerometer to measure the impact of the hammer as it penetrates the ceiling or floor surface of a mine. Additionally, a pair of reflectometers simultaneously view the same surface, and the outputs from the accelerometer and reflectometers are detected and jointly registered to determine when an interface between coal and shale is being cut through.

Optimization studies of the ITER low field side reflectometer.

PubMed

Diem, S J; Wilgen, J B; Bigelow, T S; Hanson, G R; Harvey, R W; Smirnov, A P

2010-10-01

Microwave reflectometry will be used on ITER to measure the electron density profile, density fluctuations due to MHD/turbulence, edge localized mode (ELM) density transients, and as an L-H transition monitor. The ITER low field side reflectometer system will measure both core and edge quantities using multiple antenna arrays spanning frequency ranges of 15-155 GHz for the O-mode system and 55-220 GHz for the X-mode system. Optimization studies using the GENRAY ray-tracing code have been done for edge and core measurements. The reflectometer launchers will utilize the HE11 mode launched from circular corrugated waveguide. The launched beams are assumed to be Gaussian with a beam waist diameter of 0.643 times the waveguide diameter. Optimum launcher size and placement are investigated by computing the antenna coupling between launchers, assuming the launched and received beams have a Gaussian beam pattern.

Study of coherent reflectometer for imaging internal structures of highly scattering media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poupardin, Mathieu; Dolfi, Agnes

1996-01-01

Optical reflectometers are potentially useful tools for imaging internal structures of turbid media, particularly of biological media. To get a point by point image, an active imaging system has to distinguish light scattered from a sample volume and light scattered by other locations in the media. Operating this discrimination of light with reflectometers based on coherence can be realized in two ways: assuring a geometric selection or a temporal selection. In this paper we present both methods, showing in each case the influence of the different parameters on the size of the sample volume under the assumption of single scattering. We also study the influence on the detection efficiency of the coherence loss of the incident light resulting from multiple scattering. We adapt a model, first developed for atmospheric lidar in turbulent atmosphere, to get an analytical expression of this detection efficiency in the function of the optical coefficients of the media.

Method and apparatus for the measurement of signals from radiation sensors

DOEpatents

De Geronimo, Gianluigi

2012-09-18

The preferred embodiments of the present invention include a device for measuring an ionizing event in a radiation sensor. The device can include a charge amplifier and a timing shaper. The charge amplifier receives a cathode signal and is configured to output an amplified cathode signal. The timing shaper is operatively connected to the charge amplifier to receive the amplified cathode signal. The timing shaper is configured to generate a first pulse in response to a beginning of the ionizing event and a second pulse in response to an end of the ionizing event. The first and second pulses are associated with a depth of interaction of the ionizing event and are generated in response to a slope of the amplified cathode signal changing.

K[subscript a] and K[subscript b] from pH and Conductivity Measurements: A General Chemistry Laboratory Exercise

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nyasulu, Frazier; Moehring, Michael; Arthasery, Phyllis; Barlag, Rebecca

2011-01-01

The acid ionization constant, K[subscript a], of acetic acid and the base ionization constant, K[subscript b], of ammonia are determined easily and rapidly using a datalogger, a pH sensor, and a conductivity sensor. To decrease sample preparation time and to minimize waste, sequential aliquots of a concentrated standard are added to a known volume…

Automated data acquisition and processing for a Hohlraum reflectometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Difilippo, Frank; Mirtich, Michael J.

1988-01-01

A computer and data acquisition board were used to automate a Perkin-Elmer Model 13 spectrophotometer with a Hohlraum reflectivity attachment. Additional electronic circuitry was necessary for amplification, filtering, and debouncing. The computer was programmed to calculate spectral emittance from 1.7 to 14.7 micrometers and also total emittance versus temperature. Automation of the Hohlraum reflectometer reduced the time required to determine total emittance versus temperature from about three hours to about 40 minutes.

Coal-shale interface detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Broussard, P. H.; Burch, J. L.; Drost, E. J.; Stein, R. J. (Inventor)

1979-01-01

A penetrometer for coal-shale interface detection is presented. It is used with coal cutting equipment consisting of a reciprocating hammer, having an accelerometer mounted thereon to measure the impact of the hammer as it penetrates the ceiling or floor surface of a mine. Additionally, a pair of reflectometers simultaneously view the same surface, and the outputs from the accelerometer and reflectometers are detected and jointly registered to determine when an interface between coal and shale is being cut through.

Tear film measurement by optical reflectometry technique

PubMed Central

Lu, Hui; Wang, Michael R.; Wang, Jianhua; Shen, Meixiao

2014-01-01

Abstract. Evaluation of tear film is performed by an optical reflectometer system with alignment guided by a galvanometer scanner. The reflectometer system utilizes optical fibers to deliver illumination light to the tear film and collect the film reflectance as a function of wavelength. Film thickness is determined by best fitting the reflectance-wavelength curve. The spectral reflectance acquisition time is 15 ms, fast enough for detecting film thickness changes. Fast beam alignment of 1 s is achieved by the galvanometer scanner. The reflectometer was first used to evaluate artificial tear film on a model eye with and without a contact lens. The film thickness and thinning rate have been successfully quantified with the minimum measured thickness of about 0.3 μm. Tear films in human eyes, with and without a contact lens, have also been evaluated. A high-contrast spectral reflectance signal from the precontact lens tear film is clearly observed, and the thinning dynamics have been easily recorded from 3.69 to 1.31 μm with lipid layer thickness variation in the range of 41 to 67 nm. The accuracy of the measurement is better than ±0.58% of the film thickness at an estimated tear film refractive index error of ±0.001. The fiber-based reflectometer system is compact and easy to handle. PMID:24500519

Measurement of nonlinear refractive index and ionization rates in air using a wavefront sensor.

PubMed

Schwarz, Jens; Rambo, Patrick; Kimmel, Mark; Atherton, Briggs

2012-04-09

A wavefront sensor has been used to measure the Kerr nonlinear focal shift of a high intensity ultrashort pulse beam in a focusing beam geometry while accounting for the effects of plasma-defocusing. It is shown that plasma-defocusing plays a major role in the nonlinear focusing dynamics and that measurements of Kerr nonlinearity and ionization are coupled. Furthermore, this coupled effect leads to a novel way that measures the laser ionization rates in air under atmospheric conditions as well as Kerr nonlinearity. The measured nonlinear index n₂ compares well with values found in the literature and the measured ionization rates could be successfully benchmarked to the model developed by Perelomov, Popov, and Terentev (PPT model) [Sov. Phys. JETP 50, 1393 (1966)].

Analysis of the ITER low field side reflectometer transmission line system.

PubMed

Hanson, G R; Wilgen, J B; Bigelow, T S; Diem, S J; Biewer, T M

2010-10-01

A critical issue in the design of the ITER low field side reflectometer is the transmission line (TL) system. A TL connects each launcher to a diagnostic instrument. Each TL will typically consist of ∼42 m of corrugated waveguide and up to ten miter bends. Important issues for the performance of the TL system are mode conversion and reflections. Minimizing these issues are critical to minimizing standing waves and phase errors. The performance of TL system is analyzed and recommendations are given.

Improved integrating-sphere throughput with a lens and nonimaging concentrator.

PubMed

Chenault, D B; Snail, K A; Hanssen, L M

1995-12-01

A reflectometer design utilizing an integrating sphere with a lens and nonimaging concentrator is described. Compared with previous designs where a collimator was used to restrict the detector field of view, the concentrator-lens combination significantly increases the throughput of the reflectometer. A procedure for designing lens-concentrators is given along with the results of parametric studies. The measured angular response of a lens-concentrator system is compared with ray-trace predictions and with the response of an ideal system.

Development of a spatially resolved reflectometer to monitor corrosion of solar reflectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutter, Florian; Meyen, Stephanie; Heller, Peter; Pitz-Paal, Robert

2013-06-01

Solar reflectors for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) concentrators require a high reflectance and high specularity over the whole solar spectrum. During their lifetime of at least 20 years, the reflectors must withstand harsh outdoor conditions without loosing their reflective properties. Currently, there are not many devices available to measure the specular reflectance. In this work a prototype of a specular reflectometer with spatial resolution has been developed. The major advantage of the prototype compared to other reflectometers is the possibility of measuring the specular reflectance on an extended measuring spot of more than 5 cm in diameter with a spatial resolution of 37 pixel/mm. Additionally, measurements can be taken at three different acceptance half angles (φ = 3.5, 6.0, and 12.5 mrad) and at three different wavelengths (λ = 410 nm, 500 nm, and 656 nm). This lab scale instrument can be employed to monitor degradation effects, such as corrosion spots, and evaluate their influence on the specular reflectance of solar mirror materials.

SuperADAM: Upgraded polarized neutron reflectometer at the Institut Laue-Langevin

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Devishvili, A.; Zhernenkov, K.; Institut Laue-Langevin, BP 156, 38042 Grenoble

2013-02-15

A new neutron reflectometer SuperADAM has recently been built and commissioned at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France. It replaces the previous neutron reflectometer ADAM. The new instrument uses a solid state polarizer/wavelength filter providing a highly polarized (up to 98.6%) monochromatic neutron flux of 8 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 4} n cm{sup -2} s{sup -1} with monochromatization {Delta}{lambda}/{lambda}= 0.7% and angular divergence {Delta}{alpha}= 0.2 mrad. The instrument includes both single and position sensitive detectors. The position sensitive detector allows simultaneous measurement of specular reflection and off-specular scattering. Polarization analysis for both specular reflection and off-specular scattering is achieved using either mirror analyzersmore » or a {sup 3}He spin filter cell. High efficiency detectors, low background, and high flux provides a dynamic range of up to seven decades in reflectivity. Detailed specifications and the instrument capabilities are illustrated with examples of recently collected data in the fields of thin film magnetism and thin polymer films.« less

SuperADAM: Upgraded polarized neutron reflectometer at the Institut Laue-Langevin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devishvili, A.; Zhernenkov, K.; Dennison, A. J. C.; Toperverg, B. P.; Wolff, M.; Hjörvarsson, B.; Zabel, H.

2013-02-01

A new neutron reflectometer SuperADAM has recently been built and commissioned at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France. It replaces the previous neutron reflectometer ADAM. The new instrument uses a solid state polarizer/wavelength filter providing a highly polarized (up to 98.6%) monochromatic neutron flux of 8 × 104 n cm-2 s-1 with monochromatization Δλ/λ = 0.7% and angular divergence Δα = 0.2 mrad. The instrument includes both single and position sensitive detectors. The position sensitive detector allows simultaneous measurement of specular reflection and off-specular scattering. Polarization analysis for both specular reflection and off-specular scattering is achieved using either mirror analyzers or a 3He spin filter cell. High efficiency detectors, low background, and high flux provides a dynamic range of up to seven decades in reflectivity. Detailed specifications and the instrument capabilities are illustrated with examples of recently collected data in the fields of thin film magnetism and thin polymer films.

SuperADAM: upgraded polarized neutron reflectometer at the Institut Laue-Langevin.

PubMed

Devishvili, A; Zhernenkov, K; Dennison, A J C; Toperverg, B P; Wolff, M; Hjörvarsson, B; Zabel, H

2013-02-01

A new neutron reflectometer SuperADAM has recently been built and commissioned at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France. It replaces the previous neutron reflectometer ADAM. The new instrument uses a solid state polarizer/wavelength filter providing a highly polarized (up to 98.6%) monochromatic neutron flux of 8 × 10(4) n cm(-2) s(-1) with monochromatization Δλ∕λ = 0.7% and angular divergence Δα = 0.2 mrad. The instrument includes both single and position sensitive detectors. The position sensitive detector allows simultaneous measurement of specular reflection and off-specular scattering. Polarization analysis for both specular reflection and off-specular scattering is achieved using either mirror analyzers or a (3)He spin filter cell. High efficiency detectors, low background, and high flux provides a dynamic range of up to seven decades in reflectivity. Detailed specifications and the instrument capabilities are illustrated with examples of recently collected data in the fields of thin film magnetism and thin polymer films.

Development of the low-field side reflectometer for ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muscatello, Christopher; Anderson, James; Gattuso, Anthony; Doyle, Edward; Peebles, William; Seraydarian, Raymond; Wang, Guiding; Kramer, Gerrit; Zolfaghari, Ali; Atomics Team, General; University of California Los Angeles Team; Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Team

2017-10-01

The Low-Field Side Reflectometer (LFSR) for ITER will provide real-time edge density profiles every 10 ms for feedback control and every 24 μs for physics evaluation. The spatial resolution will be better than 5 mm over 30 - 165 GHz, probing the scrape-off layer to the top of the pedestal in H-mode plasmas. An antenna configuration has been selected for measurements covering anticipated plasma elevations. Laboratory validation of diagnostic performance is underway using a LFSR transmission line (TL) mockup. The 40-meter TL includes circular corrugated waveguide, length calibration feature, Gaussian telescope, vacuum windows, containment membranes, and expansion joint. Transceiver modules coupled to the input of the TL provide frequency-modulated (FM) data for evaluation of performance as a monostatic reflectometer. Results from the mockup tests are presented and show that, with some further optimization, the LFSR will meet or exceed the measurement requirements for ITER. An update of the LFSR instrumentation design status is also presented with preliminary test results. Work supported by PPPL under subcontract S013252-A.

Small total dose measurement system for SDS-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kimoto, Yugo; Satoh, Yohei; Tachihara, Hiroshi

2009-11-01

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) uses monitors on board satellites to measure and record in-flight data on ionization effects in space. A compact, total dose measurement system for the small satellite (SDS-1) was developed based on the previous system for measuring total ionizing dose effects. Especially, the sensor for SDS-1 is quite smaller than the sensor for SOHLA-1, which is presented in the last year. The sensor is 8 mm wide×3 mm high×19 mm long and weighs approximately 4 g with 500 mm its wire harness. Eight pin LCC RADFET and temperature sensor are arranged on it. Seven sensors are arranged on some components inside the SDS-1. One of the sensors is arranged on a printed board in advanced microprocessing in-ORBIT experiment equipment (AMI). The AMI demonstrate 320 MIPS microprocessor and DC-DC converter for space. The absorbed dose at the points where the sensors are arranged was evaluated before flight and will be compared with resulting flight data.

Method for the depth corrected detection of ionizing events from a co-planar grids sensor

DOEpatents

De Geronimo, Gianluigi [Syosset, NY; Bolotnikov, Aleksey E [South Setauket, NY; Carini, Gabriella [Port Jefferson, NY

2009-05-12

A method for the detection of ionizing events utilizing a co-planar grids sensor comprising a semiconductor substrate, cathode electrode, collecting grid and non-collecting grid. The semiconductor substrate is sensitive to ionizing radiation. A voltage less than 0 Volts is applied to the cathode electrode. A voltage greater than the voltage applied to the cathode is applied to the non-collecting grid. A voltage greater than the voltage applied to the non-collecting grid is applied to the collecting grid. The collecting grid and the non-collecting grid are summed and subtracted creating a sum and difference respectively. The difference and sum are divided creating a ratio. A gain coefficient factor for each depth (distance between the ionizing event and the collecting grid) is determined, whereby the difference between the collecting electrode and the non-collecting electrode multiplied by the corresponding gain coefficient is the depth corrected energy of an ionizing event. Therefore, the energy of each ionizing event is the difference between the collecting grid and the non-collecting grid multiplied by the corresponding gain coefficient. The depth of the ionizing event can also be determined from the ratio.

Flammable and noxious gas sensing using a microtripolar electrode sensor with diameter and chirality sorted single-walled carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Shengbing; Duan, Zhe min; Zhang, Yong

2013-08-01

We report on the utilization of densely packed (˜10 SWCNTs µm-1), well-aligned arrays of single-chirality single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as an effective thin-film for integration into a gas sensor with a microtripolar electrode, based on field ionization by dielectrophoretic assembly from a monodisperse SWCNTs solution obtained by polymer-mediated sorting. The sensor is characterized as a field ionization electrode with sorted SWCNTs acting as both the sensing material and transducer gas concentrated directly into an electrical signal, an extractor serving to improve electric field uniformity and a collector electrode completing the current path. The gas sensing properties toward flammable and noxious gases, such as CO and H2, were investigated at room temperature. Besides the high sensitivity, the as-fabricated sensor exhibited attractive behaviors in terms of both the detection limit and a fast response, suggesting that our sensor could be used to partly circumvent the low sensing selectivity, long recovery time or irreversibility and allow for a preferential identification of the selected flammable and noxious analytes. Interestingly, the excellent sensing behaviors of the sensors based on the field ionization effect derive directly from the combined effects of the high-quality, low defect SWCNTs arrays, which leads to a small device-to-device variation in the properties and the optimization of electrode fabrication, highlighting the sensor as an appealing candidate in view of nanotube electronics.

Sensing Properties of a Novel Temperature Sensor Based on Field Assisted Thermal Emission.

PubMed

Pan, Zhigang; Zhang, Yong; Cheng, Zhenzhen; Tong, Jiaming; Chen, Qiyu; Zhang, Jianpeng; Zhang, Jiaxiang; Li, Xin; Li, Yunjia

2017-02-27

The existing temperature sensors using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are limited by low sensitivity, complicated processes, or dependence on microscopy to observe the experimental results. Here we report the fabrication and successful testing of an ionization temperature sensor featuring non-self-sustaining discharge. The sharp tips of nanotubes generate high electric fields at relatively low voltages, lowering the work function of electrons emitted by CNTs, and thereby enabling the safe operation of such sensors. Due to the temperature effect on the electron emission of CNTs, the collecting current exhibited an exponential increase with temperature rising from 20 °C to 100 °C. Additionally, a higher temperature coefficient of 0.04 K -1 was obtained at 24 V voltage applied on the extracting electrode, higher than the values of other reported CNT-based temperature sensors. The triple-electrode ionization temperature sensor is easy to fabricate and converts the temperature change directly into an electrical signal. It shows a high temperature coefficient and good application potential.

Sensing Properties of a Novel Temperature Sensor Based on Field Assisted Thermal Emission

PubMed Central

Pan, Zhigang; Zhang, Yong; Cheng, Zhenzhen; Tong, Jiaming; Chen, Qiyu; Zhang, Jianpeng; Zhang, Jiaxiang; Li, Xin; Li, Yunjia

2017-01-01

The existing temperature sensors using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are limited by low sensitivity, complicated processes, or dependence on microscopy to observe the experimental results. Here we report the fabrication and successful testing of an ionization temperature sensor featuring non-self-sustaining discharge. The sharp tips of nanotubes generate high electric fields at relatively low voltages, lowering the work function of electrons emitted by CNTs, and thereby enabling the safe operation of such sensors. Due to the temperature effect on the electron emission of CNTs, the collecting current exhibited an exponential increase with temperature rising from 20 °C to 100 °C. Additionally, a higher temperature coefficient of 0.04 K−1 was obtained at 24 V voltage applied on the extracting electrode, higher than the values of other reported CNT-based temperature sensors. The triple-electrode ionization temperature sensor is easy to fabricate and converts the temperature change directly into an electrical signal. It shows a high temperature coefficient and good application potential. PMID:28264427

Apparatus and method for the simultaneous detection of neutrons and ionizing electromagnetic radiation

DOEpatents

Bell, Zane W.

2000-01-01

A sensor for simultaneously detecting neutrons and ionizing electromagnetic radiation comprising: a sensor for the detection of gamma radiation, the sensor defining a sensing head; the sensor further defining an output end in communication with the sensing head; and an exterior neutron-sensitive material configured to form around the sensing head; wherein the neutron-sensitive material, subsequent to the capture of the neutron, fissions into an alpha-particle and a .sup.7 Li ion that is in a first excited state in a majority of the fissions, the first excited state decaying via the emission of a single gamma ray at 478 keV which can in turn be detected by the sensing head; and wherein the sensing head can also detect the ionizing electromagnetic radiation from an incident radiation field without significant interference from the neutron-sensitive material. A method for simultaneously detecting neutrons and ionizing electromagnetic radiation comprising the steps of: providing a gamma ray sensitive detector comprising a sensing head and an output end; conforming an exterior neutron-sensitive material configured to form around the sensing head of the detector; capturing neutrons by the sensing head causing the neutron-sensitive material to fission into an alpha-particle and a .sup.7 Li ion that is in a first excited state in a majority of the fissions, the state decaying via the emission of a single gamma ray at 478 keV; sensing gamma rays entering the detector through the neutron-sensitive material; and producing an output through a readout device coupled to the output end; wherein the detector provides an output which is proportional to the energy of the absorbed ionizing electromagnetic radiation.

Small Total Dose Measurement System for SOHLA-1 and SDS-1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kimoto, Yugo; Satoh, Yohei; Tachihara, Hiroshi

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) uses monitors on board satellites to measure and record in-flight data about ionization effects in space. A compact, total-dose measurement system for small satellites—Space-Oriented Higashiosaka Leading Association -1 (SOHLA-1) and Small Demonstration-Satellite -1 (SDS-1)—was developed based on a prior system for measuring total ionizing dose effects. Especially, the sensor for SDS-1 is much smaller than the sensor for SOHLA-1. The sensor for SDS-1 is 8 mm wide × 3 mm high × 19 mm long and weighs approximately 4 g with 500 mm with its wire harness. An 8-pin Lead less Chip Carrier (LCC) RADFET and temperature sensor are arranged on it. Seven sensors are mounted on some components inside the SDS-1. The sensor for SOHLA-1 is a 14-pin Dual Inline Package (DIP) type RADFET. The four sensors, which have RADFET on a printed board covered with an aluminum chassis, are mounted both inside and outside the satellite. This report presents small total dose measurement systems and ground irradiation test results for two small satellites.

Simultaneous measurement of X-ray specular reflection and off-specular diffuse scattering from liquid surfaces using a two-dimensional pixel array detector: the liquid-interface reflectometer of BL37XU at SPring-8.

PubMed

Yano, Yohko F; Uruga, Tomoya; Tanida, Hajime; Toyokawa, Hidenori; Terada, Yasuko; Yamada, Hironari

2010-07-01

An X-ray reflectometer for simultaneous measurement of specular and off-specular reflection of liquid surfaces is described. The reflectometer, equipped with a two-dimensional single X-ray photon-counting pixel array detector obtained the full range of X-ray specular and off-specular reflections in an extremely short time (1 s). Both the specular and off-specular reflection of water exhibited good agreement with the predicted capillary-wave theory within the appropriate instrumental resolution. The approach is also demonstrated on an aqueous solution of 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The monolayer in which the dodecyl chain faces upwards and the Cl(-) anion locates next to the imidazolium ring formed on the water surface was found to be laterally homogeneous. The use of a pixel array detector will be particularly powerful for in situ measurements to investigate both out-of-plane and in-plane structures simultaneously, not only for liquid surfaces but also for other thin films.

Study of detecting mechanism of carbon nanotubes gas sensor based on multi-stable stochastic resonance model.

PubMed

Jingyi, Zhu

2015-01-01

The detecting mechanism of carbon nanotubes gas sensor based on multi-stable stochastic resonance (MSR) model was studied in this paper. A numerically stimulating model based on MSR was established. And gas-ionizing experiment by adding electronic white noise to induce 1.65 MHz periodic component in the carbon nanotubes gas sensor was performed. It was found that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) spectrum displayed 2 maximal values, which accorded to the change of the broken-line potential function. The experimental results of gas-ionizing experiment demonstrated that periodic component of 1.65 MHz had multiple MSR phenomena, which was in accordance with the numerical stimulation results. In this way, the numerical stimulation method provides an innovative method for the detecting mechanism research of carbon nanotubes gas sensor.

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor for On-Line Monitoring of Coal Gasifier Refractory Health

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Anbo; Yu, Zhihao

This report summarizes technical progress on the program “Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor for On-Line Monitoring of Coal Gasifier Refractory Health,” funded by the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, and performed by the Center for Photonics Technology of the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech. The scope of work entails analyses of traveling grating generation technologies in an optical fiber, as well as the interrogation of the gratings to infer a distributed temperature along the fiber, for the purpose of developing a real-time refractory health condition monitoring technology for coal gasifiers. Duringmore » the project period, which is from 2011-2015, three different sensing principles were studied, including four-wave mixing (FWM), coherent optical time-domain reflectometer (C-OTDR) and Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (BOTDA). By comparing the three methods, the BOTDA was selected for further development into a complete bench-top sensing system for the proposed high-temperature sensing application. Based on the input from Eastman Chemical, the industrial collaborator on this project, a cylindrical furnace was designed and constructed to simulate typical gasifier refractory temperature conditions in the laboratory, and verify the sensor’s capability to fully monitor refractory conditions on the back-side at temperatures up to 1000°C. In the later stages of the project, the sensing system was tested in the simulated environment for its sensing performance and high-temperature survivability. Through theoretical analyses and experimental research on the different factors affecting the sensor performance, a sensor field deployment strategy was proposed for possible future sensor field implementations.« less

Fast coarse-fine locating method for φ-OTDR.

PubMed

Mei, Xuanwei; Pang, Fufei; Liu, Huanhuan; Yu, Guoqin; Shao, Yuying; Qian, Tianyu; Mou, Chengbo; Lv, Longbao; Wang, Tingyun

2018-02-05

We proposed and demonstrated a coarse-fine method to achieve fast locating of external vibration for the phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometer (φ-OTDR) sensing system. Firstly, the acquired backscattered traces from heterodyne coherent φ-OTDR systems are spatially divided into a few segments along a sensing fiber for coarse locating, and most of the acquired data can be excluded by comparing the phase difference between the endpoints in adjacent segments. Secondly, the amplitude-based locating is implemented within the target segments for fine locating. By using the proposed coarse-fine locating method, we have numerically and experimentally investigated a distributed vibration sensor based on the heterodyne coherent φ-OTDR system with a 50-km-long sensing fiber. We find that the computation cost of signal processing for locating is significantly reduced in the long-haul sensing fiber, showing a potential application in real-time locating of external vibration.

Sensitivity of a fibre scattered-light interferometer to external phase perturbations in an optical fibre

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alekseev, A E; Potapov, V T; Gorshkov, B G

2015-10-31

Sensitivity of a fibre scattered-light interferometer to external phase perturbations is studied for the first time. An expression is derived for an average power of a useful signal at the interferometer output under external harmonic perturbations in a signal fibre of the interferometer. It is shown that the maximum sensitivity of the scattered-light interferometer depends on the dispersion of the interferogram intensity. An average signal-to-noise ratio is determined theoretically and experimentally at the output of the interferometer at different amplitudes of external perturbations. Using the measured dependences of the signal-to-noise ratio, the threshold sensitivity of the fibre scattered-light interferometer tomore » external phase perturbations is found. The results obtained can be used to optimise characteristics of optical time-domain reflectometers and to design individual phase-sensitive fibre-optic sensors. (laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics)« less

Refractive and relativistic effects on ITER low field side reflectometer design.

PubMed

Wang, G; Rhodes, T L; Peebles, W A; Harvey, R W; Budny, R V

2010-10-01

The ITER low field side reflectometer faces some unique design challenges, among which are included the effect of relativistic electron temperatures and refraction of probing waves. This paper utilizes GENRAY, a 3D ray tracing code, to investigate these effects. Using a simulated ITER operating scenario, characteristics of the reflected millimeter waves after return to the launch plane are quantified as a function of a range of design parameters, including antenna height, antenna diameter, and antenna radial position. Results for edge/SOL measurement with both O- and X-mode polarizations using proposed antennas are reported.

Development of Surfaces Optically Suitable for Flat Solar Panels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Desmet, D.; Jason, A.

1978-01-01

Three areas of research in the development of flat solar panels are described. (1) A reflectometer which can separately evaluate the spectral and diffuse reflectivities of surfaces was developed. The reflectometer has a phase locked detection system. (2) A coating composed of strongly bound copper oxide that is formed by an etching process performed on an aluminum alloy with high copper content was also developed. Because of this one step fabrication process, fabrication costs are expected to be small. (3) A literature search was conducted and conclusions on the required optical properties of flat plate solar collectors are presented.

Feasibility study for distributed dose monitoring in ionizing radiation environments with standard and custom-made optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Uffelen, Marco; Berghmans, Francis; Brichard, Benoit; Borgermans, Paul; Decréton, Marc C.

2002-09-01

Optical fibers stimulate much interest since many years for their potential use in various nuclear environments, both for radiation tolerant and EMI-free data communication as well as for distributed sensing. Besides monitoring temperature and stress, measuring ionizing doses with optical fibers is particularly essential in applications such as long-term nuclear waste disposal monitoring, and for real-time aging monitoring of power and signal cables installed inside a reactor containment building. Two distinct options exist to perform optical fiber dosimetry. First, find an accurate model for a restricted application field that accounts for all the parameters that influence the radiation response of a standard fiber, or second, develop a dedicated fiber with a response that will solely depend on the deposited energy. Using various models presented in literature, we evaluate both standard commercially available and custom-made optical fibers under gamma radiation, particularly for distributed dosimetry applications with an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR). We therefore present the radiation induced attenuation at near-infrared telecom wavelengths up to MGy total dose levels, with dose rates ranging from about 1 Gy/h up to 1 kGy/h, whereas temperature was raised step-wise from 25 °C to 85 °C. Our results allow to determine and compare the practical limitations of distributed dose measurements with both fiber types in terms of temperature sensitivity, dose estimation accuracy and spatial resolution.

Label-free all-electronic biosensing in microfluidic systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanton, Michael A.

Label-free, all-electronic detection techniques offer great promise for advancements in medical and biological analysis. Electrical sensing can be used to measure both interfacial and bulk impedance changes in conducting solutions. Electronic sensors produced using standard microfabrication processes are easily integrated into microfluidic systems. Combined with the sensitivity of radiofrequency electrical measurements, this approach offers significant advantages over competing biological sensing methods. Scalable fabrication methods also provide a means of bypassing the prohibitive costs and infrastructure associated with current technologies. We describe the design, development and use of a radiofrequency reflectometer integrated into a microfluidic system towards the specific detection of biologically relevant materials. We developed a detection protocol based on impedimetric changes caused by the binding of antibody/antigen pairs to the sensing region. Here we report the surface chemistry that forms the necessary capture mechanism. Gold-thiol binding was utilized to create an ordered alkane monolayer on the sensor surface. Exposed functional groups target the N-terminus, affixing a protein to the monolayer. The general applicability of this method lends itself to a wide variety of proteins. To demonstrate specificity, commercially available mouse anti- Streptococcus Pneumoniae monoclonal antibody was used to target the full-length recombinant pneumococcal surface protein A, type 2 strain D39 expressed by Streptococcus Pneumoniae. We demonstrate the RF response of the sensor to both the presence of the surface decoration and bound SPn cells in a 1x phosphate buffered saline solution. The combined microfluidic sensor represents a powerful platform for the analysis and detection of cells and biomolecules.

Ionizing doses and displacement damage testing of COTS CMOS imagers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernard, Frédéric; Petit, Sophie; Courtade, Sophie

2017-11-01

CMOS sensors begin to be a credible alternative to CCD sensors in some space missions. However, technology evolution of CMOS sensors is much faster than CCD one's. So a continuous technology evaluation is needed for CMOS imagers. Many of commercial COTS (Components Off The Shelf) CMOS sensors use organic filters, micro-lenses and non rad-hard technologies. An evaluation of the possibilities offered by such technologies is interesting before any custom development. This can be obtained by testing commercial COTS imagers. This article will present electro-optical performances evolution of off the shelves CMOS imagers after Ionizing Doses until 50kRad(Si) and Displacement Damage environment tests (until 1011 p/cm2 at 50 MeV). Dark current level and non uniformity evolutions are compared and discussed. Relative spectral response measurement and associated evolution with irradiation will also be presented and discussed. Tests have been performed on CNES detection benches.

Development of frequency modulation reflectometer for Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research tokamak

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Seo, Seong-Heon; Wi, H. M.; Lee, W. R.

2013-08-15

Frequency modulation reflectometer has been developed to measure the plasma density profile of the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research tokamak. Three reflectometers are operating in extraordinary polarization mode in the frequency range of Q band (33.6–54 GHz), V band (48–72 GHz), and W band (72–108 GHz) to measure the density up to 7 × 10{sup 19} m{sup −3} when the toroidal magnetic field is 2 T on axis. The antenna is installed inside of the vacuum vessel. A new vacuum window is developed by using 50 μm thick mica film and 0.1 mm thick gold gasket. The filter bank ofmore » low pass filter, notch filter, and Faraday isolator is used to reject the electron cyclotron heating high power at attenuation of 60 dB. The full frequency band is swept in 20 μs. The mixer output is directly digitized with sampling rate of 100 MSamples/s. The phase is obtained by using wavelet transform. The whole hardware and software system is described in detail and the measured density profile is presented as a result.« less

Performance and data analysis aspects of the new DIII-D monostatic profile reflectometer system

DOE PAGES

Zeng, Lei; Peebles, William A.; Doyle, Edward J.; ...

2014-08-07

A new frequency-modulated (FMCW) profile reflectometer system, featuring a monostatic antenna geometry (using one microwave antenna for both launch and receive), has been installed on the DIII-D tokamak, providing a first experimental test of this measurement approach for profile reflectometry. Significant features of the new system are briefly described in this paper, including the new monostatic arrangement, use of overmoded, broadband transmission waveguide, and dual-polarization combination/demultiplexing. Updated data processing and analysis, and in-service performance aspects of the new monostatic profile reflectometer system are also presented. By using a raytracing code (GENRAY) to determine the approximate trajectory of the probe beam,more » the electron density (n e) profile can be successfully reconstructed with L-mode plasmas vertically shifted by more than 10 cm off the vessel midplane. Specifically, it is demonstrated that the new system has a capability to measure n e profiles with plasma vertical offsets of up to ±17 cm. Furthermore, examples are also presented of accurate, high time and spatial resolution density profile measurements made over a wide range of DIII-D conditions, e.g. the measured temporal evolution of the density profile across an L-H transition.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Osovizky, A.; Rotem Industries Ltd, Rotem Industrial Park; University of Maryland, College park, Maryland

A Chromatic Analysis Neutron Diffractometer Or Reflectometer (CANDOR) is under development at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The CANDOR neutron sensor will rely on scintillator material for detecting the neutrons scattered by the sample under test. It consists of {sup 6}LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillator material into which wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers have been embedded. Solid state photo-sensors (silicon photomultipliers) coupled to the WLS fibers are used to detect the light produced by the neutron capture event ({sup 6}Li (n,α) {sup 3}H reaction) and ionization of the ZnS(Ag). This detector configuration has the potential to accomplish the CANDOR performance requirements formore » efficiency of 90% for 5 A (3.35 meV) neutrons with high gamma rejection (10{sup 7}) along with compact design, affordable cost and materials availability. However this novel design includes challenges for precise neutron detection. The recognizing of the neutron signature versus the noise event produce by gamma event cannot be easy overcome by pulse height discrimination obstacle as can be achieved with {sup 3}He gas tube. Furthermore the selection of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) as the light sensor maintains the obstacle of dark noise that does not exist when a photomultiplier tube is coupled to the scintillator. A proper selection of SiPM should focus on increasing the output signal and reducing the dark noise in order to optimize the detection sensitivity and to provide a clean signal pulse shape discrimination. The main parameters for evaluation are: - Quantum Efficiency (QE) - matching the SiPM peak QE with the peak transmission wavelength emission of the WLS. - Recovery time - a short recovery time is preferred to minimize the pulse width beyond the intrinsic decay time of the scintillator crystal (improves the gamma rejection based output pulse shape (time)). - Diode dimensions -The dark noise is proportional to the diode active area while the signal is provided by the WLS fibers; therefore the diode area should ideally be only minimally larger than fiber bundle area. - Low dark noise - it is desirable to minimize the dark noise during the pulse integration period so as to minimize the background for pulse shape discrimination. - Photon Detection Efficiency - it is desirable to increase the SiPM PDE in order to enhance light collection. This will increase the likelihood of detecting neutron events with lower light production and will present a cleaner raw signal for pulse shape discrimination. We will present the SiPM optimization process and studies of dark noise and gamma and neutron sensitivity as a function of bias voltage and operating temperature that have enabled us to optimize the detector sensitivity and gamma rejection. The gamma rejection performance goal requires to overcome the challenge of discriminating between the light signature accepted by neutron event to the one received by the noise. In addition there is a huge variation between the number of light photons that reaching the WLS fibers for different neutron events caused by the heavy ions energy losses prior to ionizing the ZnS(Ag) and the high light attenuation of the scintillation mixture. This variation in the light signal along with the long decay time of the ZnS(Ag) (tens of microseconds) can cause double counting of the same neutron event in the case of high light output signature or preventing the detection of low sequential light output signature neutron event. We will presents the algorithm developed for {sup 6}LiF:ZnS(Ag) sensor readout and the results achieved by an off-line analysis by Matlab software code that successfully achieved both the high gamma rejection with a sensitive and accurate neutron event detection. (authors)« less

Preparation of the spacer for narrow electrode gap configuration in ionization-based gas sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saheed, Mohamed Shuaib Mohamed; Mohamed, Norani Muti; Burhanudin, Zainal Arif

2012-09-26

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have started to be developed as the sensing element for ionization-based gas sensors due to the demand for improved sensitivity, selectivity, stability and other sensing properties beyond what can be offered by the conventional ones. Although these limitations have been overcome, the problems still remain with the conventional ionization-based gas sensors in that they are bulky and operating with large breakdown voltage and high temperature. Recent studies have shown that the breakdown voltage can be reduced by using nanostructured electrodes and narrow electrode gap. Nanostructured electrode in the form of aligned CNTs array with evenly distributed nanotipsmore » can enhance the linear electric field significantly. The later is attributed to the shorter conductivity path through narrow electrode gap. The paper presents the study on the design consideration in order to realize ionization based gas sensor using aligned carbon nanotubes array in an optimum sensor configuration with narrow electrode gap. Several deposition techniques were studied to deposit the spacer, the key component that can control the electrode gap. Plasma spray deposition, electron beam deposition and dry oxidation method were employed to obtain minimum film thickness around 32 {mu}m. For plasma spray method, sand blasting process is required in order to produce rough surface for strong bonding of the deposited film onto the surface. Film thickness, typically about 39 {mu}m can be obtained. For the electron beam deposition and dry oxidation, the film thickness is in the range of nanometers and thus unsuitable to produce the spacer. The deposited multilayer film consisting of copper, alumina and ferum on which CNTs array will be grown was found to be removed during the etching process. This is attributed to the high etching rate on the thin film which can be prevented by reducing the rate and having a thicker conductive copper film.« less

Radiation damage caused by cold neutrons in boron doped CMOS active pixel sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Linnik, B.; Bus, T.; Deveaux, M.; Doering, D.; Kudejova, P.; Wagner, F. M.; Yazgili, A.; Stroth, J.

2017-05-01

CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) are considered as an emerging technology in the field of charged particle tracking. They will be used in the vertex detectors of experiments like STAR, CBM and ALICE and are considered for the ILC and the tracker of ATLAS. In those applications, the sensors are exposed to sizeable radiation doses. While the tolerance of MAPS to ionizing radiation and fast hadrons is well known, the damage caused by low energy neutrons was not studied so far. Those slow neutrons may initiate nuclear fission of 10B dopants found in the B-doped silicon active medium of MAPS. This effect was expected to create an unknown amount of radiation damage beyond the predictions of the NIEL (Non Ionizing Energy Loss) model for pure silicon. We estimate the impact of this effect by calculating the additional NIEL created by this fission. Moreover, we show first measured data for CMOS sensors which were irradiated with cold neutrons. The empirical results contradict the prediction of the updated NIEL model both, qualitatively and quantitatively: the sensors irradiated with slow neutrons show an unexpected and strong acceptor removal, which is not observed in sensors irradiated with MeV neutrons.

Direct measurement of density oscillation induced by a radio-frequency wave.

PubMed

Yamada, T; Ejiri, A; Shimada, Y; Oosako, T; Tsujimura, J; Takase, Y; Kasahara, H

2007-08-01

An O-mode reflectometer at a frequency of 25.85 GHz was applied to plasmas heated by the high harmonic fast wave (21 MHz) in the TST-2 spherical tokamak. An oscillation in the phase of the reflected microwave in the rf range was observed directly for the first time. In TST-2, the rf (250 kW) induced density oscillation depends mainly on the poloidal rf electric field, which is estimated to be about 0.2 kV/m rms by the reflectometer measurement. Sideband peaks separated in frequency by ion cyclotron harmonics from 21 MHz, and peaks at ion cyclotron harmonics which are suggested to be quasimodes generated by parametric decay, were detected.

Measurement of two-dimensional thickness of micro-patterned thin film based on image restoration in a spectroscopic imaging reflectometer.

PubMed

Kim, Min-Gab; Kim, Jin-Yong

2018-05-01

In this paper, we introduce a method to overcome the limitation of thickness measurement of a micro-patterned thin film. A spectroscopic imaging reflectometer system that consists of an acousto-optic tunable filter, a charge-coupled-device camera, and a high-magnitude objective lens was proposed, and a stack of multispectral images was generated. To secure improved accuracy and lateral resolution in the reconstruction of a two-dimensional thin film thickness, prior to the analysis of spectral reflectance profiles from each pixel of multispectral images, the image restoration based on an iterative deconvolution algorithm was applied to compensate for image degradation caused by blurring.

AND/R: Advanced neutron diffractometer/reflectometer for investigation of thin films and multilayers for the life sciences

PubMed Central

Dura, Joseph A.; Pierce, Donald J.; Majkrzak, Charles F.; Maliszewskyj, Nicholas C.; McGillivray, Duncan J.; Lösche, Mathias; O'Donovan, Kevin V.; Mihailescu, Mihaela; Perez-Salas, Ursula; Worcester, David L.; White, Stephen H.

2011-01-01

An elastic neutron scattering instrument, the advanced neutron diffractometer/reflectometer (AND/R), has recently been commissioned at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research. The AND/R is the centerpiece of the Cold Neutrons for Biology and Technology partnership, which is dedicated to the structural characterization of thin films and multilayers of biological interest. The instrument is capable of measuring both specular and nonspecular reflectivity, as well as crystalline or semicrystalline diffraction at wave-vector transfers up to approximately 2.20 Å−1. A detailed description of this flexible instrument and its performance characteristics in various operating modes are given. PMID:21892232

Characterizing the Performance of the Wheel Electrostatic Spectrometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johansen, Michael R.; Mackey, P. J.; Holbert, E.; Calle, C. I.; Clements, J. S.

2013-01-01

Insulators need to be discharged after each wheel revolution. Sensor responses repeatable within one standard deviation in the noise of the signal. Insulators may not need to be cleaned after each revolution. Parent Technology- Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment/Electrometer Electrostatic sensors with dissimilar cover insulators Protruding insulators tribocharge against regolith simulant Developed for use on the scoop for the 2001 Mars Odyssey lander Wheel Electrostatic Spectrometer Embedded electrostatic sensors in prototype Martian rover wheel If successful, this technology will enable constant electrostatic testing on Mars Air ionizing fan used to neutralize the surface charge on cover insulators . WES rolled on JSClA lunar simulant Control experiment -Static elimination not conducted between trials -Capacitor discharged after each experiment Charge neutralization experiment -Static elimination conducted between trials -Capacitor discharged after each experiment. Air ionizing fan used on insulators after each wheel revolution Capacitor discharged after each trial Care was taken to roll WES with same speed/pressure Error bars represent one standard deviation in the noise of e ach sensor

Ionizing radiation effects on CMOS imagers manufactured in deep submicron process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goiffon, Vincent; Magnan, Pierre; Bernard, Frédéric; Rolland, Guy; Saint-Pé, Olivier; Huger, Nicolas; Corbière, Franck

2008-02-01

We present here a study on both CMOS sensors and elementary structures (photodiodes and in-pixel MOSFETs) manufactured in a deep submicron process dedicated to imaging. We designed a test chip made of one 128×128-3T-pixel array with 10 μm pitch and more than 120 isolated test structures including photodiodes and MOSFETs with various implants and different sizes. All these devices were exposed to ionizing radiation up to 100 krad and their responses were correlated to identify the CMOS sensor weaknesses. Characterizations in darkness and under illumination demonstrated that dark current increase is the major sensor degradation. Shallow trench isolation was identified to be responsible for this degradation as it increases the number of generation centers in photodiode depletion regions. Consequences on hardness assurance and hardening-by-design are discussed.

Simulation and measurement of total ionizing dose radiation induced image lag increase in pinned photodiode CMOS image sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jing; Chen, Wei; Wang, Zujun; Xue, Yuanyuan; Yao, Zhibin; He, Baoping; Ma, Wuying; Jin, Junshan; Sheng, Jiangkun; Dong, Guantao

2017-06-01

This paper presents an investigation of total ionizing dose (TID) induced image lag sources in pinned photodiodes (PPD) CMOS image sensors based on radiation experiments and TCAD simulation. The radiation experiments have been carried out at the Cobalt -60 gamma-ray source. The experimental results show the image lag degradation is more and more serious with increasing TID. Combining with the TCAD simulation results, we can confirm that the junction of PPD and transfer gate (TG) is an important region forming image lag during irradiation. These simulations demonstrate that TID can generate a potential pocket leading to incomplete transfer.

Measuring ionizing radiation with a mobile device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michelsburg, Matthias; Fehrenbach, Thomas; Puente León, Fernando

2012-02-01

In cases of nuclear disasters it is desirable to know one's personal exposure to radioactivity and the related health risk. Usually, Geiger-Mueller tubes are used to assess the situation. Equipping everyone with such a device in a short period of time is very expensive. We propose a method to detect ionizing radiation using the integrated camera of a mobile consumer device, e.g., a cell phone. In emergency cases, millions of existing mobile devices could then be used to monitor the exposure of its owners. In combination with internet access and GPS, measured data can be collected by a central server to get an overview of the situation. During a measurement, the CMOS sensor of a mobile device is shielded from surrounding light by an attachment in front of the lens or an internal shutter. The high-energy radiation produces free electrons on the sensor chip resulting in an image signal. By image analysis by means of the mobile device, signal components due to incident ionizing radiation are separated from the sensor noise. With radioactive sources present significant increases in detected pixels can be seen. Furthermore, the cell phone application can make a preliminary estimate on the collected dose of an individual and the associated health risks.

A PC based time domain reflectometer for space station cable fault isolation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pham, Michael; McClean, Marty; Hossain, Sabbir; Vo, Peter; Kouns, Ken

1994-01-01

Significant problems are faced by astronauts on orbit in the Space Station when trying to locate electrical faults in multi-segment avionics and communication cables. These problems necessitate the development of an automated portable device that will detect and locate cable faults using the pulse-echo technique known as Time Domain Reflectometry. A breadboard time domain reflectometer (TDR) circuit board was designed and developed at the NASA-JSC. The TDR board works in conjunction with a GRiD lap-top computer to automate the fault detection and isolation process. A software program was written to automatically display the nature and location of any possible faults. The breadboard system can isolate open circuit and short circuit faults within two feet in a typical space station cable configuration. Follow-on efforts planned for 1994 will produce a compact, portable prototype Space Station TDR capable of automated switching in multi-conductor cables for high fidelity evaluation. This device has many possible commercial applications, including commercial and military aircraft avionics, cable TV, telephone, communication, information and computer network systems. This paper describes the principle of time domain reflectometry and the methodology for on-orbit avionics utility distribution system repair, utilizing the newly developed device called the Space Station Time Domain Reflectometer (SSTDR).

The multipurpose time-of-flight neutron reflectometer “Platypus” at Australia's OPAL reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

James, M.; Nelson, A.; Holt, S. A.; Saerbeck, T.; Hamilton, W. A.; Klose, F.

2011-03-01

In this manuscript we describe the major components of the Platypus time-of-flight neutron reflectometer at the 20 MW OPAL reactor in Sydney, Australia. Platypus is a multipurpose spectrometer for the characterisation of solid thin films, materials adsorbed at the solid-liquid interface and free-liquid surfaces. It also has the capacity to study magnetic thin films using spin-polarised neutrons. Platypus utilises a white neutron beam ( λ=2-20 Å) that is pulsed using boron-coated disc chopper pairs; thus providing the capacity to tailor the wavelength resolution of the pulses to suit the system under investigation. Supermirror optical components are used to focus, deflect or spin-polarise the broad bandwidth neutron beams, and typical incident spectra are presented for each configuration. A series of neutron reflectivity datasets are presented, indicating the quality and flexibility of this spectrometer. Minimum reflectivity values of <10 -7 are observed; while maximum thickness values of 325 nm have been measured for single-component films and 483 nm for a multilayer system. Off-specular measurements have also been made to investigate in-plane features as opposed to those normal to the sample surface. Finally, the first published studies conducted using the Platypus time-of-flight neutron reflectometer are presented.

GINA--a polarized neutron reflectometer at the Budapest Neutron Centre.

PubMed

Bottyán, L; Merkel, D G; Nagy, B; Füzi, J; Sajti, Sz; Deák, L; Endrőczi, G; Petrenko, A V; Major, J

2013-01-01

The setup, capabilities, and operation parameters of the neutron reflectometer GINA, the recently installed "Grazing Incidence Neutron Apparatus" at the Budapest Neutron Centre, are introduced. GINA, a dance-floor-type, constant-energy, angle-dispersive reflectometer is equipped with a 2D position-sensitive detector to study specular and off-specular scattering. Wavelength options between 3.2 and 5.7 Å are available for unpolarized and polarized neutrons. Spin polarization and analysis are achieved by magnetized transmission supermirrors and radio-frequency adiabatic spin flippers. As a result of vertical focusing by a five-element pyrolytic graphite monochromator, the reflected intensity from a 20 × 20 mm(2) sample has been doubled. GINA is dedicated to studies of magnetic films and heterostructures, but unpolarized options for non-magnetic films, membranes, and other surfaces are also provided. Shortly after its startup, reflectivity values as low as 3 × 10(-5) have been measured by the instrument. The instrument capabilities are demonstrated by a non-polarized and a polarized reflectivity experiment on a Si wafer and on a magnetic film of [(62)Ni/(nat)Ni](5) isotope-periodic layer composition. The facility is now open for the international user community. Its further development is underway establishing new sample environment options and spin analysis of off-specularly scattered radiation as well as further decreasing the background.

Study of an ionic smoke sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mokhtari, Z.; Holé, S.; Lewiner, J.

2013-05-01

Ionization smoke sensors are among the best smoke sensors; however, the little radioactive source they include is no longer desirable since it makes recycling more complicated. In this paper, we discuss an electrostatic system in which a corona discharge is used to generate the ions needed for smoke detection. We show how the velocity of ions is reduced in our system for a better interaction between smoke and drifting ions. The influence of smoke, temperature and moisture is studied. It is shown that the proposed sensor has good sensitivity compared with conventional ionic and optical smoke sensors.

Handheld directional reflectometer: an angular imaging device to measure BRDF and HDR in real time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattison, Phillip R.; Dombrowski, Mark S.; Lorenz, James M.; Davis, Keith J.; Mann, Harley C.; Johnson, Philip; Foos, Bryan

1998-10-01

Many applications require quantitative measurements of surface light scattering, including quality control on production lines, inspection of painted surfaces, inspection of field repairs, etc. Instruments for measuring surface scattering typically fall into two main categories, namely bidirectional reflectometers, which measure the angular distribution of scattering, and hemispherical directional reflectometers, which measure the total scattering into the hemisphere above the surface. Measurement of the bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) gives the greatest insight into how light is scattered from a surface. Measurements of BRDF, however, are typically very lengthy measurements taken by moving a source and detector to map the scattering. Since BRDF has four angular degrees of freedom, such measurements can require hours to days to complete. Instruments for measuring BRDF are also typically laboratory devices, although a field- portable bi-directional reflectometer does exist. Hemispherical directional reflectance (HDR) is a much easier measurement to make, although care must be taken to use the proper methodology when measuring at wavelengths beyond 10 micrometer, since integrating spheres (typically used to make such measurements) are very energy inefficient and lose their integrating properties at very long wavelengths. A few field- portable hemispherical directional reflectometers do exist, but typically measure HDR only at near-normal angles. Boeing Defense and Space Group and Surface Optics Corporation, under a contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory, have developed a new hand-held instrument capable of measuring both BRDF and HDR using a unique, patented angular imaging technique. A combination of an hemi-ellipsoidal mirror and an additional lens translate the angular scatter from a surface into a two-dimensional spatial distribution, which is recorded by an imaging array. This configuration fully maps the scattering from a half-hemisphere above the surface with more than 30,000 angularly-resolved points and update rates to 60 measurements per second. The instrument then computes HDR from the measured BDR. For ease of use, the instrument can also compare both the BRDF and HDR to preset limits, generating a Pass/Fail indicator for HDR and a high-acceptable-low image display of BRDF. Beam incidence elevation is variable from normal incidence ((theta) equals 0 degrees) to 5 degrees off grazing ((theta) equals 85 degrees), while scattering is measured to nearly 90 degrees off normal. Such capability is extremely important for any application requiring knowledge of surface appearance at oblique viewing angles. The current instrument operates over the range of 3 micrometer to 12 micrometer, with extension into the visible band possible.

Phase-based, high spatial resolution and distributed, static and dynamic strain sensing using Brillouin dynamic gratings in optical fibers.

PubMed

Bergman, Arik; Langer, Tomi; Tur, Moshe

2017-03-06

A novel technique combining Brillouin phase-shift measurements with Brillouin dynamic gratings (BDGs) reflectometry in polarization-maintaining fibers is presented here for the first time. While a direct measurement of the optical phase in standard BDG setups is impractical due to non-local phase contributions, their detrimental effect is reduced by ~4 orders of magnitude through the coherent addition of Stokes and anti-Stokes reflections from two counter-propagating BDGs in the fiber. The technique advantageously combines the high-spatial-resolution of BDGs reflectometry with the increased tolerance to optical power fluctuations of phasorial measurements, to enhance the performance of fiber-optic strain sensors. We demonstrate a distributed measurement (20cm spatial-resolution) of both static and dynamic (5kHz of vibrations at a sampling rate of 1MHz) strain fields acting on the fiber, in good agreement with theory and (for the static case) with the results of commercial reflectometers.

Large-Area Plasma-Panel Radiation Detectors for Nuclear Medicine Imaging to Homeland Security and the Super Large Hadron Collider

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Friedman, Dr. Peter S.; Ball, Robert; Chapman, J. Wehrley

2010-01-01

A new radiation sensor derived from plasma panel display technology is introduced. It has the capability to detect ionizing and non-ionizing radiation over a wide energy range and the potential for use in many applications. The principle of operation is described and some early results presented.

Ionization Gas Sensor using Aligned Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Array

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kermany, A. R.; Mohamed, N. M.; Singh, B. S. M.

2011-05-25

The challenge with current conventional gas sensors which are operating using semiconducting oxides is their size. After the introduction of nanotechnology and in order to reduce the dimension and consequently the power consumption and cost, new materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are being introduced. From previous works and characterization results, it was proven that the CNTs based gas sensor has better sensitivity, selectivity and faster response time in compared with semiconducting oxides based gas sensors. As in this work, a fabrication and successful testing of an ionization-based gas sensor using aligned Multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) as sensing element is discussed,more » in which MWCNTs array and Al film are used as anode and cathode plates respectively with electrode separation ranging from 80 {mu}m to 140 {mu}m. Aligned MWCNTs array was incorporated into a sensor configuration in the gas chamber for testing of gases such as argon, air, and mixed gas of 2%H{sub 2} in air. Obtained results show that among the three gases, argon has the lowest breakdown voltage whilst air has the highest value and the breakdown voltage was found to decrease as the electrode spacing was reduced from 140 {mu}m to 80 {mu}m for all three gases.« less

Correlation of a Bipolar-Transistor-Based Neutron Displacement Damage Sensor Methodology with Proton Irradiations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tonigan, Andrew M.; Arutt, Charles N.; Parma, Edward J.

For this research, a bipolar-transistor-based sensor technique has been used to compare silicon displacement damage from known and unknown neutron energy spectra generated in nuclear reactor and high-energy-density physics environments. The technique has been shown to yield 1-MeV(Si) equivalent neutron fluence measurements comparable to traditional neutron activation dosimetry. This study significantly extends previous results by evaluating three types of bipolar devices utilized as displacement damage sensors at a nuclear research reactor and at a Pelletron particle accelerator. Ionizing dose effects are compensated for via comparisons with 10-keV x-ray and/or cobalt-60 gamma ray irradiations. Non-ionizing energy loss calculations adequately approximate themore » correlations between particle-device responses and provide evidence for the use of one particle type to screen the sensitivity of the other.« less

Correlation of a Bipolar-Transistor-Based Neutron Displacement Damage Sensor Methodology with Proton Irradiations

DOE PAGES

Tonigan, Andrew M.; Arutt, Charles N.; Parma, Edward J.; ...

2017-11-16

For this research, a bipolar-transistor-based sensor technique has been used to compare silicon displacement damage from known and unknown neutron energy spectra generated in nuclear reactor and high-energy-density physics environments. The technique has been shown to yield 1-MeV(Si) equivalent neutron fluence measurements comparable to traditional neutron activation dosimetry. This study significantly extends previous results by evaluating three types of bipolar devices utilized as displacement damage sensors at a nuclear research reactor and at a Pelletron particle accelerator. Ionizing dose effects are compensated for via comparisons with 10-keV x-ray and/or cobalt-60 gamma ray irradiations. Non-ionizing energy loss calculations adequately approximate themore » correlations between particle-device responses and provide evidence for the use of one particle type to screen the sensitivity of the other.« less

Front-end antenna system design for the ITER low-field-side reflectometer system using GENRAY ray tracing.

PubMed

Wang, G; Doyle, E J; Peebles, W A

2016-11-01

A monostatic antenna array arrangement has been designed for the microwave front-end of the ITER low-field-side reflectometer (LFSR) system. This paper presents details of the antenna coupling coefficient analyses performed using GENRAY, a 3-D ray tracing code, to evaluate the plasma height accommodation capability of such an antenna array design. Utilizing modeled data for the plasma equilibrium and profiles for the ITER baseline and half-field scenarios, a design study was performed for measurement locations varying from the plasma edge to inside the top of the pedestal. A front-end antenna configuration is recommended for the ITER LFSR system based on the results of this coupling analysis.

Distributed fiber sensing system with wide frequency response and accurate location

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Yi; Feng, Hao; Zeng, Zhoumo

2016-02-01

A distributed fiber sensing system merging Mach-Zehnder interferometer and phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometer (Φ-OTDR) is demonstrated for vibration measurement, which requires wide frequency response and accurate location. Two narrow line-width lasers with delicately different wavelengths are used to constitute the interferometer and reflectometer respectively. A narrow band Fiber Bragg Grating is responsible for separating the two wavelengths. In addition, heterodyne detection is applied to maintain the signal to noise rate of the locating signal. Experiment results show that the novel system has a wide frequency from 1 Hz to 50 MHz, limited by the sample frequency of data acquisition card, and a spatial resolution of 20 m, according to 200 ns pulse width, along 2.5 km fiber link.

Fluorographene based Ultrasensitive Ammonia Sensor

PubMed Central

Tadi, Kiran Kumar; Pal, Shubhadeep; Narayanan, Tharangattu N.

2016-01-01

Single molecule detection using graphene can be brought by tuning the interactions via specific dopants. Electrostatic interaction between the most electronegative element fluorine (F) and hydrogen (H) is one of the strong interactions in hydrogen bonding, and here we report the selective binding of ammonia/ammonium with F in fluorographene (FG) resulting to a change in the impedance of the system. Very low limit of detection value of ~0.44 pM with linearity over wide range of concentrations (1 pM–0.1 μM) is achieved using the FG based impedance sensor, andthisscreen printed FG sensor works in both ionized (ammonium) and un-ionized ammonia sensing platforms. The interaction energies of FG and NH3/NH4+ are evaluated using density functional theory calculations and the interactions are mapped. Here FGs with two different amounts of fluorinecontents −~5 atomic% (C39H16F2) and ~24 atomic% (C39H16F12) - are theoretically and experimentally studied for selective, high sensitive and ultra-low level detection of ammonia. Fast responding, high sensitive, large area patternable FG based sensor platform demonstrated here can open new avenues for the development of point-of-care devices and clinical sensors. PMID:27142522

Properties of a weakly ionized NO gas sensor based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Jingyuan; Zhang, Yong, E-mail: zhyong@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; Pan, Zhigang

2015-08-31

Nitric oxide NO is one of the major targets for environmental monitoring, but the existing NO sensors are limited by their low sensitivity and narrow test range. Here, a NO gas sensor employing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was fabricated, and its properties in NO–N{sub 2} mixture were investigated from both emission and ionization. The current I{sub e} passing through the nanotubes cathode was found to decrease with increasing NO concentration and increase linearly in different slopes with the extracting voltage U{sub e}. It is shown that the Schottky barrier of the MWCNTs calculated by I{sub e} increased with NO concentrationmore » due to the adsorption of NO gas, which restrained the electron emission and consequently weakened the ionization. The positive ion currents I{sub c} passing through the collecting electrode at different voltages of U{sub e} were found to monotonically decrease with increasing NO concentration, which was induced by both of the reduced electron emission and the consumption of the two excited metastable states N{sub 2}(A{sup 3}∑{sub u}{sup +}) and N{sub 2}(a′{sup 1}∑{sub u}{sup −}) by NO. The sensor exhibited high sensitivity at the low temperature of 30 °C. The calculated conductivity was found to be able to take place of I{sub c} for NO detection in a wide voltage range of 80–150 V U{sub e}.« less

Theoretical and experimental studies of reentry plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dunn, M. G.; Kang, S.

1973-01-01

A viscous shock-layer analysis was developed and used to calculate nonequilibrium-flow species distributions in the plasma layer of the RAM vehicle. The theoretical electron-density results obtained are in good agreement with those measured in flight. A circular-aperture flush-mounted antenna was used to obtain a comparison between theoretical and experimental antenna admittance in the presence of ionized boundary layers of low collision frequency. The electron-temperature and electron-density distributions in the boundary layer were independently measured. The antenna admittance was measured using a four-probe microwave reflectometer and these measured values were found to be in good agreement with those predicted. Measurements were also performed with another type of circular-aperture antenna and good agreement was obtained between the calculations and the experimental results. A theoretical analysis has been completed which permits calculation of the nonequilibrium, viscous shock-layer flow field for a sphere-cone body. Results are presented for two different bodies at several different altitudes illustrating the influences of bluntness and chemical nonequilibrium on several gas dynamic parameters of interest. Plane-wave transmission coefficients were calculated for an approximate space-shuttle body using a typical trajectory.

EVALUATION OF SMOKE AND GAS SENSOR RESPONSES FOR FIRES OF COMMON MINE COMBUSTIBLES

PubMed Central

Perera, Inoka Eranda; Litton, Charles D.

2015-01-01

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the response characteristics of commercially available gas, smoke, and flame sensors to fires of common combustible mine materials. The experiments were conducted in the large-scale Fire gallery located at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Lake Lynn Laboratory (LLL) in Fairchance, PA, using Ponderosa Pine, Red Oak, Douglas-fir, high and low volatile coals, PVC and SBR conveyor belt, No. 2 diesel fuel, and diesel exhaust. All the experiments (except those using No. 2 diesel fuel and the diesel exhaust tests) were conducted in a similar manner, with combustible materials heated rapidly by electrical strip heaters producing smoldering fires that quickly transitioned into flaming fires. The sensors included a diffusion-type carbon monoxide (CO) sensor, photoelectric- and ionization-type smoke sensors, a video smoke/flame detector, and an optical flame detector. Simultaneous measurements were obtained for average gas concentrations, smoke mass concentrations, and smoke optical densities in order to quantify the levels of combustion products at the alert and alarm times of the sensors. Because the required sensor alarm levels are 10 ppm and 0.044 m−1 optical density for CO and smoke sensors, respectively, the different sensor alarms are compared to the time at which the CO and smoke reached these alarm levels (1). In addition, the potential impact of using smoke sensors that have met the performance standards from accredited testing laboratories is also evaluated using the response of an Underwriters’ Laboratory (UL)-approved combination photoelectric/ionization smoke detector. The results are discussed relative to fire sensor needs that can have a positive impact on mine fire safety. PMID:26229418

EVALUATION OF SMOKE AND GAS SENSOR RESPONSES FOR FIRES OF COMMON MINE COMBUSTIBLES.

PubMed

Perera, Inoka Eranda; Litton, Charles D

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the response characteristics of commercially available gas, smoke, and flame sensors to fires of common combustible mine materials. The experiments were conducted in the large-scale Fire gallery located at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Lake Lynn Laboratory (LLL) in Fairchance, PA, using Ponderosa Pine, Red Oak, Douglas-fir, high and low volatile coals, PVC and SBR conveyor belt, No. 2 diesel fuel, and diesel exhaust. All the experiments (except those using No. 2 diesel fuel and the diesel exhaust tests) were conducted in a similar manner, with combustible materials heated rapidly by electrical strip heaters producing smoldering fires that quickly transitioned into flaming fires. The sensors included a diffusion-type carbon monoxide (CO) sensor, photoelectric- and ionization-type smoke sensors, a video smoke/flame detector, and an optical flame detector. Simultaneous measurements were obtained for average gas concentrations, smoke mass concentrations, and smoke optical densities in order to quantify the levels of combustion products at the alert and alarm times of the sensors. Because the required sensor alarm levels are 10 ppm and 0.044 m -1 optical density for CO and smoke sensors, respectively, the different sensor alarms are compared to the time at which the CO and smoke reached these alarm levels (1). In addition, the potential impact of using smoke sensors that have met the performance standards from accredited testing laboratories is also evaluated using the response of an Underwriters' Laboratory (UL)-approved combination photoelectric/ionization smoke detector. The results are discussed relative to fire sensor needs that can have a positive impact on mine fire safety.

Packet personal radiation monitor

DOEpatents

Phelps, J.E.

1988-03-31

A personal radiation monitor of the chirper type is provided for detecting ionizing radiation. A battery powered high voltage power supply is used to generate and apply a high voltage bias to a G-M tube radiation sensor. The high voltage is monitored by a low-loss sensing network which generates a feedback signal to control the high voltage power supply such that the high voltage bias is recharged to +500 VDC when the current pulses of the sensor, generated by the detection of ionizing radiatonevents, discharges the high voltage bias to +450 VDC. During the high voltage recharge period an audio transducer is activated to produce an audible ''chirp''. The rate of the ''chirps'' is controlled by the rate at which the high voltage bias is recharged, which is proportional to the radiation field intensity to which the sensor is exposed. The chirp rate sensitivity is set to be approximately 1.5 (chirps/min/MR/hr.). The G-M tube sensor is used in a current sensing mode so that the device does not paralyze in a high radiation field. 2 figs.

Packet personal radiation monitor

DOEpatents

Phelps, James E.

1989-01-01

A personal radiation monitor of the chirper type is provided for detecting ionizing radiation. A battery powered high voltage power supply is used to generate and apply a high voltage bias to a G-M tube radiation sensor. The high voltage is monitored by a low-loss sensing network which generates a feedback signal to control the high voltage power supply such that the high voltage bias is recharged to +500 VDC when the current pulses of the sensor, generated by the detection of ionizing radiation events, discharges the high voltage bias to +450 VDC. During the high voltage recharge period an audio transducer is activated to produce an audible "chirp". The rate of the "chirps" is controlled by the rate at which the high voltage bias is recharged, which is proportional to the radiation field intensity to which the sensor is exposed. The chirp rate sensitivity is set to be approximately 1.5 (chirps/min/MR/hr.). The G-M tube sensor is used in a current sensing mode so that the device does not paralyze in a high radiation field.

A simultaneous multiple angle-wavelength dispersive X-ray reflectometer using a bent-twisted polychromator crystal

PubMed Central

Matsushita, Tadashi; Arakawa, Etsuo; Voegeli, Wolfgang; Yano, Yohko F.

2013-01-01

An X-ray reflectometer has been developed, which can simultaneously measure the whole specular X-ray reflectivity curve with no need for rotation of the sample, detector or monochromator crystal during the measurement. A bent-twisted crystal polychromator is used to realise a convergent X-ray beam which has continuously varying energy E (wavelength λ) and glancing angle α to the sample surface as a function of horizontal direction. This convergent beam is reflected in the vertical direction by the sample placed horizontally at the focus and then diverges horizontally and vertically. The normalized intensity distribution of the reflected beam measured downstream of the specimen with a two-dimensional pixel array detector (PILATUS 100K) represents the reflectivity curve. Specular X-ray reflectivity curves were measured from a commercially available silicon (100) wafer, a thin gold film coated on a silicon single-crystal substrate and the surface of liquid ethylene glycol with data collection times of 0.01 to 1000 s using synchrotron radiation from a bending-magnet source of a 6.5 GeV electron storage ring. A typical value of the simultaneously covered range of the momentum transfer was 0.01–0.45 Å−1 for the silicon wafer sample. The potential of this reflectometer for time-resolved X-ray studies of irreversible structural changes is discussed. PMID:23254659

Simultaneous data communication and position sensing with an impact ionization engineered avalanche photodiode array for free space optical communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferraro, Mike S.; Mahon, Rita; Rabinovich, William S.; Murphy, James L.; Dexter, James L.; Clark, William R.; Waters, William D.; Vaccaro, Kenneth; Krejca, Brian D.

2017-02-01

Photodetectors in free space optical communication systems perform two functions: reception of data communication signals and position sensing for pointing, tracking, and stabilization. Traditionally, the optical receive path in an FSO system is split into separate paths for data detection and position sensing. The need for separate paths is a consequence of conflicting performance criteria between position sensitive detectors (PSD) and data detectors. Combining the functionality of both detector types requires that the combinational sensor not only have the bandwidth to support high data rate communication but the active area and spatial discrimination to accommodate position sensing. In this paper we present a large area, concentric five element impact ionization engineered avalanche photodiode array rated for bandwidths beyond 1GHz with a measured carrier ionization ratio of less than 0.1 at moderate APD gains. The integration of this array as a combinational sensor in an FSO system is discussed along with the development of a pointing and stabilization algorithm.

Observation of beta and X rays with 3-D-architecture silicon microstrip sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kenney, C. J.; Parker, S. I.; Krieger, B.; Ludewigt, B.; Dubbs, T. P.; Sadrozinski, H.

2001-04-01

The first silicon radiation sensors based on the three-dimensional (3-D) architecture have been successfully fabricated. X-ray spectra from iron-55 and americium-241 have been recorded by reading out a 3-D architecture detector via wire bonds to a low-noise, charge-sensitive preamplifier. Using a beta source, coincidences between a 3-D sensor and a plastic scintillator were observed. This is the first observation of ionizing radiation using a silicon sensor based on the 3-D architecture. Details of the apparatus and measurements are described.

MERITXELL: The Multifrequency Experimental Radiometer with Interference Tracking for Experiments over Land and Littoral-Instrument Description, Calibration and Performance.

PubMed

Querol, Jorge; Tarongí, José Miguel; Forte, Giuseppe; Gómez, José Javier; Camps, Adriano

2017-05-10

MERITXELL is a ground-based multisensor instrument that includes a multiband dual-polarization radiometer, a GNSS reflectometer, and several optical sensors. Its main goals are twofold: to test data fusion techniques, and to develop Radio-Frequency Interference (RFI) detection, localization and mitigation techniques. The former is necessary to retrieve complementary data useful to develop geophysical models with improved accuracy, whereas the latter aims at solving one of the most important problems of microwave radiometry. This paper describes the hardware design, the instrument control architecture, the calibration of the radiometer, and several captures of RFI signals taken with MERITXELL in urban environment. The multiband radiometer has a dual linear polarization total-power radiometer topology, and it covers the L-, S-, C-, X-, K-, Ka-, and W-band. Its back-end stage is based on a spectrum analyzer structure which allows to perform real-time signal processing, while the rest of the sensors are controlled by a host computer where the off-line processing takes place. The calibration of the radiometer is performed using the hot-cold load procedure, together with the tipping curves technique in the case of the five upper frequency bands. Finally, some captures of RFI signals are shown for most of the radiometric bands under analysis, which evidence the problem of RFI in microwave radiometry, and the limitations they impose in external calibration.

Development of integrated damage detection system for international America's Cup class yacht structures using a fiber optic distributed sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akiyoshi, Shimada; Naruse, Hiroshi; Uzawa, Kyoshi; Murayama, Hideaki; Kageyama, Kazuro

2000-06-01

We constructed a new health monitoring system to detect damage using a fiber optic distributed sensor, namely a Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR), and installed it in International America's Cup Class (IACC) yachts, the Japanese entry in America's Cup 2000. IACC yachts are designed to be as fast as possible, so it is essential that they are lightweight and encounter minimum water resistance. Advanced composite sandwich structures, made with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) skins and a honeycomb core, are used to achieve the lightweight structure. Yacht structure designs push the strength of the materials to their limit and so it is important to detect highly stressed or damaged regions that might cause a catastrophic fracture. The BOTDR measures changes in the Brillouin frequency shift caused by distributed strain along one optical fiber. We undertook two experiments: a pulling test and a four point bending test on a composite beam. The former showed that no slippage occurred between the optical fiber glass and its coating. The latter confirmed that a debonding between the skin and the core of 300 mm length could be found with the BOTDR. Next we examined the effectiveness with which this system can assess the structural integrity of IACC yachts. The results show that our system has the potential for use as a damage detection system for smart structures.

MERITXELL: The Multifrequency Experimental Radiometer with Interference Tracking for Experiments over Land and Littoral—Instrument Description, Calibration and Performance

PubMed Central

Querol, Jorge; Tarongí, José Miguel; Forte, Giuseppe; Gómez, José Javier; Camps, Adriano

2017-01-01

MERITXELL is a ground-based multisensor instrument that includes a multiband dual-polarization radiometer, a GNSS reflectometer, and several optical sensors. Its main goals are twofold: to test data fusion techniques, and to develop Radio-Frequency Interference (RFI) detection, localization and mitigation techniques. The former is necessary to retrieve complementary data useful to develop geophysical models with improved accuracy, whereas the latter aims at solving one of the most important problems of microwave radiometry. This paper describes the hardware design, the instrument control architecture, the calibration of the radiometer, and several captures of RFI signals taken with MERITXELL in urban environment. The multiband radiometer has a dual linear polarization total-power radiometer topology, and it covers the L-, S-, C-, X-, K-, Ka-, and W-band. Its back-end stage is based on a spectrum analyzer structure which allows to perform real-time signal processing, while the rest of the sensors are controlled by a host computer where the off-line processing takes place. The calibration of the radiometer is performed using the hot-cold load procedure, together with the tipping curves technique in the case of the five upper frequency bands. Finally, some captures of RFI signals are shown for most of the radiometric bands under analysis, which evidence the problem of RFI in microwave radiometry, and the limitations they impose in external calibration. PMID:28489056

Developments in the realization of diffuse reflectance scales at NPL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chunnilall, Christopher J.; Clarke, Frank J. J.; Shaw, Michael J.

2005-08-01

The United Kingdom scales for diffuse reflectance are realized using two primary instruments. In the 360 nm to 2.5 μm spectral region the National Reference Reflectometer (NRR) realizes absolute measurement of reflectance and radiance factor by goniometric measurements. Hemispherical reflectance scales are obtained through the spatial integration of these goniometric measurements. In the mid-infrared region (2.5 μm - 55 μm) the hemispherical reflectance scale is realized by the Absolute Hemispherical Reflectometer (AHR). This paper describes some of the uncertainties resulting from errors in aligning the NRR and non-ideality in sample topography, together with its use to carry out measurements in the 1 - 1.6 μm region. The AHR has previously been used with grating spectrometers, and has now been coupled to a Fourier transform spectrometer.

Micromachined Electron-Tunneling Infrared Detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kenny, Thomas W.; Kaiser, William J.; Waltman, Stephen B.

1993-01-01

Pneumatic/thermal infrared detectors based partly on Golay-cell concept, but smaller and less fragile. Include containers filled with air or other gas trapped behind diaphragms. Infrared radiation heats sensors, causing gas to expand. Resulting deflections of diaphragms measured by displacement sensors based on principle of electron-tunneling transducers of scanning tunneling microscopes. Exceed sensitivity of all other miniature, uncooled infrared sensors presently available. Expected to include low consumption of power, broadband sensitivity, room-temperature operation, and invulnerability to ionizing radiation.

Novel mono-static arrangement of the ASDEX Upgrade high field side reflectometers compatible with electron cyclotron resonance heating stray radiation.

PubMed

Silva, A; Varela, P; Meneses, L; Manso, M

2012-10-01

The ASDEX Upgrade frequency modulated continuous wave broadband reflectometer system uses a mono-static antenna configuration with in-vessel hog-horns and 3 dB directional couplers. The operation of the new electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) launcher and the start of collective Thomson scattering experiments caused several events where the fragile dummy loads inside the high field side directional couplers were damaged, due to excessive power resulting from the ECRH stray fields. In this paper, we present a non-conventional application of the existing three-port directional coupler that hardens the system to the ECRH stray fields and at the same time generates the necessary reference signal. Electromagnetic simulations and laboratory tests were performed to validate the proposed solution and are compared with the in-vessel calibration tests.

Invited Article: Polarization ``Down Under'': The polarized time-of-flight neutron reflectometer PLATYPUS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saerbeck, T.; Klose, F.; Le Brun, A. P.; Füzi, J.; Brule, A.; Nelson, A.; Holt, S. A.; James, M.

2012-08-01

This review presents the implementation and full characterization of the polarization equipment of the time-of-flight neutron reflectometer PLATYPUS at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The functionality and efficiency of individual components are evaluated and found to maintain a high neutron beam polarization with a maximum of 99.3% through polarizing Fe/Si supermirrors. Neutron spin-flippers with efficiencies of 99.7% give full control over the incident and scattered neutron spin direction over the whole wavelength spectrum available in the instrument. The first scientific experiments illustrate data correction mechanisms for finite polarizations and reveal an extraordinarily high reproducibility for measuring magnetic thin film samples. The setup is now fully commissioned and available for users through the neutron beam proposal system of the Bragg Institute at ANSTO.

Invited article: polarization "down under": the polarized time-of-flight neutron reflectometer PLATYPUS.

PubMed

Saerbeck, T; Klose, F; Le Brun, A P; Füzi, J; Brule, A; Nelson, A; Holt, S A; James, M

2012-08-01

This review presents the implementation and full characterization of the polarization equipment of the time-of-flight neutron reflectometer PLATYPUS at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The functionality and efficiency of individual components are evaluated and found to maintain a high neutron beam polarization with a maximum of 99.3% through polarizing Fe/Si supermirrors. Neutron spin-flippers with efficiencies of 99.7% give full control over the incident and scattered neutron spin direction over the whole wavelength spectrum available in the instrument. The first scientific experiments illustrate data correction mechanisms for finite polarizations and reveal an extraordinarily high reproducibility for measuring magnetic thin film samples. The setup is now fully commissioned and available for users through the neutron beam proposal system of the Bragg Institute at ANSTO.

Distributed optical fibre temperature measurements in a low dose rate radiation environment based on Rayleigh backscattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faustov, A.; Gussarov, A.; Wuilpart, M.; Fotiadi, A. A.; Liokumovich, L. B.; Kotov, O. I.; Zolotovskiy, I. O.; Tomashuk, A. L.; Deschoutheete, T.; Mégret, P.

2012-04-01

On-line monitoring of environmental conditions in nuclear facilities is becoming a more and more important problem. Standard electronic sensors are not the ideal solution due to radiation sensitivity and difficulties in installation of multiple sensors. In contrast, radiation-hard optical fibres can sustain very high radiation doses and also naturally offer multi-point or distributed monitoring of external perturbations. Multiple local electro-mechanical sensors can be replaced by just one measuring fibre. At present, there are over four hundred operational nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the world 1. Operating experience has shown that ineffective control of the ageing degradation of major NPP components can threaten plant safety and also plant life. Among those elements, cables are vital components of I&C systems in NPPs. To ensure their safe operation and predict remaining life, environmental monitoring is necessary. In particular, temperature and radiation dose are considered to be the two most important parameters. The aim of this paper is to assess experimentally the feasibility of optical fibre temperature measurements in a low doserate radiation environment, using a commercially available reflectometer based on Rayleigh backscattering. Four different fibres were installed in the Sub-Pile Room of the BR2 Material testing nuclear reactor in Mol, Belgium. This place is man-accessible during the reactor shut-down, allowing easy fibre installation. When the reactor operates, the dose-rates in the room are in a range 0.005-5 Gy/h with temperatures of 40-60 °C, depending on the location. Such a surrounding is not much different to some "hot" environments in NPPs, where I&C cables are located.

Portable Infrared Reflectometer Designed and Manufactured for Evaluating Emittance in the Laboratory or in the Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaworske, Donald A.

2000-01-01

The optical properties of materials play a key role in spacecraft thermal control. In space, radiant heat transfer is the only mode of heat transfer that can reject heat from a spacecraft. One of the key properties for defining radiant heat transfer is emittance, a measure of how efficiently a surface can reject heat in comparison to a perfect black body emitter. Heat rejection occurs in the infrared region of the spectrum, nominally in the range of 2 to 25 mm. To calculate emittance, one obtains the reflectance over this spectral range, calculates spectral absorptance by difference, and then uses Kirchhoff s Law and the Stefan-Boltzmann equation to calculate emittance. A new portable infrared reflectometer, the SOC 400t, was designed and manufactured to evaluate the emittance of surfaces and coatings in the laboratory or in the field. It was developed by Surface Optics Corporation under a contract with the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field to replace the Center s aging Gier-Dunkle DB-100 infrared reflectometer. The specifications for the new instrument include a wavelength range of 2 to 25 mm; reflectance repeatability of +/-1 percent; self-calibrating, near-normal spectral reflectance measurements; a full scan measurement time of 3.5 min, a sample size of 1.27 cm (0.5 in.); a spectral resolution selectable from 4, 8, 16, or 32/cm; and optical property characterization utilizing an automatic integration to calculate total emittance in a selectable temperature range.

Charge collection and non-ionizing radiation tolerance of CMOS pixel sensors using a 0.18 μm CMOS process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ying; Zhu, Hongbo; Zhang, Liang; Fu, Min

2016-09-01

The proposed Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) will be primarily aimed for precision measurements of the discovered Higgs boson. Its innermost vertex detector, which will play a critical role in heavy-flavor tagging, must be constructed with fine-pitched silicon pixel sensors with low power consumption and fast readout. CMOS pixel sensor (CPS), as one of the most promising candidate technologies, has already demonstrated its excellent performance in several high energy physics experiments. Therefore it has been considered for R&D for the CEPC vertex detector. In this paper, we present the preliminary studies to improve the collected signal charge over the equivalent input capacitance ratio (Q / C), which will be crucial to reduce the analog power consumption. We have performed detailed 3D device simulation and evaluated potential impacts from diode geometry, epitaxial layer properties and non-ionizing radiation damage. We have proposed a new approach to improve the treatment of the boundary conditions in simulation. Along with the TCAD simulation, we have designed the exploratory prototype utilizing the TowerJazz 0.18 μm CMOS imaging sensor process and we will verify the simulation results with future measurements.

An ionization gauge for ultrahigh vacuum measurement based on a carbon nanotube cathode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Huzhong; Cheng, Yongjun; Sun, Jian; Wang, Yongjun; Xi, Zhenhua; Dong, Meng; Li, Detian

2017-10-01

This work reports on the complete design and the properties of an ionization gauge based on a carbon nanotube cathode, which can measure ultrahigh vacuum without thermal effects. The gauge is composed of a pressure sensor and an electronic controller. This pressure sensor is constructed based on a hot-cathode ionization gauge, where the traditional hot filament is replaced by an electron source prepared with multi-wall nanotubes. Besides, an electronic controller was developed for bias voltage supply, low current detection, and pressure indication. The gauge was calibrated in the pressure range of 10-8 to 10-4 Pa in a XHV/UHV calibration apparatus. The gauge shows good linear characteristics in different gases. The calibrated sensitivity is 0.035 Pa-1 in N2, and the standard deviation of the sensitivity is about 1.1%. In addition, the stability of the sensitivity was learned in a long period. The standard deviation of the sensitivity factor "S" during one year is 2.0% for Ar and 1.6% for N2.

Effect of inflow discharges on the development of matric suction and volumetric water content for dike during overtopping tests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, Marwan A.; Ismail, Mohd A. M.

2017-10-01

The point of this review is to depict the impact of various inflow discharge rate releases on the instruments of matric suction and volumetric water content during an experimental test of spatial overtopping failure at school of civil engineering in universiti Sains of Malaysia. A dry sand dike was conducted inside small flume channel with twelve sensors of tensiometer and Time-Domain Reflectometer (TDR). Instruments are installed in the soil at different locations in downstream and upstream slopes of the dike for measuring the response of matric suction and volumetric water content, respectively. Two values of inflow discharge rates of 30 and 40 L/min are utilized as a part of these experiments to simulate the effectiveness of water reservoirs in erosion mechanism. The outcomes demonstrate that the matric suction and volumetric water content are decreased and increased, respectively for both inflow discharges. The higher inflow discharges accelerate the saturation of dike soil and the erosion process faster than that for the lower inflow discharges.

Quantifying In Situ Contaminant Mobility in Marine Sediments

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

and rinsing the collection and sensor chambers and the circulation subsystem with prepared solutions is followed. For metals, a nitric acid soak/rinse...fluids beginning with tap water, then de-ionized water, then a special detergent (“RBS”), then de- ionized water, then nitric acid for metals or Methanol...component parts are soaked, four-hours minimum, in each fluid. A 25% concentration of ultra-pure nitric acid is used to soak Teflon™ parts (bottles, lids

Development of radiation tolerant monolithic active pixel sensors with fast column parallel read-out

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koziel, M.; Dorokhov, A.; Fontaine, J.-C.; De Masi, R.; Winter, M.

2010-12-01

Monolithic active pixel sensors (MAPS) [1] (Turchetta et al., 2001) are being developed at IPHC—Strasbourg to equip the EUDET telescope [2] (Haas, 2006) and vertex detectors for future high energy physics experiments, including the STAR upgrade at RHIC [3] (T.S. Collaboration, 2005) and the CBM experiment at FAIR/GSI [4] (Heuser, 2006). High granularity, low material budget and high read-out speed are systematically required for most applications, complemented, for some of them, with high radiation tolerance. A specific column-parallel architecture, implemented in the MIMOSA-22 sensor, was developed to achieve fast read-out MAPS. Previous studies of the front-end architecture integrated in this sensor, which includes in-pixel amplification, have shown that the fixed pattern noise increase consecutive to ionizing radiation can be controlled by means of a negative feedback [5] (Hu-Guo et al., 2008). However, an unexpected rise of the temporal noise was observed. A second version of this chip (MIMOSA-22bis) was produced in order to search for possible improvements of the radiation tolerance, regarding this type of noise. In this prototype, the feedback transistor was tuned in order to mitigate the sensitivity of the pixel to ionizing radiation. The performances of the pixels after irradiation were investigated for two types of feedback transistors: enclosed layout transistor (ELT) [6] (Snoeys et al., 2000) and "standard" transistor with either large or small transconductance. The noise performance of all test structures was studied in various conditions (expected in future experiments) regarding temperature, integration time and ionizing radiation dose. Test results are presented in this paper. Based on these observations, ideas for further improvement of the radiation tolerance of column parallel MAPS are derived.

Nonvolatile GaAs Random-Access Memory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Katti, Romney R.; Stadler, Henry L.; Wu, Jiin-Chuan

1994-01-01

Proposed random-access integrated-circuit electronic memory offers nonvolatile magnetic storage. Bits stored magnetically and read out with Hall-effect sensors. Advantages include short reading and writing times and high degree of immunity to both single-event upsets and permanent damage by ionizing radiation. Use of same basic material for both transistors and sensors simplifies fabrication process, with consequent benefits in increased yield and reduced cost.

Passive Wireless Vibration Sensing for Measuring Aerospace Structural Flutter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, William C.; Moore, Jason P.

2017-01-01

To reduce energy consumption, emissions, and noise, NASA is exploring the use of high aspect ratio wings on subsonic aircraft. Because high aspect ratio wings are susceptible to flutter events, NASA is also investigating methods of flutter detection and suppression. In support of that work a new remote, non-contact method for measuring flutter-induced vibrations has been developed. The new sensing scheme utilizes a microwave reflectometer to monitor the reflected response from an aeroelastic structure to ultimately characterize structural vibrations. To demonstrate the ability of microwaves to detect flutter vibrations, a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite panel was vibrated at various frequencies from 1Hz to 130Hz. The reflectometer response was found to closely resemble the sinusoidal response as measured with an accelerometer up to 100 Hz. The data presented demonstrate that microwaves can be used to measure flutter-induced aircraft vibrations.

Reflectometer for pseudo-Brewster angle spectrometry (BAIRS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Potter, Roy F.

2000-10-01

A simple, robust reflectometer, pre-set for several angles of incidence (AOI), has been designed and used for determining the optical parameters of opaque samples having a specular surface. A single, linear polarizing element permits the measurement of perpendicular(s) and parallel (p) reflectence at each AOI. The BAIRS algorithm determines the empirical optical parameters for the subject surface at the pseudo-Brewster AOI, based on the measurement of p/s at two AOI's and, in turn the optical constants n and k (or (epsilon) 1 and (epsilon) 2). Radiation sources in current use, are a stabilized tungsten-halide lamp or a deuterium lamp for the visible and near UV spectral regions. Silica fiber optics and lenses deliver input and output radiation from the source and to a CCD array scanned diffraction spectrometer. Results for a sample of GaAs will be presented along with a discussion of dispersion features in the optical constant spectra.

Photoconductive circuit element reflectometer

DOEpatents

Rauscher, Christen

1990-01-01

A photoconductive reflectometer for characterizing semiconductor devices at millimeter wavelength frequencies where a first photoconductive circuit element (PCE) is biased by a direct current voltage source and produces short electrical pulses when excited into conductance by short first laser light pulses. The electrical pulses are electronically conditioned to improve the frequency related amplitude characteristics of the pulses which thereafter propagate along a transmission line to a device under test. Second PCEs are connected along the transmission line to sample the signals on the transmission line when excited into conductance by short second laser light pulses, spaced apart in time a variable period from the first laser light pulses. Electronic filters connected to each of the second PCEs act as low-pass filters and remove parasitic interference from the sampled signals and output the sampled signals in the form of slowed-motion images of the signals on the transmission line.

Photoconductive circuit element reflectometer

DOEpatents

Rauscher, C.

1987-12-07

A photoconductive reflectometer for characterizing semiconductor devices at millimeter wavelength frequencies where a first photoconductive circuit element (PCE) is biased by a direct current voltage source and produces short electrical pulses when excited into conductance by short first laser light pulses. The electrical pulses are electronically conditioned to improve the frequency related amplitude characteristics of the pulses which thereafter propagate along a transmission line to a device under test. Second PCEs are connected along the transmission line to sample the signals on the transmission line when excited into conductance by short second laser light pulses, spaced apart in time a determinable period from the first laser light pulses. Electronic filters connected to each of the second PCEs act as low-pass filters and remove parasitic interference from the sampled signals and output the sampled signals in the form of slowed-motion images of the signals on the transmission line. 4 figs.

A Computer Aided Broad Band Impedance Matching Technique Using a Comparison Reflectometer. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gordy, R. S.

1972-01-01

An improved broadband impedance matching technique was developed. The technique is capable of resolving points in the waveguide which generate reflected energy. A version of the comparison reflectometer was developed and fabricated to determine the mean amplitude of the reflection coefficient excited at points in the guide as a function of distance, and the complex reflection coefficient of a specific discontinuity in the guide as a function of frequency. An impedance matching computer program was developed which is capable of impedance matching the characteristics of each disturbance independent of other reflections in the guide. The characteristics of four standard matching elements were compiled, and their associated curves of reflection coefficient and shunt susceptance as a function of frequency are presented. It is concluded that an economical, fast, and reliable impedance matching technique has been established which can provide broadband impedance matches.

New signal processing technique for density profile reconstruction using reflectometry.

PubMed

Clairet, F; Ricaud, B; Briolle, F; Heuraux, S; Bottereau, C

2011-08-01

Reflectometry profile measurement requires an accurate determination of the plasma reflected signal. Along with a good resolution and a high signal to noise ratio of the phase measurement, adequate data analysis is required. A new data processing based on time-frequency tomographic representation is used. It provides a clearer separation between multiple components and improves isolation of the relevant signals. In this paper, this data processing technique is applied to two sets of signals coming from two different reflectometer devices used on the Tore Supra tokamak. For the standard density profile reflectometry, it improves the initialization process and its reliability, providing a more accurate profile determination in the far scrape-off layer with density measurements as low as 10(16) m(-1). For a second reflectometer, which provides measurements in front of a lower hybrid launcher, this method improves the separation of the relevant plasma signal from multi-reflection processes due to the proximity of the plasma.

Reflectometry diagnostics on TCV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molina Cabrera, Pedro; Coda, Stefano; Porte, Laurie; Offeddu, Nicola; Tcv Team

2017-10-01

Both profile reflectometer and Doppler back-scattering (DBS) diagnostics are being developed for the TCV Tokamak using a steerable quasi-optical launcher and universal polarizers. First results will be presented. A pulse reflectometer is being developed to complement Thomson Scattering measurements of electron density, greatly increasing temporal resolution and also effectively enabling fluctuation measurements. Pulse reflectometry consists of sending short pulses of varying frequency and measuring the roundtrip group-delay with precise chronometers. A fast arbitrary waveform generator is used as a pulse source feeding frequency multipliers that bring the pulses to V-band. A DBS diagnostic is currently operational in TCV. DBS may be used to infer the perpendicular velocity and wave number spectrum of electron density fluctuations in the 3-15 cm-1 wave-number range. Off-the-shelf transceiver modules, originally used for VNA measurements, are being used in a Doppler radar configuration. See author list of S. Coda et al., 2017 Nucl. Fusion 57 102011.

On the timing performance of thin planar silicon sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akchurin, N.; Ciriolo, V.; Currás, E.; Damgov, J.; Fernández, M.; Gallrapp, C.; Gray, L.; Junkes, A.; Mannelli, M.; Martin Kwok, K. H.; Meridiani, P.; Moll, M.; Nourbakhsh, S.; Pigazzini, S.; Scharf, C.; Silva, P.; Steinbrueck, G.; de Fatis, T. Tabarelli; Vila, I.

2017-07-01

We report on the signal timing capabilities of thin silicon sensors when traversed by multiple simultaneous minimum ionizing particles (MIP). Three different planar sensors, with depletion thicknesses 133, 211, and 285 μm, have been exposed to high energy muons and electrons at CERN. We describe signal shape and timing resolution measurements as well as the response of these devices as a function of the multiplicity of MIPs. We compare these measurements to simulations where possible. We achieve better than 20 ps timing resolution for signals larger than a few tens of MIPs.

Tunable fiber Bragg grating ring lasers using macro fiber composite actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geddis, Demetris L.; Allison, Sidney G.; Shams, Qamar A.

2006-10-01

The research reported herein includes the fabrication of a tunable optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) fiber ring laser (FRL)1 from commercially available components as a high-speed alternative tunable laser source for NASA Langley's optical frequency domain reflectometer (OFDR) interrogator, which reads low reflectivity FBG sensors. A Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) actuator invented at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) was selected to tune the laser. MFC actuators use a piezoelectric sheet cut into uniaxially aligned rectangular piezo-fibers surrounded by a polymer matrix and incorporate interdigitated electrodes to deliver electric fields along the length of the piezo-fibers. This configuration enables MFC actuators to produce displacements larger than the original uncut piezoelectric sheet. The FBG filter was sandwiched between two MFC actuators, and when strained, produced approximately 3.62 nm of wavelength shift in the FRL when biasing the MFC actuators from -500 V to 2000 V. This tunability range is comparable to that of other tunable lasers and is adequate for interrogating FBG sensors using OFDR technology. Three different FRL configurations were studied. Configuration A examined the importance of erbium-doped fiber length and output coupling. Configuration B demonstrated the importance of the FBG filter. Configuration C added an output coupler to increase the output power and to isolate the filter. Only configuration C was tuned because it offered the best optical power output of the three configurations. Use of Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) FBG's holds promise for enhanced tunability in future research.

Tunable Fiber Bragg Grating Ring Lasers using Macro Fiber Composite Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Geddis, Demetris L.; Allison, Sidney G.; Shams, Qamar A.

2006-01-01

The research reported herein includes the fabrication of a tunable optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) fiber ring laser (FRL)1 from commercially available components as a high-speed alternative tunable laser source for NASA Langley s optical frequency domain reflectometer (OFDR) interrogator, which reads low reflectivity FBG sensors. A Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) actuator invented at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) was selected to tune the laser. MFC actuators use a piezoelectric sheet cut into uniaxially aligned rectangular piezo-fibers surrounded by a polymer matrix and incorporate interdigitated electrodes to deliver electric fields along the length of the piezo-fibers. This configuration enables MFC actuators to produce displacements larger than the original uncut piezoelectric sheet. The FBG filter was sandwiched between two MFC actuators, and when strained, produced approximately 3.62 nm of wavelength shift in the FRL when biasing the MFC actuators from 500 V to 2000 V. This tunability range is comparable to that of other tunable lasers and is adequate for interrogating FBG sensors using OFDR technology. Three different FRL configurations were studied. Configuration A examined the importance of erbium-doped fiber length and output coupling. Configuration B demonstrated the importance of the FBG filter. Configuration C added an output coupler to increase the output power and to isolate the filter. Only configuration C was tuned because it offered the best optical power output of the three configurations. Use of Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) FBG s holds promise for enhanced tunability in future research.

Radiation hard pixel sensors using high-resistive wafers in a 150 nm CMOS processing line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pohl, D.-L.; Hemperek, T.; Caicedo, I.; Gonella, L.; Hügging, F.; Janssen, J.; Krüger, H.; Macchiolo, A.; Owtscharenko, N.; Vigani, L.; Wermes, N.

2017-06-01

Pixel sensors using 8'' CMOS processing technology have been designed and characterized offering the benefits of industrial sensor fabrication, including large wafers, high throughput and yield, as well as low cost. The pixel sensors are produced using a 150 nm CMOS technology offered by LFoundry in Avezzano. The technology provides multiple metal and polysilicon layers, as well as metal-insulator-metal capacitors that can be employed for AC-coupling and redistribution layers. Several prototypes were fabricated and are characterized with minimum ionizing particles before and after irradiation to fluences up to 1.1 × 1015 neq cm-2. The CMOS-fabricated sensors perform equally well as standard pixel sensors in terms of noise and hit detection efficiency. AC-coupled sensors even reach 100% hit efficiency in a 3.2 GeV electron beam before irradiation.

Commercial Sensory Survey Radiation Testing Progress Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Becker, Heidi N.; Dolphic, Michael D.; Thorbourn, Dennis O.; Alexander, James W.; Salomon, Phil M.

2008-01-01

The NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program Sensor Technology Commercial Sensor Survey task is geared toward benefiting future NASA space missions with low-cost, short-duty-cycle, visible imaging needs. Such applications could include imaging for educational outreach purposes or short surveys of spacecraft, planetary, or lunar surfaces. Under the task, inexpensive commercial grade CMOS sensors were surveyed in fiscal year 2007 (FY07) and three sensors were selected for total ionizing dose (TID) and displacement damage dose (DDD) tolerance testing. The selected sensors had to meet selection criteria chosen to support small, low-mass cameras that produce good resolution color images. These criteria are discussed in detail in [1]. This document discusses the progress of radiation testing on the Micron and OmniVision sensors selected in FY07 for radiation tolerance testing.

Effect of Various Finishing Procedures on the Reflectivity (Shine) of Tooth Enamel - An In-vitro Study.

PubMed

Patil, Harshal Ashok; Chitko, Shrikant Shrinivas; Kerudi, Veerendra Virupaxappa; Maheshwari, Amit Ratanlal; Patil, Neeraj Suresh; Tekale, Pawankumar Dnyandeo; Gore, Ketan Ashorao; Zope, Amit Ashok

2016-08-01

Reflectivity of an object is a good parameter for surface finish. As the patient evaluates finishing as a function of gloss/reflectivity/shine an attempt is made here to evaluate changes in surface finish with custom made reflectometer. The aim of the present study was to study the effect of various procedures during orthodontic treatment on the shine of enamel, using a custom made reflectometer. Sixty one extracted premolars were collected and each tooth was mounted on acrylic block. Reflectivity of the teeth was measured as compared to standard before any procedure. One tooth was kept as standard throughout the study. Sixty teeth were acid etched. Reflectivity was measured on custom made reflectometer and readings recorded. Same procedure was repeated after debonding. Then 60 samples were divided into three groups: Group 1 - Tungsten Carbide, Group 2 - Astropol, Group 3- Sof-Lex disc depending upon the finishing method after debonding and reflectivity was measured. The mean percentage of reflectivity after acid etching was 31.4%, debonding 45.5%, Tungsten carbide bur finishing (Group 1) was 58.3%, Astropol (Group 2) 72.8%, and Sof-Lex disc (Group 3) 84.4% as that to the standard. There was statistically very highly significant (p<0.001) difference in reflectivity restored by the three finishing materials in the study. Thus, the light reflection was better in Group 3> Group 2> Group 1. The primary goal was to restore the enamel to its original state after orthodontic treatment. The methods tested in this study could not restore the original enamel reflectivity.

Radiometric Calibration Techniques for Signal-of-Opportunity Reflectometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Piepmeier, Jeffrey R.; Shah, Rashmi; Deshpande, Manohar; Johnson, Carey

2014-01-01

Bi-static reflection measurements utilizing global navigation satellite service (GNSS) or other signals of opportunity (SoOp) can be used to sense ocean and terrestrial surface properties. End-to-end calibration of GNSS-R has been performed using well-characterized reflection surface (e.g., water), direct path antenna, and receiver gain characterization. We propose an augmented approach using on-board receiver electronics for radiometric calibration of SoOp reflectometers utilizing direct and reflected signal receiving antennas. The method calibrates receiver and correlator gains and offsets utilizing a reference switch and common noise source. On-board electronic calibration sources, such as reference switches, noise diodes and loop-back circuits, have shown great utility in stabilizing total power and correlation microwave radiometer and scatterometer receiver electronics in L-band spaceborne instruments. Application to SoOp instruments is likely to bring several benefits. For example, application to provide short and long time scale calibration stability of the direct path channel, especially in low signal-to-noise ratio configurations, is directly analogous to the microwave radiometer problem. The direct path channel is analogous to the loopback path in a scatterometer to provide a reference of the transmitted power, although the receiver is independent from the reflected path channel. Thus, a common noise source can be used to measure the gain ratio of the two paths. Using these techniques long-term (days to weeks) calibration stability of spaceborne L-band scatterometer and radiometer has been achieved better than 0.1. Similar long-term stability would likely be needed for a spaceborne reflectometer mission to measure terrestrial properties such as soil moisture.

Development of 100 g Si and 250 g Ge detectors for a dark matter search

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brink, P. L.; Cabrera, B.; Chugg, B.; Clarke, R. M.; Davies, A.; Nam, S. W.; Young, B. A.

1996-05-01

Over the last two years we have proposed and implemented a new phonon sensing scheme for Cryogenic elementary particle detectors based upon Transition Edge Sensors (TES) operated in the (negative) Electrothermal-feedback (ETF) mode, and utilizing large Al collection pads for the initial phonon absorption. We have also implemented an ionization electrode, in addition to the phonon sensors, to allow the simultaneous measurement of ionization and phonon signals in Si and Ge absorbers. Our progress to date include successfully discriminating between electron and nuclear recoils down to a threshold of 4 keV recoil energy for a 4 g Si detector. Our first 100 g Si detectors have been fabricated, and initial work on Ge detectors indicates that our phonon sensing scheme will also work on large mass Ge absorbers.

78 FR 46932 - Notice of Availability of Government-Owned Inventions; Available for Licensing

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-02

... APPARATUS, Issued on June 18, 2013//U.S. Patent Number 8,477,308: POLARIZED, SPECULAR REFLECTOMETER APPARATUS, Issued on July 2, 2013. ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the inventions cited should be directed...

Coincident Retrieval of Ocean Surface Roughness and Salinity Using Airborne and Satellite Microwave Radiometry and Reflectometry Measurements during the Carolina Offshore (Caro) Experiment.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burrage, D. M.; Wesson, J. C.; Wang, D. W.; Garrison, J. L.; Zhang, H.

2017-12-01

The launch of the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) constellation of 8 microsats carrying GPS L-band reflectometers on 15 Dec., 2016, and continued operation of the L-band radiometer on the European Space Agency (ESA) Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite, allow these complementary technologies to coincidentally retrieve Ocean surface roughness (Mean Square Slope, MSS), Surface Wind speed (WSP), and Sea Surface Salinity (SSS). The Carolina Offshore (Caro) airborne experiment was conducted jointly by NRL SSC and Purdue University from 7-11 May, 2017 with the goal of under-flying CYGNSS and SMOS and overflying NOAA buoys, to obtain high-resolution reflectometer and radiometer data for combined retrieval of MSS, SSS and WSP on the continental shelf. Airborne instruments included NRL's Salinity Temperature and Roughness Remote Scanner (STARRS) L-, C- and IR-band radiometer system, and a 4-channel dual-pol L-band (GPS) and S-band (XM radio) reflectometer, built by Purdue University. Flights either crossed NOAA buoys on various headings, or intersected with specular point ground tracks at predicted CYGNSS overpass times. Prevailing winds during Caro were light to moderate (1-8 m/s), so specular returns dominated the reflectometer Delay Doppler Maps (DDMs), and MSS was generally low. In contrast, stronger winds (1-12 m/s) and rougher seas (wave heights 1-5 m) were experienced during the preceding Maine Offshore (Maineo) experiment in March, 2016. Several DDM observables were used to retrieve MSS and WSP, and radiometer brightness temperatures produced Sea Surface Temperature (SST), SSS and also WSP estimates. The complementary relationship of Kirchoff's formula e+r=1, between radiometric emissivity, e, and reflectivity, r, was exploited to seek consistent estimates of MSS, and use it to correct the SSS retrievals for sea surface roughness effects. The relative performance and utility of the various airborne and satellite retrieval algorithms were assessed, and the coincident buoy, aircraft and satellite retrievals of MSS, WSP and SSS were compared. During Caro WSP from the different instruments generally agreed. Some anomalously high wind retrievals found here and elsewhere in current CYGNSS Level 2 data may yield to the science team's recent L1 calibration revision.

Measurement of cosmic-ray muons with the Distributed Electronic Cosmic-ray Observatory, a network of smartphones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vandenbroucke, J.; BenZvi, S.; Bravo, S.; Jensen, K.; Karn, P.; Meehan, M.; Peacock, J.; Plewa, M.; Ruggles, T.; Santander, M.; Schultz, D.; Simons, A. L.; Tosi, D.

2016-04-01

Solid-state camera image sensors can be used to detect ionizing radiation in addition to optical photons. We describe the Distributed Electronic Cosmic-ray Observatory (DECO), an app and associated public database that enables a network of consumer devices to detect cosmic rays and other ionizing radiation. In addition to terrestrial background radiation, cosmic-ray muon candidate events are detected as long, straight tracks passing through multiple pixels. The distribution of track lengths can be related to the thickness of the active (depleted) region of the camera image sensor through the known angular distribution of muons at sea level. We use a sample of candidate muon events detected by DECO to measure the thickness of the depletion region of the camera image sensor in a particular consumer smartphone model, the HTC Wildfire S. The track length distribution is fit better by a cosmic-ray muon angular distribution than an isotropic distribution, demonstrating that DECO can detect and identify cosmic-ray muons despite a background of other particle detections. Using the cosmic-ray distribution, we measure the depletion thickness to be 26.3 ± 1.4 μm. With additional data, the same method can be applied to additional models of image sensor. Once measured, the thickness can be used to convert track length to incident polar angle on a per-event basis. Combined with a determination of the incident azimuthal angle directly from the track orientation in the sensor plane, this enables direction reconstruction of individual cosmic-ray events using a single consumer device. The results simultaneously validate the use of cell phone camera image sensors as cosmic-ray muon detectors and provide a measurement of a parameter of camera image sensor performance which is not otherwise publicly available.

Fast-timing Capabilities of Silicon Sensors for the CMS High-Granularity Calorimeter at the High-Luminosity LHC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akchurin, Nural; CMS Collaboration

2017-11-01

We report on the signal timing capabilities of thin silicon sensors when traversed by multiple simultaneous minimum ionizing particles (MIP). Three different planar sensors, 133, 211, and 285 μm thick in depletion thickness, have been exposed to high energy muons and electrons at CERN. We describe signal shape and timing resolution measurements as well as the response of these devices as a function of the multiplicity of MIPs. We compare these measurements to simulations where possible. We achieve better than 20 ps timing resolution for signals larger than a few tens of MIPs.

The prototype of the Micro Vertex Detector of the CBM Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koziel, Michal; Amar-Youcef, Samir; Bialas, Norbert; Deveaux, Michael; Fröhlich, Ingo; Li, Qiyan; Michel, Jan; Milanović, Borislav; Müntz, Christian; Neumann, Bertram; Schrader, Christoph; Stroth, Joachim; Tischler, Tobias; Weirich, Roland; Wiebusch, Michael

2013-12-01

The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) Experiment is one of the core experiments of the future FAIR facility at Darmstadt, Germany. This fixed-target experiment will explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter in the regime of highest net baryon densities with numerous probes, among them open charm. Reconstructing those short lived particles requires a vacuum compatible Micro Vertex Detector (MVD) with unprecedented properties. Its sensor technology has to feature a spatial resolution of <5 μm, a non-ionizing radiation tolerance of >1013 neq/cm2, an ionizing radiation tolerance of >3 Mrad and a time resolution of a few 10 μs. The MVD-prototype project aimed to study the integration the CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors foreseen for the MVD into an ultra light (0.3% X0) and a vacuum compatible detector system based on a cooling support made of CVD-diamond.

Non-destructive phase and intensity distributed measurements of the nonlinear stage of modulation instability in optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mussot, Arnaud; Naveau, Corentin; Szriftgiser, Pascal; Copie, François; Kudlinski, Alexandre; Conforti, Matteo; Trillo, Stefano

2018-02-01

We report a novel experimental setup to perform distributed characterization in intensity and phase of the nonlinear stage of modulation instability by means of a non-invasive experimental setup : a heterodyne time domain reflectometer.

SU-F-T-174: Patient-Specific Point Dose Measurement Using Fiber Optic Radiation Sensor Using Cerenkov Radiation for Proton Therapeutic Beam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Son, J; National Cancer Center, Goyang-si; Kim, M

Purpose: A fiber-optic radiation sensor using Cerenkov radiation (FOCR) has been widely studied for use as a dosimeter for proton therapeutic beam. We developed the FOCR, and it applied to patient-specific point dose measurement in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the FOCR system for proton therapy QA. Methods: Calibration of FOCR was performed with an ionization chamber whose absolute doses were determined according to the IAEA TRS-398 protocol. To determine the calibration curve, the FOCR was irradiated perpendicularly to the proton beam at the 13 dose levels steps. We selected five actual patient treatment plans performed at proton therapymore » center and compared the resulting FOCR measurements with the ionization chamber measurements. Results: The Cerenkov light yield of the FOCR increases linearly with as the dose measured using the ionization chamber increases from 0 cGy to 500 cGy. The results indicate that the fitting curve is linear, suggesting that dose measurement based on the light yield of the FOCR is possible. The results of proton radiation dose QA performed using the FOCR for 10 proton fields and five patients are good agreement with an ionization chamber. Conclusion: We carried out the patient QA using the FOCR for proton therapeutic beam and evaluated the effectiveness of the FOCR as a proton therapy QA tool. Our results indicate that the FOCR is suitable for use in patient QA of clinical proton beams.« less

A novel reflectometer for relative reflectance measurements of CCDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hart, Murdock; Barkhouser, Robert H.; Gunn, James E.; Smee, Stephen A.

2016-07-01

The high quantum efficiencies (QE) of backside illuminated charge coupled devices (CCD) has ushered in the age of the large scale astronomical survey. The QE of these devices can be greater than 90%, and is dependent upon the operating temperature, device thickness, backside charging mechanisms, and anti-reflection (AR) coatings. But at optical wavelengths the QE is well approximated as one minus the reflectance, thus the measurement of the backside reflectivity of these devices provides a second independent measure of their QE. We have designed and constructed a novel instrument to measure the relative specular reflectance of CCD detectors, with a significant portion of this device being constructed using a 3D fused deposition model (FDM) printer. This device implements both a monitor and measurement photodiode to simultaneously collect in- cident and reflected measurements reducing errors introduced by the relative reflectance calibration process. While most relative reflectometers are highly dependent upon a precisely repeatable target distance for accurate measurements, we have implemented a method of measurement which minimizes these errors. Using the reflectometer we have measured the reflectance of two types of Hamamatsu CCD detectors. The first device is a Hamamatsu 2k x 4k backside illuminated high resistivity p-type silicon detector which has been optimized to operate in the blue from 380 nm - 650 nm. The second detector being a 2k x 4k backside illuminated high resistivity p-type silicon detector optimized for use in the red from 640 nm - 960 nm. We have not only been able to measure the reflectance of these devices as a function of wavelength we have also sampled the reflectance as a function of position on the device, and found a reflection gradient across these devices.

On-farm quick tests for estimating nitrogen in dairy manure.

PubMed

Van Kessel, J S; Reeves, J B

2000-08-01

Manure nutrient analyses performed rapidly on the farm could be useful for nutrient management programs. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate six quick tests for their accuracy in estimating total manure N or NH4+-N. The quick tests included the hydrometer, electrical conductivity meter and pen, reflectometer, Agros N Meter, and Quantofix-N-Volumeter. The hydrometer was used to estimate total N, while the remaining tests were used to estimate NH4+-N. Samples (107) were collected from dairy farms in five northeastern states. Samples were analyzed for total N and NH4+-N by traditional laboratory methods and using each of the quick tests. Manure compositions ranged from 1.4 to 38.6% dry matter (DM), 0.9 to 9.5 kg/m3 total N, and 0.3 to 4.7 kg/m3 NH4+-N. The estimated concentration of total N or NH4+-N determined by each quick test was regressed against laboratory-determined values. The hydrometer did not estimate total N accurately. The strongest relationship for estimation of NH4+-N was with the Quantofix-N-Volumeter followed by the Agros N Meter, the reflectometer, and the electrical conductivity meter and pen. When the samples were split into high (>12%) and low (< or =12%) DM groups, in all cases the r2 for the regression equation was higher for the low DM group than for the high DM group. The Agros N Meter, the reflectometer, and the conductivity meter and pen did not perform well for the high DM group. These data indicate that several quick tests are viable options for measuring NH4+-N concentrations in dairy slurries and solids.

Advanced density profile reflectometry; the state-of-the-art and measurement prospects for ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doyle, E. J.

2006-10-01

Dramatic progress in millimeter-wave technology has allowed the realization of a key goal for ITER diagnostics, the routine measurement of the plasma density profile from millimeter-wave radar (reflectometry) measurements. In reflectometry, the measured round-trip group delay of a probe beam reflected from a plasma cutoff is used to infer the density distribution in the plasma. Reflectometer systems implemented by UCLA on a number of devices employ frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FM-CW), ultrawide-bandwidth, high-resolution radar systems. One such system on DIII-D has routinely demonstrated measurements of the density profile over a range of electron density of 0-6.4x10^19,m-3, with ˜25 μs time and ˜4 mm radial resolution, meeting key ITER requirements. This progress in performance was made possible by multiple advances in the areas of millimeter-wave technology, novel measurement techniques, and improved understanding, including: (i) fast sweep, solid-state, wide bandwidth sources and power amplifiers, (ii) dual polarization measurements to expand the density range, (iii) adaptive radar-based data analysis with parallel processing on a Unix cluster, (iv) high memory depth data acquisition, and (v) advances in full wave code modeling. The benefits of advanced system performance will be illustrated using measurements from a wide range of phenomena, including ELM and fast-ion driven mode dynamics, L-H transition studies and plasma-wall interaction. The measurement capabilities demonstrated by these systems provide a design basis for the development of the main ITER profile reflectometer system. This talk will explore the extent to which these reflectometer system designs, results and experience can be translated to ITER, and will identify what new studies and experimental tests are essential.

SPEAR — ToF neutron reflectometer at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubey, M.; Jablin, M. S.; Wang, P.; Mocko, M.; Majewski, J.

2011-11-01

This article discusses the Surface ProfilE Analysis Reflectometer (SPEAR), a vertical scattering geometry time-of-flight reflectometer, at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Lujan Neutron Scattering Center. SPEAR occupies flight path 9 and receives spallation neutrons from a polychromatic, pulsed (20Hz) source that pass through a liquid-hydrogen moderator at 20K coupled with a Be filter to shift their energy spectrum. The spallation neutrons are generated by bombarding a tungsten target with 800MeV protons obtained from an accelerator. The process produces an integrated neutron flux of ˜ 3.4×106 cm-2 s-1 at a proton current of 100 μA. SPEAR employs choppers and frame overlap mirrors to obtain a neutron wavelength range of 4.5-16 Å. SPEAR uses a single 200mm long 3He linear position-sensitive detector with ˜ 2 mm FWHM resolution for simultaneous studies of both specular and off-specular scattering. SPEAR's moderated neutrons are collimated into a beam which impinges from above upon a level sample with an average angle of 0.9° to the horizontal, to facilitate air-liquid interface studies. In the vertical direction, the beam converges at the sample position. The neutrons can be further collimated to the desired divergence by finely slitting the beam using a set of two 10B4C slit packages. The instrument is ideally suited to study organic and inorganic thin films with total thicknesses between 5 and 3000 Å in a variety of environments. Specifically designed sample chambers available at the instrument provide the opportunity to study biological systems at the solid-liquid interface. SPEAR's unique experimental capabilities are demonstrated by specific examples in this article. Finally, an outlook for SPEAR and perspectives on future instrumentation are discussed.

40 CFR 63.321 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... volatilize and recover perchloroethylene from contaminated perchloroethylene. Temperature sensor means a thermometer or thermocouple used to measure temperature. Transfer machine system means a multiple-machine dry... December 9, 1991. PCE gas analyzer means a flame ionization detector, photoionization detector, or infrared...

40 CFR 63.321 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... volatilize and recover perchloroethylene from contaminated perchloroethylene. Temperature sensor means a thermometer or thermocouple used to measure temperature. Transfer machine system means a multiple-machine dry... December 9, 1991. PCE gas analyzer means a flame ionization detector, photoionization detector, or infrared...

40 CFR 63.321 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... volatilize and recover perchloroethylene from contaminated perchloroethylene. Temperature sensor means a thermometer or thermocouple used to measure temperature. Transfer machine system means a multiple-machine dry... December 9, 1991. PCE gas analyzer means a flame ionization detector, photoionization detector, or infrared...

40 CFR 63.321 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... volatilize and recover perchloroethylene from contaminated perchloroethylene. Temperature sensor means a thermometer or thermocouple used to measure temperature. Transfer machine system means a multiple-machine dry... December 9, 1991. PCE gas analyzer means a flame ionization detector, photoionization detector, or infrared...

40 CFR 63.321 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... volatilize and recover perchloroethylene from contaminated perchloroethylene. Temperature sensor means a thermometer or thermocouple used to measure temperature. Transfer machine system means a multiple-machine dry... December 9, 1991. PCE gas analyzer means a flame ionization detector, photoionization detector, or infrared...

Measurement of Rotating Blade Tip Clearance with Fibre-Optic Probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, S. Z.; Duan, F. J.; Zhang, Y. G.

2006-10-01

This paper described a tip clearance measuring system with fibre-optic probe. The system is based on a novel tip clearance sensor of optical fibre-bundle mounted on the casing, rotating speed synchronization sensor mounted on the rotating shaft, the tip clearance preamplification processing circuit followed by high speed data-acquisition unit. A novel tip clearance sensor of trifurcated optical fibre bundle was proposed and demonstrated. It is independent of material of measured surface but capacitive probe demands target conductive. Measurements can be taken under severe conditions such as ionization. Sensor circuitry and data acquisition circuit were successfully designed. With the help of Rotation synchronized sensor, all the blades can be detected in real-time. Because of fibre-optic sensor, the measuring system has commendably frequency response, which can work well in high rotating speed from 0-15000rpm.The measurement range of tip clearance is 0-3mm with 25um precision.

Measurement of Cerenkov radiation induced by the gamma-rays of Co-60 therapy units using wavelength shifting fiber.

PubMed

Jang, Kyoung Won; Shin, Sang Hun; Kim, Seon Geun; Kim, Jae Seok; Yoo, Wook Jae; Ji, Young Hoon; Lee, Bongsoo

2014-04-21

In this study, a wavelength shifting fiber that shifts ultra-violet and blue light to green light was employed as a sensor probe of a fiber-optic Cerenkov radiation sensor. In order to characterize Cerenkov radiation generated in the developed wavelength shifting fiber and a plastic optical fiber, spectra and intensities of Cerenkov radiation were measured with a spectrometer. The spectral peaks of light outputs from the wavelength shifting fiber and the plastic optical fiber were measured at wavelengths of 500 and 510 nm, respectively, and the intensity of transmitted light output of the wavelength shifting fiber was 22.2 times higher than that of the plastic optical fiber. Also, electron fluxes and total energy depositions of gamma-ray beams generated from a Co-60 therapy unit were calculated according to water depths using the Monte Carlo N-particle transport code. The relationship between the fluxes of electrons over the Cerenkov threshold energy and the energy depositions of gamma-ray beams from the Co-60 unit is a near-identity function. Finally, percentage depth doses for the gamma-ray beams were obtained using the fiber-optic Cerenkov radiation sensor, and the results were compared with those obtained by an ionization chamber. The average dose difference between the results of the fiber-optic Cerenkov radiation sensor and those of the ionization chamber was about 2.09%.

Apparatus for Teaching Physics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gottlieb, Herbert H., Ed.

1982-01-01

Discusses: (1) construction of an integrated spherical reflectometer; (2) limitations of the NOAA Weather Radio Network; and (3) a simple experiment to demonstrate/measure influence of damping force on amplitude resonance. Also discusses whether or not a homemade electrophorus can lose its charge and then recharge itself. (JN)

A low cost, simple, portable instrument for the measurement of infra-red reflectance of paints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marson, F.

1982-05-01

The construction and design of a low cost, simple, portable infra-red reflectometer which can be used to estimate the reflectance of paint films in the 800 nm region is described. The infra-red reflectances of a range of lustreless, semigloss and gloss olive drab camouflage paints determined using this instrument are compared to those obtained using modified commercial equipment and to the reflectances measured at 800 nm using a Cary model 17 spectrophotometer. The new reflectometer was shown to be superior to the modified commercial instrument currently specified in Australian government paint specifications and to be capable of estimating the reflectance of olive drab paints to within about one per cent of the Cary derived reflectance values. The reflectance values for a range of 24 experimental coatings made with pigments of varying absorption in the infra-red region are used to illustrate the effect of the instrument's spectral response and the necessity of establishing a reliable working standard.

Assessment of the measurement performance of the in-vessel system of gap 6 of the ITER plasma position reflectometer using a finite-difference time-domain Maxwell full-wave code.

PubMed

da Silva, F; Heuraux, S; Ricardo, E; Quental, P; Ferreira, J

2016-11-01

We conducted a first assessment of the measurement performance of the in-vessel components at gap 6 of the ITER plasma position reflectometry with the aid of a synthetic Ordinary Mode (O-mode) broadband frequency-modulated continuous-wave reflectometer implemented with REFMUL, a 2D finite-difference time-domain full-wave Maxwell code. These simulations take into account the system location within the vacuum vessel as well as its access to the plasma. The plasma case considered is a baseline scenario from Fusion for Energy. We concluded that for the analyzed scenario, (i) the plasma curvature and non-equatorial position of the antenna have neglectable impact on the measurements; (ii) the cavity-like space surrounding the antenna can cause deflection and splitting of the probing beam; and (iii) multi-reflections on the blanket wall cause a substantial error preventing the system from operating within the required error margin.

Detrimental Effect Elimination of Laser Frequency Instability in Brillouin Optical Time Domain Reflectometer by Using Self-Heterodyne Detection

PubMed Central

Li, Yongqian; Li, Xiaojuan; An, Qi; Zhang, Lixin

2017-01-01

A useful method for eliminating the detrimental effect of laser frequency instability on Brillouin signals by employing the self-heterodyne detection of Rayleigh and Brillouin scattering is presented. From the analysis of Brillouin scattering spectra from fibers with different lengths measured by heterodyne detection, the maximum usable pulse width immune to laser frequency instability is obtained to be about 4 µs in a self-heterodyne detection Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) system using a broad-band laser with low frequency stability. Applying the self-heterodyne detection of Rayleigh and Brillouin scattering in BOTDR system, we successfully demonstrate that the detrimental effect of laser frequency instability on Brillouin signals can be eliminated effectively. Employing the broad-band laser modulated by a 130-ns wide pulse driven electro-optic modulator, the observed maximum errors in temperatures measured by the local heterodyne and self-heterodyne detection BOTDR systems are 7.9 °C and 1.2 °C, respectively. PMID:28335508

Strain measurement using a Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer for development of aircraft structure health monitoring system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimizu, Takayuki; Yari, Takashi; Nagai, Kanehiro; Takeda, Nobuo

2001-07-01

We conducted theoretical and experimental approaches for applying Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) to aircraft and spacecraft structure health monitoring system. Firstly, distributed strain was measured by BOTDR under 3-point bending test and a spatial resolution was enhanced up to 0.5m using Brillouin spectrum analysis and processing though the device used in this experiment had a spatial resolution of 2m normally. Secondly, dynamic strain measurement was executed under cyclic loading conditions. Brillouin spectrum measured under dynamic conditions is equivalent to superposed spectrum using many spectra measured under static loading conditions. As the measured spectrum was decomposed into many spectra in static loading state, the strain amplitude and its ratio could be estimated. Thirdly, strain and temperature could be measured independently using combined system of BOTDR and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). Additionally, the application of BOTDR sensing system was shown for a prototype carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank under cryogenic condition.

Implementation of the new multichannel X-mode edge density profile reflectometer for the ICRF antenna on ASDEX Upgrade

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aguiam, D. E., E-mail: daguiam@ipfn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt; Silva, A.; Carvalho, P. J.

A new multichannel frequency modulated continuous-wave reflectometry diagnostic has been successfully installed and commissioned on ASDEX Upgrade to measure the plasma edge electron density profile evolution in front of the Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies (ICRF) antenna. The design of the new three-strap ICRF antenna integrates ten pairs (sending and receiving) of microwave reflectometry antennas. The multichannel reflectometer can use three of these to measure the edge electron density profiles up to 2 × 10{sup 19} m{sup −3}, at different poloidal locations, allowing the direct study of the local plasma layers in front of the ICRF antenna. ICRF power coupling,more » operational effects, and poloidal variations of the plasma density profile can be consistently studied for the first time. In this work the diagnostic hardware architecture is described and the obtained density profile measurements were used to track outer radial plasma position and plasma shape.« less

Technical overview of the millimeter-wave imaging reflectometer on the DIII-D tokamak (invited)

DOE PAGES

Muscatello, Christopher M.; Domier, Calvin W.; Hu, Xing; ...

2014-07-22

The two-dimensional mm-wave imaging reflectometer (MIR) on DIII-D is a multi-faceted device for diagnosing electron density fluctuations in fusion plasmas. Its multi-channel, multi-frequency capabilities and high sensitivity permit visualization and quantitative diagnosis of density perturbations, including correlation length, wavenumber, mode propagation velocity, and dispersion. The two-dimensional capabilities of MIR are made possible with twelve vertically separated sightlines and four-frequency operation (corresponding to four radial channels). The 48-channel DIII-D MIR system has a tunable source that can be stepped in 500 µs increments over a range of 56 to 74 GHz. An innovative optical design keeps both on-axis and off-axis channelsmore » focused at the cutoff surface, permitting imaging over an extended poloidal region. As a result, the integrity of the MIR optical design is confirmed by comparing Gaussian beam calculations to laboratory measurements of the transmitter beam pattern and receiver antenna patterns.« less

Distributed phase birefringence measurements based on polarization correlation in phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometers.

PubMed

Soto, Marcelo A; Lu, Xin; Martins, Hugo F; Gonzalez-Herraez, Miguel; Thévenaz, Luc

2015-09-21

In this paper a technique to measure the distributed birefringence profile along optical fibers is proposed and experimentally validated. The method is based on the spectral correlation between two sets of orthogonally-polarized measurements acquired using a phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometer (ϕOTDR). The correlation between the two measured spectra gives a resonance (correlation) peak at a frequency detuning that is proportional to the local refractive index difference between the two orthogonal polarization axes of the fiber. In this way the method enables local phase birefringence measurements at any position along optical fibers, so that any longitudinal fluctuation can be precisely evaluated with metric spatial resolution. The method has been experimentally validated by measuring fibers with low and high birefringence, such as standard single-mode fibers as well as conventional polarization-maintaining fibers. The technique has potential applications in the characterization of optical fibers for telecommunications as well as in distributed optical fiber sensing.

Millimeter-wave reflectometry for electron density profile and fluctuation measurements on NSTX

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kubota, S.; Nguyen, X. V.; Peebles, W. A.

2001-01-01

A millimeter-wave reflectometry system for electron density profile and fluctuation measurements is being developed and installed on the National Spherical Torus Experiment. The initial frequency coverage will be in the bands 12--18, 20--32, and 33--50 GHz, provided by frequency-tunable solid-state sources. These frequencies correspond to O-mode cutoff densities ranging from 1.8x10{sup 12} to 3.1x10{sup 13}cm{sup -3}, which will span both the plasma core ({rho}=r/a<0.8) and edge ({rho}>0.8) regions. Operated as a broadband swept-frequency (frequency-modulated continuous-wave) reflectometer, the diagnostic is expected to provide routine (shot-to-shot) time- ({<=}50 {mu}s) and spatially resolved ({approx}1 cm) density profiles. The previous hardware can be easilymore » reconfigured as a fixed-frequency reflectometer for density fluctuation measurements. The combination of measurements would be valuable for studying phenomena such as possible L- to H-mode transitions and edge-localized modes.« less

Experiment Automation with a Robot Arm using the Liquids Reflectometer Instrument at the Spallation Neutron Source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zolnierczuk, Piotr A; Vacaliuc, Bogdan; Sundaram, Madhan

The Liquids Reflectometer instrument installed at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) enables observations of chemical kinetics, solid-state reactions and phase-transitions of thin film materials at both solid and liquid surfaces. Effective measurement of these behaviors requires each sample to be calibrated dynamically using the neutron beam and the data acquisition system in a feedback loop. Since the SNS is an intense neutron source, the time needed to perform the measurement can be the same as the alignment process, leading to a labor-intensive operation that is exhausting to users. An update to the instrument control system, completed in March 2013, implementedmore » the key features of automated sample alignment and robot-driven sample management, allowing for unattended operation over extended periods, lasting as long as 20 hours. We present a case study of the effort, detailing the mechanical, electrical and software modifications that were made as well as the lessons learned during the integration, verification and testing process.« less

Optical coherence domain reflectometry guidewire

DOEpatents

Colston, Billy W.; Everett, Matthew; Da Silva, Luiz B.; Matthews, Dennis

2001-01-01

A guidewire with optical sensing capabilities is based on a multiplexed optical coherence domain reflectometer (OCDR), which allows it to sense location, thickness, and structure of the arterial walls or other intra-cavity regions as it travels through the body during minimally invasive medical procedures. This information will be used both to direct the guidewire through the body by detecting vascular junctions and to evaluate the nearby tissue. The guidewire contains multiple optical fibers which couple light from the proximal to distal end. Light from the fibers at the distal end of the guidewire is directed onto interior cavity walls via small diameter optics such as gradient index lenses and mirrored corner cubes. Both forward viewing and side viewing fibers can be included. The light reflected or scattered from the cavity walls is then collected by the fibers, which are multiplexed at the proximal end to the sample arm of an optical low coherence reflectometer. The guidewire can also be used in nonmedical applications.

High Resolution Millimeter Wave Detection of Vertical Cracks in the Space Shuttle External Tank Spray-On-Foam Insulation (SOFI)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kharkovsky, S.; Zoughi, R.; Hepburn, F.

2006-01-01

Space Shuttle Columbia s catastrophic failure, the separation of a piece of spray-on-foam insulation (SOFI) from the external tank (ET) in the Space Shuttle Discovery s flight in 2005 and crack detected in its ET foam prior to its successful launch in 2006 emphasize the need for effective nondestructive methods for inspecting the shuttle ET SOFI. Millimeter wave nondestructive testing methods have been considered as potential and effective inspection tools for evaluating the integrity of the SOFI. This paper presents recent results of an investigation for the purpose of detecting vertical cracks in SOFI panels using a focused millimeter wave (150 GHz) reflectometer. The presented images of the SOFI panels show the capability of this reflectometer for detecting tight vertical cracks (also as a function of crack opening dimension) in exposed SOFI panels and while covered by a piece of SOFI ramp simulating a more realistic and challenging situation.

Sensing of single electrons using micro and nano technologies: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jalil, Jubayer; Zhu, Yong; Ekanayake, Chandima; Ruan, Yong

2017-04-01

During the last three decades, the remarkable dynamic features of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), and advances in solid-state electronics hold much potential for the fabrication of extremely sensitive charge sensors. These sensors have a broad range of applications, such as those involving the measurement of ionization radiation, detection of bio-analyte and aerosol particles, mass spectrometry, scanning tunneling microscopy, and quantum computation. Designing charge sensors (also known as charge electrometers) for electrometry is deemed significant because of the sensitivity and resolution issues in the range of micro- and nano-scales. This article reviews the development of state-of-the-art micro- and nano-charge sensors, and discusses their technological challenges for practical implementation.

OTDR fiber-optical chemical sensor system for detection and location of hydrocarbon leakage.

PubMed

Buerck, J; Roth, S; Kraemer, K; Mathieu, H

2003-08-15

A distributed sensing system for apolar hydrocarbons is presented which is built from a polymer-clad silica fiber adapted to an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) set-up. OTDR measurements allow locating and detecting chemicals by measuring the time delay between short light pulses entering the fiber and discrete changes in the backscatter signals that are caused by local extraction of hydrocarbons into the fiber cladding. The light guiding properties of the fiber are affected by interaction of the extracted chemicals with the evanescent wave light field extending into the fiber cladding. Distributed sensing of pure liquid hydrocarbons (HC) and aqueous HC solutions with a commercially available mini-OTDR adapted to sensing fibers of up to 1km length could be demonstrated. A pulsed laser diode emitting at the 850 nm telecommunication wavelength was applied in the mini-OTDR to locate the HCs by analyzing the step drop (light loss) in the backscatter signal, which is induced by local refractive index (RI) increase in the silicone cladding due to the extracted HC. The prototype instrument can be applied for monitoring hydrocarbon leakage in large technical installations, such as tanks, chemical pipelines or chemical waste disposal containments.

Deformation Measurement of a Driven Pile Using Distributed Fibre-optic Sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monsberger, Christoph; Woschitz, Helmut; Hayden, Martin

2016-03-01

New developments in distributed fibre-optic sensing allow the measurement of strain with a very high precision of about 1 µm / m and a spatial resolution of 10 millimetres or even better. Thus, novel applications in several scientific fields may be realised, e. g. in structural monitoring or soil and rock mechanics. Especially due to the embedding capability of fibre-optic sensors, fibre-optic systems provide a valuable extension to classical geodetic measurement methods, which are limited to the surface in most cases. In this paper, we report about the application of an optical backscatter reflectometer for deformation measurements along a driven pile. In general, pile systems are used in civil engineering as an efficient and economic foundation of buildings and other structures. Especially the length of the piles is crucial for the final loading capacity. For optimization purposes, the interaction between the driven pile and the subsurface material is investigated using pile testing methods. In a field trial, we used a distributed fibre-optic sensing system for measuring the strain below the surface of an excavation pit in order to derive completely new information. Prior to the field trial, the fibre-optic sensor was investigated in the laboratory. In addition to the results of these lab studies, we briefly describe the critical process of field installation and show the most significant results from the field trial, where the pile was artificially loaded up to 800 kN. As far as we know, this is the first time that the strain is monitored along a driven pile with such a high spatial resolution.

Atmospheric Ionization Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slack, Thomas; Mayes, Riley

2015-04-01

The measurement of atmospheric ionization is a largely unexplored science that potentially holds the key to better understanding many different geophysical phenomena through this new and valuable source of data. Through the LaACES program, which is funded by NASA through the Louisiana Space Consortium, students at Loyola University New Orleans have pursued the goal of measuring high altitude ionization for nearly three years, and were the first to successfully collect ionization data at altitudes over 30,000 feet using a scientific weather balloon flown from the NASA Columbia Scientific Ballooning Facility in Palestine, TX. In order to measure atmospheric ionization, the science team uses a lightweight and highly customized sensor known as a Gerdien condenser. Among other branches of science the data is already being used for, such as the study of aerosol pollution levels in the atmosphere, the data may also be useful in meteorology and seismology. Ionization data might provide another variable with which to predict weather or seismic activity more accurately and further in advance. Thomas Slack and Riley Mayes have served as project managers for the experiment, and have extensive knowledge of the experiment from the ground up. LaSPACE Louisiana Space Consortium.

Diamond Pixel Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adam, W.; Berdermann, E.; Bergonzo, P.; Bertuccio, G.; Bogani, F.; Borchi, E.; Brambilla, A.; Bruzzi, M.; Colledani, C.; Conway, J.; D'Angelo, P.; Dabrowski, W.; Delpierre, P.; Deneuville, A.; Doroshenko, J.; Dulinski, W.; van Eijk, B.; Fallou, A.; Fizzotti, F.; Foster, J.; Foulon, F.; Friedl, M.; Gan, K. K.; Gheeraert, E.; Gobbi, B.; Grim, G. P.; Hallewell, G.; Han, S.; Hartjes, F.; Hrubec, J.; Husson, D.; Kagan, H.; Kania, D.; Kaplon, J.; Kass, R.; Koeth, T.; Krammer, M.; Lander, R.; Logiudice, A.; Lu, R.; mac Lynne, L.; Manfredotti, C.; Meier, D.; Mishina, M.; Moroni, L.; Oh, A.; Pan, L. S.; Pernicka, M.; Perera, L.; Pirollo, S.; Plano, R.; Procario, M.; Riester, J. L.; Roe, S.; Rott, C.; Rousseau, L.; Rudge, A.; Russ, J.; Sala, S.; Sampietro, M.; Schnetzer, S.; Sciortino, S.; Stelzer, H.; Stone, R.; Suter, B.; Tapper, R. J.; Tesarek, R.; Trischuk, W.; Tromson, D.; Vittone, E.; Wedenig, R.; Weilhammer, P.; White, C.; Zeuner, W.; Zoeller, M.

2001-06-01

Diamond based pixel detectors are a promising radiation-hard technology for use at the LHC. We present first results on a CMS diamond pixel sensor. With a threshold setting of 2000 electrons, an average pixel efficiency of 78% was obtained for normally incident minimum ionizing particles.

Use of Time Domain Reflectometers (TDRs) in Permeable Pavement Systems to Predict Maintenance Needs and Effectiveness

EPA Science Inventory

As the surface in permeable pavement systems clogs, infiltration capacity decreases, so maintenance is required to maintain hydrologic performance. There is limited direct guidance for determining when maintenance is needed to prevent surface runoff bypass. Research is being co...

Wireless Sensor Applications in Extreme Aeronautical Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, William C.; Atkinson, Gary M.

2013-01-01

NASA aeronautical programs require rigorous ground and flight testing. Many of the testing environments can be extremely harsh. These environments include cryogenic temperatures and high temperatures (greater than 1500 C). Temperature, pressure, vibration, ionizing radiation, and chemical exposure may all be part of the harsh environment found in testing. This paper presents a survey of research opportunities for universities and industry to develop new wireless sensors that address anticipated structural health monitoring (SHM) and testing needs for aeronautical vehicles. Potential applications of passive wireless sensors for ground testing and high altitude aircraft operations are presented. Some of the challenges and issues of the technology are also presented.

Graphene Field Effect Transistor for Radiation Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Mary J. (Inventor); Chen, Zhihong (Inventor)

2016-01-01

The present invention relates to a graphene field effect transistor-based radiation sensor for use in a variety of radiation detection applications, including manned spaceflight missions. The sensing mechanism of the radiation sensor is based on the high sensitivity of graphene in the local change of electric field that can result from the interaction of ionizing radiation with a gated undoped silicon absorber serving as the supporting substrate in the graphene field effect transistor. The radiation sensor has low power and high sensitivity, a flexible structure, and a wide temperature range, and can be used in a variety of applications, particularly in space missions for human exploration.

Pressure Balance at Mars and Solar Wind Interaction with the Martian Atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krymskii, A. M.; Ness, N. F.; Crider, D. H.; Breus, T. K.; Acuna, M. H.; Hinson, D.

2003-01-01

The strongest crustal fields are located in certain regions in the Southern hemisphere. In the Northern hemisphere, the crustal fields are rather weak and usually do not prevent direct interaction between the SW and the Martian ionosphere/atmosphere. Exceptions occur in the isolated mini-magnetospheres formed by the crustal anomalies. Electron density profiles of the ionosphere of Mars derived from radio occultation data obtained by the Radio Science Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) experiment have been compared with the crustal magnetic fields measured by the MGS Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer (MAG/ER) experiment. A study of 523 electron density profiles obtained at latitudes from +67 deg. to +77 deg. has been conducted. The effective scale-height of the electron density for two altitude ranges, 145-165 km and 165-185 km, and the effective scale-height of the neutral atmosphere density in the vicinity of the ionization peak have been derived for each of the profiles studied. For the regions outside of the potential mini-magnetospheres, the thermal pressure of the ionospheric plasma for the altitude range 145-185 km has been estimated. In the high latitude ionosphere at Mars, the total pressure at altitudes 160 and 180 km has been mapped. The solar wind interaction with the ionosphere of Mars and origin of the sharp drop of the electron density at the altitudes 200-210 km will be discussed.

Working Group Report: Sensors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Artuso, M.; et al.,

Sensors play a key role in detecting both charged particles and photons for all three frontiers in Particle Physics. The signals from an individual sensor that can be used include ionization deposited, phonons created, or light emitted from excitations of the material. The individual sensors are then typically arrayed for detection of individual particles or groups of particles. Mounting of new, ever higher performance experiments, often depend on advances in sensors in a range of performance characteristics. These performance metrics can include position resolution for passing particles, time resolution on particles impacting the sensor, and overall rate capabilities. In additionmore » the feasible detector area and cost frequently provides a limit to what can be built and therefore is often another area where improvements are important. Finally, radiation tolerance is becoming a requirement in a broad array of devices. We present a status report on a broad category of sensors, including challenges for the future and work in progress to solve those challenges.« less

Sensor Compendium - A Snowmass Whitepaper-

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Artuso, M.; Battaglia, M.; Bolla, G.

Sensors play a key role in detecting both charged particles and photons for all three frontiers in Particle Physics. The signals from an individual sensor that can be used include ionization deposited, phonons created, or light emitted from excitations of the material. The individual sensors are then typically arrayed for detection of individual particles or groups of particles. Mounting of new, ever higher performance experiments, often depend on advances in sensors in a range of performance characteristics. These performance metrics can include position resolution for passing particles, time resolution on particles impacting the sensor, and overall rate capabilities. In additionmore » the feasible detector area and cost frequently provides a limit to what can be built and therefore is often another area where improvements are important. Finally, radiation tolerance is becoming a requirement in a broad array of devices. We present a status report on a broad category of sensors, including challenges for the future and work in progress to solve those challenges.« less

Tunable photonic multilayer sensors from photo-crosslinkable polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiappelli, Maria; Hayward, Ryan

2014-03-01

The fabrication of tunable photonic multilayer sensors from stimuli-responsive, photo-crosslinkable polymers will be described. Benzophenone is covalently incorporated as a pendent photo-crosslinker, allowing for facile preparation of multilayer films by sequential spin-coating and crosslinking processes. Copolymer chemistries and layer thicknesses are selected to provide robust multilayer sensors which can show color changes across nearly the full visible spectrum due to the specific stimulus-responsive nature of the hydrated film stack. We will describe how this approach is extended to alternative sensor designs by tailoring the thickness and chemistry of each layer independently, allowing for the preparation of sensors which depend not only on the shift in wavelength of a reflectance peak, but also on the transition between Bragg mirrors and filters. Device design is optimized by photo-patterning sensor arrays on a single substrate, providing more efficient fabrication time as well as multi-functional sensors. Finally, radiation-sensitive multilayers, designed by choosing polymers which will preferentially degrade or crosslink under ionizing radiation, will also be described.

Time-resolved quantitative-phase microscopy of laser-material interactions using a wavefront sensor.

PubMed

Gallais, Laurent; Monneret, Serge

2016-07-15

We report on a simple and efficient technique based on a wavefront sensor to obtain time-resolved amplitude and phase images of laser-material interactions. The main interest of the technique is to obtain quantitative self-calibrated phase measurements in one shot at the femtosecond time-scale, with high spatial resolution. The technique is used for direct observation and quantitative measurement of the Kerr effect in a fused silica substrate and free electron generation by photo-ionization processes in an optical coating.

Magnet/Hall-Effect Random-Access Memory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Jiin-Chuan; Stadler, Henry L.; Katti, Romney R.

1991-01-01

In proposed magnet/Hall-effect random-access memory (MHRAM), bits of data stored magnetically in Perm-alloy (or equivalent)-film memory elements and read out by using Hall-effect sensors to detect magnetization. Value of each bit represented by polarity of magnetization. Retains data for indefinite time or until data rewritten. Speed of Hall-effect sensors in MHRAM results in readout times of about 100 nanoseconds. Other characteristics include high immunity to ionizing radiation and storage densities of order 10(Sup6)bits/cm(Sup 2) or more.

Use of Water Content Reflectometers in Bioinfiltration/Bioretention to Measure Water Movement and Estimate Evapotranspiration - abstract

EPA Science Inventory

Most bioinfiltration/bioretention models assume runoff is evenly distributed across the surface area and after the engineered fill media is no longer saturated, the volumetric water content (VWC) is constant throughout the media profile and at field capacity. Four to nine water ...

Use of Water Content Reflectometers in Bioinfiltration/Bioretention to Measure Water Movement and Estimate Evapotranspiration

EPA Science Inventory

Most bioinfiltration/bioretention models assume runoff is evenly distributed across the surface area and after the engineered fill media is no longer saturated, the volumetric water content (VWC) is constant throughout the media profile and at field capacity. Four to nine water ...

Quantification of Optical and Physical Properties of Combustion-Generated Carbonaceous Aerosols (

PubMed Central

Perera, Inoka Eranda; Litton, Charles D.

2016-01-01

A series of experiments were conducted to quantify and characterize the optical and physical properties of combustion-generated aerosols during both flaming and smoldering combustion of three materials common to underground mines—Pittsburgh Seam coal, Styrene Butadiene Rubber (a common mine conveyor belt material), and Douglas-fir wood—using a combination of analytical and gravimetric measurements. Laser photometers were utilized in the experiments for continuous measurement of aerosol mass concentrations and for comparison to measurements made using gravimetric filter samples. The aerosols of interest lie in the size range of tens to a few hundred nanometers, out of range of the standard photometer calibration. To correct for these uncertainties, the photometer mass concentrations were compared to gravimetric samples to determine if consistent correlations existed. The response of a calibrated and modified combination ionization/photoelectric smoke detector was also used. In addition, the responses of this sensor and a similar, prototype ionization/photoelectric sensor, along with discrete angular scattering, total scattering, and total extinction measurements, were used to define in real time the size, morphology, and radiative transfer properties of these differing aerosols that are generally in the form of fractal aggregates. SEM/TEM images were also obtained in order to compare qualitatively the real-time, continuous experimental measurements with the visual microscopic measurements. These data clearly show that significant differences exist between aerosols from flaming and from smoldering combustion and that these differences produce very different scattering and absorption signatures. The data also indicate that ionization/photoelectric sensors can be utilized to measure continuously and in real time aerosol properties over a broad spectrum of applications related to adverse environmental and health effects. PMID:27546898

Quantification of Optical and Physical Properties of Combustion-Generated Carbonaceous Aerosols (

PubMed

Perera, Inoka Eranda; Litton, Charles D

2015-03-01

A series of experiments were conducted to quantify and characterize the optical and physical properties of combustion-generated aerosols during both flaming and smoldering combustion of three materials common to underground mines-Pittsburgh Seam coal, Styrene Butadiene Rubber (a common mine conveyor belt material), and Douglas-fir wood-using a combination of analytical and gravimetric measurements. Laser photometers were utilized in the experiments for continuous measurement of aerosol mass concentrations and for comparison to measurements made using gravimetric filter samples. The aerosols of interest lie in the size range of tens to a few hundred nanometers, out of range of the standard photometer calibration. To correct for these uncertainties, the photometer mass concentrations were compared to gravimetric samples to determine if consistent correlations existed. The response of a calibrated and modified combination ionization/photoelectric smoke detector was also used. In addition, the responses of this sensor and a similar, prototype ionization/photoelectric sensor, along with discrete angular scattering, total scattering, and total extinction measurements, were used to define in real time the size, morphology, and radiative transfer properties of these differing aerosols that are generally in the form of fractal aggregates. SEM/TEM images were also obtained in order to compare qualitatively the real-time, continuous experimental measurements with the visual microscopic measurements. These data clearly show that significant differences exist between aerosols from flaming and from smoldering combustion and that these differences produce very different scattering and absorption signatures. The data also indicate that ionization/photoelectric sensors can be utilized to measure continuously and in real time aerosol properties over a broad spectrum of applications related to adverse environmental and health effects.

49 CFR 173.310 - Exceptions for radiation detectors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...-GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPMENTS AND PACKAGINGS Gases; Preparation and Packaging § 173.310 Exceptions for radiation detectors. Radiation detectors, radiation sensors, electron tube devices, or ionization chambers, herein referred to as “radiation detectors,” that contain only Division 2.2 gases, are excepted...

49 CFR 173.310 - Exceptions for radiation detectors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...-GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPMENTS AND PACKAGINGS Gases; Preparation and Packaging § 173.310 Exceptions for radiation detectors. Radiation detectors, radiation sensors, electron tube devices, or ionization chambers, herein referred to as “radiation detectors,” that contain only Division 2.2 gases, are excepted...

Characterization of total ionizing dose damage in COTS pinned photodiode CMOS image sensors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Zujun, E-mail: wangzujun@nint.ac.cn; Ma, Wuying; Huang, Shaoyan

The characterization of total ionizing dose (TID) damage in COTS pinned photodiode (PPD) CMOS image sensors (CISs) is investigated. The radiation experiments are carried out at a {sup 60}Co γ-ray source. The CISs are produced by 0.18-μm CMOS technology and the pixel architecture is 8T global shutter pixel with correlated double sampling (CDS) based on a 4T PPD front end. The parameters of CISs such as temporal domain, spatial domain, and spectral domain are measured at the CIS test system as the EMVA 1288 standard before and after irradiation. The dark current, random noise, dark signal non-uniformity (DSNU), photo responsemore » non-uniformity (PRNU), overall system gain, saturation output, dynamic range (DR), signal to noise ratio (SNR), quantum efficiency (QE), and responsivity versus the TID are reported. The behaviors of the tested CISs show remarkable degradations after radiation. The degradation mechanisms of CISs induced by TID damage are also analyzed.« less

Characterization of total ionizing dose damage in COTS pinned photodiode CMOS image sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zujun; Ma, Wuying; Huang, Shaoyan; Yao, Zhibin; Liu, Minbo; He, Baoping; Liu, Jing; Sheng, Jiangkun; Xue, Yuan

2016-03-01

The characterization of total ionizing dose (TID) damage in COTS pinned photodiode (PPD) CMOS image sensors (CISs) is investigated. The radiation experiments are carried out at a 60Co γ-ray source. The CISs are produced by 0.18-μm CMOS technology and the pixel architecture is 8T global shutter pixel with correlated double sampling (CDS) based on a 4T PPD front end. The parameters of CISs such as temporal domain, spatial domain, and spectral domain are measured at the CIS test system as the EMVA 1288 standard before and after irradiation. The dark current, random noise, dark signal non-uniformity (DSNU), photo response non-uniformity (PRNU), overall system gain, saturation output, dynamic range (DR), signal to noise ratio (SNR), quantum efficiency (QE), and responsivity versus the TID are reported. The behaviors of the tested CISs show remarkable degradations after radiation. The degradation mechanisms of CISs induced by TID damage are also analyzed.

Detecting ionizing radiation with optical fibers down to biomedical doses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avino, S.; D'Avino, V.; Giorgini, A.; Pacelli, R.; Liuzzi, R.; Cella, L.; De Natale, P.; Gagliardi, G.

2013-10-01

We report on a passive ionizing radiation sensor based on a fiber-optic resonant cavity interrogated by a high resolution interferometric technique. After irradiation in clinical linear accelerators, we observe significant variations of the fiber thermo-optic coefficient. Exploiting this effect, we demonstrate an ultimate detection limit of 160 mGy with an interaction volume of only 6 × 10-4 mm3. Thanks to its reliability, compactness, and sensitivity at biomedical dose levels, our system lends itself to real applications in radiation therapy procedures as well as in radiation monitoring and protection in medicine, aerospace, and nuclear power plants.

Development of phonon-mediated cryogenic particle detectors with electron and nuclear recoil discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nam, Sae Woo

1999-10-01

Observations have shown that galaxies, including our own, are surrounded by halos of ``dark matter''. One possibility is that this may be an undiscovered form of matter, weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). This thesis describes the development of silicon based cryogenic particle detectors designed to directly detect interactions with these WIMPs. These detectors are part of a new class of detectors which are able to reject background events by simultaneously measuring energy deposited into phonons versus electron hole pairs. By using the phonon sensors with the ionization sensors to compare the partitioning of energy between phonons and ionizations we can discriminate between electron recoil events (background radiation) and nuclear recoil events (dark matter events). These detectors with built-in background rejection are a major advance in background rejection over previous searches. Much of this thesis will describe work in scaling the detectors from / g prototype devices to a fully functional prototype 100g dark matter detector. In particular, many sensors were fabricated and tested to understand the behavior of our phonon sensors, Quasipartice trapping assisted Electrothermal feedback Transition edge sensors (QETs). The QET sensors utilize aluminum quasiparticle traps attached to tungsten superconducting transition edge sensors patterned on a silicon substrate. The tungsten lines are voltage biased and self-regulate in the transition region. Phonons from particle interactions within the silicon propogate to the surface where they are absorbed by the aluminum generating quasiparticles in the aluminum. The quasiparticles diffuse into the tungsten and couple energy into the tungsten electron system. Consequently, the tungsten increases in resistance and causes a current pulse which is measured with a high bandwidth SQUID system. With this advanced sensor technology, we were able to demonstrate detectors with xy position sensitivity with electron and nuclear recoil discrimination. Furthermore, early results from running the 100g detector in the Stanford Underground Facility (SUF) indicate that competitive dark matter results are achievable with the current detector design. Much of the design and testing of the experimental apparatus and instrumentation is described as well.

49 CFR 173.310 - Exceptions for radiation detectors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Exceptions for radiation detectors. 173.310... for radiation detectors. Radiation detectors, radiation sensors, electron tube devices, or ionization chambers, herein referred to as “radiation detectors,” that contain only Division 2.2 gases, are excepted...

49 CFR 173.310 - Exceptions for radiation detectors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Exceptions for radiation detectors. 173.310... for radiation detectors. Radiation detectors, radiation sensors, electron tube devices, or ionization chambers, herein referred to as “radiation detectors,” that contain only Division 2.2 gases, are excepted...

49 CFR 173.310 - Exceptions for radiation detectors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Exceptions for radiation detectors. 173.310... for radiation detectors. Radiation detectors, radiation sensors, electron tube devices, or ionization chambers, herein referred to as “radiation detectors,” that contain only Division 2.2 gases, are excepted...

BioRef: A versatile time-of-flight reflectometer for soft matter applications at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Strobl, M.; Kreuzer, M.; Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109 Berlin

2011-05-15

BioRef is a versatile novel time-of-flight reflectometer featuring a sample environment for in situ infrared spectroscopy at the reactor neutron source BER II of the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie (HZB). After two years of design and construction phase the instrument has recently undergone commissioning and is now available for specular and off-specular neutron reflectivity measurements. BioRef is especially dedicated to the investigation of soft matter systems and studies at the solid-liquid interface. Due to flexible resolution modes and variable addressable wavelength bands that allow for focusing onto a selected scattering vector range, BioRef enables a broad rangemore » of surface and interface investigations and even kinetic studies with subsecond time resolution. The instrumental settings can be tailored to the specific requirements of a wide range of applications. The performance is demonstrated by several reference measurements, and the unique option of in situ on-board infrared spectroscopy is illustrated by the example of a phase transition study in a lipid multilayer film.« less

Double peak-induced distance error in short-time-Fourier-transform-Brillouin optical time domain reflectometers event detection and the recovery method.

PubMed

Yu, Yifei; Luo, Linqing; Li, Bo; Guo, Linfeng; Yan, Jize; Soga, Kenichi

2015-10-01

The measured distance error caused by double peaks in the BOTDRs (Brillouin optical time domain reflectometers) system is a kind of Brillouin scattering spectrum (BSS) deformation, discussed and simulated for the first time in the paper, to the best of the authors' knowledge. Double peak, as a kind of Brillouin spectrum deformation, is important in the enhancement of spatial resolution, measurement accuracy, and crack detection. Due to the variances of the peak powers of the BSS along the fiber, the measured starting point of a step-shape frequency transition region is shifted and results in distance errors. Zero-padded short-time-Fourier-transform (STFT) can restore the transition-induced double peaks in the asymmetric and deformed BSS, thus offering more accurate and quicker measurements than the conventional Lorentz-fitting method. The recovering method based on the double-peak detection and corresponding BSS deformation can be applied to calculate the real starting point, which can improve the distance accuracy of the STFT-based BOTDR system.

Scrape-off layer reflectometer for Alcator C-Mod.

PubMed

Lau, Cornwall; Hanson, Greg; Wilgen, John; Lin, Yijun; Wukitch, Steve

2010-10-01

A swept-frequency X-mode reflectometer is being built for Alcator C-Mod to measure the scrape-off layer density profiles at the top, middle, and bottom locations in front of both the new lower hybrid launcher and the new ion cyclotron range of frequencies antenna. The system is planned to operate between 100 and 146 GHz at sweep rates from 10 μs to 1 ms, and will cover a density range of approximately 10(16)-10(20) m(-3) at B(0)=5-5.4 T. To minimize the effects of density fluctuations, both differential phase and full phase reflectometry will be employed. Design, test data, and calibration results of this electronics system will be discussed. To reduce attenuation losses, tallguide (TE(01)) will be used for most of the transmission line system. Simulations of high mode conversion in tallguide components, such as e-plane hyperbolic secant radius of curvature bends, tapers, and horn antennas will be shown. Experimental measurements of the total attenuation losses of these components in the lower hybrid waveguide run will also be presented.

Complex EUV imaging reflectometry: spatially resolved 3D composition determination and dopant profiling with a tabletop 13nm source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Porter, Christina L.; Tanksalvala, Michael; Gerrity, Michael; Miley, Galen P.; Esashi, Yuka; Horiguchi, Naoto; Zhang, Xiaoshi; Bevis, Charles S.; Karl, Robert; Johnsen, Peter; Adams, Daniel E.; Kapteyn, Henry C.; Murnane, Margaret M.

2018-03-01

With increasingly 3D devices becoming the norm, there is a growing need in the semiconductor industry and in materials science for high spatial resolution, non-destructive metrology techniques capable of determining depth-dependent composition information on devices. We present a solution to this problem using ptychographic coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) implemented using a commercially available, tabletop 13 nm source. We present the design, simulations, and preliminary results from our new complex EUV imaging reflectometer, which uses coherent 13 nm light produced by tabletop high harmonic generation. This tool is capable of determining spatially-resolved composition vs. depth profiles for samples by recording ptychographic images at multiple incidence angles. By harnessing phase measurements, we can locally and nondestructively determine quantities such as device and thin film layer thicknesses, surface roughness, interface quality, and dopant concentration profiles. Using this advanced imaging reflectometer, we can quantitatively characterize materials-sciencerelevant and industry-relevant nanostructures for a wide variety of applications, spanning from defect and overlay metrology to the development and optimization of nano-enhanced thermoelectric or spintronic devices.

Experimental program to determine long term characteristics of the MDE pressure transducers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, C. D.

1973-01-01

The pressure cell sensors developed for the Pioneer 10/G meteoroid detection experiments (MDE) were investigated to enhance their application and their potential as a sensor in other MDE applications. Their Paschen characteristics were also investigated, and the effects of variations in geometry, Ni-63 platings (for initial ionizations) and sealing pressures were determined. The effects of extensive pre-flight testing and proton and heavy ion space radiation were investigated. Flight-quality pressure panels/cells were committed to long term testing to demonstrate their suitability for the Pioneer 10/G Missions.

Extreme Environment Sensing Using Femtosecond Laser-Inscribed Fiber Bragg Gratings

PubMed Central

Grobnic, Dan; Hnatovsky, Cyril; Walker, Robert B.; Coulas, David; Ding, Huimin

2017-01-01

The femtosecond laser-induced fiber Bragg grating is an effective sensor technology that can be deployed in harsh environments. Depending on the optical fiber chosen and the inscription parameters that are used, devices suitable for high temperature, pressure, ionizing radiation and strain sensor applications are possible. Such devices are appropriate for aerospace or energy production applications where there is a need for components, instrumentation and controls that can function in harsh environments. This paper will present a review of some of the more recent developments in this field. PMID:29240721

Characterization of Arcjet Flows Using Laser-Induced Fluorescence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bamford, Douglas J.; O'Keefe, Anthony; Babikian, Dikran S.; Stewart, David A.; Strawa, Anthony W.

1995-01-01

A sensor based on laser-induced fluorescence has been installed at the 20-MW NASA Ames Aerodynamic Heating Facility. The sensor has provided new, quantitative, real-time information about properties of the arcjet flow in the highly dissociated, partially ionized, nonequilibrium regime. Number densities of atomic oxygen, flow velocities, heavy particle translational temperatures, and collisional quenching rates have been measured. These results have been used to test and refine computational models of the arcjet flow. The calculated number densities, translational temperatures, and flow velocities are in moderately good agreement with experiment

An active pixel sensor to detect diffused X-ray during Interventional Radiology procedure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Servoli, L.; Battisti, D.; Biasini, M.; Checcucci, B.; Conti, E.; Di Lorenzo, R.; Esposito, A.; Fanò, L.; Paolucci, M.; Passeri, D.; Pentiricci, A.; Placidi, P.

2012-04-01

Interventional radiologists and staff members are frequently exposed to protracted and fractionated low doses of ionizing radiation due to diffused X-ray radiation. The authors propose a novel approach to monitor on line staff during their interventions by using a device based on an Active Pixel Sensor developed for tracking applications. Two different photodiode configurations have been tested in standard Interventional Radiology working conditions. Both options have demonstrated the capability to measure the photon flux and the energy flux to a sufficient degree of uncertainty.

Effects of low Earth orbit environment on the Long Duration Exposure Facility thermal control coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sampair, Thomas R.; Berrios, William M.

1992-01-01

One of the benefits of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was the opportunity to study the before and after effects of low earth orbit space environment on the spacecraft thermal control coatings. Since the LDEF's thermal control was totally passive by design, the selection of the external surface absorptivity to emissivity ratio (alpha/epsilon) and the ability for the coating to retain the alpha/epsilon over time was an important consideration in the thermal design of the LDEF. The primary surface coating chosen for the LDEF structure was clear chromic anodized aluminum with an average design alpha/epsilon of 0.32/0.16. External surface absorptivity (alpha) and emissivity (epsilon) were measured on all intercostals, longerons, tray mounting flanges, thermal control panels, and a limited number of experiment surface coatings after the experiment trays were removed from the LDEF structure. All surface alpha/epsilon measurements were made using portable hand held infrared and solar spectrum reflectometers. The absorptivity measurements were taken with a Devices and Services SSR-ER version 5.0 solar spectra reflectometer which has a stated uncertainty of +/- 0.01, and all normal emissivity measurements were made using the Gier Dunkle DB-100 infrared reflectometer also with a stated uncertainty of +/- 0.01. Both instruments were calibrated in the laboratory by LaRC instrumentation personnel before being used in the field at KSC. A combined total of 733 measurements were taken on the anodized aluminum hardware which included the structure (intercostals, longerons, and center ring), earth and space end thermal control panels, and experiment tray mounting flanges. The facility thermal control coatings measured in this survey cover 33 percent of the total exposed LDEF surface area. To correlate low earth orbit environmental effects on the anodized coatings, measurements were taken in both exposed and unexposed surfaces and compared to quality assurance (QA) measurements taken on the new surfaces at the time of hardware fabrication in 1978. The results of investigation are presented.

Distributed fiber optic intrusion sensor system for monitoring long perimeters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juarez, Juan C.; Taylor, Henry F.

2005-05-01

The use of an optical fiber as a distributed sensor for detecting and locating intruders over long perimeters (>10 km) is described. Phase changes resulting from either the pressure of the intruder on the ground immediately above the buried fiber or from seismic disturbances in the vicinity are sensed by a phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometer (Φ-OTDR). Light pulses from a cw laser operating in a single longitudinal mode and with low (MHz/min range) frequency drift are injected into one end of the single mode fiber, and the backscattered light is monitored with a photodetector. In laboratory tests with 12 km of fiber on reels, the effects of localized phase perturbations induced by a piezoelectric fiber stretcher on Φ-OTDR traces were characterized. In field tests in which the sensing element is a single mode fiber in a 3-mm diameter cable buried in a 20-46 cm deep, 10 cm wide trench in clay soil, detection of intruders on foot up to 4.6 m from the cable line was achieved. In desert terrain field tests in which the sensing fiber is in a 4.5-mm diameter cable buried in a 30 cm deep, 75 cm wide trench filled with loose sand, high sensitivity and consistent detection of intruders on foot and of vehicles traveling down a road near the cable line was realized over a cable length of 8.5 km and a total fiber path of 19 km. Based on these results, this technology may be regarded as a candidate for providing low-cost perimeter security for nuclear power plants, electrical power distribution centers, storage facilities for fuel and volatile chemicals, communication hubs, airports, government offices, military bases, embassies, and national borders.

Design and Characterization of a Built-In CMOS TID Smart Sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agustin, Javier; Gil, Carlos; Lopez-Vallejo, Marisa; Ituero, Pablo

2015-04-01

This paper describes a total ionization dose (TID) sensor that presents the following advantages: it is a digital sensor able to be integrated in CMOS circuits; it has a configurable sensitivity that allows radiation doses ranging from very low to high levels; its interface helps to integrate this design in a multidisciplinary sensor network; and it is self-timed, hence it does not need a clock signal. We designed, implemented and manufactured the sensor in a 0.35 μm CMOS commercial technology. It was irradiated with a 60Co source. This test was used to characterize the sensor in terms of the radiation response up to 575 krad. After irradiation, we monitored the sensor to control charge redistribution and annealing effects for 80 hours. We also exposed our design to meticulous temperature analysis from 0 to 50°C and we studied the acceleration on the annealing phenomena due to high temperatures. Sensor calibration takes into account the results of all tests. Finally we propose to use this sensor in a self-recovery system. The sensor manufactured in this work has an area of 0.047 mm 2, of which 22% is dedicated to measuring radiation. Its energy per conversion is 463 pJ.

Radiation noise in a high sensitivity star sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parkinson, J. B.; Gordon, E.

1972-01-01

An extremely accurate attitude determination was developed for space applications. This system uses a high sensitivity star sensor in which the photomultiplier tube is subject to noise generated by space radiations. The space radiation induced noise arises from trapped electrons, solar protons and other ionizing radiations, as well as from dim star background. The solar activity and hence the electron and proton environments are predicted through the end of the twentieth century. The available data for the response of the phototube to proton, electron, gamma ray, and bremsstrahlung radiations are reviewed and new experimental data is presented. A simulation was developed which represents the characteristics of the effect of radiations on the star sensor, including the non-stationarity of the backgrounds.

A Novel Wireless Wearable Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Monitoring Device with Disposable Sensors.

PubMed

Deng, Yue; Chen, Cheng; Xian, Xiaojun; Tsow, Francis; Verma, Gaurav; McConnell, Rob; Fruin, Scott; Tao, Nongjian; Forzani, Erica S

2016-12-03

A novel portable wireless volatile organic compound (VOC) monitoring device with disposable sensors is presented. The device is miniaturized, light, easy-to-use, and cost-effective. Different field tests have been carried out to identify the operational, analytical, and functional performance of the device and its sensors. The device was compared to a commercial photo-ionization detector, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and carbon monoxide detector. In addition, environmental operational conditions, such as barometric change, temperature change and wind conditions were also tested to evaluate the device performance. The multiple comparisons and tests indicate that the proposed VOC device is adequate to characterize personal exposure in many real-world scenarios and is applicable for personal daily use.

A Novel Wireless Wearable Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Monitoring Device with Disposable Sensors

PubMed Central

Deng, Yue; Chen, Cheng; Xian, Xiaojun; Tsow, Francis; Verma, Gaurav; McConnell, Rob; Fruin, Scott; Tao, Nongjian; Forzani, Erica S.

2016-01-01

A novel portable wireless volatile organic compound (VOC) monitoring device with disposable sensors is presented. The device is miniaturized, light, easy-to-use, and cost-effective. Different field tests have been carried out to identify the operational, analytical, and functional performance of the device and its sensors. The device was compared to a commercial photo-ionization detector, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and carbon monoxide detector. In addition, environmental operational conditions, such as barometric change, temperature change and wind conditions were also tested to evaluate the device performance. The multiple comparisons and tests indicate that the proposed VOC device is adequate to characterize personal exposure in many real-world scenarios and is applicable for personal daily use. PMID:27918484

Water content measurement in forest soils and decayed wood using time domain reflectometry

Treesearch

Andrew Gray; Thomas Spies

1995-01-01

The use of time domain reflectometry to measure moisture content in forest soils and woody debris was evaluated. Calibrations were developed on undisturbed soil cores from four forest stands and on point samples from decayed logs. An algorithm for interpreting irregularly shaped traces generated by the reflectometer was also developed. Two different calibration...

A Review of Methods for Sensing the Nitrogen Status in Plants: Advantages, Disadvantages and Recent Advances

PubMed Central

Muñoz-Huerta, Rafael F.; Guevara-Gonzalez, Ramon G.; Contreras-Medina, Luis M.; Torres-Pacheco, Irineo; Prado-Olivarez, Juan; Ocampo-Velazquez, Rosalia V.

2013-01-01

Nitrogen (N) plays a key role in the plant life cycle. It is the main plant mineral nutrient needed for chlorophyll production and other plant cell components (proteins, nucleic acids, amino acids). Crop yield is affected by plant N status. Thus, the optimization of nitrogen fertilization has become the object of intense research due to its environmental and economic impact. This article focuses on reviewing current methods and techniques used to determine plant N status. Kjeldahl digestion and Dumas combustion have been used as reference methods for N determination in plants, but they are destructive and time consuming. By using spectroradiometers, reflectometers, imagery from satellite sensors and digital cameras, optical properties have been measured to estimate N in plants, such as crop canopy reflectance, leaf transmittance, chlorophyll and polyphenol fluorescence. High correlation has been found between optical parameters and plant N status, and those techniques are not destructive. However, some drawbacks include chlorophyll saturation, atmospheric and soil interference, and the high cost of instruments. Electrical properties of plant tissue have been used to estimate quality in fruits, and water content in plants, as well as nutrient deficiency, which suggests that they have potential for use in plant N determination. PMID:23959242

CRIT II electric, magnetic, and density measurements within an ionizing neutral stream

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swenson, C. M.; Kelley, M. C.; Primdahl, F.; Baker, K. D.

1990-01-01

Measurements from rocket-borne sensors inside a high-velocity neutral barium beam show a-factor-of-six increase in plasma density in a moving ionizing front. This region was colocated with intense fluctuating electric fields at frequencies well under the lower hybrid frequency for a barium plasma. Large quasi-dc electric and magnetic field fluctuations were also detected with a large component of the current and the electric field parallel to B(0). An Alfven wave with a finite electric field component parallel to the geomagnetic field was observed to propagate along B(0), where it was detected by an instrumented subpayload.

Remote sensing of high-latitude ionization profiles by ground-based and spaceborne instrumentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vondrak, R. R.

1981-01-01

Ionospheric specification and modeling are now largely based on data provided by active remote sensing with radiowave techniques (ionosondes, incoherent-scatter radars, and satellite beacons). More recently, passive remote sensing techniques have been developed that can be used to monitor quantitatively the spatial distribution of high-latitude E-region ionization. These passive methods depend on the measurement, or inference, of the energy distribution of precipitating kilovolt electrons, the principal source of the nighttime E-region at high latitudes. To validate these techniques, coordinated measurements of the auroral ionosphere have been made with the Chatanika incoherent-scatter radar and a variety of ground-based and spaceborne sensors

In Situ Measurement Activities at the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liou, J.-C.; Burchell, M.; Corsaro, R.; Drolshagen, G.; Giovane, F.; Pisacane, V.; Stansbery, E.

2009-01-01

The NASA Orbital Debris Program Office has been involved in the development of several particle impact instruments since 2003. The main objective of this development is to eventually conduct in situ measurements to better characterize the small (millimeter or smaller) orbital debris and micrometeoroid populations in the near-Earth environment. In addition, the Office also supports similar instrument development to define the micrometeoroid and lunar secondary ejecta environment for future lunar exploration activities. The instruments include impact acoustic sensors, resistive grid sensors, fiber optic displacement sensors, and impact ionization sensors. They rely on different mechanisms and detection principles to identify particle impacts. A system consisting of these different sensors will provide data that are complimentary to each other, and will provide a better description of the physical and dynamical properties (e.g., size, mass, and impact speed) of the particles in the environment. Details of several systems being considered by the Office and their intended mission objectives are summarized in this paper.

Vacuum-compatible, ultra-low material budget Micro-Vertex Detector of the compressed baryonic matter experiment at FAIR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koziel, Michal; Amar-Youcef, Samir; Bialas, Norbert; Deveaux, Michael; Fröhlich, Ingo; Klaus, Philipp; Michel, Jan; Milanović, Borislav; Müntz, Christian; Stroth, Joachim; Tischler, Tobias; Weirich, Roland; Wiebusch, Michael

2017-02-01

The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) Experiment is one of the core experiments of the future FAIR facility near Darmstadt (Germany). The fixed-target experiment will explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter in the regime of high net baryon densities with numerous probes, among them open charm mesons. The Micro Vertex Detector (MVD) will provide the secondary vertex resolution of ∼ 50 μm along the beam axis, contribute to the background rejection in dielectron spectroscopy, and to the reconstruction of weak decays. The detector comprises four stations placed at 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm downstream the target and inside the target vacuum. The stations will be populated with highly granular CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors, which will feature a spatial resolution of < 5 μm, a non-ionizing radiation tolerance of >1013neq /cm2, an ionizing radiation tolerance of ∼ 3 Mrad, and a readout speed of a few 10 μs/frame. This work introduces the MVD-PRESTO project, which aims at integrating a precursor of the second station of the CBM-MVD meeting the following requirements: material budget of x /X0 < 0.5 %, vacuum compatibility, double-sided sensor integration on a Thermal Pyrolytic Graphite (TPG) carrier, and heat evacuation of about 350 mW/cm2/sensor with a temperature gradient of a few K/cm.

Ionization signals from diamond detectors in fast-neutron fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiss, C.; Frais-Kölbl, H.; Griesmayer, E.; Kavrigin, P.

2016-09-01

In this paper we introduce a novel analysis technique for measurements with single-crystal chemical vapor deposition (sCVD) diamond detectors in fast-neutron fields. This method exploits the unique electronic property of sCVD diamond sensors that the signal shape of the detector current is directly proportional to the initial ionization profile. In fast-neutron fields the diamond sensor acts simultaneously as target and sensor. The interaction of neutrons with the stable isotopes 12 C and 13 C is of interest for fast-neutron diagnostics. The measured signal shapes of detector current pulses are used to identify individual types of interactions in the diamond with the goal to select neutron-induced reactions in the diamond and to suppress neutron-induced background reactions as well as γ-background. The method is verified with experimental data from a measurement in a 14.3 MeV neutron beam at JRC-IRMM, Geel/Belgium, where the 13C(n, α)10Be reaction was successfully extracted from the dominating background of recoil protons and γ-rays and the energy resolution of the 12C(n, α)9Be reaction was substantially improved. The presented analysis technique is especially relevant for diagnostics in harsh radiation environments, like fission and fusion reactors. It allows to extract the neutron spectrum from the background, and is particularly applicable to neutron flux monitoring and neutron spectroscopy.

A multifunctional fluorescence sensor for Cd2+, PO43- and Cr3+ in different system and the practical application.

PubMed

Wang, Qingming; Tan, Yingzi; Wang, Nianhua; Lu, Zhixiang; Wang, Wenling

2018-05-07

A fluorescence probe based on thiosemicarbazide has been synthesized and well characterized by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, Elemental analysis, Electrospray ionization mass spectra. The probe 1 functions as a multitarget ion sensor, detect biologically and ecologically important Cd 2+ , PO 4 3- and Cr 3+ . Meanwhile, probe 1 displays selectivity for Cd 2+ over other metal ions and anions in DMF by emission spectrum. Interestingly, probe 1 has been explored to recognize PO 4 3- in CH 3 OH-H 2 O (v:v = 1:9). The binding stoichiometry of probe 1 with Cd 2+ and PO 4 3- are 2:1 and 1:1, respectively, which are confirmed by Electrospray ionization mass spectra. Probe 1 is selective, sensitive and reversibility/reusability to Cd 2+ and PO 4 3- with the detection limit as low as 0.035 μM and 0.011 μM respectively. Besides, the designed probe 1 has shown potential applications in the area of photo-printing. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Design of a radiation tolerant system for total ionizing dose monitoring using floating gate and RadFET dosimeters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferraro, R.; Danzeca, S.; Brucoli, M.; Masi, A.; Brugger, M.; Dilillo, L.

2017-04-01

The need for upgrading the Total Ionizing Dose (TID) measurement resolution of the current version of the Radiation Monitoring system for the LHC complex has driven the research of new TID sensors. The sensors being developed nowadays can be defined as Systems On Chip (SOC) with both analog and digital circuitries embedded in the same silicon. A radiation tolerant TID Monitoring System (TIDMon) has been designed to allow the placement of the entire dosimeter readout electronics in very harsh environments such as calibration rooms and even in the mixed radiation field such as the one of the LHC complex. The objective of the TIDMon is to measure the effect of the TID on the new prototype of Floating Gate Dosimeter (FGDOS) without using long cables and with a reliable measurement system. This work introduces the architecture of the TIDMon, the radiation tolerance techniques applied on the controlling electronics as well as the design choices adopted for the system. Finally, results of several tests of TIDMon under different radiation environments such as gamma rays or mixed radiation field at CHARM are presented.

Characterization of silicon micro-strip sensors with a pulsed infra-red laser system for the CBM experiment at FAIR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, P.

2015-03-01

The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR is composed of 8 tracking stations consisting of 1292 double sided silicon micro-strip sensors. For the quality assurance of produced prototype sensors a laser test system (LTS) has been developed. The aim of the LTS is to scan sensors with a pulsed infra-red laser driven by step motor to determine the charge sharing in-between strips and to measure qualitative uniformity of the sensor response over the whole active area. The prototype sensors which are tested with the LTS so far have 256 strips with a pitch of 50 μm on each side. They are read-out using a self-triggering prototype read-out electronic ASIC called n-XYTER. The LTS is designed to measure sensor response in an automatized procedure at several thousand positions across the sensor with focused infra-red laser light (spot size ≈ 12 μm , wavelength = 1060 nm). The pulse with duration (≈ 10 ns) and power (≈ 5 mW) of the laser pulses is selected such, that the absorption of the laser light in the 300 μm thick silicon sensors produces a number of about 24000 electrons, which is similar to the charge created by minimum ionizing particles (MIP) in these sensors. Laser scans different prototype sensors is reported.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Giacomini, Gabriele; Huber, Alan; Redus, Robert

We report that when an uncollimated radioactive X-ray source illuminates a silicon PIN sensor, some ionizing events are generated in the nonimplanted gap between the active area of the sensor and the guard rings (GRs). Carriers can be collected by floating electrodes, i.e., electron accumulation layers at the silicon/oxide interface, and floating GRs. The crosstalk signals generated by these events create spurious peaks, replicas of the main peaks at either lower amplitude or of opposite polarity. Lastly, we explain this phenomenon as crosstalk caused by charge collected on these floating electrodes, which can be analyzed by means of an extensionmore » of Ramo theorem.« less

Active charge trapping control in dielectrics under ionizing radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dominguez-Pumar, M.; Bheesayagari, C.; Gorreta, S.; Pons-Nin, J.

2017-12-01

Charge trapping is is a design and reliability factor in plasma sensors. Examples can be found in microchannel plate detectors in plasma analyzers, where multiple layers have been devised to ensure filled trapped electrons for enhanced secondary emission [1]. Charge trap mapping is used to recover distortion in telescope CCDs [2]. Specific technologies are designed to mitigate the effect of ionizing radiation in monolithic Active Pixel Sensors [3]. We report in this paper a control loop designed to control charge in Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor capacitors. We find that the net trapped charge in the device can be set within some limits to arbitrary values that can be changed with time. The control loop periodically senses the net trapped charge by detecting shifts in the capacitance vs voltage characteristic, and generates adequate waveform sequences to keep the trapped charge at the desired level [4]. The waveforms continuously applied have been chosen to provide different levels of charge injection into the dielectric. The control generates the adequate average charge injection to reach and maintain the desired level of trapped charge, compensating external disturbances. We also report that this control can compensate charge generated by ionizing radiation. Experiments will be shown in which this compensation is obtained with X-rays and gamma radiation. The presented results open the possibility of applying active compensation techniques for the first time in a wide number of devices such as radiation sensors, MOS transistors and other devices. The continuous drive towards integration may allow the implementation of this type of controls in devices needing to reject external disturbances, or needing to optimize their response to radiation or ion fluxes. References: [1] patent US 2009/0212680 A1. [2] A&A 534, A20 (2011). [3] Hemperek, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. in Phys. Res. Sect. A.796, pp 8-12, 2015. [4] Dominguez, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electr, 64 (4), 3023-3029, 2017.

Micromechanical Devices to Reduce 1/f Noise in Magnetic Field and Electric Charge Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaramillo, Gerardo

1/f noise is present in every aspect of nature. Sensors and read-out electronics have the ultimate detection limit set by the noise floor of the white noise. In order to increase signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of low frequency signals buried by high 1/f noise, the signal can be up-converted to a high frequency signal that lies in the lower white noise regime of the sensing device. Mechanical modulation can be employed to move low frequency electronic signals to higher frequency region through the use of microresonators. This thesis has two goals: (1) develop and fabricate a hybrid micromechanical-magnetoresistive magnetic field sensor; and (2) design an electrometer to measure currents collected from air streams containing ionized nano-particles. First, we designed magnetoresistive-microelectromechanical systems (MR-MEMS) hybrid devices based on the monolithic integration of magnetic thin films and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MEMS fabrication techniques. We used MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) placed on a bulk micromachined silicon MEMS device to form a hybrid sensing device. The MEMS device was used to mechanically modulate the magnetic field signal detected by the MTJ, thereby reducing the effects of 1/f noise on the MTJ's output. Two actuator designs were investigated: cantilever and electrostatic comb-drive. The second component of the thesis presents a MEMS-based electrometer for the detection of small currents from ionized particles in a particle detection system for air-quality monitoring. One method of particle detection ionizes particles and then feeds a stream of charged particles into a Faraday cup electrometer. We replaced the Faraday cup with a filtering porous mesh sensing-electrode coupled to a MEMS electrometer with a noise floor below 1 fA rms. Experiments were conducted with fA level currents produced by 10 nm diameter particles within an airflow of 1.0 L/min. The MEMS electrometer was compared and calibrated using commercial electrometers and particle counters.

ALICE—An advanced reflectometer for static and dynamic experiments in magnetism at synchrotron radiation facilities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abrudan, R.; Helmholtz-Zentrum-Berlin for Materials and Energy, 12489 Berlin; Brüssing, F.

2015-06-15

We report on significant developments of a high vacuum reflectometer (diffractometer) and spectrometer for soft x-ray synchrotron experiments which allows conducting a wide range of static and dynamic experiments. Although the chamber named ALICE was designed for the analysis of magnetic hetero- and nanostructures via resonant magnetic x-ray scattering, the instrument is not limited to this technique. The versatility of the instrument was testified by a series of pilot experiments. Static measurements involve the possibility to use scattering and spectroscopy synchrotron based techniques (photon-in photon-out, photon-in electron-out, and coherent scattering). Dynamic experiments require either laser or magnetic field pulses tomore » excite the spin system followed by x-ray probe in the time domain from nano- to femtosecond delay times. In this temporal range, the demagnetization/remagnetization dynamics and magnetization precession in a number of magnetic materials (metals, alloys, and magnetic multilayers) can be probed in an element specific manner. We demonstrate here the capabilities of the system to host a variety of experiments, featuring ALICE as one of the most versatile and demanded instruments at the Helmholtz Center in Berlin-BESSY II synchrotron center in Berlin, Germany.« less

An evaluation of the NASA/GSFC Barnes field spectral reflectometer model 14-758, using signal/noise as a measure of utility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bell, R.; Labovitz, M. L.

1982-07-01

A Barnes field spectral reflectometer which collected information in 373 channels covering the region from 0.4 to 2.5 micrometers was assessed for signal utility. A band was judged unsatisfactory if the probability was 0.1 or greater than its signal to noise ratio was less than eight to one. For each of the bands the probability of a noisy observation was estimated under a binomial assumption from a set of field crop spectra covering an entire growing season. A 95% confidence interval was calculated about each estimate and bands whose lower confidence limits were greater than 0.1 were judged unacceptable. As a result, 283 channels were deemed statistically satisfactory. Excluded channels correspond to portions of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) where high atmospheric absorption and filter wheel overlap occur. In addition, the analyses uncovered intervals of unsatisfactory detection capability within the blue, red and far infrared regions of vegetation spectra. From the results of the analysis it was recommended that 90 channels monitored by the instrument under consideration be eliminated from future studies. These channels are tabulated and discussed.

AMOR - the versatile reflectometer at SINQ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clemens, D.; Gross, P.; Keller, P.; Schlumpf, N.; Könnecke, M.

2000-03-01

We report on a new facility for neutron reflectometry situated at the end position of a cold neutron guide at the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source SINQ. The instrument is a flexible apparatus, adaptable to the needs of the user's individual experiment. Principally designed to operate in the time-of-flight mode it is also capable to exploit the fact that SINQ is a continuous source because PSI's developments in the field of thin film multilayers are fruitfully applied. By means of multilayer monochromators it can be converted into a constant wavelength reflectometer. Polarized neutron reflectometry on AMOR takes advantage of remanent FeCo/Ti:N supermirrors and multilayers which can be operated in a way that no spin flippers are needed. The time and angular contributions to the resolution in momentum transfer are separately determinable in TOF mode. The total length of the instrument is adjustable in order to optimize resolution together with the illumination of the sample's surface. Large sample environments can be placed on the sample table that is actively isolated against vibrations. Single detectors and an EMBL 3He area detector can be chosen, alternatively. The instrument concept as well as parameters of its components are presented.

A simple solution to systematic errors in density determination by X-ray reflectivity: The XRR-density evaluation (XRR-DE) method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergese, P.; Bontempi, E.; Depero, L. E.

2006-10-01

X-ray reflectivity (XRR) is a non-destructive, accurate and fast technique for evaluating film density. Indeed, sample-goniometer alignment is a critical experimental factor and the overriding error source in XRR density determination. With commercial single-wavelength X-ray reflectometers, alignment is difficult to control and strongly depends on the operator. In the present work, the contribution of misalignment on density evaluation error is discussed, and a novel procedure (named XRR-density evaluation or XRR-DE method) to minimize the problem will be presented. The method allows to overcome the alignment step through the extrapolation of the correct density value from appropriate non-specular XRR data sets. This procedure is operator independent and suitable for commercial single-wavelength X-ray reflectometers. To test the XRR-DE method, single crystals of TiO 2 and SrTiO 3 were used. In both cases the determined densities differed from the nominal ones less than 5.5%. Thus, the XRR-DE method can be successfully applied to evaluate the density of thin films for which only optical reflectivity is today used. The advantage is that this method can be considered thickness independent.

Design and testing of miniaturized plasma sensor for measuring hypervelocity impact plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goel, A.; Tarantino, P. M.; Lauben, D. S.; Close, S.

2015-04-01

An increasingly notable component of the space environment pertains to the impact of meteoroids and orbital debris on spacecraft and the resulting mechanical and electrical damages. Traveling at speeds of tens of km/s, when these particles, collectively referred to as hypervelocity particles, impact a satellite, they vaporize, ionize, and produce a radially expanding plasma that can generate electrically harmful radio frequency emission or serve as a trigger for electrostatic discharge. In order to measure the flux, composition, energy distribution, and temperature of ions and electrons in this plasma, a miniaturized plasma sensor has been developed for carrying out in-situ measurements in space. The sensor comprises an array of electrostatic analyzer wells split into 16 different channels, catering to different species and energy ranges in the plasma. We present results from numerical simulation based optimization of sensor geometry. A novel approach of fabricating the sensor using printed circuit boards is implemented. We also describe the test setup used for calibrating the sensor and show results demonstrating the energy band pass characteristics of the sensor. In addition to the hypervelocity impact plasmas, the plasma sensor developed can also be used to carry out measurements of ionospheric plasma, diagnostics of plasma propulsion systems, and in other space physics experiments.

Portable Chemical Agent Detection System: Differential Reflectometer and Light Scattering Approaches

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-02-15

possible to conduct elemental analysis on modified capillaries because of the polymer coating. Instead, measurements of electroosmotic flow were used...design There are several essential requirements for a sensitive chemiluminescence cell (Figure 1); good reagent/analyte mixing for maximum photon yield...Cutaway of Chemiluminescence cell the cooled pint housing. In our design, the concentric inlets will increase photon collection due to better mixing of

Proof of Concept: Development of Snow Liquid Water Content Profiler Using CS650 Reflectometers at Caribou, ME, USA.

PubMed

Pérez Díaz, Carlos L; Muñoz, Jonathan; Lakhankar, Tarendra; Khanbilvardi, Reza; Romanov, Peter

2017-03-21

The quantity of liquid water in the snowpack defines its wetness. The temporal evolution of snow wetness's plays a significant role in wet-snow avalanche prediction, meltwater release, and water availability estimations and assessments within a river basin. However, it remains a difficult task and a demanding issue to measure the snowpack's liquid water content (LWC) and its temporal evolution with conventional in situ techniques. We propose an approach based on the use of time-domain reflectometry (TDR) and CS650 soil water content reflectometers to measure the snowpack's LWC and temperature profiles. For this purpose, we created an easily-applicable, low-cost, automated, and continuous LWC profiling instrument using reflectometers at the Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center-Snow Analysis and Field Experiment (CREST-SAFE) in Caribou, ME, USA, and tested it during the snow melt period (February-April) immediately after installation in 2014. Snow Thermal Model (SNTHERM) LWC simulations forced with CREST-SAFE meteorological data were used to evaluate the accuracy of the instrument. Results showed overall good agreement, but clearly indicated inaccuracy under wet snow conditions. For this reason, we present two (for dry and wet snow) statistical relationships between snow LWC and dielectric permittivity similar to Topp's equation for the LWC of mineral soils. These equations were validated using CREST-SAFE in situ data from winter 2015. Results displayed high agreement when compared to LWC estimates obtained using empirical formulas developed in previous studies, and minor improvement over wet snow LWC estimates. Additionally, the equations seemed to be able to capture the snowpack state (i.e., onset of melt, medium, and maximum saturation). Lastly, field test results show advantages, such as: automated, continuous measurements, the temperature profiling of the snowpack, and the possible categorization of its state. However, future work should focus on improving the instrument's capability to measure the snowpack's LWC profile by properly calibrating it with in situ LWC measurements. Acceptable validation agreement indicates that the developed snow LWC, temperature, and wetness profiler offers a promising new tool for snow hydrology research.

A new "off-on" fluorescent probe for Al(3+) in aqueous solution based on rhodamine B and its application to bioimaging.

PubMed

Huang, Qi; Zhang, Qingyou; Wang, Enze; Zhou, Yanmei; Qiao, Han; Pang, Lanfang; Yu, Fang

2016-01-05

In this paper, a new fluorescent probe has been synthesized and applied as "off-on" sensor for the detection of Al(3+) with a high sensitivity and excellent selectivity in aqueous media. The sensor was easily prepared by one step reaction between rhodamine B hydrazide and pyridoxal hydrochloride named RBP. The structure of the sensor has been characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spray ionization-mass spectrometry. The fluorescence intensity and absorbance for the sensor showed a good linearity with the concentration of Al(3+) in the range of 0-12.5μM and 8-44μM, respectively, with detection limits of 0.23μM and 1.90μM. The sensor RBP was preliminarily applied to the determination of Al(3+) in water samples from the lake of Henan University and tap water with satisfying results. Moreover, it can be used as a bioimaging reagent for imaging of Al(3+) in living cells. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for Harsh Environments

PubMed Central

Mihailov, Stephen J.

2012-01-01

Because of their small size, passive nature, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and capability to directly measure physical parameters such as temperature and strain, fiber Bragg grating sensors have developed beyond a laboratory curiosity and are becoming a mainstream sensing technology. Recently, high temperature stable gratings based on regeneration techniques and femtosecond infrared laser processing have shown promise for use in extreme environments such as high temperature, pressure or ionizing radiation. Such gratings are ideally suited for energy production applications where there is a requirement for advanced energy system instrumentation and controls that are operable in harsh environments. This paper will present a review of some of the more recent developments. PMID:22438744

Resistive and Capacitive γ-Ray Dosimeters Based On Triggered Depolymerization in Carbon Nanotube Composites.

PubMed

Zeininger, Lukas; He, Maggie; Hobson, Stephen T; Swager, Timothy M

2018-05-25

We report γ-ray dosimeters using carbon nanotubes wrapped with metastable poly(olefin sulfone)s (POSs) that readily depolymerize when exposed to ionizing radiation. New POSs, designed for wrapping single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), are synthesized and characterized. The resulting POS-SWCNT composites serve as the active transducer in a novel class of γ-ray dosimeters. In our devices, polymer degradation results in immediate changes in the electronic potential of the POS-SWCNT active layers by decreasing the electron tunneling barriers between individualized tubes and by creating enhanced cofacial π-π electron contacts. By incorporating the SWCNT-POS composites into small resistive device platforms, we establish a rare example of real-time detection and dosimetry of radioactive ionizing radiation using organic-based materials. We show that the sensitivity of our platform closely depends on the intrinsic stability of the polymer matrix, the opacity toward γ-rays, and the dispersion efficiency (i.e., the individualization and isolation of the individual SWCNT charge carriers). Resistance decreases up to 65% after irradiation with a 40 krad dose demonstrates the high sensitivity of this novel class of γ-ray sensors. In addition, the detection mechanism was evaluated using a commercial capacitive device platform. The ease of fabrication and low power consumption of these small and inexpensive sensor platforms combined with appealing sensitivity parameters establishes the potential of the poly(olefin sulfone)-SWCNT composites to serve as a new transduction material in γ-ray sensor applications.

SU-E-I-45: Measurement of CT Dose to An HDPE Phantom Using Calorimetry: A Feasibility Study.

PubMed

Chen-Mayer, H; Tosh, R; Bateman, F; Zimmerman, B

2012-06-01

Radiation dose in CT is traditionally evaluated using an ionization chamber calibrated in terms of air kerma in a phantom of specific dimensions. The radiation absorbed dose, J/kg, can also be realized directly by measuring the temperature rise in the medium. We investigate using this primary method to determine the CT dose at a point (a few mm), using the recently proposed (APMM TG220) high density polyethylene (HDPE) phantom as a medium. The calorimeter detection scheme is adapted from the second generation NIST water calorimeter using sensitive thermistors in a Wheatstone bridge powered by a lock-in amplifier. The temperature sensitivity is about 3 microK. The expected temperature rise in PE is about 0.6 mK per Gy. The thermistor sensors were placed inside a 26 cm dia. × 10 cm HDPE phantom. Two preliminary tests were made: at a linear accelerator with a 6 MV photon beam, and at a 16-slice CT scanner with a 120 kV beam, each with the thermal sensor and with a calibrated ionization chamber. The 6 MV photon beam with 10 on/off cycles at 60 s each yielded the (uncorrected) run-to-run average dose of 3.06 Gy per cycle (sdm 0.3%), about 8% higher than the Result from the ionization chamber (calibrated in terms of absorbed to water). The CT measurements were also made in the middle section of the TG200 30 cm phantom. Twenty consecutive axial scans at 250 mA, which delivers a nominal accumulated dose (CTDIvol) of 705 mGy in 50 s at three axial and three radial locations were measured. The accumulated dose measured by the ionization chamber at the center of the smaller phantom was 347 mGy. The calorimeter data show qualitative tracking of the chamber measurements. Detailed thermal and electrical analysis of the system are planned to obtain quantitative results. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Ti:Pt:Au:Ni thin-film CVD diamond sensor ability for charged particle detection.

PubMed

Kasiwattanawut, Haruetai; Tchouaso, Modeste Tchakoua; Prelas, Mark A

2018-05-22

This work demonstrates the development of diamond sensors with reliable contacts using a new metallization formula, which can operate under high-pressure gas environment. The metallization was created using thin film layers of titanium, platinum, gold and nickel deposited on a single crystal electronic grade CVD diamond chip. The contacts were 2 mm in diameter with thickness of 50/5/20/150 nm of Ti:Pt:Au:Ni. The optimum operating voltage of the sensor was determined from the current-voltage measurements. The sensor was calibrated with 239 Pu and 241 Am alpha radiation sources at 300 V. The energy resolution of the Ti:Pt:Au:Ni diamond sensor was determined to be 7.6% at 5.2 MeV of 239 Pu and 2.2% at 5.48 MeV of 241 Am. The high-pressure gas loading environment under which this sensor was used is discussed. Specifically, experimental observations are described using hydrogen loading of nickel as a means of initiating low energy nuclear reactions. No neutrons, electrons, ions or other ionizing radiations were observed in these experiments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sensitivity factor of the axial-symmetric transmission gauge: Deviation and long-term variation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Takahashi, N.; Tuzi, Y.; Arakawa, I.

2007-07-15

The deviation of the sensitivity factors for about 50 sensors of the axial-symmetric transmission gauge (ATG) was examined. The deviation has been compared with that for about 30 sensors of the B-A gauge and for about 30 sensors of the extractor gauge. Almost the same deviations are found for the above three types of gauges. The long-term variations of the sensitivity factors for two sensors of the ATG were also measured during four years. After the initial change with operating time, the sensitivity factor stabilized after long-term operation. The room temperature effect of the sensitivity factor plays an important rolemore » on the total pressure measurement by an ionization gauge, but the change of the sensitivity factor was larger than the room temperature effect. The reason for the change of the factor is estimated in connection with the annealing and the alignment of the filament and with the deviation of the place of electron emission on the filament.« less

Metal Oxide Gas Sensors, a Survey of Selectivity Issues Addressed at the SENSOR Lab, Brescia (Italy).

PubMed

Ponzoni, Andrea; Baratto, Camilla; Cattabiani, Nicola; Falasconi, Matteo; Galstyan, Vardan; Nunez-Carmona, Estefania; Rigoni, Federica; Sberveglieri, Veronica; Zambotti, Giulia; Zappa, Dario

2017-03-29

This work reports the recent results achieved at the SENSOR Lab, Brescia (Italy) to address the selectivity of metal oxide based gas sensors. In particular, two main strategies are being developed for this purpose: (i) investigating different sensing mechanisms featuring different response spectra that may be potentially integrated in a single device; (ii) exploiting the electronic nose (EN) approach. The former has been addressed only recently and activities are mainly focused on determining the most suitable configuration and measurements to exploit the novel mechanism. Devices suitable to exploit optical (photoluminescence), magnetic (magneto-optical Kerr effect) and surface ionization in addition to the traditional chemiresistor device are here discussed together with the sensing performance measured so far. The electronic nose is a much more consolidated technology, and results are shown concerning its suitability to respond to industrial and societal needs in the fields of food quality control and detection of microbial activity in human sweat.

Metal Oxide Gas Sensors, a Survey of Selectivity Issues Addressed at the SENSOR Lab, Brescia (Italy)

PubMed Central

Ponzoni, Andrea; Baratto, Camilla; Cattabiani, Nicola; Falasconi, Matteo; Galstyan, Vardan; Nunez-Carmona, Estefania; Rigoni, Federica; Sberveglieri, Veronica; Zambotti, Giulia; Zappa, Dario

2017-01-01

This work reports the recent results achieved at the SENSOR Lab, Brescia (Italy) to address the selectivity of metal oxide based gas sensors. In particular, two main strategies are being developed for this purpose: (i) investigating different sensing mechanisms featuring different response spectra that may be potentially integrated in a single device; (ii) exploiting the electronic nose (EN) approach. The former has been addressed only recently and activities are mainly focused on determining the most suitable configuration and measurements to exploit the novel mechanism. Devices suitable to exploit optical (photoluminescence), magnetic (magneto-optical Kerr effect) and surface ionization in addition to the traditional chemiresistor device are here discussed together with the sensing performance measured so far. The electronic nose is a much more consolidated technology, and results are shown concerning its suitability to respond to industrial and societal needs in the fields of food quality control and detection of microbial activity in human sweat. PMID:28353673

Instrument and spacecraft faults associated with nuclear radiation in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trainos, J. H.

1994-01-01

A review is given which surveys the variety of faults and failures which have occurred in space due both to the effects of single, energetic nuclear particles, as well as effects due to the accumulated ionizing dose or the fluence of nuclear particles. The review covers a variety of problems with sensors, electronics, instruments and spacecraft from several countries.

THz and mm-Wave Sensing of Corneal Tissue Water Content: In Vivo Sensing and Imaging Results

PubMed Central

Taylor, Zachary D.; Garritano, James; Sung, Shijun; Bajwa, Neha; Bennett, David B.; Nowroozi, Bryan; Tewari, Priyamvada; Sayre, James W.; Hubschman, Jean-Pierre; Deng, Sophie X.; Brown, Elliott R.; Grundfest, Warren S.

2015-01-01

A pulsed terahertz (THz) imaging system and millimeter-wave reflectometer were used to acquire images and point measurements, respectively, of five rabbit cornea in vivo. These imaging results are the first ever produced of in vivo cornea. A modified version of a standard protocol using a gentle stream of air and a Mylar window was employed to slightly dehydrate healthy cornea. The sensor data and companion central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were acquired every 10–15 min over the course of two hours using ultrasound pachymmetry.. Statistically significant positive correlations were established between CCT measurements and millimeter wave reflectivity. Local shifts in reflectivity contrast were observed in the THz imagery; however, the THz reflectivity did not display a significant correlation with thickness in the region probed by the 100 GHz and CCT measurements. This is explained in part by a thickness sensitivity at least 10× higher in the mm-wave than the THz systems. Stratified media and effective media modeling suggest that the protocol perturbed the thickness and not the corneal tissue water content (CTWC). To further explore possible etalon effects, an additional rabbit was euthanized and millimeter wave measurements were obtained during death induced edema. These observations represent the first time that the uncoupled sensing of CTWC and CCT have been achieved in vivo. PMID:26161292

Two-Site Comparison of Transpiration by Larrea Tridentata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavanaugh, M. L.; Kurc, S. A.; Scott, R. L.; Bryant, R. B.

2008-12-01

As a result of landscape changes within the desert southwestern U.S. such as increased grazing, reduced wildfire frequency, and changes in atmospheric conditions, the native creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) has encroached upon historically grass-dominated ecosystems, expanding in range and land cover density. To understand how creosotebush influences the water budget of ecosystems, heat balance sap flow sensors were employed on creosotebush stems at both the Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER) and Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed (WGEW). Additionally, both sites are equipped with eddy covariance towers, associated micrometeorological measurements, and profiles of water content reflectometers for soil moisture. The differences found between the two sites, including soil type and precipitation regime, are the basis of the following hypotheses. Firstly, we hypothesize that we will not see transpiration (T) responses following storms less than 5 mm at both sites. Secondly, we hypothesize that at both sites we will see a lagged response of T to large precipitation events, with evaporation being the dominate component in the partitioning of evapotranspiration (ET) for the first two days. Thirdly, we hypothesize that the ratio of plant transpiration to total evapotranspiration (T/ET) will be less at SRER due to the larger amount of bare soil exposed at this site. In this study, we show data from one summer at both sites and show how these relate to different precipitation events and soil moisture reservoirs.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sharma, Shailesh, E-mail: shailesh.sharma6@mail.dcu.ie; Impedans Limited, Chase House, City Junction Business Park, Northern Cross, D17 AK63, Dublin 17; Gahan, David, E-mail: david.gahan@impedans.com

A compact retarding field analyzer with embedded quartz crystal microbalance has been developed to measure deposition rate, ionized flux fraction, and ion energy distribution arriving at the substrate location. The sensor can be placed on grounded, electrically floating, or radio frequency (rf) biased electrodes. A calibration method is presented to compensate for temperature effects in the quartz crystal. The metal deposition rate, metal ionization fraction, and energy distribution of the ions arriving at the substrate location are investigated in an asymmetric bipolar pulsed dc magnetron sputtering reactor under grounded, floating, and rf biased conditions. The diagnostic presented in this researchmore » work does not suffer from complications caused by water cooling arrangements to maintain constant temperature and is an attractive technique for characterizing a thin film deposition system.« less

Refractive-index profiling of embedded microstructures in optical materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dave, Digant P.; Milner, Thomas E.

2002-04-01

We describe use of a phase-sensitive low-coherence reflectometer to measure spatial variation of refractive index in optical materials. The described interferometric technique is demonstrated to be a valuable tool to profile the refractive index of optical elements such as integrated waveguides and photowritten optical microstructures. As an example, a refractive-index profile is mapped of a microstructure written in a microscope glass slide with an ultrashort-pulse laser.

Development of Long-Pulse Heating and Current Drive Actuators and Operational Techniques Compatible with a High-Z Divertor and First Wall

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Guiding

Accurate measurement of the edge electron density profile is essential to optimizing antenna coupling and assessment of impurity contamination in studying long-pulse plasma heating and current drive in fusion devices. Measurement of the edge density profile has been demonstrated on the US fusion devices such as C-Mod, DIII-D, and TFTR amongst many devices, and has been used for RF loading and impurity modeling calculations for many years. University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) has recently installed a density profile reflectometer system on the EAST fusion device at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Chinamore » based on the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)-designed reflectometer system on the DIII-D fusion device at General Atomics Company in San Diego, California. UCLA has been working with USTC to optimize the existing microwave antenna, waveguide system, microwave electronics, and data analysis to produce reliable edge density profiles. During the past budget year, progress has been made in all three major areas: effort to achieve reliable system operations under various EAST operational conditions, effort to optimize system performance, and effort to provide quality density profiles into EAST’s database routinely.« less

Prototype Development and Evaluation of Self-Cleaning Concentrated Solar Power Collectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mazumder, Malay K.; Horenstein, Mark N.; Joglekar, Nitin R.

The feasibility of integrating and retrofitting transparent electrodynamic screens (EDS) on the front surfaces of solar collectors was established as a means to provide active self-cleaning properties for parabolic trough and heliostat reflectors, solar panels, and Fresnel lenses. Prototype EDS-integrated solar collectors, including second-surface glass mirrors, metallized Acrylic-film mirrors, and dielectric mirrors, were produced and tested in environmental test chambers for removing the dust layer deposited on the front surface of the mirrors. The evaluation of the prototype EDS-integrated mirrors was conducted using dust and environmental conditions that simulate the field conditions of the Mojave Desert. Test results showed thatmore » the specular reflectivity of the mirrors could be maintained at over 90% over a wide range of dust loadings ranging from 0 to 10 g/m 2, with particle diameter varying from 1 to 50 μm. The measurement of specular reflectivity (SR) was performed using a D&S Reflectometer at wavelength 660 nm. A non-contact reflectometer was designed and constructed for rapid measurement of specular reflectivity at the same wavelength. The use of this new noncontact instrument allowed us to measure SR before and after EDS activation. Several EDS prototypes were constructed and evaluated with different electrode configurations, electrode materials, and encapsulating dielectric materials.« less

In situ polarized 3He system for the Magnetism Reflectometer at the Spallation Neutron Source.

PubMed

Tong, X; Jiang, C Y; Lauter, V; Ambaye, H; Brown, D; Crow, L; Gentile, T R; Goyette, R; Lee, W T; Parizzi, A; Robertson, J L

2012-07-01

We report on the in situ polarized (3)He neutron polarization analyzer developed for the time-of-flight Magnetism Reflectometer at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Using the spin exchange optical pumping method, we achieved a (3)He polarization of 76% ± 1% and maintained it for the entire three-day duration of the test experiment. Based on transmission measurements with unpolarized neutrons, we show that the average analyzing efficiency of the (3)He system is 98% for the neutron wavelength band of 2-5 Å. Using a highly polarized incident neutron beam produced by a supermirror bender polarizer, we obtained a flipping ratio of >100 with a transmission of 25% for polarized neutrons, averaged over the wavelength band of 2-5 Å. After the cell was depolarized for transmission measurements, it was reproducibly polarized and this performance was maintained for three weeks. A high quality polarization analysis experiment was performed on a reference sample of Fe/Cr multilayer with strong spin-flip off-specular scattering. Using a combination of the position sensitive detector, time-of-flight method, and the excellent parameters of the (3)He cell, the polarization analysis of the two-dimensional maps of reflected, refracted, and off-specular scattered intensity above and below the horizon were obtained, simultaneously.

Origin of Low-Energy Spurious Peaks in Spectroscopic Measurements With Silicon Detectors

DOE PAGES

Giacomini, Gabriele; Huber, Alan; Redus, Robert; ...

2017-11-13

We report that when an uncollimated radioactive X-ray source illuminates a silicon PIN sensor, some ionizing events are generated in the nonimplanted gap between the active area of the sensor and the guard rings (GRs). Carriers can be collected by floating electrodes, i.e., electron accumulation layers at the silicon/oxide interface, and floating GRs. The crosstalk signals generated by these events create spurious peaks, replicas of the main peaks at either lower amplitude or of opposite polarity. Lastly, we explain this phenomenon as crosstalk caused by charge collected on these floating electrodes, which can be analyzed by means of an extensionmore » of Ramo theorem.« less

Monitoring Two Small Catchments to Evaluate Effects of No-Tillage Agricultural Management in São Paulo State, Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Figueiredo, R. D. O.; Gonçalves, A. O.; Melo, A. D. S.; de Bona, F. D.; Hernani, L. C.

2015-12-01

In recent years, declines in water and soil quality have been observed in areas of Brazil where no-till agriculture had been previously implemented. Poor soil management associated with the absence of public policies has caused soil erosion, because many farmers are moving back from no-till to traditional cultivation for faster economic gains. A research project - SoloVivo Project - leaded by Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) in partnership with Itaipu Binacional aims to develop and validate, in a participatory way, tools to evaluate the technical performance of soil and water management at the rural properties that practice no-till agriculture. In this context we have selected two paired small (< 100 ha) catchments in the Paranapanema region, São Paulo State, where no-till management is practiced at two different degrees of effectiveness. In the figure bellow it can be seen a scene of one of the two studied catchments. For monitoring rainfall, soil solution and stream water, each catchment will be equipped with a programmable datalogger (with cell phone communication for data collection) linked to: a high intensity tipping bucket rain gage; a reflectometer to monitor soil volumetric water content, bulk electric conductivity and temperature; a radar water level sensor; a turbidity sensor; and an electric conductivity-temperature probe. We expect that stream flow and sediment generation, besides water quality (measured by conductivity) may serve as indicators of the benefits of no-tillage agriculture done more or less well. The results of this study will be used to stimulate discussions at workshops with the farmers who participate in a rural producers association in the region. In addition this and other results can be used to help the Brazilian National Water Agency (ANA) decide about applying no-till agricultural management systems in its programs of payment for environmental services.

Using luminescent materials as the active element for radiation sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hollerman, William A.; Fontenot, Ross S.; Williams, Stephen; Miller, John

2016-05-01

Ionizing radiation poses a significant challenge for Earth-based defense applications as well as human and/or robotic space missions. Practical sensors based on luminescence will depend heavily upon research investigating the resistance of these materials to ionizing radiation and the ability to anneal or self-heal from damage caused by such radiation. In 1951, Birks and Black showed experimentally that the luminescent efficiency of anthracene bombarded by alphas varies with total fluence (N) as (I/I0) = 1/(1 + AN), where I is the luminescence yield, I0 is the initial yield, and A is a constant. The half brightness (N1/2) is defined as the fluence that reduce the emission light yield to half and is equal to is the inverse of A. Broser and Kallmann developed a similar relationship to the Birks and Black equation for inorganic phosphors irradiated using alpha particles. From 1990 to the present, we found that the Birks and Black relation describes the reduction in light emission yield for every tested luminescent material except lead phosphate glass due to proton irradiation. These results indicate that radiation produced quenching centers compete with emission for absorbed energy. The purpose of this paper is to present results from research completed in this area over the last few years. Particular emphasis will be placed on recent measurements made on new materials such as europium tetrakis dibenzoylmethide triethylammonium (EuD4TEA). Results have shown that EuD4TEA with its relatively small N1/2 might be a good candidate for use as a personal proton fluence sensor.

Carrier Plus: A sensor payload for Living With a Star Space Environment Testbed (LWS/SET)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marshall, Cheryl J.; Moss, Steven; Howard, Regan; LaBel, Kenneth A.; Grycewicz, Tom; Barth, Janet L.; Brewer, Dana

2003-01-01

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTR4) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center are collaborating to develop the Carrier Plus sensor experiment platform as a capability of the Space Environments Testbed (SET). The Space Environment Testbed (SET) provides flight opportunities for technology experiments as part of NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) program. The Carrier Plus will provide new capability to characterize sensor technologies such as state-of-the-art visible focal plane arrays (FPAs) in a natural space radiation environment. The technical objectives include on-orbit validation of recently developed FPA technologies and performance prediction methodologies, as well as characterization of the FPA radiation response to total ionizing dose damage, displacement damage and transients. It is expected that the sensor experiment will carry 4-6 FPAs and associated radiation correlative environment monitors (CEMs) for a 2006-2007 launch. Sensor technology candidates may include n- and p-charge coupled devices (CCDs), active pixel sensors (APS), and hybrid CMOS arrays. The presentation will describe the Carrier Plus goals and objectives, as well as provide details about the architecture and design. More information on the LWS program can be found at http://lws.gsfc.nasa.gov/. Business announcements for LWS/SET and program briefings are posted at http://lws-set.gsfc.nasa.gov

On the estimate of the transpiration in Mediterranean heterogeneous ecosystems with the coupled use of eddy covariance and sap flow techniques.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corona, Roberto; Curreli, Matteo; Montaldo, Nicola; Oren, Ram

2013-04-01

Mediterranean ecosystems are commonly heterogeneous savanna-like ecosystems, with contrasting plant functional types (PFT) competing for the water use. Mediterranean regions suffer water scarcity due to the dry climate conditions. In semi-arid regions evapotranspiration (ET) is the leading loss term of the root-zone water budget with a yearly magnitude that may be roughly equal to the precipitation. Despite the attention these ecosystems are receiving, a general lack of knowledge persists about the estimate of ET and the relationship between ET and the plant survival strategies for the different PFTs under water stress. During the dry summers these water-limited heterogeneous ecosystems are mainly characterized by a simple dual PFT-landscapes with strong-resistant woody vegetation and bare soil since grass died. In these conditions due to the low signal of the land surface fluxes captured by the sonic anemometer and gas analyzer the widely used eddy covariance may fail and its ET estimate is not robust enough. In these conditions the use of the sap flow technique may have a key role, because theoretically it provides a direct estimate of the woody vegetation transpiration. Through the coupled use of the sap flow sensor observations, a 2D foot print model of the eddy covariance tower and high resolution satellite images for the estimate of the foot print land cover map, the eddy covariance measurements can be correctly interpreted, and ET components (bare soil evaporation and woody vegetation transpiration) can be separated. The case study is at the Orroli site in Sardinia (Italy). The site landscape is a mixture of Mediterranean patchy vegetation types: trees, including wild olives and cork oaks, different shrubs and herbaceous species. An extensive field campaign started in 2004. Land-surface fluxes and CO2 fluxes are estimated by an eddy covariance technique based micrometeorological tower. Soil moisture profiles were also continuously estimated using water content reflectometers and gravimetric method, and periodically leaf area index (LAI) PFTs are estimated. From 2012 sap flow sensors based on the thermal Dissipation Method are installed on numerous trees around the tower. Preliminary results show first the need of careful use sap flow sensors outputs which are affected by errors in the estimates of their main parameters, mainly allometric relationships between, for instance, sapwood area, diameter, canopy cover area, which affect the upscale of the local tree measurements to the site plot larger scale. Finally we demonstrate that the sap flow sensors are essential for the estimate of ET in such dry conditions, typical of Mediterranean ecosystems.

Novel high power impulse magnetron sputtering enhanced by an auxiliary electrical field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Chunwei, E-mail: lcwnefu@126.com, E-mail: xiubotian@163.com; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001; Tian, Xiubo, E-mail: lcwnefu@126.com, E-mail: xiubotian@163.com

2016-08-15

The high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS) technique is a novel highly ionized physical vapor deposition method with a high application potential. However, the electron utilization efficiency during sputtering is rather low and the metal particle ionization rate needs to be considerably improved to allow for a large-scale industrial application. Therefore, we enhanced the HIPIMS technique by simultaneously applying an electric field (EF-HIPIMS). The effect of the electric field on the discharge process was studied using a current sensor and an optical emission spectrometer. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the electric potential and electric field during the EF-HIPIMS process wasmore » simulated using the ANSYS software. The results indicate that a higher electron utilization efficiency and a higher particle ionization rate could be achieved. The auxiliary anode obviously changed the distribution of the electric potential and the electric field in the discharge region, which increased the plasma density and enhanced the degree of ionization of the vanadium and argon gas. Vanadium films were deposited to further compare both techniques, and the morphology of the prepared films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The films showed a smaller crystal grain size and a denser growth structure when the electric field was applied during the discharge process.« less

Low cost environmental sensors for Spaceflight : NMP Space Environmental Monitor (SEM) requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garrett, Henry B.; Buelher, Martin G.; Brinza, D.; Patel, J. U.

2005-01-01

An outstanding problem in spaceflight is the lack of adequate sensors for monitoring the space environment and its effects on engineering systems. By adequate, we mean low cost in terms of mission impact (e.g., low price, low mass/size, low power, low data rate, and low design impact). The New Millennium Program (NMP) is investigating the development of such a low-cost Space Environmental Monitor (SEM) package for inclusion on its technology validation flights. This effort follows from the need by NMP to characterize the space environment during testing so that potential users can extrapolate the test results to end-use conditions. The immediate objective of this effort is to develop a small diagnostic sensor package that could be obtained from commercial sources. Environments being considered are: contamination, atomic oxygen, ionizing radiation, cosmic radiation, EMI, and temperature. This talk describes the requirements and rational for selecting these environments and reviews a preliminary design that includes a micro-controller data logger with data storage and interfaces to the sensors and spacecraft. If successful, such a sensor package could be the basis of a unique, long term program for monitoring the effects of the space environment on spacecraft systems.

Low Cost Environmental Sensors for Spaceflight: NMP Space Environmental Monitor (SEM) Requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garrett, Henry B.; Buehler, Martin G.; Brinza, D.; Patel, J. U.

2005-01-01

An outstanding problem in spaceflight is the lack of adequate sensors for monitoring the space environment and its effects on engineering systems. By adequate, we mean low cost in terms of mission impact (e.g., low price, low mass/size, low power, low data rate, and low design impact). The New Millennium Program (NMP) is investigating the development of such a low-cost Space Environmental Monitor (SEM) package for inclusion on its technology validation flights. This effort follows from the need by NMP to characterize the space environment during testing so that potential users can extrapolate the test results to end-use conditions. The immediate objective of this effort is to develop a small diagnostic sensor package that could be obtained from commercial sources. Environments being considered are: contamination, atomic oxygen, ionizing radiation, cosmic radiation, EMI, and temperature. This talk describes the requirements and rational for selecting these environments and reviews a preliminary design that includes a micro-controller data logger with data storage and interfaces to the sensors and spacecraft. If successful, such a sensor package could be the basis of a unique, long term program for monitoring the effects of the space environment on spacecraft systems.

Vitamin D Levels and Related Genetic Polymorphisms, Sun Exposure, Skin Color, and Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-07-01

sun exposure, and dietary calcium and vitamin D intake are ascertained. Finally, the melanin content of the skin is measured using a skin reflectance...meter called a Dermaspectrometer, to measure baseline skin melanin content, which is known to inhibit vitamin D synthesis from sunlight. This...three hospitals in Chicago, along with demographic and medical information, BMI, and skin melanin content using a portable narrow-band reflectometer

An all-fiber partial discharge monitoring system based on both intrinsic fiber optic interferometry sensor and fluorescent fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Zelin; Zhang, Ruirui; Tong, Jie; Chen, Xi

2013-12-01

Partial discharges (PDs) are an electrical phenomenon that occurs within a transformer whenever the voltage stress is sufficient to produce ionization in voids or inclusions within a solid dielectric, at conductor/dielectric interfaces, or in bubbles within liquid dielectrics such as oil; high-frequency transient current discharges will then appear repeatedly and will progressively deteriorate the insulation, ultimately leading to breakdown. Fiber sensor has great potential on the partial discharge detection in high-voltage equipment for its immunity to electromagnetic interference and it can take direct measurement in the high voltage equipment. The energy released in PDs produces a number of effects, resulting in flash, chemical and structural changes and electromagnetic emissions and so on. Acoustic PD detection is based on the mechanical pressure wave emitted from the discharge and fluorescent fiber PD detection is based on the emitted light produced by ionization, excitation and recombination processes during the discharge. Both of the two methods have the shortage of weak anti-interference capacity in the physical environment, like thunder or other sound source. In order to avoid the false report, an all-fiber combined PD detection system of the two methods is developed in this paper. In the system the fluorescent fiber PD sensor is considered as a reference signal, three F-P based PD detection sensors are used to both monitor the PD intensity and calculate the exact position of the discharge source. Considering the wave band of the F-P cavity and the fluorescent probe are quite different, the reflection spectrum of the F-P cavity is in the infrared region, however the fluorescent probe is about 600nm to 700nm, thus the F-P sensor and fluorescent fiber probe can be connected in one fiber and the reflection light can be detected by two different detectors without mutual interference. The all-fiber partial discharge monitoring system not only can detect the PDs but also can ensure the position of the PD source and is of great anti-interference capacity in harsh environment.

The iQID Camera: An Ionizing-Radiation Quantum Imaging Detector

DOE PAGES

Miller, Brian W.; Gregory, Stephanie J.; Fuller, Erin S.; ...

2014-06-11

We have developed and tested a novel, ionizing-radiation Quantum Imaging Detector (iQID). This scintillation-based detector was originally developed as a high-resolution gamma-ray imager, called BazookaSPECT, for use in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Recently, we have investigated the detectors response and imaging potential with other forms of ionizing radiation including alpha, neutron, beta, and fission fragment particles. The detector’s response to a broad range of ionizing radiation has prompted its new title. The principle operation of the iQID camera involves coupling a scintillator to an image intensifier. The scintillation light generated particle interactions is optically amplified by the intensifier andmore » then re-imaged onto a CCD/CMOS camera sensor. The intensifier provides sufficient optical gain that practically any CCD/CMOS camera can be used to image ionizing radiation. Individual particles are identified and their spatial position (to sub-pixel accuracy) and energy are estimated on an event-by-event basis in real time using image analysis algorithms on high-performance graphics processing hardware. Distinguishing features of the iQID camera include portability, large active areas, high sensitivity, and high spatial resolution (tens of microns). Although modest, iQID has energy resolution that is sufficient to discrimate between particles. Additionally, spatial features of individual events can be used for particle discrimination. An important iQID imaging application that has recently been developed is single-particle, real-time digital autoradiography. In conclusion, we present the latest results and discuss potential applications.« less

Analysis of estimation of electromagnetic dosimetric values from non-ionizing radiofrequency fields in conventional road vehicle environments.

PubMed

Aguirre, Erik; Iturri, Peio Lopez; Azpilicueta, Leire; de Miguel-Bilbao, Silvia; Ramos, Victoria; Gárate, Uxue; Falcone, Francisco

2015-03-01

A high number of wireless technologies can be found operating in vehicular environments with the aim of offering different services. The dosimetric evaluation of this kind of scenarios must be performed in order to assess their compatibility with current exposure limits. In this work, a dosimetric evaluation inside a conventional car is performed, with the aid of an in-house 3D Ray Launching computational code, which has been compared with measurement results of wireless sensor networks located inside the vehicle. These results can aid in an adequate assessment of human exposure to non-ionizing radiofrequency fields, taking into account the impact of the morphology and the topology of the vehicle for current as well as for future exposure limits.

Ionizing radiation detector

DOEpatents

Thacker, Louis H.

1990-01-01

An ionizing radiation detector is provided which is based on the principle of analog electronic integration of radiation sensor currents in the sub-pico to nano ampere range between fixed voltage switching thresholds with automatic voltage reversal each time the appropriate threshold is reached. The thresholds are provided by a first NAND gate Schmitt trigger which is coupled with a second NAND gate Schmitt trigger operating in an alternate switching state from the first gate to turn either a visible or audible indicating device on and off in response to the gate switching rate which is indicative of the level of radiation being sensed. The detector can be configured as a small, personal radiation dosimeter which is simple to operate and responsive over a dynamic range of at least 0.01 to 1000 R/hr.

Single-crystalline oxide films of the Al2O3-Y2O3-R2O3 system as optical sensors of various types of ionizing radiation: significant advantages over volume analogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zorenko, Yuri V.; Batenchuk, M.; Gorbenco, V.; Pashkovsky, M.

1997-02-01

This investigation is dedicated to studying of peculiarities of luminescent properties of the single crystalline films (SCF) of Al2O3-Y2O3-R2O3 oxide system with alpha-Al2O3 and garnet structure, which are used as various types of ionizing radiation luminescent detectors. These peculiarities define the number of nontrivial advantages over their volume analogues. It is shown that SCF are characterized by the low concentrations of vacancy type defects and substituent defects, and the high concentration of Pb ion as dopant. This allows us to substantially increase the spatial resolution and selectivity of cathodoluminophores on the base of these compounds.

Directional Degradation of Spectralon Diffuser Under Ionizing Radiation for Calibration of Space-Based Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Georgiev, G. T.; Butler, J. J.; Kowalewski, M. G.; Ding, L.

2012-01-01

Assessment of the effect of Vacuum Ultra Violet (VUV) irradiation on the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) of Spectralon is presented in this paper. The sample was a 99% white Spectralon calibration standard irradiated with VUV source positioned at 60o off the irradiation direction for a total of 20 hours. The BRDF before and after VUV irradiation was measured and compared at number of wavelengths in the UV, VIS and IR. Non-isotropic directional degradation of Spectralon diffuser under ionizing radiation was detected at different BRDF measurement geometries primarily at UV spectral range. The 8o directional/hemispherical reflectance of the same sample was also measured and compared from 200nm to 2500nm. Index Terms BRDF, Reflectance, Multiangular, Spectralon, Remote Sensing

Overview of CMOS process and design options for image sensor dedicated to space applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin-Gonthier, P.; Magnan, P.; Corbiere, F.

2005-10-01

With the growth of huge volume markets (mobile phones, digital cameras...) CMOS technologies for image sensor improve significantly. New process flows appear in order to optimize some parameters such as quantum efficiency, dark current, and conversion gain. Space applications can of course benefit from these improvements. To illustrate this evolution, this paper reports results from three technologies that have been evaluated with test vehicles composed of several sub arrays designed with some space applications as target. These three technologies are CMOS standard, improved and sensor optimized process in 0.35μm generation. Measurements are focussed on quantum efficiency, dark current, conversion gain and noise. Other measurements such as Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) and crosstalk are depicted in [1]. A comparison between results has been done and three categories of CMOS process for image sensors have been listed. Radiation tolerance has been also studied for the CMOS improved process in the way of hardening the imager by design. Results at 4, 15, 25 and 50 krad prove a good ionizing dose radiation tolerance applying specific techniques.

Photoionization sensor CES for non-invasive medical diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mustafaev, Aleksandr; Rastvorova, Iuliia; Khobnya, Kristina; Podenko, Sofia

2016-10-01

Method CES (collisional electron spectroscopy), patented in Russia, the USA, Japan, China, Germany and Britain, allows to analyze the gaseous mixtures using electron spectroscopy under high pressures up to atmospheric without using vacuum. The design of VUV photoionization detector was developed based on this method. Such detector is used as a portable gas analyzer for continuous personal bio-medical monitoring. This detector measures energy of electrons produced in ionization with resonance photons, whose wavelength situated in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). Nowadays, micro plasma source of such photons on resonant line of Kr with energy of 10,6 eV is developed. Only impurities are ionized and detected by the VUV-emission, meanwhile the main components of air stay neutral that reduces background signal and increases the sensibility along with accuracy. The experimental facilities with VUV photoionization sensors CES are constructed with the overall sizes about 10*10*1 mm. The watt consumption may comprise less than 1W. Increase of electrometer amplifier's sensibility and more high-aperture construction are used today to increase the sensibility of CES-detectors. The wide range of detectable molecules and high sensitivity allow the development of portable device, which can become the base of the future preventive medicine. Work supported by Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in Science and Technology.

Performance test and image correction of CMOS image sensor in radiation environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Congzheng; Hu, Song; Gao, Chunming; Feng, Chang

2016-09-01

CMOS image sensors rival CCDs in domains that include strong radiation resistance as well as simple drive signals, so it is widely applied in the high-energy radiation environment, such as space optical imaging application and video monitoring of nuclear power equipment. However, the silicon material of CMOS image sensors has the ionizing dose effect in the high-energy rays, and then the indicators of image sensors, such as signal noise ratio (SNR), non-uniformity (NU) and bad point (BP) are degraded because of the radiation. The radiation environment of test experiments was generated by the 60Co γ-rays source. The camera module based on image sensor CMV2000 from CMOSIS Inc. was chosen as the research object. The ray dose used for the experiments was with a dose rate of 20krad/h. In the test experiences, the output signals of the pixels of image sensor were measured on the different total dose. The results of data analysis showed that with the accumulation of irradiation dose, SNR of image sensors decreased, NU of sensors was enhanced, and the number of BP increased. The indicators correction of image sensors was necessary, as it was the main factors to image quality. The image processing arithmetic was adopt to the data from the experiences in the work, which combined local threshold method with NU correction based on non-local means (NLM) method. The results from image processing showed that image correction can effectively inhibit the BP, improve the SNR, and reduce the NU.

Note: 4-bounce neutron polarizer for reflectometry applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagy, B.; Merkel, D. G.; Jakab, L.; Füzi, J.; Veres, T.; Bottyán, L.

2018-05-01

A neutron polarizer using four successive reflections on m = 2.5 supermirrors was built and installed at the GINA neutron reflectometer at the Budapest Neutron Centre. This simple setup exhibits 99.6% polarizing efficiency with 80% transmitted intensity of the selected polarization state. Due to the geometry, the higher harmonics in the incident beam are filtered out, while the optical axis of the beam remains intact for easy mounting and dismounting the device in an existing experimental setup.

Characterization and Measurements from the Infrared Grazing Angle Reflectometer

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-14

18 3. List of sample scatter pattern fitting values. All values were taken from Ngan’s paper ”Experimental Analysis of BRDF Models - Supplemental” [1...using a BRDF model , and the absorptance can be modeled using a Fresnel absorptance. After defining both of these values, we can calculate the power seen... BRDF model of the face of the detector. This paper will examine the case of a flat detector with some index of refraction n. This air-detector

Airborne Observation of Ocean Surface Roughness Variations Using a Combination of Microwave Radiometer and Reflectometer Systems: The Second Virginia Offshore (Virgo II) Experiment

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-06

from scattered satellite transmissions, was first demonstrated using Global Navigation Satellite System ( GNSS ) reflections. Recently, reflectometry has...Earth’s atmosphere. The 2012 GNSS +R workshop provided an opportunity for engineers and Earth scientists to assess the state of the art, demonstrate new...bi-static radar technique utilizes signals of opportunity transmitted from existing L-band Global Navigation Satellite Systems ( GNSS ), including GPS

Assessment of surface roughness by use of soft x-ray scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Yan-li; Wang, Yong-gang; Chen, Shu-yan; Chen, Bo

2009-08-01

A soft x-ray reflectometer with laser produced plasma source has been designed, which can work from wavelength 8nm to 30 nm and has high performance. Using the soft x-ray reflectometer above, the scattering light distribution of silicon and zerodur mirrors which have super-smooth surfaces could be measured at different incidence angle and different wavelength. The measurement when the incidence angle is 2 degree and the wavelength is 11nm has been given in this paper. A surface scattering theory of soft x-ray grazing incidence optics based on linear system theory and an inverse scattering mathematical model is introduced. The vector scattering theory of soft x-ray scattering also is stated in detail. The scattering data are analyzed by both the methods above respectively to give information about the surface profiles. On the other hand, both the two samples are measured by WYKO surface profiler, and the surface roughness of the silicon and zerodur mirror is 1.3 nm and 1.5nm respectively. The calculated results are in quantitative agreement with those measured by WYKO surface profiler, which indicates that soft x-ray scattering is a very useful tool for the evaluation of highly polished surfaces. But there still some difference among the results of different theory and WYKO, and the possible reasons of such difference have been discussed in detail.

The Southwest Research Institute ultraviolet reflectance chamber (SwURC): a far ultraviolet reflectometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winters, Gregory S.; Retherford, Kurt D.; Davis, Michael W.; Escobedo, Stephen M.; Bassett, Eric C.; Patrick, Edward L.; Nagengast, Maggie E.; Fairbanks, Matthew H.; Miles, Paul F.; Parker, Joel W.; Gladstone, G. Randall; Slater, David C.; Stern, S. Alan

2012-10-01

We designed and assembled a highly capable UV reflectometer chamber and data acquisition system to provide bidirectional scattering data of various surfaces and materials. This chamber was initially conceived to create laboratory-based UV reflectance measurements of water frost on lunar soil/regolith simulants, to support interpretation of UV reflectance data from the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project ("LAMP") instrument on-board the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. A deuterium lamp illuminates surfaces and materials at a fixed 45° incident beam angle over the 115 to 200 nm range via a monochromator, while a photomultiplier tube detector is scanned to cover emission angles -85° to +85° (with a gap from -60° to -30°, due to the detector blocking the incident beam). Liquid nitrogen cools the material/sample mount when desired. The chamber can be configured to test a wide range of samples and materials using sample trays and holders. Test surfaces to date include aluminum mirrors, water ice, reflectance standards, and frozen mixtures of water and lunar soil/regolith stimulant. Future UV measurements planned include Apollo lunar samples, meteorite samples, other ices, minerals, and optical surfaces. Since this chamber may well be able to provide useful research data for groups outside Southwest Research Institute, we plan to take requests from and collaborate with others in the UV and surface reflection research community.

Production and Performance of the InFOCmicronS 20-40 keV Graded Multilayer Mirror

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berendse, F.; Owens, S. M.; Serlemitsos, P. J.; Tueller, J.; Chan, K.-W.; Soong, Y.; Krimm, H.; Baumgartner, W. H.; Tamura, K.; Okajima, T.;

AMOR - the time-of-flight neutron reflectometer at SINQ/PSI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Mukul; Gutberlet, T.; Stahn, J.; Keller, P.; Clemens, D.

2004-07-01

The apparatus for multioptional reflectometry (AMOR) at SINQ/PSI is a versatile reflectometer operational in the time-of-flight (TOF) mode (in a wavelength range of 0.15 nm <λ < 1.3 nm) as well as in the monochromatic (theta-2theta) mode with both polarized and unpolarized neutrons. AMOR is designed to perform reflectometry measurements in horizontal sample-plane geometry which allows studying both solid-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces. A pulsed cold neutron beam from the end position of the neutron guide is produced by a dual-chopper system (side-by-side) having two windows at 180^{circ} and rotatable with a maximum frequency of 200 Hz. In the TOF mode, the chopper frequency, width of the gating window and the chopper-detector distance can be selected independently providing a wide range of q-resolution (Delta q/q=1-10&%slash;). Remanent FeCoV/Ti : N supermirrors are used as polarizer/analyzer with a polarization efficiency of sim97&%slash;. For the monochromatic wavelength mode, a Ni/Ti multilayer is used as a monochromator, giving sim50&%slash; reflectivity at a wavelength of 0.47 nm. In the present work, a detailed description of the instrument and setting-up of the polarization option is described. Results from some of the recent studies with polarized neutrons and measurements on liquid surfaces are presented.

Upgrades to the Polarized Neutron Reflectometer Asterix at LANSCE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pynn, Roger

2015-03-16

We have upgraded the polarized neutron reflectometer, Asterix, at the Lujan Neutron Scattering Center at Los Alamos for the benefit of the research communities that study magnetic and complex-fluid films, both of which play important roles in support of the DOE’s energy mission. The upgrades to the instrument include: • A secondary spectrometer that was integrated with a Huber sample goniometer purchased with other funds just prior to the start of our project. The secondary spectrometer provides a flexible length for the scattered flight path, includes a mechanism to select among 3 alternative polarization analyzers as well as a supportmore » for new neutron detectors. Also included is an optic rail for reproducible positioning of components for Spin Echo Scattering Angle Measurement (SESAME). The entire secondary spectrometer is now non-magnetic, as required for neutron Larmor labeling. • A broad-band neutron polarizer for the incident neutron beam based on the V geometry. • A wide-angle neutron polarization analyzer • A 2d position-sensitive neutron detector • Electromagnetic coils (Wollaston prisms) for SESAME plus the associated power supplies, cooling, safety systems and integration into the data acquisition system. The upgrades allowed a nearly effortless transition between configurations required to serve the polarized neutron reflectometry community, users of the 11 T cryomagnet and users of SESAME.« less

Effects of ICRF power on SOL density profiles and LH coupling during simultaneous LH and ICRF operation on Alcator C-Mod

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lau, C.; Lin, Y.; Wallace, G.; Wukitch, S. J.; Hanson, G. R.; Labombard, B.; Ochoukov, R.; Shiraiwa, S.; Terry, J.

2013-09-01

A dedicated experiment during simultaneous lower hybrid (LH) and ion cyclotron range-of-frequencies (ICRF) operations is carried out to evaluate and understand the effects of ICRF power on the scrape-off-layer (SOL) density profiles and on the resultant LH coupling for a wide range of plasma parameters on Alcator C-Mod. Operation of the LH launcher with the adjacent ICRF antenna significantly degrades LH coupling while operation with the ICRF antenna that is not magnetically connected to the LH launcher minimally affects LH coupling. An X-mode reflectometer system at three poloidal locations adjacent to the LH launcher and a visible video camera imaging the LH launcher are used to measure local SOL density profile and emissivity modifications with the application of LH and LH + ICRF power. These measurements confirm that the density in front of the LH launcher depends strongly on the magnetic field line mapping of the active ICRF antenna. Reflectometer measurements also observe both ICRF-driven and LH-driven poloidal density profile asymmetries, especially a strong density depletion at certain poloidal locations in front of the LH launcher during operation with a magnetically connected ICRF antenna. The results indicate that understanding both LH-driven flows and ICRF sheath driven flows may be necessary to understand the observed density profile modifications and LH coupling results during simultaneous LH + ICRF operation.

Development of a Liquefied Noble Gas Time Projection Chamber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lesser, Ezra; White, Aaron; Aidala, Christine

2015-10-01

Liquefied noble gas detectors have been used for various applications in recent years for detecting neutrinos, neutrons, photons, and potentially dark matter. The University of Michigan is developing a detector with liquid argon to produce scintillation light and ionization electrons. Our data collection method will allow high-resolution energy measurement and spatial reconstruction of detected particles by using multi-pixel silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) and a cylindrical time projection chamber (TPC) with a multi-wire endplate. We have already designed a liquid argon condenser and purification unit surrounded by an insulating vacuum, constructed circuitry for temperature and pressure sensors, and created software to obtain high-accuracy sensor readouts. The status of detector development will be presented. Funded through the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project.

Optical Sensors for Monitoring Gamma and Neutron Radiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boyd, Clark D.

2011-01-01

For safety and efficiency, nuclear reactors must be carefully monitored to provide feedback that enables the fission rate to be held at a constant target level via adjustments in the position of neutron-absorbing rods and moderating coolant flow rates. For automated reactor control, the monitoring system should provide calibrated analog or digital output. The sensors must survive and produce reliable output with minimal drift for at least one to two years, for replacement only during refueling. Small sensor size is preferred to enable more sensors to be placed in the core for more detailed characterization of the local fission rate and fuel consumption, since local deviations from the norm tend to amplify themselves. Currently, reactors are monitored by local power range meters (LPRMs) based on the neutron flux or gamma thermometers based on the gamma flux. LPRMs tend to be bulky, while gamma thermometers are subject to unwanted drift. Both electronic reactor sensors are plagued by electrical noise induced by ionizing radiation near the reactor core. A fiber optic sensor system was developed that is capable of tracking thermal neutron fluence and gamma flux in order to monitor nuclear reactor fission rates. The system provides near-real-time feedback from small- profile probes that are not sensitive to electromagnetic noise. The key novel feature is the practical design of fiber optic radiation sensors. The use of an actinoid element to monitor neutron flux in fiber optic EFPI (extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric) sensors is a new use of material. The materials and structure used in the sensor construction can be adjusted to result in a sensor that is sensitive to just thermal, gamma, or neutron stimulus, or any combination of the three. The tested design showed low sensitivity to thermal and gamma stimuli and high sensitivity to neutrons, with a fast response time.

Correlations Between Variations in Solar EUV and Soft X-Ray Irradiance and Photoelectron Energy Spectra Observed on Mars and Earth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peterson, W. K.; Brain, D. A.; Mitchell, D. L.; Bailey, S. M.; Chamberlin, P. C.

2013-01-01

Solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV; 10-120 nm) and soft X-ray (XUV; 0-10 nm) radiation are major heat sources for the Mars thermosphere as well as the primary source of ionization that creates the ionosphere. In investigations of Mars thermospheric chemistry and dynamics, solar irradiance models are used to account for variations in this radiation. Because of limited proxies, irradiance models do a poor job of tracking the significant variations in irradiance intensity in the EUV and XUV ranges over solar rotation time scales when the Mars-Sun-Earth angle is large. Recent results from Earth observations show that variations in photoelectron energy spectra are useful monitors of EUV and XUV irradiance variability. Here we investigate photoelectron energy spectra observed by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Electron Reflectometer (ER) and the FAST satellite during the interval in 2005 when Earth, Mars, and the Sun were aligned. The Earth photoelectron data in selected bands correlate well with calculations based on 1 nm resolution observations above 27 nm supplemented by broadband observations and a solar model in the 0-27 nm range. At Mars, we find that instrumental and orbital limitations to the identifications of photoelectron energy spectra in MGS/ER data preclude their use as a monitor of solar EUV and XUV variability. However, observations with higher temporal and energy resolution obtained at lower altitudes on Mars might allow the separation of the solar wind and ionospheric components of electron energy spectra so that they could be used as reliable monitors of variations in solar EUV and XUV irradiance than the time shifted, Earth-based, F(10.7) index currently used.

Lunar Surface Charging during Solar Energetic Particle Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halekas, Jasper S.; Delory, G. T.; Mewaldt, R. A.; Lin, R. P.; Fillingim, M. O.; Brain, D. A.; Lee, C. O.; Stubbs, T. J.; Farrell, W. M.; Hudson, M. K.

2006-09-01

The surface of the Moon, not protected by any substantial atmosphere, is directly exposed to the impact of both solar UV and solar wind plasma and energetic particles. This creates a complex lunar electrostatic environment, with the surface typically charging slightly positive in sunlight, and negative in shadow. Observations from the Apollo era and theoretical considerations strongly suggest that surface charging leads to dust electrification and transport, posing a potentially significant hazard for exploration. The most significant charging effects should occur when the Moon is exposed to high-temperature plasmas like those encountered in the terrestrial plasmasheet or in solar storms. We now present evidence for kilovolt-scale negative charging of the shadowed lunar surface during solar energetic particle (SEP) events, utilizing data from the Lunar Prospector Electron Reflectometer (LP ER). We find that SEP events are associated with the most extreme lunar surface charging observed during the LP mission - rivaled only by previously reported charging during traversals of the terrestrial plasmasheet. The largest charging event observed by LP is a 4 kV negative surface potential (as compared to typical values of V) during a SEP event in May 1998. We characterize lunar surface charging during several SEP events, and compare to energetic particle measurements from ACE, Wind, and SOHO in order to determine the relationship between SEP events and extreme lunar surface charging. Space weather events are already considered by NASA to be a significant hazard to lunar exploration, due to high-energy ionizing radiation. Our observations demonstrate that plasma interactions with the lunar surface during SEP events, causing extreme surface charging and potentially significant dust electrification and transport, represent an additional hazard associated with space weather.

Correlations between variations in solar EUV and soft X-ray irradiance and photoelectron energy spectra observed on Mars and Earth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peterson, W. K.; Brain, D. A.; Mitchell, D. L.; Bailey, S. M.; Chamberlin, P. C.

2013-11-01

extreme ultraviolet (EUV; 10-120 nm) and soft X-ray (XUV; 0-10 nm) radiation are major heat sources for the Mars thermosphere as well as the primary source of ionization that creates the ionosphere. In investigations of Mars thermospheric chemistry and dynamics, solar irradiance models are used to account for variations in this radiation. Because of limited proxies, irradiance models do a poor job of tracking the significant variations in irradiance intensity in the EUV and XUV ranges over solar rotation time scales when the Mars-Sun-Earth angle is large. Recent results from Earth observations show that variations in photoelectron energy spectra are useful monitors of EUV and XUV irradiance variability. Here we investigate photoelectron energy spectra observed by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Electron Reflectometer (ER) and the FAST satellite during the interval in 2005 when Earth, Mars, and the Sun were aligned. The Earth photoelectron data in selected bands correlate well with calculations based on 1 nm resolution observations above 27 nm supplemented by broadband observations and a solar model in the 0-27 nm range. At Mars, we find that instrumental and orbital limitations to the identifications of photoelectron energy spectra in MGS/ER data preclude their use as a monitor of solar EUV and XUV variability. However, observations with higher temporal and energy resolution obtained at lower altitudes on Mars might allow the separation of the solar wind and ionospheric components of electron energy spectra so that they could be used as reliable monitors of variations in solar EUV and XUV irradiance than the time shifted, Earth-based, F10.7 index currently used.

Small rocket tornado probe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Colgate, S.A.

1982-01-01

A (less than 1 lb.) paper rock tornado probe was developed and deployed in an attempt to measure the pressure, temperature, ionization, and electric field variations along a trajectory penetrating a tornado funnel. The requirements of weight and materials were set by federal regulations and a one-meter resolution at a penetration velocity of close to Mach 1 was desired. These requirements were achieved by telemetering a strain gage transducer for pressure, micro size thermister and electric field, and ionization sensors via a pulse time telemetry to a receiver on board an aircraft that digitizes a signal and presents it tomore » a Z80 microcomputer for recording on mini-floppy disk. Recording rate was 2 ms for 8 channels of information that also includes telemetry rf field strength, magnetic field for orientation on the rocket, zero reference voltage for the sensor op amps as well as the previously mentioned items also. The absolute pressure was recorded. Tactically, over 120 h were flown in a Cessna 210 in April and May 1981, and one tornado was encountered. Four rockets were fired at this tornado, missed, and there were many equipment problems. The equipment needs to be hardened and engineered to a significant degree, but it is believed that the feasibility of the probe, tactics, and launch platform for future tornado work has been proven. The logistics of thunderstorm chasing from a remote base in New Mexico is a major difficulty and reliability of the equipment another. Over 50 dummy rockets have been fired to prove trajectories, stability, and photographic capability. Over 25 electronically equipped rockets have been fired to prove sensors transmission, breakaway connections, etc. The pressure recovery factor was calibrated in the Air Force Academy blow-down tunnel. There is a need for more refined engineering and more logistic support.« less

Stability of ionized calcium measurements at concentrations less than 0.3 mmol/L by point-of-care blood gas instruments: application for postfilter calcium quality control in patients with citrate anticoagulation during extracorporeal circulation.

PubMed

Averina, Maria; Jakobsen, Raymond

2017-05-01

Background Measurements of ionized calcium (Ca 2+ ) at concentrations less than 0.3 mmol/L are required for postfilter control in patients who receive extracorporeal circulation with sodium citrate anticoagulation. This study evaluates the stability of the Ca 2+ measurements at such concentrations. Methods The stability of the Ca 2+ measurements was tested by measuring daily the external standard Qualicheck concentration 3 s7950, Radiometer (0.22-0.25 mmol/L) by blood gas instruments ABL800 and ABL90, Radiometer. Two different Ca 2+ membrane lots were tested for the usual membrane lifetime of 12 weeks at ABL800 instruments. For the ABL90 instrument, the sensor cassette (with Ca 2+ membrane and electrode) was replaced after four weeks as required. Results We observed over 40% Ca 2+ increase within the usual 12 weeks lifetime of the Ca 2+ membrane at the ABL800 instruments. Measurements of Ca 2+ at concentrations less than 0.3 mmol/L were within acceptable limits for both ABL800 and ABL90 instruments when Ca 2+ membrane and sensor cassette were replaced after four weeks. Conclusions For ABL800 instruments, it is necessary to use an extra quality control (<0.3 mmol/L) in addition to the usual quality controls to monitor Ca 2+ measurements below 0.3 mmol/L. The acceptable stability of the Ca 2+ measurements can be achieved by the Ca 2+ membrane and sensor cassette replacement after four weeks. If the usual 12 weeks of Ca 2+ membrane lifetime is maintained, it may result in a clinically significant overestimation of Ca 2+ by ABL800 instruments.

A Compact Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer for Measuring Atmospheric Composition with Preliminary Results from the Dellingr Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, S.; Paschalidis, N.; Rodriguez, M.; Sittler, E. C., Jr.; Chornay, D. J.; Uribe, P.; Cameron, T.

2017-12-01

A compact Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) has been developed for GSFC's Dellingr mission, using the 6U CubeSat platform. Dellingr is expected to deploy into ISS orbit in October 2017 to measure the dynamics of the ionosphere-thermosphere-mesosphere and to determine the steady state background atmospheric conditions at this altitude. The INMS makes in situ measurements of ionized and neutral H, He, N, O, N2, O2 densities with M/dM of approximately 10-12 for thermal particles. The INMS is based on particle acceleration, electronically gated time of flight (TOF), electrostatic analyzer, and CEM detectors. The compact instrument has a dual symmetric configuration with ion and neutral sensor heads on opposite sides of the shared electronics. The neutral front-end includes thermionic ionization and ion-blocking grids. The electronics include fast preamplifiers, electric gating, and TOF measurements and processing, C&DH digital electronics for commands, data storage and back-end I/O, and HVPS for detector and sensor biases. The data package includes 400 bins of mass spectra per ion and neutral sensor and key housekeeping and calibration data, in a single time tagged data frame of 14kbits uncompressed. The nominal data sampling is 1 sec corresponding to 7.5km spatial resolution in LEO orbits. This miniaturized instrument occupies a 1.1U volume, weighs only 570g and nominally operates at 1.2W. This presentation will include preliminary flight data of ions and neutrals from the Dellingr mission and outlines improvements incorporated into the design for the Dellingr (Oct 2017), ExoCube2 (Dec 2017) and petitSat (2020) CubeSat missions.

Impact of low-dose electron irradiation on $$n^{+}p$$ silicon strip sensors

DOE PAGES

Adam, W.

2015-08-28

The response of n +p silicon strip sensors to electrons from a 90Sr source was measured using a multi-channel read-out system with 25 ns sampling time. The measurements were performed over a period of several weeks, during which the operating conditions were varied. The sensors were fabricated by Hamamatsu Photonics on 200 μm thick float-zone and magnetic-Czochralski silicon. Their pitch was 80 μm, and both p-stop and p-spray isolation of the n + strips were studied. The electrons from the 90Sr source were collimated to a spot with a full-width-at-half-maximum of 2 mm at the sensor surface, and the dosemore » rate in the SiO 2 at the maximum was about 50 Gy(SiO 2)/d. After only a few hours of making measurements, significant changes in charge collection and charge sharing were observed. Annealing studies, with temperatures up to 80 °C and annealing times of 18 h showed that the changes can only be partially annealed. The observations can be qualitatively explained by the increase of the positive oxide-charge density due to the ionization of the SiO 2 by the radiation from the β source. TCAD simulations of the electric field in the sensor for different oxide-charge densities and different boundary conditions at the sensor surface support this explanation. As a result, the relevance of the measurements for the design of n +p strip sensors is discussed.« less

Three-Dimensional Electromagnetic Monte Carlo Particle-in-Cell Simulations of Critical Ionization Velocity Experiments in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, J.; Biasca, R.; Liewer, P. C.

1996-01-01

Although the existence of the critical ionization velocity (CIV) is known from laboratory experiments, no agreement has been reached as to whether CIV exists in the natural space environment. In this paper we move towards more realistic models of CIV and present the first fully three-dimensional, electromagnetic particle-in-cell Monte-Carlo collision (PIC-MCC) simulations of typical space-based CIV experiments. In our model, the released neutral gas is taken to be a spherical cloud traveling across a magnetized ambient plasma. Simulations are performed for neutral clouds with various sizes and densities. The effects of the cloud parameters on ionization yield, wave energy growth, electron heating, momentum coupling, and the three-dimensional structure of the newly ionized plasma are discussed. The simulations suggest that the quantitative characteristics of momentum transfers among the ion beam, neutral cloud, and plasma waves is the key indicator of whether CIV can occur in space. The missing factors in space-based CIV experiments may be the conditions necessary for a continuous enhancement of the beam ion momentum. For a typical shaped charge release experiment, favorable CIV conditions may exist only in a very narrow, intermediate spatial region some distance from the release point due to the effects of the cloud density and size. When CIV does occur, the newly ionized plasma from the cloud forms a very complex structure due to the combined forces from the geomagnetic field, the motion induced emf, and the polarization. Hence the detection of CIV also critically depends on the sensor location.

First tests of a novel radiation hard CMOS sensor process for Depleted Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pernegger, H.; Bates, R.; Buttar, C.; Dalla, M.; van Hoorne, J. W.; Kugathasan, T.; Maneuski, D.; Musa, L.; Riedler, P.; Riegel, C.; Sbarra, C.; Schaefer, D.; Schioppa, E. J.; Snoeys, W.

2017-06-01

The upgrade of the ATLAS [1] tracking detector for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN requires novel radiation hard silicon sensor technologies. Significant effort has been put into the development of monolithic CMOS sensors but it has been a challenge to combine a low capacitance of the sensing node with full depletion of the sensitive layer. Low capacitance brings low analog power. Depletion of the sensitive layer causes the signal charge to be collected by drift sufficiently fast to separate hits from consecutive bunch crossings (25 ns at the LHC) and to avoid losing the charge by trapping. This paper focuses on the characterization of charge collection properties and detection efficiency of prototype sensors originally designed in the framework of the ALICE Inner Tracking System (ITS) upgrade [2]. The prototypes are fabricated both in the standard TowerJazz 180nm CMOS imager process [3] and in an innovative modification of this process developed in collaboration with the foundry, aimed to fully deplete the sensitive epitaxial layer and enhance the tolerance to non-ionizing energy loss. Sensors fabricated in standard and modified process variants were characterized using radioactive sources, focused X-ray beam and test beams before and after irradiation. Contrary to sensors manufactured in the standard process, sensors from the modified process remain fully functional even after a dose of 1015neq/cm2, which is the the expected NIEL radiation fluence for the outer pixel layers in the future ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) [4].

Remote radiation dosimetry

DOEpatents

Braunlich, P.F.; Tetzlaff, W.; Hegland, J.E.; Jones, S.C.

1991-03-12

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for remotely measuring radiation levels. Such are particularly useful for measuring relatively high levels or dosages of radiation being administered in radiation therapy. They are also useful for more general radiation level measurements where remote sensing from the remaining portions of the apparatus is desirable. The apparatus uses a beam generator, such as a laser beam, to provide a stimulating beam. The stimulating beam is preferably of wavelengths shorter than 6 microns, or more advantageously less than 2 microns. The stimulating beam is used to stimulate a remote luminescent sensor mounted in a probe which emits stored luminescent energy resulting from exposure of the sensor to ionizing radiation. The stimulating beam is communicated to the remote luminescent sensor via a transmissive fiber which also preferably serves to return the emission from the luminescent sensor. The stimulating beam is advantageously split by a beam splitter to create a detector beam which is measured for power during a reading period during which the luminescent phosphor is read. The detected power is preferably used to control the beam generator to thus produce desired beam power during the reading period. The luminescent emission from the remote sensor is communicated to a suitable emission detector, preferably after filtering or other selective treatment to better isolate the luminescent emission. 8 figures.

Remote radiation dosimetry

DOEpatents

Braunlich, Peter F.; Tetzlaff, Wolfgang; Hegland, Joel E.; Jones, Scott C.

1991-01-01

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for remotely measuring radiation levels. Such are particularly useful for measuring relatively high levels or dosages of radiation being administered in radiation therapy. They are also useful for more general radiation level measurements where remote sensing from the remaining portions of the apparatus is desirable. The apparatus uses a beam generator, such as a laser beam, to provide a stimulating beam. The stimulating beam is preferably of wavelengths shorter than 6 microns, or more advantageously less than 2 microns. The stimulating beam is used to stimulate a remote luminescent sensor mounted in a probe which emits stored luminescent energy resulting from exposure of the sensor to ionizing radiation. The stimulating beam is communicated to the remote luminescent sensor via transmissive fiber which also preferably serves to return the emission from the luminescent sensor. The stimulating beam is advantageously split by a beam splitter to create a detector beam which is measured for power during a reading period during which the luminescent phosphor is read. The detected power is preferably used to control the beam generator to thus produce desired beam power during the reading period. The luminescent emission from the remote sensor is communicated to a suitable emission detector, preferably after filtering or other selective treatment to better isolate the luminescent emission.

Diamond sensors and polycapillary lenses for X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

PubMed

Ravel, B; Attenkofer, K; Bohon, J; Muller, E; Smedley, J

2013-10-01

Diamond sensors are evaluated as incident beam monitors for X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments. These single crystal devices pose a challenge for an energy-scanning experiment using hard X-rays due to the effect of diffraction from the crystalline sensor at energies which meet the Bragg condition. This problem is eliminated by combination with polycapillary lenses. The convergence angle of the beam exiting the lens is large compared to rocking curve widths of the diamond. A ray exiting one capillary from the lens meets the Bragg condition for any reflection at a different energy from the rays exiting adjacent capillaries. This serves to broaden each diffraction peak over a wide energy range, allowing linear measurement of incident intensity over the range of the energy scan. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure data are measured with a combination of a polycapillary lens and a diamond incident beam monitor. These data are of comparable quality to data measured without a lens and with an ionization chamber monitoring the incident beam intensity.

Compact Instruments Measure Heat Potential

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2009-01-01

Based in Huntsville, Alabama, AZ Technology Inc. is a woman- and veteran-owned business that offers expertise in electromechanical-optical design and advanced coatings. AZ Technology has received eight Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts with Marshall Space Flight Center for the development of spectral reflectometers and the measurement of surface thermal properties. The company uses a variety of measurement services and instruments, including the Spectrafire, a portable spectral emissometer it used to assist General Electric with the design of its award-winning Giraffe Warmer for neonatal intensive care units.

Rapid analysis of protein interactions: On-chip micropurification of recombinant protein expressed in Esherichia coli.

PubMed

Natsume, Tohru; Taoka, Masato; Manki, Hiroshi; Kume, Shouen; Isobe, Toshiaki; Mikoshiba, Katsuhiko

2002-09-01

We describe a rapid analysis of interactions between antibodies and a recombinant protein present in total cell lysates. Using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor, a low concentration of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fused protein expressed in small scale Esherichia coli culture was purified on an anti-GST antibody immobilized sensor chip. The 'on-chip purification' was verified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry by measuring the molecular masses of recombinant proteins purified on the sensor chip. The specific binding of monoclonal antibodies for the on-chip micropurified recombinant proteins can then be monitored, thus enabling kinetic analysis and epitope mapping of the bound antibodies. This approach reduced time, resources and sample consumption by avoiding conventional steps related to concentration and purification.

Electrical characterization of FBK small-pitch 3D sensors after γ-ray, neutron and proton irradiations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalla Betta, G.-F.; Boscardin, M.; Hoeferkamp, M.; Mendicino, R.; Seidel, S.; Sultan, D. M. S.

2017-11-01

In view of applications in the tracking detectors at the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC), we have developed a new generation of 3D pixel sensors featuring small-pitch (50 × 50 or 25 × 100 μ m2) and thin active layer (~ 100 μ m). Owing to the very short inter-electrode distance (~ 30 μ m), charge trapping effects can be strongly mitigated, making these sensors extremely radiation hard. However, the downscaled sensor structure also lends itself to high electric fields as the bias voltage is increased, motivating investigation of leakage current increase in order to prevent premature electrical breakdown due to impact ionization. In order to assess the characteristics of heavily irradiated samples, using 3D diodes as test devices, we have carried out a dedicated campaign that included several irradiations (γ -rays, neutrons, and protons) at different facilities. In this paper, we report on the electrical characterization of a subset of the irradiated samples, also in comparison to their pre-irradiation properties. Results demonstrate that hadron irradiated devices can be safely operated at a voltage high enough to allow for full depletion (hence high efficiency) also at the maximum fluence foreseen at the HL-LHC.

An LMS Programming Scheme and Floating-Gate Technology Enabled Trimmer-Less and Low Voltage Flame Detection Sensor.

PubMed

Iglesias-Rojas, Juan Carlos; Gomez-Castañeda, Felipe; Moreno-Cadenas, Jose Antonio

2017-06-14

In this paper, a Least Mean Square (LMS) programming scheme is used to set the offset voltage of two operational amplifiers that were built using floating-gate transistors, enabling a 0.95 V RMS trimmer-less flame detection sensor. The programming scheme is capable of setting the offset voltage over a wide range of values by means of electron injection. The flame detection sensor consists of two programmable offset operational amplifiers; the first amplifier serves as a 26 μV offset voltage follower, whereas the second amplifier acts as a programmable trimmer-less voltage comparator. Both amplifiers form the proposed sensor, whose principle of functionality is based on the detection of the electrical changes produced by the flame ionization. The experimental results show that it is possible to measure the presence of a flame accurately after programming the amplifiers with a maximum of 35 LMS-algorithm iterations. Current commercial flame detectors are mainly used in absorption refrigerators and large industrial gas heaters, where a high voltage AC source and several mechanical trimmings are used in order to accurately measure the presence of the flame.

Vulnerability of CMOS image sensors in Megajoule Class Laser harsh environment.

PubMed

Goiffon, V; Girard, S; Chabane, A; Paillet, P; Magnan, P; Cervantes, P; Martin-Gonthier, P; Baggio, J; Estribeau, M; Bourgade, J-L; Darbon, S; Rousseau, A; Glebov, V Yu; Pien, G; Sangster, T C

2012-08-27

CMOS image sensors (CIS) are promising candidates as part of optical imagers for the plasma diagnostics devoted to the study of fusion by inertial confinement. However, the harsh radiative environment of Megajoule Class Lasers threatens the performances of these optical sensors. In this paper, the vulnerability of CIS to the transient and mixed pulsed radiation environment associated with such facilities is investigated during an experiment at the OMEGA facility at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE), Rochester, NY, USA. The transient and permanent effects of the 14 MeV neutron pulse on CIS are presented. The behavior of the tested CIS shows that active pixel sensors (APS) exhibit a better hardness to this harsh environment than a CCD. A first order extrapolation of the reported results to the higher level of radiation expected for Megajoule Class Laser facilities (Laser Megajoule in France or National Ignition Facility in the USA) shows that temporarily saturated pixels due to transient neutron-induced single event effects will be the major issue for the development of radiation-tolerant plasma diagnostic instruments whereas the permanent degradation of the CIS related to displacement damage or total ionizing dose effects could be reduced by applying well known mitigation techniques.

Photoionization sensors for non-invasive medical diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mustafaev, Aleksandr; Rastvorova, Iuliia; Khobnya, Kristina; Podenko, Sofia

2016-09-01

The analysis of biomarkers can help to identify the significant number of diseases: lung cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, high levels of stress, psychosomatic disorders etc. To implement continuous monitoring of the state of human health, compact VUV photoionization detector with current-voltage measurement is designed by Saint-Petersburg Mining University Plasma Research Group. This sensor is based on the patented method of stabilization of electric parameters - CES (Collisional Electron Spectroscopy). During the operation at atmospheric pressure VUV photoionization sensor measures the energy of electrons, produced in the ionization with the resonance photons, whose wavelength situated in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). A special software was developed to obtain the second-order derivative of the I-U characteristics, taken by the VUV sensor, to construct the energy spectra of the characteristic electrons. VUV photoionization detector has an unique set of parameters: small size (10*10*1 mm), low cost, wide range of recognizable molecules, as well as accuracy, sufficient for using this instrument for the medical purposes. This device can be used for non-invasive medical diagnostics without compromising the quality of life, for control of environment and human life. Work supported by Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in Science and Technology.

An LMS Programming Scheme and Floating-Gate Technology Enabled Trimmer-Less and Low Voltage Flame Detection Sensor

PubMed Central

Iglesias-Rojas, Juan Carlos; Gomez-Castañeda, Felipe; Moreno-Cadenas, Jose Antonio

2017-01-01

In this paper, a Least Mean Square (LMS) programming scheme is used to set the offset voltage of two operational amplifiers that were built using floating-gate transistors, enabling a 0.95 VRMS trimmer-less flame detection sensor. The programming scheme is capable of setting the offset voltage over a wide range of values by means of electron injection. The flame detection sensor consists of two programmable offset operational amplifiers; the first amplifier serves as a 26 μV offset voltage follower, whereas the second amplifier acts as a programmable trimmer-less voltage comparator. Both amplifiers form the proposed sensor, whose principle of functionality is based on the detection of the electrical changes produced by the flame ionization. The experimental results show that it is possible to measure the presence of a flame accurately after programming the amplifiers with a maximum of 35 LMS-algorithm iterations. Current commercial flame detectors are mainly used in absorption refrigerators and large industrial gas heaters, where a high voltage AC source and several mechanical trimmings are used in order to accurately measure the presence of the flame. PMID:28613250

Augmented switching linear dynamical system model for gas concentration estimation with MOX sensors in an open sampling system.

PubMed

Di Lello, Enrico; Trincavelli, Marco; Bruyninckx, Herman; De Laet, Tinne

2014-07-11

In this paper, we introduce a Bayesian time series model approach for gas concentration estimation using Metal Oxide (MOX) sensors in Open Sampling System (OSS). Our approach focuses on the compensation of the slow response of MOX sensors, while concurrently solving the problem of estimating the gas concentration in OSS. The proposed Augmented Switching Linear System model allows to include all the sources of uncertainty arising at each step of the problem in a single coherent probabilistic formulation. In particular, the problem of detecting on-line the current sensor dynamical regime and estimating the underlying gas concentration under environmental disturbances and noisy measurements is formulated and solved as a statistical inference problem. Our model improves, with respect to the state of the art, where system modeling approaches have been already introduced, but only provided an indirect relative measures proportional to the gas concentration and the problem of modeling uncertainty was ignored. Our approach is validated experimentally and the performances in terms of speed of and quality of the gas concentration estimation are compared with the ones obtained using a photo-ionization detector.

Augmented Switching Linear Dynamical System Model for Gas Concentration Estimation with MOX Sensors in an Open Sampling System

PubMed Central

Di Lello, Enrico; Trincavelli, Marco; Bruyninckx, Herman; De Laet, Tinne

2014-01-01

In this paper, we introduce a Bayesian time series model approach for gas concentration estimation using Metal Oxide (MOX) sensors in Open Sampling System (OSS). Our approach focuses on the compensation of the slow response of MOX sensors, while concurrently solving the problem of estimating the gas concentration in OSS. The proposed Augmented Switching Linear System model allows to include all the sources of uncertainty arising at each step of the problem in a single coherent probabilistic formulation. In particular, the problem of detecting on-line the current sensor dynamical regime and estimating the underlying gas concentration under environmental disturbances and noisy measurements is formulated and solved as a statistical inference problem. Our model improves, with respect to the state of the art, where system modeling approaches have been already introduced, but only provided an indirect relative measures proportional to the gas concentration and the problem of modeling uncertainty was ignored. Our approach is validated experimentally and the performances in terms of speed of and quality of the gas concentration estimation are compared with the ones obtained using a photo-ionization detector. PMID:25019637

Does non-ionizing radiant energy affect determination of the evaporation rate by the gradient method?

PubMed

Kjartansson, S; Hammarlund, K; Oberg, P A; Sedin, G

1991-01-01

A study was performed to investigate whether measurements of the evaporation rate from the skin of newborn infants by the gradient method are affected by the presence of non-ionizing radiation from phototherapy equipment or a radiant heater. The evaporation rate was measured experimentally with the measuring sensors either exposed to or protected from non-ionizing radiation. Either blue light (phototherapy) or infrared light (radiant heater) was used; in the former case the evaporation rate was measured from a beaker of water covered with a semipermeable membrane, and in the latter case from the hand of an adult subject, aluminium foil or with the measuring probe in the air. No adverse effect on the determinations of the evaporation rate was found in the presence of blue light. Infrared radiation caused an error of 0.8 g/m2h when the radiant heater was set at its highest effect level or when the ambient humidity was high. At low and moderate levels the observed evaporation rate was not affected. It is concluded that when clinical measurements are made from the skin of newborn infants nursed under a radiant heater, the evaporation rate can appropriately be determined by the gradient method.

Ionizing Organic Compound Based Nanocomposites for Efficient Gamma-Ray Sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, N. B.; Dayal, Vishall; Su, Ching-Hua; Arnold, Bradley; Choa, Fow-Sen; Kabandana, Monia G. K.; House, David

2017-01-01

Thin film and nanocrystalline materials of oxides have been very attractive choice as low cost option for gamma-ray detection and have shown great promise. Our studies on pure oxide films indicated that thickness and microstructure have pronounced effect on sensitivity. Since the interaction of gamma-ray with composites involves all three interaction processes; photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and pair production, composites containing ionic organics have better chance for enhancing sensitivity. In the composites of ionizing organics oxidation effect of unusual oxides changes much faster and hence increases the sensitivity of radiation. In this study, we have used nickel oxide and titanium oxide in ionic organics to develop composite materials for low energy gamma-ray sensing. We prepared composites containing ethylene carbonate and evaluated the effect of commercial Cs-137 radiation source by studying current-voltage relationship at several frequencies. Radiated samples showed higher resistivity compared to as prepared composites.

A review of advances in pixel detectors for experiments with high rate and radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia-Sciveres, Maurice; Wermes, Norbert

2018-06-01

The large Hadron collider (LHC) experiments ATLAS and CMS have established hybrid pixel detectors as the instrument of choice for particle tracking and vertexing in high rate and radiation environments, as they operate close to the LHC interaction points. With the high luminosity-LHC upgrade now in sight, for which the tracking detectors will be completely replaced, new generations of pixel detectors are being devised. They have to address enormous challenges in terms of data throughput and radiation levels, ionizing and non-ionizing, that harm the sensing and readout parts of pixel detectors alike. Advances in microelectronics and microprocessing technologies now enable large scale detector designs with unprecedented performance in measurement precision (space and time), radiation hard sensors and readout chips, hybridization techniques, lightweight supports, and fully monolithic approaches to meet these challenges. This paper reviews the world-wide effort on these developments.

Measurement and analysis of the conversion gain degradation of the CIS detectors in harsh radiation environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zujun; Xue, Yuanyuan; Guo, Xiaoqiang; Bian, Jingying; Yao, Zhibin; He, Baoping; Ma, Wuying; Sheng, Jiangkun; Dong, Guantao; Liu, Yan

2018-07-01

The conversion gain of the CMOS image sensor (CIS) is one of the most important key parameters to the CIS detector. The conversion gain degradation induced by radiation damage will seriously affect the performances of the CIS detector. The experiments of the CISs irradiated by protons, neutrons, and gamma rays are presented. The CISs have 4 Megapixels and pinned photodiode (PPD) pixel architecture with a standard 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The conversion gains versus the proton fluence (including the proton ionizing dose), neutron fluence and gamma total ionizing dose are presented, respectively. The mechanisms of the conversion gain degradation induced by radiation damage are analyzed in details. The investigations will help to improve the PPD CIS detector design, reliability and applicability for applications in the harsh radiation environments such as space and nuclear environments.

High speed reflectometer for EUV mask-blanks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wies, Christian; Lebert, Rainer; Jagle, Bernhard; Juschkin, L.; Sobel, F.; Seitz, H.; Walter, Ronny; Laubis, C.; Scholze, F.; Biel, W.; Steffens, O.

2005-06-01

AIXUV GmbH and partners have developed a high speed Reflectometer for EUV mask-blanks which is fully compliant with the SEMI-standard P38 for EUV-mask-blank metrology. The system has been installed in June 2004 at SCHOTT Lithotec AG. It features high throughput, high lateral and spectral resolution, high reproducibility and low absolute uncertainty. Using AIXUV's EUV-LAMP and debris mitigation, low cost-of-ownership and high availability is expected. The spectral reflectance of up to 3 mask-blanks per hour can be measured with at least 20 spots each. The system is push button-controlled. Results are stored in CSV file format. For a spot size of 0.1x1 mm2, 2000 spectral channels of 1.6 pm bandwidth are recorded from 11.6 nm to 14.8 nm. The reflectance measurement is based on the comparison of the sample under test to two reference mirrors calibrated at the PTB radiometry laboratory at BESSY II. The three reflection spectra are recorded simultaneously. For each spot more than 107 photons are accumulated in about 20 s, providing statistical reproducibility below 0.2% RMS. The total uncertainty is below 0.5% absolute. Wavelength calibration better than 1 pm RMS over the whole spectral range is achieved by reference to NIST published wavelengths of about 100 xenon emission lines. It is consistent with the wavelength of the krypton 3d-5p absorption resonance at 13.5947 nm to better than 2 pm.

High speed reflectometer for EUV mask-blanks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wies, C.; Lebert, R.; Jaegle, B.; Juschkin, L.; Sobel, F.; Seitz, H.; Walter, R.; Laubis, C.; Scholze, F.; Biel, W.; Steffens, O.

2005-05-01

AIXUV GmbH and partners have developed a high speed Reflectometer for EUV mask-blanks which is fully compliant with the SEMI-standard P38 for EUV-mask-blank metrology. The system has been installed in June 2004 at SCHOTT Lithotec AG. It features high throughput, high lateral and spectral resolution, high reproduci-bility and low absolute uncertainty. Using AIXUV's EUV-LAMP and debris mitigation, low cost-of-ownership and high availability is expected. The spectral reflectance of up to 3 mask-blanks per hour can be measured with at least 20 spots each. The system is push button-controlled. Results are stored in CSV file format. For a spot size of 0.1×1 mm2, 2000 spectral chan-nels of 1.6 pm bandwidth are recorded from 11.6 nm to 14.8 nm. The reflectance measurement is based on the comparison of the sample under test to two reference mirrors calibrated at the PTB radiometry laboratory at BESSY II. The three reflection spectra are recorded simultaneously. For each spot more than 107 photons are ac-cumulated in about 20 s, providing statistical reproducibility below 0.2 % RMS. The total uncertainty is below 0.5 % absolute. Wavelength calibration better than 1 pm RMS over the whole spectral range is achieved by refe-rence to NIST published wavelengths of about 100 xenon emission lines. It is consistent with the wavelength of the krypton 3d-5p absorption resonance at 13.5947 nm to better than 2 pm.

Design of a fiber-optic interrogator module for telecommunication satellites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Putzer, Philipp; Koch, Alexander W.; Plattner, Markus; Hurni, Andreas; Manhart, Markus

2017-11-01

In this paper we present the results of the radiation tests performed on the optical components of the fiber-optic interrogator module as a part of the Hybrid Sensor Bus (HSB) system. The HSB-system is developed in the frame of an ESAARTES program and will be verified as flight demonstrator onboard the German Heinrich Hertz satellite in 2016. The HSB system is based on a modular concept which includes sensor interrogation modules based on I2C electrical and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) fiber-optical sensor elements. Onboard fiber-optic sensing allows the implementation of novel control and monitoring methods. For read-out of multiple FBG sensors, a design based on a tunable laser diode as well as a design based on a spectrometer is considered. The expected and tested total ionizing dose (TID) applicable to the HSB system is in the range between 100 krad and 300 krad inside the satellite in the geostationary orbit over a life time of 15 years. We present radiation test results carried out on critical optical components to be used in the fiber-optic interrogation module. These components are a modulated grating Y-branch (MGY) tunable laser diode acting as light source for the tuning laser approach, the line detector of a spectrometer, photodetectors and the FBG sensors acting as sensor elements. A detailed literature inquiry of radiation effects on optical fibers and FBG sensors, is also included in the paper. The fiber-optic interrogator module implemented in the HSB system is based on the most suitable technology, which sustains the harsh environment in the geostationary orbit.

CHAMBER - IONIZATION - EXPERIMENT - GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-6 EQUIPMENT - CAPE

NASA Image and Video Library

1965-12-10

S65-61788 (For release: 11 Dec. 1965) --- Close-up view of equipment which will be used in the D-8 (Radiation in Spacecraft) experiment on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Gemini-6 spaceflight. This experiment is designed to make highly accurate measurements of the absorbed dose rate of radiation which penetrates the Gemini spacecraft, and determine the spatial distribution of dose levels inside the spacecraft particularly in the crew area. This is experimentation of the U.S. Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. LOWER LEFT: The second ionization chamber, this one is unshielded. This chamber can be removed from its bracket by the astronaut who will periodically take measurements at various locations in the spacecraft. Nearby is Passive Dosimeter Unit which is one of five small packets each containing a standard pocket ionization chamber, gamma electron sensitive film, glass needles and thermo luminescent dosimeters which are mounted at various locations in the cabin. UPPER LEFT: Photo illustrates how ionization chamber can be removed from bracket for measurements. LOWER RIGHT: Shield of bulb-shaped chamber will be removed (shown in photo) as the spacecraft passes through the South Atlantic anomaly, the area where the radiation belt dips closest to Earth's surface. UPPER RIGHT: Dome-shaped object is shield covering one of two Tissue Equivalent Ionization Chambers (sensors) which will read out continuously the instantaneous rate at which dose is delivered during the flight. This chamber is mounted permanently. The information will be recorded aboard the spacecraft, and will also be received directly by ground stations. This chamber is shielded to simulate the amount of radiation the crew members are receiving beneath their skin. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Nanoscale TiO₂-coated LPGs as radiation-tolerant humidity sensors for high-energy physics applications.

PubMed

Consales, Marco; Berruti, Gaia; Borriello, Anna; Giordano, Michele; Buontempo, Salvatore; Breglio, Giovanni; Makovec, Alajos; Petagna, Paolo; Cusano, Andrea

2014-07-15

This Letter deals with a feasibility analysis for the development of radiation-tolerant fiber-optic humidity sensors based on long-period grating (LPG) technology to be applied in high-energy physics (HEP) experiments currently running at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). In particular, here we propose a high-sensitivity LPG sensor coated with a finely tuned titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin layer (~100 nm thick) through the solgel deposition method. Relative humidity (RH) monitoring in the range 0%-75% and at four different temperatures (in the range -10°C-25°C) was carried out to assess sensor performance in real operative conditions required in typical experiments running at CERN. Experimental results demonstrate the very high RH sensitivities of the proposed device (up to 1.4 nm/% RH in correspondence to very low humidity levels), which turned out to be from one to three orders of magnitude higher than those exhibited by fiber Bragg grating sensors coated with micrometer-thin polyimide overlays. The radiation tolerance capability of the TiO₂-coated LPG sensor is also investigated by comparing the sensing performance before and after its exposure to a 1 Mrad dose of γ-ionizing radiation. Overall, the results collected demonstrate the strong potential of the proposed technology with regard to its future exploitation in HEP applications as a robust and valid alternative to the commercial (polymer-based) hygrometers currently used.

"On-off-on" switchable sensor: a fluorescent spiropyran responds to extreme pH conditions and its bioimaging applications.

PubMed

Wan, Shulin; Zheng, Yang; Shen, Jie; Yang, Wantai; Yin, Meizhen

2014-11-26

A novel spiropyran that responds to both extreme acid and extreme alkali and has an "on-off-on" switch is reported. Benzoic acid at the indole N-position and carboxyl group at the indole 6-position contribute to the extreme acid response. The ionizations of carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl groups cause the extreme alkali response. Moreover, the fluorescent imaging in bacterial cells under extreme pH conditions supports the mechanism of pH response.

Site Characterization and Analysis Penetrometer System (SCAPS) Heavy Metal Sensors

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-04-01

gigawatts per square centimeter (GW/cm2). Within the small volume about the focal point, rapid heating, vaporization, and ionization of a small amount of the...2001). Briefly, the light emitted from the fiber in the probe is collimated, turned by a quartz prism, and focused by a short- focal -length quartz 5...are decoupled using the configuration shown in Figure 1. The excitation beam is focused by a 25-cm focal length lens through a 2-inch aluminum mirror

Radiation sensitive devices and systems for detection of radioactive materials and related methods

DOEpatents

Kotter, Dale K

2014-12-02

Radiation sensitive devices include a substrate comprising a radiation sensitive material and a plurality of resonance elements coupled to the substrate. Each resonance element is configured to resonate responsive to non-ionizing incident radiation. Systems for detecting radiation from a special nuclear material include a radiation sensitive device and a sensor located remotely from the radiation sensitive device and configured to measure an output signal from the radiation sensitive device. In such systems, the radiation sensitive device includes a radiation sensitive material and a plurality of resonance elements positioned on the radiation sensitive material. Methods for detecting a presence of a special nuclear material include positioning a radiation sensitive device in a location where special nuclear materials are to be detected and remotely interrogating the radiation sensitive device with a sensor.

Dosimetry of heavy ions by use of CCD detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schott, J. U.

1994-01-01

The design and the atomic composition of Charge Coupled Devices (CCD's) make them unique for investigations of single energetic particle events. As detector system for ionizing particles they detect single particles with local resolution and near real time particle tracking. In combination with its properties as optical sensor, particle transversals of single particles are to be correlated to any objects attached to the light sensitive surface of the sensor by simple imaging of their shadow and subsequent image analysis of both, optical image and particle effects, observed in affected pixels. With biological objects it is possible for the first time to investigate effects of single heavy ions in tissue or extinguished organs of metabolizing (i.e. moving) systems with a local resolution better than 15 microns. Calibration data for particle detection in CCD's are presented for low energetic protons and heavy ions.

Longitudinal measurement of chromatic dispersion along an optical fiber transmission system with a new correction factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbasi, Madiha; Imran Baig, Mirza; Shafique Shaikh, Muhammad

2013-12-01

At present existence OTDR based techniques have become a standard practice for measuring chromatic dispersion distribution along an optical fiber transmission link. A constructive measurement technique has been offered in this paper, in which a four wavelength bidirectional optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) has been used to compute the chromatic dispersion allocation beside an optical fiber transmission system. To improve the correction factor a novel formulation has been developed, which leads to an enhanced and defined measurement. The investigational outcomes obtained are in good harmony.

Real-time investigation of protein unfolding at an air–water interface at the 1 s time scale

PubMed Central

Yano, Yohko F.; Arakawa, Etsuo; Voegeli, Wolfgang; Matsushita, Tadashi

2013-01-01

Protein unfolding at an air–water interface has been demonstrated such that the X-ray reflectivity can be measured with an acquisition time of 1 s using a recently developed simultaneous multiple-angle–wavelength-dispersive X-ray reflectometer. This has enabled the electron density profile of the adsorbed protein molecules to be obtained in real time. A globular protein, lysozyme, adsorbed at the air–water interface is found to unfold into a flat shape within 1 s. PMID:24121352

Fiber optic security seal including plural Bragg gratings

DOEpatents

Forman, Peter R.

1994-01-01

An optical security system enables the integrity of a container seal to be remotely interrogated. A plurality of Bragg gratings is written holographically into the core of at least one optical fiber placed about the container seal, where each Bragg grating has a predetermined location and a known frequency for reflecting incident light. A time domain reflectometer is provided with a variable frequency light output that corresponds to the reflecting frequencies of the Bragg gratings to output a signal that is functionally related to the location and reflecting frequency of each of the Bragg gratings.

Applications Of Measurement Techniques To Develop Small-Diameter, Undersea Fiber Optic Cables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamikawa, Neil T.; Nakagawa, Arthur T.

1984-12-01

Attenuation, strain, and optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) measurement techniques were applied successfully in the development of a minimum-diameter, electro-optic sea floor cable. Temperature and pressure models for excess attenuation in polymer coated, graded-index fibers were investigated analytically and experimentally using these techniques in the laboratory. The results were used to select a suitable fiber for the cable. Measurements also were performed on these cables during predeployment and sea-trial testing to verify laboratory results. Application of the measurement techniques and results are summarized in this paper.

High-resolution reflectometer for monitoring of biological samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Men, Liqiu; Lu, Ping; Chen, Qiying

2008-06-01

High-resolution optical low-coherence reflectometry is applied to monitor biological samples. It has been found that the reflectivity of aged cow's milk is significantly lower than that of the fresh milk with a difference of 5.35dB. During the process of heating the fresh milk at a constant temperature of 80°C, the reflectivity of the milk gradually decreases with the increase of the heating duration. The technique is proved to be effective in monitoring the change in the refractive index of the sample.

First tests of a MIEZE (modulated intensity by Zero effort)-type instrument on a pulsed neutron source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bleuel, M.; Bröll, M.; Lang, E.; Littrell, K.; Gähler, R.; Lal, J.

2006-01-01

In this paper we report the results of our first tests of a novel proof-of-principle instrument developed at the IPNS, Argonne. The experiment was performed on the time of flight POSY1 instrument, the polarized reflectometer at the IPNS, which was modified to accommodate the apparatus. Two sets of RF-flippers were tested together, generating a modulated intensity by zero effort (MIEZE)-type neutron resonant spin echo signal which was observed at the detector using a wide neutron wavelength band.

The Neutral Atoms Detector Technologies Developed for the SERENA Package for BepiColombo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

di Lellis, A. M.; Orsini, S.; Livi, S.; Wurz, P.; Milillo, A.

2004-04-01

A comprehensive suite for the particle detection in the Mercury environment, the SERENA instrument, is going to be proposed for the ESA cornerstone BepiColombo mission. The SERENA package consists of the sensors STROFIO and ELENA, which identify the neutral particles and measure their energies in the range from fractions of eV to a few keVs, and the sensors PICAM and MIPA for measuring and analyzing ionized particles from some eV to tens of keV. The proposed neutral sensor STROFIO will observe and analyze the bulk of the thermal / supra-thermal (0-50 eV) exospheric gas along the ram direction, while ELENA will be devoted to detect the sputtering emission (E min < 100eV; E max > 1 keV) within 1-D (2 deg x 60 deg) nadir cross track slices from the planet surface. The paper describes the new design techniques approached for the neutral particles identification and the related miniaturized datahandling unit. Such design technologies could be fruitfully exported to different applications for planetary exploration.

A colorimetric sensor array for detection of triacetone triperoxide vapor.

PubMed

Lin, Hengwei; Suslick, Kenneth S

2010-11-10

Triacetone triperoxide (TATP), one of the most dangerous primary explosives, has emerged as an explosive of choice for terrorists in recent years. Owing to the lack of UV absorbance, fluorescence, or facile ionization, TATP is extremely difficult to detect directly. Techniques that are able to detect generally require expensive instrumentation, need extensive sample preparation, or cannot detect TATP in the gas phase. Here we report a simple and highly sensitive colorimetric sensor for the detection of TATP vapor with semiquantitative analysis from 50 ppb to 10 ppm. By using a solid acid catalyst to pretreat a gas stream, we have discovered that a colorimetric sensor array of redox sensitive dyes can detect even very low levels of TATP vapor from its acid decomposition products (e.g., H(2)O(2)) with limits of detection (LOD) below 2 ppb (i.e., <0.02% of its saturation vapor pressure). Common potential interferences (e.g., humidity, personal hygiene products, perfume, laundry supplies, volatile organic compounds, etc.) do not generate an array response, and the array can also differentiate TATP from other chemical oxidants (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, bleach, tert-butylhydroperoxide, peracetic acid).

Multiplexed neural recording along a single optical fiber via optical reflectometry

PubMed Central

Rodriques, Samuel G.; Marblestone, Adam H.; Scholvin, Jorg; Dapello, Joel; Sarkar, Deblina; Mankin, Max; Gao, Ruixuan; Wood, Lowell; Boyden, Edward S.

2016-01-01

Abstract. We introduce the design and theoretical analysis of a fiber-optic architecture for neural recording without contrast agents, which transduces neural electrical signals into a multiplexed optical readout. Our sensor design is inspired by electro-optic modulators, which modulate the refractive index of a waveguide by applying a voltage across an electro-optic core material. We estimate that this design would allow recording of the activities of individual neurons located at points along a 10-cm length of optical fiber with 40-μm axial resolution and sensitivity down to 100  μV using commercially available optical reflectometers as readout devices. Neural recording sites detect a potential difference against a reference and apply this potential to a capacitor. The waveguide serves as one of the plates of the capacitor, so charge accumulation across the capacitor results in an optical effect. A key concept of the design is that the sensitivity can be improved by increasing the capacitance. To maximize the capacitance, we utilize a microscopic layer of material with high relative permittivity. If suitable materials can be found—possessing high capacitance per unit area as well as favorable properties with respect to toxicity, optical attenuation, ohmic junctions, and surface capacitance—then such sensing fibers could, in principle, be scaled down to few-micron cross-sections for minimally invasive neural interfacing. We study these material requirements and propose potential material choices. Custom-designed multimaterial optical fibers, probed using a reflectometric readout, may, therefore, provide a powerful platform for neural sensing. PMID:27194640

Spectralon solar diffuser BRDF variation for NPP, JPSS J1 and J2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murgai, Vijay; Johnson, Lindsay; Klein, Staci

2017-09-01

The Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a key sensor on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite as well as the upcoming Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). VIIRS collects Earth radiometric and imagery data in 22 spectral bands from 0.4 to 12.5 μm. Radiometric calibration of the reflective bands in the 0.4 to 2.5 μm wavelength range is performed by measuring the sunlight reflectance from Spectralon®. Reflected sun light is directly proportional to the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) of the Spectralon. This paper presents the BRDF measurements of the Spectralon for JPSS J2 in the 0.4 - 1.63 μm wavelength using PASCAL (Polarization And Scatter Characterization Analysis of Lambertian materials) with an uncertainty better than 1.2%. PASCAL makes absolute measurements of the BRDF in an analogous fashion to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Spectral Tri-function Automated Reflectance Reflectometer (STARR) facility. Unique additional features of this instrument include the ability to vary the sample elevation and roll / clock the sample about its normal, allowing measurement of BRDF in the as used geometry. Comparison of BRDF in the as used configuration for NPP, J1, and J2 shows variation of up to 3%. The sign of the change from panel to panel depends on the angle of incidence and view angle. The results demonstrate lot to lot variability in Spectralon and emphasize the necessity of characterizing each panel. A pattern in the BRDF variation is also presented.

Development of the Chemical Exposure Monitor with Indoor Positioning (CEMWIP) for Workplace VOC Surveys

PubMed Central

Brown, KK; Shaw, PB; Mead, KR; Kovein, RJ; Voorhees, RT; Brandes, AR

2016-01-01

The purpose of this project was to research and develop a direct-reading exposure assessment method that combined a real-time location system with a wireless direct-reading personal chemical sensor. The personal chemical sensor was a photoionization device for detecting volatile organic compounds. The combined system was calibrated and tested against the same four standard gas concentrations and calibrated at one standard location and tested at four locations that included the standard locations. Data were wirelessly collected from the chemical sensor every 1.4 seconds, for volatile organic compounds concentration, location, temperature, humidity, and time. Regression analysis of the photo-ionization device voltage response against calibration gases showed the chemical sensor had a limit of detection of 0.2 ppm. The real-time location system was accurate to 13 cm ± 6 cm (standard deviation) in an open area and to 57 cm ± 31 cm in a closed room where the radio frequency has to penetrate drywall-finished walls. The streaming data were collected and graphically displayed as a three-dimensional hazard map for assessment of peak exposure with location. A real-time personal exposure assessment device with indoor positioning was practical and provided new knowledge on direct reading exposure assessment methods. PMID:26786234

Development of the chemical exposure monitor with indoor positioning (CEMWIP) for workplace VOC surveys.

PubMed

Brown, K K; Shaw, P B; Mead, K R; Kovein, R J; Voorhees, R T; Brandes, A R

2016-01-01

The purpose of this article was to research and develop a direct-reading exposure assessment method that combined a real-time location system with a wireless direct-reading personal chemical sensor. The personal chemical sensor was a photoionization device for detecting volatile organic compounds. The combined system was calibrated and tested against the same four standard gas concentrations and calibrated at one standard location and tested at four locations that included the standard locations. Data were wirelessly collected from the chemical sensor every 1.4 sec, for volatile organic compounds concentration, location, temperature, humidity, and time. Regression analysis of the photo-ionization device voltage response against calibration gases showed the chemical sensor had a limit of detection of 0.2 ppm. The real-time location system was accurate to 13 cm ± 6 cm (standard deviation) in an open area and to 57 cm ± 31 cm in a closed room where the radio frequency has to penetrate drywall-finished walls. The streaming data were collected and graphically displayed as a three-dimensional hazard map for assessment of peak exposure with location. A real-time personal exposure assessment device with indoor positioning was practical and provided new knowledge on direct reading exposure assessment methods.

What we can learn from measurements of air electric conductivity in 222Rn-rich atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seran, E.; Godefroy, M.; Pili, E.; Michielsen, N.; Bondiguel, S.

2017-02-01

Electric conductivity of air is an important characteristic of the electric properties of an atmosphere. Testing instruments to measure electric conductivity ranging from 10-13 to 10-9 S m-1 in natural conditions found in the Earth atmosphere is not an easy task. One possibility is to use stratospheric balloon flights; another (and a simpler one) is to look for terrestrial environments with significant radioactive decay. In this paper we present measurements carried out with different types of conductivity sensors in two 222Rn-rich environments, i.e., in the Roselend underground tunnel (French Alps) and in the Institute of Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety BACCARA (BAnC de CAllibrage du RAdon) chamber. The concept of the conductivity sensor is based on the classical time relaxation method. New elements in our design include isolation of the sensor sensitive part (electrode) from the external electric field and sensor miniaturization. This greatly extends the application domain of the sensor and permits to measure air electric conductivity when the external electric field is high and varies from few tens of V m-1 to up to few tens of kV m-1. This is suitable to propose the instrument for a planetary mission. Two-fold objectives were attained as the outcome of these tests and their analysis. First was directly related to the performances of the conductivity sensors and the efficiency of the conductivity sensor design to shield the external electric field. Second objective aimed at understanding the decay mechanisms of 222Rn and its progeny in atmosphere and the impact of the enclosed space on the efficiency of gas ionization.

Nuclear-Recoil Energy Scale in CDMS II Silicon Dark-Matter Detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Agnese, R.; et al.

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS II) experiment aims to detect dark matter particles that elastically scatter from nuclei in semiconductor detectors. The resulting nuclear-recoil energy depositions are detected by ionization and phonon sensors. Neutrons produce a similar spectrum of low-energy nuclear recoils in such detectors, while most other backgrounds produce electron recoils. The absolute energy scale for nuclear recoils is necessary to interpret results correctly. The energy scale can be determined in CDMS II silicon detectors using neutrons incident from a broad-spectrummore » $$^{252}$$Cf source, taking advantage of a prominent resonance in the neutron elastic scattering cross section of silicon at a recoil (neutron) energy near 20 (182) keV. Results indicate that the phonon collection efficiency for nuclear recoils is $$4.8^{+0.7}_{-0.9}$$% lower than for electron recoils of the same energy. Comparisons of the ionization signals for nuclear recoils to those measured previously by other groups at higher electric fields indicate that the ionization collection efficiency for CDMS II silicon detectors operated at $$\\sim$$4 V/cm is consistent with 100% for nuclear recoils below 20 keV and gradually decreases for larger energies to $$\\sim$$75% at 100 keV. The impact of these measurements on previously published CDMS II silicon results is small.« less

pH Modulates the Binding of EGR1 Transcription Factor to DNA

PubMed Central

Mikles, David C.; Bhat, Vikas; Schuchardt, Brett J.; Deegan, Brian J.; Seldeen, Kenneth L.; McDonald, Caleb B.; Farooq, Amjad

2013-01-01

EGR1 transcription factor orchestrates a plethora of signaling cascades involved in cellular homeostasis and its down-regulation has been implicated in the development of prostate cancer. Herein, using a battery of biophysical tools, we show that the binding of EGR1 to DNA is tightly regulated by solution pH. Importantly, the binding affinity undergoes an enhancement of more than an order of magnitude with increasing pH from 5 to 8, implying that the deprotonation of an ionizable residue accounts for such behavior. This ionizable residue is identified as H382 by virtue of the fact that its substitution to non-ionizable residues abolishes pH-dependence of the binding of EGR1 to DNA. Notably, H382 inserts into the major groove of DNA and stabilizes the EGR1-DNA interaction via both hydrogen bonding and van der Waals contacts. Remarkably, H382 is predominantly conserved across other members of EGR1 family, implying that histidine protonation-deprotonation may serve as a molecular switch for modulating protein-DNA interactions central to this family of transcription factors. Collectively, our findings uncover an unexpected but a key step in the molecular recognition of EGR1 family of transcription factors and suggest that they may act as sensors of pH within the intracellular environment. PMID:23718776

MO-F-CAMPUS-T-05: Design of An Innovative Beam Monitor for Particle Therapy for the Simultaneous Measurement of Beam Fluence and Energy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sacchi, R; Guarachi, L Fanola; Monaco, V

2015-06-15

Purpose: Monitoring the prescribed dose in particle therapy is typically carried out by using parallel plate ionization chambers working in transmission mode. The use of gas detectors has several drawbacks: they need to be calibrated daily against standard dosimeters and their dependence on beam quality factors need to be fully characterized and controlled with high accuracy. A detector capable of single particle counting is proposed which would overcome all these limitations. Combined with a gas ionization chamber, it will allow determining the average particle stopping power, thus providing an effective method for the online verification of the selected particle energymore » and range. Methods: Low-Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGADs) are innovative n-in-p silicon sensors with moderate internal charge multiplication occurring in the strong field generated by an additional p+ doping layer implanted at a depth of a few µm in the bulk of the sensor. The increased signal-to-noise ratio allows designing very thin, few tens of microns, segmented LGADs, called Ultra Fast Silicon Detectors (UFSD), optimized for very fast signal, which would be suitable for charged particle counting at high rates. A prototype UFSD is being designed for this purpose. Results: Different LGAD diodes have been characterized both in laboratory and beam tests, and the results compared both with those obtained with similar diodes without the gain layer and with a program simulating the signal in the sensors. The signal is found to be enhanced in LGADs, while the leakage current and the noise is not affected by the gain. Possible alternative designs and implementations are also presented and discussed. Conclusion: Thanks to their excellent counting capabilities, UFSD detectors are a promising technology for future beam monitor devices in hadron-therapy applications. Studies are ongoing to better understand their properties and optimize the design in view of this application.« less

Evaluation of low-frequency operational limit of proposed ITER low-field-side reflectometer waveguide run including miter bends.

PubMed

Wang, G; Peebles, W A; Doyle, E J; Crocker, N A; Wannberg, C; Lau, C; Hanson, G R; Doane, J L

2017-10-01

The present design concept for the ITER low-field-side reflectometer transmission line (TL) consists of an ∼40 m long, 6.35 cm diameter helically corrugated waveguide (WG) together with ten 90° miter bends. This paper presents an evaluation of the TL performance at low frequencies (33-50 GHz) where the predicted HE 11 mode ohmic and mode conversion losses start to increase significantly. Quasi-optical techniques were used to form a near Gaussian beam to efficiently couple radiation in this frequency range into the WG. It was observed that the output beams from the guide remained linearly polarized with cross-polarization power levels of ∼1.5%-3%. The polarization rotation due to the helical corrugations was in the range ∼1°-3°. The radiated beam power profiles typically show excellent Gaussian propagation characteristics at distances >20 cm from the final exit aperture. The round trip propagation loss was found to be ∼2.5 dB at 50 GHz and ∼6.5 dB at 35 GHz, showing an inverse increase with frequency. This was consistent with updated calculations of miter bend and ohmic losses. At low frequencies (33-50 GHz), the mode purity remained very good at the exit of the waveguide, and the losses are perfectly acceptable for operation in ITER. The primary challenge may come from the future addition of a Gaussian telescope and other filter components within the corrugated guide, which will likely introduce additional perturbations to the beam profile and an increase in mode-conversion loss.

Multi-point measurement using two-channel reflectometer with antenna switching for study of high-frequency fluctuations in GAMMA 10

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikezoe, R.; Ichimura, M.; Okada, T.; Itagaki, J.; Hirata, M.; Sumida, S.; Jang, S.; Izumi, K.; Tanaka, A.; Yoshikawa, M.; Kohagura, J.; Sakamoto, M.; Nakashima, Y.

2017-03-01

A two-channel microwave reflectometer system with fast microwave antenna switching capability was developed and applied to the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror device to study high-frequency small-amplitude fluctuations in a hot mirror plasma. The fast switching of the antennas is controlled using PIN diode switches, which offers the significant advantage of reducing the number of high-cost microwave components and digitizers with high bandwidths and large memory that are required to measure the spatiotemporal behavior of the high-frequency fluctuations. The use of two channels rather than one adds the important function of a simultaneous two-point measurement in either the radial direction or the direction of the antenna array to measure the phase profile of the fluctuations along with the normal amplitude profile. The density fluctuations measured using this system clearly showed the high-frequency coherent fluctuations that are associated with Alfvén-ion-cyclotron (AIC) waves in GAMMA 10. A correlation analysis applied to simultaneously measured density fluctuations showed that the phase component that was included in a reflected microwave provided both high coherence and a clear phase difference for the AIC waves, while the amplitude component showed neither significant coherence nor clear phase difference. The axial phase differences of the AIC waves measured inside the hot plasma confirmed the formation of a standing wave structure. The axial variation of the radial profiles was evaluated and a clear difference was found among the AIC waves for the first time, which would be a key to clarify the unknown boundary conditions of the AIC waves.

Bubble velocity, diameter, and void fraction measurements in a multiphase flow using fiber optic reflectometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Ho-Joon; Chang, Kuang-An; Su, Chin B.; Chen, Chi-Yueh

2008-12-01

A fiber optic reflectometer (FOR) technique featuring a single fiber probe is investigated for its feasibility of measuring the bubble velocity, diameter, and void fraction in a multiphase flow. The method is based on the interference of the scattered signal from the bubble surface with the Fresnel reflection signal from the tip of the optical fiber. Void fraction is obtained with a high accuracy if an appropriate correction is applied to compensate the underestimated measurement value. Velocity information is accurately obtained from the reflected signals before the fiber tip touches the bubble surface so that several factors affecting the traditional dual-tip probes such as blinding, crawling, and drifting effects due to the interaction between the probe and bubbles can be prevented. The coherent signals reflected from both the front and rear ends of a bubble can provide velocity information. Deceleration of rising bubbles and particles due to the presence of the fiber probe is observed when they are very close to the fiber tip. With the residence time obtained, the bubble chord length can be determined by analyzing the coherent signal for velocity determination before the deceleration starts. The bubble diameters are directly obtained from analyzing the signals of the bubbles that contain velocity information. The chord lengths of these bubbles measured by FOR represent the bubble diameters when the bubble shape is spherical or represent the minor axes when the bubble shape is ellipsoidal. The velocity and size of bubbles obtained from the FOR measurements are compared with those obtained simultaneously using a high speed camera.

Density perturbation mode structure of high frequency compressional and global Alfvén eigenmodes in the National Spherical Torus Experiment using a novel reflectometer analysis technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crocker, N. A.; Kubota, S.; Peebles, W. A.; Rhodes, T. L.; Fredrickson, E. D.; Belova, E.; Diallo, A.; LeBlanc, B. P.; Sabbagh, S. A.

2018-01-01

Reflectometry measurements of compressional (CAE) and global (GAE) Alfvén eigenmodes are analyzed to obtain the amplitude and spatial structure of the density perturbations associated with the modes. A novel analysis technique developed for this purpose is presented. The analysis also naturally yields the amplitude and spatial structure of the density contour radial displacement, which is found to be 2-4 times larger than the value estimated directly from the reflectometer measurements using the much simpler ‘mirror approximation’. The modes were driven by beam ions in a high power (6 MW) neutral beam heated H-mode discharge (#141398) in the National Spherical Torus Experiment. The results of the analysis are used to assess the contribution of the modes to core energy transport and ion heating. The total displacement amplitude of the modes, which is shown to be larger than previously estimated (Crocker et al 2013 Nucl. Fusion 53 43017), is compared to the predicted threshold (Gorelenkov et al 2010 Nucl. Fusion 50 84012) for the anomalously high heat diffusion inferred from transport modeling in similar NSTX discharges. The results of the analysis also have strong implications for the energy transport via coupling of CAEs to kinetic Alfvén waves seen in simulations with the Hybrid MHD code (Belova et al 2015 Phys. Rev. Lett. 115 15001). Finally, the amplitudes of the observed CAEs fall well below the threshold for causing significant ion heating by stochastic velocity space diffusion (Gates et al 2001 Phys. Rev. Lett. 87 205003).

Evaluation of low-frequency operational limit of proposed ITER low-field-side reflectometer waveguide run including miter bends

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Guiding; Peebles, W. A.; Doyle, E. J.

The present design concept for the ITER low-field-side reflectometer transmission line (TL) consists of an ~40 m long, 6.35 cm diameter helically corrugated waveguide (WG) together with ten 90° miter bends. This paper presents an evaluation of the TL performance at low frequencies (33-50 GHz) where the predicted HE11 mode ohmic and mode conversion losses start to increase significantly. Quasi-optical techniques were used to form a near Gaussian beam to efficiently couple radiation in this frequency range into the WG. We observed that the output beams from the guide remained linearly polarized with cross-polarization power levels of ~1.5%-3%. The polarizationmore » rotation due to the helical corrugations was in the range ~1°-3°. The radiated beam power profiles typically show excellent Gaussian propagation characteristics at distances >20 cm from the final exit aperture. The round trip propagation loss was found to be ~2.5 dB at 50 GHz and ~6.5 dB at 35 GHz, showing an inverse increase with frequency. This was consistent with updated calculations of miter bend and ohmic losses. At low frequencies (33-50 GHz), the mode purity remained very good at the exit of the waveguide, and the losses are perfectly acceptable for operation in ITER. Finally, the primary challenge may come from the future addition of a Gaussian telescope and other filter components within the corrugated guide, which will likely introduce additional perturbations to the beam profile and an increase in mode-conversion loss.« less

Evoked bioelectrical brain activity following exposure to ionizing radiation.

PubMed

Loganovsky, K; Kuts, K

2017-12-01

The article provides an overview of modern physiological evidence to support the hypothesis on cortico limbic sys tem dysfunction due to the hippocampal neurogenesis impairment as a basis of the brain interhemispheric asym metry and neurocognitive deficit after radiation exposure. The importance of the research of both evoked poten tials and fields as a highly sensitive and informative method is emphasized.Particular attention is paid to cerebral sensor systems dysfunction as a typical effect of ionizing radiation. Changes in functioning of the central parts of sensory analyzers of different modalities as well as the violation of brain integrative information processes under the influence of small doses of ionizing radiation can be critical when determining the radiation risks of space flight. The possible long term prospects for manned flights into space, including to Mars, given the effects identified are discussed. Potential risks to the central nervous system during space travel comprise cognitive functions impairment, including the volume of short term memory short ening, impaired motor functions, behavioral changes that could affect human performance and health. The remote risks for CNS are considered to be the following possible neuropsychiatric disorders: accelerated brain aging, Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. The new radiocerebral dose dependent effect, when applied cog nitive auditory evoked potentials P300 technique with a possible threshold dose of 0.05 Gy, manifesting in a form of disruption of information processing in the Wernicke's area is under discussion. In order to identify neurophys iological biological markers of ionizing radiation further international researches with adequate dosimetry support are necessary. K. Loganovsky, K. Kuts.

New radiological material detection technologies for nuclear forensics: Remote optical imaging and graphene-based sensors.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harrison, Richard Karl; Martin, Jeffrey B.; Wiemann, Dora K.

We developed new detector technologies to identify the presence of radioactive materials for nuclear forensics applications. First, we investigated an optical radiation detection technique based on imaging nitrogen fluorescence excited by ionizing radiation. We demonstrated optical detection in air under indoor and outdoor conditions for alpha particles and gamma radiation at distances up to 75 meters. We also contributed to the development of next generation systems and concepts that could enable remote detection at distances greater than 1 km, and originated a concept that could enable daytime operation of the technique. A second area of research was the development ofmore » room-temperature graphene-based sensors for radiation detection and measurement. In this project, we observed tunable optical and charged particle detection, and developed improved devices. With further development, the advancements described in this report could enable new capabilities for nuclear forensics applications.« less

Optical fiber sensor for low dose gamma irradiation monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Andrés, Ana I.; Esteban, Ã.`scar; Embid, Miguel

2016-05-01

An optical fiber gamma ray detector is presented in this work. It is based on a Terbium doped Gadolinium Oxysulfide (Gd2O2S:Tb) scintillating powder which cover a chemically etched polymer fiber tip. This etching improves the fluorescence gathering by the optical fiber. The final diameter has been selected to fulfill the trade-off between light gathering and mechanical strength. Powder has been encapsulated inside a microtube where the fiber tip is immersed. The sensor has been irradiated with different air Kerma doses up to 2 Gy/h with a 137Cs source, and the spectral distribution of the fluorescence intensity has been recorded in a commercial grade CCD spectrometer. The obtained signal-to-noise ratio is good enough even for low doses, which has allowed to reduce the integration time in the spectrometer. The presented results show the feasibility for using low cost equipment to detect/measure ionizing radiation as gamma rays are.

High-performance gas sensors with temperature measurement

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yong; Li, Shengtao; Zhang, Jingyuan; Pan, Zhigang; Min, Daomin; Li, Xin; Song, Xiaoping; Liu, Junhua

2013-01-01

There are a number of gas ionization sensors using carbon nanotubes as cathode or anode. Unfortunately, their applications are greatly limited by their multi-valued sensitivity, one output value corresponding to several measured concentration values. Here we describe a triple-electrode structure featuring two electric fields with opposite directions, which enable us to overcome the multi-valued sensitivity problem at 1 atm in a wide range of gas concentrations. We used a carbon nanotube array as the first electrode, and the two electric fields between the upper and the lower interelectrode gaps were designed to extract positive ions generated in the upper gap, hence significantly reduced positive ion bombardment on the nanotube electrode, which allowed us to maintain a high electric field near the nanotube tips, leading to a single-valued sensitivity and a long nanotube life. We have demonstrated detection of various gases and simultaneously monitoring temperature, and a potential for applications. PMID:23405281

Ionization based multi-directional flow sensor

DOEpatents

Chorpening, Benjamin T [Morgantown, WV; Casleton, Kent H [Morgantown, WV

2009-04-28

A method, system, and apparatus for conducting real-time monitoring of flow (airflow for example) in a system (a hybrid power generation system for example) is disclosed. The method, system and apparatus measure at least flow direction and velocity with minimal pressure drop and fast response. The apparatus comprises an ion source and a multi-directional collection device proximate the ion source. The ion source is configured to generate charged species (electrons and ions for example). The multi-directional collection source is configured to determine the direction and velocity of the flow in real-time.

Oxidation of GaAs substrates to enable β-Ga2O3 films for sensors and optoelectronic devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Howard; Alhalaili, Badriyah; Kaya, Ahmet; Dryden, Daniel M.; Woodall, Jerry M.; Islam, M. Saif

2017-08-01

A very simple and inexpensive method for growing β-Ga2O3 films by heating GaAs wafers at high temperature in a furnace was found to contribute to large-area, high-quality β-Ga2O3 nanoscale thin films as well as nanowires depending on the growth conditions. We present the material characterization results including the optical band gap, Schottky barrier height with metal (gold), field ionization and photoconductance of β-Ga2O3 film and nanowires.

Simulations of Operation Dynamics of Different Type GaN Particle Sensors

PubMed Central

Gaubas, Eugenijus; Ceponis, Tomas; Kalesinskas, Vidas; Pavlov, Jevgenij; Vysniauskas, Juozas

2015-01-01

The operation dynamics of the capacitor-type and PIN diode type detectors based on GaN have been simulated using the dynamic and drift-diffusion models. The drift-diffusion current simulations have been implemented by employing the software package Synopsys TCAD Sentaurus. The monopolar and bipolar drift regimes have been analyzed by using dynamic models based on the Shockley-Ramo theorem. The carrier multiplication processes determined by impact ionization have been considered in order to compensate carrier lifetime reduction due to introduction of radiation defects into GaN detector material. PMID:25751080

High-Rydberg Xenon Submillimeter-Wave Detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chutjian, Ara

1987-01-01

Proposed detector for infrared and submillimeter-wavelength radiation uses excited xenon atoms as Rydberg sensors instead of customary beams of sodium, potassium, or cesium. Chemically inert xenon easily stored in pressurized containers, whereas beams of dangerously reactive alkali metals must be generated in cumbersome, unreliable ovens. Xenon-based detector potential for infrared astronomy and for Earth-orbiter detection of terrestrial radiation sources. Xenon atoms excited to high energy states in two stages. Doubly excited atoms sensitive to photons in submillimeter wavelength range, further excited by these photons, then ionized and counted.

Update on the biological effects of ionizing radiation, relative dose factors and radiation hygiene.

PubMed

White, Stuart C; Mallya, S M

2012-03-01

Diagnostic imaging is an indispensable part of contemporary medical and dental practice. Over the last few decades there has been a dramatic increase in the use of ionizing radiation for diagnostic imaging. The carcinogenic effects of high-dose exposure are well known. Does diagnostic radiation rarely cause cancer? We don't know but we should act as if it does. Accordingly, dentists should select patients wisely - only make radiographs when there is patient-specific reason to believe there is a reasonable expectation the radiograph will offer unique information influencing diagnosis or treatment. Low-dose examinations should be made: intraoral imaging - use fast film or digital sensors, thyroid collars, rectangular collimation; panoramic and lateral cephalometric imaging - use digital systems or rare-earth film screen combinations; and cone beam computed tomography - use low-dose machines, restrict field size to region of interest, reduce mA and length of exposure arc as appropriate. © 2012 Australian Dental Association.

Radiation Hardening of Digital Color CMOS Camera-on-a-Chip Building Blocks for Multi-MGy Total Ionizing Dose Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goiffon, Vincent; Rolando, Sébastien; Corbière, Franck; Rizzolo, Serena; Chabane, Aziouz; Girard, Sylvain; Baer, Jérémy; Estribeau, Magali; Magnan, Pierre; Paillet, Philippe; Van Uffelen, Marco; Mont Casellas, Laura; Scott, Robin; Gaillardin, Marc; Marcandella, Claude; Marcelot, Olivier; Allanche, Timothé

2017-01-01

The Total Ionizing Dose (TID) hardness of digital color Camera-on-a-Chip (CoC) building blocks is explored in the Multi-MGy range using 60Co gamma-ray irradiations. The performances of the following CoC subcomponents are studied: radiation hardened (RH) pixel and photodiode designs, RH readout chain, Color Filter Arrays (CFA) and column RH Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADC). Several radiation hardness improvements are reported (on the readout chain and on dark current). CFAs and ADCs degradations appear to be very weak at the maximum TID of 6 MGy(SiO2), 600 Mrad. In the end, this study demonstrates the feasibility of a MGy rad-hard CMOS color digital camera-on-a-chip, illustrated by a color image captured after 6 MGy(SiO2) with no obvious degradation. An original dark current reduction mechanism in irradiated CMOS Image Sensors is also reported and discussed.

Far-infrared BRDFs and reflectance spectra of candidate SOFIA telescope, cavity, and focal-plane instrument surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, Allan W.; Smith, Sheldon M.; Koerber, Christopher T.

2000-06-01

The far-infrared reflectance and scattering properties of telescope surfaces, surrounding cavity walls, and surfaces within focal-plane instruments can be significant contributors to background noise. Radiation from sources well off-axis, such as the earth, moon or aircraft engines may be multiply scattered by the cavity walls and/or surface facets of a complex telescope structure. The Non-Specular Reflectometer at NASA Ames Research Center was reactivated and upgraded, and used to measure reflectance and Bi- directional Reflectance Distribution Functions for samples of planned telescope system structural materials and associated surface treatments.

Return to the red planet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nichols, Robert G.

1992-10-01

The paper discusses the type of data which will be collected by the NASA's Mars Observer spacecraft when it reaches the planet next year. These will include measurements on the Martian magnetic field, the volcanic activity, the dust storms, seasonal weather cycles, and the planet's atmosphere and gravitational field. The Mars Observer's instruments include a magnetometer, an electron reflectometer, an IR radiometer, a laser altimeter, a thermal-emission spectrometer, a gamma-ray spectrometer, a camera, and a radio system. The program is counting on the vehicle's longevity so that it can participate in a Russian mission due to arrive at Mars in September 1995.

Monitoring technique for a hybrid PS/WDM-PON by using a tunable OTDR and FBGs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hann, Swook; Yoo, Jun-sang; Park, Chang-Soo

2006-05-01

A monitoring technique for hybrid passive optical networks (PON) is presented. The technique is based on the remote sensing of fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) using a tunable optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR). The FBG would help discern an individual event during the monitoring of the hybrid PON in collaboration with the information provided by the Rayleigh backscattered power. The hybrid architecture of passive splitter-PON and WDM-PON can be analysed by the monitoring method by using the tunable OTDR and FBGs at the central office under the in-service state of PON.

At-wavelength metrology facility for soft X-ray reflection optics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sokolov, A., E-mail: andrey.sokolov@helmholtz-berlin.de; Bischoff, P.; Eggenstein, F.

2016-05-15

A new Optics Beamline coupled to a versatile UHV reflectometer is successfully operating at BESSY-II. It is used to carry out at-wavelength characterization and calibration of in-house produced gratings and novel nano-optical devices as well as mirrors and multilayer systems in the UV and XUV spectral region. This paper presents most recent commissioning data of the beamline and shows their correlation with initial beamline design calculations. Special attention is paid to beamline key parameters which determine the quality of the measurements such as high-order suppression and stray light behavior. The facility is open to user operation.

Fiber optic security seal including plural Bragg gratings

DOEpatents

Forman, P.R.

1994-09-27

An optical security system enables the integrity of a container seal to be remotely interrogated. A plurality of Bragg gratings is written holographically into the core of at least one optical fiber placed about the container seal, where each Bragg grating has a predetermined location and a known frequency for reflecting incident light. A time domain reflectometer is provided with a variable frequency light output that corresponds to the reflecting frequencies of the Bragg gratings to output a signal that is functionally related to the location and reflecting frequency of each of the Bragg gratings. 2 figs.

Possible applications of time domain reflectometry in planetary exploration missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heckendorn, S.

1982-01-01

The use of a time domain reflectometer (TDR) for planetary exploration is considered. Determination of the apparent dielectric constant and hence, the volumetric water content of frozen and unfrozen soils using the TDR is described. Earth-based tests were performed on a New York state sandy soil and a Wyoming Bentonite. Use of both a cylindrical coaxial transmission line and a parallel transmission line as probes was evaluated. The water content of the soils was varied and the apparent dielectric constant measured in both frozen and unfrozen states. Advantages and disadvantages of the technique are discussed.

Synthesis and integration of one-dimensional nanostructures for chemical gas sensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parthangal, Prahalad Madhavan

The need for improved measurement technology for the detection and monitoring of gases has increased tremendously for maintenance of domestic and industrial health and safety, environmental surveys, national security, food-processing, medical diagnostics and various other industrial applications. Among the several varieties of gas sensors available in the market, solid-state sensors are the most popular owing to their excellent sensitivity, ruggedness, versatility and low cost. Semiconducting metal oxides such as tin oxide (SnO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), and tungsten oxide (WO3) are routinely employed as active materials in these sensors. Since their performance is directly linked to the exposed surface area of the sensing material, one-dimensional nanostructures possessing very high surface to volume ratios are attractive candidates for designing the next generation of sensors. Such nano-sensors also enable miniaturization thereby reducing power consumption. The key to achieve success in one-dimensional nanotechnologies lies in assembly. While synthesis techniques and capabilities continue to expand rapidly, progress in controlled assembly has been sluggish due to numerous technical challenges. In this doctoral thesis work, synthesis and characterization of various one-dimensional nanostructures including nanotubes of SnO2, and nanowires of WO3 and ZnO, as well as their direct integration into miniature sensor platforms called microhotplates have been demonstrated. The key highlights of this research include devising elegant strategies for growing metal oxide nanotubes using carbon nanotubes as templates, substantially reducing process temperatures to enable growth of WO3 nanowires on microhotplates, and successfully fabricating a ZnO nanowire array based sensor using a hybrid nanowire-nanoparticle assembly approach. In every process, the gas-sensing properties of one-dimensional nanostructures were observed to be far superior in comparison with thin films of the same material. Essentially, we have formulated simple processes for improving current thin film sensors as well as a means of incorporating nanostructures directly into miniature sensing devices. Apart from gas sensing applications, the approaches described in this work are suitable for designing future nanoelectronic devices such as gas-ionization, capacitive and calorimetric sensors, miniature sensor arrays for electronic nose applications, field emitters, as well as photonic devices such as nanoscale LEDs and lasers.

Characteristics of Mini-Magnetospheres Formed by Paleo-Magnetic Fields of Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ness, N. F.; Krymskii, A. M.; Crider, D. H.; Breus, T. K.; Acuna, M. H.; Hinson, D.; Barashyan, K. K.

2003-01-01

The intensely and non-uniformly magnetized crustal sources generate an effective large-scale magnetic field. In the Southern hemisphere the strongest crustal fields lead to the formation of large-scale mini-magnetospheres. In the Northern hemisphere, the crustal fields are rather weak and there are only isolated mini-magnetospheres. Re-connection with the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) occurs in many localized regions. This may occur not only in cusp-like structures above nearly vertical field anomalies but also in halos extending several hundreds of kilometers from these sources. Re-connection will permit solar wind (SW) and more energetic particles to precipitate into and heat the neutral atmosphere. Electron density profiles of the ionosphere of Mars derived from radio occultation data obtained by the Radio Science Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) experiment are concentrated in the near polar regions. The effective scale-height of the neutral atmosphere density in the vicinity of the ionization peak has been derived for each of the profiles studied. The effective scale-heights have been compared with the crustal magnetic fields measured by the MGS Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer (MAG/ER) experiment. A significant difference between the large-scale mini-magnetospheres and regions outside of them has been found. The neutral atmosphere is cooler inside the large-scale mini-magnetospheres. It appears that outside of the cusps the strong crustal magnetic fields prevent additional heating of the neutral atmosphere by direct interaction of the SW. The scale-height of the neutral atmosphere density derived from the experiment with the MGS Accelerometer has been compared with MAG/ER data. The scale-height was found to be usually larger than mean value near the boundaries of potential mini-magnetospheres and around cusps . It may indicate that the paleo-magnetic/IMF field re-connection is characteristic of the mini-magnetospheres at Mars.

Study and Control of Various Corona Modes in an Atmospheric Pressure Weakly Ionized Plasma Reactor Using a Current Sensor Characterized by a Broad Frequency Band

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Islam, Rokibul; Pedrow, Patrick; Lekobou, William; Englund, Karl

2013-09-01

A broad band current sensor is being used to monitor the various phenomena (primary streamers, secondary streamers, back corona, etc.) associated with an atmospheric pressure needle-array-to-grounded-screen corona discharge. The reactor consists of a PVC tube and the needle array consists of nickel coated steel electrodes with radius of curvature about 50 μ . The grounded screen is made from stainless steel mesh and applied voltage has a frequency of 60 Hz with an RMS value ranging from 0 to 10 kV. The voltage sensor is a resistive divider and the current sensor is a viewing resistor with value 50 Ω. The feed gas stream is presently (argon + acetylene) or (argon + oxygen) with the argon acting as carrier gas and the acetylene and oxygen acting as precursor gases. Voltage and current are captured with a LeCroy 9350AL 500MHz oscilloscope and analyzed with Matlab using digital signal processing algorithms. The goals of the research are 1) to measure reactor electrical power on a real time basis; 2) to provide real time control of the applied voltage and thus avoid spark conditions; and 3) to identify the various corona modes present in the reactor. Processing of substrates takes place downstream from the grounded screen, outside of the harsh corona discharge environment.

Plug-and-Play Environmental Monitoring Spacecraft Subsystem

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patel, Jagdish; Brinza, David E.; Tran, Tuan A.; Blaes, Brent R.

2011-01-01

A Space Environment Monitor (SEM) subsystem architecture has been developed and demonstrated that can benefit future spacecraft by providing (1) real-time knowledge of the spacecraft state in terms of exposure to the environment; (2) critical, instantaneous information for anomaly resolution; and (3) invaluable environmental data for designing future missions. The SEM architecture consists of a network of plug-and- play (PnP) Sensor Interface Units (SIUs), each servicing one or more environmental sensors. The SEM architecture is influenced by the IEEE Smart Transducer Interface Bus standard (IEEE Std 1451) for its PnP functionality. A network of PnP Spacecraft SIUs is enabling technology for gathering continuous real-time information critical to validating spacecraft health in harsh space environments. The demonstrated system that provided a proof-of-concept of the SEM architecture consisted of three SIUs for measurement of total ionizing dose (TID) and single event upset (SEU) radiation effects, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and deep dielectric charging through use of a prototype Internal Electro-Static Discharge Monitor (IESDM). Each SIU consists of two stacked 2X2 in. (approximately 5X5 cm) circuit boards: a Bus Interface Unit (BIU) board that provides data conversion, processing and connection to the SEM power-and-data bus, and a Sensor Interface Electronics (SIE) board that provides sensor interface needs and data path connection to the BIU.

Performance of CMOS imager as sensing element for a Real-time Active Pixel Dosimeter for Interventional Radiology procedures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magalotti, D.; Bissi, L.; Conti, E.; Paolucci, M.; Placidi, P.; Scorzoni, A.; Servoli, L.

2014-01-01

Staff members applying Interventional Radiology procedures are exposed to ionizing radiation, which can induce detrimental effects to the human body, and requires an improvement of radiation protection. This paper is focused on the study of the sensor element for a wireless real-time dosimeter to be worn by the medical staff during the interventional radiology procedures, in the framework of the Real-Time Active PIxel Dosimetry (RAPID) INFN project. We characterize a CMOS imager to be used as detection element for the photons scattered by the patient body. The CMOS imager has been first characterized in laboratory using fluorescence X-ray sources, then a PMMA phantom has been used to diffuse the X-ray photons from an angiography system. Different operating conditions have been used to test the detector response in realistic situations, by varying the X-ray tube parameters (continuous/pulsed mode, tube voltage and current, pulse parameters), the sensor parameters (gain, integration time) and the relative distance between sensor and phantom. The sensor response has been compared with measurements performed using passive dosimeters (TLD) and also with a certified beam, in an accredited calibration centre, in order to obtain an absolute calibration. The results are very encouraging, with dose and dose rate measurement uncertainties below the 10% level even for the most demanding Interventional Radiology protocols.

ExoCube INMS with Neutral Hydrogen Mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, S.; Paschalidis, N.; Rodriguez, M.; Sittler, E. C., Jr.; Chornay, D. J.; Cameron, T.; Uribe, P.; Nanan, G.; Noto, J.; Waldrop, L.; Mierkiewicz, E. J.; Gardner, D.; Nossal, S. M.; Puig-Suari, J.; Bellardo, J.

2015-12-01

The ExoCube mission launched on Jan 31 2015 into a polar orbit to acquire global knowledge of in situ densities of neutral and ionized H, He, and O in the upper ionosphere and lower exosphere. The CubeSat platform is used in combination with incoherent scatter radar and optical ground stations distributed throughout the Americas. ExoCube seeks to obtain the first in situ measurement of neutral exospheric hydrogen and will measure in situ atomic oxygen for the first time in decades. The compact Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) developed by GSFC uses the gated Time of Flight technique for in situ measurements of ions and neutrals (H, He, N, O, N2, O2) with M/dM of approximately 10. The compact sensor has a dual symmetric configuration with ion and neutral sensor heads. Neutral particles are ionized by electron impact using a thermionic emitter. In situ measurements of neutral hydrogen are notoriously difficult as historically the signal has been contaminated by hydrogen outgassing which persists even years after commissioning. In order to obtain neutral atmospheric hydrogen fluxes, either the atmospheric peak and outgassing peak must be well resolved, or the outgassing component subtracted off. The ExoCube INMS employs a separate mode, specifically for measuring neutral Hydrogen. The details of this mode and lessons learned will be presented as well as in flight instrument validation data for the neutral channel and preliminary flight ion spectra. At the time of abstract submission, the ExoCube spacecraft is currently undergoing attitude control maneuvers to orient INMS in the ram direction for science operations.

A Preliminary Design Of Application Of Wireless Identification And Sensing Platform On External Beam Radiotherapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heranudin; Bakhri, S.

2018-02-01

A linear accelerator (linac) is widely used as a means of radiotherapy by focusing high-energy photons in the targeted tumor of patient. Incorrectness of the shooting can lead normal tissue surrounding the tumor received unnecessary radiation and become damaged cells. A method is required to minimize the incorrectness that mostly caused by movement of the patient during radiotherapy process. In this paper, the Wireless Identification and Sensing Platform (WISP) architecture was employed to monitor in real time the movement of the patient’s body during radiotherapy process. In general, the WISP is a wearable sensors device that can transmit measurement data wirelessly. In this design, the measurement devices consist of an accelerometer, a barometer and an ionizing radiation sensor. If any changes in the body position which resulted in incorrectness of the shooting, the accelerometer and the barometer will trigger a warning to the linac operator. In addition, the radiation sensor in the WISP will detect unwanted radiation and that can endanger the patient. A wireless feature in this device can ease in implementation. Initial analyses have been performed and showed that the WISP is feasible to be applied on external beam radiotherapy.

Combining non selective gas sensors on a mobile robot for identification and mapping of multiple chemical compounds.

PubMed

Bennetts, Victor Hernandez; Schaffernicht, Erik; Pomareda, Victor; Lilienthal, Achim J; Marco, Santiago; Trincavelli, Marco

2014-09-17

In this paper, we address the task of gas distribution modeling in scenarios where multiple heterogeneous compounds are present. Gas distribution modeling is particularly useful in emission monitoring applications where spatial representations of the gaseous patches can be used to identify emission hot spots. In realistic environments, the presence of multiple chemicals is expected and therefore, gas discrimination has to be incorporated in the modeling process. The approach presented in this work addresses the task of gas distribution modeling by combining different non selective gas sensors. Gas discrimination is addressed with an open sampling system, composed by an array of metal oxide sensors and a probabilistic algorithm tailored to uncontrolled environments. For each of the identified compounds, the mapping algorithm generates a calibrated gas distribution model using the classification uncertainty and the concentration readings acquired with a photo ionization detector. The meta parameters of the proposed modeling algorithm are automatically learned from the data. The approach was validated with a gas sensitive robot patrolling outdoor and indoor scenarios, where two different chemicals were released simultaneously. The experimental results show that the generated multi compound maps can be used to accurately predict the location of emitting gas sources.

Energy Resolution and Temperature Dependence of Ce:GAGG Coupled to 3mm × 3mm Silicon Photomultipliers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seitz, B.; Rivera, N. Campos; Stewart, A. G.

2016-04-01

Scintillators are a critical component of sensor systems for the detection of ionizing radiation. Such systems have a diverse portfolio of applications from medical imaging, well logging in oil exploration, and detection systems for the prevention of the illicit movement of nuclear materials. The rare earth element cerium is an ideal dopant for a variety of host scintillating materials due to the fast 5d1 → 4f radiative transition of Ce3+. Cerium-doped gadolinium aluminium gallium garnet (Ce:GAGG) is a relatively new single crystal scintillator with several interesting properties. These include high light yield, an emission peak well-matched to silicon sensors, and low intrinsic energy resolution. Moreover, the material has high density and is nonhygroscopic. In this paper, we review the properties of cerium-doped GAGG and report energy-resolution (ER) measurements over the temperature range -10°C to +50°C for 3 × 3 × 30 mm3 Ce:GAGG crystals optically coupled to a silicon photomultipler (SiPM) sensor with a 3 mm × 3 mm active area. In addition, the linearity of the scintillator-SiPM response as a function of gamma energy is reported.

The at-wavelength metrology facility for UV- and XUV-reflection and diffraction optics at BESSY-II

PubMed Central

Schäfers, F.; Bischoff, P.; Eggenstein, F.; Erko, A.; Gaupp, A.; Künstner, S.; Mast, M.; Schmidt, J.-S.; Senf, F.; Siewert, F.; Sokolov, A.; Zeschke, Th.

2016-01-01

A technology center for the production of high-precision reflection gratings has been established. Within this project a new optics beamline and a versatile reflectometer for at-wavelength characterization of UV- and XUV-reflection gratings and other (nano-) optical elements has been set up at BESSY-II. The Plane Grating Monochromator beamline operated in collimated light (c-PGM) is equipped with an SX700 monochromator, of which the blazed gratings (600 and 1200 lines mm−1) have been recently exchanged for new ones of improved performance produced in-house. Over the operating range from 10 to 2000 eV this beamline has very high spectral purity achieved by (i) a four-mirror arrangement of different coatings which can be inserted into the beam at different angles and (ii) by absorber filters for high-order suppression. Stray light and scattered radiation is removed efficiently by double sets of in situ exchangeable apertures and slits. By use of in- and off-plane bending-magnet radiation the beamline can be adjusted to either linear or elliptical polarization. One of the main features of a novel 11-axes reflectometer is the possibility to incorporate real life-sized gratings. The samples are adjustable within six degrees of freedom by a newly developed UHV-tripod system carrying a load up to 4 kg, and the reflectivity can be measured between 0 and 90° incidence angle for both s- and p-polarization geometry. This novel powerful metrology facility has gone into operation recently and is now open for external users. First results on optical performance and measurements on multilayer gratings will be presented here. PMID:26698047

Use of different surface analysis techniques for the study of the photo-degradation of a polymeric matrix composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larena, A.; Ochoa, S. Jimenez de

2004-11-01

Polypropylene matrix composites, with different reinforcement degrees of long glass fibres, are usually used in different fields of the industry, like aeronautics or automotive. Owed to their huge application field, and work under diverse and severe conditions, samples of the materials were exposed to artificial accelerated photo ageing in UV chamber (Heraeus Xenotest 15OS). Although the oxidative mechanism of the PP is known enough, the fact that the material presents a high content of glass fibre, cause a surface degradation higher than that the case of no reinforced materials, owed to the presence of the fibres near the surface. In order to study this topographic modifications, the optical confocal microscopy is used that allows us the analysis of the material surface with more accuracy than a surface profiler, and with nanometric precision. We also want a correlation between surface degradation studied by confocal microscopy and reflectometer measurements. By this way, we can know the surface state, and the degradation evolution, by means of a set of easy measurements, taken with a portable reflectometer, in samples at work, without preparation. Since these materials shall fulfil some aesthetic requirements, we study also, by means of UV-vis spectroscopy, Yellow Index and White Index variations, trying to explain the photochemical processes causing these modifications. Also, the fact that these materials are usually subjected to surface treatments like adhesion or painting makes necessary the study of surface energy. We study the variation of this factor with exposing time and percentage of fibre, by means of contact angle measurements, with different liquids of known surface tensions.

High Resolution Millimeter Wave Inspecting of the Orbiter Acreage Heat Tiles of the Space Shuttle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Case, J. T.; Khakovsky, S.; Zoughi, r.; Hepburn, F.

2007-01-01

Presence of defects such as disbonds, delaminations, impact damage, in thermal protection systems can significantly reduce safety of the Space Shuttle and its crew. The physical cause of Space Shuttle Columbia's catastrophic failure was a breach in its thermal protection system, caused by a piece of external tank insulating foam separating from the external tank and striking the leading edge of the left wing of the orbiter. There is an urgent need for a rapid, robust and life-circle oriented nondestructive testing (NDT) technique capable of inspecting the external tank insulating foam as well as the orbiter's protective (acreage) heat tiles and its fuselage prior and subsequent to a launch. Such a comprehensive inspection technique enables NASA to perform life-cycle inspection on critical components of the orbiter and its supporting hardware. Consequently, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center initiated an investigation into several potentially viable NDT techniques for this purpose. Microwave and millimeter wave NDT methods have shown great potential to achieve these goals. These methods have been successfully used to produce images of the interior of various complex, thick and thin external tank insulating foam structures for real focused reflectometer at operating frequency from 50-100 GHz and for synthetic aperture techniques at Ku-band (12-18 GHz) and K-band (18-26 GHz). Preliminary results of inspecting heat tile specimens show that increasing resolution of the measurement system is an important issue. This paper presents recent results of an investigation for the purpose of detecting anomalies such as debonds and corrosion in metal substrate in complex multi-sectioned protective heat tile specimens using a real focused 150 GHz (D-band) reflectometer and wide-band millimeter wave holography at 33-50, GHz (Q-band).

Intruder signature analysis from a phase-sensitive distributed fiber-optic perimeter sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madsen, C. K.; Bae, T.; Snider, T.

2007-09-01

Using a phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometer developed at Texas A&M University, this paper reports on recent advances in intruder detection and classificatoin for long perimeters or borders. The system uses light pulses from a narrow linewidth CW laser with low frequency drift to interrogate an optical fiber. The backscattered light is detected, and real-time processing of the received signal is performed. Signatures from single and multiple humans on foot, nearby vehicle traffic on a road, construction-like vehicle activity, and animals have been obtained. Individual footsteps are clearly identified and the cadence readily observed. Time-frequency plots are used to compare the signatures. The detected signal contains information regarding the weight of the intruder as well. An adult weighing around 60kg may produce several π-radian shifts in the optical phase, which is detected by the system. While distances up to 20km have been monitored in previous remote field tests, we report measurements on a local test site with a total fiber length of 12km. A 3-mm diameter fiber cable is buried at a depth of 20-46 cm over a distance of 44m, with a 2km spool of fiber attached prior to the buried fiber and a 10km fiber spool connected in series after the buried section. Recent advances in data acquisition and signal processing allow us to avoid false alarms due to drifts in the laser center frequency and greatly improve the probability of detection. With these advancements, this technology is prime for low-cost perimeter monitoring of high-value and high-security installations such as nuclear power plants and military bases as well as national borders.

Advanced staring Si PIN visible sensor chip assembly for Bepi-Colombo mission to Mercury

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mills, R. E.; Drab, J. J.; Gin, A.

2009-08-01

The planet Mercury, by its near proximity to the sun, has always posed a formidable challenge to spacecraft. The Bepi-Colombo mission, coordinated by the European Space Agency, will be a pioneering effort in the investigation of this planet. Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) has been given the opportunity to develop the radiation hardened, high operability, high SNR, advanced staring focal plane array (FPA) for the spacecraft destined (Fig. 1) to explore the planet Mercury. This mission will launch in 2013 on a journey lasting approximately 6 years. When it arrives at Mercury in August 2019, it will endure temperatures as high as 350°C as well as relatively high radiation environments during its 1 year data collection period from September 2019 until September 2020. To support this challenging goal, RVS has designed and produced a custom visible sensor based on a 2048 x 2048 (2k2) format with a 10 μm unit cell. This sensor will support both the High Resolution Imaging Camera (HRIC) and the Stereo Camera (STC) instruments. This dual purpose sensor was designed to achieve high sensitivity as well as low input noise (<100 e-) for space-based, low light conditions. It also must maintain performance parameters in a total ionizing dose environment up to 70 kRad (Si) as well as immunity to latch-up and singe event upset. This paper will show full sensor chip assembly data highlighting the performance parameters prior to irradiation. Radiation testing performance will be reported by an independent source in a subsequent paper.

Radiation damage in the diamond based beam condition monitors of the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guthoff, Moritz; Afanaciev, Konstantin; Dabrowski, Anne; de Boer, Wim; Lange, Wolfgang; Lohmann, Wolfgang; Stickland, David

2013-12-01

The Beam Condition Monitor (BCM) of the CMS detector at the LHC is a protection device similar to the LHC Beam Loss Monitor system. While the electronics used is the same, poly-crystalline Chemical Vapor Deposition (pCVD) diamonds are used instead of ionization chambers as the BCM sensor material. The main purpose of the system is the protection of the silicon Pixel and Strip tracking detectors by inducing a beam dump, if the beam losses are too high in the CMS detector. By comparing the detector current with the instantaneous luminosity, the BCM detector efficiency can be monitored. The number of radiation-induced defects in the diamond, reduces the charge collection distance, and hence lowers the signal. The number of these induced defects can be simulated using the FLUKA Monte Carlo simulation. The cross-section for creating defects increases with decreasing energies of the impinging particles. This explains, why diamond sensors mounted close to heavy calorimeters experience more radiation damage, because of the high number of low energy neutrons in these regions. The signal decrease was stronger than expected from the number of simulated defects. Here polarization from trapped charge carriers in the defects is a likely candidate for explaining the difference, as suggested by Transient Current Technique (TCT) measurements. A single-crystalline (sCVD) diamond sensor shows a faster relative signal decrease than a pCVD sensor mounted at the same location. This is expected, since the relative increase in the number of defects is larger in sCVD than in pCVD sensors.

Highly sensitive and selective surface plasmon resonance sensor for detection of sub-ppb levels of benzo[a]pyrene by indirect competitive immunoreaction method.

PubMed

Miura, Norio; Sasaki, Makoto; Gobi, K Vengatajalabathy; Kataoka, Chiwa; Shoyama, Yukihiro

2003-07-01

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-immunosensor for detection of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is developed by using a model BaP-hapten compound, BaP-bovine serum albumin conjugate (BaP-BSA), and an anti-BaP-BSA monoclonal antibody. BaP-BSA conjugate is immobilized on a gold thin-film sensor chip by means of simple physical adsorption. The number of BaP-hapten units in BaP-BSA conjugate is estimated to be 28 from the difference in molecular weight (MW) between BaP-BSA conjugate and BSA based on the results of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) measurement. Anti-BaP-BSA antibody on contact with the BaP-BSA conjugate immobilized sensor chip causes an increase in the incident angle of the sensor chip. Binding of anti-BaP-BSA antibody with surface-immobilized BaP-BSA conjugate is inhibited by the presence of BaP in analyte solution, because of the inhibition effect of BaP. The SPR immunosensor for BaP functioning with the indirect competitive immunoreaction of anti-BaP-BSA antibody between the analyte (BaP) in testing solution and the BaP-BSA conjugate immobilized on the sensor chip provides a rapid determination (response time: ca. 15 min) of BaP in the concentration range of 0.01-1000 ppb. The antibody anchored to the sensor chip by antigen-antibody binding is removed on treatment with a pepsin solution (pH 2.0) for few minutes. The SPR sensor chip is found to be reusable for more than 20 times with a little decrease (<7%) in the sensor response. Detection of BaP by direct competitive immunoreactions is also carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The concentration of BaP could be determined as low as 0.01 ppb and 2 ppb using the SPR sensor and the ELISA method, respectively. The SPR sensor is found to detect BaP selectively in the presence of 2-hydroxybiphenyl (HBP); the incident angle shift of the SPR sensor for BaP is found to be same irrespective to the presence or the absence of a same concentration (as much as 30 ppb) of HBP together.

Non-invasive characterization and quality assurance of silicon micro-strip detectors using pulsed infrared laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, P.

2016-01-01

The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR is composed of 8 tracking stations consisting of roughly 1300 double sided silicon micro-strip detectors of 3 different dimensions. For the quality assurance of prototype micro-strip detectors a non-invasive detector charaterization is developed. The test system is using a pulsed infrared laser for charge injection and characterization, called Laser Test System (LTS). The system is aimed to develop a set of characterization procedures which are non-invasive (non-destructive) in nature and could be used for quality assurances of several silicon micro-strip detectors in an efficient, reliable and reproducible way. The procedures developed (as reported here) uses the LTS to scan sensors with a pulsed infra-red laser driven by step motor to determine the charge sharing in-between strips and to measure qualitative uniformity of the sensor response over the whole active area. The prototype detector modules which are tested with the LTS so far have 1024 strips with a pitch of 58 μm on each side. They are read-out using a self-triggering prototype read-out electronic ASIC called n-XYTER. The LTS is designed to measure sensor response in an automatized procedure at several thousand positions across the sensor with focused infra-red laser light (spot size ≈ 12 μm, wavelength = 1060 nm). The pulse with a duration of ≈ 10 ns and power ≈ 5 mW of the laser pulse is selected such, that the absorption of the laser light in the 300 μm thick silicon sensor produces ≈ 24000 electrons, which is similar to the charge created by minimum ionizing particles (MIP) in these sensors. The laser scans different prototype sensors and various non-invasive techniques to determine characteristics of the detector modules for the quality assurance is reported.

IUE investigations of SN 1987A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirshner, Robert P.

1989-01-01

IUE observations of the SN 1987A began shortly after the discovery and have been frequent through 1988 and 1989, using the fine error sensor for photometry, low dispersion spectra for the supernova spectrum, and high dispersion observations for the interstellar medium when the supernova was bright and for circumstellar gas surrounding the supernova as the initial event faded. The UV data were very useful in determining which star exploded, assessing the ionizing pulse produced as the shock hit the surface of the star, and in constraining the stellar evolution that preceded the explosion through observations of a circumstellar shell.

The reflectance of Ames 24E, Infrablack, and Martin black. [anodizing coatings for far-infrared space telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Sheldon M.

1989-01-01

Results are reported from measurements of the specular reflectances (SRs) and bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs) of three black optical coatings in the FIR wavelength range. The nonspecular reflectometer apparatus described by Smith (1984) is employed, and the data are presented in tables and graphs and discussed in detail. It is found that Ames 24E has an FIR SR one order of magnitude lower than that of Martin black (MB), with BRDF values characteristic of a nearly Lambertian surface, while Infrablack has SR two orders lower than MB and a specular-diffuse surface; MB itself has a very specular surface.

Spectral infrared hemispherical reflectance measurements for LDEF tray clamps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cromwell, B. K.; Shepherd, S. D.; Pender, C. W.; Wood, B. E.

1993-01-01

Infrared hemispherical reflectance measurements that were made on 58 chromic acid anodized tray clamps from LDEF are described. The measurements were made using a hemiellipsoidal mirror reflectometer with interferometer for wavelengths between 2-15 microns. The tray clamps investigated were from locations about the entire spacecraft and provided the opportunity for comparing the effects of atomic oxygen at each location. Results indicate there was essentially no dependence on atomic oxygen fluence for the surfaces studied, but there did appear to be a slight dependence on solar radiation exposure. The reflectances of the front sides of the tray clamps consistently were slightly higher than for the protected rear tray clamp surfaces.

Quality of dry chemistry testing.

PubMed

Nakamura, H; Tatsumi, N

1999-01-01

Since the development of the qualitative test paper for urine in 1950s, several kinds of dry-state-reagents and their automated analyzers have been developed. "Dry chemistry" has become to be called since the report on the development of quantitative test paper for serum bilirubin with reflectometer in the end of 1960s and dry chemistry has been world widely known since the presentation on the development of multilayer film reagent for serum biochemical analytes by Eastman Kodak Co at the 10th IFCC Meeting in the end of 1970s. We have reported test menu, results in external quality assessment, merits and demerits, and the future possibilities of dry chemistry.

Temperature measurements in an ytterbium fiber amplifier up to the mode instability threshold

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beier, F.; Heinzig, M.; Sattler, Bettina; Walbaum, Till; Haarlammert, N.; Schreiber, T.; Eberhardt, R.; Tünnermann, A.

2016-03-01

We report on the measurement of the longitudinal temperature distribution in a fiber amplifier fiber during high power operation. The measurement signal of an optical frequency domain reflectometer is coupled to an ytterbium doped amplifier fiber via a wavelength division multiplexer. The longitudinal temperature distribution was examined for different pump powers with a sub mm resolution. The results show even small temperature variations induced by slight changes of the environmental conditions along the fiber. The mode instability threshold of the fiber under investigation was determined to be 480W and temperatures could be measured overall the measured output power values.

Technique for finding and identifying filters that cut off OTDR lights in front of ONU from a central office

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takaya, Masaaki; Honda, Hiroyasu; Narita, Yoshihiro; Yamamoto, Fumihiko; Arakawa, Koji

2006-04-01

We report on a newly developed in-service measurement technique that can be used from a central office to find and identify any filter in front of an ONU on an optical fiber access network. Using this system, in-service tests can be performed because the test lights are modulated at a high frequency. Moreover, by using the equipment we developed, this confirmation operation can be performed continuously and automatically with existing automatic fiber testing systems. The developed technique is effective for constructing a fiber line testing system with an optical time domain reflectometer.

SU-G-TeP2-15: Feasibility Study of Fiber-Optic Cerenkov Radiation Sensors for in Vivo Measurement: Dosimetric Characterization and Clinical Application in Proton Beams

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lah, J; Son, J; Kim, G

Purpose: To evaluate the possibility of a fiber-optic Cerenkov radiation sensor (FCRS) for in vivo dose verification in proton therapy. Methods: The Cerenkov radiation due to the proton beam was measured using a homemade phantom, consisting of a plastic optical fiber (POF, PGSCD1001-13-E, Toray, Tokyo, Japan) connected to each channel of a multianode photomultiplier tube (MAPMT:H7546, Hamamatsu Photonics, Shizuoka, Japan). Data were acquired using a multi-anode photomultiplier tube with the NI-DAQ system (National Instruments Texas, USA). The real-time monitoring graphic user interface was programmed using Labview. The FCRS was analyzed for its dosimetrics characteristic in proton beam. To determine themore » accuracy of the FCRS in proton dose measurements, we compared the ionization chamber dose measurements using a water phantom. We investigated the feasibility of the FCRS for the measurement of dose distributions near the superficial region for proton plans with a varying separation between the target volume and the surface of 3 patients using a humanoid phantom. Results: The dose-response has good linearity. Dose-rate and energy dependence were found to be within 1%. Depth-dose distributions in non-modulated proton beams obtained with the FCRS was in good agreement with the depth-dose measurements from the ionization chamber. To evaluate the dosimetric accuracy of the FCRS, the difference of isocenter dose between the delivery dose calculated by the treatment planning system and that measured by the FCRS was within 3%. With in vivo dosimetry using the humanoid phantom, the calculated surface doses overestimated measurements by 4%–8% using FCRS. Conclusion: In previous study, our results indicate that the performance of the array-type FCRS was comparable to that of the currently used a multi-layer ion chamber system. In this study, we also believe that the fiber-optic Cerenkov radiation sensor has considerable potential for use with in vivo patient proton dosimetry.« less

Thermal Conductivity Measurement of Liquids by Using a Suspended Microheater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Dong-Wook

2017-10-01

In this paper, the traditional 3ω method is modified in order to measure the thermal conductivity of a droplet of liquid. The 3ω sensor is microfabricated using bulk silicon etching on a silicon wafer to form a microheater on a suspended bridge structure. The Si substrate of over 400 μ m thickness beneath the microheater is etched away so that the sample liquid can fill the gap created between the heater and the bottom boundary of the sensor. The frequency of the sinusoidal heating pulses that are generated from the heater is controlled such that the thermal penetration depth is much smaller than the thickness of the liquid layer. The temperature oscillation of the sample fluid is measured at the thin-film heater to calculate the thermal conductivity of the surrounding fluid. The thermal conductivity and measured values of the de-ionized water and ethanol show a good agreement with the theoretical values at room temperature.

Influence of the pH value of a colloidal gold solution on the absorption spectra of an LSPR-assisted sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhu, Jin; Li, Wenbin; Zhu, Mao

2014-03-15

The localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of gold particles assembled on a crystal plate are a powerful tool for biological sensors. Here, we prepare gold colloids in different pH solutions. We monitor the effects of the particle radius and particle coverage on the absorption spectra of AT-cut (r-face dihedral angle of about 3°) crystal plates supporting gold nanoparticles. The surface morphologies were monitored on silicon dioxide substrates using ultraviolet and visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that the gold particle coverage decreases with increasing pH value of the gold colloid solution. This phenomenon demonstrates thatmore » self-assembled gold surfaces were formed via the electrostatic adsorption of gold particles on the positively charged, ionized amino groups on the crystal plates in the acidic solution. The spectrum of gold nanoparticles with different coverage degree on the crystal plates showed that the LSPR properties are highly dependent on pH.« less

Radiation response issues for infrared detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kalma, Arne H.

1990-01-01

Researchers describe the most important radiation response issues for infrared detectors. In general, the two key degradation mechanisms in infrared detectors are the noise produced by exposure to a flux of ionizing particles (e.g.; trapped electronics and protons, debris gammas and electrons, radioactive decay of neutron-activated materials) and permanent damage produced by exposure to total dose. Total-dose-induced damage is most often the result of charge trapping in insulators or at interfaces. Exposure to short pulses of ionization (e.g.; prompt x rays or gammas, delayed gammas) will cause detector upset. However, this upset is not important to a sensor unless the recovery time is too long. A few detector technologies are vulnerable to neutron-induced displacement damage, but fortunately most are not. Researchers compare the responses of the new technologies with those of the mainstream technologies of PV HgCdTe and IBC Si:As. One important reason for this comparison is to note where some of the newer technologies have the potential to provide significantly improved radiation hardness compared with that of the mainstream technologies, and thus to provide greater motivation for the pursuit of these technologies.

SERENA: A suite of four instruments (ELENA, STROFIO, PICAM and MIPA) on board BepiColombo-MPO for particle detection in the Hermean environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orsini, S.; Livi, S.; Torkar, K.; Barabash, S.; Milillo, A.; Wurz, P.; di Lellis, A. M.; Kallio, E.; The Serena Team

2010-01-01

'Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances' (SERENA) is an instrument package that will fly on board the BepiColombo/Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO). It will investigate Mercury's complex particle environment that is composed of thermal and directional neutral atoms (exosphere) caused by surface release and charge-exchange processes, and of ionized particles caused by photo-ionization of neutrals as well by charge exchange and surface release processes. In order to investigate the structure and dynamics of the environment, an in-situ analysis of the key neutral and charged components is necessary, and for this purpose the SERENA instrument shall include four units: two neutral particle analyzers (Emitted Low Energy Neutral Atoms (ELENA) sensor and Start from a Rotating FIeld mass spectrometer (STROFIO)) and two ion spectrometers (Miniature Ion Precipitation Analyzer (MIPA) and Planetary Ion Camera (PICAM)). The scientific merits of SERENA are presented, and the basic characteristics of the four units are described, with a focus on novel technological aspects.

Solid state neutron dosimeter for space applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Entine, Gerald; Nagargar, Vivek; Sharif, Daud

1990-01-01

Personnel engaged in space flight are exposed to significant flux of high energy neutrons arising from both primary and secondary sources of ionizing radiation. Presently, there exist no compact neutron sensor capable of being integrated in a flight instrument to provide real time measurement of this radiation flux. A proposal was made to construct such an instrument using special PIN silicon diode which has the property of being insensitive to the other forms of ionizing radiation. Studies were performed to determine the design and construction of a better reading system to allow the PIN diode to be read with high precision. The physics of the device was studied, especially with respect to those factors which affect the sensitivity and reproducibility of the neutron response. This information was then used to develop methods to achieve high sensitivity at low neutron doses. The feasibility was shown of enhancing the PIN diode sensitivity to make possible the measurement of the low doses of neutrons encountered in space flights. The new PIN diode will make possible the development of a very compact, accurate, personal neutron dosimeter.

Development of an ion mobility spectrometer with UV ionization source to detect ketones and BTX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Kai; Guo, Jingran; Ou, Guangli; Lei, Yu; Wang, Xiaohao

2014-11-01

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is an attractive material analysis technology for developing a miniaturized volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on-site monitoring sensor. Having simple instrumentation, IMS is especially suitable when portability and sensitivity are required. In this work, we designed an ion mobility spectrometer with UV ionization. The geometric parameters of the UV-IMS were optimized based on a numerical simulation. The simulation results demonstrated that the drift electric field in the drift region was approximately homogenous and in the reaction region had an ion focusing effect, which could improve the sensitivity and resolving power of the IMS. The UV-IMS has been constructed and used to detect VOCs, such as acetone, benzene, toluene and m-xylene (BTX). The resolution of these substance measured from the UV-IMS in the atmospheric conditions are about 30 and the limit of detection (LOD) is low to ppmv. The ion mobility module and electric circuit are integrated in a main PCB, which can facilitate mass production and miniaturization. The present UV-IMS is expected to become a tool of choice for the on-site monitoring for VOCs.

Method for eliminating artifacts in CCD imagers

DOEpatents

Turko, B.T.; Yates, G.J.

1992-06-09

An electronic method for eliminating artifacts in a video camera employing a charge coupled device (CCD) as an image sensor is disclosed. The method comprises the step of initializing the camera prior to normal read out and includes a first dump cycle period for transferring radiation generated charge into the horizontal register while the decaying image on the phosphor being imaged is being integrated in the photosites, and a second dump cycle period, occurring after the phosphor image has decayed, for rapidly dumping unwanted smear charge which has been generated in the vertical registers. Image charge is then transferred from the photosites and to the vertical registers and read out in conventional fashion. The inventive method allows the video camera to be used in environments having high ionizing radiation content, and to capture images of events of very short duration and occurring either within or outside the normal visual wavelength spectrum. Resultant images are free from ghost, smear and smear phenomena caused by insufficient opacity of the registers and, and are also free from random damage caused by ionization charges which exceed the charge limit capacity of the photosites. 3 figs.

Vertical structure of the near-surface expanding ionosphere of comet 67P probed by Rosetta

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heritier, K. L.; Henri, P.; Vallières, X.; Galand, M.; Odelstad, E.; Eriksson, A. I.; Johansson, F. L.; Altwegg, K.; Behar, E.; Beth, A.; Broiles, T. W.; Burch, J. L.; Carr, C. M.; Cupido, E.; Nilsson, H.; Rubin, M.; Vigren, E.

2017-07-01

The plasma environment has been measured for the first time near the surface of a comet. This unique data set has been acquired at 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during ESA/Rosetta spacecraft's final descent on 2016 September 30. The heliocentric distance was 3.8 au and the comet was weakly outgassing. Electron density was continuously measured with Rosetta Plasma Consortium (RPC)-Mutual Impedance Probe (MIP) and RPC-LAngmuir Probe (LAP) during the descent from a cometocentric distance of 20 km down to the surface. Data set from both instruments have been cross-calibrated for redundancy and accuracy. To analyse this data set, we have developed a model driven by Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis-COmetary Pressure Sensor total neutral density. The two ionization sources considered are solar extreme ultraviolet radiation and energetic electrons. The latter are estimated from the RPC-Ion and Electron Sensor (IES) and corrected for the spacecraft potential probed by RPC-LAP. We have compared the results of the model to the electron densities measured by RPC-MIP and RPC-LAP at the location of the spacecraft. We find good agreement between observed and modelled electron densities. The energetic electrons have access to the surface of the nucleus and contribute as the main ionization source. As predicted, the measurements exhibit a peak in the ionospheric density close to the surface. The location and magnitude of the peak are estimated analytically. The measured ionospheric densities cannot be explained with a constant outflow velocity model. The use of a neutral model with an expanding outflow is critical to explain the plasma observations.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of the Operation of a Flame Ionization Sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huckaby, E.D.; Chorpening, B.T.; Thornton, J.D.

The sensors and controls research group at the United States Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is continuing to develop the Combustion Control and Diagnostics Sensor (CCADS) for gas turbine applications. CCADS uses the electrical conduction of the charged species generated during the combustion process to detect combustion instabilities and monitor equivalence ratio. As part of this effort, combustion models are being developed which include the interaction between the electric field and the transport of charged species. The primary combustion process is computed using a flame wrinkling model (Weller et. al. 1998) which is a component ofmore » the OpenFOAM toolkit (Jasak et. al. 2004). A sub-model for the transport of charged species is attached to this model. The formulation of the charged-species model similar that applied by Penderson and Brown (1993) for the simulation of laminar flames. The sub-model consists of an additional flux due to the electric field (drift flux) added to the equations for the charged species concentrations and the solution the electric potential from the resolved charge density. The subgrid interactions between the electric field and charged species transport have been neglected. Using the above procedure, numerical simulations are performed and the results compared with several recent CCADS experiments.« less

Investigation of diamond-like carbon samples as a charge state conversion surface for neutral atom imaging detectors in space applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brigitte Neuland, Maike; Riedo, Andreas; Scheer, Jürgen; Wurz, Peter

2014-05-01

The detection of energetic neutral atoms is a substantial requirement on every space mission mapping particle populations of a planetary magnetosphere or plasma of the interstellar medium. For imaging neutrals, these first have to be ionized. Regarding the constraints of weight, volume and power consumption, the technique of surface ionization complies with all specifications of a space mission. Particularly low energy neutral atoms, which cannot be ionized by passing through a foil, are ionized by scattering on a charge state conversion surface. Since more than 30 years intense research work is done to find suitable materials for use as charge state conversion surfaces. Crucial parameters are the ionisation efficiency of the surface material and the scattering properties. Against all expectations, insulators showed very promising characteristics for serving as conversion surfaces. Particularly diamond-like carbon was proven advantageously: While efficiently ionising incoming neutral atoms, diamond stands out by its durability and chemical inertness. In the IBEX-Lo sensor, a diamond-like carbon surface is used for ionisation of neutral atoms. Energy resolved maps of neutral atoms from the IBEX mission revealed phenomena of the interaction between heliosphere and local interstellar medium (LISM) that demand for new theory and explanations [McComas et al., 2011]. Building on the successes of the IBEX mission, a follow up mission concept to further explore the boundaries of the heliosphere already exists. The Interstellar MApping Probe (IMAP) is planned to map neutral atoms in a larger energy range and with a distinct better angular resolution and sensitivity than IBEX [McComas et al.]. The aspired performance of the IMAP sensors implies also for charge state conversion surfaces with improved characteristics. We investigated samples of diamond-like carbon, manufactured by the chemical vapour and pulsed laser deposition method, regarding their ionisation efficiency, scattering and reflexion properties. Experiments were carried out at the ILENA facility [Wahlström et al., 2013] with hydrogen and oxygen atoms, which are the species of main interest in magnetospheric research [Wurz et al., 1997]. Results of very narrow scattering cones and sufficient ionisation efficiency show that diamond-like carbon still is the preferred material for charge state conversion surfaces. But our measurements show that new surface technologies offer improved diamond conversion surfaces with different properties and hence the possibility for improvement of the performance of neutral atom imaging instruments. References: [McComas et al., 2011] D.J. McComas, H.O. Funsten, S.A. Fuselier, W.S. Lewis, E. Möbius and N.A. Schwadron, IBEX observations of Heliospheric energetic neutral atoms: Current understanding and future directions, Geophys. Res. Lett. 38, L18101, 2011 [McComas et al.] Interstellar Mapping Probe (IMAP) mission concept: Illuminating the dark boundaries at the edge of our solar system, decadal survey white paper [Wahlström et al., 2013] P. Wahlström, J.A. Scheer, A. Riedo, P. Wurz and M. Wieser, J. Spacecr. Rockets 50 (2), 402-410 [Wurz et al., 1997] P. Wurz, R. Schletti, M.R. Aellig, Hydrogen and oxygen negative ion production by surface ionization using diamond surfaces, Surf. Sci. 373, 56-66, 1997.

Multi-MGy Radiation Hardened Camera for Nuclear Facilities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Girard, Sylvain; Boukenter, Aziz; Ouerdane, Youcef

There is an increasing interest in developing cameras for surveillance systems to monitor nuclear facilities or nuclear waste storages. Particularly, for today's and the next generation of nuclear facilities increasing safety requirements consecutive to Fukushima Daiichi's disaster have to be considered. For some applications, radiation tolerance needs to overcome doses in the MGy(SiO{sub 2}) range whereas the most tolerant commercial or prototypes products based on solid state image sensors withstand doses up to few kGy. The objective of this work is to present the radiation hardening strategy developed by our research groups to enhance the tolerance to ionizing radiations ofmore » the various subparts of these imaging systems by working simultaneously at the component and system design levels. Developing radiation-hardened camera implies to combine several radiation-hardening strategies. In our case, we decided not to use the simplest one, the shielding approach. This approach is efficient but limits the camera miniaturization and is not compatible with its future integration in remote-handling or robotic systems. Then, the hardening-by-component strategy appears mandatory to avoid the failure of one of the camera subparts at doses lower than the MGy. Concerning the image sensor itself, the used technology is a CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) designed by ISAE team with custom pixel designs used to mitigate the total ionizing dose (TID) effects that occur well below the MGy range in classical image sensors (e.g. Charge Coupled Devices (CCD), Charge Injection Devices (CID) and classical Active Pixel Sensors (APS)), such as the complete loss of functionality, the dark current increase and the gain drop. We'll present at the conference a comparative study between these radiation-hardened pixel radiation responses with respect to conventional ones, demonstrating the efficiency of the choices made. The targeted strategy to develop the complete radiation hard camera electronics will be exposed. Another important element of the camera is the optical system that transports the image from the scene to the image sensor. This arrangement of glass-based lenses is affected by radiations through two mechanisms: the radiation induced absorption and the radiation induced refractive index changes. The first one will limit the signal to noise ratio of the image whereas the second one will directly affect the resolution of the camera. We'll present at the conference a coupled simulation/experiment study of these effects for various commercial glasses and present vulnerability study of typical optical systems to radiations at MGy doses. The last very important part of the camera is the illumination system that can be based on various technologies of emitting devices like LED, SLED or lasers. The most promising solutions for high radiation doses will be presented at the conference. In addition to this hardening-by-component approach, the global radiation tolerance of the camera can be drastically improve by working at the system level, combining innovative approaches eg. for the optical and illumination systems. We'll present at the conference the developed approach allowing to extend the camera lifetime up to the MGy dose range. (authors)« less

Weld Development for Aluminum Fission Chamber

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cross, Carl Edward; Martinez, Jesse Norris

2017-05-16

The Sigma welding team was approached to help fabricate a small fission chamber (roughly ½ inch dia. x ½ inch tall cylinder). These chambers are used as radiation sensors that contain small traces of radionuclides (Cf 252, U 235, and U 238) that serve to ionize gas atoms in addition to external radiation. When a voltage is applied within the chamber, the resulting ion flow can be calibrated and monitored. Aluminum has the advantage of not forming radioactive compounds when exposed to high external radiation (except from minor Na alloy content). Since aluminum has not been used before in thismore » application, this presented an unexplored challenge.« less

Real-time measurements of radon activity with the Timepix-based RADONLITE and RADONPIX detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caresana, M.; Garlati, L.; Murtas, F.; Romano, S.; Severino, C. T.; Silari, M.

2014-11-01

Radon gas is the most important source of ionizing radiation among those of natural origin. Two new systems for radon measurement based on the Timepix silicon detector were developed. The positively charged radon daughters are electrostatically collected on the surface of the Si detector and their energy spectrum measured. Pattern recognition of the tracks on the sensor and particle identification are used to determine number and energy of the alpha particles and to subtract the background, allowing for efficient radon detection. The systems include an algorithm for real-time measurement of the radon concentration and the calculation of the effective dose to the lungs.

Evolution of Cometary Activity at 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as seen by ROSINA/Rosetta

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jäckel, A.; Altwegg, K.; Balsiger, H.; Calmonte, U.; Gasc, S.; Le Roy, L.; Rubin, M.; Tzou, C. Y.; Wurz, P.; Bieler, A.; Berthelier, J.-J.; Fiethe, B.; Hässig, M.; deKeyser, J.; Mall, U.; Rème, H.

2015-10-01

Since nine months the European Space Agency's spacecraft Rosetta, with the Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) onboard, is in the comet escort phase. ROSINA is a suite of three instruments, consisting of the COmetary Pressure Sensor (COPS), the Double Focusing Mass Spectrometer (DFMS), and the Reflectron-type Time-Of-Flight (RTOF) mass spectrometer [1]. The two mass spectrometers measure in situ the neutral and ionized volatile material in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko (67P/C-G). With COPS we are able to derive the total gas density, bulk velocities and temperatures of the coma.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hofstetter, Markus; Howgate, John; Schmid, Martin

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Gallium nitride based sensors show promising characteristics to monitor cellular parameters. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Cell growth experiments reveal excellent biocompatibiltiy of the host GaN material. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We present a biofunctionality assay using ionizing radiation. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer DNA repair is utilized to evaluate material induced alterations in the cellular behavior. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer GaN shows no bio-functional influence on the cellular environment. -- Abstract: There is an increasing interest in the integration of hybrid bio-semiconductor systems for the non-invasive evaluation of physiological parameters. High quality gallium nitride and its alloys show promising characteristics to monitor cellular parameters. Nevertheless, such applications not only request appropriatemore » sensing capabilities but also the biocompatibility and especially the biofunctionality of materials. Here we show extensive biocompatibility studies of gallium nitride and, for the first time, a biofunctionality assay using ionizing radiation. Analytical sensor devices are used in medical settings, as well as for cell- and tissue engineering. Within these fields, semiconductor devices have increasingly been applied for online biosensing on a cellular and tissue level. Integration of advanced materials such as gallium nitride into these systems has the potential to increase the range of applicability for a multitude of test devices and greatly enhance sensitivity and functionality. However, for such applications it is necessary to optimize cell-surface interactions and to verify the biocompatibility of the semiconductor. In this work, we present studies of mouse fibroblast cell activity grown on gallium nitride surfaces after applying external noxa. Cell-semiconductor hybrids were irradiated with X-rays at air kerma doses up to 250 mGy and the DNA repair dynamics, cell proliferation, and cell growth dynamics of adherent cells were compared to control samples. The impact of ionizing radiation on DNA, along with the associated cellular repair mechanisms, is well characterized and serves as a reference tool for evaluation of substrate effects. The results indicate that gallium nitride does not require specific surface treatments to ensure biocompatibility and suggest that cell signaling is not affected by micro-environmental alterations arising from gallium nitride-cell interactions. The observation that gallium nitride provides no bio-functional influence on the cellular environment confirms that this material is well suited for future biosensing applications without the need for additional chemical surface modification.« less

Application of the Haar Wavelet to the Analysis of Plasma and Atmospheric Fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maslov, S. A.; Kharchevsky, A. A.; Smirnov, V. A.

2017-12-01

The parameters of turbulence measured by means of a Doppler reflectometer at the plasma periphery in an L-2M stellarator and in atmospheric vortices (typhoons and tornadoes) are investigated using the wavelet methods with involvement of the Haar function. The periods of time taken for the transition (a bound of parameters) to occur in the L-2M stellarator plasma and in atmospheric processes are estimated. It is shown that high-and low-frequency oscillations of certain parameters, in particular, pressure, that occur in atmospheric vortices decay or increase at different moments of time, whereas the density fluctuation amplitudes that occur in plasma at different frequencies vary in a synchronous manner.

Polarization effects on hard target calibration of lidar systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kavaya, Michael J.

1987-01-01

The theory of hard target calibration of lidar backscatter data, including laboratory measurements of the pertinent target reflectance parameters, is extended to include the effects of polarization of the transmitted and received laser radiation. The bidirectional reflectance-distribution function model of reflectance is expanded to a 4 x 4 matrix allowing Mueller matrix and Stokes vector calculus to be employed. Target reflectance parameters for calibration of lidar backscatter data are derived for various lidar system polarization configurations from integrating sphere and monostatic reflectometer measurements. It is found that correct modeling of polarization effects is mandatory for accurate calibration of hard target reflectance parameters and, therefore, for accurate calibration of lidar backscatter data.

Far-infrared /FIR/ optical black bidirectional reflectance distribution function /BRDF/

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, S. M.

1981-01-01

A nonspecular reflectometer and its operation at far-infrared wavelengths are described. Large differences in nonspecular reflectance were found to exist between different optically black coatings. Normal incidence bidirectional reflectance distribution function /BRDF) measurements at wavelengths between 12 and 316 microns of three black coatings show that their mean BRDFs increase with wavelength. The specularity of two of these coatings also showed a strong wavelength dependence, while the specularity of one coating seemed independent of wavelength. The BRDF of one coating depended on the angle of incidence at 12 and 38 microns, but not at 316 microns. Beyond 200 microns, it was found necessary to correct the measurements for the beam spread of the instrument.

Metal-coated Bragg grating reflecting fibre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chamorovskiy, Yu. K.; Butov, O. V.; Kolosovskiy, A. O.; Popov, S. M.; Voloshin, V. V.; Vorob'ev, I. L.; Vyatkin, M. Yu.

2017-03-01

High-temperature optical fibres (OF) with fibre Bragg gratings (FBG) arrays written over a long length and in-line metal coating have been made for the first time. The optical parameters of the FBG arrays were tested by the optical frequency domain reflectometer (OFDR) method in a wide temperature range, demonstrating no degradation in reflection at heating up to 600 °C for a fibre with Al coating. The mechanical strength of the developed fibre was practically the same as "ordinary" OF with similar coating, showing the absence of the influence of FBG writing process on fibre strength. Further experiments are necessary to evaluate the possibility of further increases in the operational temperature range.

Update to permeable pavement research at the Edison ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Abstract: The EPA’s Urban Watershed Management Branch (UWMB) has been monitoring the permeable pavement demonstration site at the Edison Environmental Center, NJ since 2010. This site has three different types of permeable pavement including: interlocking concrete permeable pavers; porous concrete; and permeable asphalt. The parking lot is instrumented with water content reflectometers and thermistors for continuous monitoring and has four lined sections for each surface to capture permeable pavement infiltrate for water quality analyses.Previous technical releases concerning the demonstration site focused on monitoring techniques, observed chloride and nutrient concentrations, and infiltration and evaporation rates. Thispresentation summarizes past findings and addresses current water quality efforts. This presentation summarizes past findings and addresses current water quality efforts.

Methanol, ethanol and hydrogen sensing using metal oxide and metal (TiO(2)-Pt) composite nanoclusters on GaN nanowires: a new route towards tailoring the selectivity of nanowire/nanocluster chemical sensors.

PubMed

Aluri, Geetha S; Motayed, Abhishek; Davydov, Albert V; Oleshko, Vladimir P; Bertness, Kris A; Sanford, Norman A; Mulpuri, Rao V

2012-05-04

We demonstrate a new method for tailoring the selectivity of chemical sensors using semiconductor nanowires (NWs) decorated with metal and metal oxide multicomponent nanoclusters (NCs). Here we present the change of selectivity of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanocluster-coated gallium nitride (GaN) nanowire sensor devices on the addition of platinum (Pt) nanoclusters. The hybrid sensor devices were developed by fabricating two-terminal devices using individual GaN NWs followed by the deposition of TiO(2) and/or Pt nanoclusters (NCs) using the sputtering technique. This paper present the sensing characteristics of GaN/(TiO(2)-Pt) nanowire-nanocluster (NWNC) hybrids and GaN/(Pt) NWNC hybrids, and compare their selectivity with that of the previously reported GaN/TiO(2) sensors. The GaN/TiO(2) NWNC hybrids showed remarkable selectivity to benzene and related aromatic compounds, with no measurable response for other analytes. Addition of Pt NCs to GaN/TiO(2) sensors dramatically altered their sensing behavior, making them sensitive only to methanol, ethanol and hydrogen, but not to any other chemicals we tested. The GaN/(TiO(2)-Pt) hybrids were able to detect ethanol and methanol concentrations as low as 100 nmol mol(-1) (ppb) in air in approximately 100 s, and hydrogen concentrations from 1 µmol mol(-1) (ppm) to 1% in nitrogen in less than 60 s. However, GaN/Pt NWNC hybrids showed limited sensitivity only towards hydrogen and not towards any alcohols. All these hybrid sensors worked at room temperature and are photomodulated, i.e. they responded to analytes only in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light. We propose a qualitative explanation based on the heat of adsorption, ionization energy and solvent polarity to explain the observed selectivity of the different hybrids. These results are significant from the standpoint of applications requiring room-temperature hydrogen sensing and sensitive alcohol monitoring. These results demonstrate the tremendous potential for tailoring the selectivity of the hybrid nanosensors for a multitude of environmental and industrial sensing applications.

The Metal Oxide Space Clouds (MOSC) Experiment: High Frequency (HF) Signatures and Interactions with the Ambient Ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Groves, K. M.; Caton, R. G.; Pedersen, T. R.; Parris, R. T.; Su, Y.; Cannon, P. S.; Jackson-booth, N. K.; Angling, M. J.; Retterer, J. M.

2013-12-01

With support from the NASA sounding rocket team, AFRL performed two separate 5 kg releases of samarium metal vapor in the lower F-region near Kwajalein Atoll in May 2013. A fraction of the samarium subsequently ionized forming a plasma cloud that persisted for tens of minutes to hours in the post-sunset period. Numerous sensors were used to characterize the clouds including the ALTAIR incoherent scatter radar, multiple GPS and optical instruments, satellite radio beacons, and a dedicated network of high frequency (HF) radio links. The primary objectives of the experiments were to understand the dynamics, evolution and chemistry of Sm atoms in the earth's upper atmosphere. Sm is predicted to both photo-ionize and chemi-ionize through charge exchange with neutral oxygen (O). Ionization rates and loss reactions are not well known. A secondary objective was to understand the interaction of an artificial plasma cloud with the low latitude ionosphere during the pre-reversal enhancement period leading up to the post-sunset development of large-scale Rayleigh-Taylor instability. It was initially hoped that the introduction of the artificial plasma might be sufficient to quench the development of the instability by maintaining high conductivity within the affected flux tubes. Modeling results showed that this result was unlikely due to the relatively small amount of material being released. However, it appeared possible that the presence of SmO+ near the bottomside of the F-region might be capable of reducing the formation of short-scale irregularities within the larger Rayleigh-Taylor 'bubbles'. Indeed, preliminary results indicate that the artificial layers, positioned at 170 and 180 km respectively, did interact with the overlying F region and in at least one case, cause a decrease in the short-scale component of the natural irregularity spectrum. The results suggest that it may be possible to mitigate the formation of low-latitude irregularities responsible for radio wave scintillation with a MOSC-based approach.

Optimizing the loss of one-dimensional photonic crystal towards high-sensitivity Bloch-surface-wave sensors under intensity interrogation scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, Weijing; Wan, Yuhang; Du, Kun; Zhao, Wenhui; Wang, Shuang; Zheng, Zheng

2016-11-01

The reflected intensity change of the Bloch-surface-wave (BSW) resonance influenced by the loss of a truncated onedimensional photonic crystal structure is numerically analyzed and studied in order to enhance the sensitivity of the Bloch-surface-wave-based sensors. The finite truncated one-dimensional photonic crystal structure is designed to be able to excite BSW mode for water (n=1.33) as the external medium and for p-polarized plane wave incident light. The intensity interrogation scheme which can be operated on a typical Kretschmann prism-coupling configuration by measuring the reflected intensity change of the resonance dip is investigated to optimize the sensitivity. A figure of merit (FOM) is introduced to measure the performance of the one-dimensional photonic crystal multilayer structure under the scheme. The detection sensitivities are calculated under different device parameters with a refractive index change corresponding to different solutions of glycerol in de-ionized (DI)-water. The results show that the intensity sensitivity curve varies similarly with the FOM curve and the sensitivity of the Bloch-surface-wave sensor is greatly affected by the device loss, where an optimized loss value can be got. For the low-loss BSW devices, the intensity interrogation sensing sensitivity may drop sharply from the optimal value. On the other hand, the performance of the detection scheme is less affected by the higher device loss. This observation is in accordance with BSW experimental sensing demonstrations as well. The results obtained could be useful for improving the performance of the Bloch-surface-wave sensors for the investigated sensing scheme.

Fabrication and testing of a 4-node micro-pocket fission detector array for the Kansas State University TRIGA Mk. II research nuclear reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reichenberger, Michael A.; Nichols, Daniel M.; Stevenson, Sarah R.; Swope, Tanner M.; Hilger, Caden W.; Unruh, Troy C.; McGregor, Douglas S.; Roberts, Jeremy A.

2017-08-01

Advancements in nuclear reactor core modeling and computational capability have encouraged further development of in-core neutron sensors. Micro-Pocket Fission Detectors (MPFDs) have been fabricated and tested previously, but successful testing of these prior detectors was limited to single-node operation with specialized designs. Described in this work is a modular, four-node MPFD array fabricated and tested at Kansas State University (KSU). The four sensor nodes were equally spaced to span the length of the fuel-region of the KSU TRIGA Mk. II research nuclear reactor core. The encapsulated array was filled with argon gas, serving as an ionization medium in the small cavities of the MPFDs. The unified design improved device ruggedness and simplified construction over previous designs. A 0.315-in. (8-mm) penetration in the upper grid plate of the KSU TRIGA Mk. II research nuclear reactor was used to deploy the array between fuel elements in the core. The MPFD array was coupled to an electronic support system which has been developed to support pulse-mode operation. Neutron-induced pulses were observed on all four sensor channels. Stable device operation was confirmed by testing under steady-state reactor conditions. Each of the four sensors in the array responded to changes in reactor power between 10 kWth and full power (750 kWth). Reactor power transients were observed in real-time including positive transients with periods of 5, 15, and 30 s. Finally, manual reactor power oscillations were observed in real-time.

Measuring Mars' Atmospheric Neutral Density from 160 to 220km with the MGS Electron Reflectometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lillis, R.; Engel, J.; Mitchell, D.; Brain, D.; Lin, R.; Bougher, S.; Acuna, M.

2005-08-01

The Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer (MAG/ER) experiment aboard Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) samples the local electron population's distribution in energy and pitch angle (angle between electron velocity and local magnetic field direction) at the mapping orbit altitude of ˜400km. We develop a single-particle model of the electrons' interaction with the neutral atmosphere and motion along open field-lines connecting the solar wind to remnant crustal magnetization. Electron reflection from magnetic gradients and absorption due to inelastic collisons with atmospheric neutrals results in characteristic pitch angle (PA) distributions for open field lines. By assuming the validity of spherical harmonic expansions (Cain et al, 2003) in the strongest field regions of Mars (such as Terra Sirenum), we trace the electron paths and fit these PA distributions to our model to constrain the scale height and density of the neutral atmosphere in the region of greatest absorption, 160-220km. We analyse almost 3 martian years of MGS mapping Orbit Data and present the first measurements of Mars' neutral density above 180km. Although the uncertainties in single measurements are quite large, averaging over many measurements over a period of weeks allows us to see long-term trends. Major results are: 1) a mean density of 0.03 kg/km3 at 160km with a month-averaged variation of ˜40%, 2) a very strong annual seasonal variation, confirmed by periodogram and least-squares fit and 3) increasing seasonal density variability with distance from the equator. We see broad general agreement with predictions from Mars Thermosphere Global Circulation Model (MTGCM) simulations [Bougher et al, 2004] and with inferred densities from MGS Doppler tracking data [Tracadas et al, 2001]. Our results will help to constrain the upper boundaries of GCMs and assist orbital decay calculations for low-orbiting spacecraft, such as the 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. We thank the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory for funding assistance for this research.

Evaluation of quick tests for phosphorus determination in dairy manures.

PubMed

Lugo-Ospina, A; Dao, Thanh H; Van Kessel, J A; Reeves, J B

2005-05-01

Nutrients in animal manure are valuable inputs in agronomic crop production. Rapid and timely information about manure nutrient content are needed to minimize the risks of phosphorus (P) over-application and losses of dissolved P (DP) in runoff from fields treated with manure. We evaluated the suitability of a commercial hand-held reflectometer, a hydrometer, and an electrical conductivity (EC) meter for determining DP and total P (TP) in dairy manures. Bulk samples (n = 107) collected from farms across CT, MD, NY, PA, and VA were highly variable in total solids (TS) concentration, ranging from 11 to 213gL(-1), in suspensions' pH (6.3-9.2), and EC (6.2-53.3 dS m(-1)). Manure DP concentrations measured using the RQFlex reflectometer (RQFlex-DP(s)) were related to molybdate-reactive P (MRP(s)) concentrations as follows: RQFlex-DP(s) = 0.471 x MRP(s) + 1102 (r2 = 0.29). Inclusion of pH and squared-pH terms improved the prediction of manure DP from RQFlex results (r2 = 0.66). Excluding five outlier samples that had pH < or = 6.9 the coefficient of determination (r2) for the MRP(s) and RQFlex-DP(s) relationship was 0.83 for 95% of the samples. Manure TS were related to hydrometer specific gravity readings (r2 = 0.53) that were in turn related to TP (r2 = 0.34), but not to either RQFlex-DP or MRP. Relationships between suspensions' EC and DP or TP were non-significant. Therefore, the RQFlex method is the only viable option for on-site quick estimates of DP that can be made more robust when complemented with TS and pH measurements. The DP quick test can provide near real-time information on soluble manure nutrient content across a wide range of handling and storage conditions on dairy farms and quick estimates of potential soluble P losses in runoff following land applications of manure.

Effectiveness of Cool Roof Coatings with Ceramic Particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brehob, Ellen G; Desjarlais, Andre Omer; Atchley, Jerald Allen

2011-01-01

Liquid applied coatings promoted as cool roof coatings, including several with ceramic particles, were tested at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tenn., for the purpose of quantifying their thermal performances. Solar reflectance measurements were made for new samples and aged samples using a portable reflectometer (ASTM C1549, Standard Test Method for Determination of Solar Reflectance Near Ambient Temperature Using a Portable Solar Reflectometer) and for new samples using the integrating spheres method (ASTM E903, Standard Test Method for Solar Absorptance, Reflectance, and Transmittance of Materials Using Integrating Spheres). Thermal emittance was measured for the new samples using amore » portable emissometer (ASTM C1371, Standard Test Method for Determination of Emittance of Materials Near Room 1 Proceedings of the 2011 International Roofing Symposium Temperature Using Portable Emissometers). Thermal conductivity of the coatings was measured using a FOX 304 heat flow meter (ASTM C518, Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus). The surface properties of the cool roof coatings had higher solar reflectance than the reference black and white material, but there were no significant differences among coatings with and without ceramics. The coatings were applied to EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) membranes and installed on the Roof Thermal Research Apparatus (RTRA), an instrumented facility at ORNL for testing roofs. Roof temperatures and heat flux through the roof were obtained for a year of exposure in east Tennessee. The field tests showed significant reduction in cooling required compared with the black reference roof (~80 percent) and a modest reduction in cooling compared with the white reference roof (~33 percent). The coating material with the highest solar reflectivity (no ceramic particles) demonstrated the best overall thermal performance (combination of reducing the cooling load cost and not incurring a large heating penalty cost) and suggests solar reflectivity is the significant characteristic for selecting cool roof coatings.« less

Aerial surveillance for gas and liquid hydrocarbon pipelines using a flame ionization detector (FID)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Riquetti, P.V.; Fletcher, J.I.; Minty, C.D.

1996-12-31

A novel application for the detection of airborne hydrocarbons has been successfully developed by means of a highly sensitive, fast responding Flame Ionization Detector (FID). The traditional way to monitor pipeline leaks has been by ground crews using specific sensors or by airborne crews highly trained to observe anomalies associated with leaks during periodic surveys of the pipeline right-of-way. The goal has been to detect leaks in a fast and cost effective way before the associated spill becomes a costly and hazardous problem. This paper describes a leak detection system combined with a global positioning system (GPS) and a computerizedmore » data output designed to pinpoint the presence of hydrocarbons in the air space of the pipeline`s right of way. Fixed wing aircraft as well as helicopters have been successfully used as airborne platforms. Natural gas, crude oil and finished products pipelines in Canada and the US have been surveyed using this technology with excellent correlation between the aircraft detection and in situ ground detection. The information obtained is processed with a proprietary software and reduced to simple coordinates. Results are transferred to ground crews to effect the necessary repairs.« less

Space Radiation Environment Prediction for VLSI microelectronics devices onboard a LEO Satellite using OMERE-Trad Software

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sajid, Muhammad

This tutorial/survey paper presents the assessment/determination of level of hazard/threat to emerging microelectronics devices in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space radiation environment with perigee at 300 Km, apogee at 600Km altitude having different orbital inclinations to predict the reliability of onboard Bulk Built-In Current Sensor (BBICS) fabricated in 350nm technology node at OptMA Lab. UFMG Brazil. In this context, the various parameters for space radiation environment have been analyzed to characterize the ionizing radiation environment effects on proposed BBICS. The Space radiation environment has been modeled in the form of particles trapped in Van-Allen radiation belts(RBs), Energetic Solar Particles Events (ESPE) and Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) where as its potential effects on Device- Under-Test (DUT) has been predicted in terms of Total Ionizing Dose (TID), Single-Event Effects (SEE) and Displacement Damage Dose (DDD). Finally, the required mitigation techniques including necessary shielding requirements to avoid undesirable effects of radiation environment at device level has been estimated /determined with assumed standard thickness of Aluminum shielding. In order to evaluate space radiation environment and analyze energetic particles effects on BBICS, OMERE toolkit developed by TRAD was utilized.

Method for eliminating artifacts in CCD imagers

DOEpatents

Turko, Bojan T.; Yates, George J.

1992-01-01

An electronic method for eliminating artifacts in a video camera (10) employing a charge coupled device (CCD) (12) as an image sensor. The method comprises the step of initializing the camera (10) prior to normal read out and includes a first dump cycle period (76) for transferring radiation generated charge into the horizontal register (28) while the decaying image on the phosphor (39) being imaged is being integrated in the photosites, and a second dump cycle period (78), occurring after the phosphor (39) image has decayed, for rapidly dumping unwanted smear charge which has been generated in the vertical registers (32). Image charge is then transferred from the photosites (36) and (38) to the vertical registers (32) and read out in conventional fashion. The inventive method allows the video camera (10) to be used in environments having high ionizing radiation content, and to capture images of events of very short duration and occurring either within or outside the normal visual wavelength spectrum. Resultant images are free from ghost, smear and smear phenomena caused by insufficient opacity of the registers (28) and (32), and are also free from random damage caused by ionization charges which exceed the charge limit capacity of the photosites (36) and (37).

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DE GERONIMO,G.; VERNON, E.; ACKLEY, K.

We describe an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for 3D position-sensitive detectors. It was optimized for pixelated CZT sensors, and it measures, corresponding to an ionizing event, the energy and timing of signals from 121 anodes and one cathode. Each channel provides low-noise charge amplification, high-order shaping, along with peak- and timing-detection. The cathode's timing can be measured in three different ways: the first is based on multiple thresholds on the charge amplifier's voltage output; the second uses the threshold crossing of a fast-shaped signal; and the third measures the peak amplitude and timing from a bipolar shaper. With itsmore » power of 2 mW per channel the ASIC measures, on a CZT sensor Connected and biased, charges up to 100 fC with an electronic resolution better than 200 e{sup -} rms. Our preliminary spectral measurements applying a simple cathode/mode ratio correction demonstrated a single-pixel resolution of 4.8 keV (0.72 %) at 662 keV, with the electronics and leakage current contributing in total with 2.1 keV.« less

Experimental active and passive dosimetry systems for the NASA Skylab program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, M. F.; Janni, J. F.; Ainsworth, G. C.

1972-01-01

Active and passive dosimetry instrumentation to measure absorbed dose, charged particle spectra, and linear energy transfer spectra inside the command module and orbital workshop on the Skylab program were developed and tested. The active dosimetry system consists of one integral unit employing both a tissue equivalent ionization chamber and silicon solid state detectors. The instrument measures dose rates from 0.2 millirad/hour to 25 rads/hour, linear energy transfer spectra from 2.8 to 42.4 Kev/micron, and the proton and alpha particle energy spectra from 0.5 to 75 Mev. The active dosimeter is equipped with a portable radiation sensor for use in astronaut on-body and spacecraft shielding surveys during passage of the Skylab through significant space radiations. Data are transmitted in real time or are recorded by onboard spacecraft tape recorder for rapid evaluation of the radiation levels. The passive dosimetry systems consist of twelve (12) hard-mounted assemblies, each containing a variety of passive radiation sensors which are recoverable at the end of the mission for analysis.

Periodic silicon nanostructures for spectroscopic microsensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wehrspohn, Ralf B.; Gesemann, Benjamin; Pergande, Daniel; Geppert, Torsten M.; Schweizer, Stefan L.; Moretton, Susanne; Lambrecht, Armin

2011-09-01

Periodic silicon nanostructures can be used for different kinds of gas sensors depending on the analyte concentration. First we present an optical gas sensor based on the classical non-dispersive infrared technique for ppm-concentration using ultra-compact photonic crystal gas cells. It is conceptually based on low group velocities inside a photonic crystal gas cell and anti-reflection layers coupling light into the device. Experimentally, an enhancement of the CO2 infrared absorption by a factor of 2.6 to 3.5 as compared to an empty cell, due to slow light inside a 2D silicon photonic crystal gas cell, was observed; this is in excellent agreement with numerical simulations. In addition we report on silicon nanotip arrays, suitable for gas ionization in ion mobility microspectrometers (micro-IMS) having detection ranges in principle down to the ppt-range. Such instruments allow the detection of explosives, chemical warfare agents, and illicit drugs, e.g., at airports. We describe the fabrication process of large-scale-ordered nanotips with different tip shapes. Both silicon microstructures have been fabricated by photoelectrochemical etching of silicon.

Nanocalorimetry-coupled time-of-flight mass spectrometry: identifying evolved species during high-rate thermal measurements.

PubMed

Yi, Feng; DeLisio, Jeffery B; Zachariah, Michael R; LaVan, David A

2015-10-06

We report on measurements integrating a nanocalorimeter sensor into a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) for simultaneous thermal and speciation measurements at high heating rates. The nanocalorimeter sensor was incorporated into the extraction region of the TOFMS system to provide sample heating and thermal information essentially simultaneously with the evolved species identification. This approach can be used to measure chemical reactions and evolved species for a variety of materials. Furthermore, since the calorimetry is conducted within the same proximal volume as ionization and ion extraction, evolved species detected are in a collision-free environment, and thus, the possibility exists to interrogate intermediate and radical species. We present measurements showing the decomposition of ammonium perchlorate, copper oxide nanoparticles, and sodium azotetrazolate. The rapid, controlled, and quantifiable heating rate capabilities of the nanocalorimeter coupled with the 0.1 ms temporal resolution of the TOFMS provides a new measurement capability and insight into high-rate reactions, such as those seen with reactive and energetic materials, and adsorption\\desorption measurements, critical for understanding surface chemistry and accelerating catalyst selection.

GADEN: A 3D Gas Dispersion Simulator for Mobile Robot Olfaction in Realistic Environments.

PubMed

Monroy, Javier; Hernandez-Bennets, Victor; Fan, Han; Lilienthal, Achim; Gonzalez-Jimenez, Javier

2017-06-23

This work presents a simulation framework developed under the widely used Robot Operating System (ROS) to enable the validation of robotics systems and gas sensing algorithms under realistic environments. The framework is rooted in the principles of computational fluid dynamics and filament dispersion theory, modeling wind flow and gas dispersion in 3D real-world scenarios (i.e., accounting for walls, furniture, etc.). Moreover, it integrates the simulation of different environmental sensors, such as metal oxide gas sensors, photo ionization detectors, or anemometers. We illustrate the potential and applicability of the proposed tool by presenting a simulation case in a complex and realistic office-like environment where gas leaks of different chemicals occur simultaneously. Furthermore, we accomplish quantitative and qualitative validation by comparing our simulated results against real-world data recorded inside a wind tunnel where methane was released under different wind flow profiles. Based on these results, we conclude that our simulation framework can provide a good approximation to real world measurements when advective airflows are present in the environment.

Charge collection properties in an irradiated pixel sensor built in a thick-film HV-SOI process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hiti, B.; Cindro, V.; Gorišek, A.; Hemperek, T.; Kishishita, T.; Kramberger, G.; Krüger, H.; Mandić, I.; Mikuž, M.; Wermes, N.; Zavrtanik, M.

2017-10-01

Investigation of HV-CMOS sensors for use as a tracking detector in the ATLAS experiment at the upgraded LHC (HL-LHC) has recently been an active field of research. A potential candidate for a pixel detector built in Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) technology has already been characterized in terms of radiation hardness to TID (Total Ionizing Dose) and charge collection after a moderate neutron irradiation. In this article we present results of an extensive irradiation hardness study with neutrons up to a fluence of 1× 1016 neq/cm2. Charge collection in a passive pixelated structure was measured by Edge Transient Current Technique (E-TCT). The evolution of the effective space charge concentration was found to be compliant with the acceptor removal model, with the minimum of the space charge concentration being reached after 5× 1014 neq/cm2. An investigation of the in-pixel uniformity of the detector response revealed parasitic charge collection by the epitaxial silicon layer characteristic for the SOI design. The results were backed by a numerical simulation of charge collection in an equivalent detector layout.

GADEN: A 3D Gas Dispersion Simulator for Mobile Robot Olfaction in Realistic Environments

PubMed Central

Hernandez-Bennetts, Victor; Fan, Han; Lilienthal, Achim; Gonzalez-Jimenez, Javier

2017-01-01

This work presents a simulation framework developed under the widely used Robot Operating System (ROS) to enable the validation of robotics systems and gas sensing algorithms under realistic environments. The framework is rooted in the principles of computational fluid dynamics and filament dispersion theory, modeling wind flow and gas dispersion in 3D real-world scenarios (i.e., accounting for walls, furniture, etc.). Moreover, it integrates the simulation of different environmental sensors, such as metal oxide gas sensors, photo ionization detectors, or anemometers. We illustrate the potential and applicability of the proposed tool by presenting a simulation case in a complex and realistic office-like environment where gas leaks of different chemicals occur simultaneously. Furthermore, we accomplish quantitative and qualitative validation by comparing our simulated results against real-world data recorded inside a wind tunnel where methane was released under different wind flow profiles. Based on these results, we conclude that our simulation framework can provide a good approximation to real world measurements when advective airflows are present in the environment. PMID:28644375

Combined reactor neutron beam and {sup 60}Co γ-ray radiation effects on CMOS APS image sensors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Zujun, E-mail: wangzujun@nint.ac.cn; Chen, Wei; Sheng, Jiangkun

The combined reactor neutron beam and {sup 60}Co γ-ray radiation effects on complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel sensors (APS) have been discussed and some new experimental phenomena are presented. The samples are manufactured in the standard 0.35-μm CMOS technology. Two samples were first exposed to {sup 60}Co γ-rays up to the total ionizing dose (TID) level of 200 krad(Si) at the dose rates of 50.0 and 0.2 rad(Si)/s, and then exposed to neutron fluence up to 1 × 10{sup 11} n/cm{sup 2} (1-MeV equivalent neutron fluence). One sample was first exposed to neutron fluence up to 1 × 10{supmore » 11} n/cm{sup 2} (1-MeV equivalent neutron fluence), and then exposed to {sup 60}Co γ-rays up to the TID level of 200 krad(Si) at the dose rate of 0.2 rad(Si)/s. The mean dark signal (K{sub D}), the dark signal non-uniformity (DSNU), and the noise (V{sub N}) versus the total dose and neutron fluence has been investigated. The degradation mechanisms of CMOS APS image sensors have been analyzed, especially for the interaction induced by neutron displacement damage and TID damage.« less

SPod Progress Summary Slides | Science Inventory | US EPA

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This presentation describes the draft “open source” design package for the SPod fenceline sensor. The SPod is a low cost, solar-powered system that combines wind field and air pollutant concentration measurements to detect emission plumes and help locate the source of emissions. The current design works only in “near-fenceline” applications where localized source emission plumes may be present. The SPod uses data analysis software (described elsewhere) to separate baseline drift from the plume signal of interest. This software is necessary for proper operation of the SPod. Because the SPod is designed to detect source emissions plumes, it is not useful for ambient applications large distances away from sources. The current SPod detects a subset of air pollutants that can be ionized with a 10.6 eV photoionization detector (PID). In the future, other air pollutant sensors may be used. The purpose of this presentation and related postings is to advance design concepts in the low-cost fenceline sensor area with any interested parties. The SPod is a work in progress with continued advances incorporated on an ongoing basis. This document is posted on an EPA share drive along with other information that describes the use operation and limitations of the SPod. These slides summarize the SPod design, purpose, and progress as of June, 2016. These slides will be posted on the EPA SPod Share Site along with design information and other materials that communicat

Status and Future of GOES X-Ray Sensor Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viereck, R.; Biesecker, D.

2008-05-01

The GOES X-Ray Sensor (XRS) has provided x-ray irradiance measurements in the 0.05 to 0.8 nm spectral band for nearly 30 years. These observations define the magnitude of x-ray flares. There are three issues that should be brought to the attention of the scientific community. First, today's XRS data have multiplicative factors of 0.7 and 0.85 that have been applied to the data to make recent (since GOES 8) observations match the earlier ones. We now believe that these factors are not correct and should be removed. There are implications on the magnitudes of flares and the historic record. The second issue is the current state of the XRS sensors. Two concurrent satellites, GOES 11 and GOES 12, now have failed XRS systems and the GOES 13 XRS (soon to be deployed) is only partially functioning leaving a serious vulnerability in the near future. The third issue is the future of these observations. From the beginning, the XRS detectors have been gas ionization cells which have proven to be very robust and stable. The future GOES R+ XRS instruments will be changing to solid state silicon diode detectors. The possible implications of this new detector technology should be considered as well. Details of these three issues will be presented and the implications discussed. Alternatives for the multiplicative factor and the failed XRS's will be presented.

Gamma-insensitive optical sensor

DOEpatents

Kruger, Hans W.

1994-01-01

An ultra-violet/visible/infra-red gamma-insensitive gas avalanche focal plane array comprising a planar photocathode and a planar anode pad array separated by a gas-filled gap and across which is applied an electric potential. Electrons ejected from the photocathode are accelerated sufficiently between collisions with the gas molecules to ionize them, forming an electron avalanche. The gap acts like a proportional counter. The array of anode pad are mounted on the front of an anode plate and are connected to matching contact pads on the back of the anode via feed through wires. Connection of the anode to signal processing electronics is made from the contact pads using standard indium bump techniques, for example.

Radiation-Induced Damage and Recovery of Ultra-Nanocrystalline Diamond: Toward Applications in Harsh Environments

DOE PAGES

Martin, Aiden A.; Filevich, Jorge; Straw, Marcus; ...

2017-10-23

Ultra-nanocrystalline diamond (UNCD) is increasingly being used in the fabrication of devices and coatings due to its excellent tribological properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. Here in this work, we study its response to irradiation with kiloelectronvolt electrons as a controlled model for extreme ionizing environments. Real time Raman spectroscopy reveals that the radiation-damage mechanism entails dehydrogenation of UNCD grain boundaries, and we show that the damage can be recovered by annealing at 883 K. Lastly, our results have significant practical implications for the implementation of UNCD in extreme environment applications, and indicate that the films can be used as radiationmore » sensors.« less

Microcombustor

DOEpatents

Gardner, Timothy J.; Manginelli, Ronald P.; Lewis, Patrick R.; Frye-Mason, Gregory C.; Colburn, Chris

2004-09-07

A microcombustor comprises a microhotplate and a catalyst for sustained combustion on the microscale. The microhotplate has very low heat capacity and thermal conductivity that mitigate large heat losses arising from large surface-to-volume ratios typical of the microdomain. The heated catalyst enables flame ignition and stabilization, permits combustion with lean fuel/air mixtures, extends a hydrocarbon's limits of flammability, and lowers the combustion temperature. The reduced operating temperatures enable a longer microcombustor lifetime and the reduced fuel consumption enables smaller fuel supplies, both of which are especially important for portable microsystems applications. The microcombustor can be used for on-chip thermal management and for sensor applications, such as heating of a micro gas chromatography column and for use as a micro flame ionization detector.

The charge-energy-mass spectrometer for 0.3-300 keV/e ions on the AMPTE CCE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gloeckler, G.; Ipavich, F. M.; Hamilton, D. C.; Lundgren, R. A.; Studemann, W.; Wilken, B.; Kremser, G.; Hovestadt, D.; Gliem, F.; Rieck, W.

1985-01-01

The charge-energy-mass (CHEM) spectrometer on the Charge Composition Explorer (CCE) has the function to measure the energy spectra, pitch-angle distributions, and ionization states of ions in the earth's magnetosphere and magnetosheath in the energy range from 0.3 to 300 keV/charge with a time resolution of less than 1 min. The obtained data will provide essential information on outstanding problems related to ion sources and dynamical processes of space plasmas and of suprathermal ions. A description of the CHEM experiment is given, taking into account the principle of operation, the sensor, the electronics, instrument characteristics, specifications, and requirements. Questions of postlaunch performance are also discussed.

Radiation-Induced Damage and Recovery of Ultra-Nanocrystalline Diamond: Toward Applications in Harsh Environments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martin, Aiden A.; Filevich, Jorge; Straw, Marcus

Ultra-nanocrystalline diamond (UNCD) is increasingly being used in the fabrication of devices and coatings due to its excellent tribological properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. Here in this work, we study its response to irradiation with kiloelectronvolt electrons as a controlled model for extreme ionizing environments. Real time Raman spectroscopy reveals that the radiation-damage mechanism entails dehydrogenation of UNCD grain boundaries, and we show that the damage can be recovered by annealing at 883 K. Lastly, our results have significant practical implications for the implementation of UNCD in extreme environment applications, and indicate that the films can be used as radiationmore » sensors.« less

Studies of electrochemical interfaces by TOF neutron reflectometry at the IBR-2 reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrenko, V. I.; Gapon, I. V.; Rulev, A. A.; Ushakova, E. E.; Kataev, E. Yu; Yashina, L. V.; Itkis, D. M.; Avdeev, M. V.

2018-03-01

The operation performance of electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems such as supercapacitors and batteries depends on the processes occurring at the electrochemical interfaces, where charge separation and chemical reactions occur. Here, we report about the tests of the neutron reflectometry cells specially designed for operando studies of structural changes at the electrochemical interfaces between solid electrodes and liquid electrolytes. The cells are compatible with anhydrous electrolytes with organic solvents, which are employed today in all lithium ion batteries and most supercapacitors. The sensitivity of neutron reflectometry applied at the time-of-flight (TOF) reflectometer at the pulsed reactor IBR-2 is discussed regarding the effect of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation on metal electrode surface.

Calibration and standards beamline 6.3.2 at the ALS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Underwood, J.H.; Gullikson, E.M.; Koike, M.

1997-04-01

More sophisticated optics for the x-ray, soft x-ray and far ultraviolet spectral regions being developed for synchrotron radiation research and many other applications, require accurate calibration and standards facilities for measuring reflectivity of mirrors and multilayer coatings, transmission of thin films, bandpass of multilayers, efficiency of gratings or detectors, etc. For this purpose beamline 6.3.2 was built at the ALS. Its energy coverage, versatility, simplicity and convenience also make it useful for a wide range of other experiments. The paper describes the components of this beamline, consisting of: a four jaw aperture; a horizontal focusing mirror; a monochromator; exit slit;more » vertical focusing mirror; mechanical and vacuum system; reflectometer; filter wheels; and data acquisition system.« less

The Lunar Prospector Discovery Mission: mission and measurement description.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hubbard, G. S.; Binder, A. B.; Feldman, W.

1998-06-01

Lunar Prospector, the first competitively selected planetary mission in NASA's Discovery Program, is described with emphasis on the radiation spectrometer instrumentation and anticipated scientific data return. Scheduled to be launched in January 1998, the mission will conduct a one year orbital survey of the Moon's composition and structure. The suite of five instruments are outlined: neutron spectrometer, alpha particle spectrometer, gamma-ray spectrometer, electron reflectometer and magnetometer. Scientific requirements and measurement approach to detect water/ice to a sensitivity of 50 ppm (hydrogen), measure key elemental constituents, detect radioactive gas release events and accurately map the Moon's gravitational and magnetic fields are given. A brief overview of the programmatic accomplishments in meeting a tightly constrained schedule and budget is also provided.

The Lunar Prospector discovery mission: mission and measurement description.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hubbard, G. S.; Binder, A. B.; Feldman, W.

Lunar Prospector, the first competitively selected planetary mission in NASA's discovery program, is described with emphasis on the radiation spectrometer instrumentation and anticipated scientific data return. Scheduled to be launched in January 1998, the mission will conduct a one year orbital survey of the moon's composition and structure. The suite of five instruments will be outlined: neutron spectrometer, alpha particle spectrometer, gamma-ray spectrometer, electron reflectometer and magnetometer. Scientific requirements and measurement approach to detect water ice to a sensitivity of 50 ppm (hydrogen), measure key elemental constituents, detect radioactive gas release events and accurately map the moon's gravitational and magnetic fields are given. A brief overview of the programmatic accomplishments in meeting a tightly constrained schedule and budget is also provided.

AWG-based WDM-PON monitoring system using an optical switch and a WDM filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liaw, S.-K.; Lai, Y.-T.; Chang, C.-L.; Shung, O.

2008-09-01

A new WDM-PON scheme with real-time monitoring based on a time-sharing method is proposed. It uses an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) to monitor multiple ports by integrating an optical switch (OSW) with a dense wavelength division multiplexer (DWDM) at the optical line terminal (OLT) site. Each downstream signal and its corresponding monitoring signal are separated by m times the free-space range (FSR) of an array waveguide grating (AWG). A bit error rate (BER) test in 2.5 Gb/s × 27 km is performed with and without turning on the OTDR. A small power penalty of 0.7 dB is observed compared to the back-to-back measurement.

An uncertainty budget for VHF and UHF reflectometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ridler, N. M.; Medley, C. J.

1992-05-01

Details of the derivation of an uncertainty budget for one port immittance or complex voltage reflection coefficient measuring instruments, operating at VHF and UHF in the 14 mm 50 ohm coaxial line size, are reported. The principles of the uncertainty budget are given along with experimental results obtained using six ports and a network analyzer as the measuring instruments. Details of the types of calibration for which the uncertainty budget is suitable are reported. Various aspects of the uncertainty budget are considered and general principles and treatment of the type A and type B contributions are discussed. Experimental results obtained using the uncertainty budget are given. A summary of uncertainties for the six ports and HP8753B automatic network analyzer are also given.

An accurate automated technique for quasi-optics measurement of the microwave diagnostics for fusion plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Jianqiang; Liu, Ahdi; Zhou, Chu; Zhang, Xiaohui; Wang, Mingyuan; Zhang, Jin; Feng, Xi; Li, Hong; Xie, Jinlin; Liu, Wandong; Yu, Changxuan

2017-08-01

A new integrated technique for fast and accurate measurement of the quasi-optics, especially for the microwave/millimeter wave diagnostic systems of fusion plasma, has been developed. Using the LabVIEW-based comprehensive scanning system, we can realize not only automatic but also fast and accurate measurement, which will help to eliminate the effects of temperature drift and standing wave/multi-reflection. With the Matlab-based asymmetric two-dimensional Gaussian fitting method, all the desired parameters of the microwave beam can be obtained. This technique can be used in the design and testing of microwave diagnostic systems such as reflectometers and the electron cyclotron emission imaging diagnostic systems of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak.

Grazing incidence reflection coefficients of rhodium, osmium, platinum, and gold from 50 to 300 A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hettrick, M. C.; Edelstein, J.; Flint, S. A.

1985-01-01

Reflectance measurements were made of several metals illuminated from various angles with light at 14 wavelengths in the interval 46.5-283 A. The metals, Rh, Os, Pt and Au were deposited as 125 A films on a binding substrate through electron beam epitaxy. Measurements were made with a grazing incidence monochromator and a reflectometer. The data generally showed lowered reflectance with increasing angles of illumination and shorter wavelengths. The reflectance peak, however, was located at wavelengths of 100-160 A, particularly at large grazing incidences. The wavelengths correspond with the 5p to epsilon-d transition in all of the elements. Rh displayed the highest overall reflectance, and both Rh and Os were more efficient than Au or Pt.

High-resolution differential mode delay measurement for a multimode optical fiber using a modified optical frequency domain reflectometer.

PubMed

Ahn, T-J; Kim, D

2005-10-03

A novel differential mode delay (DMD) measurement technique for a multimode optical fiber based on optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) has been proposed. We have obtained a high-resolution DMD value of 0.054 ps/m for a commercial multimode optical fiber with length of 50 m by using a modified OFDR in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure with a tunable external cavity laser and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer instead of Michelson interferometer. We have also compared the OFDR measurement results with those obtained using a traditional time-domain measurement method. DMD resolution with our proposed OFDR technique is more than an order of magnitude better than a result obtainable with a conventional time-domain method.

Fabrication and Testing of a Modular Micro-Pocket Fission Detector Instrumentation System for Test Nuclear Reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reichenberger, Michael A.; Nichols, Daniel M.; Stevenson, Sarah R.; Swope, Tanner M.; Hilger, Caden W.; Roberts, Jeremy A.; Unruh, Troy C.; McGregor, Douglas S.

2018-01-01

Advancements in nuclear reactor core modeling and computational capability have encouraged further development of in-core neutron sensors. Measurement of the neutron-flux distribution within the reactor core provides a more complete understanding of the operating conditions in the reactor than typical ex-core sensors. Micro-Pocket Fission Detectors have been developed and tested previously but have been limited to single-node operation and have utilized highly specialized designs. The development of a widely deployable, multi-node Micro-Pocket Fission Detector assembly will enhance nuclear research capabilities. A modular, four-node Micro-Pocket Fission Detector array was designed, fabricated, and tested at Kansas State University. The array was constructed from materials that do not significantly perturb the neutron flux in the reactor core. All four sensor nodes were equally spaced axially in the array to span the fuel-region of the reactor core. The array was filled with neon gas, serving as an ionization medium in the small cavities of the Micro-Pocket Fission Detectors. The modular design of the instrument facilitates the testing and deployment of numerous sensor arrays. The unified design drastically improved device ruggedness and simplified construction from previous designs. Five 8-mm penetrations in the upper grid plate of the Kansas State University TRIGA Mk. II research nuclear reactor were utilized to deploy the array between fuel elements in the core. The Micro-Pocket Fission Detector array was coupled to an electronic support system which has been specially developed to support pulse-mode operation. The Micro-Pocket Fission Detector array composed of four sensors was used to monitor local neutron flux at a constant reactor power of 100 kWth at different axial locations simultaneously. The array was positioned at five different radial locations within the core to emulate the deployment of multiple arrays and develop a 2-dimensional measurement of neutron flux in the reactor core.

Flashback Detection Sensor for Hydrogen Augmented Natural Gas Combustion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thornton, J.D.; Chorpening, B.T.; Sidwell, T.

2007-05-01

The use of hydrogen augmented fuel is being investigated by various researchers as a method to extend the lean operating limit, and potentially reduce thermal NOx formation in natural gas fired lean premixed (LPM) combustion systems. The resulting increase in flame speed during hydrogen augmentation, however, increases the propensity for flashback in LPM systems. Real-time in-situ monitoring of flashback is important for the development of control strategies for use of hydrogen augmented fuel in state-of-the-art combustion systems, and for the development of advanced hydrogen combustion systems. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Woodward Industrial Controls are developing a combustionmore » control and diagnostics sensor (CCADS), which has already been demonstrated as a useful sensor for in-situ monitoring of natural gas combustion, including detection of important combustion events such as flashback and lean blowoff. Since CCADS is a flame ionization sensor technique, the low ion concentration produced in pure hydrogen combustion raises concerns of whether CCADS can be used to monitor flashback in hydrogen augmented combustion. This paper discusses CCADS tests conducted at 0.2-0.6 MPa (2-6 atm), demonstrating flashback detection with fuel compositions up to 80% hydrogen (by volume) mixed with natural gas. NETL’s Simulation Validation (SimVal) combustor offers full optical access to pressurized combustion during these tests. The CCADS data and high-speed video show the reaction zone moves upstream into the nozzle as the hydrogen fuel concentration increases, as is expected with the increased flame speed of the mixture. The CCADS data and video also demonstrate the opportunity for using CCADS to provide the necessary in-situ monitor to control flashback and lean blowoff in hydrogen augmented combustion applications.« less

Hydrological monitoring of a natural slope covered with loose granular pyroclastic deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Damiano, Emilia; Greco, Roberto; Guida, Andrea; Olivares, Lucio; Picarelli, Luciano

2010-05-01

Mountainous areas of Northern Campania, Southern Italy, are characterised by steep slopes covered with loose volcanic ashes, with very high porosity (ranging between 0.70 and 0.75), laying above a calcareous bedrock. Slope inclination is often larger than internal friction angle of such ashes (around 38°), thus equilibrium is assured by the contribution of apparent cohesion due to soil suction in unsaturated conditions. That is why, during intense and persistent rainfall events, when soil approaches saturation and consequently suction decreases, shallow landslides are frequently triggered. The physical characteristics of involved soils are such that landslides often evolve in form of debris flows, which cause huge damages to buildings and infrastructures and, in some cases, even casualties. Field hydrological monitoring is essential to develop reliable models of slope response to rainfall infiltration, allowing to define triggering conditions of landslides. An automatic monitoring station has been recently installed at the slope of Cervinara, 30 km East of Naples, where a catastrophic landslide occurred in December 1999. The station consists of a tipping bucket rain gauge, with a sensitivity to rainfall height of 0.2mm; four jet fill tensiometers, for the measurement of soil suction at the depths of 10cm, 40cm, 120cm and 160cm below ground surface; four time domain reflectometry probes of various lengths, connected through a multiplexer to a reflectometer, for the measurement of water content profile from ground surface up to a depth of 160cm. All the sensors are connected to a datalogger for the automatic acquisition at hourly frequency of experimental data. Acquired data are then stored into a magnetic memory which is periodically downloaded into a PC. The entire station is operated by a lithium battery connected to a solar panel. The first collected experimental data confirm the usefulness of simultaneous monitoring, at high temporal resolution, of rainfall height, soil suction and soil water content for a better understanding of slope infiltration processes.

In vitro bio-functionality of gallium nitride sensors for radiation biophysics.

PubMed

Hofstetter, Markus; Howgate, John; Schmid, Martin; Schoell, Sebastian; Sachsenhauser, Matthias; Adigüzel, Denis; Stutzmann, Martin; Sharp, Ian D; Thalhammer, Stefan

2012-07-27

There is an increasing interest in the integration of hybrid bio-semiconductor systems for the non-invasive evaluation of physiological parameters. High quality gallium nitride and its alloys show promising characteristics to monitor cellular parameters. Nevertheless, such applications not only request appropriate sensing capabilities but also the biocompatibility and especially the biofunctionality of materials. Here we show extensive biocompatibility studies of gallium nitride and, for the first time, a biofunctionality assay using ionizing radiation. Analytical sensor devices are used in medical settings, as well as for cell- and tissue engineering. Within these fields, semiconductor devices have increasingly been applied for online biosensing on a cellular and tissue level. Integration of advanced materials such as gallium nitride into these systems has the potential to increase the range of applicability for a multitude of test devices and greatly enhance sensitivity and functionality. However, for such applications it is necessary to optimize cell-surface interactions and to verify the biocompatibility of the semiconductor. In this work, we present studies of mouse fibroblast cell activity grown on gallium nitride surfaces after applying external noxa. Cell-semiconductor hybrids were irradiated with X-rays at air kerma doses up to 250 mGy and the DNA repair dynamics, cell proliferation, and cell growth dynamics of adherent cells were compared to control samples. The impact of ionizing radiation on DNA, along with the associated cellular repair mechanisms, is well characterized and serves as a reference tool for evaluation of substrate effects. The results indicate that gallium nitride does not require specific surface treatments to ensure biocompatibility and suggest that cell signaling is not affected by micro-environmental alterations arising from gallium nitride-cell interactions. The observation that gallium nitride provides no bio-functional influence on the cellular environment confirms that this material is well suited for future biosensing applications without the need for additional chemical surface modification. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ionizing Radiation Activates AMP-Activated Kinase (AMPK): A Target for Radiosensitization of Human Cancer Cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sanli, Toran; Rashid, Ayesha; Liu Caiqiong

2010-09-01

Purpose: Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated kinase (AMPK) is a molecular energy sensor regulated by the tumor suppressor LKB1. Starvation and growth factors activate AMPK through the DNA damage sensor ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). We explored the regulation of AMPK by ionizing radiation (IR) and its role as a target for radiosensitization of human cancer cells. Methods and Materials: Lung, prostate, and breast cancer cells were treated with IR (2-8 Gy) after incubation with either ATM or AMPK inhibitors or the AMPK activator metformin. Then, cells were subjected to either lysis and immunoblotting, immunofluorescence microscopy, clonogenic survival assays, or cell cycle analysis. Results:more » IR induced a robust phosphorylation and activation of AMPK in all tumor cells, independent of LKB1. IR activated AMPK first in the nucleus, and this extended later into cytoplasm. The ATM inhibitor KU-55933 blocked IR activation of AMPK. AMPK inhibition with Compound C or anti-AMPK {alpha} subunit small interfering RNA (siRNA) blocked IR induction of the cell cycle regulators p53 and p21{sup waf/cip} as well as the IR-induced G2/M arrest. Compound C caused resistance to IR, increasing the surviving fraction after 2 Gy, but the anti-diabetic drug metformin enhanced IR activation of AMPK and lowered the surviving fraction after 2 Gy further. Conclusions: We provide evidence that IR activates AMPK in human cancer cells in an LKB1-independent manner, leading to induction of p21{sup waf/cip} and regulation of the cell cycle and survival. AMPK appears to (1) participate in an ATM-AMPK-p21{sup waf/cip} pathway, (2) be involved in regulation of the IR-induced G2/M checkpoint, and (3) may be targeted by metformin to enhance IR responses.« less

Fully depleted CMOS pixel sensor development and potential applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baudot, J.; Kachel, M.; CNRS, UMR7178, 67037 Strasbourg

CMOS pixel sensors are often opposed to hybrid pixel sensors due to their very different sensitive layer. In standard CMOS imaging processes, a thin (about 20 μm) low resistivity epitaxial layer acts as the sensitive volume and charge collection is mostly driven by thermal agitation. In contrast, the so-called hybrid pixel technology exploits a thick (typically 300 μm) silicon sensor with high resistivity allowing for the depletion of this volume, hence charges drift toward collecting electrodes. But this difference is fading away with the recent availability of some CMOS imaging processes based on a relatively thick (about 50 μm) highmore » resistivity epitaxial layer which allows for full depletion. This evolution extents the range of applications for CMOS pixel sensors where their known assets, high sensitivity and granularity combined with embedded signal treatment, could potentially foster breakthrough in detection performances for specific scientific instruments. One such domain is the Xray detection for soft energies, typically below 10 keV, where the thin sensitive layer was previously severely impeding CMOS sensor usage. Another application becoming realistic for CMOS sensors, is the detection in environment with a high fluence of non-ionizing radiation, such as hadron colliders. However, when considering highly demanding applications, it is still to be proven that micro-circuits required to uniformly deplete the sensor at the pixel level, do not mitigate the sensitivity and efficiency required. Prototype sensors in two different technologies with resistivity higher than 1 kΩ, sensitive layer between 40 and 50 μm and featuring pixel pitch in the range 25 to 50 μm, have been designed and fabricated. Various biasing architectures were adopted to reach full depletion with only a few volts. Laboratory investigations with three types of sources (X-rays, β-rays and infrared light) demonstrated the validity of the approach with respect to depletion, keeping a low noise figure. Especially, an energy resolution of about 400 eV for 5 keV X-rays was obtained for single pixels. The prototypes have then been exposed to gradually increased fluences of neutrons, from 10{sup 13} to 5x10{sup 14} neq/cm{sup 2}. Again laboratory tests allowed to evaluate the signal over noise persistence on the different pixels implemented. Currently our development mostly targets the detection of soft X-rays, with the ambition to develop a pixel sensor matching counting rates as affordable with hybrid pixel sensors, but with an extended sensitivity to low energy and finer pixel about 25 x 25 μm{sup 2}. The original readout architecture proposed relies on a two tiers chip. The first tier consists of a sensor with a modest dynamic in order to insure low noise performances required by sensitivity. The interconnected second tier chip enhances the read-out speed by introducing massive parallelization. Performances reachable with this strategy combining counting and integration will be detailed. (authors)« less

Ultrananocrystalline Diamond Membranes for Detection of High-Mass Proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, H.; Park, J.; Aksamija, Z.; Arbulu, M.; Blick, R. H.

2016-12-01

Mechanical resonators realized on the nanoscale by now offer applications in mass sensing of biomolecules with extraordinary sensitivity. The general idea is that perfect mechanical mass sensors should be of extremely small size to achieve zepto- or yoctogram sensitivity in weighing single molecules similar to a classical scale. However, the small effective size and long response time for weighing biomolecules with a cantilever restricts their usefulness as a high-throughput method. Commercial mass spectrometry (MS), on the other hand, such as electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) time of flight (TOF) and their charge-amplifying detectors are the gold standards to which nanomechanical resonators have to live up to. These two methods rely on the ionization and acceleration of biomolecules and the following ion detection after a mass selection step, such as TOF. The principle we describe here for ion detection is based on the conversion of kinetic energy of the biomolecules into thermal excitation of chemical vapor deposition diamond nanomembranes via phonons followed by phonon-mediated detection via field emission of thermally emitted electrons. We fabricate ultrathin diamond membranes with large lateral dimensions for MALDI TOF MS of high-mass proteins. These diamond membranes are realized by straightforward etching methods based on semiconductor processing. With a minimal thickness of 100 nm and cross sections of up to 400 ×400 μ m2 , the membranes offer extreme aspect ratios. Ion detection is demonstrated in MALDI TOF analysis over a broad range from insulin to albumin. The resulting data in detection show much enhanced resolution as compared to existing detectors, which can offer better sensitivity and overall performance in resolving protein masses.

Radiation hardness of thin Low Gain Avalanche Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kramberger, G.; Carulla, M.; Cavallaro, E.; Cindro, V.; Flores, D.; Galloway, Z.; Grinstein, S.; Hidalgo, S.; Fadeyev, V.; Lange, J.; Mandić, I.; Medin, G.; Merlos, A.; McKinney-Martinez, F.; Mikuž, M.; Quirion, D.; Pellegrini, G.; Petek, M.; Sadrozinski, H. F.-W.; Seiden, A.; Zavrtanik, M.

2018-05-01

Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (LGAD) are based on a n++-p+-p-p++ structure where an appropriate doping of the multiplication layer (p+) leads to high enough electric fields for impact ionization. Gain factors of few tens in charge significantly improve the resolution of timing measurements, particularly for thin detectors, where the timing performance was shown to be limited by Landau fluctuations. The main obstacle for their operation is the decrease of gain with irradiation, attributed to effective acceptor removal in the gain layer. Sets of thin sensors were produced by two different producers on different substrates, with different gain layer doping profiles and thicknesses (45, 50 and 80 μm). Their performance in terms of gain/collected charge and leakage current was compared before and after irradiation with neutrons and pions up to the equivalent fluences of 5 ṡ 1015 cm-2. Transient Current Technique and charge collection measurements with LHC speed electronics were employed to characterize the detectors. The thin LGAD sensors were shown to perform much better than sensors of standard thickness (∼300 μm) and offer larger charge collection with respect to detectors without gain layer for fluences < 2 ṡ 1015 cm-2. Larger initial gain prolongs the beneficial performance of LGADs. Pions were found to be more damaging than neutrons at the same equivalent fluence, while no significant difference was found between different producers. At very high fluences and bias voltages the gain appears due to deep acceptors in the bulk, hence also in thin standard detectors.

Small Payload Launch Integrated Testing Services (SPLITS) - SPSDL

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Plotner, Benjamin

2013-01-01

My experience working on the Small Payload Launch Integrated Testing Services project has been both educational and rewarding. I have been given the opportunity to work on and experiment with a number of exciting projects and initiatives, each offering different challenges and opportunities for teamwork and collaboration. One of my assignments is to aid in the design and construction of a small-scale two stage rocket as part of a Rocket University initiative. My duties include programming a microcontroller to control the various sensors on the rocket as well as process and transmit data. Additionally, I am writing a graphical user interface application for the ground station that will receive the transmitted data from the rocket and display the information on screen along with a 3D rendering displaying the rocket orientation. Another project I am working on is to design and develop the avionics that will be used to control a high altitude balloon flight that will test a sensor called a Micro Dosimeter that will measure the total ionizing dose absorbed by electrical components during a flight. This includes assembling and soldering the various sensors and components, programming a microcontroller to input and process data from the Micro Dosimeter, and transmitting the data down to a ground station as well as save the data to an on-board SD card. Additionally, I am aiding in the setup and development of ITOS (Integrated Test and Operations System) capability in the SPSDL (Spaceport Processing System Development Lab).

Fiber optic systems for mobile platforms IV; Proceedings of the Meeting, San Jose, CA, Sept. 18, 1990

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewis, Norris E.; Moore, Emery L.

The present conference on fiber-optic (FO) systems discusses topics in shipboard, automotive, spacecraft, and aeronautical FO applications. Attention is given to an FO interferometric ellipsoidal shell hydrophone, an FO backbone for a submarine combat system, EM environmental effects on shipboard FO installations, and recent developments in polymeric FO systems for automotive use. Also discussed are a wavelength-multiplexed FO position encoder for aircraft control systems, a code-division multiple-access system for integrated modular avionics, fly-by-light systems for commercial aircraft, FO temperature sensors for aerospace applications, a hybrid FO/electrical network for launch vehicles, the effects of ionizing radiation on FO systems, and FO systems in liquid propellant rocket environments.

Position sensitive detection of nuclear radiation mediated by non equilibrium phonons at low temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pröbst, F.; Peterreins, Th.; Feilitzsch, F. v.; Kraus, H.

1990-03-01

Many experiments in nuclear and particle physics would benefit from the development of a device capable of detecting non-ionizing events with a low energy threshold. In this context, we report on experimental tests of a detector based on the registration of nonequilibrium phonons. The device is composed of a silicon single crystal (size: 20×10×3 mm 3) and of an array of superconducting tunnel junctions evaporated onto the surface of the crystal. The junctions serve as sensors for phonons created by absorption of nuclear radiation in the crystal. We show how pulse height analysis and the investigation of time differences between correlated pulses in different junctions can be used to obtain information about the point of absorption.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun, X.; Yao, C.

A prototype dual-blade stripline kicker for the APS multi-bend achromat (MBA) upgrade has been designed and developed. It was optimized with 3D CST Microwave Studio. The high voltage (HV) feedthrough and air-side connector were designed and optimized. Electromagnetic fields along the beam path, the deflecting angle, the high electric fields and their locations were calculated with 15kV differential pulse voltage applied to the kicker blades through the feedthroughs. Beam impedance and the power dissipation on different parts of the kicker and external loads were studied for a 48-bunch fill pattern. Our results show that the prototype kicker with its HVmore » feedthroughs meets the specified requirements. The results of TDR (time-domain reflectometer) test, high voltage pulse test and beam test of the prototype kicker assembly agreed with the simulations.« less

Magnetic Fields of Lunar Impact Basins and Their Use in Constraining the Impact Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halekas, J. S.; Lin, R. P.

2003-01-01

Measurements by the Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer instrument on the Lunar Prospector spacecraft, which completed its mapping mission in 1999, have been used to construct the first completely global maps of lunar crustal magnetic fields. Now, for the first time, we have a data set with global coverage and a sensitivity and resolution which allow us to investigate the magnetic fields of lunar impact basins and craters. As on the Earth, impact sites have a variety of magnetic signatures associated with them, ranging from nearly complete demagnetization to strong central magnetic anomalies. Observations of the magnetic fields of terrestrial basins have been used to make inferences about the impact process, and we wish to show that lunar observations can also provide valuable constraints.

Lunar Prospector: developing a very low cost planetary mission.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hubbard, G. S.

Lunar Prospector, the first competitively selected planetary mission in NASA's Discovery Program, is described with emphasis on the lessons learned from managing a very low cost project. Insights into government-industry teaming, project management, contractual arrangements, schedule and budget reserve approach are discussed. The mission is conducting an orbital survey of the Moon's composition and structure. A mission overview and scientific data return is briefly described in the context of low cost mission development. The suite of five instruments is outlined: neutron spectrometer (NS), alpha particle spectrometer (APS), gamma ray spectrometer (GRS), magnetometer (MAG) and an electron reflectometer (ER). Scientific requirements and measurement approaches to detect water ice to a sensitivity of 50 ppm (hydrogen), measure key elemental constituents, detect gas release events and accurately map the Moon's gravitational and magnetic fields are described.

Calibration Procedure for Measuring S-Parameters in Balun Applications on 150-ohm High-Speed Cables

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Theofylaktos, Onoufrios; Warner, Joseph D.

2012-01-01

In the radiofrequency (RF) world, in order to characterize cables that do not conform to the typical 50-omega impedance, a time domain reflectometer (TDR) would probably be the simplest and quickest tool to attain this goal. In the real world, not every engineer has a TDR at their disposal; however, they most likely have a network analyzer available. Given a generic 50-omega vector network analyzer (VNA), we would like to make S-parameter measurements for non-50-omega devices (DUTs). For that, we utilize RF balanced/unbalanced transformers (called baluns for short), which are primarily used to match the impedance between the two VNA ports and the DUT's input and output ports, for the two-port S-parameter measurements.

Experiment and application of soft x-ray grazing incidence optical scattering phenomena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shuyan; Li, Cheng; Zhang, Yang; Su, Liping; Geng, Tao; Li, Kun

2017-08-01

For short wavelength imaging systems，surface scattering effects is one of important factors degrading imaging performance. Study of non-intuitive surface scatter effects resulting from practical optical fabrication tolerances is a necessary work for optical performance evaluation of high resolution short wavelength imaging systems. In this paper, Soft X-ray optical scattering distribution is measured by a soft X-ray reflectometer installed by my lab, for different sample mirrors、wavelength and grazing angle. Then aim at space solar telescope, combining these scattered light distributions, and surface scattering numerical model of grazing incidence imaging system, PSF and encircled energy of optical system of space solar telescope are computed. We can conclude that surface scattering severely degrade imaging performance of grazing incidence systems through analysis and computation.

Development of a distributed polarization-OTDR to measure two vibrations with the same frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Yun; Wang, Feng; Wang, Xiangchuan; Zhang, Mingjiang; Zhou, Ling; Sun, Zhenqing; Zhang, Xuping

2015-08-01

A polarization optical time-domain reflectometer (POTDR) can distributedly measure the vibration of fiber by detecting the vibration induced polarization variation only with a polarization analyzer. It has great potential in the monitoring of the border intrusion, structural healthy, anti-stealing of pipeline and so on, because of its simple configuration, fast response speed and distributed measuring ability. However, it is difficult to distinguish two vibrations with the same frequency for POTDR because the signal induced by the first vibration would bury the other vibration induced signal. This paper proposes a simple method to resolve this problem in POTDR by analyzing the phase of the vibration induced signal. The effectiveness of this method in distinguishing two vibrations with the same frequency for POTDR is proved by simulation.

Development of a polarized neutron beam line at Algerian research reactors using McStas software

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makhloufi, M.; Salah, H.

2017-02-01

Unpolarized instrumentation has long been studied and designed using McStas simulation tool. But, only recently new models were developed for McStas to simulate polarized neutron scattering instruments. In the present contribution, we used McStas software to design a polarized neutron beam line, taking advantage of the available spectrometers reflectometer and diffractometer in Algeria. Both thermal and cold neutron was considered. The polarization was made by two types of supermirrors polarizers FeSi and CoCu provided by the HZB institute. For sake of performance and comparison, the polarizers were characterized and their characteristics reproduced. The simulated instruments are reported. Flipper and electromagnets for guide field are developed. Further developments including analyzers and upgrading of the existing spectrometers are underway.

A Cyanine Dye Encapsulated Porous Fibrous Mat for Naked-Eye Ammonia Sensing.

PubMed

Ji, Chendong; Ma, Lijing; Yin, Meizhen; Yang, Wantai; Pan, Kai

2016-08-19

Electrospun ultrathin fiber-based sensors are desirable because of their practicality and sensitivity. Ammonia-detection systems are in high demand in different areas, including the industrial and agricultural fields. However, current technologies rely on large and complex instruments that restrict their actual utilization. Herein, we report a flexible naked-eye ammonia sensor, the polylactic acid-cyanine (PLA-Cy) fibrous mat, which was fabricated by blending a carboxyl-functionalized cyanine dye (D1) into electospun PLA porous fibers. The sensing mat was shown to undergo a naked-eye-detectable color change from white to blue upon exposure to ammonia vapor. The mat showed high selectivity to ammonia gas with a detection limit of 3.3 ppm. Aggregated D1 was first encapsulated by PLA and was then ionized by NH3 . These mechanisms were examined by photophysical studies and scanning electron microscopy. The aggregation-deaggregation process of D1 in the PLA-Cy fibrous mat led to the color change. This work provides a facile method for the naked-eye detection of ammonia and a novel strategy for the use of organic dyes in ammonia sensing. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Radiation-induced amorphization of Langasite La3Ga5SiO14

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Tiankai; Lu, Fengyuan; Zhang, Haifeng; Gong, Bowen; Ji, Wei; Zuo, Lei; Lian, Jie

2018-03-01

Single crystals of Langasite La3Ga5SiO14 (LGS) were irradiated by 1 MeV Kr2+ ions at temperature range from 298 to 898 K in order to simulate the damage effect of neutron radiation on Langasite, a candidate sensor material proposed as high temperature and pressure sensors in nuclear reactors. The microstructure evolution of LGS as functions of irradiation dose and temperature was followed by in-situ TEM observation through electron diffraction pattern. LGS is found to be sensitive to ion beam irradiation-induced amorphization from displacive heavy ions with a low critical dose of ∼0.5 ± 0.2 dpa (neutron fluence of (1.6 ± 0.6) × 1019 neutrons/cm2) at room temperature. The critical amorphization temperature, Tc, is determined to be 910 ± 10 K. Under simultaneous ionizing electron (300 keV, 45 nA) and displacive heavy ion irradiations (1-MeV Kr2+ and flux of 6.25 × 1011 ions/cm2·s), LGS displayed greater stability of crystal structure against amorphization, possibly due to the electron radiation-induced recovery of displacive damage by heavy ions.

Low-latitude Ionospheric Research using the CIRCE Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dymond, K.; Nicholas, A. C.; Budzien, S. A.; Stephan, A. W.

2016-12-01

The Coordinated Ionospheric Reconstruction Cubesat Experiment (CIRCE) is a dual-satellite mission consisting of two 6U CubeSats actively maintaining a lead-follow configuration in the same orbit with a launch planned for the 2018-2019 time frame. These nano-satellites will each feature two 1U ultraviolet photometers, observing the 135.6 nm emission of atomic oxygen at nighttime. The primary objective is to characterize the two-dimensional distribution of electrons in the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA). The methodology used to reconstruct the nighttime ionosphere employs continuous UV photometry from four distinct viewing angles in combination with an additional data source, such as in situ plasma density measurements or a wide-band beacon data, with advanced image space reconstruction algorithm tomography techniques. The COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 (CF3) constellation featured six Tiny Ionospheric Photometers, a compact UV sensor design which served as the pathfinder for the CIRCE instruments. The TIP instruments on the CF3 satellites demonstrated detection of ionospheric bubbles before they had penetrated the peak of the F-region ionosphere. We present our mission concept, simulations illustrating the imaging capability of the sensor suite, and a range of science questions addressable using such a system.

Influence of magnetic fields on charge sharing caused by diffusion in medipix detectors with a Si sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jamil, Ako; Filipenko, Mykhaylo; Gleixner, Thomas; Anton, Gisela; Michel, Thilo

2016-02-01

The spatial and energy resolution of hybrid photon counting pixel detectors like the Timepix detector can suffer from charge sharing. Due to diffusion an initially point-like charge carrier distribution generated by ionizing radiation becomes a typically Gaussian-like distribution when arriving at the pixel electrodes. This leads to loss of charge information in edge pixels if the amount of charge in the pixel fall below the discriminator threshold. In this work we investigated the reduction of charge sharing by applying a magnetic field parallel to the electric drift field inside the sensor layer. The reduction of diffusion by a magnetic field is well known for gases. With realistic assumptions for the mean free path of charge carriers in semiconductors, a similar effect should be observable in solid state materials. We placed a Medipix-2 detector in the magnetic field of a medical MR device with a maximum magnetic field of 3 T and illuminated it with photons and α-particles from 241Am. We observe that with a magnetic field of 3000 mT the mean cluster size is reduced by 0.75 %.

Measurement of particle directions in low earth orbit with a Timepix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gohl, St.; Bergmann, B.; Granja, C.; Owens, A.; Pichotka, M.; Polansky, S.; Pospisil, S.

2016-11-01

In Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in space electronic equipment aboard satellites and space crews are exposed to high ionizing radiation levels. To reduce radiation damage and the exposure of astronauts, to improve shielding and to assess dose levels, it is valuable to know the composition of the radiation fields and particle directions. The presented measurements are carried out with the Space Application of Timepix Radiation Monitor (SATRAM). There, a Timepix detector (300 μm thick silicon sensor, pixel pitch 55 μm, 256 × 256 pixels) is attached to the Proba-V, an earth observing satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA). The Timepix detector's capability was used to determine the directions of energetic charged particles and their corresponding stopping powers. Data are continuously taken at an altitude of 820 km on a sun-synchronous orbit. The particles pitch angles with respect to the sensor layer were measured and converted to an Earth Centred Earth Fixed (ECEF) coordinate system. Deviations from an isotropic field are extracted by normalization of the observed angular distributions by a Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation —taking the systematics of the reconstruction algorithm and the pixelation into account.

SQUID sensor application for small metallic particle detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Saburo; Hatsukade, Yoshimi; Ohtani, Takeyoshi; Suzuki, Shuichi

2009-04-01

High-Tc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is an ultra-sensitive magnetic sensor. Since the performance of the SQUID is improved and stabilized, now it is ready for application. One strong candidate for application is a detection system of magnetic foreign matters in industrial products or beverages. There is a possibility that ultra-small metallic foreign matter has been accidentally mixed with industrial products such as lithium ion batteries. If this happens, the manufacturer of the product suffers a great loss recalling products. The outer dimension of metallic particles less than 100 μm cannot be detected by an X-ray imaging, which is commonly used for the inspection. Ionization of the material is also a big issue for beverages in the case of the X-ray imaging. Therefore a highly sensitive and safety detection system for small foreign matters is required. We developed detection systems based on high-Tc SQUID with a high-performance magnetic shield. We could successfully measure small iron particles of 100 μm on a belt conveyer and stainless steel balls of 300 μm in water. These detection levels were hard to be achieved by a conventional X-ray detection or other methods.

Phonon Sensor Dynamics for Cryogenic Dark Matter Search Experiment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yen, Jeffrey

Understanding the quasiparticle diffusion process inside sputtered aluminum (Al thin films (~ 0.1-1 μm is critical for the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS experiment to further optimize its detectors to directly search for dark matter. An initial study with Al films was undertaken by our group ~ 20 years ago, but some important questions were not answered at the time. This thesis can be considered a continuation of that critical study. The CDMS experiment utilizes high purity silicon and germanium crystals to simultaneously measure ionization and phonons created by particle interactions. In addition to describing some of the rich physicsmore » involved in simultaneously detecting ionization and phonons with a CDMS detector, this thesis focuses on the detailed physics of the phonon sensors themselves, which are patterned onto CDMS detector surfaces. CDMS detectors use thin sputtered Al films to collect phonon energy when it propagates to the surfaces of the detector crystals. The phonon energy breaks Cooper pairs and creates quasiparticles (qps). These qps diffuse until they get trapped in an proximitized “overlap” region where lower-Tc tungsten films connect to the Al film. These tungsten films are the transition edge sensors (W-TESs CDMS uses to readout phonon signals. We performed a wide range of experiments using several sets of test devices designed and fabricated specifically for this work. The devices were used mostly to study quasiparticle (qp transport in Al films and qp transmission through Al/W interfaces. The results of this work are being used to optimize the design of detectors for SuperCDMS SNOLAB. This thesis is intended for CDMS collaborators who are interested in knowing more about the detailed fundamentals of how our phonon sensors work so they can take full advantage of their benefits. However, this work can also be read by general readers who are interested in particle detection using TES technology. This thesis contains eight chapters. The first chapter gives basic background information about dark matter and searches for it. We then describe the basic CDMS detector technology in Chapter two. Chapter three focuses on superconductivity and explains some of the solid state physic most relevant to our Al and W film studies. We then turn our attention to the fabrication processes used to make test devices, and describe some of the studies done to characterize our W and Al film properties. Chapter five explains the experimental setup including how a 3He/4He dilution refrigerator works, and how our electronics were configured. We then get to chapter six where we present key experimental results. Chapter seven covers the TES model we used for our test devices to simulate the data pulse shapes and reconstruct the pulse energies. We also describe the diffusion models used to fit our data. Finally, we end with a short summary of our findings and provide a few suggestions for future studies.« less

Calibration of a mosfet detection system for 6-MV in vivo dosimetry.

PubMed

Scalchi, P; Francescon, P

1998-03-01

Metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) detectors were calibrated to perform in vivo dosimetry during 6-MV treatments, both in normal setup and total body irradiation (TBI) conditions. MOSFET water-equivalent depth, dependence of the calibration factors (CFs) on the field sizes, MOSFET orientation, bias supply, accumulated dose, incidence angle, temperature, and spoiler-skin distance in TBI setup were investigated. MOSFET reproducibility was verified. The correlation between the water-equivalent midplane depth and the ratio of the exit MOSFET readout divided by the entrance MOSFET readout was studied. MOSFET midplane dosimetry in TBI setup was compared with thermoluminescent dosimetry in an anthropomorphic phantom. By using ionization chamber measurements, the TBI midplane dosimetry was also verified in the presence of cork as a lung substitute. The water-equivalent depth of the MOSFET is about 0.8 mm or 1.8 mm, depending on which sensor side faces the beam. The field size also affects this quantity; Monte Carlo simulations allow driving this behavior by changes in the contaminating electron mean energy. The CFs vary linearly as a function of the square field side, for fields ranging from 5 x 5 to 30 x 30 cm2. In TBI setup, varying the spoiler-skin distance between 5 mm and 10 cm affects the CFs within 5%. The MOSFET reproducibility is about 3% (2 SD) for the doses normally delivered to the patients. The effect of the accumulated dose on the sensor response is negligible. For beam incidence ranging from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, the MOSFET response varies within 7%. No monotonic correlation between the sensor response and the temperature is apparent. Good correlation between the water-equivalent midplane depth and the ratio of the exit MOSFET readout divided by the entrance MOSFET readout was found (the correlation coefficient is about 1). The MOSFET midplane dosimetry relevant to the anthropomorphic phantom irradiation is in agreement with TLD dosimetry within 5%. Ionization chamber and MOSFET midplane dosimetry in inhomogeneous phantoms are in agreement within 2%. MOSFET characteristics are suitable for the in vivo dosimetry relevant to 6-MV treatments, both in normal and TBI setup. The TBI midplane dosimetry using MOSFETs is valid also in the presence of the lung, which is the most critical organ, and allows verifying that calculation of the lung attenuator thicknesses based only on the density is not correct. Our MOSFET dosimetry system can be used also to determine the surface dose by using the water-equivalent depth and extrapolation methods. This procedure depends on the field size used.

Calibration of the electron-proton spectrometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cash, B. L.

1972-01-01

The principal function of the sensor used in the electron-proton spectrometer is to provide a signal which can be used to determine the energy and indicate the type of an incident particle. Two techniques are employed to resolve the particle intensity in different energy regions. The first employs a moderator surrounding each detector to provide a nominal lower limit to the energy of a particle which can be detected. The second technique utilizes a pulse height discriminator to identify those particles entering a detector whose energy is (1) sufficiently high that it exceeds the discriminator level if the particle is stopped in the detector, or (2) sufficiently low that the ionization rate causes the discrimination level to be exceeded for paths through the detector shorter than the particle range.

Science & Technology Review November 2002

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Budil, K

This months issue of Science and Technology Review has the following articles: (1) High-Tech Help for Fighting Wildfires--Commentary by Leland W. Younker; (2) This Model Can Take the Heat--A physics-based simulation program to combat wildfires combines the capabilities and resources of Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories. (3) The Best and the Brightest Come to Livermore--The Lawrence Fellowship Program attracts the most sought-after postdoctoral researchers to the Laboratory. (4) A view to Kill--Livermore sensors are aimed at the ''kill'' vehicle when it intercepts an incoming ballistic missile. (5) 50th Anniversary Highlight--Biological Research Evolves at Livermore--Livermore's biological research program keepsmore » pace with emerging national issues, from studying the effects of ionizing radiation to detecting agents of biological warfare.« less

Video Diagnostic for W7-X Stellarator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sárközi, J.; Grosser, K.; Kocsis, G.; König, R.; Neuner, U.; Molnár, Á.; Petravich, G.; Por, G.; Porempovics, G.; Récsei, S.; Szabó, V.; Szappanos, A.; Zoletnik, S.

2008-03-01

The video diagnostics for W7-X—which is under development—is devoted to observe plasma and frrst wall elements during operation, to warn in case of hot spots and dangerous heat load and to give information about the plasma size, position, edge structure, the geometry and location of magnetic islands and distribution of impurities. The video diagnostics will be mounted on the tangential AEQ-ports of the torus that are not straight and have about 2m length and a typical diameter of 0.1m which makes its realization more difficult. The geometry of the 10 tangential views of the AEQ-ports allows giving an almost complete overview of the vessel interior making this diagnostic indispensable for the machine operation. Different concepts of the diagnostics were investigated and finally the following design was selected. As a large heat load is expected on the optical window located at the plasma-facing end of the AEQ-port, the port window is protected by a cooled pinhole. An uncooled shutter located behind the pinhole can be closed to prevent window contamination during vessel conditioning discharges (glow discharge cleaning) and from inter-pulse deposition of soft a-C:H layers. The imaging optics and the detection sensor are located behind the port window in the port tube, which will be under atmospheric pressure. To detect the visible radiation distribution a new camera system called Event Detection Intelligent Camera (EDICAM) is under development. The system is divided into three major separated components. The Sensor Module contains only the selected CMOS sensor, the analog digital converters and the minimal electronics necessary for the communication with the subsequent camera system module called Image Processing and Control Unit (IPCU). Its simple structure makes the Sensor Module suitable to operate despite being exposed to ionizing (neutron, γ-) radiation. The IPCU, which can be located far from the Sensor Module and therefore far from the plasma, is designed to perform real time evaluation of the images detecting predefined events, managing the sensor read-out and the input triggers and producing the output triggers generated by the detected events. The IPCU can also be used to reduce the amount of the stored data. A Standard 10 Gigabit Ethernet fiber optics connection connects the IPCU module to the PC with GigEVision communication protocol.

A process modification for CMOS monolithic active pixel sensors for enhanced depletion, timing performance and radiation tolerance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snoeys, W.; Aglieri Rinella, G.; Hillemanns, H.; Kugathasan, T.; Mager, M.; Musa, L.; Riedler, P.; Reidt, F.; Van Hoorne, J.; Fenigstein, A.; Leitner, T.

2017-11-01

For the upgrade of its Inner Tracking System, the ALICE experiment plans to install a new tracker fully constructed with monolithic active pixel sensors implemented in a standard 180 nm CMOS imaging sensor process, with a deep pwell allowing full CMOS within the pixel. Reverse substrate bias increases the tolerance to non-ionizing energy loss (NIEL) well beyond 1013 1 MeVneq /cm2, but does not allow full depletion of the sensitive layer and hence full charge collection by drift, mandatory for more extreme radiation tolerance. This paper describes a process modification to fully deplete the epitaxial layer even with a small charge collection electrode. It uses a low dose blanket deep high energy n-type implant in the pixel array and does not require significant circuit or layout changes so that the same design can be fabricated both in the standard and modified process. When exposed to a 55 Fe source at a reverse substrate bias of -6 V, pixels implemented in the standard and the modified process in a low and high dose variant for the deep n-type implant respectively yield a signal of about 115 mV, 110 mV and 90 mV at the output of a follower circuit. Signal rise times heavily affected by the speed of this circuit are 27 . 8 + / - 5 ns, 23 . 2 + / - 4 . 2 ns, and 22 . 2 + / - 3 . 7 ns rms, respectively. In a different setup, the single pixel signal from a 90 Sr source only degrades by less than 20% for the modified process after a 1015 1 MeVneq /cm2 irradiation, while the signal rise time only degrades by about 16 + / - 2 ns to 19 + / - 2 . 8 ns rms. From sensors implemented in the standard process no useful signal could be extracted after the same exposure. These first results indicate the process modification maintains low sensor capacitance, improves timing performance and increases NIEL tolerance by at least an order of magnitude.

Satellite observation analysis of aerosols loading effect over Monrovia-Liberia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emetere, M. E.; Esisio, F.; Oladapo, F.

2017-05-01

The effect of aerosols loading most often results in aerosols retention in the atmosphere. Aside the health hazards of aerosol retention, its effect on climate change are visible. In this research, it was proposed that the effect of aerosol retention also affects rain pattern. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) layer 3 observations and the multi-imaging spectro-reflectometer (MISR) was used for the study. The aerosols loading over were investigated using sixteen years satellite observation in Monrovia-Liberia. Its effect on the rain rate over the region was documented. The results show that aerosol loading over the region is high and may have effect on farming in the nearest future. It was affirmed that the scanty AOD data was as a result of the rain rate that is higher within May and October.

[Blood-sugar self control. A means for the diabetic of controlling his metabolic management. Quality control of a battery-run pocket size reflectometer (glucose-meter)].

PubMed

Leidinger, F; Jörgens, V; Chantelau, E; Berchtold, P; Berger, M

1980-07-26

Home blood glucose monitoring by diabetic patients has recently been advocated as an effective means to improve metabolic control. The Glucocheck apparatus, a pocket-size battery-driven reflectance-meter (in Germany commercially available under the name Glucose-meter), has been evaluated for accuracy and practicability. In 450 blood glucose measurements, the variance between the values obtained using the Glucocheck apparatus and routine clinical laboratory procedures was +/- 11.7%. Especially in the low range of blood glucose concentrations, the Glucocheck method was very reliable. The quantitative precision of the Glucocheck method depends, however, quite considerably on the ability of the patient to use the apparatus correctly. In order to profit from Glucocheck in clinical practice, particular efforts to educate the patients in its use are necessary.

Wafer characteristics via reflectometry

DOEpatents

Sopori, Bhushan L.

2010-10-19

Various exemplary methods (800, 900, 1000, 1100) are directed to determining wafer thickness and/or wafer surface characteristics. An exemplary method (900) includes measuring reflectance of a wafer and comparing the measured reflectance to a calculated reflectance or a reflectance stored in a database. Another exemplary method (800) includes positioning a wafer on a reflecting support to extend a reflectance range. An exemplary device (200) has an input (210), analysis modules (222-228) and optionally a database (230). Various exemplary reflectometer chambers (1300, 1400) include radiation sources positioned at a first altitudinal angle (1308, 1408) and at a second altitudinal angle (1312, 1412). An exemplary method includes selecting radiation sources positioned at various altitudinal angles. An exemplary element (1650, 1850) includes a first aperture (1654, 1854) and a second aperture (1658, 1858) that can transmit reflected radiation to a fiber and an imager, respectfully.

System and method for determining coolant level and flow velocity in a nuclear reactor

DOEpatents

Brisson, Bruce William; Morris, William Guy; Zheng, Danian; Monk, David James; Fang, Biao; Surman, Cheryl Margaret; Anderson, David Deloyd

2013-09-10

A boiling water reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel having a feedwater inlet for the introduction of recycled steam condensate and/or makeup coolant into the vessel, and a steam outlet for the discharge of produced steam for appropriate work. A fuel core is located within a lower area of the pressure vessel. The fuel core is surrounded by a core shroud spaced inward from the wall of the pressure vessel to provide an annular downcomer forming a coolant flow path between the vessel wall and the core shroud. A probe system that includes a combination of conductivity/resistivity probes and/or one or more time-domain reflectometer (TDR) probes is at least partially located within the downcomer. The probe system measures the coolant level and flow velocity within the downcomer.

Space Science Payloads Optical Properties Monitor (OPM) Mission Flight Anomalies Thermal Analyses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmitz, Craig P.

2001-01-01

The OPM was the first space payload that measured in-situ the optical properties of materials and had data telemetered to ground. The OPM was EVA mounted to the Mir Docking Module for an eight-month stay where flight samples were exposed to the Mir induced and natural environments. The OPM was comprised of three optical instruments; a total hemispherical spectral reflectometer, a vacuum ultraviolet spectrometer, and a total integrated scatterometer. There were also three environmental monitors; an atomic oxygen monitor, solar and infrared radiometers, and two temperature-controlled quartz crystal microbalances (to monitor contamination). Measurements were performed weekly and data telemetered to ground through the Mir data system. This paper will describe the OPM thermal control design and how the thermal math models were used to analyze anomalies which occurred during the space flight mission.

Magnetic compound refractive lens for focusing and polarizing cold neutron beams.

PubMed

Littrell, K C; te Velthuis, S G E; Felcher, G P; Park, S; Kirby, B J; Fitzsimmons, M R

2007-03-01

Biconcave cylindrical lenses are used to focus beams of x rays or neutrons using the refractive properties of matter. In the case of neutrons, the refractive properties of magnetic induction can similarly focus and simultaneously polarize the neutron beam without the concomitant attenuation of matter. This concept of a magnetic refractive lens was tested using a compound lens consisting of 99 pairs of cylindrical permanent magnets. The assembly successfully focused the intensity of a white beam of cold neutrons of one spin state at the detector, while defocusing the other. This experiment confirmed that a lens of this nature may boost the intensity locally by almost an order of magnitude and create a polarized beam. An estimate of the performance of a more practically dimensioned device suitable for incorporation in reflectometers and slit-geometry small angle scattering instruments is given.

Active cleaning technique for removing contamination from optical surfaces in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shannon, R. L.; Gillette, R. B.; Cruz, G. A.

1973-01-01

An active cleaning technique for removing contaminants from optical surfaces in space was investigated with emphasis on the feasibility of using plasma exposure as a means of in-situ cleaning. The major work accomplished includes: (1) development of an in-situ reflectometer for use in conjunction with the contaminant film deposition/cleaning facility; (2) completion of Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) filter treatment experiments to assess the effects of plasma exposure on the UV transmittance; (3) attempts to correlate the atomic oxygen flux with cleaning rate; (4) completion of in-situ butadien contamination/plasma cleaning/UV reflectance measurement experiments; (5) carbon cleaning experiments using various gases; (6) completion of silicone contamination/cleaning experiments; and (7) experiments conducted at low chamber pressures to determine cleaning rate distribution and contamination of surfaces adjacent to those being cleaned.

Measurement of large strains in ropes using plastic optical fibers

DOEpatents

Williams, Jerry Gene; Smith, David Barton; Muhs, Jeffrey David

2006-02-14

A method for the direct measurement of large strains in ropes in situ using a plastic optical fiber, for example, perfluorocarbon or polymethyl methacrylate and Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer or other light time-of-flight measurement instrumentation. Protective sheaths and guides are incorporated to protect the plastic optical fiber. In one embodiment, a small rope is braided around the plastic optical fiber to impose lateral compressive forces to restrain the plastic optical fiber from slipping and thus experience the same strain as the rope. Methods are described for making reflective interfaces along the length of the plastic optical fiber and to provide the capability to measure strain within discrete segments of the rope. Interpretation of the data allows one to calculate the accumulated strain at any point in time and to determine if the rope has experienced local damage.

Chemical Source Localization Fusing Concentration Information in the Presence of Chemical Background Noise.

PubMed

Pomareda, Víctor; Magrans, Rudys; Jiménez-Soto, Juan M; Martínez, Dani; Tresánchez, Marcel; Burgués, Javier; Palacín, Jordi; Marco, Santiago

2017-04-20

We present the estimation of a likelihood map for the location of the source of a chemical plume dispersed under atmospheric turbulence under uniform wind conditions. The main contribution of this work is to extend previous proposals based on Bayesian inference with binary detections to the use of concentration information while at the same time being robust against the presence of background chemical noise. For that, the algorithm builds a background model with robust statistics measurements to assess the posterior probability that a given chemical concentration reading comes from the background or from a source emitting at a distance with a specific release rate. In addition, our algorithm allows multiple mobile gas sensors to be used. Ten realistic simulations and ten real data experiments are used for evaluation purposes. For the simulations, we have supposed that sensors are mounted on cars which do not have among its main tasks navigating toward the source. To collect the real dataset, a special arena with induced wind is built, and an autonomous vehicle equipped with several sensors, including a photo ionization detector (PID) for sensing chemical concentration, is used. Simulation results show that our algorithm, provides a better estimation of the source location even for a low background level that benefits the performance of binary version. The improvement is clear for the synthetic data while for real data the estimation is only slightly better, probably because our exploration arena is not able to provide uniform wind conditions. Finally, an estimation of the computational cost of the algorithmic proposal is presented.

Experimental study of ELF signatures developed by ballistic missile launch

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Peglow, S.G.; Rynne, T.M.

1993-04-08

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore, CA) and SARA, Inc. participated in the ATMD missile launch activities that occurred at WSMR during January 1993. These tests involved the launch of Lance missiles with a subsequent direction of F-15Es into the launch area for subsequent detection and simulated destruction of redeployed missile launchers, LLNL and SARA deployed SARN`s ELF sensors and various data acquisition systems for monitoring of basic phenomena. On 25 January 1993, a single missile launch allowed initial measurements of the phenomena and an assessment of appropriate sensor sensitivity settings as well as the appropriateness of the sensor deploymentmore » sites (e.g., with respect to man-made ELF sources such as power distributions and communication lines). On 27 January 1993, a measurement of a double launch of Lance missiles was performed. This technical report covers the results of the analysis of latter measurements. An attempt was made to measure low frequency electromagnetic signatures that may be produced during a missile launch. Hypothetical signature production mechanisms include: (1) Perturbations of the earth geo-potential during the launch of the missile. This signature may arise from the interaction of the ambient electric field with the conducting body of the missile as well as the partially ionized exhaust plume. (2) Production of spatial, charge sources from triboelectric-like mechanisms. Such effects may occur during the initial interaction of the missile plume with the ground material and lead to an initial {open_quotes}spike{close_quotes} output, Additionally, there may exist charge transfer mechanisms produced during the exhausting of the burnt fuel oxidizer.« less

Overview of Photonic Materials for Application in Space Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, E. W.; Osinski, M.; Svimonishvili, Tengiz; Watson, M.; Bunton, P.; Pearson, S. D.; Bilbro, J.

1999-01-01

Future space systems will he based on components evolving from the development and refinement of new and existing photonic materials. Optically based sensors, inertial guidance, tracking systems, communications, diagnostics, imaging and high speed optical processing are but a few of the applications expected to widely utilize photonic materials. The response of these materials to space environment effects (SEE) such as spacecraft charging, orbital debris, atomic oxygen, ultraviolet irradiation, temperature and ionizing radiation will be paramount to ensuring successful space applications. The intent of this paper is to, address the latter two environments via a succinct comparison of the known sensitivities of selected photonic materials to the temperature and ionizing radiation conditions found in space and enhanced space environments Delineation of the known temperature and radiation induced responses in LiNbO3, AlGaN, AlGsAs,TeO2, Si:Ge, and several organic polymers are presented. Photonic materials are realizing rapid transition into applications for many proposed space components and systems including: optical interconnects, optical gyros, waveguide and spatial light modulators, light emitting diodes, lasers, optical fibers and fiber optic amplifiers. Changes to material parameters such as electrooptic coefficients, absorption coefficients, polarization, conductivity, coupling coefficients, diffraction efficiencies, and other pertinent material properties examined for thermo-optic and radiation induced effect. Conclusions and recommendations provide the reader with an understanding of the limitations or attributes of material choices for specific applications.

Building blocks for the development of an interface for high-throughput thin layer chromatography/ambient mass spectrometric analysis: a green methodology.

PubMed

Cheng, Sy-Chyi; Huang, Min-Zong; Wu, Li-Chieh; Chou, Chih-Chiang; Cheng, Chu-Nian; Jhang, Siou-Sian; Shiea, Jentaie

2012-07-17

Interfacing thin layer chromatography (TLC) with ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) has been an important area of analytical chemistry because of its capability to rapidly separate and characterize the chemical compounds. In this study, we have developed a high-throughput TLC-AMS system using building blocks to deal, deliver, and collect the TLC plate through an electrospray-assisted laser desorption ionization (ELDI) source. This is the first demonstration of the use of building blocks to construct and test the TLC-MS interfacing system. With the advantages of being readily available, cheap, reusable, and extremely easy to modify without consuming any material or reagent, the use of building blocks to develop the TLC-AMS interface is undoubtedly a green methodology. The TLC plate delivery system consists of a storage box, plate dealing component, conveyer, light sensor, and plate collecting box. During a TLC-AMS analysis, the TLC plate was sent to the conveyer from a stack of TLC plates placed in the storage box. As the TLC plate passed through the ELDI source, the chemical compounds separated on the plate would be desorbed by laser desorption and subsequently postionized by electrospray ionization. The samples, including a mixture of synthetic dyes and extracts of pharmaceutical drugs, were analyzed to demonstrate the capability of this TLC-ELDI/MS system for high-throughput analysis.

pH modulates the binding of early growth response protein 1 transcription factor to DNA.

PubMed

Mikles, David C; Bhat, Vikas; Schuchardt, Brett J; Deegan, Brian J; Seldeen, Kenneth L; McDonald, Caleb B; Farooq, Amjad

2013-08-01

The transcription factor early growth response protein (EGR)1 orchestrates a plethora of signaling cascades involved in cellular homeostasis, and its downregulation has been implicated in the development of prostate cancer. Herein, using a battery of biophysical tools, we show that the binding of EGR1 to DNA is tightly regulated by solution pH. Importantly, the binding affinity undergoes an enhancement of more than an order of magnitude with an increase in pH from 5 to 8, implying that the deprotonation of an ionizable residue accounts for such behavior. This ionizable residue is identified as His382 by virtue of the fact that its replacement by nonionizable residues abolishes the pH dependence of the binding of EGR1 to DNA. Notably, His382 inserts into the major groove of DNA, and stabilizes the EGR1-DNA interaction via both hydrogen bonding and van der Waals contacts. Remarkably, His382 is mainly conserved across other members of the EGR family, implying that histidine protonation-deprotonation may serve as a molecular switch for modulating the protein-DNA interactions that are central to this family of transcription factors. Collectively, our findings reveal an unexpected but a key step in the molecular recognition of the EGR family of transcription factors, and suggest that they may act as sensors of pH within the intracellular environment. © 2013 FEBS.

ACE-SWICS In Situ Plasma Composition of Fragmented Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilbert, J. A.; Lepri, S. T.; Rubin, M.; Zurbuchen, T.

2013-12-01

The interiors of comets contain some of the most pristine material in the solar system. Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, discovered in 1930 with a double nucleus, is a Jupiter-family comet with a 5.34-year period. This comet split into 5 fragments in 1995 and disintegrated into nearly 70 pieces in 2006. In May and June of 2006, recently ionized cometary particles originating from some of these fragments were collected with the ACE-SWICS sensor. Due to a combination of the close proximity of the fragments passing between ACE-SWICS and the Sun, and the instrument characteristics, unique measurements regarding the charge state composition and the elemental abundances of both cometary and heliospheric plasma were made during this time. The cometary material released from some of these fragments can be identified by the concentrations of water-group pick-up ions having a mass-per-charge of 16-18 amu/e. With a focus on Helium, Carbon, and water-group ions, we present an analysis of the cometary plasma. Charge state ratios of C+/O+ fall below 0.1 during detection of comet fragment plasma, and there is a clear increase in He+ during fragment crossings. The C/O ratio and He charge states are used to provide constraints on the activity of the cometary fragments and also the spatial distribution of the extended and ionized cometary tail.

Neurologically induced skin perfusion changes using optoelectronic devices: aims and results of an Indo-German project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blazek, Vladimir; Schmitt, Hans J.; Rao, M. Mukunda

1999-04-01

In recent years investigation and understanding of the interaction between brain activity and human hemodynamics is receiving much attention. Such investigations are generally confined to few select premier research institutions where expensive and sophisticated facilities like PET, NMRI, etc. are available. Actual advancement in optoelectronics and computer technology have accelerated the development of new measuring systems and methodologies for use in this medical field. Specifically, transcutaneous assessment of skin perfusion changes (blood volumetric measurement) through optical sensor based Photoplethysmography (PPG) has rapidly gained an important role. This basically noninvasive measuring procedure is devoid of harmful radiation and ionizing phenomena, simple in construction and connection to the measuring setup and is easy to use in all areas of human body. The relatively low cost of these sensors have resulted in their use in varied medical fields for extensive clinical applications. In the past, the application of PPG had been limited by technical difficulties involving calibration of the data. The development of quantitative PPG technique based on computer-aided data processing has removed this obstacle. In co-operation between Indian Institute of Technology at Chennai and Aachen University of Technology an Indo-German Project was initiated in 1996 for advanced studies in this research area. Measuring system design, experimental details and some preliminary results obtained so far within the framework of this project are presented in this paper. From the investigations carried out so far using the PPG sensors in conjunction with breathing sensors, it has been possible to monitor the 0.125 to 0.15 Hz rhythms in the arterial volumetric changes and to study the influence of breathing on them. These rhythms, which according to medical experts have relevance to psychosomatic conditions e.g. stress or relaxation, can also be addressed to by ancient Indian practices like yoga and meditation.

Airborne atmospheric electricity experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blakeslee, R. J.

1985-01-01

During the 1984 U2 spring flight program, lightning spectra were measured in the wavelengths from 380 nm to 900 nm with a temporal resolution of 5 ms. With this capability, researchers simultaneously acquired both visible near-infrared lightning spectra on a pulse to pulse basis, so that the spectral variability within a flash, as well as flash to flash variations, can be studied. Preliminary results suggest that important variations do occur, particularly in the strengths of the hydrogen and singly ionized nitrogen emission lines. Also, the results have revealed significant differences in the integrated energy distributions between the lightning spectra measured above clouds and the spectral measurements of cloud-to-ground lightning made at the ground. In particular, the ratio of the energy in the near-IR to that in the visible is around 1 to 2 for cloud top spectra versus about 1/3 for surface observations. Detailed analyses of the 1984 lightning spectral data is being conducted. This data should provide improved understanding about the optical transmission properties of thunderclouds and the physics of the lightning discharge process. Efforts continue on developing and testing background signal removal algorithms using U2 spectometer and optical array sensor day-flight data sets. The goal of this research is to develop an algorithm satisfying Lightning Mapper Sensor requirements.

Nanoparticle-coated micro-optofluidic ring resonator as a detector for microscale gas chromatographic vapor analysis.

PubMed

Scholten, K; Collin, W R; Fan, X; Zellers, E T

2015-05-28

A vapor sensor comprising a nanoparticle-coated microfabricated optofluidic ring resonator (μOFRR) is introduced. A multilayer film of polyether functionalized, thiolate-monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (MPN) was solvent cast on the inner wall of the hollow cylindrical SiOxμOFRR resonator structure, and whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonances were generated with a 1550 nm tunable laser via an optical fiber taper. Reversible shifts in the WGM resonant wavelength upon vapor exposure were detected with a photodetector. The μOFRR chip was connected to a pair of upstream etched-Si chips containing PDMS-coated separation μcolumns and calibration curves were generated from the peak-area responses to five volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Calibration curves were linear, and the sensitivities reflected the influence of analyte volatility and analyte-MPN functional group affinity. Sorption-induced changes in film thickness apparently dominate over changes in the refractive index of the film as the determinant of responses for all VOCs. Peaks from the MPN-coated μOFRR were just 20-50% wider than those from a flame ionization detector for similar μcolumn separation conditions, reflecting the rapid response of the sensor for VOCs. The five VOCs were baseline separated in <1.67 min, with detection limits as low as 38 ng.

Nanoparticle-coated micro-optofluidic ring resonator as a detector for microscale gas chromatographic vapor analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scholten, K.; Collin, W. R.; Fan, X.; Zellers, E. T.

2015-05-01

A vapor sensor comprising a nanoparticle-coated microfabricated optofluidic ring resonator (μOFRR) is introduced. A multilayer film of polyether functionalized, thiolate-monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (MPN) was solvent cast on the inner wall of the hollow cylindrical SiOx μOFRR resonator structure, and whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonances were generated with a 1550 nm tunable laser via an optical fiber taper. Reversible shifts in the WGM resonant wavelength upon vapor exposure were detected with a photodetector. The μOFRR chip was connected to a pair of upstream etched-Si chips containing PDMS-coated separation μcolumns and calibration curves were generated from the peak-area responses to five volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Calibration curves were linear, and the sensitivities reflected the influence of analyte volatility and analyte-MPN functional group affinity. Sorption-induced changes in film thickness apparently dominate over changes in the refractive index of the film as the determinant of responses for all VOCs. Peaks from the MPN-coated μOFRR were just 20-50% wider than those from a flame ionization detector for similar μcolumn separation conditions, reflecting the rapid response of the sensor for VOCs. The five VOCs were baseline separated in <1.67 min, with detection limits as low as 38 ng.

Proton Nonionizing Energy Loss (NIEL) for Device Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jun, Insoo; Xapsos, Michael A.; Messenger, Scott R.; Burke, Edward A.; Walters, Robert J.; Summers, Geoff; Jordan, Thomas

2003-01-01

Nonionizing energy loss (NIEL) is a quantity that describes the rate of energy loss due to atomic displacements as a particle traverses a material. The product of the NIEL and the particle fluence (time integrated flux) gives the displacement damage energy deposition per unit mass of material. NIEL plays the same role to the displacement damage energy deposition as the stopping power to the total ionizing dose (TID). The concept of NIEL has been very useful for correlating particle induced displacement damage effects in semiconductor and optical devices. Many studies have successfully demonstrated that the degradation of semiconductor devices or optical sensors in a radiation field can be linearly correlated to the displacement damage energy, and subsequently to the NIEL deposited in the semiconductor devices or optical sensors. In addition, the NIEL concept was also useful in the study of both Si and GaAs solar cells and of high temperature superconductors, and at predicting the survivability of detectors used at the LHC at CERN. On the other hand, there are some instances where discrepancies are observed in the application of NIEL, most notably in GaAs semiconductor devices. However, NIEL is still a valuable tool, and can be used to scale damages produced by different particles and in different environments, even though this is not understood at the microscopic level.

Solar wind ion composition and charge states

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

vonSteiger, R.

1995-01-01

The solar wind, a highly tenuous plasma streaming from the Sun into interplanetary space at supersonic speed, is roughly composed of 95% hydrogen and 5% helium by number. All other, heavy elements contribute less than 0.1% by number and thus are truly test particles Nevertheless, these particles provide valuable information not present in the main components. We first discuss the importance of the heavy ions as tracers for processes in the solar atmosphere. Specifically, their relative abundances are found to be different in the solar wind as compared to the photosphere. This fractionation, which is best organized as a function of the first ionization time (FIT) of the elements under solar surface conditions, provides information on the structure of the chromosphere. where it is imparted on the partially ionized material by an atom-ion separation mechanism. Moreover, the charge states of the heavy ions can be used to infer the coronal temperature, since they are frozen-in near the altitude where the expansion time scale overcomes the ionization/recombination time scales. Next, we review the published values of ion abundances in the solar wind, concentrating on the recent results of the SWICS instrument on Ulysses. About 8 elements and more than 20 charge states can be routinely analyzed by this sensor. There is clear evidence that both the composition and the charge state distribution is significantly different in the fast solar wind from the south polar coronal hole, traversed by Ulysses in 1993/94, as compared to the solar wind normally encountered near the ecliptic plane. The fractionation between low- and high-FIT elements is reduced, and the charge states indicate a lower, more uniform coronal temperature in the hole. Finally, we discuss these results in the framework of existing theoretical models of the chromosphere and corona, attempting to identify differences between the low- and high-latitude regions of the solar atmosphere.

Carbon nanotubes based vacuum gauge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudyk, N. N.; Il'in, O. I.; Il'ina, M. V.; Fedotov, A. A.; Klimin, V. S.; Ageev, O. A.

2017-11-01

We have created an ionization type Vacuum gauge with sensor element based on an array of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. Obtained asymmetrical current-voltage characteristics at different voltage polarity on the electrode with the CNTs. It was found that when applying a negative potential on an electrode with the CNTs, the current in the gap is higher than at a positive potential. In the pressure range of 1 ÷ 103 Torr vacuum gauge sensitivity was 6 mV/Torr (at a current of 4.5·10-5 A) and in the range of 10-5 ÷ 1 Torr was 10 mV/Torr (at a current of 1.3·10-5 A). It is shown that the energy efficiency of vacuum gauge can be increased in the case where electrode with CNT operates as an emitter of electrons.

Optically stimulated luminescence in x-ray irradiated xSnO-(25-x)SrO-75B2O3 glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nanto, H.; Nakagawa, R.; Takei, Y.; Hirasawa, K.; Miyamoto, Y.; Masai, H.; Kurobori, T.; Yanagida, T.; Fujimoto, Y.

2015-06-01

An intense optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) was observed, for the first time, in x-ray irradiated xSnO-(25-x)SrO-75B2O3 glass. It was found that the peak wavelength of OSL emission spectrum and its stimulation spectrum is about 400 nm and 600 nm, respectively. The OSL intensity is depended on the SnO contents (x=0.05-1.5) and the most intense OSL was observed in 1.0 mol% SnO doped glass. It was found that the OSL intensity is increased with increasing x-ray absorbed dose. Fairly good fading characteristics were observed in the x-ray irradiated glass, showing that this glass is useful as a candidate for OSL sensor materials for ionizing radiation monitoring.