High-resolution room-temperature sample scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscope configurable for geological and biomagnetic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fong, L. E.; Holzer, J. R.; McBride, K. K.; Lima, E. A.; Baudenbacher, F.; Radparvar, M.

2005-05-01

We have developed a scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscope system with interchangeable sensor configurations for imaging magnetic fields of room-temperature (RT) samples with submillimeter resolution. The low-critical-temperature (Tc) niobium-based monolithic SQUID sensors are mounted on the tip of a sapphire and thermally anchored to the helium reservoir. A 25μm sapphire window separates the vacuum space from the RT sample. A positioning mechanism allows us to adjust the sample-to-sensor spacing from the top of the Dewar. We achieved a sensor-to-sample spacing of 100μm, which could be maintained for periods of up to four weeks. Different SQUID sensor designs are necessary to achieve the best combination of spatial resolution and field sensitivity for a given source configuration. For imaging thin sections of geological samples, we used a custom-designed monolithic low-Tc niobium bare SQUID sensor, with an effective diameter of 80μm, and achieved a field sensitivity of 1.5pT/Hz1/2 and a magnetic moment sensitivity of 5.4×10-18Am2/Hz1/2 at a sensor-to-sample spacing of 100μm in the white noise region for frequencies above 100Hz. Imaging action currents in cardiac tissue requires a higher field sensitivity, which can only be achieved by compromising spatial resolution. We developed a monolithic low-Tc niobium multiloop SQUID sensor, with sensor sizes ranging from 250μm to 1mm, and achieved sensitivities of 480-180fT /Hz1/2 in the white noise region for frequencies above 100Hz, respectively. For all sensor configurations, the spatial resolution was comparable to the effective diameter and limited by the sensor-to-sample spacing. Spatial registration allowed us to compare high-resolution images of magnetic fields associated with action currents and optical recordings of transmembrane potentials to study the bidomain nature of cardiac tissue or to match petrography to magnetic field maps in thin sections of geological samples.

Quench monitoring and control system and method of operating same

DOEpatents

Ryan, David Thomas; Laskaris, Evangelos Trifon; Huang, Xianrui

2006-05-30

A rotating machine comprising a superconductive coil and a temperature sensor operable to provide a signal representative of superconductive coil temperature. The rotating machine may comprise a control system communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor. The control system may be operable to reduce electric current in the superconductive coil when a signal representative of a defined superconducting coil temperature is received from the temperature sensor.

Nanobridge SQUIDs as calorimetric inductive particle detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallop, John; Cox, David; Hao, Ling

2015-08-01

Superconducting transition edge sensors (TESs) have made dramatic progress since their invention some 65 years ago (Andrews et al 1949 Phys. Rev. 76 154-155 Irwin and Hilton 2005 Topics Appl. Phys. 99 63-149) until now there are major imaging arrays of TESs with as many as 7588 separate sensors. These are extensively used by astronomers for some ground-breaking observations (Hattori et al 2013 Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A 732 299-302). The great success of TES systems has tended to overshadow other superconducting sensor developments. However there are other types (Sobolewski et al 2003 IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. 13 1151-7 Hadfield 2009 Nat. Photonics 3 696-705) which are discussed in papers within this special edition of the journal. Here we describe a quite different type of detector, also applicable to single photon detection but possessing possible advantages (higher sensitivity, higher operating temperature) over the conventional TES, at least for single detectors.

Superconducting Digital Multiplexers for Sensor Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kadin, Alan M.; Brock, Darren K.; Gupta, Deepnarayan

2004-01-01

Arrays of cryogenic microbolometers and other cryogenic detectors are being developed for infrared imaging. If the signal from each sensor is amplified, multiplexed, and digitized using superconducting electronics, then this data can be efficiently read out to ambient temperature with a minimum of noise and thermal load. HYPRES is developing an integrated system based on SQUID amplifiers, a high-resolution analog-to-digital converter (ADC) based on RSFQ (rapid single flux quantum) logic, and a clocked RSFQ multiplexer. The ADC and SQUIDs have already been demonstrated for other projects, so this paper will focus on new results of a digital multiplexer. Several test circuits have been fabricated using Nb Josephson technology and are about to be tested at T = 4.2 K, with a more complete prototype in preparation.

NASA Tech Briefs, July 2008

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

Topics covered include: Torque Sensor Based on Tunnel-Diode Oscillator; Shaft-Angle Sensor Based on Tunnel-Diode Oscillator; Ground Facility for Vicarious Calibration of Skyborne Sensors; Optical Pressure-Temperature Sensor for a Combustion Chamber; Impact-Locator Sensor Panels; Low-Loss Waveguides for Terahertz Frequencies; MEMS/ECD Method for Making Bi(2-x)Sb(x)Te3 Thermoelectric Devices; Low-Temperature Supercapacitors; Making a Back-Illuminated Imager with Back-Side Contact and Alignment Markers; Compact, Single-Stage MMIC InP HEMT Amplifier; Nb(x)Ti(1-x)N Superconducting-Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors; Improved Sand-Compaction Method for Lost-Foam Metal Casting; Improved Probe for Evaluating Compaction of Mold Sand; Polymer-Based Composite Catholytes for Li Thin-Film Cells; Using ALD To Bond CNTs to Substrates and Matrices; Alternating-Composition Layered Ceramic Barrier Coatings; Variable-Structure Control of a Model Glider Airplane; Axial Halbach Magnetic Bearings; Compact, Non-Pneumatic Rock-Powder Samplers; Biochips Containing Arrays of Carbon-Nanotube Electrodes; Nb(x)Ti(1-x)N Superconducting-Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors; Neon as a Buffer Gas for a Mercury-Ion Clock; Miniature Incandescent Lamps as Fiber-Optic Light Sources; Bidirectional Pressure-Regulator System; and Prism Window for Optical Alignment. Single-Grid-Pair Fourier Telescope for Imaging in Hard-X Rays and gamma Rays Range-Gated Metrology with Compact Optical Head Lossless, Multi-Spectral Data Compressor for Improved Compression for Pushbroom-Typetruments.

SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP). Volume 8: Aerothermodynamics Automation and Robotics (A/R) systems sensors, high-temperature superconductivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

Viewgraphs of briefings presented at the SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP) on aerothermodynamics, automation and robotics systems, sensors, and high-temperature superconductivity are included. Topics covered include: aerothermodynamics; aerobraking; aeroassist flight experiment; entry technology for probes and penetrators; automation and robotics; artificial intelligence; NASA telerobotics program; planetary rover program; science sensor technology; direct detector; submillimeter sensors; laser sensors; passive microwave sensing; active microwave sensing; sensor electronics; sensor optics; coolers and cryogenics; and high temperature superconductivity.

SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP). Volume 8: Aerothermodynamics Automation and Robotics (A/R) systems sensors, high-temperature superconductivity

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

Not Available

Viewgraphs of briefings presented at the SSTAC/ARTS review of the draft Integrated Technology Plan (ITP) on aerothermodynamics, automation and robotics systems, sensors, and high-temperature superconductivity are included. Topics covered include: aerothermodynamics; aerobraking; aeroassist flight experiment; entry technology for probes and penetrators; automation and robotics; artificial intelligence; NASA telerobotics program; planetary rover program; science sensor technology; direct detector; submillimeter sensors; laser sensors; passive microwave sensing; active microwave sensing; sensor electronics; sensor optics; coolers and cryogenics; and high temperature superconductivity.

A Temperature-Stable Cryo-System for High-Temperature Superconducting MR In-Vivo Imaging

PubMed Central

Lin, In-Tsang; Yang, Hong-Chang; Chen, Jyh-Horng

2013-01-01

To perform a rat experiment using a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) surface resonator, a cryostat is essential to maintain the rat's temperature. In this work, a compact temperature-stable HTS cryo-system, keeping animal rectal temperature at 37.4°C for more than 3 hours, was successfully developed. With this HTS cryo-system, a 40-mm-diameter Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (Bi-2223) surface resonator at 77 K was demonstrated in a 3-Tesla MRI system. The proton resonant frequency (PRF) method was employed to monitor the rat's temperature. Moreover, the capacity of MR thermometry in the HTS experiments was evaluated by correlating with data from independent fiber-optic sensor temperature measurements. The PRF thermal coefficient was derived as 0.03 rad/°C and the temperature-monitoring architecture can be implemented to upgrade the quality and safety in HTS experiments. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the HTS surface resonator at 77 K was higher than that of a professionally made copper surface resonator at 300 K, which has the same geometry, by a 3.79-fold SNR gain. Furthermore, the temperature-stable HTS cryo-system we developed can obtain stable SNR gain in every scan. A temperature-stable HTS cryo-system with an external air-blowing circulation system is demonstrated. PMID:23637936

Standoff passive video imaging at 350 GHz with 251 superconducting detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, Daniel; Gentry, Cale; Smirnov, Ilya; Ade, Peter; Beall, James; Cho, Hsiao-Mei; Dicker, Simon; Duncan, William; Halpern, Mark; Hilton, Gene; Irwin, Kent; Li, Dale; Paulter, Nicholas; Reintsema, Carl; Schwall, Robert; Tucker, Carole

2014-06-01

Millimeter wavelength radiation holds promise for detection of security threats at a distance, including suicide bomb belts and maritime threats in poor weather. The high sensitivity of superconducting Transition Edge Sensor (TES) detectors makes them ideal for passive imaging of thermal signals at these wavelengths. We have built a 350 GHz video-rate imaging system using a large-format array of feedhorn-coupled TES bolometers. The system operates at a standoff distance of 16m to 28m with a spatial resolution of 1:4 cm (at 17m). It currently contains one 251-detector subarray, and will be expanded to contain four subarrays for a total of 1004 detectors. The system has been used to take video images which reveal the presence of weapons concealed beneath a shirt in an indoor setting. We present a summary of this work.

Method for detection and imaging over a broad spectral range

DOEpatents

Yefremenko, Volodymyr; Gordiyenko, Eduard; Pishko, legal representative, Olga; Novosad, Valentyn; Pishko, deceased; Vitalii

2007-09-25

A method of controlling the coordinate sensitivity in a superconducting microbolometer employs localized light, heating or magnetic field effects to form normal or mixed state regions on a superconducting film and to control the spatial location. Electron beam lithography and wet chemical etching were applied as pattern transfer processes in epitaxial Y--Ba--Cu--O films. Two different sensor designs were tested: (i) a 3 millimeter long and 40 micrometer wide stripe and (ii) a 1.25 millimeters long, and 50 micron wide meandering-like structure. Scanning the laser beam along the stripe leads to physical displacement of the sensitive area, and, therefore, may be used as a basis for imaging over a broad spectral range. Forming the superconducting film as a meandering structure provides the equivalent of a two-dimensional detector array. Advantages of this approach are simplicity of detector fabrication, and simplicity of the read-out process requiring only two electrical terminals.

Automated optical inspection and image analysis of superconducting radio-frequency cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wenskat, M.

2017-05-01

The inner surface of superconducting cavities plays a crucial role to achieve highest accelerating fields and low losses. For an investigation of this inner surface of more than 100 cavities within the cavity fabrication for the European XFEL and the ILC HiGrade Research Project, an optical inspection robot OBACHT was constructed. To analyze up to 2325 images per cavity, an image processing and analysis code was developed and new variables to describe the cavity surface were obtained. The accuracy of this code is up to 97 % and the positive predictive value (PPV) 99 % within the resolution of 15.63 μm. The optical obtained surface roughness is in agreement with standard profilometric methods. The image analysis algorithm identified and quantified vendor specific fabrication properties as the electron beam welding speed and the different surface roughness due to the different chemical treatments. In addition, a correlation of ρ = -0.93 with a significance of 6 σ between an obtained surface variable and the maximal accelerating field was found.

Superconducting transition edge sensors and methods for design and manufacture thereof

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John E. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

Methods for forming sensors using transition edge sensors (TES) and sensors therefrom are described. The method includes forming a plurality of sensor arrays includes at least one TES device. The TES device includes a TES device body, a first superconducting lead contacting a first portion of the TES device body, and a second superconducting lead contacting of a second portion of the TES device body, where the first and second superconducting leads separated on the TES device body by a lead spacing. The lead spacing can be selected to be different for at least two of the plurality of sensor arrays. The method also includes determining a transition temperature for each of the plurality of sensor arrays and generating a signal responsive to detecting a change in the electrical characteristics of one of the plurality of sensor arrays meeting a transition temperature criterion.

Imaging Josephson vortices on the surface superconductor Si(111)-(√7×√3)-In using a scanning tunneling microscope.

PubMed

Yoshizawa, Shunsuke; Kim, Howon; Kawakami, Takuto; Nagai, Yuki; Nakayama, Tomonobu; Hu, Xiao; Hasegawa, Yukio; Uchihashi, Takashi

2014-12-12

We have studied the superconducting Si(111)-(√7×√3)-In surface using a ³He-based low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Zero-bias conductance images taken over a large surface area reveal that vortices are trapped at atomic steps after magnetic fields are applied. The crossover behavior from Pearl to Josephson vortices is clearly identified from their elongated shapes along the steps and significant recovery of superconductivity within the cores. Our numerical calculations combined with experiments clarify that these characteristic features are determined by the relative strength of the interterrace Josephson coupling at the atomic step.

Rugged Low-Resistance Contacts To High-Tc Superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caton, Randall; Selim, Raouf; Byvik, Charles E.; Buoncristiani, A. Martin

1992-01-01

Newly developed technique involving use of gold makes possible to fabricate low-resistance contacts with rugged connections to high-Tc superconductors. Gold diffused into specimen of superconducting material by melting gold beads onto surface of specimen, making strong mechanical contacts. Shear strength of gold bead contacts greater than epoxy or silver paste. Practical use in high-current-carrying applications of new high-Tc materials, including superconducting magnets, long-wavelength sensors, electrical ground planes at low temperatures, and efficient transmission of power.

Superconducting Metallic Glass Transition-Edge-Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hays, Charles C. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

A superconducting metallic glass transition-edge sensor (MGTES) and a method for fabricating the MGTES are provided. A single-layer superconducting amorphous metal alloy is deposited on a substrate. The single-layer superconducting amorphous metal alloy is an absorber for the MGTES and is electrically connected to a circuit configured for readout and biasing to sense electromagnetic radiation.

Optical multichannel room temperature magnetic field imaging system for clinical application

PubMed Central

Lembke, G.; Erné, S. N.; Nowak, H.; Menhorn, B.; Pasquarelli, A.

2014-01-01

Optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) are a very promising alternative to the superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) used nowadays for Magnetic Field Imaging (MFI), a new method of diagnosis based on the measurement of the magnetic field of the human heart. We present a first measurement combining a multichannel OPM-sensor with an existing MFI-system resulting in a fully functional room temperature MFI-system. PMID:24688820

Optimized Geometry for Superconducting Sensing Coils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eom, Byeong Ho; Pananen, Konstantin; Hahn, Inseob

2008-01-01

An optimized geometry has been proposed for superconducting sensing coils that are used in conjunction with superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and related applications in which magnetic fields of small dipoles are detected. In designing a coil of this type, as in designing other sensing coils, one seeks to maximize the sensitivity of the detector of which the coil is a part, subject to geometric constraints arising from the proximity of other required equipment. In MRI or MEG, the main benefit of maximizing the sensitivity would be to enable minimization of measurement time. In general, to maximize the sensitivity of a detector based on a sensing coil coupled with a SQUID sensor, it is necessary to maximize the magnetic flux enclosed by the sensing coil while minimizing the self-inductance of this coil. Simply making the coil larger may increase its self-inductance and does not necessarily increase sensitivity because it also effectively increases the distance from the sample that contains the source of the signal that one seeks to detect. Additional constraints on the size and shape of the coil and on the distance from the sample arise from the fact that the sample is at room temperature but the coil and the SQUID sensor must be enclosed within a cryogenic shield to maintain superconductivity.

Developments in Scanning Hall Probe Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chouinard, Taras; Chu, Ricky; David, Nigel; Broun, David

2009-05-01

Low temperature scanning Hall probe microscopy is a sensitive means of imaging magnetic structures with high spatial resolution and magnetic flux sensitivity approaching that of a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device. We have developed a scanning Hall probe microscope with novel features, including highly reliable coarse positioning, in situ optimization of sensor-sample alignment and capacitive transducers for linear, long range positioning measurement. This has been motivated by the need to reposition accurately above fabricated nanostructures such as small superconducting rings. Details of the design and performance will be presented as well as recent progress towards time-resolved measurements with sub nanosecond resolution.

Distributed transition-edge sensors for linearized position response in a phonon-mediated X-ray imaging spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cabrera, Blas; Brink, Paul L.; Leman, Steven W.; Castle, Joseph P.; Tomada, Astrid; Young, Betty A.; Martínez-Galarce, Dennis S.; Stern, Robert A.; Deiker, Steve; Irwin, Kent D.

2004-03-01

For future solar X-ray satellite missions, we are developing a phonon-mediated macro-pixel composed of a Ge crystal absorber with four superconducting transition-edge sensors (TES) distributed on the backside. The X-rays are absorbed on the opposite side and the energy is converted into phonons, which are absorbed into the four TES sensors. By connecting together parallel elements into four channels, fractional total energy absorbed between two of the sensors provides x-position information and the other two provide y-position information. We determine the optimal distribution for the TES sub-elements to obtain linear position information while minimizing the degradation of energy resolution.

Development of Fe-based superconducting wires for liquid-hydrogen level sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishida, S.; Tsuchiya, Y.; Mawatari, Y.; Eisaki, H.; Nakano, A.; Yoshida, Y.

2017-07-01

We developed liquid-hydrogen (LH2) level sensors with Ba(Fe1-x Co x )2As2 superconducting wires (Co-Ba122 wires) as their detection elements. We fabricated Co-Ba122 wires with different Co concentrations x by using the powder-in-tube method. The superconducting transition temperatures of the wires were successfully controlled in the range of 20-25 K by changing x from 0.06 to 0.10. The resistance-temperature curves of the wires exhibited sharp superconducting transitions with widths of 0.5-1.0 K. In addition, we performed an operation test of the Co-Ba122 level sensors with LH2. Close correspondence between the output resistance and the actual LH2 level was observed for a sensor equipped with x = 0.09 wire, demonstrating that this sensor can accurately measure LH2 levels.

Electromagnetic Remote Sensing. Low Frequency Electromagnetics

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-01

biased superconducting point - contact quantum devices", J.Appl.Phys. 41, p.1572, 1970. [40] A.Yariv and H.Winsor, "Proposal for detection of magnetic ... magnetics , electromagnetic induc- tion, electrostatics) 2. Nondestructive testing (electromagnetic induction, neutron tomography, x-ray imaging) 3...Detection of submarines from aircraft or ships ( magnetics , electromagnetic induction) 4. Detection of land vehicles using buried sensors ( magnetics

Development of Ferrite-Based Temperature Sensors for Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Study of Cu1 -xZnxFe2O4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alghamdi, N. A.; Hankiewicz, J. H.; Anderson, N. R.; Stupic, K. F.; Camley, R. E.; Przybylski, M.; Żukrowski, J.; Celinski, Z.

2018-05-01

We investigate the use of Cu1 -xZnxFe2O4 ferrites (0.60

Leica ADS40 Sensor for Coastal Multispectral Imaging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Craig, John C.

2007-01-01

The Leica ADS40 Sensor as it is used for coastal multispectral imaging is presented. The contents include: 1) Project Area Overview; 2) Leica ADS40 Sensor; 3) Focal Plate Arrangements; 4) Trichroid Filter; 5) Gradient Correction; 6) Image Acquisition; 7) Remote Sensing and ADS40; 8) Band comparisons of Satellite and Airborne Sensors; 9) Impervious Surface Extraction; and 10) Impervious Surface Details.

Imaging detectors and electronics—a view of the future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spieler, Helmuth

2004-09-01

Imaging sensors and readout electronics have made tremendous strides in the past two decades. The application of modern semiconductor fabrication techniques and the introduction of customized monolithic integrated circuits have made large-scale imaging systems routine in high-energy physics. This technology is now finding its way into other areas, such as space missions, synchrotron light sources, and medical imaging. I review current developments and discuss the promise and limits of new technologies. Several detector systems are described as examples of future trends. The discussion emphasizes semiconductor detector systems, but I also include recent developments for large-scale superconducting detector arrays.

Long baseline planar superconducting gradiometer for biomagnetic imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granata, C.; Vettoliere, A.; Nappi, C.; Lisitskiy, M.; Russo, M.

2009-07-01

A niobium based dc-superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) planar gradiometer with a long baseline (50 mm) for biomagnetic applications has been developed. The pickup antenna consists of two integrated rectangular coils connected in series and magnetically coupled to a dc-SQUID in a double parallel washer configuration by two series multiturn input coils. Due to a high intrinsic responsivity, the sensors have shown at T =4.2 K a white magnetic flux noise spectral density as low as 3 μΦ0/Hz1/2. The spectral density of the magnetic field noise referred to one sensing coil, is 3.0 fT/Hz1/2 resulting in a gradient spectral noise of 0.6 fT/(cm Hz1/2). In order to verify the effectiveness of such sensors for biomagnetic applications, the magnetic response to a current dipole has been calculated and the results have been compared with those of an analogous axial gradiometer. The results show that there is no significant difference. Due to their high intrinsic balance and good performances, planar gradiometers may be the elective sensors for biomagnetic application in a soft shielded environment.

Superconducting characteristics of short MgB2 wires of long level sensor for liquid hydrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeda, M.; Inoue, Y.; Maekawa, K.; Matsuno, Y.; Fujikawa, S.; Kumakura, H.

2015-12-01

To establish the worldwide storage and marine transport of hydrogen, it is important to develop a high-precision and long level sensor, such as a superconducting magnesium diboride (MgB2) level sensor for large liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanks on board ships. Three 1.7- m-long MgB2 wires were fabricated by an in situ method, and the superconducting characteristics of twenty-four 20-mm-long MgB2 wires on the 1.7-m-long wires were studied. In addition, the static level-detecting characteristics of five 500-mm-long MgB2 level sensors were evaluated under atmospheric pressure.

A Dry-Etch Process for Low Temperature Superconducting Transition Edge Sensors for Far Infrared Bolometer Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, Christine A.; Chervenak, James A.; Hsieh, Wen-Ting; McClanahan, Richard A.; Miller, Timothy M.; Mitchell, Robert; Moseley, S. Harvey; Staguhn, Johannes; Stevenson, Thomas R.

2003-01-01

The next generation of ultra-low power bolometer arrays, with applications in far infrared imaging, spectroscopy and polarimetry, utilizes a superconducting bilayer as the sensing element to enable SQUID multiplexed readout. Superconducting transition edge sensors (TES s) are being produced with dual metal systems of superconductinghormal bilayers. The transition temperature (Tc) is tuned by altering the relative thickness of the superconductor with respect to the normal layer. We are currently investigating MoAu and MoCu bilayers. We have developed a dry-etching process for MoAu TES s with integrated molybdenum leads, and are working on adapting the process to MoCu. Dry etching has the advantage over wet etching in the MoAu system in that one can achieve a high degree of selectivity, greater than 10, using argon ME, or argon ion milling, for patterning gold on molybdenum. Molybdenum leads are subsequently patterned using fluorine plasma.. The dry-etch technique results in a smooth, featureless TES with sharp sidewalls, no undercutting of the Mo beneath the normal metal, and Mo leads with high critical current. The effects of individual processing parameters on the characteristics of the transition will be reported.

Orbital superconductivity, defects, and pinned nematic fluctuations in the doped iron chalcogenide FeSe 0.45 Te 0.55

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

Sarkar, Saheli; Van Dyke, John; Sprau, Peter O.

We demonstrate that the differential conductance, dI/dV, measured via spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy in the doped iron chalcogenide FeSe0.45Te0.55, possesses a series of characteristic features that allow one to extract the orbital structure of the superconducting gaps. This yields nearly isotropic superconducting gaps on the two holelike Fermi surfaces, and a strongly anisotropic gap on the electronlike Fermi surface. Moreover, we show that the pinning of nematic fluctuations by defects can give rise to a dumbbell-like spatial structure of the induced impurity bound states, and explains the related C-2 symmetry in the Fourier transformed differential conductance.

Integrated Joule switches for the control of current dynamics in parallel superconducting strips

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casaburi, A.; Heath, R. M.; Cristiano, R.; Ejrnaes, M.; Zen, N.; Ohkubo, M.; Hadfield, R. H.

2018-06-01

Understanding and harnessing the physics of the dynamic current distribution in parallel superconducting strips holds the key to creating next generation sensors for single molecule and single photon detection. Non-uniformity in the current distribution in parallel superconducting strips leads to low detection efficiency and unstable operation, preventing the scale up to large area sensors. Recent studies indicate that non-uniform current distributions occurring in parallel strips can be understood and modeled in the framework of the generalized London model. Here we build on this important physical insight, investigating an innovative design with integrated superconducting-to-resistive Joule switches to break the superconducting loops between the strips and thus control the current dynamics. Employing precision low temperature nano-optical techniques, we map the uniformity of the current distribution before- and after the resistive strip switching event, confirming the effectiveness of our design. These results provide important insights for the development of next generation large area superconducting strip-based sensors.

Magnetometric mapping of superconducting RF cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitz, B.; Köszegi, J.; Alomari, K.; Kugeler, O.; Knobloch, J.

2018-05-01

A scalable mapping system for superconducting RF (SRF) cavities is presented. Currently, it combines local temperature measurement with 3D magnetic field mapping along the outer surface of the resonator. This allows for the observation of dynamic effects that have an impact on the superconducting properties of a cavity, such as the normal to superconducting phase transition or a quench. The system was developed for a single cell 1.3 GHz TESLA-type cavity, but can be easily adopted to arbitrary other cavity types. A data acquisition rate of 500 Hz for all channels simultaneously (i.e., 2 ms acquisition time for a complete map) and a magnetic field resolution of currently up to 14 mA/m/μ0 = 17 nT have been implemented. While temperature mapping is a well known technique in SRF research, the integration of magnetic field mapping opens the possibility of detailed studies of trapped magnetic flux and its impact on the surface resistance. It is shown that magnetic field sensors based on the anisotropic magnetoresistance effect can be used in the cryogenic environment with improved sensitivity compared to room temperature. Furthermore, examples of first successful combined temperature and magnetic-field maps are presented.

Effects of horizontal acceleration on the superconducting gravimeter CT #036 at Ishigakijima, Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imanishi, Yuichi; Nawa, Kazunari; Tamura, Yoshiaki; Ikeda, Hiroshi

2018-01-01

In the gravity sensor of a superconducting gravimeter, a superconducting sphere as a test mass is levitated in a magnetic field. Such a sensor is susceptible to applied horizontal as well as vertical acceleration, because the translational degrees of freedom of the mass are not perfectly limited to the vertical direction. In the case of the superconducting gravimeter CT #036 installed at Ishigakijima, Japan, horizontal ground acceleration excited by the movements of a nearby VLBI antenna induces systematic step noise within the gravity recordings. We investigate this effect in terms of the static and dynamic properties of the gravity sensor using data from a collocated seismometer. It is shown that this effect can be effectively modeled by the coupling between the horizontal and vertical components in the gravity sensor. It is also found that the mechanical eigenfrequency for horizontal translation of the levitating sphere is approximately 3 Hz.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

A 90GHz Bolometer Camera Detector System for the Green Bank Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Benford, Dominic J.; Allen, Christine A.; Buchanan, Ernest D.; Chen, Tina C.; Chervenak, James A.; Devlin, Mark J.; Dicker, Simon R.; Forgione, Joshua B.

2004-01-01

We describe a close-packed, two-dimensional imaging detector system for operation at 90GHz (3.3mm) for the 100 m Green Bank Telescope (GBT) This system will provide high sensitivity (<1mjy in 1s rapid imaging (15'x15' to 250 microJy in 1 hr) at the world's largest steerable aperture. The heart of this camera is an 8x8 close packed, Nyquist-sampled array of superconducting transition edge sensor bolometers. We have designed and are producing a functional superconducting bolometer array system using a monolithic planar architecture and high-speed multiplexed readout electronics. With an NEP of approx. 2.10(exp 17) W/square root Hz, the TES bolometers will provide fast linear sensitive response for high performance imaging. The detectors are read out by and 8x8 time domain SQUID multiplexer. A digital/analog electronics system has been designed to enable read out by SQUID multiplexers. First light for this instrument on the GBT is expected within a year.

A 90GHz Bolometer Camera Detector System for the Green

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Benford, Dominic J.; Allen, Christine A.; Buchanan, Ernest; Chen, Tina C.; Chervenak, James A.; Devlin, Mark J.; Dicker, Simon R.; Forgione, Joshua B.

2004-01-01

We describe a close-packed, two-dimensional imaging detector system for operation at 90GHz (3.3 mm) for the 100m Green Bank Telescope (GBT). This system will provide high sensitivity (less than 1mJy in 1s) rapid imaging (15'x15' to 150 micron Jy in 1 hr) at the world's largest steerable aperture. The heart of this camera is an 8x8 close-packed, Nyquist-sampled array of superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers. We have designed and are producing a functional superconducting bolometer array system using a monolithic planar architecture and high-speed multiplexed readout electronics. With an NEP of approximately 2 x 10(exp -17) W/square root of Hz, the TES bolometers will provide fast, linear, sensitive response for high performance imaging. The detectors are read out by an 8x8 time domain SQUID multiplexer. A digital/analog electronics system has been designed to enable read out by SQUID multiplexers. First light for this instrument on the GBT is expected within a year.

Solid-state microrefrigerator

DOEpatents

Ullom, Joel N.

2003-06-24

A normal-insulator-superconductor (NIS) microrefrigerator in which a superconducting single crystal is both the substrate and the superconducting electrode of the NIS junction. The refrigerator consists of a large ultra-pure superconducting single crystal and a normal metal layer on top of the superconducting crystal, separated by a thin insulating layer. The superconducting crystal can be either cut from bulk material or grown as a thick epitaxial film. The large single superconducting crystal allows quasiparticles created in the superconducting crystal to easily diffuse away from the NIS junction through the lattice structure of the crystal to normal metal traps to prevent the quasiparticles from returning across the NIS junction. In comparison to thin film NIS refrigerators, the invention provides orders of magnitude larger cooling power than thin film microrefrigerators. The superconducting crystal can serve as the superconducting electrode for multiple NIS junctions to provide an array of microrefrigerators. The normal electrode can be extended and supported by microsupports to provide support and cooling of sensors or arrays of sensors.

Orbital superconductivity, defects, and pinned nematic fluctuations in the doped iron chalcogenide FeSe 0.45 Te 0.55

DOE PAGES

Sarkar, Saheli; Van Dyke, John; Sprau, Peter O.; ...

2017-08-09

We demonstrate that the differential conductance, dI/dV , measured via spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy in the doped iron chalcogenide FeSe0.45Te0.55, possesses a series of characteristic features that allow one to extract the orbital structure of the superconducting gaps. This yields nearly isotropic superconducting gaps on the two hole-like Fermi surfaces, and a strongly anisotropic gap on the electron-like Fermi surface. Moreover, we show that the pinning of nematic fluctuations by defects can give rise to a dumbbell-like spatial structure of the induced impurity bound states, and explains the related C 2-symmetry in the Fourier transformed differential conductance.

Orbital superconductivity, defects, and pinned nematic fluctuations in the doped iron chalcogenide FeSe 0.45 Te 0.55

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

Sarkar, Saheli; Van Dyke, John; Sprau, Peter O.

We demonstrate that the differential conductance, dI/dV , measured via spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy in the doped iron chalcogenide FeSe0.45Te0.55, possesses a series of characteristic features that allow one to extract the orbital structure of the superconducting gaps. This yields nearly isotropic superconducting gaps on the two hole-like Fermi surfaces, and a strongly anisotropic gap on the electron-like Fermi surface. Moreover, we show that the pinning of nematic fluctuations by defects can give rise to a dumbbell-like spatial structure of the induced impurity bound states, and explains the related C 2-symmetry in the Fourier transformed differential conductance.

Progress in magnetic sensor technology for sea mine detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clem, Ted R.

1997-07-01

A superconducting magnetic-field gradiometer developed in the 1980's has been demonstrated infusion with acoustic sensors to enhance shallow water sea mine detection and classification, especially for buried mine detection and the reduction of acoustic false alarm rates. This sensor incorporated niobium bulk and wire superconducting components cooled by liquid helium to a temperature of 4 degrees K. An advanced superconducting gradiometer prototype is being developed to increase sensitivity and detection range. This sensor features all thin film niobium superconducting components and a new liquid helium cooling concept. In the late 1980's, a new class of 'high Tc' superconductors was discovered with critical temperatures above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. The use of liquid nitrogen refrigeration offers new opportunities for this sensor technology, providing significant reduction in the size of sensor packages and in the requirements for cryogenic support and logistics. As a result of this breakthrough, a high Tc sensor concept using liquid nitrogen refrigeration has been developed for mine reconnaissance applications and a test article of that concept is being fabricated and evaluated. In addition to these developments in sensor technology, new signal processing approaches and recent experimental results have ben obtained to demonstrate an enhanced D/C capability. In this paper, these recent advances in sensor development and new results for an enhanced D/C capability will be reviewed and a current perspective on the role of magnetic sensors for mine detection and classification will be addressed.

Superconducting gamma and fast-neutron spectrometers with high energy resolution

DOEpatents

Friedrich, Stephan; , Niedermayr, Thomas R.; Labov, Simon E.

2008-11-04

Superconducting Gamma-ray and fast-neutron spectrometers with very high energy resolution operated at very low temperatures are provided. The sensor consists of a bulk absorber and a superconducting thermometer weakly coupled to a cold reservoir, and determines the energy of the incident particle from the rise in temperature upon absorption. A superconducting film operated at the transition between its superconducting and its normal state is used as the thermometer, and sensor operation at reservoir temperatures around 0.1 K reduces thermal fluctuations and thus enables very high energy resolution. Depending on the choice of absorber material, the spectrometer can be configured either as a Gamma-spectrometer or as a fast-neutron spectrometer.

Magnetic infrasound sensor

DOEpatents

Mueller, Fred M [Los Alamos, NM; Bronisz, Lawrence [Los Alamos, NM; Grube, Holger [Los Alamos, NM; Nelson, David C [Santa Fe, NM; Mace, Jonathan L [Los Alamos, NM

2006-11-14

A magnetic infrasound sensor is produced by constraining a permanent magnet inside a magnetic potential well above the surface of superconducting material. The magnetic infrasound sensor measures the position or movement of the permanent magnet within the magnetic potential well, and interprets the measurements. Infrasound sources can be located and characterized by combining the measurements from one or more infrasound sensors. The magnetic infrasound sensor can be tuned to match infrasound source types, resulting in better signal-to-noise ratio. The present invention can operate in frequency modulation mode to improve sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio. In an alternate construction, the superconductor can be levitated over a magnet or magnets. The system can also be driven, so that time resolved perturbations are sensed, resulting in a frequency modulation version with improved sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio.

Fiber optic cryogenic sensors for superconducting magnets and superconducting power transmission lines at CERN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiuchiolo, A.; Bajko, M.; Perez, J. C.; Bajas, H.; Consales, M.; Giordano, M.; Breglio, G.; Palmieri, L.; Cusano, A.

2014-08-01

The design, fabrication and tests of a new generation of superconducting magnets for the upgrade of the LHC require the support of an adequate, robust and reliable sensing technology. The use of Fiber Optic Sensors is becoming particularly challenging for applications in extreme harsh environments such as ultra-low temperatures, high electromagnetic fields and strong mechanical stresses offering perspectives for the development of technological innovations in several applied disciplines.

Development of NTD Ge Sensors for Superconducting Bolometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garai, A.; Mathimalar, S.; Singh, V.; Dokania, N.; Nanal, V.; Pillay, R. G.; Ramakrishnan, S.; Shrivastava, A.; Jagadeesan, K. C.; Thakare, S. V.

2016-08-01

Neutron transmutation-doped (NTD) Ge sensors have been prepared by irradiating device-grade Ge with thermal neutrons at Dhruva reactor, BARC, Mumbai. These sensors are intended to be used for the study of neutrinoless double beta decay in ^{124}Sn with a superconducting Tin bolometer. Resistance measurements are performed on NTD Ge sensors in the temperature range 100-350 mK. The observed temperature dependence is found to be consistent with the variable-range hopping mechanism.

Evidence of incomplete annealing at 800 °C and the effects of 120 °C baking on the crystal orientation and the surface superconducting properties of cold-worked and chemically polished Nb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Z.-H.; Dzyuba, A.; Lee, P. J.; Larbalestier, D. C.; Cooley, L. D.

2015-07-01

High-purity niobium rods were cold-worked by wire-drawing, followed by various combinations of chemical polishing and high-vacuum baking at 120 °C or annealing at 800 °C in order to better understand changes to the surface superconducting properties resulting from typical superconducting radio-frequency cavity processing. AC susceptibility measurements revealed an enhanced upper transition Tc at ˜ 9.3-9.4 K in all samples that was stable through all annealing steps, a value significantly above the accepted Tc of 9.23 K for pure annealed niobium. Corresponding elevations were seen in the critical fields, the ratio of the surface critical field Hc3 to the bulk upper critical field Hc2 rising to 2.3, well above the Ginzburg-Landau value of 1.695. Orientation imaging revealed an extensive dislocation rich sub-grain structure in the as-drawn rods, a small reduction of the surface strain after baking at 120 °C, and a substantial but incomplete recrystallization near the surface after annealing at 800 °C. We interpret these changes in surface superconducting and structural properties to extensive changes in the near-surface interstitial contamination produced by baking and annealing and to synergistic interactions between H and surface O introduced during electropolishing and buffered chemical polishing.

Development of a superconducting position sensor for the Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clavier, Odile Helene

The Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle (STEP) is a joint NASA/ESA mission that proposes to measure the differential acceleration of two cylindrical test masses orbiting the earth in a drag-free satellite to a precision of 10-18 g. Such an experiment would conceptually reproduce Galileo's tower of Pisa experiment with a much longer time of fall and greatly reduced disturbances. The superconducting test masses are constrained in all degrees of freedom except their axial direction (the sensitive axis) using superconducting bearings. The STEP accelerometer measures the differential position of the masses in their sensitive direction using superconducting inductive pickup coils coupled to an extremely sensitive magnetometer called a DC-SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device). Position sensor development involves the design, manufacture and calibration of pickup coils that will meet the acceleration sensitivity requirement. Acceleration sensitivity depends on both the displacement sensitivity and stiffness of the position sensor. The stiffness must kept small while maintaining stability of the accelerometer. Using a model for the inductance of the pickup coils versus displacement of the test masses, a computer simulation calculates the sensitivity and stiffness of the accelerometer in its axial direction. This simulation produced a design of pickup coils for the four STEP accelerometers. Manufacture of the pickup coils involves standard photolithography techniques modified for superconducting thin-films. A single-turn pickup coil was manufactured and produced a successful superconducting coil using thin-film Niobium. A low-temperature apparatus was developed with a precision position sensor to measure the displacement of a superconducting plate (acting as a mock test mass) facing the coil. The position sensor was designed to detect five degrees of freedom so that coupling could be taken into account when measuring the translation of the plate relative to the coil. The inductance was measured using a DC-SQUID coupled to the pickup coil. The experimental results agree with the model used in the simulation thereby validating the concept used for the design. The STEP program now has the confidence necessary to design and manufacture a position sensor for the flight accelerometer.

Evaluation and comparison of the IRS-P6 and the landsat sensors

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, G.; Coan, M.J.; Scaramuzza, P.L.

2008-01-01

The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-P6), also called ResourceSat-1, was launched in a polar sun-synchronous orbit on October 17, 2003. It carries three sensors: the highresolution Linear Imaging Self-Scanner (LISS-IV), the mediumresolution Linear Imaging Self-Scanner (LISS-III), and the Advanced Wide-Field Sensor (AWiFS). These three sensors provide images of different resolutions and coverage. To understand the absolute radiometric calibration accuracy of IRS-P6 AWiFS and LISS-III sensors, image pairs from these sensors were compared to images from the Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat-7 Enhanced TM Plus (ETM+) sensors. The approach involves calibration of surface observations based on image statistics from areas observed nearly simultaneously by the two sensors. This paper also evaluated the viability of data from these nextgeneration imagers for use in creating three National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) products: land cover, percent tree canopy, and percent impervious surface. Individual products were consistent with previous studies but had slightly lower overall accuracies as compared to data from the Landsat sensors.

Transition-edge sensor imaging arrays for astrophysics applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burney, Jennifer Anne

Many interesting objects in our universe currently elude observation in the optical band: they are too faint or they vary rapidly and thus any structure in their radiation is lost over the period of an exposure. Conventional photon detectors cannot simultaneously provide energy resolution and time-stamping of individual photons at fast rates. Superconducting detectors have recently made the possibility of simultaneous photon counting, imaging, and energy resolution a reality. Our research group has pioneered the use of one such detector, the Transition-Edge Sensor (TES). TES physics is simple and elegant. A thin superconducting film, biased at its critical temperature, can act as a particle detector: an incident particle deposits energy and drives the film into its superconducting-normal transition. By inductively coupling the detector to a SQUID amplifier circuit, this resistance change can be read out as a current pulse, and its energy deduced by integrating over the pulse. TESs can be used to accurately time-stamp (to 0.1 [mu]s) and energy-resolve (0.15 eV at 1.6 eV) near-IR/visible/near-UV photons at rates of 30~kHz. The first astronomical observations using fiber-coupled detectors were made at the Stanford Student Observatory 0.6~m telescope in 1999. Further observations of the Crab Pulsar from the 107" telescope at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory showed rapid phase variations over the near-IR/visible/near-UV band. These preliminary observations provided a glimpse into a new realm of observations of pulsars, binary systems, and accreting black holes promised by TES arrays. This thesis describes the development, characterization, and preliminary use of the first camera system based on Transition-Edge Sensors. While single-device operation is relatively well-understood, the operation of a full imaging array poses significant challenges. This thesis addresses all aspects related to the creation and characterization of this cryogenic imaging instrument. I discuss experiments probing a host of cryostat constraints and design innovations to surmount them; simulations and experiments to characterize and filter infrared radiation; theoretical and experimental exploration of detector and array noise, cross-talk, and position-dependence; challenges of low-temperature a nd readout electronics; acquisition and analysis of data; and first light.

High-content analysis of single cells directly assembled on CMOS sensor based on color imaging.

PubMed

Tanaka, Tsuyoshi; Saeki, Tatsuya; Sunaga, Yoshihiko; Matsunaga, Tadashi

2010-12-15

A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor was applied to high-content analysis of single cells which were assembled closely or directly onto the CMOS sensor surface. The direct assembling of cell groups on CMOS sensor surface allows large-field (6.66 mm×5.32 mm in entire active area of CMOS sensor) imaging within a second. Trypan blue-stained and non-stained cells in the same field area on the CMOS sensor were successfully distinguished as white- and blue-colored images under white LED light irradiation. Furthermore, the chemiluminescent signals of each cell were successfully visualized as blue-colored images on CMOS sensor only when HeLa cells were placed directly on the micro-lens array of the CMOS sensor. Our proposed approach will be a promising technique for real-time and high-content analysis of single cells in a large-field area based on color imaging. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a distributed read-out imaging TES X-ray microcalorimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trowell, S.; Holland, A. D.; Fraser, G. W.; Goldie, D.; Gu, E.

2002-02-01

We report on the development of a linear absorber detector for one-dimensional imaging spectroscopy, read-out by two Transition Edge Sensors (TESs). The TESs, based on a single layer of iridium, demonstrate stable and controllable superconducting-to-normal transitions in the region of 130 mK. Results from Monte Carlo simulations are presented indicating that the device configuration is capable of detecting photon positions to better than 200 μm, thereby meeting the resolution specification for missions such as XEUS of ~250 μm. .

Weak-Link Phenomena in AC-Biased Transition Edge Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gottardi, L.; Akamatsu, H.; Bruijn, M.; Gao, J.-R.; den Hartog, R.; Hijmering, R.; Hoevers, H.; Khosropanah, P.; Kozorezov, A.; van der Kuur, J.; van der Linden, A.; Ridder, M.

2014-08-01

It has been recently demonstrated that superconducting transition edge-sensors behave as weak-links due to longitudinally induced superconductivity from the leads with higher . In this work we study the implication of this behaviour for transition-edge sensors (TES)-based bolometers and microcalorimeter under ac bias. The TESs are read-out at frequencies between 1 and by a frequency domain multiplexer based on a linearised two-stage SQUID amplifier and high- lithographically made superconducting resonators. In particular, we focus on SRON TiAu TES bolometers with a measured dark noise equivalent power of developed for the short wavelength band for the instrument SAFARI on the SPICA telescope.

Superconducting topological surface states in the noncentrosymmetric bulk superconductor PbTaSe2.

PubMed

Guan, Syu-You; Chen, Peng-Jen; Chu, Ming-Wen; Sankar, Raman; Chou, Fangcheng; Jeng, Horng-Tay; Chang, Chia-Seng; Chuang, Tien-Ming

2016-11-01

The search for topological superconductors (TSCs) is one of the most urgent contemporary problems in condensed matter systems. TSCs are characterized by a full superconducting gap in the bulk and topologically protected gapless surface (or edge) states. Within each vortex core of TSCs, there exists the zero-energy Majorana bound states, which are predicted to exhibit non-Abelian statistics and to form the basis of the fault-tolerant quantum computation. To date, no stoichiometric bulk material exhibits the required topological surface states (TSSs) at the Fermi level ( E F ) combined with fully gapped bulk superconductivity. We report atomic-scale visualization of the TSSs of the noncentrosymmetric fully gapped superconductor PbTaSe 2 . Using quasi-particle scattering interference imaging, we find two TSSs with a Dirac point at E ≅ 1.0 eV, of which the inner TSS and the partial outer TSS cross E F , on the Pb-terminated surface of this fully gapped superconductor. This discovery reveals PbTaSe 2 as a promising candidate for TSC.

Non-contact capacitance based image sensing method and system

DOEpatents

Novak, James L.; Wiczer, James J.

1995-01-01

A system and a method is provided for imaging desired surfaces of a workpiece. A sensor having first and second sensing electrodes which are electrically isolated from the workpiece is positioned above and in proximity to the desired surfaces of the workpiece. An electric field is developed between the first and second sensing electrodes of the sensor in response to input signals being applied thereto and capacitance signals are developed which are indicative of any disturbances in the electric field as a result of the workpiece. An image signal of the workpiece may be developed by processing the capacitance signals. The image signals may provide necessary control information to a machining device for machining the desired surfaces of the workpiece in processes such as deburring or chamfering. Also, the method and system may be used to image dimensions of weld pools on a workpiece and surfaces of glass vials. The sensor may include first and second preview sensors used to determine the feed rate of a workpiece with respect to the machining device.

Non-contact capacitance based image sensing method and system

DOEpatents

Novak, James L.; Wiczer, James J.

1994-01-01

A system and a method for imaging desired surfaces of a workpiece. A sensor having first and second sensing electrodes which are electrically isolated from the workpiece is positioned above and in proximity to the desired surfaces of the workpiece. An electric field is developed between the first and second sensing electrodes of the sensor in response to input signals being applied thereto and capacitance signals are developed which are indicative of any disturbances in the electric field as a result of the workpiece. An image signal of the workpiece may be developed by processing the capacitance signals. The image signals may provide necessary control information to a machining device for machining the desired surfaces of the workpiece in processes such as deburring or chamfering. Also, the method and system may be used to image dimensions of weld pools on a workpiece and surfaces of glass vials. The sensor may include first and second preview sensors used to determine the feed rate of a workpiece with respect to the machining device.

A Method for Suppressing Superconductivity of Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suppula, Tarmo; Pekola, Jukka; Kauppinen, Juha

2003-03-01

We have developed a method for suppressing superconductivity of thin films. Thin stripes of cobalt grown by e-gun evaporation and patterned by e-beam lithography were placed in the vicinity of aluminium thin film structures. The cobalt stripes were magnetized at 4.2 K with a superconducting coil and the remanence suppressed superconductivity of the Al stripe at temperatures down to 50 mK at least. The magnetization remained in thermal cycling and in a longer storage at room temperature. Motivation for this work is the Coulomb Blockade Thermometer(CBT)^1 which has to be in a normal state to operate. The CBT sensor contains aluminium which is superconducting at temperatures below 1.4 K. An external magnetic field is not always available or acceptable in cryostats. A small grain of permanent magnet mounted to the sensor is another solution, but suspicious if the sensor is put in strong magnetic fields or if "zero field" environment is required. We have shown that suitably patterned and magnetized Co stripes in the vicinity of tunnel junctions of the CBT can solve this problem. The amount of magnetic material in the sensor, as well as the stray field, is very small. This technique may be useful in other low temperature thin film devices also. 1) Product of Nanoway Ltd.

Evidence of incomplete annealing at 800 °C and the effects of 120 °C baking on the crystal orientation and the surface superconducting properties of cold-worked and chemically polished Nb

DOE PAGES

Sung, Z. -H.; Dzyuba, A.; Lee, P. J.; ...

2015-07-01

High-purity niobium rods were cold-worked by wire-drawing, followed by various combinations of chemical polishing and high-vacuum baking at 120 °C or annealing at 800 °C in order to better understand changes to the surface superconducting properties resulting from typical superconducting radio-frequency cavity processing. AC susceptibility measurements revealed an enhanced upper transition T c at ~ 9.3–9.4 K in all samples that was stable through all annealing steps, a value significantly above the accepted T c of 9.23 K for pure annealed niobium. Corresponding elevations were seen in the critical fields, the ratio of the surface critical field H c3 tomore » the bulk upper critical field H c2 rising to 2.3, well above the Ginzburg–Landau value of 1.695. Orientation imaging revealed an extensive dislocation rich sub-grain structure in the as-drawn rods, a small reduction of the surface strain after baking at 120 °C, and a substantial but incomplete recrystallization near the surface after annealing at 800 °C. We interpret these changes in surface superconducting and structural properties to extensive changes in the near-surface interstitial contamination produced by baking and annealing and to synergistic interactions between H and surface O introduced during electropolishing and buffered chemical polishing.« less

Evidence of incomplete annealing at 800 °C and the effects of 120 °C baking on the crystal orientation and the surface superconducting properties of cold-worked and chemically polished Nb

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

Sung, Z. -H.; Dzyuba, A.; Lee, P. J.

High-purity niobium rods were cold-worked by wire-drawing, followed by various combinations of chemical polishing and high-vacuum baking at 120 °C or annealing at 800 °C in order to better understand changes to the surface superconducting properties resulting from typical superconducting radio-frequency cavity processing. AC susceptibility measurements revealed an enhanced upper transition T c at ~ 9.3–9.4 K in all samples that was stable through all annealing steps, a value significantly above the accepted T c of 9.23 K for pure annealed niobium. Corresponding elevations were seen in the critical fields, the ratio of the surface critical field H c3 tomore » the bulk upper critical field H c2 rising to 2.3, well above the Ginzburg–Landau value of 1.695. Orientation imaging revealed an extensive dislocation rich sub-grain structure in the as-drawn rods, a small reduction of the surface strain after baking at 120 °C, and a substantial but incomplete recrystallization near the surface after annealing at 800 °C. We interpret these changes in surface superconducting and structural properties to extensive changes in the near-surface interstitial contamination produced by baking and annealing and to synergistic interactions between H and surface O introduced during electropolishing and buffered chemical polishing.« less

Cross-calibration of the Landsat-7 ETM+ and Landsat-5 TM with the ResourceSat-1 (IRS-P6) AWiFS and LISS-III sensors

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, G.; Scaramuzza, P.L.

2006-01-01

Increasingly, data from multiple sensors are used to gain a more complete understanding of land surface processes at a variety of scales. The Landsat suite of satellites has collected the longest continuous archive of multispectral data. The ResourceSat-1 Satellite (also called as IRS-P6) was launched into the polar sunsynchronous orbit on Oct 17, 2003. It carries three remote sensing sensors: the High Resolution Linear Imaging Self-Scanner (LISS-IV), Medium Resolution Linear Imaging Self-Scanner (LISS-III), and the Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS). These three sensors are used together to provide images with different resolution and coverage. To understand the absolute radiometric calibration accuracy of IRS-P6 AWiFS and LISS-III sensors, image pairs from these sensors were compared to the Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-7 ETM+ sensors. The approach involved the calibration of nearly simultaneous surface observations based on image statistics from areas observed simultaneously by the two sensors.

Measurement and characterization of force dynamics in high T(sub c) superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Higuchi, Toshiro; Kelley, Allan J.; Tsutsui, Yukio

1994-01-01

Magnetic bearing implementations using more exotic superconducting phenomena have been proliferating in recent years because they have important advantages over conventional implementations. For example, the stable suspension of a six degrees-of-freedom object by superconducting means can be achieved without a control system and with the use of only a single superconductor. It follows that the construction becomes much simpler with decreased need for position sensors and stabilizers. However, it is recognized that the design of superconducting systems can be difficult because important characteristics relating to the 6 degree-of-freedom dynamics of an object suspended magnetically are not readily available and the underlying principles of superconducting phenomena are not yet completely understood. To eliminate some of the guesswork in the design process, this paper proposes a system which can resolve the mechanical properties of suspension by superconductivity and provide position and orientation dependent data about the system's damping, stiffness, and frequency response characteristics. This system employs an actively-controlled magnetically-suspended fine-motion device that can also be used as a six degree-of-freedom force sensor. By attaching the force sensor to a permanent magnet that is being levitated above a superconducting magnet, mechanical characteristics of the superconductor levitation can be extracted. Such information would prove useful for checking the validity of theoretical models and may even give insights into superconducting phenomena.

Black light - How sensors filter spectral variation of the illuminant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brainard, David H.; Wandell, Brian A.; Cowan, William B.

1989-01-01

Visual sensor responses may be used to classify objects on the basis of their surface reflectance functions. In a color image, the image data are represented as a vector of sensor responses at each point in the image. This vector depends both on the surface reflectance functions and on the spectral power distribution of the ambient illumination. Algorithms designed to classify objects on the basis of their surface reflectance functions typically attempt to overcome the dependence of the sensor responses on the illuminant by integrating sensor data collected from multiple surfaces. In machine vision applications, it is shown that it is often possible to design the sensor spectral responsivities so that the vector direction of the sensor responses does not depend upon the illuminant. The conditions under which this is possible are given and an illustrative calculation is performed. In biological systems, where the sensor responsivities are fixed, it is shown that some changes in the illumination cause no change in the sensor responses. Such changes in illuminant are called black illuminants. It is possible to express any illuminant as the sum of two unique components. One component is a black illuminant. The second component is called the visible component. The visible component of an illuminant completely characterizes the effect of the illuminant on the vector of sensor responses.

Superconducting proximity effect in a topological insulator using Fe(Te, Se)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, He; Rachmilowitz, Bryan; Ren, Zheng; Han, Ruobin; Schneeloch, J.; Zhong, Ruidan; Gu, Genda; Wang, Ziqiang; Zeljkovic, Ilija

2018-06-01

Interest in the superconducting proximity effect has recently been reignited by theoretical predictions that it could be used to achieve topological superconductivity. Low-Tc superconductors have predominantly been used in this effort, but small energy scales of ˜1 meV have hindered the characterization of the emergent electronic phase, limiting it to extremely low temperatures. In this work, we use molecular beam epitaxy to grow topological insulator B i2T e3 in a range of thicknesses on top of a high-Tc superconductor Fe(Te,Se). Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, we detect Δind as high as ˜3.5 meV, which is the largest reported gap induced by proximity to an s -wave superconductor to date. We find that Δind decays with B i2T e3 thickness, but remains finite even after the topological surface states have been formed. Finally, by imaging the scattering and interference of surface state electrons, we provide a microscopic visualization of the fully gapped B i2T e3 surface state due to Cooper pairing. Our results establish Fe-based high-Tc superconductors as a promising new platform for realizing high-Tc topological superconductivity.

Magnetocardiography with sensors based on giant magnetoresistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pannetier-Lecoeur, M.; Parkkonen, L.; Sergeeva-Chollet, N.; Polovy, H.; Fermon, C.; Fowley, C.

2011-04-01

Biomagnetic signals, mostly due to the electrical activity in the body, are very weak and they can only be detected by the most sensitive magnetometers, such as Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs). We report here biomagnetic recordings with hybrid sensors based on Giant MagnetoResistance (GMR). We recorded magnetic signatures of the electric activity of the human heart (magnetocardiography) in healthy volunteers. The P-wave and QRS complex, known from the corresponding electric recordings, are clearly visible in the recordings after an averaging time of about 1 min. Multiple recordings at different locations over the chest yielded a dipolar magnetic field map and allowed localizing the underlying current sources. The sensitivity of the GMR-based sensors is now approaching that of SQUIDs and paves way for spin electronics devices for functional imaging of the body.

Kilopixel Pop-Up Bolometer Arrays for the Atacama Cosmology Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chervenak, J. A.; Wollack, E.; Henry, R.; Moseley, S. H.; Niemack, M.; Staggs, S.; Page, L.; Doriese, R.; Hilton, G. c.; Irwin, K. D.

2007-01-01

The recently deployed Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) anticipates first light on its kilopixel array of close-packed transition-edge-sensor bolometers in November of 2007. The instrument will represent a full implementation of the next-generation, large format arrays for millimeter wave astronomy that use superconducting electronics and detectors. Achieving the practical construction of such an array is a significant step toward producing advanced detector arrays for future SOFIA instruments. We review the design considerations for the detector array produced for the ACT instrument. The first light imager consists of 32 separately instrumented 32-channel pop-up bolometer arrays (to create a 32x32 filled array of mm-wave sensors). Each array is instrumented with a 32-channel bias resistor array, Nyquist filter array, and time-division SQUID multiplexer. Each component needed to be produced in relatively large quantities with suitable uniformity to meet tolerances for array operation. An optical design was chosen to maximize absorption at the focal plane while mitigating reflections and stray light. The pop-up geometry (previously implemented with semiconducting detectors and readout on the SHARC II and HAWC instruments) enabled straightforward interface of the superconducting bias and readout circuit with the 2D array of superconducting bolometers. The array construction program balanced fabrication challenges with assembly challenges to deliver the instrument in a timely fashion. We present some of the results of the array build and characterization of its performance.

Principles and Applications of Imaging Radar, Manual of Remote Sensing, 3rd Edition, Volume 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moran, M. Susan

Aerial photographs and digital images from orbiting optical scanners are a daily source of information for the general public through newspapers, television, magazines, and posters. Such images are just as prevalent in scientific journal literature. In the last 6 months, more than half of the weekly issues of Eos published an image acquired by a remote digital sensor. As a result, most geoscientists are familiar with the characteristics and even the acronyms of the current satellites and their optical sensors, common detector filters, and image presentation. In many cases, this familiarity has bred contempt. This is so because the limitations of optical sensors (imaging in the visible and infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum) can be quite formidable. Images of the surface cannot be acquired through clouds, and image quality is impaired with low-light conditions (such as at polar regions), atmospheric scattering and absorption, and variations in sun/sensor/surface geometry.

Non-contact capacitance based image sensing method and system

DOEpatents

Novak, J.L.; Wiczer, J.J.

1994-01-25

A system and a method for imaging desired surfaces of a workpiece is described. A sensor having first and second sensing electrodes which are electrically isolated from the workpiece is positioned above and in proximity to the desired surfaces of the workpiece. An electric field is developed between the first and second sensing electrodes of the sensor in response to input signals being applied thereto and capacitance signals are developed which are indicative of any disturbances in the electric field as a result of the workpiece. An image signal of the workpiece may be developed by processing the capacitance signals. The image signals may provide necessary control information to a machining device for machining the desired surfaces of the workpiece in processes such as deburring or chamfering. Also, the method and system may be used to image dimensions of weld pools on a workpiece and surfaces of glass vials. The sensor may include first and second preview sensors used to determine the feed rate of a workpiece with respect to the machining device. 18 figures.

Non-contact capacitance based image sensing method and system

DOEpatents

Novak, J.L.; Wiczer, J.J.

1995-01-03

A system and a method is provided for imaging desired surfaces of a workpiece. A sensor having first and second sensing electrodes which are electrically isolated from the workpiece is positioned above and in proximity to the desired surfaces of the workpiece. An electric field is developed between the first and second sensing electrodes of the sensor in response to input signals being applied thereto and capacitance signals are developed which are indicative of any disturbances in the electric field as a result of the workpiece. An image signal of the workpiece may be developed by processing the capacitance signals. The image signals may provide necessary control information to a machining device for machining the desired surfaces of the workpiece in processes such as deburring or chamfering. Also, the method and system may be used to image dimensions of weld pools on a workpiece and surfaces of glass vials. The sensor may include first and second preview sensors used to determine the feed rate of a workpiece with respect to the machining device. 18 figures.

Ice Sheet Change Detection by Satellite Image Differencing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bindschadler, Robert A.; Scambos, Ted A.; Choi, Hyeungu; Haran, Terry M.

2010-01-01

Differencing of digital satellite image pairs highlights subtle changes in near-identical scenes of Earth surfaces. Using the mathematical relationships relevant to photoclinometry, we examine the effectiveness of this method for the study of localized ice sheet surface topography changes using numerical experiments. We then test these results by differencing images of several regions in West Antarctica, including some where changes have previously been identified in altimeter profiles. The technique works well with coregistered images having low noise, high radiometric sensitivity, and near-identical solar illumination geometry. Clouds and frosts detract from resolving surface features. The ETM(plus) sensor on Landsat-7, ALI sensor on EO-1, and MODIS sensor on the Aqua and Terra satellite platforms all have potential for detecting localized topographic changes such as shifting dunes, surface inflation and deflation features associated with sub-glacial lake fill-drain events, or grounding line changes. Availability and frequency of MODIS images favor this sensor for wide application, and using it, we demonstrate both qualitative identification of changes in topography and quantitative mapping of slope and elevation changes.

High-Resolution Hard X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Spectrometers Based on Superconducting Absorbers Coupled to Superconducting Transition Edge Sensors

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

van den Berg, M.; Chow, D.; Loshak, A.

2000-09-21

We are developing detectors based on bulk superconducting absorbers coupled to superconducting transition edge sensors (TES) for high-resolution spectroscopy of hard X-rays and soft gamma-rays. We have achieved an energy resolution of 70 eV FWHM at 60 keV using a 1 x 1 x 0.25 mm{sup 3} Sn absorber coupled to a Mo/Cu multilayer TES with a transition temperature of 100 mK. The response of the detector is compared with a simple model using only material properties data and characteristics derived from IV-measurements. We have also manufactured detectors using superconducting absorbers with a higher stopping power, such as Pb andmore » Ta. We present our first measurements of these detectors, including the thermalization characteristics of the bulk superconducting absorbers. The differences in performance between the detectors are discussed and an outline of the future direction of our detector development efforts is given.« less

Digital Signal Processing Based on a Clustering Algorithm for Ir/Au TES Microcalorimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zen, N.; Kunieda, Y.; Takahashi, H.; Hiramoto, K.; Nakazawa, M.; Fukuda, D.; Ukibe, M.; Ohkubo, M.

2006-02-01

In recent years, cryogenic microcalorimeters using their superconducting transition edge have been under development for possible application to the research for astronomical X-ray observations. To improve the energy resolution of superconducting transition edge sensors (TES), several correction methods have been developed. Among them, a clustering method based on digital signal processing has recently been proposed. In this paper, we applied the clustering method to Ir/Au bilayer TES. This method resulted in almost a 10% improvement in the energy resolution. Conversely, from the point of view of imaging X-ray spectroscopy, we applied the clustering method to pixellated Ir/Au-TES devices. We will thus show how a clustering method which sorts signals by their shapes is also useful for position identification

Method for making mirrored surfaces comprising superconducting material

DOEpatents

Early, J.T.; Hargrove, R.S.

1989-12-12

Superconducting mirror surfaces are provided by forming a mirror surface from a material which is superconductive at a temperature above about 40 K and adjusting the temperature of the surface to that temperature at which the material is superconducting. The mirror surfaces are essentially perfect reflectors for electromagnetic radiation with photon energy less than the superconducting band gap.

Materials Development for Auxiliary Components for Large Compact Mo/Au TES Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Finkbeiner, F. m.; Chervenak, J. A.; Bandler, S. R.; Brekosky, R.; Brown, A. D.; Figueroa-Feliciano, E.; Iyomoto, N.; Kelley, R. L.; Kilbourne, C. A.; Porter, F. S.;

Controlling T c of Iridium films using interfacial proximity effects

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

Hennings-Yeomans, R; Chang, CL; Ding, J

High precision calorimetry using superconducting transition edge sensors requires the use of superconducting films with a suitable T c, depending on the application. To advance high-precision macrocalorimetry, we require low-T c films that are easy to fabricate. A simple and effective way to suppress T c of superconducting Iridium through the proximity effect is demonstrated by using Ir/Pt bilayers as well as Au/Ir/Au trilayers. While Ir/Au films fabricated by applying heat to the substrate during Ir deposition have been used in the past for superconducting sensors, we present results of T c suppression on Iridium by deposition at room temperature in Au/Ir/Au trilayers and Ir/Pt bilayers in the range ofmore » $$\\sim$$20-100~mK. Measurements of the relative impedance between the Ir/Pt bilayers and Au/Ir/Au trilayers fabricated show factor of $$\\sim$$10 higher values in the Ir/Pt case. These new films could play a key role in the development of scalable superconducting transition edge sensors that require low-T c films to minimize heat capacity and maximize energy resolution, while keeping high-yield fabrication methods.« less

Phonon Mechanisms for Excess Heat Capacity in Membrane Isolated Superconducting Transition Edge Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chervenak, James A.

2012-01-01

The mechanics of phonon transport in membrane-isolated superconducting transition edge sensors is discussed. Surveys of the literature on this type of sensor reveal a number of designs with excess heat capacity and a smaller subset that exhibit decoupling of the superconducting film from the underlying dielectric. A simple model is addressed in which the membrane, despite its thermal isolation, fails to fully thermalize to the temperature of the metal film heating it. A population of phonons exists which is emitted by the metal film, partially thermalizes the dielectric and is then reabsorbed in the metal film without escaping from the device structure to the thermal bath. The size of this population and its contribution to the heat capacity are estimated for several device scenarios.

Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology. Part 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Groom, Nelson J. (Editor); Britcher, Colin P. (Editor)

1996-01-01

In order to examine the state of technology of all areas of magnetic suspension and to review recent developments in sensors, controls, superconducting magnet technology, and design/implementation practices, the Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology was held at the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza in Tallahassee, Florida on 13-15 Dec. 1995. The symposium included 19 sessions in which a total of 55 papers were presented. The technical sessions covered the areas of bearings, superconductivity, vibration isolation, maglev, controls, space applications, general applications, bearing/actuator design, modeling, precision applications, electromagnetic launch and hypersonic maglev, applications of superconductivity, and sensors.

Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Groom, Nelson J. (Editor); Britcher, Colin P. (Editor)

1996-01-01

In order to examine the state of technology of all areas of magnetic suspension and to review recent developments in sensors, controls, superconducting magnet technology, and design/implementation practices, the Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology was held at the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza in Tallahassee, Florida on 13-15 Dec. 1995. The symposium included 19 sessions in which a total of 55 papers were presented. The technical sessions covered the areas of bearings, superconductivity, vibration isolation, maglev, controls, space applications, general applications, bearing/actuator design, modeling, precision applications, electromagnetic launch and hypersonic maglev, applications of superconductivity, and sensors.

The Dynamic Photometric Stereo Method Using a Multi-Tap CMOS Image Sensor.

PubMed

Yoda, Takuya; Nagahara, Hajime; Taniguchi, Rin-Ichiro; Kagawa, Keiichiro; Yasutomi, Keita; Kawahito, Shoji

2018-03-05

The photometric stereo method enables estimation of surface normals from images that have been captured using different but known lighting directions. The classical photometric stereo method requires at least three images to determine the normals in a given scene. However, this method cannot be applied to dynamic scenes because it is assumed that the scene remains static while the required images are captured. In this work, we present a dynamic photometric stereo method for estimation of the surface normals in a dynamic scene. We use a multi-tap complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor to capture the input images required for the proposed photometric stereo method. This image sensor can divide the electrons from the photodiode from a single pixel into the different taps of the exposures and can thus capture multiple images under different lighting conditions with almost identical timing. We implemented a camera lighting system and created a software application to enable estimation of the normal map in real time. We also evaluated the accuracy of the estimated surface normals and demonstrated that our proposed method can estimate the surface normals of dynamic scenes.

Holographic leaky-wave metasurfaces for dual-sensor imaging.

PubMed

Li, Yun Bo; Li, Lian Lin; Cai, Ben Geng; Cheng, Qiang; Cui, Tie Jun

2015-12-10

Metasurfaces have huge potentials to develop new type imaging systems due to their abilities of controlling electromagnetic waves. Here, we propose a new method for dual-sensor imaging based on cross-like holographic leaky-wave metasurfaces which are composed of hybrid isotropic and anisotropic surface impedance textures. The holographic leaky-wave radiations are generated by special impedance modulations of surface waves excited by the sensor ports. For one independent sensor, the main leaky-wave radiation beam can be scanned by frequency in one-dimensional space, while the frequency scanning in the orthogonal spatial dimension is accomplished by the other sensor. Thus, for a probed object, the imaging plane can be illuminated adequately to obtain the two-dimensional backward scattered fields by the dual-sensor for reconstructing the object. The relativity of beams under different frequencies is very low due to the frequency-scanning beam performance rather than the random beam radiations operated by frequency, and the multi-illuminations with low relativity are very appropriate for multi-mode imaging method with high resolution and anti- noise. Good reconstruction results are given to validate the proposed imaging method.

Simulation of Transient Response of Ir-TES for Position-Sensitive TES with Waveform Domain Multiplexing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minamikawa, Y.; Sato, H.; Mori, F.; Damayanthi, R. M. T.; Takahashi, H.; Ohno, M.

2008-04-01

We are developing a new x-ray microcalorimeter based on a superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) as an imaging sensor. Our measurement shows unique waveforms which we consider as an expression of thermal nonuniformity of TES films. This arises from the different thermal responses, so that response signal shapes would vary according to the position of the incident x-ray. This position dependency deteriorate the measured energy resolution, but with appropriate waveform analysis, this would be useful for imaging device. For more inspection, we have developed a simulation code which enables a dynamic simulation to obtain a transient response of the TES by finite differential method. Temperature and electric current distributions are calculated. As a result, we successfully obtained waveform signals. The calculated signal waveforms have similar characteristics to the measured signals. This simulation visualized the transition state of the device and will help to design better detector.

Surface chemistry and morphology in single particle optical imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ekiz-Kanik, Fulya; Sevenler, Derin Deniz; Ünlü, Neşe Lortlar; Chiari, Marcella; Ünlü, M. Selim

2017-05-01

Biological nanoparticles such as viruses and exosomes are important biomarkers for a range of medical conditions, from infectious diseases to cancer. Biological sensors that detect whole viruses and exosomes with high specificity, yet without additional labeling, are promising because they reduce the complexity of sample preparation and may improve measurement quality by retaining information about nanoscale physical structure of the bio-nanoparticle (BNP). Towards this end, a variety of BNP biosensor technologies have been developed, several of which are capable of enumerating the precise number of detected viruses or exosomes and analyzing physical properties of each individual particle. Optical imaging techniques are promising candidates among broad range of label-free nanoparticle detectors. These imaging BNP sensors detect the binding of single nanoparticles on a flat surface functionalized with a specific capture molecule or an array of multiplexed capture probes. The functionalization step confers all molecular specificity for the sensor's target but can introduce an unforeseen problem; a rough and inhomogeneous surface coating can be a source of noise, as these sensors detect small local changes in optical refractive index. In this paper, we review several optical technologies for label-free BNP detectors with a focus on imaging systems. We compare the surface-imaging methods including dark-field, surface plasmon resonance imaging and interference reflectance imaging. We discuss the importance of ensuring consistently uniform and smooth surface coatings of capture molecules for these types of biosensors and finally summarize several methods that have been developed towards addressing this challenge.

A design of endoscopic imaging system for hyper long pipeline based on wheeled pipe robot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Dongtian; Tan, Haishu; Zhou, Fuqiang

2017-03-01

An endoscopic imaging system of hyper long pipeline is designed to acquire the inner surface image in advance for the hyper long pipeline detects measurement. The system consists of structured light sensors, pipe robots and control system. The pipe robot is in the form of wheel structure, with the sensor which is at the front of the vehicle body. The control system is at the tail of the vehicle body in the form of upper and lower computer. The sensor can be translated and scanned in three steps: walking, lifting and scanning, then the inner surface image can be acquired at a plurality of positions and different angles. The results of imaging experiments show that the system's transmission distance is longer, the acquisition angle is more diverse and the result is more comprehensive than the traditional imaging system, which lays an important foundation for later inner surface vision measurement.

Spectroscopic scanning tunneling microscopy insights into Fe-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffman, Jennifer E.

2011-12-01

In the first three years since the discovery of Fe-based high Tc superconductors, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy have shed light on three important questions. First, STM has demonstrated the complexity of the pairing symmetry in Fe-based materials. Phase-sensitive quasiparticle interference (QPI) imaging and low temperature spectroscopy have shown that the pairing order parameter varies from nodal to nodeless s± within a single family, FeTe1-xSex. Second, STM has imaged C4 → C2 symmetry breaking in the electronic states of both parent and superconducting materials. As a local probe, STM is in a strong position to understand the interactions between these broken symmetry states and superconductivity. Finally, STM has been used to image the vortex state, giving insights into the technical problem of vortex pinning, and the fundamental problem of the competing states introduced when superconductivity is locally quenched by a magnetic field. Here we give a pedagogical introduction to STM and QPI imaging, discuss the specific challenges associated with extracting bulk properties from the study of surfaces, and report on progress made in understanding Fe-based superconductors using STM techniques.

Whole-head SQUID system in a superconducting magnetic shield.

PubMed

Ohta, H; Matsui, T; Uchikawa, Y

2004-11-30

We have constructed a mobile whole-head SQUID system in a superconducting magnetic shield - a cylinder of high Tc superconductor BSCCO of 65 cm in diameter and 160 cm in length. We compared the noise spectra of several SQUID sensors of SNS Josephson junctions in the superconducting magnetic shield with those of the same SQUID sensors in a magnetically shielded room of Permalloy. The SQUID sensors in the superconducting magnetic shield are more than 100 times more sensitive than those in a magnetically shielded room of Permalloy below 1 Hz. We tested the whole-head SQUID system in the superconducting magnetic shield observing somatosensory signals evoked by stimulating the median nerve in the right wrist of patients by current pulses. We present data of 64 and 128 traces versus the common time axis for comparison. Most sensory responses of human brains phase out near 250 ms. However monotonic rhythms still remain even at longer latencies than 250 ms. The nodes of these rhythm are very narrow even at these longer latencies just indicating low noise characteristics of the SQUID system at low-frequencies. The current dipoles at the secondary somatosensory area SII are evoked at longer latencies than 250 ms contributing to a higher-level brain function. The SQUID system in a superconducting magnetic shield will also have advantages when it is used as a DC MEG to study very slow activities and function of the brain.

A Sensor System for Detection of Hull Surface Defects

PubMed Central

Navarro, Pedro; Iborra, Andrés; Fernández, Carlos; Sánchez, Pedro; Suardíaz, Juan

2010-01-01

This paper presents a sensor system for detecting defects in ship hull surfaces. The sensor was developed to enable a robotic system to perform grit blasting operations on ship hulls. To achieve this, the proposed sensor system captures images with the help of a camera and processes them in real time using a new defect detection method based on thresholding techniques. What makes this method different is its efficiency in the automatic detection of defects from images recorded in variable lighting conditions. The sensor system was tested under real conditions at a Spanish shipyard, with excellent results. PMID:22163590

National Action Plan on Superconductivity Research and Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1989-12-01

The Superconductivity Action Plan pursuant to the Superconductivity and Competitiveness Act of 1988 is presented. The plan draws upon contributions from leaders in the technical community of the Federal Government responsible for research and development in superconductivity programs, as well as from the report of the Committee to Advise the President on Superconductivity. Input from leaders in the private sector was obtained during the formulation and review of the plan. Some contents: Coordination of the plan; Technical areas (high temperature superconductivity materials in general, high temperature superconductivity films for sensors and electronics, magnets, large area high temperature superconductivity films, bulk conductors); and Policy areas.

High Resolution Eddy-Current Wire Testing Based on a Gmr Sensor-Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreutzbruck, Marc; Allweins, Kai; Strackbein, Chris; Bernau, Hendrick

2009-03-01

Increasing demands in materials quality and cost effectiveness have led to advanced standards in manufacturing technology. Especially when dealing with high quality standards in conjunction with high throughput quantitative NDE techniques are vital to provide reliable and fast quality control systems. In this work we illuminate a modern electromagnetic NDE approach using a small GMR sensor array for testing superconducting wires. Four GMR sensors are positioned around the wire. Each GMR sensor provides a field sensitivity of 200 pT/√Hz and a spatial resolution of about 100 μm. This enables us to detect under surface defects of 100 μm in size in a depth of 200 μm with a signal-to-noise ratio of better than 400. Surface defects could be detected with a SNR of up to 10,000. Besides this remarkably SNR the small extent of GMR sensors results in a spatial resolution which offers new visualisation techniques for defect localisation, defect characterization and tomography-like mapping techniques. We also report on inverse algorithms based on either a Finite Element Method or an analytical approach. These allow for accurate defect localization on the urn scale and an estimation of the defect size.

Halo current diagnostic system of experimental advanced superconducting tokamak

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

Chen, D. L.; Shen, B.; Sun, Y.

2015-10-15

The design, calibration, and installation of disruption halo current sensors for the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak are described in this article. All the sensors are Rogowski coils that surround conducting structures, and all the signals are analog integrated. Coils with two different cross-section sizes have been fabricated, and their mutual inductances are calibrated. Sensors have been installed to measure halo currents in several different parts of both the upper divertor (tungsten) and lower divertor (graphite) at several toroidal locations. Initial measurements from disruptions show that the halo current diagnostics are working well.

Sensing with Superconducting Point Contacts

PubMed Central

Nurbawono, Argo; Zhang, Chun

2012-01-01

Superconducting point contacts have been used for measuring magnetic polarizations, identifying magnetic impurities, electronic structures, and even the vibrational modes of small molecules. Due to intrinsically small energy scale in the subgap structures of the supercurrent determined by the size of the superconducting energy gap, superconductors provide ultrahigh sensitivities for high resolution spectroscopies. The so-called Andreev reflection process between normal metal and superconductor carries complex and rich information which can be utilized as powerful sensor when fully exploited. In this review, we would discuss recent experimental and theoretical developments in the supercurrent transport through superconducting point contacts and their relevance to sensing applications, and we would highlight their current issues and potentials. A true utilization of the method based on Andreev reflection analysis opens up possibilities for a new class of ultrasensitive sensors. PMID:22778630

A non-axial superconducting magnet design for optimized patient access and minimal SAD for use in a Linac-MR hybrid: proof of concept.

PubMed

Yaghoobpour Tari, Shima; Wachowicz, Keith; Gino Fallone, B

2017-04-21

A prototype rotating hybrid magnetic resonance imaging system and linac has been developed to allow for simultaneous imaging and radiation delivery parallel to B 0 . However, the design of a compact magnet capable of rotation in a small vault with sufficient patient access and a typical clinical source-to-axis distance (SAD) is challenging. This work presents a novel superconducting magnet design as a proof of concept that allows for a reduced SAD and ample patient access by moving the superconducting coils to the side of the yoke. The yoke and pole-plate structures are shaped to direct the magnetic flux appropriately. The outer surface of the pole plate is optimized subject to the minimization of a cost function, which evaluates the uniformity of the magnetic field over an ellipsoid. The magnetic field calculations required in this work are performed with the 3D finite element method software package Opera-3D. Each tentative design strategy is virtually modeled in this software package, which is externally controlled by MATLAB, with its key geometries defined as variables. The optimization variables are the thickness of the pole plate at control points distributed over the pole plate surface. A novel design concept as a superconducting non-axial magnet is introduced, which could create a large uniform B 0 magnetic field with fewer geometric restriction. This non-axial 0.5 T superconducting magnet has a moderately reduced SAD of 123 cm and a vertical patient opening of 68 cm. This work is presented as a proof of principle to investigate the feasibility of a non-axial magnet with the coils located around the yoke, and the results encourage future design optimizations to maximize the benefits of this non-axial design.

A non-axial superconducting magnet design for optimized patient access and minimal SAD for use in a Linac-MR hybrid: proof of concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yaghoobpour Tari, Shima; Wachowicz, Keith; Fallone, B. Gino

2017-04-01

A prototype rotating hybrid magnetic resonance imaging system and linac has been developed to allow for simultaneous imaging and radiation delivery parallel to B 0. However, the design of a compact magnet capable of rotation in a small vault with sufficient patient access and a typical clinical source-to-axis distance (SAD) is challenging. This work presents a novel superconducting magnet design as a proof of concept that allows for a reduced SAD and ample patient access by moving the superconducting coils to the side of the yoke. The yoke and pole-plate structures are shaped to direct the magnetic flux appropriately. The outer surface of the pole plate is optimized subject to the minimization of a cost function, which evaluates the uniformity of the magnetic field over an ellipsoid. The magnetic field calculations required in this work are performed with the 3D finite element method software package Opera-3D. Each tentative design strategy is virtually modeled in this software package, which is externally controlled by MATLAB, with its key geometries defined as variables. The optimization variables are the thickness of the pole plate at control points distributed over the pole plate surface. A novel design concept as a superconducting non-axial magnet is introduced, which could create a large uniform B 0 magnetic field with fewer geometric restriction. This non-axial 0.5 T superconducting magnet has a moderately reduced SAD of 123 cm and a vertical patient opening of 68 cm. This work is presented as a proof of principle to investigate the feasibility of a non-axial magnet with the coils located around the yoke, and the results encourage future design optimizations to maximize the benefits of this non-axial design.

Resonant Soft X-ray Scattering studies with Transition Edge Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Yizhi; Lee, Sangjun; de La Pena, Gilberto; Sun, Xiaolan; Rodolakis, Fanny; McChesney, Jessica; Fowler, Joe; Joe, Young Il; Doriese, William; Morgan, Kelsey; Swetz, Daniel; Ullom, Joel; Abbamonte, Peter

Resonant Soft X-ray has been one of the key techniques to study charge orders in high Tc cuperates. To solve the issue of unwanted enhancement of inelastic florescence background at resonance, we have developed an energy-resolving superconducting Transition-Edge Sensor microcalorimeters. These superconducting sensors obtain exquisite energy resolution by exploiting the superconducting-to-normal transition to photon energy and by operating at cryogenic temperatures ( 70 mK) where thermal noise is minimal. This TES has demonstrated 1.0 eV resolution below 1 keV. We present first results using this detector to study the (002) Bragg peak and specular elastic scattering from a single crystal of stripe-ordered La 2 - x Bax CuO4 (x=0.125). Use of this detector for studying excitations and rejecting background fluorescence will be discussed.

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

Kogan, V. G.; Kirtley, J. R.

Here, it is of interest to determine the exit angle of a vortex from a superconductor surface, since this affects the intervortex interactions and their consequences. Two ways to determine this angle are to image the vortex magnetic fields above the surface, or the vortex core shape at the surface. In this work we evaluate the field h(x,y,z) above a flat superconducting surface x,y and the currents J(x,y) at that surface for a straight vortex tilted relative to the normal to the surface, for both the isotropic and anisotropic cases. In principle, these results can be used to determine themore » vortex exit tilt angle from analyses of magnetic field imaging or density of states data.« less

CMOS image sensor for detection of interferon gamma protein interaction as a point-of-care approach.

PubMed

Marimuthu, Mohana; Kandasamy, Karthikeyan; Ahn, Chang Geun; Sung, Gun Yong; Kim, Min-Gon; Kim, Sanghyo

2011-09-01

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-based image sensors have received increased attention owing to the possibility of incorporating them into portable diagnostic devices. The present research examined the efficiency and sensitivity of a CMOS image sensor for the detection of antigen-antibody interactions involving interferon gamma protein without the aid of expensive instruments. The highest detection sensitivity of about 1 fg/ml primary antibody was achieved simply by a transmission mechanism. When photons are prevented from hitting the sensor surface, a reduction in digital output occurs in which the number of photons hitting the sensor surface is approximately proportional to the digital number. Nanoscale variation in substrate thickness after protein binding can be detected with high sensitivity by the CMOS image sensor. Therefore, this technique can be easily applied to smartphones or any clinical diagnostic devices for the detection of several biological entities, with high impact on the development of point-of-care applications.

A Fully Transparent Flexible Sensor for Cryogenic Temperatures Based on High Strength Metallurgical Graphene

PubMed Central

Pawlak, Ryszard; Lebioda, Marcin; Rymaszewski, Jacek; Szymanski, Witold; Kolodziejczyk, Lukasz; Kula, Piotr

2016-01-01

Low-temperature electronics operating in below zero temperatures or even below the lower limit of the common −65 to 125 °C temperature range are essential in medical diagnostics, in space exploration and aviation, in processing and storage of food and mainly in scientific research, like superconducting materials engineering and their applications—superconducting magnets, superconducting energy storage, and magnetic levitation systems. Such electronic devices demand special approach to the materials used in passive elements and sensors. The main goal of this work was the implementation of a fully transparent, flexible cryogenic temperature sensor with graphene structures as sensing element. Electrodes were made of transparent ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or ITO/Ag/ITO conductive layers by laser ablation and finally encapsulated in a polymer coating. A helium closed-cycle cryostat has been used in measurements of the electrical properties of these graphene-based temperature sensors under cryogenic conditions. The sensors were repeatedly cooled from room temperature to cryogenic temperature. Graphene structures were characterized using Raman spectroscopy. The observation of the resistance changes as a function of temperature indicates the potential use of graphene layers in the construction of temperature sensors. The temperature characteristics of the analyzed graphene sensors exhibit no clear anomalies or strong non-linearity in the entire studied temperature range (as compared to the typical carbon sensor). PMID:28036036

A Fully Transparent Flexible Sensor for Cryogenic Temperatures Based on High Strength Metallurgical Graphene.

PubMed

Pawlak, Ryszard; Lebioda, Marcin; Rymaszewski, Jacek; Szymanski, Witold; Kolodziejczyk, Lukasz; Kula, Piotr

2016-12-28

Low-temperature electronics operating in below zero temperatures or even below the lower limit of the common -65 to 125 °C temperature range are essential in medical diagnostics, in space exploration and aviation, in processing and storage of food and mainly in scientific research, like superconducting materials engineering and their applications-superconducting magnets, superconducting energy storage, and magnetic levitation systems. Such electronic devices demand special approach to the materials used in passive elements and sensors. The main goal of this work was the implementation of a fully transparent, flexible cryogenic temperature sensor with graphene structures as sensing element. Electrodes were made of transparent ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or ITO/Ag/ITO conductive layers by laser ablation and finally encapsulated in a polymer coating. A helium closed-cycle cryostat has been used in measurements of the electrical properties of these graphene-based temperature sensors under cryogenic conditions. The sensors were repeatedly cooled from room temperature to cryogenic temperature. Graphene structures were characterized using Raman spectroscopy. The observation of the resistance changes as a function of temperature indicates the potential use of graphene layers in the construction of temperature sensors. The temperature characteristics of the analyzed graphene sensors exhibit no clear anomalies or strong non-linearity in the entire studied temperature range (as compared to the typical carbon sensor).

Evaluation of a Three-Channel High-Temperature Superconducting Magnetometer System

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-06-01

achieved by the best commercially available fluxgate magnetometers demonstrated to date and is only surpassed by low temperature superconducting...wire lines carry the analog SQUID magnetometer signal as well as dc power and ground, and the fiberoptic lines carry digital clock and data signals...with the magnetometers mounted on the three-sensor probe used in the sensor evaluated here. This probe is not highly stabilized with respect to the

The Physics of Superconducting Microwave Resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Jiansong

Over the past decade, low temperature detectors have brought astronomers revolutionary new observational capabilities and led to many great discoveries. Although a single low temperature detector has very impressive sensitivity, a large detector array would be much more powerful and are highly demanded for the study of more difficult and fundamental problems in astronomy. However, current detector technologies, such as transition edge sensors and superconducting tunnel junction detectors, are difficult to integrate into a large array. The microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID) is a promising new detector technology invented at Caltech and JPL which provides both high sensitivity and an easy solution to the detector integration. It senses the change in the surface impedance of a superconductor as incoming photons break Cooper pairs, by using high-Q superconducting microwave resonators capacitively coupled to a common feedline. This architecture allows thousands of detectors to be easily integrated through passive frequency domain multiplexing. In this thesis, we explore the rich and interesting physics behind these superconducting microwave resonators. The first part of the thesis discusses the surface impedance of a superconductor, the kinetic inductance of a superconducting coplanar waveguide, and the circuit response of a resonator. These topics are related with the responsivity of MKIDs. The second part presents the study of the excess frequency noise that is universally observed in these resonators. The properties of the excess noise, including power, temperature, material, and geometry dependence, have been quantified. The noise source has been identified to be the two-level systems in the dielectric material on the surface of the resonator. A semi-empirical noise model has been developed to explain the power and geometry dependence of the noise, which is useful to predict the noise for a specified resonator geometry. The detailed physical noise mechanism, however, is still not clear. With the theoretical results of the responsivity and the semi-empirical noise model established in this thesis, a prediction of the detector sensitivity (noise equivalent power) and an optimization of the detector design are now possible.

The Dynamic Photometric Stereo Method Using a Multi-Tap CMOS Image Sensor †

PubMed Central

Yoda, Takuya; Nagahara, Hajime; Taniguchi, Rin-ichiro; Kagawa, Keiichiro; Yasutomi, Keita; Kawahito, Shoji

2018-01-01

The photometric stereo method enables estimation of surface normals from images that have been captured using different but known lighting directions. The classical photometric stereo method requires at least three images to determine the normals in a given scene. However, this method cannot be applied to dynamic scenes because it is assumed that the scene remains static while the required images are captured. In this work, we present a dynamic photometric stereo method for estimation of the surface normals in a dynamic scene. We use a multi-tap complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor to capture the input images required for the proposed photometric stereo method. This image sensor can divide the electrons from the photodiode from a single pixel into the different taps of the exposures and can thus capture multiple images under different lighting conditions with almost identical timing. We implemented a camera lighting system and created a software application to enable estimation of the normal map in real time. We also evaluated the accuracy of the estimated surface normals and demonstrated that our proposed method can estimate the surface normals of dynamic scenes. PMID:29510599

Recent advancements in the SQUID magnetospinogram system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adachi, Yoshiaki; Kawai, Jun; Haruta, Yasuhiro; Miyamoto, Masakazu; Kawabata, Shigenori; Sekihara, Kensuke; Uehara, Gen

2017-06-01

In this study, a new superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) biomagnetic measurement system known as magnetospinogram (MSG) is developed. The MSG system is used for observation of a weak magnetic field distribution induced by the neural activity of the spinal cord over the body surface. The current source reconstruction for the observed magnetic field distribution provides noninvasive functional imaging of the spinal cord, which enables medical personnel to diagnose spinal cord diseases more accurately. The MSG system is equipped with a uniquely shaped cryostat and a sensor array of vector-type SQUID gradiometers that are designed to detect the magnetic field from deep sources across a narrow observation area over the body surface of supine subjects. The latest prototype of the MSG system is already applied in clinical studies to develop a diagnosis protocol for spinal cord diseases. Advancements in hardware and software for MSG signal processing and cryogenic components aid in effectively suppressing external magnetic field noise and reducing the cost of liquid helium that act as barriers with respect to the introduction of the MSG system to hospitals. The application of the MSG system is extended to various biomagnetic applications in addition to spinal cord functional imaging given the advantages of the MSG system for investigating deep sources. The study also includes a report on the recent advancements of the SQUID MSG system including its peripheral technologies and wide-spread applications.

SWIR hyperspectral imaging detector for surface residues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Matthew P.; Mangold, Paul; Gomer, Nathaniel; Klueva, Oksana; Treado, Patrick

2013-05-01

ChemImage has developed a SWIR Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) sensor which uses hyperspectral imaging for wide area surveillance and standoff detection of surface residues. Existing detection technologies often require close proximity for sensing or detecting, endangering operators and costly equipment. Furthermore, most of the existing sensors do not support autonomous, real-time, mobile platform based detection of threats. The SWIR HSI sensor provides real-time standoff detection of surface residues. The SWIR HSI sensor provides wide area surveillance and HSI capability enabled by liquid crystal tunable filter technology. Easy-to-use detection software with a simple, intuitive user interface produces automated alarms and real-time display of threat and type. The system has potential to be used for the detection of variety of threats including chemicals and illicit drug substances and allows for easy updates in the field for detection of new hazardous materials. SWIR HSI technology could be used by law enforcement for standoff screening of suspicious locations and vehicles in pursuit of illegal labs or combat engineers to support route-clearance applications- ultimately to save the lives of soldiers and civilians. In this paper, results from a SWIR HSI sensor, which include detection of various materials in bulk form, as well as residue amounts on vehicles, people and other surfaces, will be discussed.

Determining the vortex tilt relative to a superconductor surface

DOE PAGES

Kogan, V. G.; Kirtley, J. R.

2017-11-20

Here, it is of interest to determine the exit angle of a vortex from a superconductor surface, since this affects the intervortex interactions and their consequences. Two ways to determine this angle are to image the vortex magnetic fields above the surface, or the vortex core shape at the surface. In this work we evaluate the field h(x,y,z) above a flat superconducting surface x,y and the currents J(x,y) at that surface for a straight vortex tilted relative to the normal to the surface, for both the isotropic and anisotropic cases. In principle, these results can be used to determine themore » vortex exit tilt angle from analyses of magnetic field imaging or density of states data.« less

Probing mass-transport and binding inhomogeneity in macromolecular interactions by molecular interferometric imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Ming; Wang, Xuefeng; Nolte, David

2009-02-01

In solid-support immunoassays, the transport of target analyte in sample solution to capture molecules on the sensor surface controls the detected binding signal. Depletion of the target analyte in the sample solution adjacent to the sensor surface leads to deviations from ideal association, and causes inhomogeneity of surface binding as analyte concentration varies spatially across the sensor surface. In the field of label-free optical biosensing, studies of mass-transport-limited reaction kinetics have focused on the average response on the sensor surface, but have not addressed binding inhomogeneities caused by mass-transport limitations. In this paper, we employ Molecular Interferometric Imaging (MI2) to study mass-transport-induced inhomogeneity of analyte binding within a single protein spot. Rabbit IgG binding to immobilized protein A/G was imaged at various concentrations and under different flow rates. In the mass-transport-limited regime, enhanced binding at the edges of the protein spots was caused by depletion of analyte towards the center of the protein spots. The magnitude of the inhomogeneous response was a function of analyte reaction rate and sample flow rate.

International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology, Part 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Groom, Nelson J. (Editor); Britcher, Colin P. (Editor)

1992-01-01

In order to examine the state of technology of all areas of magnetic suspension and to review related recent developments in sensors and controls approaches, superconducting magnet technology, and design/implementation practices, a symposium was held. The proceedings are presented. The sessions covered the areas of bearings, sensors and controls, microgravity and vibration isolation, superconductivity, manufacturing applications, wind tunnel magnetic suspension systems, magnetically levitated trains (MAGLEV), space applications, and large gap magnetic suspension systems.

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. (Latest citations from the NTIS Bibliographic database). Published Search

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

NONE

1993-10-01

The bibliography contains citations concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity wave experiments, geomagnetism, galvanometers, voltmeters, bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for SQUIDS (superconducting quantum interference devices). (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

A THz Superconducting Imaging Array Developed for the DATE5 Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Sheng-Cai; Zhang, Wen; Li, Jing; Miao, Wei; Lin, Zhen-Hui; Lou, Zheng; Yao, Qi-Jun

2016-08-01

Dome A in Antarctica, located at an altitude of 4093 m and with very low temperature in winter down to -83^{circ }C, is an exceptionally dry site. Measurements of the atmospheric transmission in the range of 0.75-15 THz by a Far-infrared/THz Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) strongly suggest that Dome A is a unique site for ground-based THz observations, especially for the 200- and 350-micron windows. A 5-m THz telescope (DATE5) is therefore proposed for Chinese Antarctic Kunlun Observatory. We are currently developing a THz superconducting imaging array (TeSIA) for the DATE5. The TeSIA will be working at the 350-\\upmu m window, with a pixel number of 32 × 32 and a sensitivity (NEP) of ˜ 10^{-16} W/Hz^{0.5}. Ti transition-edge sensors with time-domain multiplexing and TiN microwave kinetic inductance detectors with frequency-domain multiplexing are both developed for the TeSIA. In this paper, detailed system designs and some measurement results will be presented.

Advanced superconducting gradiometers for mine detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clem, Ted R.

1996-05-01

Sensors incorporating superconducting quantum interference devices provide the greatest sensitivity for magnetic anomaly detection available with current technology. During the 1980s, the Coastal Systems Station (CSS) developed a superconducting magnetic gradiometer capable of operation outside of the laboratory environment. With this sensor, the CSS was able to demonstrate buried mine detection for the U.S. Navy. Subsequently, the sensor was incorporated into a multisensor suite onboard an underwater towed vehicle to provide a robust mine hunting capability for the Magnetic and Acoustic Detection of Mines Project. This sensor using thin film niobium and a new liquid helium cooling concept was developed to provide significant increases in sensitivity and detection range. In the late 1980s, a new class of `high- Tc' superconductor were discovered with critical temperatures above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K). This advance has opened up new opportunities for mine reconnaissance and hunting, especially for operation onboard small unmanned underwater vehicles. A high-Tc sensor concept using liquid nitrogen refrigeration has been developed and a test article of that concept is currently being evaluated for its applicability to mobile operation. The design principles for the two new sensor approaches and the results of their evaluations will be described. Finally, the implications of these advances to mine reconnaissance and hunting will be discussed.

Superconducting magnesium diboride films on Si with Tc0˜24 K grown via vacuum annealing from stoichiometric precursors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, H. Y.; Christen, H. M.; Zhang, L.; Cantoni, C.; Paranthaman, M.; Sales, B. C.; Christen, D. K.; Lowndes, D. H.

2001-10-01

Superconducting magnesium diboride films with Tc0˜24 K and sharp transition ˜1 K were prepared on Si by pulsed-laser deposition from stoichiometric MgB2 target. Contrary to previous reports, anneals at 630 °C and a background of 2×10-4Ar/4%H2 were performed without the requirement of Mg vapor or Mg cap layer. This integration of superconducting MgB2 film on Si may thus prove enabling in superconductor-semiconductor device applications. Images of surface morphology and cross-section profiles by scanning electron microscopy show that the films have a uniform surface morphology and thickness. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy study reveals these films were contaminated with oxygen, originating either from the growth environment or from sample exposure to air. The oxygen contamination may account for the low Tc for those in situ annealed films, while the use of Si as a substrate does not result in a decrease in Tc as compared to other substrates.

Nano Superconducting Quantum Interference device: A powerful tool for nanoscale investigations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granata, Carmine; Vettoliere, Antonio

2016-02-01

The magnetic sensing at nanoscale level is a promising and interesting research topic of nanoscience. Indeed, magnetic imaging is a powerful tool for probing biological, chemical and physical systems. The study of small spin cluster, like magnetic molecules and nanoparticles, single electron, cold atom clouds, is one of the most stimulating challenges of applied and basic research of the next years. In particular, the magnetic nanoparticle investigation plays a fundamental role for the modern material science and its relative technological applications like ferrofluids, magnetic refrigeration and biomedical applications, including drug delivery, hyper-thermia cancer treatment and magnetic resonance imaging contrast-agent. Actually, one of the most ambitious goals of the high sensitivity magnetometry is the detection of elementary magnetic moment or spin. In this framework, several efforts have been devoted to the development of a high sensitivity magnetic nanosensor pushing sensing capability to the individual spin level. Among the different magnetic sensors, Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) exhibit an ultra high sensitivity and are widely employed in numerous applications. Basically, a SQUID consists of a superconducting ring (sensitive area) interrupted by two Josephson junctions. In the recent years, it has been proved that the magnetic response of nano-objects can be effectively measured by using a SQUID with a very small sensitive area (nanoSQUID). In fact, the sensor noise, expressed in terms of the elementary magnetic moment (spin or Bohr magneton), is linearly dependent on the SQUID loop side length. For this reason, SQUIDs have been progressively miniaturized in order to improve the sensitivity up to few spin per unit of bandwidth. With respect to other techniques, nanoSQUIDs offer the advantage of direct measurement of magnetization changes in small spin systems. In this review, we focus on nanoSQUIDs and its applications. In particular, we will discuss the motivations, the theoretical aspects, the fabrication techniques, the different nanoSQUIDs and the relative nanoscale applications.

Electronic Materials and Applications 2014 (Abstracts)

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-02

the thermal image using IR camera and surface tempera- ture using thermo couple. Lastly, we conducted a surface coating to change the surface...progress in the superconducting films and coated conductors of iron chalcogenides. With a CeO2 buffer , critical current densities (Jc) over 7 MA/cm2...Roosen, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany Kato, N. 23-Jan 11:15AM Pacific 11:30 AM (EMA-S1-021-2014) Glass-like Thermal Conductivity of (010

Studies of the Superconducting Transition in the Mo/Au-Bilayer Thin Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John; Smith, Stephen; Iyomoto, naoko; Bandler, Simon; Chervenak, Jay; Brown, Ari; Brekowsky, Regis; Kilbourne, Caroline; Robinson, Ian

2007-01-01

At NASA Goddard, microcalorimeter arrays using superconducting transition edge sensor thermometers (TESs) are under development for high energy resolution X-ray astrophysics applications. We report on our studies of the superconducting transition in our Mo/Au-bilayer TES films including: low current measurements of the superconducting bilayer's resistance transition versus temperature on pixels with different normal metal absorber attachment designs and measured temperature scaling of the critical current and critical magnetic field.

Mobile quantum gravity sensor with unprecedented stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freier, C.; Hauth, M.; Schkolnik, V.; Leykauf, B.; Schilling, M.; Wziontek, H.; Scherneck, H.-G.; Müller, J.; Peters, A.

2016-06-01

Changes of surface gravity on Earth are of great interest in geodesy, earth sciences and natural resource exploration. They are indicative of Earth system's mass redistributions and vertical surface motion, and are usually measured with falling corner-cube- and superconducting gravimeters (FCCG and SCG). Here we report on absolute gravity measurements with a mobile quantum gravimeter based on atom interferometry. The measurements were conducted in Germany and Sweden over periods of several days with simultaneous SCG and FCCG comparisons. They show the best-reported performance of mobile atomic gravimeters to date with an accuracy of 39nm/s2, long-term stability of 0.5nm/s2 and short-term noise of 96nm/s2/√Hz. These measurements highlight the unique properties of atomic sensors. The achieved level of performance in a transportable instrument enables new applications in geodesy and related fields, such as continuous absolute gravity monitoring with a single instrument under rough environmental conditions.

Cryogenic-temperature profiling of high-power superconducting lines using local and distributed optical-fiber sensors.

PubMed

Chiuchiolo, Antonella; Palmieri, Luca; Consales, Marco; Giordano, Michele; Borriello, Anna; Bajas, Hugues; Galtarossa, Andrea; Bajko, Marta; Cusano, Andrea

2015-10-01

This contribution presents distributed and multipoint fiber-optic monitoring of cryogenic temperatures along a superconducting power transmission line down to 30 K and over 20 m distance. Multipoint measurements were conducted using fiber Bragg gratings sensors coated with two different functional overlays (epoxy and poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA)) demonstrating cryogenic operation in the range 300-4.2 K. Distributed measurements exploited optical frequency-domain reflectometry to analyze the Rayleigh scattering along two concatenated fibers with different coatings (acrylate and polyimide). The integrated system has been placed along the 20 m long cryostat of a superconducting power transmission line, which is currently being tested at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Cool-down events from 300-30 K have been successfully measured in space and time, confirming the viability of these approaches to the monitoring of cryogenic temperatures along a superconducting transmission line.

Superconductive wire

DOEpatents

Korzekwa, David A.; Bingert, John F.; Peterson, Dean E.; Sheinberg, Haskell

1995-01-01

A superconductive article is made by inserting a rigid mandrel into an internal cavity of a first metallic tube, said tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining the interior cavity, forming a layer of a superconductive material or superconductive precursor upon the exterior surface of said first metallic tube, machining the layer of superconductive material or superconductive precursor to a predetermined diameter to form an intermediate article configured for insertion into a second metallic tube having an interior diameter corresponding to the predetermined diameter, inserting the machined intermediate article into a second metallic tube having an internal diameter corresponding to the predetermined diameter of the intermediate article to form a composite intermediate article, reducing or ironing the composite intermediate article to a predetermined cross-sectional diameter, and sintering the reduced or ironed composite intermediate article at temperatures and for time sufficient for the superconductive material or superconductive precursor to exhibit superconductivity.

Superconductive wire

DOEpatents

Korzekwa, D.A.; Bingert, J.F.; Peterson, D.E.; Sheinberg, H.

1995-07-18

A superconductive article is made by inserting a rigid mandrel into an internal cavity of a first metallic tube, said tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining the interior cavity, forming a layer of a superconductive material or superconductive precursor upon the exterior surface of said first metallic tube, machining the layer of superconductive material or superconductive precursor to a predetermined diameter to form an intermediate article configured for insertion into a second metallic tube having an interior diameter corresponding to the predetermined diameter, inserting the machined intermediate article into a second metallic tube having an internal diameter corresponding to the predetermined diameter of the intermediate article to form a composite intermediate article, reducing or ironing the composite intermediate article to a predetermined cross-sectional diameter, and sintering the reduced or ironed composite intermediate article at temperatures and for time sufficient for the superconductive material or superconductive precursor to exhibit superconductivity. 2 figs.

Optical Tamm states in one-dimensional superconducting photonic crystal

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

El Abouti, O.; El Boudouti, E. H.; IEMN, UMR-CNRS 8520, UFR de Physique, Université de Lille 1, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq

2016-08-15

In this study, we investigate localized and resonant optical waves associated with a semi-infinite superlattice made out of superconductor-dielectric bilayers and terminated with a cap layer. Both transverse electric and transverse magnetic waves are considered. These surface modes are analogous to the so-called Tamm states associated with electronic states found at the surface of materials. The surface guided modes induced by the cap layer strongly depend on whether the superlattice ends with a superconductor or a dielectric layer, the thickness of the surface layer, the temperature of the superconductor layer as well as on the polarization of the waves. Differentmore » kinds of surface modes are found and their properties examined. These structures can be used to realize the highly sensitive photonic crystal sensors.« less

NanoSQUIDs: Basics & recent advances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

José Martínez-Pérez, Maria; Koelle, Dieter

2017-08-01

Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) are one of the most popular devices in superconducting electronics. They combine the Josephson effect with the quantization of magnetic flux in superconductors. This gives rise to one of the most beautiful manifestations of macroscopic quantum coherence in the solid state. In addition, SQUIDs are extremely sensitive sensors allowing us to transduce magnetic flux into measurable electric signals. As a consequence, any physical observable that can be converted into magnetic flux, e.g., current, magnetization, magnetic field or position, becomes easily accessible to SQUID sensors. In the late 1980s it became clear that downsizing the dimensions of SQUIDs to the nanometric scale would encompass an enormous increase of their sensitivity to localized tiny magnetic signals. Indeed, nanoSQUIDs opened the way to the investigation of, e.g., individual magnetic nanoparticles or surface magnetic states with unprecedented sensitivities. The purpose of this chapter is to present a detailed survey of microscopic and nanoscopic SQUID sensors. We will start by discussing the principle of operation of SQUIDs, placing the emphasis on their application as ultrasensitive detectors for small localized magnetic signals. We will continue by reviewing a number of existing devices based on different kinds of Josephson junctions and materials, focusing on their advantages and drawbacks. The last sections are left for applications of nanoSQUIDs in the fields of scanning SQUID microscopy and magnetic particle characterization, placing special stress on the investigation of individual magnetic nanoparticles.

Image Processing for Cameras with Fiber Bundle Image Relay

DTIC Science & Technology

length. Optical fiber bundles have been used to couple between this focal surface and planar image sensors . However, such fiber-coupled imaging systems...coupled to six discrete CMOS focal planes. We characterize the locally space-variant system impulse response at various stages: monocentric lens image...vignetting, and stitch together the image data from discrete sensors into a single panorama. We compare processed images from the prototype to those taken with

European roadmap on superconductive electronics - status and perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anders, S.; Blamire, M. G.; Buchholz, F.-Im.; Crété, D.-G.; Cristiano, R.; Febvre, P.; Fritzsch, L.; Herr, A.; Il'ichev, E.; Kohlmann, J.; Kunert, J.; Meyer, H.-G.; Niemeyer, J.; Ortlepp, T.; Rogalla, H.; Schurig, T.; Siegel, M.; Stolz, R.; Tarte, E.; ter Brake, H. J. M.; Toepfer, H.; Villegier, J.-C.; Zagoskin, A. M.; Zorin, A. B.

2010-12-01

Executive SummaryFor four decades semiconductor electronics has followed Moore’s law: with each generation of integration the circuit features became smaller, more complex and faster. This development is now reaching a wall so that smaller is no longer any faster. The clock rate has saturated at about 3-5 GHz and the parallel processor approach will soon reach its limit. The prime reason for the limitation the semiconductor electronics experiences is not the switching speed of the individual transistor, but its power dissipation and thus heat. Digital superconductive electronics is a circuit- and device-technology that is inherently faster at much less power dissipation than semiconductor electronics. It makes use of superconductors and Josephson junctions as circuit elements, which can provide extremely fast digital devices in a frequency range - dependent on the material - of hundreds of GHz: for example a flip-flop has been demonstrated that operated at 750 GHz. This digital technique is scalable and follows similar design rules as semiconductor devices. Its very low power dissipation of only 0.1 μW per gate at 100 GHz opens the possibility of three-dimensional integration. Circuits like microprocessors and analogue-to-digital converters for commercial and military applications have been demonstrated. In contrast to semiconductor circuits, the operation of superconducting circuits is based on naturally standardized digital pulses the area of which is exactly the flux quantum Φ0. The flux quantum is also the natural quantization unit for digital-to-analogue and analogue-to-digital converters. The latter application is so precise, that it is being used as voltage standard and that the physical unit ‘Volt’ is defined by means of this standard. Apart from its outstanding features for digital electronics, superconductive electronics provides also the most sensitive sensor for magnetic fields: the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID). Amongst many other applications SQUIDs are used as sensors for magnetic heart and brain signals in medical applications, as sensor for geological surveying and food-processing and for non-destructive testing. As amplifiers of electrical signals, SQUIDs can nearly reach the theoretical limit given by Quantum Mechanics. A further important field of application is the detection of very weak signals by ‘transition-edge’ bolometers, superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, and superconductive tunnel junctions. Their application as radiation detectors in a wide frequency range, from microwaves to X-rays is now standard. The very low losses of superconductors have led to commercial microwave filter designs that are now widely used in the USA in base stations for cellular phones and in military communication applications. The number of demonstrated applications is continuously increasing and there is no area in professional electronics, in which superconductive electronics cannot be applied and surpasses the performance of classical devices. Superconductive electronics has to be cooled to very low temperatures. Whereas this was a bottleneck in the past, cooling techniques have made a huge step forward in recent years: very compact systems with high reliability and a wide range of cooling power are available commercially, from microcoolers of match-box size with milli-Watt cooling power to high-reliability coolers of many Watts of cooling power for satellite applications. Superconductive electronics will not replace semiconductor electronics and similar room-temperature techniques in standard applications, but for those applications which require very high speed, low-power consumption, extreme sensitivity or extremely high precision, superconductive electronics is superior to all other available techniques. To strengthen the European competitiveness in superconductor electronics research projects have to be set-up in the following field: Ultra-sensitive sensing and imaging. Quantum measurement instrumentation. Advanced analogue-to-digital converters. Superconductive electronics technology.

Superconducting Bearings Assisted by Self-sensing AMBs in Liquid Nitrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komori, Mochimitsu; Shiraishi, Chiaki

This paper describes newly developed superconducting magnetic bearings (SMBs) assisted by self-sensing active magnetic bearings (AMBs). The self-sensing AMBs detect the gaps between rotor and electromagnets. The principle of the self-sensing sensors is based on a differential transformer. The sensitivity in liquid nitrogen is almost equal to that in the air. The sensor is found to be useful in liquid nitrogen at 77K(-196°C). Moreover, the sensors are applied to the SMBs. In this paper, dynamics of the SMBs with self-sensing AMBs are discussed. From the results, it is found that the system is useful and promising.

Utility of BRDF Models for Estimating Optimal View Angles in Classification of Remotely Sensed Images

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Valdez, P. F.; Donohoe, G. W.

1997-01-01

Statistical classification of remotely sensed images attempts to discriminate between surface cover types on the basis of the spectral response recorded by a sensor. It is well known that surfaces reflect incident radiation as a function of wavelength producing a spectral signature specific to the material under investigation. Multispectral and hyperspectral sensors sample the spectral response over tens and even hundreds of wavelength bands to capture the variation of spectral response with wavelength. Classification algorithms then exploit these differences in spectral response to distinguish between materials of interest. Sensors of this type, however, collect detailed spectral information from one direction (usually nadir); consequently, do not consider the directional nature of reflectance potentially detectable at different sensor view angles. Improvements in sensor technology have resulted in remote sensing platforms capable of detecting reflected energy across wavelengths (spectral signatures) and from multiple view angles (angular signatures) in the fore and aft directions. Sensors of this type include: the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS), the multiangle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR), and the airborne solid-state array spectroradiometer (ASAS). A goal of this paper, then, is to explore the utility of Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) models in the selection of optimal view angles for the classification of remotely sensed images by employing a strategy of searching for the maximum difference between surface BRDFs. After a brief discussion of directional reflect ante in Section 2, attention is directed to the Beard-Maxwell BRDF model and its use in predicting the bidirectional reflectance of a surface. The selection of optimal viewing angles is addressed in Section 3, followed by conclusions and future work in Section 4.

Observations of compound sawteeth in ion cyclotron resonant heating plasma using ECE imaging on experimental advanced superconducting tokamak

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

Hussain, Azam; Zhao, Zhenling; Xie, Jinlin, E-mail: jlxie@ustc.edu.cn

The spatial and temporal evolutions of compound sawteeth were directly observed using 2D electron cyclotron emission imaging on experimental advanced superconducting tokamak. The compound sawtooth consists of partial and full collapses. After partial collapse, the hot core survives as only a small amount of heat disperses outwards, whereas in the following full collapse a large amount of heat is released and the hot core dissipates. The presence of two q = 1 surfaces was not observed. Instead, the compound sawtooth occurs mainly at the beginning of an ion cyclotron resonant frequency heating pulse and during the L-H transition phase, which may bemore » related to heat transport suppression caused by a decrease in electron heat diffusivity.« less

Modeling of polarimetric BRDF characteristics of painted surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ying; Wang, Zeying; Zhao, Huijie

2014-11-01

In this paper a pBRDF (polarimetric Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function) model of painted surfaces coupled with atmospheric polarization characteristics is built and the method of simulating polarimetric radiation reaching the imaging system is advanced. Firstly, the composition of the radiation reaching the sensor is analyzed. Then, the pBRDF model of painted surfaces is developed according to the microfacet theory presented by G. Priest and the downwelled skylight polarization is modeled based on the vector radiative transfer model RT3. Furthermore, the modeled polarization state of reflected light from the surfaces was achieved through integrating the directional polarimetric information of the whole hemisphere, adding the modeled polarimetric factors of incident diffused skylight. Finally, the polarimetric radiance reaching the sensor is summed up with the assumption that the target-sensor path is assumed to be negligible since it is relatively short in the current imaging geometry. The modeled results are related to the solar-sensor geometry, atmospheric conditions and the features of the painted surfaces. This result can be used to simulate the imaging under different weather conditions and further work for the validation experiments of the model need to be done.

Aerospace Applications of Magnetic Suspension Technology, part 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Groom, Nelson J. (Editor); Britcher, Colin P. (Editor)

1991-01-01

In order to examine the state of technology of all areas of magnetic suspension with potential aerospace applications, and to review related recent developments in sensors and control approaches, superconducting technology, and design/implementation practices, a workshop was held at NASA-Langley. Areas of concern are pointing and isolation systems, microgravity and vibration isolation, bearing applications, wind tunnel model suspension systems, large gap magnetic suspension systems, controls, rotating machinery, science and applications of superconductivity, and sensors. Papers presented are included.

International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology, Part 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Groom, Nelson J. (Editor); Britcher, Colin P. (Editor)

1992-01-01

The goal of the symposium was to examine the state of technology of all areas of magnetic suspension and to review related recent developments in sensors and controls approaches, superconducting magnet technology, and design/implementation practices. The symposium included 17 technical sessions in which 55 papers were presented. The technical session covered the areas of bearings, sensors and controls, microgravity and vibration isolation, superconductivity, manufacturing applications, wind tunnel magnetic suspension systems, magnetically levitated trains (MAGLEV), space applications, and large gap magnetic suspension systems.

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. (Latest citations from the Compendex database). Published Search

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

Not Available

1993-02-01

The bibliography contains citations concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity wave experiments, geomagnetism and ocean bottom magnetic exploration, galvanometers and voltmeters, and bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for SQUIDS (superconducting quantum interference devices.) (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

Longitudinal Proximity Effects in Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John E.; Smith, Stephen J.; Bandler, SImon R.; Chervenak, James A.; Clem, John R.

2009-01-01

We have found experimentally that the critical current of a square superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) depends exponentially upon the side length L and the square root of the temperature T. As a consequence, the effective transition temperature T(sub c) of the TES is current-dependent and at fixed current scales as 1/L(sup 2). We also have found that the critical current can show clear Fraunhofer-like oscillations in an applied magnetic field, similar to those found in Josephson junctions. The observed behavior has a natural theoretical explanation in terms of longitudinal proximity effects if the TES is regarded as a weak link between superconducting leads. We have observed the proximity effect in these devices over extraordinarily long lengths exceeding 100 microns.

Wide-field microscopy using microcamera arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marks, Daniel L.; Youn, Seo Ho; Son, Hui S.; Kim, Jungsang; Brady, David J.

2013-02-01

A microcamera is a relay lens paired with image sensors. Microcameras are grouped into arrays to relay overlapping views of a single large surface to the sensors to form a continuous synthetic image. The imaged surface may be curved or irregular as each camera may independently be dynamically focused to a different depth. Microcamera arrays are akin to microprocessors in supercomputers in that both join individual processors by an optoelectronic routing fabric to increase capacity and performance. A microcamera may image ten or more megapixels and grouped into an array of several hundred, as has already been demonstrated by the DARPA AWARE Wide-Field program with multiscale gigapixel photography. We adapt gigapixel microcamera array architectures to wide-field microscopy of irregularly shaped surfaces to greatly increase area imaging over 1000 square millimeters at resolutions of 3 microns or better in a single snapshot. The system includes a novel relay design, a sensor electronics package, and a FPGA-based networking fabric. Biomedical applications of this include screening for skin lesions, wide-field and resolution-agile microsurgical imaging, and microscopic cytometry of millions of cells performed in situ.

Intrinsic Josephson junction behaviour of the low Tc superconductor (LaSe) 1.14(NbSe 2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kačmarčík, J.; Szabó, P.; Samuely, P.; Rodrigo, J. G.; Suderow, H.; Vieira, S.; Lafond, A.; Meerschaut, A.

2008-04-01

Interlayer magnetotransport measurements on the highly anisotropic (LaSe)1.14(NbSe2) superconductor with Tc ∼ 1.2 K have indicated that this layered compound represents a model system of intrinsic Josephson junctions [P. Szabó et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 86 (2001) 5990]. Scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature and tunneling spectroscopy measurements at very low temperatures are presented in this work. STM imaging has revealed the presence of two types of surfaces which can be attributed to the appearance of LaSe or NbSe2 layers on the surface. The use of STM tip made of superconducting lead enabled a precise measurement of the temperature dependence of the superconducting energy gap Δ(T) on the NbSe2 layer. Δ(T) obtained from the surface sensitive STS data support the scenario obtained from our previous interlayer - ergo bulk sensitive magnetotransport measurements.

Submillimeter video imaging with a superconducting bolometer array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, Daniel Thomas

Millimeter wavelength radiation holds promise for detection of security threats at a distance, including suicide bombers and maritime threats in poor weather. The high sensitivity of superconducting Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometers makes them ideal for passive imaging of thermal signals at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. I have built a 350 GHz video-rate imaging system using an array of feedhorn-coupled TES bolometers. The system operates at standoff distances of 16 m to 28 m with a measured spatial resolution of 1.4 cm (at 17 m). It currently contains one 251-detector sub-array, and can be expanded to contain four sub-arrays for a total of 1004 detectors. The system has been used to take video images that reveal the presence of weapons concealed beneath a shirt in an indoor setting. This dissertation describes the design, implementation and characterization of this system. It presents an overview of the challenges associated with standoff passive imaging and how these problems can be overcome through the use of large-format TES bolometer arrays. I describe the design of the system and cover the results of detector and optical characterization. I explain the procedure used to generate video images using the system, and present a noise analysis of those images. This analysis indicates that the Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD) of the video images is currently limited by artifacts of the scanning process. More sophisticated image processing algorithms can eliminate these artifacts and reduce the NETD to 100 mK, which is the target value for the most demanding passive imaging scenarios. I finish with an overview of future directions for this system.

Development of pixellated Ir-TESs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zen, Nobuyuki; Takahashi, Hiroyuki; Kunieda, Yuichi; Damayanthi, Rathnayaka M. T.; Mori, Fumiakira; Fujita, Kaoru; Nakazawa, Masaharu; Fukuda, Daiji; Ohkubo, Masataka

2006-04-01

We have been developing Ir-based pixellated superconducting transition edge sensors (TESs). In the area of material or astronomical applications, the sensor with few eV energy resolution and over 1000 pixels imaging property is desired. In order to achieve this goal, we have been analyzing signals from pixellated TESs. In the case of a 20 pixel array of Ir-TESs, with 45 μm×45 μm pixel sizes, the incident X-ray signals have been classified into 16 groups. We have applied numerical signal analysis. On the one hand, the energy resolution of our pixellated TES is strongly degraded. However, using pulse shape analysis, we can dramatically improve the resolution. Thus, we consider that the pulse signal analysis will lead this device to be used as a practical photon incident position identifying TES.

Combined imaging and chemical sensing using a single optical imaging fiber.

PubMed

Bronk, K S; Michael, K L; Pantano, P; Walt, D R

1995-09-01

Despite many innovations and developments in the field of fiber-optic chemical sensors, optical fibers have not been employed to both view a sample and concurrently detect an analyte of interest. While chemical sensors employing a single optical fiber or a noncoherent fiberoptic bundle have been applied to a wide variety of analytical determinations, they cannot be used for imaging. Similarly, coherent imaging fibers have been employed only for their originally intended purpose, image transmission. We herein report a new technique for viewing a sample and measuring surface chemical concentrations that employs a coherent imaging fiber. The method is based on the deposition of a thin, analyte-sensitive polymer layer on the distal surface of a 350-microns-diameter imaging fiber. We present results from a pH sensor array and an acetylcholine biosensor array, each of which contains approximately 6000 optical sensors. The acetylcholine biosensor has a detection limit of 35 microM and a fast (< 1 s) response time. In association with an epifluorescence microscope and a charge-coupled device, these modified imaging fibers can display visual information of a remote sample with 4-microns spatial resolution, allowing for alternating acquisition of both chemical analysis and visual histology.

Friend or foe: exploiting sensor failures for transparent object localization and classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seib, Viktor; Barthen, Andreas; Marohn, Philipp; Paulus, Dietrich

2017-02-01

In this work we address the problem of detecting and recognizing transparent objects using depth images from an RGB-D camera. Using this type of sensor usually prohibits the localization of transparent objects since the structured light pattern of these cameras is not reflected by transparent surfaces. Instead, transparent surfaces often appear as undefined values in the resulting images. However, these erroneous sensor readings form characteristic patterns that we exploit in the presented approach. The sensor data is fed into a deep convolutional neural network that is trained to classify and localize drinking glasses. We evaluate our approach with four different types of transparent objects. To our best knowledge, no datasets offering depth images of transparent objects exist so far. With this work we aim at closing this gap by providing our data to the public.

Comparison of Cryogenic Temperature Sensor Installation Inside or Outside the Piping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, R.; Süßer, M.

2010-04-01

Cryogenic thermometers for large cryogenic facilities, like superconducting particle accelerator or fusion devices, must be able to withstand very severe conditions over the lifetime of the facility. In addition to the proper selection of the sensor, the choice of the appropriate installation method plays an important role for satisfying operation. Several characteristics must be taken into account, for instance: large numbers of sensors, different claims of accuracy, qualified preparation methods and at least qualified attachment of the sensor holder on the piping. One remedy to get satisfying results is the development of simple thermometer mounting fixtures, because thermometer mounting often may be realized by personnel with limited experience. This contribution presents two different methods for sensor installations, namely inside or outside installation on the piping. These have been the standard applications in the superconducting coil test facility TOSKA for many years. The characteristics of each of these methods will be discussed and compared.

Fermi-surface-free superconductivity in underdoped (Bi,Pb)(Sr,La) 2CuO 6+δ (Bi2201)

DOE PAGES

Mistark, Peter; Hafiz, Hasnain; Markiewicz, Robert S.; ...

2015-06-18

Fermi-surface-free superconductivity arises when the superconducting order pulls down spectral weight from a band that is completely above the Fermi energy in the normal state. Here, we show that this can arise in hole-doped cuprates when a competing order causes a reconstruction of the Fermi surface. The change in Fermi surface topology is accompanied by a characteristic rise in the spectral weight. Finally, our results support the presence of a trisected superconducting dome, and suggest that superconductivity is responsible for stabilizing the (π,π) magnetic order at higher doping.

STS studies of the pi-band superconductivity in MgB2 in a transverse field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griggs, C.; Eskildsen, M. R.; Zhigadlo, N. D.; Karpinski, J.

2012-02-01

Since being discovered MgB2 has become the paradigm for two-band/two-gap superconductivity. Early scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) measurements, showed a rapid suppression of the superconductivty in the isotropic π-band for modest applied fields H c. These measurements were performed with the tunnel current (It) parallel to the crystalline c-axis which couple, almost exclusively, to the π-band, and with the suppression attributed to vortex core overlap. Here we report STS measurements performed in a transverse field, such that Itc H. In this configuration no vortices are cutting through the image plane, and instead the superconducting phase is affected by the Meissner currents running within one penetration depth of the sample surface. Within this field orientation we observe far less suppression of the superconducting state in the π-band compared to the earlier measurements with H c. A clear gap is seen up to H= 0.9 T.

Cooling arrangement for a superconducting coil

DOEpatents

Herd, K.G.; Laskaris, E.T.

1998-06-30

A superconducting device is disclosed, such as a superconducting rotor for a generator or motor. A vacuum enclosure has an interior wall surrounding a cavity containing a vacuum. A superconductive coil is placed in the cavity. A generally-annularly-arranged, thermally-conductive sheet has an inward-facing surface contacting generally the entire outward-facing surface of the superconductive coil. A generally-annularly-arranged coolant tube contains a cryogenic fluid and contacts a generally-circumferential portion of the outward-facing surface of the sheet. A generally-annularly-arranged, thermally-insulative coil overwrap generally circumferentially surrounds the sheet. The coolant tube and the inward-facing surface of the coil overwrap together contact generally the entire outward-facing surface of the sheet. 3 figs.

Borehole optical lateral displacement sensor

DOEpatents

Lewis, R.E.

1998-10-20

There is provided by this invention an optical displacement sensor that utilizes a reflective target connected to a surface to be monitored to reflect light from a light source such that the reflected light is received by a photoelectric transducer. The electric signal from the photoelectric transducer is then imputed into electronic circuitry to generate an electronic image of the target. The target`s image is monitored to determine the quantity and direction of any lateral displacement in the target`s image which represents lateral displacement in the surface being monitored. 4 figs.

Monitoring Land Surface Soil Moisture from Space with in-Situ Sensors Validation: The Huntsville Example

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Steve Shih-Tseng

1997-01-01

Based on recent advances in microwave remote sensing of soil moisture and in pursuit of research interests in areas of hydrology, soil climatology, and remote sensing, the Center for Hydrology, Soil Climatology, and Remote Sensing (HSCARS) conducted the Huntsville '96 field experiment in Huntsville, Alabama from July 1-14, 1996. We, researchers at the Global Hydrology and Climate Center's MSFC/ES41, are interested in using ground-based microwave sensors, to simulate land surface brightness signatures of those spaceborne sensors that were in operation or to be launched in the near future. The analyses of data collected by the Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) and the C-band radiometer, which together contained five frequencies (6.925,10.7,19.35, 37.1, and 85.5 GHz), and with concurrent in-situ collection of surface cover conditions (surface temperature, surface roughness, vegetation, and surface topology) and soil moisture content, would result in a better understanding of the data acquired over land surfaces by the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I), the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager (TMI), and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR), because these spaceborne sensors contained these five frequencies. This paper described the approach taken and the specific objective to be accomplished in the Huntsville '97 field experiment.

Limits of Active Laser Triangulation as an Instrument for High Precision Plant Imaging

PubMed Central

Paulus, Stefan; Eichert, Thomas; Goldbach, Heiner E.; Kuhlmann, Heiner

2014-01-01

Laser scanning is a non-invasive method for collecting and parameterizing 3D data of well reflecting objects. These systems have been used for 3D imaging of plant growth and structure analysis. A prerequisite is that the recorded signals originate from the true plant surface. In this paper we studied the effects of species, leaf chlorophyll content and sensor settings on the suitability and accuracy of a commercial 660 nm active laser triangulation scanning device. We found that surface images of Ficus benjamina leaves were inaccurate at low chlorophyll concentrations and a long sensor exposure time. Imaging of the rough waxy leaf surface of leek (Allium porrum) was possible using very low exposure times, whereas at higher exposure times penetration and multiple refraction prevented the correct imaging of the surface. A comparison of scans with varying exposure time enabled the target-oriented analysis to identify chlorotic, necrotic and healthy leaf areas or mildew infestations. We found plant properties and sensor settings to have a strong influence on the accuracy of measurements. These interactions have to be further elucidated before laser imaging of plants is possible with the high accuracy required for e.g., the observation of plant growth or reactions to water stress. PMID:24504106

Beam current sensor

DOEpatents

Kuchnir, M.; Mills, F.E.

1984-09-28

A current sensor for measuring the dc component of a beam of charged particles employs a superconducting pick-up loop probe, with twisted superconducting leads in combination with a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) detector. The pick-up probe is in the form of a single-turn loop, or a cylindrical toroid, through which the beam is directed and within which a first magnetic flux is excluded by the Meisner effect. The SQUID detector acts as a flux-to-voltage converter in providing a current to the pick-up loop so as to establish a second magnetic flux within the electrode which nulls out the first magnetic flux. A feedback voltage within the SQUID detector represents the beam current of the particles which transit the pick-up loop. Meisner effect currents prevent changes in the magnetic field within the toroidal pick-up loop and produce a current signal independent of the beam's cross-section and its position within the toroid, while the combination of superconducting elements provides current measurement sensitivities in the nano-ampere range.

Beam current sensor

DOEpatents

Kuchnir, Moyses; Mills, Frederick E.

1987-01-01

A current sensor for measuring the DC component of a beam of charged particles employs a superconducting pick-up loop probe, with twisted superconducting leads in combination with a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) detector. The pick-up probe is in the form of a single-turn loop, or a cylindrical toroid, through which the beam is directed and within which a first magnetic flux is excluded by the Meisner effect. The SQUID detector acts as a flux-to-voltage converter in providing a current to the pick-up loop so as to establish a second magnetic flux within the electrode which nulls out the first magnetic flux. A feedback voltage within the SQUID detector represents the beam current of the particles which transit the pick-up loop. Meisner effect currents prevent changes in the magnetic field within the toroidal pick-up loop and produce a current signal independent of the beam's cross-section and its position within the toroid, while the combination of superconducting elements provides current measurement sensitivites in the nano-ampere range.

Longitudinal Proximity Effects in Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadlier, John E.; Smith, Stephen J.; Bandler, Simon R.; Chervenak, James A.; Clem, John R.

2009-01-01

We have found experimentally that the critical current of a square thin-film superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) depends exponentially upon the side length L and the square root of the temperature T, a behavior that has a natural theoretical explanation in terms of longitudinal proximity effects if the TES is regarded as a weak link between superconducting leads. As a consequence, the effective transition temperature T(sub c) of the TES is current-dependent and at fixed current scales as 1/L(sup 2). We also have found that the critical current can show clear Fraunhofer-like oscillations in an applied magnetic field, similar to those found in Josephson junctions. We have observed the longitudinal proximity effect in these devices over extraordinarily long lengths up to 290 micrometers, 1450 times the mean-free path.

Longitudinal Proximity Effects in Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John E.; Smith, Stephen J.; Bandler, Simon R.; Chervenak, James A.; Clem, John R.

2010-01-01

We have found experimentally that the critical current of a square thin-film superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) depends exponentially upon the side length L and the square root of the temperature T, a behavior that has a natural theoretical explanation in terms of longitudinal proximity effects if the TES is regarded as a weak link between superconducting leads. As a consequence, the effective transition temperature T(sub c) of the TES is current-dependent and at fixed current scales as 1/L(sup 2). We also have found that the critical current can show clear Fraunhofer-like oscillations in an applied magnetic field, similar to those found in Josephson junctions. We have observed the longitudinal proximity effect in these devices over extraordinarily long lengths up to 290 micrometers, 1450 times the mean-free path.

Detecting higher-order wavefront errors with an astigmatic hybrid wavefront sensor.

PubMed

Barwick, Shane

2009-06-01

The reconstruction of wavefront errors from measurements over subapertures can be made more accurate if a fully characterized quadratic surface can be fitted to the local wavefront surface. An astigmatic hybrid wavefront sensor with added neural network postprocessing is shown to have this capability, provided that the focal image of each subaperture is sufficiently sampled. Furthermore, complete local curvature information is obtained with a single image without splitting beam power.

Highly curved image sensors: a practical approach for improved optical performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guenter, Brian; Joshi, Neel; Stoakley, Richard; Keefe, Andrew; Geary, Kevin; Freeman, Ryan; Hundley, Jake; Patterson, Pamela; Hammon, David; Herrera, Guillermo; Sherman, Elena; Nowak, Andrew; Schubert, Randall; Brewer, Peter; Yang, Louis; Mott, Russell; McKnight, Geoff

2017-06-01

The significant optical and size benefits of using a curved focal surface for imaging systems have been well studied yet never brought to market for lack of a high-quality, mass-producible, curved image sensor. In this work we demonstrate that commercial silicon CMOS image sensors can be thinned and formed into accurate, highly curved optical surfaces with undiminished functionality. Our key development is a pneumatic forming process that avoids rigid mechanical constraints and suppresses wrinkling instabilities. A combination of forming-mold design, pressure membrane elastic properties, and controlled friction forces enables us to gradually contact the die at the corners and smoothly press the sensor into a spherical shape. Allowing the die to slide into the concave target shape enables a threefold increase in the spherical curvature over prior approaches having mechanical constraints that resist deformation, and create a high-stress, stretch-dominated state. Our process creates a bridge between the high precision and low-cost but planar CMOS process, and ideal non-planar component shapes such as spherical imagers for improved optical systems. We demonstrate these curved sensors in prototype cameras with custom lenses, measuring exceptional resolution of 3220 line-widths per picture height at an aperture of f/1.2 and nearly 100% relative illumination across the field. Though we use a 1/2.3" format image sensor in this report, we also show this process is generally compatible with many state of the art imaging sensor formats. By example, we report photogrammetry test data for an APS-C sized silicon die formed to a 30$^\\circ$ subtended spherical angle. These gains in sharpness and relative illumination enable a new generation of ultra-high performance, manufacturable, digital imaging systems for scientific, industrial, and artistic use.

A Method for Imaging Oxygen Distribution and Respiration at a Microscopic Level of Resolution.

PubMed

Rolletschek, Hardy; Liebsch, Gregor

2017-01-01

Conventional oxygen (micro-) sensors assess oxygen concentration within a particular region or across a transect of tissue, but provide no information regarding its bidimensional distribution. Here, a novel imaging technology is presented, in which an optical sensor foil (i.e., the planar optode) is attached to the surface of the sample. The sensor converts a fluorescent signal into an oxygen value. Since each single image captures an entire area of the sample surface, the system is able to deduce the distribution of oxygen at a resolution level of few micrometers. It can be deployed to dynamically monitor oxygen consumption, thereby providing a detailed respiration map at close to cellular resolution. Here, we demonstrate the application of the imaging tool to developing plant seeds; the protocol is explained step by step and some potential pitfalls are discussed.

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. July 1988-June 1989 (Citations from the COMPENDEX data base). Report for July 1988-June 1989

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

Not Available

1989-07-01

This bibliography contains citations concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity-wave experiments, geomagnetism and ocean-bottom magnetic exploration, galvanometers and voltmeters, and bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices.) (This updated bibliography contains 74 citations, all of which are new entries to the previous edition.)

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. January 1970-June 1988 (Citations from the COMPENDEX data base). Report for January 1970-June 1988

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

Not Available

1989-07-01

This bibliography contains citations concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity-wave experiments, geomagnetism and ocean-bottom magnetic exploration, galvanometers and voltmeters, and bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices.) (This updated bibliography contains 394 citations, none of which are new entries to the previous edition.)

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. July 1982-February 1989 (Citations from the EI Engineering Meetings data base). Report for July 1982-February 1989

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

Not Available

1989-04-01

This bibliography contains citations from conference proceedings concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity-wave experiments, geomagnetism and ocean bottom magnetic exploration, galvanometers and voltmeters, and bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for SQUIDS (superconducting quantum interference devices.) (Contains 115 citations fully indexed and including a title list.)

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. January 1970-June 1988 (Citations from the Engineering Index data base). Report for January 1970-June 1988

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

Not Available

1988-07-01

This bibliography contains citations concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity-wave experiments, geomagnetism, and ocean-bottom magnetic exploration, galvanometers and voltmeters, and bolometers, and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for squids (superconducting quantum interference devices.) (This updated bibliography contains 394 citations, 71 of which are new entries to the previous edition.)

Spaceborne imaging radar research in the 90's

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elachi, Charles

1986-01-01

The imaging radar experiments on SEASAT and on the space shuttle (SIR-A and SIR-B) have led to a wide interest in the use of spaceborne imaging radars in Earth and planetary sciences. The radar sensors provide unique and complimentary information to what is acquired with visible and infrared imagers. This includes subsurface imaging in arid regions, all weather observation of ocean surface dynamic phenomena, structural mapping, soil moisture mapping, stereo imaging and resulting topographic mapping. However, experiments up to now have exploited only a very limited range of the generic capability of radar sensors. With planned sensor developments in the late 80's and early 90's, a quantum jump will be made in our ability to fully exploit the potential of these sensors. These developments include: multiparameter research sensors such as SIR-C and X-SAR, long-term and global monitoring sensors such as ERS-1, JERS-1, EOS, Radarsat, GLORI and the spaceborne sounder, planetary mapping sensors such as the Magellan and Cassini/Titan mappers, topographic three-dimensional imagers such as the scanning radar altimeter and three-dimensional rain mapping. These sensors and their associated research are briefly described.

Fusion of Laser Altimetry Data with Dems Derived from Stereo Imaging Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schenk, T.; Csatho, B. M.; Duncan, K.

2016-06-01

During the last two decades surface elevation data have been gathered over the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) from a variety of different sensors including spaceborne and airborne laser altimetry, such as NASA's Ice Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) and Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS), as well as from stereo satellite imaging systems, most notably from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and Worldview. The spatio-temporal resolution, the accuracy, and the spatial coverage of all these data differ widely. For example, laser altimetry systems are much more accurate than DEMs derived by correlation from imaging systems. On the other hand, DEMs usually have a superior spatial resolution and extended spatial coverage. We present in this paper an overview of the SERAC (Surface Elevation Reconstruction And Change detection) system, designed to cope with the data complexity and the computation of elevation change histories. SERAC simultaneously determines the ice sheet surface shape and the time-series of elevation changes for surface patches whose size depends on the ruggedness of the surface and the point distribution of the sensors involved. By incorporating different sensors, SERAC is a true fusion system that generates the best plausible result (time series of elevation changes) a result that is better than the sum of its individual parts. We follow this up with an example of the Helmheim gacier, involving ICESat, ATM and LVIS laser altimetry data, together with ASTER DEMs.

Retrieving Land Surface Temperature and Emissivity from Multispectral and Hyperspectral Thermal Infrared Instruments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hook, Simon; Hulley, Glynn; Nicholson, Kerry

2017-04-01

Land Surface Temperature and Emissivity (LST&E) data are critical variables for studying a variety of Earth surface processes and surface-atmosphere interactions such as evapotranspiration, surface energy balance and water vapor retrievals. LST&E have been identified as an important Earth System Data Record (ESDR) by NASA and many other international organizations Accurate knowledge of the LST&E is a key requirement for many energy balance models to estimate important surface biophysical variables such as evapotranspiration and plant-available soil moisture. LST&E products are currently generated from sensors in low earth orbit (LEO) such as the NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on the Terra and Aqua satellites as well as from sensors in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) such as the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and airborne sensors such as the Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES). LST&E products are generated with varying accuracies depending on the input data, including ancillary data such as atmospheric water vapor, as well as algorithmic approaches. NASA has identified the need to develop long-term, consistent, and calibrated data and products that are valid across multiple missions and satellite sensors. We will discuss the different approaches that can be used to retrieve surface temperature and emissivity from multispectral and hyperspectral thermal infrared sensors using examples from a variety of different sensors such as those mentioned, and planned new sensors like the ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) and the Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI). We will also discuss a project underway at NASA to develop a single unified product from some the individual sensor products and assess the errors associated with the product.

Transition-edge sensor with enhanced electrothermal feedback for cryogenic particle detection

DOEpatents

Nam, Sae Woo; Cabrera, Blas

2001-01-01

A superconducting transition-edge sensor with an electrothermal-feedback circuit, a heat sink thermally coupled thereto, a bias-feedback circuit electrically coupled with the electrothermal feedback circuit, and a current sensor electrically coupled with the bias-feedback circuit and inductively coupled with the electrothermal-feedback circuit.

Superconducting Microwave Resonator Arrays for Submillimeter/Far-Infrared Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noroozian, Omid

Superconducting microwave resonators have the potential to revolutionize submillimeter and far-infrared astronomy, and with it our understanding of the universe. The field of low-temperature detector technology has reached a point where extremely sensitive devices like transition-edge sensors are now capable of detecting radiation limited by the background noise of the universe. However, the size of these detector arrays are limited to only a few thousand pixels. This is because of the cost and complexity of fabricating large-scale arrays of these detectors that can reach up to 10 lithographic levels on chip, and the complicated SQUID-based multiplexing circuitry and wiring for readout of each detector. In order to make substantial progress, next-generation ground-based telescopes such as CCAT or future space telescopes require focal planes with large-scale detector arrays of 104--10 6 pixels. Arrays using microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKID) are a potential solution. These arrays can be easily made with a single layer of superconducting metal film deposited on a silicon substrate and pattered using conventional optical lithography. Furthermore, MKIDs are inherently multiplexable in the frequency domain, allowing ˜ 10 3 detectors to be read out using a single coaxial transmission line and cryogenic amplifier, drastically reducing cost and complexity. An MKID uses the change in the microwave surface impedance of a superconducting thin-film microresonator to detect photons. Absorption of photons in the superconductor breaks Cooper pairs into quasiparticles, changing the complex surface impedance, which results in a perturbation of resonator frequency and quality factor. For excitation and readout, the resonator is weakly coupled to a transmission line. The complex amplitude of a microwave probe signal tuned on-resonance and transmitted on the feedline past the resonator is perturbed as photons are absorbed in the superconductor. The perturbation can be detected using a cryogenic amplifier and subsequent homodyne mixing at room temperature. In an array of MKIDs, all the resonators are coupled to a shared feedline and are tuned to slightly different frequencies. They can be read out simultaneously using a comb of frequencies generated and measured using digital techniques. This thesis documents an effort to demonstrate the basic operation of ˜ 256 pixel arrays of lumped-element MKIDs made from superconducting TiN x on silicon. The resonators are designed and simulated for optimum operation. Various properties of the resonators and arrays are measured and compared to theoretical expectations. A particularly exciting observation is the extremely high quality factors (˜ 3 x 107) of our TiNx resonators which is essential for ultra-high sensitivity. The arrays are tightly packed both in space and in frequency which is desirable for larger full-size arrays. However, this can cause a serious problem in terms of microwave crosstalk between neighboring pixels. We show that by properly designing the resonator geometry, crosstalk can be eliminated; this is supported by our measurement results. We also tackle the problem of excess frequency noise in MKIDs. Intrinsic noise in the form of an excess resonance frequency jitter exists in planar superconducting resonators that are made on dielectric substrates. We conclusively show that this noise is due to fluctuations of the resonator capacitance. In turn, the capacitance fluctuations are thought to be driven by two-level system (TLS) fluctuators in a thin layer on the surface of the device. With a modified resonator design we demonstrate with measurements that this noise can be substantially reduced. An optimized version of this resonator was designed for the multiwavelength submillimeter kinetic inductance camera (MUSIC) instrument for the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory.

Configuration-controlled Au nanocluster arrays on inverse micelle nano-patterns: versatile platforms for SERS and SPR sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Yoon Hee; Chung, Kyungwha; Quan, Li Na; Špačková, Barbora; Šípová, Hana; Moon, Seyoung; Cho, Won Joon; Shin, Hae-Young; Jang, Yu Jin; Lee, Ji-Eun; Kochuveedu, Saji Thomas; Yoon, Min Ji; Kim, Jihyeon; Yoon, Seokhyun; Kim, Jin Kon; Kim, Donghyun; Homola, Jiří; Kim, Dong Ha

2013-11-01

Nanopatterned 2-dimensional Au nanocluster arrays with controlled configuration are fabricated onto reconstructed nanoporous poly(styrene-block-vinylpyridine) inverse micelle monolayer films. Near-field coupling of localized surface plasmons is studied and compared for disordered and ordered core-centered Au NC arrays. Differences in evolution of the absorption band and field enhancement upon Au nanoparticle adsorption are shown. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with theoretical studies based on the finite-difference time-domain method and rigorous coupled-wave analysis. The realized Au nanopatterns are exploited as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering and integrated into Kretschmann-type SPR sensors, based on which unprecedented SPR-coupling-type sensors are demonstrated.Nanopatterned 2-dimensional Au nanocluster arrays with controlled configuration are fabricated onto reconstructed nanoporous poly(styrene-block-vinylpyridine) inverse micelle monolayer films. Near-field coupling of localized surface plasmons is studied and compared for disordered and ordered core-centered Au NC arrays. Differences in evolution of the absorption band and field enhancement upon Au nanoparticle adsorption are shown. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with theoretical studies based on the finite-difference time-domain method and rigorous coupled-wave analysis. The realized Au nanopatterns are exploited as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering and integrated into Kretschmann-type SPR sensors, based on which unprecedented SPR-coupling-type sensors are demonstrated. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: TEM image and UV-vis absorption spectrum of citrate-capped Au NPs, AFM images of Au NC arrays on the PS-b-P4VP (41k-24k) template, ImageJ-analyzed results of PS-b-P4VP (41k-24k)-templated Au NC arrays, calculated %-surface coverage values, SEM images of Au NC arrays on the PS-b-P2VP (172k-42k) template for SPR biosensing, corresponding ImageJ-analyzed images by varying the Au NP deposition time and results of image analysis. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr03860b

Superconducting articles, and methods for forming and using same

DOEpatents

Knoll, Allan Robert [Guilderland, NY; Lenseth, Kenneth Patrick [Wynantskill, NY

2007-01-09

A superconducting tape is disclosed, including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the substrate including a plurality of indicia provided on the first surface spaced apart along a length of the substrate; and a superconductor layer overlying the second surface. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes, methods for manufacturing same, and methods for using same.

Label-free screening of foodborne Salmonella using surface plasmon resonance imaging

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Since 15 pathogens cause approximately 95% of the foodborne infections, it is desirable to develop rapid and simultaneous screening methods for these major pathogens. In this study, we developed an immunoassay for Salmonella based on surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi). The sensor surface modif...

Anomalous enhancement of the lower critical field deep in the superconducting state of LaRu4As12

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juraszek, J.; Bochenek, Ł.; Wawryk, R.; Henkie, Z.; Konczykowski, M.; Cichorek, T.

2018-05-01

LaRu4As12 with the critical temperature Tc = 10.4 K displays several features which point at a non-singlet superconducting order parameter, although the bcc crystal structure of the filled skutterudites does not favour the emergence of multiple energy gaps. LaRu4As12 displays an unexpected enhancement of the lower critical field deep in superconducting state which can be attributed to the existence of two superconducting gaps. At T = 0.4 K, the local magnetization measurements were performed utilizing miniaturized Hall sensors.

Cryogenic test facility instrumentation with fiber optic and fiber optic sensors for testing superconducting accelerator magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiuchiolo, A.; Bajas, H.; Bajko, M.; Castaldo, B.; Consales, M.; Cusano, A.; Giordano, M.; Giloux, C.; Perez, J. C.; Sansone, L.; Viret, P.

2017-12-01

The magnets for the next steps in accelerator physics, such as the High Luminosity upgrade of the LHC (HL- LHC) and the Future Circular Collider (FCC), require the development of new technologies for manufacturing and monitoring. To meet the HL-LHC new requirements, a large upgrade of the CERN SM18 cryogenic test facilities is ongoing with the implementation of new cryostats and cryogenic instrumentation. The paper deals with the advances in the development and the calibration of fiber optic sensors in the range 300 - 4 K using a dedicated closed-cycle refrigerator system composed of a pulse tube and a cryogen-free cryostat. The calibrated fiber optic sensors (FOS) have been installed in three vertical cryostats used for testing superconducting magnets down to 1.9 K or 4.2 K and in the variable temperature test bench (100 - 4.2 K). Some examples of FOS measurements of cryostat temperature evolution are presented as well as measurements of strain performed on a subscale of High Temperature Superconducting magnet during its powering tests.

Superconductivity in doped Dirac semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashimoto, Tatsuki; Kobayashi, Shingo; Tanaka, Yukio; Sato, Masatoshi

2016-07-01

We theoretically study intrinsic superconductivity in doped Dirac semimetals. Dirac semimetals host bulk Dirac points, which are formed by doubly degenerate bands, so the Hamiltonian is described by a 4 ×4 matrix and six types of k -independent pair potentials are allowed by the Fermi-Dirac statistics. We show that the unique spin-orbit coupling leads to characteristic superconducting gap structures and d vectors on the Fermi surface and the electron-electron interaction between intra and interorbitals gives a novel phase diagram of superconductivity. It is found that when the interorbital attraction is dominant, an unconventional superconducting state with point nodes appears. To verify the experimental signature of possible superconducting states, we calculate the temperature dependence of bulk physical properties such as electronic specific heat and spin susceptibility and surface state. In the unconventional superconducting phase, either dispersive or flat Andreev bound states appear between point nodes, which leads to double peaks or a single peak in the surface density of states, respectively. As a result, possible superconducting states can be distinguished by combining bulk and surface measurements.

Photon-counting image sensors for the ultraviolet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenkins, E. B.

1985-01-01

An investigation on specific performance details of photon counting, ultraviolet image sensors having 2-dimensional formats is reviewed. In one study, controlled experiments were performed which compare the quantum efficiencies, in pulse counting mode, of CsI photocathodes deposited on: (1) the front surface of a microchannel plate (MCP), (2) a solid surface in front of an MCP, and (3) an intensified CCD image sensor (ICCD) where a CCD is directly bombarded by accelerated photoelectrons. Tests indicated that the detection efficiency of the CsI-coated MCP at 1026 A is lower by a factor of 2.5 than that of the MCP with a separate, opaque CsI photocathode, and the detection efficiency ratio increases substantially at longer wavelengths (ratio is 5 at 1216 A and 20 at 1608 A).

Establishing imaging sensor specifications for digital still cameras

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kriss, Michael A.

2007-02-01

Digital Still Cameras, DSCs, have now displaced conventional still cameras in most markets. The heart of a DSC is thought to be the imaging sensor, be it Full Frame CCD, and Interline CCD, a CMOS sensor or the newer Foveon buried photodiode sensors. There is a strong tendency by consumers to consider only the number of mega-pixels in a camera and not to consider the overall performance of the imaging system, including sharpness, artifact control, noise, color reproduction, exposure latitude and dynamic range. This paper will provide a systematic method to characterize the physical requirements of an imaging sensor and supporting system components based on the desired usage. The analysis is based on two software programs that determine the "sharpness", potential for artifacts, sensor "photographic speed", dynamic range and exposure latitude based on the physical nature of the imaging optics, sensor characteristics (including size of pixels, sensor architecture, noise characteristics, surface states that cause dark current, quantum efficiency, effective MTF, and the intrinsic full well capacity in terms of electrons per square centimeter). Examples will be given for consumer, pro-consumer, and professional camera systems. Where possible, these results will be compared to imaging system currently on the market.

Innovative quantum technologies for microgravity fundamental physics and biological research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kierk, I. K.

2002-01-01

This paper presents a new technology program, within the fundamental physics, focusing on four quantum technology areas: quantum atomics, quantum optics, space superconductivity and quantum sensor technology, and quantum field based sensor and modeling technology.

On Magnetic Flux Trapping by Surface Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podolyak, E. R.

2018-03-01

The magnetic flux trapping by surface superconductivity is considered. The stability of the state localized at the cylindrical sample surface upon a change in the external magnetic field is tested. It is shown that as the magnetic field decreases, the sample acquires a positive magnetic moment due to magnetic flux trapping; i.e., the magnetization curve of surface superconductivity is "paramagnetic" by nature.

Electrodes for Semiconductor Gas Sensors

PubMed Central

Lee, Sung Pil

2017-01-01

The electrodes of semiconductor gas sensors are important in characterizing sensors based on their sensitivity, selectivity, reversibility, response time, and long-term stability. The types and materials of electrodes used for semiconductor gas sensors are analyzed. In addition, the effect of interfacial zones and surface states of electrode–semiconductor interfaces on their characteristics is studied. This study describes that the gas interaction mechanism of the electrode–semiconductor interfaces should take into account the interfacial zone, surface states, image force, and tunneling effect. PMID:28346349

High Sensitivity Stress Sensor Based on Hybrid Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cao, Xian-An (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A sensing device is used to detect the spatial distributions of stresses applied by physical contact with the surface of the sensor or induced by pressure, temperature gradients, and surface absorption. The sensor comprises a hybrid active layer that includes luminophores doped in a polymeric or organic host, altogether embedded in a matrix. Under an electrical bias, the sensor simultaneously converts stresses into electrical and optical signals. Among many applications, the device may be used for tactile sensing and biometric imaging.

A cryogen-free ultralow-field superconducting quantum interference device magnetic resonance imaging system.

PubMed

Eom, Byeong Ho; Penanen, Konstantin; Hahn, Inseob

2014-09-01

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at microtesla fields using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) detection has previously been demonstrated, and advantages have been noted. Although the ultralow-field SQUID MRI technique would not need the heavy superconducting magnet of conventional MRI systems, liquid helium required to cool the low-temperature detector still places a significant burden on its operation. We have built a prototype cryocooler-based SQUID MRI system that does not require a cryogen. The SQUID detector and the superconducting gradiometer were cooled down to 3.7 K and 4.3 K, respectively. We describe the prototype design, characterization, a phantom image, and areas of further improvements needed to bring the imaging performance to parity with conventional MRI systems.

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.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging biosensor for cystatin determination based on the application of bromelain, ficin and chymopapain.

PubMed

Gorodkiewicz, Ewa; Breczko, Joanna; Sankiewicz, Anna

2012-04-24

A Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging (SPRI) sensor based on bromelain or chymopapain or ficin has been developed for specific cystatin determination. Cystatin was captured from a solution by immobilized bromelain or chymopapain or ficin due to the formation of an enzyme-inhibitor complex on the biosensor surface. The influence of bromelain, chymopapain or ficin concentration, as well as the pH of the interaction on the SPRI signal, was investigated and optimized. Sensor dynamic response range is between 0-0.6 μg/ml and the detection limit is equal to 0.1 μg/ml. In order to demonstrate the sensor potential, cystatin was determined in blood plasma, urine and saliva, showing good agreement with the data reported in the literature.

Simultaneous glacier surface elevation and flow velocity mapping from cross-track pushbroom satellite Imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noh, M. J.; Howat, I. M.

2017-12-01

Glaciers and ice sheets are changing rapidly. Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and Velocity Maps (VMs) obtained from repeat satellite imagery provide critical measurements of changes in glacier dynamics and mass balance over large, remote areas. DEMs created from stereopairs obtained during the same satellite pass through sensor re-pointing (i.e. "in-track stereo") have been most commonly used. In-track stereo has the advantage of minimizing the time separation and, thus, surface motion between image acquisitions, so that the ice surface can be assumed motionless in when collocating pixels between image pairs. Since the DEM extraction process assumes that all motion between collocated pixels is due to parallax or sensor model error, significant ice motion results in DEM quality loss or failure. In-track stereo, however, puts a greater demand on satellite tasking resources and, therefore, is much less abundant than single-scan imagery. Thus, if ice surface motion can be mitigated, the ability to extract surface elevation measurements from pairs of repeat single-scan "cross-track" imagery would greatly increase the extent and temporal resolution of ice surface change. Additionally, the ice motion measured by the DEM extraction process would itself provide a useful velocity measurement. We develop a novel algorithm for generating high-quality DEMs and VMs from cross-track image pairs without any prior information using the Surface Extraction from TIN-based Searchspace Minimization (SETSM) algorithm and its sensor model bias correction capabilities. Using a test suite of repeat, single-scan imagery from WorldView and QuickBird sensors collected over fast-moving outlet glaciers, we develop a method by which RPC biases between images are first calculated and removed over ice-free surfaces. Subpixel displacements over the ice are then constrained and used to correct the parallax estimate. Initial tests yield DEM results with the same quality as in-track stereo for cases where snowfall has not occurred between the two images and when the images have similar ground sample distances. The resulting velocity map also closely matches independent measurements.

Sensors and detectors based on superconducting devices. July 1982-May 1990 (A Bibliography from the EI Engineering Meetings data base). Report for July 1982-May 1990

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

Not Available

1990-06-01

This bibliography contains citations from conference proceedings concerning gradiometers, magnetometers, and infrared detectors which use superconductors to improve sensitivity. Applications include biomagnetic measurements for medical studies, gravity wave experiments, geomagnetism and ocean bottom magnetic exploration, galvanometers and voltmeters, and bolometers and radiometers. Some articles refer to design considerations for cooling systems for the sensors and detectors, and fabrication techniques for squids (superconducting quantum interference devices.) (This updated bibliography contains 189 citations, 74 of which are new entries to the previous edition.)

Imaging label-free biosensor with microfluidic system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jahns, S.; Glorius, P.; Hansen, M.; Nazirizadeh, Y.; Gerken, M.

2015-06-01

We present a microfluidic system suitable for parallel label-free detection of several biomarkers utilizing a compact imaging measurement system. The microfluidic system contains a filter unit to separate the plasma from human blood and a functionalized, photonic crystal slab sensor chip. The nanostructure of the photonic crystal slab sensor chip is fabricated by nanoimprint lithography of a period grating surface into a photoresist and subsequent deposition of a TiO2 layer. Photonic crystal slabs are slab waveguides supporting quasi-guided modes coupling to far-field radiation, which are sensitive to refractive index changes due to biomarker binding on the functionalized surface. In our imaging read-out system the resulting resonance shift of the quasi-guided mode in the transmission spectrum is converted into an intensity change detectable with a simple camera. By continuously taking photographs of the sensor surface local intensity changes are observed revealing the binding kinetics of the biomarker to its specific target. Data from two distinct measurement fields are used for evaluation. For testing the sensor chip, 1 μM biotin as well as 1 μM recombinant human CD40 ligand were immobilized in spotsvia amin coupling to the sensor surface. Each binding experiment was performed with 250 nM streptavidin and 90 nM CD40 ligand antibody dissolved in phosphate buffered saline. In the next test series, a functionalized sensor chip was bonded onto a 15 mm x 15 mm opening of the 75 mm x 25 mm x 2 mm microfluidic system. We demonstrate the functionality of the microfluidic system for filtering human blood such that only blood plasma was transported to the sensor chip. The results of first binding experiments in buffer with this test chip will be presented.

Active microwave remote sensing research program plan. Recommendations of the Earth Resources Synthetic Aperture Radar Task Force. [application areas: vegetation canopies, surface water, surface morphology, rocks and soils, and man-made structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

A research program plan developed by the Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications to provide guidelines for a concentrated effort to improve the understanding of the measurement capabilities of active microwave imaging sensors, and to define the role of such sensors in future Earth observations programs is outlined. The focus of the planned activities is on renewable and non-renewable resources. Five general application areas are addressed: (1) vegetation canopies, (2) surface water, (3) surface morphology, (4) rocks and soils, and (5) man-made structures. Research tasks are described which, when accomplished, will clearly establish the measurement capabilities in each area, and provide the theoretical and empirical results needed to specify and justify satellite systems using imaging radar sensors for global observations.

Multisensor satellite data integration for sea surface wind speed and direction determination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glackin, D. L.; Pihos, G. G.; Wheelock, S. L.

1984-01-01

Techniques to integrate meteorological data from various satellite sensors to yield a global measure of sea surface wind speed and direction for input to the Navy's operational weather forecast models were investigated. The sensors were launched or will be launched, specifically the GOES visible and infrared imaging sensor, the Nimbus-7 SMMR, and the DMSP SSM/I instrument. An algorithm for the extrapolation to the sea surface of wind directions as derived from successive GOES cloud images was developed. This wind veering algorithm is relatively simple, accounts for the major physical variables, and seems to represent the best solution that can be found with existing data. An algorithm for the interpolation of the scattered observed data to a common geographical grid was implemented. The algorithm is based on a combination of inverse distance weighting and trend surface fitting, and is suited to combing wind data from disparate sources.

Multispectral image fusion for detecting land mines

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

Clark, G.A.; Sengupta, S.K.; Aimonetti, W.D.

1995-04-01

This report details a system which fuses information contained in registered images from multiple sensors to reduce the effects of clutter and improve the ability to detect surface and buried land mines. The sensor suite currently consists of a camera that acquires images in six bands (400nm, 500nm, 600nm, 700nm, 800nm and 900nm). Past research has shown that it is extremely difficult to distinguish land mines from background clutter in images obtained from a single sensor. It is hypothesized, however, that information fused from a suite of various sensors is likely to provide better detection reliability, because the suite ofmore » sensors detects a variety of physical properties that are more separable in feature space. The materials surrounding the mines can include natural materials (soil, rocks, foliage, water, etc.) and some artifacts.« less

Experimental study of HgCdTe imaging sensor irradiated by pulse CO2 laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xi; Wang, Qingsheng; Hu, Hongtao; Fang, Xiaodong; Nie, Jinsong

2016-10-01

The damages of TEA-CO2 laser to HgCdTe imaging sensor are researched experimentally and theoretically. The shadows, cracks and dark line are observed. There is a gap between photosensitive layer and CdZnTe which decreases light transmittance, so that the shadows occur. It shows that the crack damages begin from photosensitive layer. The sensor is irradiated by pulse laser, the absorptivity of photosensitive layer is strong, sharp temperatures fluctuations inside the sensor, leading to stress. With the stress increased, the cracks are observed on the surface of the detector. Cracked the surface of the substrate, and effective transmission reduced, which caused gray pixel response decline. The dark line in image occurs several times because Hg atoms separate out from the detector and gather together at the Si-COMS which makes a short circuit between silicon substrate and signal choice line. The volatility of Hg makes the short circuit is unstable, resulting in the dark line repeated in the output image, but the short circuit occurs by chance.

High temperature superconducting infrared imaging satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Angus, B.; Covelli, J.; Davinic, N.; Hailey, J.; Jones, E.; Ortiz, V.; Racine, J.; Satterwhite, D.; Spriesterbach, T.; Sorensen, D.

1992-01-01

A low earth orbiting platform for an infrared (IR) sensor payload is examined based on the requirements of a Naval Research Laboratory statement of work. The experiment payload is a 1.5-meter square by 0.5-meter high cubic structure equipped with the imaging system, radiators, and spacecraft mounting interface. The orbit is circular at 509 km (275 nmi) altitude and 70 deg. inclination. The spacecraft is three-axis stabilized with pointing accuracy of plus or minus 0.5 deg. in each axis. The experiment payload requires two 15-minute sensing periods over two contiguous orbit periods for 30 minutes of sensing time per day. The spacecraft design is presented for launch via a Delta 2 rocket. Subsystem designs include attitude control, propulsion, electric power, telemetry, tracking and command, thermal design, structure, and cost analysis.

Innovative quantum technologies for microgravity fundamental physics and biological research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kierk, I.; Israelsson, U.; Lee, M.

2001-01-01

This paper presents a new technology program, within the fundamental physics research program, focusing on four quantum technology areas: quantum atomics, quantum optics, space superconductivity and quantum sensor technology, and quantum fluid based sensor and modeling technology.

A cryogen-free ultralow-field superconducting quantum interference device magnetic resonance imaging system

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

Eom, Byeong Ho; Penanen, Konstantin; Hahn, Inseob, E-mail: ihahn@caltech.edu

2014-09-15

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at microtesla fields using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) detection has previously been demonstrated, and advantages have been noted. Although the ultralow-field SQUID MRI technique would not need the heavy superconducting magnet of conventional MRI systems, liquid helium required to cool the low-temperature detector still places a significant burden on its operation. We have built a prototype cryocooler-based SQUID MRI system that does not require a cryogen. The SQUID detector and the superconducting gradiometer were cooled down to 3.7 K and 4.3 K, respectively. We describe the prototype design, characterization, a phantom image, and areas ofmore » further improvements needed to bring the imaging performance to parity with conventional MRI systems.« less

Defect Detection in Superconducting Radiofrequency Cavity Surface Using C + + and OpenCV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oswald, Samantha; Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility Collaboration

2014-03-01

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) uses superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities to accelerate an electron beam. If theses cavities have a small particle or defect, it can degrade the performance of the cavity. The problem at hand is inspecting the cavity for defects, little bubbles of niobium on the surface of the cavity. Thousands of pictures have to be taken of a single cavity and then looked through to see how many defects were found. A C + + program with Open Source Computer Vision (OpenCV) was constructed to reduce the number of hours searching through the images and finds all the defects. Using this code, the SRF group is now able to use the code to identify defects in on-going tests of SRF cavities. Real time detection is the next step so that instead of taking pictures when looking at the cavity, the camera will detect all the defects.

Sensor feature fusion for detecting buried objects

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

Clark, G.A.; Sengupta, S.K.; Sherwood, R.J.

1993-04-01

Given multiple registered images of the earth`s surface from dual-band sensors, our system fuses information from the sensors to reduce the effects of clutter and improve the ability to detect buried or surface target sites. The sensor suite currently includes two sensors (5 micron and 10 micron wavelengths) and one ground penetrating radar (GPR) of the wide-band pulsed synthetic aperture type. We use a supervised teaming pattern recognition approach to detect metal and plastic land mines buried in soil. The overall process consists of four main parts: Preprocessing, feature extraction, feature selection, and classification. These parts are used in amore » two step process to classify a subimage. Thee first step, referred to as feature selection, determines the features of sub-images which result in the greatest separability among the classes. The second step, image labeling, uses the selected features and the decisions from a pattern classifier to label the regions in the image which are likely to correspond to buried mines. We extract features from the images, and use feature selection algorithms to select only the most important features according to their contribution to correct detections. This allows us to save computational complexity and determine which of the sensors add value to the detection system. The most important features from the various sensors are fused using supervised teaming pattern classifiers (including neural networks). We present results of experiments to detect buried land mines from real data, and evaluate the usefulness of fusing feature information from multiple sensor types, including dual-band infrared and ground penetrating radar. The novelty of the work lies mostly in the combination of the algorithms and their application to the very important and currently unsolved operational problem of detecting buried land mines from an airborne standoff platform.« less

Development of a handheld widefield hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensor for standoff detection of explosive, chemical, and narcotic residues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, Matthew P.; Basta, Andrew; Patil, Raju; Klueva, Oksana; Treado, Patrick J.

2013-05-01

The utility of Hyper Spectral Imaging (HSI) passive chemical detection employing wide field, standoff imaging continues to be advanced in detection applications. With a drive for reduced SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power), increased speed of detection and sensitivity, developing a handheld platform that is robust and user-friendly increases the detection capabilities of the end user. In addition, easy to use handheld detectors could improve the effectiveness of locating and identifying threats while reducing risks to the individual. ChemImage Sensor Systems (CISS) has developed the HSI Aperio™ sensor for real time, wide area surveillance and standoff detection of explosives, chemical threats, and narcotics for use in both government and commercial contexts. Employing liquid crystal tunable filter technology, the HSI system has an intuitive user interface that produces automated detections and real-time display of threats with an end user created library of threat signatures that is easily updated allowing for new hazardous materials. Unlike existing detection technologies that often require close proximity for sensing and so endanger operators and costly equipment, the handheld sensor allows the individual operator to detect threats from a safe distance. Uses of the sensor include locating production facilities of illegal drugs or IEDs by identification of materials on surfaces such as walls, floors, doors, deposits on production tools and residue on individuals. In addition, the sensor can be used for longer-range standoff applications such as hasty checkpoint or vehicle inspection of residue materials on surfaces or bulk material identification. The CISS Aperio™ sensor has faster data collection, faster image processing, and increased detection capability compared to previous sensors.

Effects of the source, surface, and sensor couplings and colorimetric of laser speckle pattern on the performance of optical imaging system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darwiesh, M.; El-Sherif, Ashraf F.; El-Ghandour, Hatem; Aly, Hussein A.; Mokhtar, A. M.

2011-03-01

Optical imaging systems are widely used in different applications include tracking for portable scanners; input pointing devices for laptop computers, cell phones, and cameras, fingerprint-identification scanners, optical navigation for target tracking, and in optical computer mouse. We presented an experimental work to measure and analyze the laser speckle pattern (LSP) produced from different optical sources (i.e. various color LEDs, 3 mW diode laser, and 10mW He-Ne laser) with different produced operating surfaces (Gabor hologram diffusers), and how they affects the performance of the optical imaging systems; speckle size and signal-to-noise ratio (signal is represented by the patches of the speckles that contain or carry information, and noise is represented by the whole remaining part of the selected image). The theoretical and experimental studies of the colorimetry (color correction is done in the color images captured by the optical imaging system to produce realistic color images which contains most of the information in the image by selecting suitable gray scale which contains most of the informative data in the image, this is done by calculating the accurate Red-Green-Blue (RGB) color components making use of the measured spectrum for light sources, and color matching functions of International Telecommunication Organization (ITU-R709) for CRT phosphorus, Tirinton-SONY Model ) for the used optical sources are investigated and introduced to present the relations between the signal-to-noise ratios with different diffusers for each light source. The source surface coupling has been discussed and concludes that the performance of the optical imaging system for certain source varies from worst to best based on the operating surface. The sensor /surface coupling has been studied and discussed for the case of He-Ne laser and concludes the speckle size is ranged from 4.59 to 4.62 μm, which are slightly different or approximately the same for all produced diffusers (which satisfies the fact that the speckle size is independent on the illuminating surface). But, the calculated value of signal-tonoise ratio takes different values ranged from 0.71 to 0.92 for different diffuser. This means that the surface texture affects the performance of the optical sensor because, all images captured for all diffusers under the same conditions [same source (He-Ne laser), same distances of the experimental set-up, and the same sensor (CCD camera)].

Application of metallic magnetic calorimeter in rare event search

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, I.; Jo, H. S.; Kang, C. S.; Kim, G. B.; Kim, H. L.; Kim, S. R.; Kim, Y. H.; Lee, H. J.; Lee, J. H.; Lee, M. K.; Oh, S. Y.; So, J. H.

2017-09-01

Metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMCs) are highly sensitive temperature sensors that use the paramagnetic nature of erbium in a metallic host and superconducting electronics usually composed of a superconducting niobium coil and a current sensing superconducting quantum interference device. This article discusses the applicability of MMCs in experimental searches for rare events in particle physics. A detector module using two MMCs was built to perform low-temperature measurements of heat and scintillation light generated by particle interaction in a 340 g 40Ca100MoO4 crystal. The energy transfer mechanism, from incident particles to the components of the heat and light sensors, is described through a thermal model. MMCs, with gold films collecting athermal phonons, can be used over wide ranges of operating temperature and crystal volume without a significant change in detector performances. Rare event searches could thus benefit from MMC-based detectors presenting such flexibility as well as excellent energy resolution and particle discrimination power.

High sensitive THz superconducting hot electron bolometer mixers and transition edge sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W.; Miao, W.; Zhou, K. M.; Guo, X. H.; Zhong, J. Q.; Shi, S. C.

2016-11-01

Terahertz band, which is roughly defined as 0.1 THz to 10 THz, is an interesting frequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum to be fully explored in astronomy. THz observations play key roles in astrophysics and cosmology. High sensitive heterodyne and direct detectors are the main tools for the detection of molecular spectral lines and fine atomic structure spectral lines, which are very important tracers for probing the physical and chemical properties and dynamic processes of objects such as star and planetary systems. China is planning to build an THz telescope at Dome A, Antarctica, a unique site for ground-based THz observations. We are developing THz superconducting hot electron bolometer (HEB) mixers and transition edge sensors (TES), which are quantum limited and back-ground limited detectors, respectively. Here we first introduce the working principles of superconducting HEB and TES, and then mainly present the results achieved at Purple mountain Observatory.

Three-dimensional estimates of tree canopies: Scaling from high-resolution UAV data to satellite observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sankey, T.; Donald, J.; McVay, J.

2015-12-01

High resolution remote sensing images and datasets are typically acquired at a large cost, which poses big a challenge for many scientists. Northern Arizona University recently acquired a custom-engineered, cutting-edge UAV and we can now generate our own images with the instrument. The UAV has a unique capability to carry a large payload including a hyperspectral sensor, which images the Earth surface in over 350 spectral bands at 5 cm resolution, and a lidar scanner, which images the land surface and vegetation in 3-dimensions. Both sensors represent the newest available technology with very high resolution, precision, and accuracy. Using the UAV sensors, we are monitoring the effects of regional forest restoration treatment efforts. Individual tree canopy width and height are measured in the field and via the UAV sensors. The high-resolution UAV images are then used to segment individual tree canopies and to derive 3-dimensional estimates. The UAV image-derived variables are then correlated to the field-based measurements and scaled to satellite-derived tree canopy measurements. The relationships between the field-based and UAV-derived estimates are then extrapolated to a larger area to scale the tree canopy dimensions and to estimate tree density within restored and control forest sites.

Spinal cord evoked magnetic field measurement using a magnetospinography system equipped with a cryocooler.

PubMed

Adachi, Yoshiaki; Oyama, Daisuke; Kawai, Jun; Kawabata, Shigenori; Uehara, Gen

2013-01-01

We have developed a magnetospinography (MSG) system that detects weak magnetic fields associated with spinal cord neural activity using an array of low-temperature superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)-based magnetic flux sensors. A functional image of the spinal cord can be obtained noninvasively by using this system, and it is effective for precise lesion localization in the diagnosis of spinal cord diseases. The running cost of the developed MSG system mainly depends on liquid helium (LHe) consumption, which is required to maintain the superconducting state of the SQUID sensors. To reduce the LHe consumption, we incorporate a pulse-tube-refrigerator-based cryocooler into the MSG system. Cold gaseous helium is circulated between the cryocooler and the MSG system for cooling the thermal radiation shield of the dewar vessel. Consequently, we achieved a 46% decrease in the LHe consumption rate. Conventional biomagnetic field detection such as magnetoencephalography is often hindered by severe low-frequency band noise from the cryocooler. However, in the case of MSG measurements, such noise can be filtered out because the band of the signal is much higher than that of the cryocooler noise. We demonstrated that the signal-to-noise ratio of the cervical spinal cord evoked magnetic field measurement performed with a working cryocooler is comparable to that of the measurement without a cryocooler.

Time-to-impact sensors in robot vision applications based on the near-sensor image processing concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Åström, Anders; Forchheimer, Robert

2012-03-01

Based on the Near-Sensor Image Processing (NSIP) concept and recent results concerning optical flow and Time-to- Impact (TTI) computation with this architecture, we show how these results can be used and extended for robot vision applications. The first case involves estimation of the tilt of an approaching planar surface. The second case concerns the use of two NSIP cameras to estimate absolute distance and speed similar to a stereo-matching system but without the need to do image correlations. Going back to a one-camera system, the third case deals with the problem to estimate the shape of the approaching surface. It is shown that the previously developed TTI method not only gives a very compact solution with respect to hardware complexity, but also surprisingly high performance.

Tuning the magnetism of the top-layer FeAs on BaFe2As2 (001): First-principles study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Bing-Jing; Liu, Kai; Lu, Zhong-Yi

2018-04-01

Magnetism may play an important role in inducing the superconductivity in iron-based superconductors. As a prototypical system, the surface of BaFe2As2 provides a good platform for studying related magnetic properties. We have designed systematic first-principles calculations to clarify the surface magnetism of BaFe2As2 (001), which previously has received little attention in comparison with surface structures and electronic states. We find that the surface environment has an important influence on the magnetic properties of the top-layer FeAs. For As-terminated surfaces, the magnetic ground state of the top-layer FeAs is in the staggered dimer antiferromagnetic (AFM) order, distinct from that of the bulk, while for Ba-terminated surfaces the collinear (single-stripe) AFM order is the most stable, the same as that in the bulk. When a certain coverage of Ba or K atoms is deposited onto the As-terminated surface, the calculated energy differences among different AFM orders for the top-layer FeAs on BaFe2As2 (001) can be much reduced, indicating enhanced spin fluctuations. To compare our results with available scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements, we have simulated the STM images of several structural/magnetic terminations. Astonishingly, when the top-layer FeAs is in the staggered dimer AFM order, a stripe pattern appears in the simulated STM image even when the surface Ba atoms adopt a √{2 }×√{2 } structure, while a √{2 }×√{2 } square pattern comes out for the 1 ×1 full As termination. Our results suggest: (i) the magnetic state at the BaFe2As2 (001) surface can be quite different from that in the bulk; (ii) the magnetic properties of the top-layer FeAs can be tuned effectively by surface doping, which may likely induce superconductivity at the surface layer; (iii) both the surface termination and the AFM order in the top-layer FeAs can affect the STM image of BaFe2As2 (001), which needs to be taken into account when identifying the surface termination.

Coastal Benthic Optical Properties Fluorescence Imaging Laser Line Scan Sensor

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-09-30

Acquisition of Electro - Optic Identification (EOID) sensors for MLC identification is currently underway to support both Air Mine Counter-Measures (AMCM) and Surface Mine Counter-Measures (SMCM) operations.

Hemispherical Field-of-View Above-Water Surface Imager for Submarines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hemmati, Hamid; Kovalik, Joseph M.; Farr, William H.; Dannecker, John D.

2012-01-01

A document discusses solutions to the problem of submarines having to rise above water to detect airplanes in the general vicinity. Two solutions are provided, in which a sensor is located just under the water surface, and at a few to tens of meter depth under the water surface. The first option is a Fish Eye Lens (FEL) digital-camera combination, situated just under the water surface that will have near-full- hemisphere (360 azimuth and 90 elevation) field of view for detecting objects on the water surface. This sensor can provide a three-dimensional picture of the airspace both in the marine and in the land environment. The FEL is coupled to a camera and can continuously look at the entire sky above it. The camera can have an Active Pixel Sensor (APS) focal plane array that allows logic circuitry to be built directly in the sensor. The logic circuitry allows data processing to occur on the sensor head without the need for any other external electronics. In the second option, a single-photon sensitive (photon counting) detector-array is used at depth, without the need for any optics in front of it, since at this location, optical signals are scattered and arrive at a wide (tens of degrees) range of angles. Beam scattering through clouds and seawater effectively negates optical imaging at depths below a few meters under cloudy or turbulent conditions. Under those conditions, maximum collection efficiency can be achieved by using a non-imaging photon-counting detector behind narrowband filters. In either case, signals from these sensors may be fused and correlated or decorrelated with other sensor data to get an accurate picture of the object(s) above the submarine. These devices can complement traditional submarine periscopes that have a limited field of view in the elevation direction. Also, these techniques circumvent the need for exposing the entire submarine or its periscopes to the outside environment.

Millimeter-wave imaging sensor data evaluation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, William J.; Ibbott, Anthony C.

1987-01-01

A passive 3-mm radiometer system with a mechanically scanned antenna was built for use on a small aircraft or an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to produce real near-real-time, moderate-resolution (0.5) images of the ground. One of the main advantages of this passive imaging sensor is that it is able to provide surveillance information through dust, smoke, fog and clouds when visual and IR systems are unusable. It can also be used for a variety of remote sensing applications, such as measurements of surface moisture, surface temperature, vegetation extent and snow cover. It is also possible to detect reflective objects under vegetation cover.

Radial stiffness improvement of a flywheel system using multi-surface superconducting levitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basaran, Sinan; Sivrioglu, Selim

2017-03-01

The goal of this research study is the maximization of the levitation force in a flywheel system by the use of more than one permanent magnet with a single ring-shaped HTS material. An analytical model for the radial stiffness of the ring HTS-PM is derived using the frozen image approach. The experimental works are carried out for different polarizations of the permanent magnets, and radial stiffness values are obtained from the radial force measurements. The rotational test of the flywheel system is also realized for different cases. Finally, natural frequencies of the flywheel superconducting magnetic bearing system are experimentally obtained for different combinations of the permanent magnets using a frequency analyzer.

X-Ray Excited Luminescence Chemical Imaging of Bacterial Growth on Surfaces Implanted in Tissue.

PubMed

Wang, Fenglin; Raval, Yash; Tzeng, Tzuen-Rong J; Anker, Jeffrey N

2015-04-22

A pH sensor film is developed that can be coated on an implant surface and imaged using a combination of X-ray excitation and visible spectroscopy to monitor bacterial infection and treatment of implanted medical devices (IMDs) through tissue. X-ray scintillators in the pH sensor film generate light when an X-ray beam irradiates them. This light first passes through a layer containing pH indicator that alters the spectrum according to pH, then passes through and out of the tissue where it is detected by a spectrometer. A reference region on the film is used to account for spectral distortion from wavelength-dependent absorption and scattering in the tissue. pH images are acquired by moving the sample relative to the X-ray beam and collecting a spectrum at each location, with a spatial resolution limited by the X-ray beam width. Using this X-ray excited luminescence chemical imaging (XELCI) to map pH through ex vivo porcine tissue, a pH drop is detected during normal bacterial growth on the sensor surface, and a restoration of the pH to the bulk value during antibiotic treatment over the course of hours with milli-meter resolution. Overall, XELCI provides a novel approach to noninvasively image surface pH for studying implant infections and treatments. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Role of Imaging Specrometer Data for Model-based Cross-calibration of Imaging Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thome, Kurtis John

2014-01-01

Site characterization benefits from imaging spectrometry to determine spectral bi-directional reflectance of a well-understood surface. Cross calibration approaches, uncertainties, role of imaging spectrometry, model-based site characterization, and application to product validation.

NASA Tech Briefs, December 1988. Volume 12, No. 11

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1988-01-01

This month's technical section includes forecasts for 1989 and beyond by NASA experts in the following fields: Integrated Circuits; Communications; Computational Fluid Dynamics; Ceramics; Image Processing; Sensors; Dynamic Power; Superconductivity; Artificial Intelligence; and Flow Cytometry. The quotes provide a brief overview of emerging trends, and describe inventions and innovations being developed by NASA, other government agencies, and private industry that could make a significant impact in coming years. A second bonus feature in this month's issue is the expanded subject index that begins on page 98. The index contains cross-referenced listings for all technical briefs appearing in NASA Tech Briefs during 1988.

Unexpected Nonlinear Effects in Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John

2016-01-01

When a normal metal transitions into the superconducting state the DC resistance drops from a finite value to zero over some finite transition width in temperature, current, and magnetic field. Superconducting transition-edge sensors (TESs) operate within this transition region and uses resistive changes to measure deposited thermal energy. This resistive transition is not perfectly smooth and a wide range of TES designs and materials show sub-structure in the resistive transition (as seen in smooth nonmonotonic behavior, jump discontinuities, and hysteresis in the devices current-voltage relation and derivatives of the resistance with respect to temperature, bias current, and magnetic field). TES technology has advanced to the point where for many applications this structure is the limiting factor in performance and optimization consists of finding operating points away from these structures. For example, operating at or near this structure can lead to nonlinearity in the detectors response and gain scale, limit the spectral range of the detector by limiting the usable resistive range, and degrade energy resolution. The origin of much of this substructure is unknown. This presentation investigates a number of possible sources in turn. First we model the TES as a superconducting weak-link and solve for the characteristic differential equations current and voltage time dependence. We find:(1) measured DC biased current-voltage relationship is the time-average of a much higher frequency limit cycle solution.(2) We calculate the fundamental frequency and estimate the power radiated from the TES treating the bias leads as an antennae.(3) The solution for a set of circuit parameters becomes multivalued leading to current transitions between levels.(4)The circuit parameters can change the measure resistance and mask the true critical current. As a consequence the TES resistance surface is not just a function of temperature, current, and magnetic field but is also a function of the circuit elements (such as shunt resistor, SQUID inductance, and capacitor values). In other words, same device measured in different electrical circuits will have a different resistive surface in temperature, current, and magnetic field. Next we consider that at the transition temperature of a superconductor both the magnetic penetration depth and coherence length are divergent. As a consequence these important characteristic length scales are changing with operating point. We present measurements on devices showing commensurate behavior between these characteristic lengths and the length scale of added normal metal structures. Reordering of proximity vortices leads to discontinuities and irreversibility of the current-voltage curves. Last we consider a weak-link TES including both thermal activated resistance effects and the effect of the magnetic penetration depth being a function of temperature and magnetic field. We derive its impact on the resistive transition surface and the important device parameters a and b.

Electrodeless QCM-D for lipid bilayer applications.

PubMed

Kunze, Angelika; Zäch, Michael; Svedhem, Sofia; Kasemo, Bengt

2011-01-15

An electrodeless quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) setup is used to monitor the formation of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) on bare quartz crystal sensor surfaces. The kinetic behavior of the formation of a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) SLB on SiO(2) surfaces is discussed and compared for three cases: (i) a standard SiO(2) film deposited onto the gold electrode of a quartz crystal, (ii) an electrodeless quartz crystal with a sputter-coated SiO(2) film, and (iii) an uncoated electrodeless quartz crystal sensor surface. We demonstrate, supported by imaging the SLB on an uncoated electrodeless surface using atomic force microscopy (AFM), that a defect-free, completely covering bilayer is formed in all three cases. Differences in the kinetics of the SLB formation on the different sensor surfaces are attributed to differences in surface roughness. The latter assumption is supported by imaging the different surfaces using AFM. We show furthermore that electrodeless quartz crystal sensors can be used not only for the formation of neutral SLBs but also for positively and negatively charged SLBs. Based on our results we propose electrodeless QCM-D to be a valuable technique for lipid bilayer and related applications providing several advantages compared to electrode-coated surfaces like optical transparency, longer lifetime, and reduced costs. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cross-calibration of the Terra MODIS, Landsat 7 ETM+ and EO-1 ALI sensors using near-simultaneous surface observation over the Railroad Valley Playa, Nevada, test site

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, G.; Angal, A.; Choi, T.; Meyer, D.J.; Xiong, X.; Teillet, P.M.

2007-01-01

A cross-calibration methodology has been developed using coincident image pairs from the Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the Landsat 7 (L7) Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and the Earth Observing EO-1 Advanced Land Imager (ALI) to verify the absolute radiometric calibration accuracy of these sensors with respect to each other. To quantify the effects due to different spectral responses, the Relative Spectral Responses (RSR) of these sensors were studied and compared by developing a set of "figures-of-merit." Seven cloud-free scenes collected over the Railroad Valley Playa, Nevada (RVPN), test site were used to conduct the cross-calibration study. This cross-calibration approach was based on image statistics from near-simultaneous observations made by different satellite sensors. Homogeneous regions of interest (ROI) were selected in the image pairs, and the mean target statistics were converted to absolute units of at-sensor reflectance. Using these reflectances, a set of cross-calibration equations were developed giving a relative gain and bias between the sensor pair.

Toward CMOS image sensor based glucose monitoring.

PubMed

Devadhasan, Jasmine Pramila; Kim, Sanghyo

2012-09-07

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor is a powerful tool for biosensing applications. In this present study, CMOS image sensor has been exploited for detecting glucose levels by simple photon count variation with high sensitivity. Various concentrations of glucose (100 mg dL(-1) to 1000 mg dL(-1)) were added onto a simple poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip and the oxidation of glucose was catalyzed with the aid of an enzymatic reaction. Oxidized glucose produces a brown color with the help of chromogen during enzymatic reaction and the color density varies with the glucose concentration. Photons pass through the PDMS chip with varying color density and hit the sensor surface. Photon count was recognized by CMOS image sensor depending on the color density with respect to the glucose concentration and it was converted into digital form. By correlating the obtained digital results with glucose concentration it is possible to measure a wide range of blood glucose levels with great linearity based on CMOS image sensor and therefore this technique will promote a convenient point-of-care diagnosis.

Microwave SQUID multiplexer demonstration for cosmic microwave background imagers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dober, B.; Becker, D. T.; Bennett, D. A.; Bryan, S. A.; Duff, S. M.; Gard, J. D.; Hays-Wehle, J. P.; Hilton, G. C.; Hubmayr, J.; Mates, J. A. B.; Reintsema, C. D.; Vale, L. R.; Ullom, J. N.

2017-12-01

Key performance characteristics are demonstrated for the microwave superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexer (μmux) coupled to transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers that have been optimized for cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations. In a 64-channel demonstration, we show that the μmux produces a white, input referred current noise level of 29 pA/ √{H z } at a microwave probe tone power of -77 dB, which is well below the expected fundamental detector and photon noise sources for a ground-based CMB-optimized bolometer. Operated with negligible photon loading, we measure 98 pA/ √{H z } in the TES-coupled channels biased at 65% of the sensor normal resistance. This noise level is consistent with that predicted from bolometer thermal fluctuation (i.e., phonon) noise. Furthermore, the power spectral density is white over a range of frequencies down to ˜100 mHz, which enables CMB mapping on large angular scales that constrain the physics of inflation. Additionally, we report cross-talk measurements that indicate a level below 0.3%, which is less than the level of cross-talk from multiplexed readout systems in deployed CMB imagers. These measurements demonstrate the μmux as a viable readout technique for future CMB imaging instruments.

Nano-patterned superconducting surface for high quantum efficiency cathode

DOEpatents

Hannon, Fay; Musumeci, Pietro

2017-03-07

A method for providing a superconducting surface on a laser-driven niobium cathode in order to increase the effective quantum efficiency. The enhanced surface increases the effective quantum efficiency by improving the laser absorption of the surface and enhancing the local electric field. The surface preparation method makes feasible the construction of superconducting radio frequency injectors with niobium as the photocathode. An array of nano-structures are provided on a flat surface of niobium. The nano-structures are dimensionally tailored to interact with a laser of specific wavelength to thereby increase the electron yield of the surface.

Airborne digital-image data for monitoring the Colorado River corridor below Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona, 2009 - Image-mosaic production and comparison with 2002 and 2005 image mosaics

USGS Publications Warehouse

Davis, Philip A.

2012-01-01

Airborne digital-image data were collected for the Arizona part of the Colorado River ecosystem below Glen Canyon Dam in 2009. These four-band image data are similar in wavelength band (blue, green, red, and near infrared) and spatial resolution (20 centimeters) to image collections of the river corridor in 2002 and 2005. These periodic image collections are used by the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) of the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor the effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on the downstream ecosystem. The 2009 collection used the latest model of the Leica ADS40 airborne digital sensor (the SH52), which uses a single optic for all four bands and collects and stores band radiance in 12-bits, unlike the image sensors that GCMRC used in 2002 and 2005. This study examined the performance of the SH52 sensor, on the basis of the collected image data, and determined that the SH52 sensor provided superior data relative to the previously employed sensors (that is, an early ADS40 model and Zeiss Imaging's Digital Mapping Camera) in terms of band-image registration, dynamic range, saturation, linearity to ground reflectance, and noise level. The 2009 image data were provided as orthorectified segments of each flightline to constrain the size of the image files; each river segment was covered by 5 to 6 overlapping, linear flightlines. Most flightline images for each river segment had some surface-smear defects and some river segments had cloud shadows, but these two conditions did not generally coincide in the majority of the overlapping flightlines for a particular river segment. Therefore, the final image mosaic for the 450-kilometer (km)-long river corridor required careful selection and editing of numerous flightline segments (a total of 513 segments, each 3.2 km long) to minimize surface defects and cloud shadows. The final image mosaic has a total of only 3 km of surface defects. The final image mosaic for the western end of the corridor has areas of cloud shadow because of persistent inclement weather during data collection. This report presents visual comparisons of the 2002, 2005, and 2009 digital-image mosaics for various physical, biological, and cultural resources within the Colorado River ecosystem. All of the comparisons show the superior quality of the 2009 image data. In fact, the 2009 four-band image mosaic is perhaps the best image dataset that exists for the entire Arizona part of the Colorado River.

Multi-sensor data processing method for improved satellite retrievals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Xingwang

2017-04-01

Satellite remote sensing has provided massive data that improve the overall accuracy and extend the time series of environmental studies. In reflective solar bands, satellite data are related to land surface properties via radiative transfer (RT) equations. These equations generally include sensor-related (calibration coefficients), atmosphere-related (aerosol optical thickness) and surface-related (surface reflectance) parameters. It is an ill-posed problem to solve three parameters with only one RT equation. Even if there are two RT equations (dual-sensor data), the problem is still unsolvable. However, a robust solution can be obtained when any two parameters are known. If surface and atmosphere are known, sensor intercalibration can be performed. For example, the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) was calibrated to the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in Fan and Liu (2014) [Fan, X., and Liu, Y. (2014). Quantifying the relationship between intersensor images in solar reflective bands: Implications for intercalibration. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 52(12), 7727-7737.]. If sensor and surface are known, atmospheric data can be retrieved. For example, aerosol data were retrieved using tandem TERRA and AQUA MODIS images in Fan and Liu (2016a) [Fan, X., and Liu, Y. (2016a). Exploiting TERRA-AQUA MODIS relationship in the reflective solar bands for aerosol retrieval. Remote Sensing, 8(12), 996.]. If sensor and atmosphere are known, data consistency can be obtained. For example, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data were intercalibrated among coarse-resolution sensors in Fan and Liu (2016b) [Fan, X., and Liu, Y. (2016b). A global study of NDVI difference among moderate-resolution satellite sensors. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 121, 177-191.], and among fine-resolution sensors in Fan and Liu (2017) [Fan, X., and Liu, Y. (2017). A generalized model for intersensor NDVI calibration and its comparison with regression approaches. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 55(3), doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2016.2635802.]. These studies demonstrate the success of multi-sensor data and novel methods in the research domain of geoscience. These data will benefit remote sensing of terrestrial parameters in decadal timescales, such as soil salinity content in Fan et al. (2016) [Fan, X., Weng, Y., and Tao, J. (2016). Towards decadal soil salinity mapping using Landsat time series data. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 52, 32-41.].

Magnetic sensor technology for detecting mines, UXO, and other concealed security threats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czipott, Peter V.; Iwanowski, Mark D.

1997-01-01

Magnetic sensors have been the sensor of choice in the detection and classification of buried mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), both on land and underwater, Quantum Magnetics (QM), together with its research partner IBM, have developed a variety of advanced, very high sensitivity superconducting and room temperature magnetic sensors to meet military needs. This work has led to the development and utilization of a three-sensor gradiometer (TSG) patented by IBM, which cannot only detect, but also localize mines and ordnance. QM is also working with IBM and the U.S. Navy to develop an advanced superconducting gradiometer for buried underwater mine detection. The ability to both detect and classify buried non-metallic mines is virtually impossible with existing magnetic sensors. To solve this problem, Quantum Magnetics, building on work of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), is pioneering work in the development of quadrupole resonance (QR) methods which can be used to detect the explosive material directly. Based on recent laboratory work done at QM and previous work done in the U.S., Russia and the United Kingdom, we are confident that QR can be effectively applied to the non-metallic mine identification problem.

Hyperspectral imaging simulation of object under sea-sky background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Biao; Lin, Jia-xuan; Gao, Wei; Yue, Hui

2016-10-01

Remote sensing image simulation plays an important role in spaceborne/airborne load demonstration and algorithm development. Hyperspectral imaging is valuable in marine monitoring, search and rescue. On the demand of spectral imaging of objects under the complex sea scene, physics based simulation method of spectral image of object under sea scene is proposed. On the development of an imaging simulation model considering object, background, atmosphere conditions, sensor, it is able to examine the influence of wind speed, atmosphere conditions and other environment factors change on spectral image quality under complex sea scene. Firstly, the sea scattering model is established based on the Philips sea spectral model, the rough surface scattering theory and the water volume scattering characteristics. The measured bi directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) data of objects is fit to the statistical model. MODTRAN software is used to obtain solar illumination on the sea, sky brightness, the atmosphere transmittance from sea to sensor and atmosphere backscattered radiance, and Monte Carlo ray tracing method is used to calculate the sea surface object composite scattering and spectral image. Finally, the object spectrum is acquired by the space transformation, radiation degradation and adding the noise. The model connects the spectrum image with the environmental parameters, the object parameters, and the sensor parameters, which provide a tool for the load demonstration and algorithm development.

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2008

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

Topics covered include: Induction Charge Detector with Multiple Sensing Stages; Generic Helicopter-Based Testbed for Surface Terrain Imaging Sensors; Robot Electronics Architecture; Optimized Geometry for Superconducting Sensing Coils; Sensing a Changing Chemical Mixture Using an Electronic Nose; Inertial Orientation Trackers with Drift Compensation; Microstrip Yagi Antenna with Dual Aperture-Coupled Feed; Patterned Ferroelectric Films for Tunable Microwave Devices; Micron-Accurate Laser Fresnel-Diffraction Ranging System; Efficient G(sup 4)FET-Based Logic Circuits; Web-Enabled Optoelectronic Particle-Fallout Monitor; SiO2/TiO2 Composite for Removing Hg from Combustion Exhaust; Lightweight Tanks for Storing Liquefied Natural Gas; Hybrid Wound Filaments for Greater Resistance to Impacts; Making High-Tensile-Strength Amalgam Components; Bonding by Hydroxide-Catalyzed Hydration and Dehydration; Balanced Flow Meters without Moving Parts; Deflection-Compensating Beam for Use inside a Cylinder; Four-Point-Latching Microactuator; Curved Piezoelectric Actuators for Stretching Optical Fibers; Tunable Optical Assembly with Vibration Dampening; Passive Porous Treatment for Reducing Flap Side-Edge Noise; Cylindrical Piezoelectric Fiber Composite Actuators; Patterning of Indium Tin Oxide Films; Gimballed Shoulders for Friction Stir Welding; Improved Thermal Modulator for Gas Chromatography; Nuclear-Spin Gyroscope Based on an Atomic Co-Magnetometer; Utilizing Ion-Mobility Data to Estimate Molecular Masses; Optical Displacement Sensor for Sub-Hertz Applications; Polarization/Spatial Combining of Laser-Diode Pump Beams; Spatial Combining of Laser-Diode Beams for Pumping an NPRO; Algorithm Optimally Orders Forward-Chaining Inference Rules; Project Integration Architecture; High Power Amplifier and Power Supply; Estimating Mixing Heights Using Microwave Temperature Profiler; and Multiple-Cone Sunshade for a Spaceborne Telescope.

Applications of spectral band adjustment factors (SBAF) for cross-calibration

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, Gyanesh

2013-01-01

To monitor land surface processes over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, it is critical to have coordinated observations of the Earth's surface acquired from multiple spaceborne imaging sensors. However, an integrated global observation framework requires an understanding of how land surface processes are seen differently by various sensors. This is particularly true for sensors acquiring data in spectral bands whose relative spectral responses (RSRs) are not similar and thus may produce different results while observing the same target. The intrinsic offsets between two sensors caused by RSR mismatches can be compensated by using a spectral band adjustment factor (SBAF), which takes into account the spectral profile of the target and the RSR of the two sensors. The motivation of this work comes from the need to compensate the spectral response differences of multispectral sensors in order to provide a more accurate cross-calibration between the sensors. In this paper, radiometric cross-calibration of the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and the Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors was performed using near-simultaneous observations over the Libya 4 pseudoinvariant calibration site in the visible and near-infrared spectral range. The RSR differences of the analogous ETM+ and MODIS spectral bands provide the opportunity to explore, understand, quantify, and compensate for the measurement differences between these two sensors. The cross-calibration was initially performed by comparing the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectances between the two sensors over their lifetimes. The average percent differences in the long-term trends ranged from $-$5% to $+$6%. The RSR compensated ETM+ TOA reflectance (ETM+$^{ast}$) measurements were then found to agree with MODIS TOA reflectance to within 5% for all bands when Earth Observing-1 Hy- erion hyperspectral data were used to produce the SBAFs. These differences were later reduced to within 1% for all bands (except band 2) by using Environmental Satellite Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography hyperspectral data to produce the SBAFs.

Fabrication of a Kilopixel Array of Superconducting Microcalorimeters with Microstripline Wiring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chervenak, James

2012-01-01

A document describes the fabrication of a two-dimensional microcalorimeter array that uses microstrip wiring and integrated heat sinking to enable use of high-performance pixel designs at kilopixel scales (32 X 32). Each pixel is the high-resolution design employed in small-array test devices, which consist of a Mo/Au TES (transition edge sensor) on a silicon nitride membrane and an electroplated Bi/Au absorber. The pixel pitch within the array is 300 microns, where absorbers 290 microns on a side are cantilevered over a silicon support grid with 100-micron-wide beams. The high-density wiring and heat sinking are both carried by the silicon beams to the edge of the array. All pixels are wired out to the array edge. ECR (electron cyclotron resonance) oxide underlayer is deposited underneath the sensor layer. The sensor (TES) layer consists of a superconducting underlayer and a normal metal top layer. If the sensor is deposited at high temperature, the ECR oxide can be vacuum annealed to improve film smoothness and etch characteristics. This process is designed to recover high-resolution, single-pixel x-ray microcalorimeter performance within arrays of arbitrarily large format. The critical current limiting parts of the circuit are designed to have simple interfaces that can be independently verified. The lead-to-TES interface is entirely determined in a single layer that has multiple points of interface to maximize critical current. The lead rails that overlap the TES sensor element contact both the superconducting underlayer and the TES normal metal

Heat Capacity and Thermal Conductance Measurements of a Superconducting-Normal Mixed State by Detection of Single 3 eV Photons in a Magnetic Penetration Thermometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stevenson, T. R.; Balvin, M. A.; Bandler, S. R.; Denis, K. L.; Lee, S.-J.; Nagler, P. C.; Smith, S. J.

2015-01-01

We report on measurements of the detected signal pulses in a molybdenum-gold Magnetic Penetration Thermometer (MPT) in response to absorption of one or more 3 eV photons. We designed and used this MPT sensor for x-ray microcalorimetry. In this device, the diamagnetic response of a superconducting MoAu bilayer is used to sense temperature changes in response to absorbed photons, and responsivity is enhanced by a Meissner transition in which the magnetic flux penetrating the sensor changes rapidly to minimize free energy in a mixed superconducting normal state. We have previously reported on use of our MPT to study a thermal phonon energy loss to the substrate when absorbing x-rays. We now describe results of extracting heat capacity C and thermal conductance G values from pulse height and decay time of MPT pulses generated by 3 eV photons. The variation in C and G at temperatures near the Meissner transition temperature (set by an internal magnetic bias field) allow us to probe the behavior in superconducting normal mixed state of the condensation energy and the electron cooling power resulting from quasi-particle recombination and phonon emission. The information gained on electron cooling power is also relevant to the operation of other superconducting detectors, such as Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors.

Method for manufacturing a rotor having superconducting coils

DOEpatents

Driscoll, David I.; Shoykhet, Boris A.

2001-01-01

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a rotor for use with a rotating machine is provided that employs a superconducting coil on the rotor. An adhesive is applied to an outer surface of the rotor body, which may include a groove disposed within an outer surface of the rotor body. A superconducting coil is then mounted onto the rotor body such that the adhesive bonds the superconducting coil to the rotor body.

Drive the Dirac electrons into Cooper pairs in SrxBi2Se3.

PubMed

Du, Guan; Shao, Jifeng; Yang, Xiong; Du, Zengyi; Fang, Delong; Wang, Jinghui; Ran, Kejing; Wen, Jinsheng; Zhang, Changjin; Yang, Huan; Zhang, Yuheng; Wen, Hai-Hu

2017-02-15

Topological superconductors are a very interesting and frontier topic in condensed matter physics. Despite the tremendous efforts in exploring topological superconductivity, its presence is however still under heavy debate. The Dirac electrons have been proven to exist on the surface of a topological insulator. It remains unclear whether and how the Dirac electrons fall into Cooper pairing in an intrinsic superconductor with the topological surface states. Here we show the systematic study of scanning tunnelling microscope/spectroscopy on the possible topological superconductor Sr x Bi 2 Se 3 . We first demonstrate that only the intercalated Sr atoms can induce superconductivity. Then we show the full superconducting gaps without any in-gap density of states as expected theoretically for a bulk topological superconductor. Finally, we find that the surface Dirac electrons will simultaneously condense into the superconducting state within the superconducting gap. This vividly demonstrates how the surface Dirac electrons are driven into Cooper pairs.

Microscopic resolution broadband dielectric spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, S.; Watson, P.; Prance, R. J.

2011-08-01

Results are presented for a non-contact measurement system capable of micron level spatial resolution. It utilises the novel electric potential sensor (EPS) technology, invented at Sussex, to image the electric field above a simple composite dielectric material. EP sensors may be regarded as analogous to a magnetometer and require no adjustments or offsets during either setup or use. The sample consists of a standard glass/epoxy FR4 circuit board, with linear defects machined into the surface by a PCB milling machine. The sample is excited with an a.c. signal over a range of frequencies from 10 kHz to 10 MHz, from the reverse side, by placing it on a conducting sheet connected to the source. The single sensor is raster scanned over the surface at a constant working distance, consistent with the spatial resolution, in order to build up an image of the electric field, with respect to the reference potential. The results demonstrate that both the surface defects and the internal dielectric variations within the composite may be imaged in this way, with good contrast being observed between the glass mat and the epoxy resin.

Organic-on-silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor colour image sensors.

PubMed

Lim, Seon-Jeong; Leem, Dong-Seok; Park, Kyung-Bae; Kim, Kyu-Sik; Sul, Sangchul; Na, Kyoungwon; Lee, Gae Hwang; Heo, Chul-Joon; Lee, Kwang-Hee; Bulliard, Xavier; Satoh, Ryu-Ichi; Yagi, Tadao; Ro, Takkyun; Im, Dongmo; Jung, Jungkyu; Lee, Myungwon; Lee, Tae-Yon; Han, Moon Gyu; Jin, Yong Wan; Lee, Sangyoon

2015-01-12

Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) colour image sensors are representative examples of light-detection devices. To achieve extremely high resolutions, the pixel sizes of the CMOS image sensors must be reduced to less than a micron, which in turn significantly limits the number of photons that can be captured by each pixel using silicon (Si)-based technology (i.e., this reduction in pixel size results in a loss of sensitivity). Here, we demonstrate a novel and efficient method of increasing the sensitivity and resolution of the CMOS image sensors by superposing an organic photodiode (OPD) onto a CMOS circuit with Si photodiodes, which consequently doubles the light-input surface area of each pixel. To realise this concept, we developed organic semiconductor materials with absorption properties selective to green light and successfully fabricated highly efficient green-light-sensitive OPDs without colour filters. We found that such a top light-receiving OPD, which is selective to specific green wavelengths, demonstrates great potential when combined with a newly designed Si-based CMOS circuit containing only blue and red colour filters. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this state-of-the-art hybrid colour image sensor, we acquired a real full-colour image using a camera that contained the organic-on-Si hybrid CMOS colour image sensor.

Organic-on-silicon complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor colour image sensors

PubMed Central

Lim, Seon-Jeong; Leem, Dong-Seok; Park, Kyung-Bae; Kim, Kyu-Sik; Sul, Sangchul; Na, Kyoungwon; Lee, Gae Hwang; Heo, Chul-Joon; Lee, Kwang-Hee; Bulliard, Xavier; Satoh, Ryu-Ichi; Yagi, Tadao; Ro, Takkyun; Im, Dongmo; Jung, Jungkyu; Lee, Myungwon; Lee, Tae-Yon; Han, Moon Gyu; Jin, Yong Wan; Lee, Sangyoon

2015-01-01

Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) colour image sensors are representative examples of light-detection devices. To achieve extremely high resolutions, the pixel sizes of the CMOS image sensors must be reduced to less than a micron, which in turn significantly limits the number of photons that can be captured by each pixel using silicon (Si)-based technology (i.e., this reduction in pixel size results in a loss of sensitivity). Here, we demonstrate a novel and efficient method of increasing the sensitivity and resolution of the CMOS image sensors by superposing an organic photodiode (OPD) onto a CMOS circuit with Si photodiodes, which consequently doubles the light-input surface area of each pixel. To realise this concept, we developed organic semiconductor materials with absorption properties selective to green light and successfully fabricated highly efficient green-light-sensitive OPDs without colour filters. We found that such a top light-receiving OPD, which is selective to specific green wavelengths, demonstrates great potential when combined with a newly designed Si-based CMOS circuit containing only blue and red colour filters. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this state-of-the-art hybrid colour image sensor, we acquired a real full-colour image using a camera that contained the organic-on-Si hybrid CMOS colour image sensor. PMID:25578322

3-D readout-electronics packaging for high-bandwidth massively paralleled imager

DOEpatents

Kwiatkowski, Kris; Lyke, James

2007-12-18

Dense, massively parallel signal processing electronics are co-packaged behind associated sensor pixels. Microchips containing a linear or bilinear arrangement of photo-sensors, together with associated complex electronics, are integrated into a simple 3-D structure (a "mirror cube"). An array of photo-sensitive cells are disposed on a stacked CMOS chip's surface at a 45.degree. angle from light reflecting mirror surfaces formed on a neighboring CMOS chip surface. Image processing electronics are held within the stacked CMOS chip layers. Electrical connections couple each of said stacked CMOS chip layers and a distribution grid, the connections for distributing power and signals to components associated with each stacked CSMO chip layer.

Development of collision avoidance system for useful UAV applications using image sensors with laser transmitter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheong, M. K.; Bahiki, M. R.; Azrad, S.

2016-10-01

The main goal of this study is to demonstrate the approach of achieving collision avoidance on Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (QUAV) using image sensors with colour- based tracking method. A pair of high definition (HD) stereo cameras were chosen as the stereo vision sensor to obtain depth data from flat object surfaces. Laser transmitter was utilized to project high contrast tracking spot for depth calculation using common triangulation. Stereo vision algorithm was developed to acquire the distance from tracked point to QUAV and the control algorithm was designed to manipulate QUAV's response based on depth calculated. Attitude and position controller were designed using the non-linear model with the help of Optitrack motion tracking system. A number of collision avoidance flight tests were carried out to validate the performance of the stereo vision and control algorithm based on image sensors. In the results, the UAV was able to hover with fairly good accuracy in both static and dynamic collision avoidance for short range collision avoidance. Collision avoidance performance of the UAV was better with obstacle of dull surfaces in comparison to shiny surfaces. The minimum collision avoidance distance achievable was 0.4 m. The approach was suitable to be applied in short range collision avoidance.

Outdoor surface temperature measurement: ground truth or lie?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skauli, Torbjorn

2004-08-01

Contact surface temperature measurement in the field is essential in trials of thermal imaging systems and camouflage, as well as for scene modeling studies. The accuracy of such measurements is challenged by environmental factors such as sun and wind, which induce temperature gradients around a surface sensor and lead to incorrect temperature readings. In this work, a simple method is used to test temperature sensors under conditions representative of a surface whose temperature is determined by heat exchange with the environment. The tested sensors are different types of thermocouples and platinum thermistors typically used in field trials, as well as digital temperature sensors. The results illustrate that the actual measurement errors can be much larger than the specified accuracy of the sensors. The measurement error typically scales with the difference between surface temperature and ambient air temperature. Unless proper care is taken, systematic errors can easily reach 10% of this temperature difference, which is often unacceptable. Reasonably accurate readings are obtained using a miniature platinum thermistor. Thermocouples can perform well on bare metal surfaces if the connection to the surface is highly conductive. It is pointed out that digital temperature sensors have many advantages for field trials use.

Radiometric and geometric assessment of data from the RapidEye constellation of satellites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, Gyanesh; Haque, Md. Obaidul; Sampath, Aparajithan; Brunn, A.; Trosset, G.; Hoffmann, D.; Roloff, S.; Thiele, M.; Anderson, C.

2013-01-01

To monitor land surface processes over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, it is critical to have coordinated observations of the Earth's surface using imagery acquired from multiple spaceborne imaging sensors. The RapidEye (RE) satellite constellation acquires high-resolution satellite images covering the entire globe within a very short period of time by sensors identical in construction and cross-calibrated to each other. To evaluate the RE high-resolution Multi-spectral Imager (MSI) sensor capabilities, a cross-comparison between the RE constellation of sensors was performed first using image statistics based on large common areas observed over pseudo-invariant calibration sites (PICS) by the sensors and, second, by comparing the on-orbit radiometric calibration temporal trending over a large number of calibration sites. For any spectral band, the individual responses measured by the five satellites of the RE constellation were found to differ <2–3% from the average constellation response depending on the method used for evaluation. Geometric assessment was also performed to study the positional accuracy and relative band-to-band (B2B) alignment of the image data sets. The position accuracy was assessed by comparing the RE imagery against high-resolution aerial imagery, while the B2B characterization was performed by registering each band against every other band to ensure that the proper band alignment is provided for an image product. The B2B results indicate that the internal alignments of these five RE bands are in agreement, with bands typically registered to within 0.25 pixels of each other or better.

Improving the binding efficiency of quartz crystal microbalance biosensors by applying the electrothermal effect

PubMed Central

Huang, Yao-Hung; Chang, Jeng-Shian; Chao, Sheng D.; Wu, Kuang-Chong; Huang, Long-Sun

2014-01-01

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) serving as a biosensor to detect the target biomolecules (analytes) often suffers from the time consuming process, especially in the case of diffusion-limited reaction. In this experimental work, we modify the reaction chamber of a conventional QCM by integrating into the multi-microelectrodes to produce electrothermal vortex flow which can efficiently drive the analytes moving toward the sensor surface, where the analytes were captured by the immobilized ligands. The microelectrodes are placed on the top surface of the chamber opposite to the sensor, which is located on the bottom of the chamber. Besides, the height of reaction chamber is reduced to assure that the suspended analytes in the fluid can be effectively drived to the sensor surface by induced electrothermal vortex flow, and also the sample costs are saved. A series of frequency shift measurements associated with the adding mass due to the specific binding of the analytes in the fluid flow and the immobilized ligands on the QCM sensor surface are performed with or without applying electrothermal effect (ETE). The experimental results show that electrothermal vortex flow does effectively accelerate the specific binding and make the frequency shift measurement more sensible. In addition, the images of the binding surfaces of the sensors with or without applying electrothermal effect are taken through the scanning electron microscopy. By comparing the images, it also clearly indicates that ETE does raise the specific binding of the analytes and ligands and efficiently improves the performance of the QCM sensor. PMID:25538808

Modeling and Error Analysis of a Superconducting Gravity Gradiometer.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-08-01

fundamental limit to instrument - -1- sensitivity is the thermal noise of the sensor . For the gradiometer design outlined above, the best sensitivity...Mapoles at Stanford. Chapter IV determines the relation between dynamic range, the sensor Q, and the thermal noise of the cryogenic accelerometer. An...C.1 Accelerometer Optimization (1) Development and optimization of the loaded diaphragm sensor . (2) Determination of the optimal values of the

Suppression of 1/f Flux Noise in Superconducting Quantum Circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Pradeep; Freeland, John; Yu, Clare; Wu, Ruqian; Wang, Zhe; Wang, Hui; Shi, Chuntai; Pappas, David; McDermott, Robert

Low frequency 1/f magnetic flux noise is a dominant contributor to dephasing in superconducting quantum circuits. It is believed that the noise is due to a high density of unpaired magnetic defect states at the surface of the superconducting thin films. We have performed X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiments that point to adsorbed molecular oxygen as the dominant source of magnetism in these films. By improving the vacuum environment of our superconducting devices, we have achieved a significant reduction in surface magnetic susceptibility and 1/f flux noise power spectral density. These results open the door to realization of superconducting qubits with improved dephasing times. State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Wavelength-Scanning SPR Imaging Sensors Based on an Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter and a White Light Laser

PubMed Central

Zeng, Youjun; Wang, Lei; Wu, Shu-Yuen; He, Jianan; Qu, Junle; Li, Xuejin; Ho, Ho-Pui; Gu, Dayong; Gao, Bruce Zhi; Shao, Yonghong

2017-01-01

A fast surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging biosensor system based on wavelength interrogation using an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) and a white light laser is presented. The system combines the merits of a wide-dynamic detection range and high sensitivity offered by the spectral approach with multiplexed high-throughput data collection and a two-dimensional (2D) biosensor array. The key feature is the use of AOTF to realize wavelength scan from a white laser source and thus to achieve fast tracking of the SPR dip movement caused by target molecules binding to the sensor surface. Experimental results show that the system is capable of completing a SPR dip measurement within 0.35 s. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fastest time ever reported in the literature for imaging spectral interrogation. Based on a spectral window with a width of approximately 100 nm, a dynamic detection range and resolution of 4.63 × 10−2 refractive index unit (RIU) and 1.27 × 10−6 RIU achieved in a 2D-array sensor is reported here. The spectral SPR imaging sensor scheme has the capability of performing fast high-throughput detection of biomolecular interactions from 2D sensor arrays. The design has no mechanical moving parts, thus making the scheme completely solid-state. PMID:28067766

Evaluation of high temperature superconductive thermal bridges for space-borne cryogenic infrared detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, Elaine P.

1993-01-01

The focus of this research is on the reduction of the refrigeration requirements for infrared sensors operating in space through the use of high temperature superconductive (HTS) materials as electronic leads between the cooled sensors and the relatively warmer data acquisition components. Specifically, this initial study was directed towards the design of an experiment to quantify the thermal performance of these materials in the space environment. First, an intensive review of relevant literature was undertaken, and then, design requirements were formulated. From this background information, a preliminary experimental design was developed. Additional studies will involve a thermal analysis of the experiment and further modifications of the experimental design.

Dependence of transition width on current and critical current in transition-edge sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgan, K. M.; Pappas, C. G.; Bennett, D. A.; Gard, J. D.; Hays-Wehle, J. P.; Hilton, G. C.; Reintsema, C. D.; Schmidt, D. R.; Ullom, J. N.; Swetz, D. S.

2017-05-01

In superconducting transition-edge sensor X-ray detectors, we observe that as the thermal conductance (G) to the heat bath increases, the resistive transition broadens. Consequently, the sensitivity of films to deposited energy worsens. Using a two-fluid model for the superconducting-to-normal transition in a thin film, we show that this broadening can be attributed to the larger current (I0) necessary for biasing the film at a given point in the transition for higher-G devices, resulting in a higher Ic0/I0 ratio (Ic0 is the film's critical current at zero temperature). To recover a sharper transition, we fabricated rectangular films with varying numbers of internal normal-metal structures while keeping G constant, allowing the independent variation of both I0 and Ic0. We show that it is possible to manipulate the transition width and G independently, thus enabling fast thermal sensors with an excellent energy resolution.

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.

Optical surface properties and their RF limitations of European XFEL cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wenskat, Marc

2017-10-01

The inner surface of superconducting cavities plays a crucial role to achieve highest accelerating fields and low losses. The industrial fabrication of cavities for the European X-ray Free Electron Laser and the International Linear Collider HiGrade Research Project allowed for an investigation of this interplay. For the serial inspection of the inner surface, the optical inspection robot ’optical bench for automated cavity inspection with high resolution on short timescales’ OBACHT was constructed and to analyze the large amount of data, represented in the images of the inner surface, an image processing and analysis code was developed and new variables to describe the cavity surface were obtained. This quantitative analysis identified vendor-specific surface properties which allow the performance of quality control and assurance during production. In addition, a strong negative correlation of ρ =-0.93 with a significance of 6 σ of the integrated grain boundary area \\sum {A} versus the maximal achievable accelerating field {{E}}{acc,\\max } has been found.

Fast Measurement and Reconstruction of Large Workpieces with Freeform Surfaces by Combining Local Scanning and Global Position Data

PubMed Central

Chen, Zhe; Zhang, Fumin; Qu, Xinghua; Liang, Baoqiu

2015-01-01

In this paper, we propose a new approach for the measurement and reconstruction of large workpieces with freeform surfaces. The system consists of a handheld laser scanning sensor and a position sensor. The laser scanning sensor is used to acquire the surface and geometry information, and the position sensor is utilized to unify the scanning sensors into a global coordinate system. The measurement process includes data collection, multi-sensor data fusion and surface reconstruction. With the multi-sensor data fusion, errors accumulated during the image alignment and registration process are minimized, and the measuring precision is significantly improved. After the dense accurate acquisition of the three-dimensional (3-D) coordinates, the surface is reconstructed using a commercial software piece, based on the Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) surface. The system has been evaluated, both qualitatively and quantitatively, using reference measurements provided by a commercial laser scanning sensor. The method has been applied for the reconstruction of a large gear rim and the accuracy is up to 0.0963 mm. The results prove that this new combined method is promising for measuring and reconstructing the large-scale objects with complex surface geometry. Compared with reported methods of large-scale shape measurement, it owns high freedom in motion, high precision and high measurement speed in a wide measurement range. PMID:26091396

Electronic origin of high-temperature superconductivity in single-layer FeSe superconductor.

PubMed

Liu, Defa; Zhang, Wenhao; Mou, Daixiang; He, Junfeng; Ou, Yun-Bo; Wang, Qing-Yan; Li, Zhi; Wang, Lili; Zhao, Lin; He, Shaolong; Peng, Yingying; Liu, Xu; Chen, Chaoyu; Yu, Li; Liu, Guodong; Dong, Xiaoli; Zhang, Jun; Chen, Chuangtian; Xu, Zuyan; Hu, Jiangping; Chen, Xi; Ma, Xucun; Xue, Qikun; Zhou, X J

2012-07-03

The recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in iron-based compounds has attracted much attention. How to further increase the superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) and how to understand the superconductivity mechanism are two prominent issues facing the current study of iron-based superconductors. The latest report of high-T(c) superconductivity in a single-layer FeSe is therefore both surprising and significant. Here we present investigations of the electronic structure and superconducting gap of the single-layer FeSe superconductor. Its Fermi surface is distinct from other iron-based superconductors, consisting only of electron-like pockets near the zone corner without indication of any Fermi surface around the zone centre. Nearly isotropic superconducting gap is observed in this strictly two-dimensional system. The temperature dependence of the superconducting gap gives a transition temperature T(c)~ 55 K. These results have established a clear case that such a simple electronic structure is compatible with high-T(c) superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.

THE ADIABATIC DEMAGNETIZATION REFRIGERATOR FOR THE MICRO-X SOUNDING ROCKET TELESCOPE

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

Wikus, P.; Bagdasarova, Y.; Figueroa-Feliciano, E.

2010-04-09

The Micro-X Imaging X-ray Spectrometer is a sounding rocket payload slated for launch in 2011. An array of Transition Edge Sensors, which is operated at a bath temperature of 50 mK, will be used to obtain a high resolution spectrum of the Puppis-A supernova remnant. An Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (ADR) with a 75 gram Ferric Ammonium Alum (FAA) salt pill in the bore of a 4 T superconducting magnet provides a stable heat sink for the detector array only a few seconds after burnout of the rocket motors. This requires a cold stage design with very short thermal time constants.more » A suspension made from Kevlar strings holds the 255 gram cold stage in place. It is capable of withstanding loads in excess of 200 g. Stable operation of the TES array in proximity to the ADR magnet is ensured by a three-stage magnetic shielding system which consists of a superconducting can, a high-permeability shield and a bucking coil. The development and testing of the Micro-X payload is well underway.« less

A superconducting focal plane array for ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared astrophysics.

PubMed

Mazin, Benjamin A; Bumble, Bruce; Meeker, Seth R; O'Brien, Kieran; McHugh, Sean; Langman, Eric

2012-01-16

Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors, or MKIDs, have proven to be a powerful cryogenic detector technology due to their sensitivity and the ease with which they can be multiplexed into large arrays. A MKID is an energy sensor based on a photon-variable superconducting inductance in a lithographed microresonator, and is capable of functioning as a photon detector across the electromagnetic spectrum as well as a particle detector. Here we describe the first successful effort to create a photon-counting, energy-resolving ultraviolet, optical, and near infrared MKID focal plane array. These new Optical Lumped Element (OLE) MKID arrays have significant advantages over semiconductor detectors like charge coupled devices (CCDs). They can count individual photons with essentially no false counts and determine the energy and arrival time of every photon with good quantum efficiency. Their physical pixel size and maximum count rate is well matched with large telescopes. These capabilities enable powerful new astrophysical instruments usable from the ground and space. MKIDs could eventually supplant semiconductor detectors for most astronomical instrumentation, and will be useful for other disciplines such as quantum optics and biological imaging.

Detection of Obstacles in Monocular Image Sequences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kasturi, Rangachar; Camps, Octavia

1997-01-01

The ability to detect and locate runways/taxiways and obstacles in images captured using on-board sensors is an essential first step in the automation of low-altitude flight, landing, takeoff, and taxiing phase of aircraft navigation. Automation of these functions under different weather and lighting situations, can be facilitated by using sensors of different modalities. An aircraft-based Synthetic Vision System (SVS), with sensors of different modalities mounted on-board, complements the current ground-based systems in functions such as detection and prevention of potential runway collisions, airport surface navigation, and landing and takeoff in all weather conditions. In this report, we address the problem of detection of objects in monocular image sequences obtained from two types of sensors, a Passive Millimeter Wave (PMMW) sensor and a video camera mounted on-board a landing aircraft. Since the sensors differ in their spatial resolution, and the quality of the images obtained using these sensors is not the same, different approaches are used for detecting obstacles depending on the sensor type. These approaches are described separately in two parts of this report. The goal of the first part of the report is to develop a method for detecting runways/taxiways and objects on the runway in a sequence of images obtained from a moving PMMW sensor. Since the sensor resolution is low and the image quality is very poor, we propose a model-based approach for detecting runways/taxiways. We use the approximate runway model and the position information of the camera provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS) to define regions of interest in the image plane to search for the image features corresponding to the runway markers. Once the runway region is identified, we use histogram-based thresholding to detect obstacles on the runway and regions outside the runway. This algorithm is tested using image sequences simulated from a single real PMMW image.

The Spaceborne Imaging Radar program: SIR-C - The next step toward EOS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evans, Diane; Elachi, Charles; Cimino, Jobea

1987-01-01

The NASA Shuttle Imaging Radar SIR-C experiments will investigate earth surface and environment phenomena to deepen understanding of terra firma, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and atmosphere components of the earth system, capitalizing on the observational capabilities of orbiting multiparameter radar sensors alone or in combination with other sensors. The SIR-C sensor encompasses an antenna array, an exciter, receivers, a data-handling network, and the ground SAR processor. It will be possible to steer the antenna beam electronically, so that the radar look angle can be varied.

Ocean color imagery: Coastal zone color scanner

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hovis, W. A.

1975-01-01

Investigations into the feasibility of sensing ocean color from high altitude for determination of chlorophyll and sediment distributions were carried out using sensors on NASA aircraft, coordinated with surface measurements carried out by oceanographic vessels. Spectrometer measurements in 1971 and 1972 led to development of an imaging sensor now flying on a NASA U-2 and the Coastal Zone Color Scanner to fly on Nimbus G in 1978. Results of the U-2 effort show the imaging sensor to be of great value in sensing pollutants in the ocean.

Superconductivity across Lifshitz transition and anomalous insulating state in surface K-dosed (Li0.8Fe0.2OH)FeSe.

PubMed

Ren, Mingqiang; Yan, Yajun; Niu, Xiaohai; Tao, Ran; Hu, Die; Peng, Rui; Xie, Binping; Zhao, Jun; Zhang, Tong; Feng, Dong-Lai

2017-07-01

In iron-based superconductors, understanding the relation between superconductivity and electronic structure upon doping is crucial for exploring the pairing mechanism. Recently, it was found that, in iron selenide (FeSe), enhanced superconductivity ( T c of more than 40 K) can be achieved via electron doping, with the Fermi surface only comprising M-centered electron pockets. By using surface K dosing, scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we studied the electronic structure and superconductivity of (Li 0.8 Fe 0.2 OH)FeSe in the deep electron-doped regime. We find that a Γ-centered electron band, which originally lies above the Fermi level ( E F ), can be continuously tuned to cross E F and contribute a new electron pocket at Γ. When this Lifshitz transition occurs, the superconductivity in the M-centered electron pocket is slightly suppressed, and a possible superconducting gap with a small size (up to ~5 meV) and a dome-like doping dependence is observed on the new Γ electron pocket. Upon further K dosing, the system eventually evolves into an insulating state. Our findings provide new clues to understand superconductivity versus Fermi surface topology and the correlation effect in FeSe-based superconductors.

Superconductivity across Lifshitz transition and anomalous insulating state in surface K–dosed (Li0.8Fe0.2OH)FeSe

PubMed Central

Ren, Mingqiang; Yan, Yajun; Niu, Xiaohai; Tao, Ran; Hu, Die; Peng, Rui; Xie, Binping; Zhao, Jun; Zhang, Tong; Feng, Dong-Lai

2017-01-01

In iron-based superconductors, understanding the relation between superconductivity and electronic structure upon doping is crucial for exploring the pairing mechanism. Recently, it was found that, in iron selenide (FeSe), enhanced superconductivity (Tc of more than 40 K) can be achieved via electron doping, with the Fermi surface only comprising M-centered electron pockets. By using surface K dosing, scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we studied the electronic structure and superconductivity of (Li0.8Fe0.2OH)FeSe in the deep electron-doped regime. We find that a Γ-centered electron band, which originally lies above the Fermi level (EF), can be continuously tuned to cross EF and contribute a new electron pocket at Γ. When this Lifshitz transition occurs, the superconductivity in the M-centered electron pocket is slightly suppressed, and a possible superconducting gap with a small size (up to ~5 meV) and a dome-like doping dependence is observed on the new Γ electron pocket. Upon further K dosing, the system eventually evolves into an insulating state. Our findings provide new clues to understand superconductivity versus Fermi surface topology and the correlation effect in FeSe-based superconductors. PMID:28740865

Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator Field Mapping and Shielding Models for a 70 mK Superconducting Transition Edge Sensor Array and Associated Electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ladner, D. R.; Martinez-Galarce, D. S.; McCammon, D.

2006-04-01

An X-ray detection instrument to be flown on a sounding rocket experiment (the Advanced Technology Solar Spectroscopic Imager - ATSSI) for solar physics observations is being developed by the Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL). The detector is a novel class of microcalorimeter, a superconducting Transition-Edge Sensor (TES), that coupled with associated SQUID and feedback electronics requires high temperature stability at ~70 mK to resolve the energy of absorbed X-ray photons emitted from the solar corona. The cooling system incorporates an existing Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (ADR) developed at the University of Wisconsin (UW), which was previously flown to study the diffuse cosmic X-ray background. The Si thermistor detectors for that project required 130 K shielded JFET electronic components that are much less sensitive to the external field of the ADR solenoid than are the 1st (~70 mK) and 2nd (~2 K) SQUID stages used with TESs for solar observations. Modification of the Wisconsin ADR design, including TES focal plane and electronics re-positioning, therefore requires a tradeoff between the existing ADR solenoid nulling coil geometry and a low mass passive solenoid shield, while preserving the vibration isolation features of the existing design. We have developed models to accurately compute the magnetic field with and without shielding or nulling coils at critical locations to guide the re-design of the detector subsystem. The models and their application are described.

3-D surface scan of biological samples with a push-broom imaging spectrometer

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The food industry is always on the lookout for sensing technologies for rapid and nondestructive inspection of food products. Hyperspectral imaging technology integrates both imaging and spectroscopy into unique imaging sensors. Its application for food safety and quality inspection has made signifi...

Theoretical and experimental investigations of superconductivity. Amorphous semiconductors, superconductivity and magnetism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, M. H.

1973-01-01

The research activities from 1 March 1963 to 28 February 1973 are summarized. Major lectures are listed along with publications on superconductivity, superfluidity, electronic structures and Fermi surfaces of metals, optical spectra of solids, electronic structure of insulators and semiconductors, theory of magnetic metals, physics of surfaces, structures of metals, and molecular physics.

The Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bindschadler, Robert; Vornberger, P.; Fleming, A.; Fox, A.; Mullins, J.; Binnie, D.; Paulsen, S.J.; Granneman, Brian J.; Gorodetzky, D.

2008-01-01

The Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (LIMA) is the first true-color, high-spatial-resolution image of the seventh continent. It is constructed from nearly 1100 individually selected Landsat-7 ETM+ scenes. Each image was orthorectified and adjusted for geometric, sensor and illumination variations to a standardized, almost seamless surface reflectance product. Mosaicing to avoid clouds produced a high quality, nearly cloud-free benchmark data set of Antarctica for the International Polar Year from images collected primarily during 1999-2003. Multiple color composites and enhancements were generated to illustrate additional characteristics of the multispectral data including: the true appearance of the surface; discrimination between snow and bare ice; reflectance variations within bright snow; recovered reflectance values in regions of sensor saturation; and subtle topographic variations associated with ice flow. LIMA is viewable and individual scenes or user defined portions of the mosaic are downloadable at http://lima.usgs.gov. Educational materials associated with LIMA are available at http://lima.nasa.gov.

Bismuth Passivation Technique for High-Resolution X-Ray Detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chervenak, James; Hess, Larry

2013-01-01

The Athena-plus team requires X-ray sensors with energy resolution of better than one part in 3,000 at 6 keV X-rays. While bismuth is an excellent material for high X-ray stopping power and low heat capacity (for large signal when an X-ray is stopped by the absorber), oxidation of the bismuth surface can lead to electron traps and other effects that degrade the energy resolution. Bismuth oxide reduction and nitride passivation techniques analogous to those used in indium passivation are being applied in a new technique. The technique will enable improved energy resolution and resistance to aging in bismuth-absorber-coupled X-ray sensors. Elemental bismuth is lithographically integrated into X-ray detector circuits. It encounters several steps where the Bi oxidizes. The technology discussed here will remove oxide from the surface of the Bi and replace it with nitridized surface. Removal of the native oxide and passivating to prevent the growth of the oxide will improve detector performance and insulate the detector against future degradation from oxide growth. Placing the Bi coated sensor in a vacuum system, a reduction chemistry in a plasma (nitrogen/hydrogen (N2/H2) + argon) is used to remove the oxide and promote nitridization of the cleaned Bi surface. Once passivated, the Bi will perform as a better X-ray thermalizer since energy will not be trapped in the bismuth oxides on the surface. A simple additional step, which can be added at various stages of the current fabrication process, can then be applied to encapsulate the Bi film. After plasma passivation, the Bi can be capped with a non-diffusive layer of metal or dielectric. A non-superconducting layer is required such as tungsten or tungsten nitride (WNx).

Multi-sensor fusion of Landsat 8 thermal infrared (TIR) and panchromatic (PAN) images.

PubMed

Jung, Hyung-Sup; Park, Sung-Whan

2014-12-18

Data fusion is defined as the combination of data from multiple sensors such that the resulting information is better than would be possible when the sensors are used individually. The multi-sensor fusion of panchromatic (PAN) and thermal infrared (TIR) images is a good example of this data fusion. While a PAN image has higher spatial resolution, a TIR one has lower spatial resolution. In this study, we have proposed an efficient method to fuse Landsat 8 PAN and TIR images using an optimal scaling factor in order to control the trade-off between the spatial details and the thermal information. We have compared the fused images created from different scaling factors and then tested the performance of the proposed method at urban and rural test areas. The test results show that the proposed method merges the spatial resolution of PAN image and the temperature information of TIR image efficiently. The proposed method may be applied to detect lava flows of volcanic activity, radioactive exposure of nuclear power plants, and surface temperature change with respect to land-use change.

Estimation of land surface heat fluxes based on visible infrared imaging radiometer suite data: case study in northern China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiaojun; Xin, Xiaozhou; Peng, Zhiqing; Zhang, Hailong; Li, Li; Shao, Shanshan; Liu, Qinhuo

2017-10-01

Evapotranspiration (ET) plays an important role in surface-atmosphere interactions and can be monitored using remote sensing data. The visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) sensor is a generation of optical satellite sensors that provide daily global coverage at 375- to 750-m spatial resolutions with 22 spectral channels (0.412 to 12.05 μm) and capable of monitoring ET from regional to global scales. However, few studies have focused on methods of acquiring ET from VIIRS images. The objective of this study is to introduce an algorithm that uses the VIIRS data and meteorological variables to estimate the energy budgets of land surfaces, including the net radiation, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux, and latent heat fluxes. A single-source model that based on surface energy balance equation is used to obtain surface heat fluxes within the Zhangye oasis in China. The results were validated using observations collected during the HiWATER (Heihe Watershed Allied Telemetry Experimental Research) project. To facilitate comparison, we also use moderate resolution imaging spectrometer (MODIS) data to retrieve the regional surface heat fluxes. The validation results show that it is feasible to estimate the turbulent heat flux based on the VIIRS sensor and that these data have certain advantages (i.e., the mean bias error of sensible heat flux is 15.23 W m-2) compared with MODIS data (i.e., the mean bias error of sensible heat flux is -29.36 W m-2). Error analysis indicates that, in our model, the accuracies of the estimated sensible heat fluxes rely on the errors in the retrieved surface temperatures and the canopy heights.

Modeling of 1.5 μm range gated imaging for small surface vessel identification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Espinola, Richard L.; Steinvall, Ove; Elmquist, Magnus; Karlsson, Kjell

2010-10-01

Within the framework of the NATO group (NATO SET-132/RTG-72) on imaging ladars, a test was performed to collect simultaneous multi-mode LADAR signatures of maritime objects entering and leaving San Diego Harbor. Beside ladars, passive sensors were also employed during the test which occurred during April 2009 from Point Loma and the harbor in San Diego. This paper will report on 1.5 μm gated imaging on a number of small civilian surface vessels with the aim to present human perception experimental results and comparisons with sensor performance models developed by US Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD. We use controlled human perception tests to measure target identification performance and compare the experimental results with model predictions.

Accuracy of Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor using a coherent wound fibre image bundle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Jessica R.; Goodwin, Michael; Lawrence, Jon

2018-03-01

Shack-Hartmannwavefront sensors using wound fibre image bundles are desired for multi-object adaptive optical systems to provide large multiplex positioned by Starbugs. The use of a large-sized wound fibre image bundle provides the flexibility to use more sub-apertures wavefront sensor for ELTs. These compact wavefront sensors take advantage of large focal surfaces such as the Giant Magellan Telescope. The focus of this paper is to study the wound fibre image bundle structure defects effect on the centroid measurement accuracy of a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. We use the first moment centroid method to estimate the centroid of a focused Gaussian beam sampled by a simulated bundle. Spot estimation accuracy with wound fibre image bundle and its structure impact on wavefront measurement accuracy statistics are addressed. Our results show that when the measurement signal-to-noise ratio is high, the centroid measurement accuracy is dominated by the wound fibre image bundle structure, e.g. tile angle and gap spacing. For the measurement with low signal-to-noise ratio, its accuracy is influenced by the read noise of the detector instead of the wound fibre image bundle structure defects. We demonstrate this both with simulation and experimentally. We provide a statistical model of the centroid and wavefront error of a wound fibre image bundle found through experiment.

An Evaluation of ALOS Data in Disaster Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Igarashi, Tamotsu; Igarashi, Tamotsu; Furuta, Ryoich; Ono, Makoto

ALOS is the advanced land observing satellite, providing image data from onboard sensors; PRISM, AVNIR-2 and PALSAR. PRISM is the sensor of panchromatic stereo, high resolution three-line-scanner to characterize the earth surface. The accuracy of position in image and height of Digital Surface Model (DSM) are high, therefore the geographic information extraction is improved in the field of disaster applications with providing images of disaster area. Especially pan-sharpened 3D image composed with PRISM and the four-band visible near-infrared radiometer AVNIR-2 data is expected to provide information to understand the geographic and topographic feature. PALSAR is the advanced multi-functional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) operated in L-band, appropriate for the use of land surface feature characterization. PALSAR has many improvements from JERS-1/SAR, such as high sensitivity, having high resolution, polarimetric and scan SAR observation modes. PALSAR is also applicable for SAR interferometry processing. This paper describes the evaluation of ALOS data characteristic from the view point of disaster applications, through some exercise applications.

Arrays of membrane isolated yttrium-barium-copper-oxide kinetic inductance bolometers

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

Lindeman, M. A., E-mail: mark.a.lindeman@jpl.nasa.gov; Bonetti, J. A.; Bumble, B.

We are developing of arrays of membrane isolated resonator-bolometers, each with a kinetic inductance device (KID) to measure the temperature of the membrane. The KIDs are fabricated out of the high temperature superconductor YBCO to allow operation at relatively high temperatures. The bolometers are designed to offer higher sensitivity than sensors operating at 300 K, but they require less expensive and lighter weight cooling than even more sensitive conventional superconducting detectors operating at lower temperatures. The bolometer arrays are applicable as focal planes in infrared imaging spectrometers, such as for planetary science missions or earth observing satellites. We describe the devicesmore » and present measurements of their sensitivity.« less

Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor With Transmit Beamforming Based on a PMUT Array Bonded to CMOS Circuitry.

PubMed

Jiang, Xiaoyue; Tang, Hao-Yen; Lu, Yipeng; Ng, Eldwin J; Tsai, Julius M; Boser, Bernhard E; Horsley, David A

2017-09-01

In this paper, we present a single-chip 65 ×42 element ultrasonic pulse-echo fingerprint sensor with transmit (TX) beamforming based on piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers directly bonded to a CMOS readout application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The readout ASIC was realized in a standard 180-nm CMOS process with a 24-V high-voltage transistor option. Pulse-echo measurements are performed column-by-column in sequence using either one column or five columns to TX the ultrasonic pulse at 20 MHz. TX beamforming is used to focus the ultrasonic beam at the imaging plane where the finger is located, increasing the ultrasonic pressure and narrowing the 3-dB beamwidth to [Formula: see text], a factor of 6.4 narrower than nonbeamformed measurements. The surface of the sensor is coated with a poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer to provide good acoustic impedance matching to skin. Scanning laser Doppler vibrometry of the PDMS surface was used to map the ultrasonic pressure field at the imaging surface, demonstrating the expected increase in pressure, and reduction in beamwidth. Imaging experiments were conducted using both PDMS phantoms and real fingerprints. The average image contrast is increased by a factor of 1.5 when beamforming is used.

Wavelength- or Polarization-Selective Thermal Infrared Detectors for Multi-Color or Polarimetric Imaging Using Plasmonics and Metamaterials

PubMed Central

Ogawa, Shinpei; Kimata, Masafumi

2017-01-01

Wavelength- or polarization-selective thermal infrared (IR) detectors are promising for various novel applications such as fire detection, gas analysis, multi-color imaging, multi-channel detectors, recognition of artificial objects in a natural environment, and facial recognition. However, these functions require additional filters or polarizers, which leads to high cost and technical difficulties related to integration of many different pixels in an array format. Plasmonic metamaterial absorbers (PMAs) can impart wavelength or polarization selectivity to conventional thermal IR detectors simply by controlling the surface geometry of the absorbers to produce surface plasmon resonances at designed wavelengths or polarizations. This enables integration of many different pixels in an array format without any filters or polarizers. We review our recent advances in wavelength- and polarization-selective thermal IR sensors using PMAs for multi-color or polarimetric imaging. The absorption mechanism defined by the surface structures is discussed for three types of PMAs—periodic crystals, metal-insulator-metal and mushroom-type PMAs—to demonstrate appropriate applications. Our wavelength- or polarization-selective uncooled IR sensors using various PMAs and multi-color image sensors are then described. Finally, high-performance mushroom-type PMAs are investigated. These advanced functional thermal IR detectors with wavelength or polarization selectivity will provide great benefits for a wide range of applications. PMID:28772855

Wavelength- or Polarization-Selective Thermal Infrared Detectors for Multi-Color or Polarimetric Imaging Using Plasmonics and Metamaterials.

PubMed

Ogawa, Shinpei; Kimata, Masafumi

2017-05-04

Wavelength- or polarization-selective thermal infrared (IR) detectors are promising for various novel applications such as fire detection, gas analysis, multi-color imaging, multi-channel detectors, recognition of artificial objects in a natural environment, and facial recognition. However, these functions require additional filters or polarizers, which leads to high cost and technical difficulties related to integration of many different pixels in an array format. Plasmonic metamaterial absorbers (PMAs) can impart wavelength or polarization selectivity to conventional thermal IR detectors simply by controlling the surface geometry of the absorbers to produce surface plasmon resonances at designed wavelengths or polarizations. This enables integration of many different pixels in an array format without any filters or polarizers. We review our recent advances in wavelength- and polarization-selective thermal IR sensors using PMAs for multi-color or polarimetric imaging. The absorption mechanism defined by the surface structures is discussed for three types of PMAs-periodic crystals, metal-insulator-metal and mushroom-type PMAs-to demonstrate appropriate applications. Our wavelength- or polarization-selective uncooled IR sensors using various PMAs and multi-color image sensors are then described. Finally, high-performance mushroom-type PMAs are investigated. These advanced functional thermal IR detectors with wavelength or polarization selectivity will provide great benefits for a wide range of applications.

Free surfaces recast superconductivity in few-monolayer MgB2: Combined first-principles and ARPES demonstration.

PubMed

Bekaert, J; Bignardi, L; Aperis, A; van Abswoude, P; Mattevi, C; Gorovikov, S; Petaccia, L; Goldoni, A; Partoens, B; Oppeneer, P M; Peeters, F M; Milošević, M V; Rudolf, P; Cepek, C

2017-10-31

Two-dimensional materials are known to harbour properties very different from those of their bulk counterparts. Recent years have seen the rise of atomically thin superconductors, with a caveat that superconductivity is strongly depleted unless enhanced by specific substrates, intercalants or adatoms. Surprisingly, the role in superconductivity of electronic states originating from simple free surfaces of two-dimensional materials has remained elusive to date. Here, based on first-principles calculations, anisotropic Eliashberg theory, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we show that surface states in few-monolayer MgB 2 make a major contribution to the superconducting gap spectrum and density of states, clearly distinct from the widely known, bulk-like σ- and π-gaps. As a proof of principle, we predict and measure the gap opening on the magnesium-based surface band up to a critical temperature as high as ~30 K for merely six monolayers thick MgB 2 . These findings establish free surfaces as an unavoidable ingredient in understanding and further tailoring of superconductivity in atomically thin materials.

Measuring Waves and Erosion in Underwater Oil Blobs and Monitoring Other Arbitrary Surfaces with a Kinect v2 Time-of-Flight Camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butkiewicz, T.

2014-12-01

We developed free software that enables researchers to utilize Microsoft's new Kinect for Windows v2 sensor for a range of coastal and ocean mapping applications, as well as monitoring and measuring experimental scenes. While the original Kinect device used structured light and had very poor resolution, many geophysical researchers found uses for it in their experiments. The new next generation of this sensor uses time-of-flight technology, and can produce higher resolution depth measurements with an order of magnitude more accuracy. It also is capable of measurement through and under water. An analysis tool in our application lets users quickly select any arbitrary surface in the sensor's view. The tools automatically scans the surface, then calibrates and aligns a measurement volume to it. Depth readings from the sensor are converted into 3D point clouds, and points falling within this volume are projected into surface coordinates. Raster images can be output which consist of height fields aligned to the surface, generated from these projected measurements and interpolations between them. Images have a simple 1 pixel = 1 mm resolution and intensity values representing mm in height from the base-plane, which enables easy measurement and calculations to be conducted on the images in other analysis packages. Single snapshots can be taken manually on demand, or the software can monitor the surface automatically, capturing frames at preset intervals. This produces time lapse animations of dynamically changing surfaces. We apply this analysis tool to an experiment studying the behavior of underwater oil in response to flowing water of different speeds and temperatures. Blobs of viscous oils are placed in a flume apparatus, which circulates water past them. Over the course of a couple hours, the oil blobs spread out, waves slowly ripple across their surfaces, and erosions occur as smaller blobs break off from the main blob. All of this can be captured in 3D, with mm accuracy, through the water using the Kinect for Windows v2 sensor and our K2MapKit software.

Polydiacetylene liposomes with phenylboronic acid tags: a fluorescence turn-on sensor for sialic acid detection and cell-surface glycan imaging.

PubMed

Wang, Dong-En; Yan, Jiahang; Jiang, Jingjing; Liu, Xiang; Tian, Chang; Xu, Juan; Yuan, Mao-Sen; Han, Xiang; Wang, Jinyi

2018-03-01

Sialic acid (SA) located at the terminal end of glycans on cell membranes has been shown to play an important yet distinctive role in various biological and pathological processes. Effective methods for the facile, sensitive and in situ analysis of SA on living cell surfaces are of great significance in terms of clinical diagnostics and therapeutics. Here, a new polydiacetylene (PDA) liposome-based sensor system bearing phenylboronic acid (PBA) and 1,8-naphthalimide derived fluorophore moieties was developed as a fluorescence turn-on sensor for the detection of free SA in aqueous solution and the in situ imaging of SA-terminated glycans on living cell surfaces. In the sensor system, three diacetylene monomers, PCDA-pBA, PCDA-Nap and PCDA-EA, were designed and synthesized to construct the composite PDA liposome sensor. The monomer PCDA-pBA modified with PBA molecules was employed as a receptor for SA recognition, while the monomer PCDA-Nap containing a 1,8-naphthalimide derivative fluorophore was used for fluorescence signaling. When the composite PDA liposomes were formed, the energy transfer between the fluorophore and the conjugated backbone could directly quench the fluorescence of the fluorophore. In the presence of additional SA or SA abundant cells, the strong binding of SA with PBA moieties disturbed the pendent side chain conformation, resulting in the fluorescence restoration of the fluorophore. The proposed methods realized the fluorescence turn-on detection of free SA in aqueous solution and the in situ imaging of SA on living MCF-7 cell surfaces. This work provides a new potential tool for simple and selective analysis of SA on living cell membranes.

Advanced Code-Division Multiplexers for Superconducting Detector Arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irwin, K. D.; Cho, H. M.; Doriese, W. B.; Fowler, J. W.; Hilton, G. C.; Niemack, M. D.; Reintsema, C. D.; Schmidt, D. R.; Ullom, J. N.; Vale, L. R.

2012-06-01

Multiplexers based on the modulation of superconducting quantum interference devices are now regularly used in multi-kilopixel arrays of superconducting detectors for astrophysics, cosmology, and materials analysis. Over the next decade, much larger arrays will be needed. These larger arrays require new modulation techniques and compact multiplexer elements that fit within each pixel. We present a new in-focal-plane code-division multiplexer that provides multiplexing elements with the required scalability. This code-division multiplexer uses compact lithographic modulation elements that simultaneously multiplex both signal outputs and superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) detector bias voltages. It eliminates the shunt resistor used to voltage bias TES detectors, greatly reduces power dissipation, allows different dc bias voltages for each TES, and makes all elements sufficiently compact to fit inside the detector pixel area. These in-focal plane code-division multiplexers can be combined with multi-GHz readout based on superconducting microresonators to scale to even larger arrays.

Laboratory demonstrations of superconducting gravity and inertial sensors for space and airborne gravity measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paik, Ho J.; Canavan, Edgar R.; Kong, Qin; Moody, M. V.

1992-01-01

The paper describes the superconducting gravity gradiometers (SGGs) and superconducting accelerometers being developed at the University of Maryland, which take advantage of many exotic properties of superconductivity to obtain the required low noise, high stability, and large dynamic range. Results of laboratory demonstrations of some of these instruments are presented together with the design and operating principles. Particular attention is given to the three-axis Model II SGG and a six-axis superconducting accelerometer model (Model I SSA). Model II SGG, after a residual common-mode balance, exhibited a noise level of 0.05/sq rt Hz above 0.1 Hz and a 1/f-squared noise below 0.1 Hz. All six channels of Model I SSA operated simultaneously with linear and angular acceleration noise levels of 3 x 10 exp -10 g(E)/sq rt Hz and 5 x 10 exp -8 rad/sec per sec per sq rt Hz, respectively.

Addressing surface-induced loss and decoherence in superconducting quantum circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuhrer, Andreas; Mueller, Peter; Kuhlmann, Andreas; Filipp, Stefan; Deshpande, Veeresh; Drechsler, Ute

Many of the advances in coherence and fidelity of superconducting qubits have been made possible by clever engineering of the coupling to the environment and operation at noise-insensitive sweet spots. However, this leads to a compromise in experimental flexibility and device tunability, which can become inhibitive as the system size is scaled up. Material and interface related degrees of freedoms are harder to mitigate and are expected to become increasingly important in more complex systems. They impose limits both on coherence (flux-noise) and lifetimes (surface loss) of superconducting qubits. To study and eliminate these effects we have constructed a reusable UHV-compatible sample enclosure that enables us to perform various surface passivation steps before cooling superconducting devices to cryogenic temperatures. The enclosure can accommodate large chips with up to 18 microwave ports and can be vacuum sealed at pressures below 8e-10 mbar. We discuss its operation principle and present first measurement results of superconducting CPW resonators and qubit devices with and without prior surface treatments.

Drive the Dirac electrons into Cooper pairs in SrxBi2Se3

PubMed Central

Du, Guan; Shao, Jifeng; Yang, Xiong; Du, Zengyi; Fang, Delong; Wang, Jinghui; Ran, Kejing; Wen, Jinsheng; Zhang, Changjin; Yang, Huan; Zhang, Yuheng; Wen, Hai-Hu

2017-01-01

Topological superconductors are a very interesting and frontier topic in condensed matter physics. Despite the tremendous efforts in exploring topological superconductivity, its presence is however still under heavy debate. The Dirac electrons have been proven to exist on the surface of a topological insulator. It remains unclear whether and how the Dirac electrons fall into Cooper pairing in an intrinsic superconductor with the topological surface states. Here we show the systematic study of scanning tunnelling microscope/spectroscopy on the possible topological superconductor SrxBi2Se3. We first demonstrate that only the intercalated Sr atoms can induce superconductivity. Then we show the full superconducting gaps without any in-gap density of states as expected theoretically for a bulk topological superconductor. Finally, we find that the surface Dirac electrons will simultaneously condense into the superconducting state within the superconducting gap. This vividly demonstrates how the surface Dirac electrons are driven into Cooper pairs. PMID:28198378

Cryogenic thermometry for refrigerant distribution system of JT-60SA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Natsume, K.; Murakami, H.; Kizu, K.; Yoshida, K.; Koide, Y.

2015-12-01

JT-60SA is a fully superconducting fusion experimental device involving Japan and Europe. The cryogenic system supplies supercritical or gaseous helium to superconducting coils through valve boxes or coil terminal boxes and in-cryostat pipes. There are 86 temperature measurement points at 4 K along the distribution line. Resistance temperature sensors will be installed on cooling pipes in vacuum. In this work, two sensor attachment methods, two types of sensor, two thermal anchoring methods, and two sensor fixation materials have been experimentally evaluated in terms of accuracy and mass productivity. Finally, the verification test of thermometry has been conducted using the sample pipe fabricated in the same way to the production version, which has been decided by the comparison experiments. The TVO sensor is attached by the saddle method with Apiezon N grease and the measurement wires made of phosphor bronze are wound on the pipe with Stycast 2850FT as the thermal anchoring. A Cernox sensor is directly immersed in liquid helium as a reference thermometer during the experiment. The measured temperature difference between the attached one and reference one has been within ±15 mK in the range of 3.40-4.73 K. It has satisfies the accuracy requirement of 0.1 K.

Observation of topological superconductivity on the surface of an iron-based superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Peng; Yaji, Koichiro; Hashimoto, Takahiro; Ota, Yuichi; Kondo, Takeshi; Okazaki, Kozo; Wang, Zhijun; Wen, Jinsheng; Gu, G. D.; Ding, Hong; Shin, Shik

2018-04-01

Topological superconductors are predicted to host exotic Majorana states that obey non-Abelian statistics and can be used to implement a topological quantum computer. Most of the proposed topological superconductors are realized in difficult-to-fabricate heterostructures at very low temperatures. By using high-resolution spin-resolved and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we find that the iron-based superconductor FeTe1–xSex (x = 0.45; superconducting transition temperature Tc = 14.5 kelvin) hosts Dirac-cone–type spin-helical surface states at the Fermi level; the surface states exhibit an s-wave superconducting gap below Tc. Our study shows that the surface states of FeTe0.55Se0.45 are topologically superconducting, providing a simple and possibly high-temperature platform for realizing Majorana states.

Method of depositing an electrically conductive oxide buffer layer on a textured substrate and articles formed therefrom

DOEpatents

Paranthaman, M. Parans; Aytug, Tolga; Christen, David K.

2005-10-18

An article with an improved buffer layer architecture includes a substrate having a textured metal surface, and an electrically conductive lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer on the surface of the substrate. The article can also include an epitaxial superconducting layer deposited on the epitaxial buffer layer. An epitaxial capping layer can be placed between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer. A method for preparing an epitaxial article includes providing a substrate with a metal surface and depositing on the metal surface a lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer. The method can further include depositing a superconducting layer on the epitaxial buffer layer, and depositing an epitaxial capping layer between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer.

Method of depositing an electrically conductive oxide buffer layer on a textured substrate and articles formed therefrom

DOEpatents

Paranthaman, M. Parans; Aytug, Tolga; Christen, David K.

2003-09-09

An article with an improved buffer layer architecture includes a substrate having a textured metal surface, and an electrically conductive lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer on the surface of the substrate. The article can also include an epitaxial superconducting layer deposited on the epitaxial buffer layer. An epitaxial capping layer can be placed between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer. A method for preparing an epitaxial article includes providing a substrate with a metal surface and depositing on the metal surface a lanthanum metal oxide epitaxial buffer layer. The method can further include depositing a superconducting layer on the epitaxial buffer layer, and depositing an epitaxial capping layer between the epitaxial buffer layer and the superconducting layer.

Machine vision guided sensor positioning system for leaf temperature assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kim, Y.; Ling, P. P.; Janes, H. W. (Principal Investigator)

2001-01-01

A sensor positioning system was developed for monitoring plants' well-being using a non-contact sensor. Image processing algorithms were developed to identify a target region on a plant leaf. A novel algorithm to recover view depth was developed by using a camera equipped with a computer-controlled zoom lens. The methodology has improved depth recovery resolution over a conventional monocular imaging technique. An algorithm was also developed to find a maximum enclosed circle on a leaf surface so the conical field-of-view of an infrared temperature sensor could be filled by the target without peripheral noise. The center of the enclosed circle and the estimated depth were used to define the sensor 3-D location for accurate plant temperature measurement.

Photographic films as remote sensors for measuring albedos of terrestrial surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pease, S. R.; Pease, R. W.

1972-01-01

To test the feasibility of remotely measuring the albedos of terrestrial surfaces from photographic images, an inquiry was carried out at ground level using several representative common surface targets. Problems of making such measurements with a spectrally selective sensor, such as photographic film, have been compared to previous work utilizing silicon cells. Two photographic approaches have been developed: a multispectral method which utilizes two or three photographic images made through conventional multispectral filters and a single shot method which utilizes the broad spectral sensitivity of black and white infrared film. Sensitometry related to the methods substitutes a Log Albedo scale for the conventional Log Exposure for creating characteristic curves. Certain constraints caused by illumination goemetry are discussed.

Gold nanoparticle flow sensors designed for dynamic X-ray imaging in biofluids.

PubMed

Ahn, Sungsook; Jung, Sung Yong; Lee, Jin Pyung; Kim, Hae Koo; Lee, Sang Joon

2010-07-27

X-ray-based imaging is one of the most powerful and convenient methods in terms of versatility in applicable energy and high performance in use. Different from conventional nuclear medicine imaging, contrast agents are required in X-ray imaging especially for effectively targeted and molecularly specific functions. Here, in contrast to much reported static accumulation of the contrast agents in targeted organs, dynamic visualization in a living organism is successfully accomplished by the particle-traced X-ray imaging for the first time. Flow phenomena across perforated end walls of xylem vessels in rice are monitored by a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) (approximately 20 nm in diameter) as a flow tracing sensor working in nontransparent biofluids. AuNPs are surface-modified to control the hydrodynamic properties such as hydrodynamic size (DH), zeta-potential, and surface plasmonic properties in aqueous conditions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray nanoscopy (XN), and X-ray microscopy (XM) are used to correlate the interparticle interactions with X-ray absorption ability. Cluster formation and X-ray contrast ability of the AuNPs are successfully modulated by controlling the interparticle interactions evaluated as flow-tracing sensors.

Overview of the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B preliminary scientific results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elachi, C.; Cimino, J.; Settle, M.

1986-01-01

Data collected with the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) on the October 5, 1985 Shuttle mission are discussed. The design and capabilities of the sensor which operates in a fixed illumination geometry and has incidence angles between 15 and 60 deg with 1 deg increments are described. Problems encountered with the SIR-B during the mission are examined. the The radar stereo imaging capability of the sensor was verified and three-dimensional images of the earth surface were obtained. The oceanography experiments provided significant data on ocean wave and internal wave patterns, oil spills, and ice zones. The geological images revealed that the sensor can evaluate penetration effect in dry soil from buried receivers and the existence of subsurface dry channels in the Egyptian desert was validated. The use of multiincidence angle imaging to classify terrain units and derive vegetation maps and the development of terrain maps are confirmed.

a Semi-Empirical Topographic Correction Model for Multi-Source Satellite Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Sa; Tian, Xinpeng; Liu, Qiang; Wen, Jianguang; Ma, Yushuang; Song, Zhenwei

2018-04-01

Topographic correction of surface reflectance in rugged terrain areas is the prerequisite for the quantitative application of remote sensing in mountainous areas. Physics-based radiative transfer model can be applied to correct the topographic effect and accurately retrieve the reflectance of the slope surface from high quality satellite image such as Landsat8 OLI. However, as more and more images data available from various of sensors, some times we can not get the accurate sensor calibration parameters and atmosphere conditions which are needed in the physics-based topographic correction model. This paper proposed a semi-empirical atmosphere and topographic corrction model for muti-source satellite images without accurate calibration parameters.Based on this model we can get the topographic corrected surface reflectance from DN data, and we tested and verified this model with image data from Chinese satellite HJ and GF. The result shows that the correlation factor was reduced almost 85 % for near infrared bands and the classification overall accuracy of classification increased 14 % after correction for HJ. The reflectance difference of slope face the sun and face away the sun have reduced after correction.

Inducing superconductivity in Weyl semimetal microstructures by selective ion sputtering.

PubMed

Bachmann, Maja D; Nair, Nityan; Flicker, Felix; Ilan, Roni; Meng, Tobias; Ghimire, Nirmal J; Bauer, Eric D; Ronning, Filip; Analytis, James G; Moll, Philip J W

2017-05-01

By introducing a superconducting gap in Weyl or Dirac semimetals, the superconducting state inherits the nontrivial topology of their electronic structure. As a result, Weyl superconductors are expected to host exotic phenomena, such as nonzero-momentum pairing due to their chiral node structure, or zero-energy Majorana modes at the surface. These are of fundamental interest to improve our understanding of correlated topological systems, and, moreover, practical applications in phase-coherent devices and quantum applications have been proposed. Proximity-induced superconductivity promises to allow these experiments on nonsuperconducting Weyl semimetals. We show a new route to reliably fabricate superconducting microstructures from the nonsuperconducting Weyl semimetal NbAs under ion irradiation. The significant difference in the surface binding energy of Nb and As leads to a natural enrichment of Nb at the surface during ion milling, forming a superconducting surface layer ( T c ~ 3.5 K). Being formed from the target crystal itself, the ideal contact between the superconductor and the bulk may enable an effective gapping of the Weyl nodes in the bulk because of the proximity effect. Simple ion irradiation may thus serve as a powerful tool for the fabrication of topological quantum devices from monoarsenides, even on an industrial scale.

Inducing superconductivity in Weyl semimetal microstructures by selective ion sputtering

PubMed Central

Bachmann, Maja D.; Nair, Nityan; Flicker, Felix; Ilan, Roni; Meng, Tobias; Ghimire, Nirmal J.; Bauer, Eric D.; Ronning, Filip; Analytis, James G.; Moll, Philip J. W.

2017-01-01

By introducing a superconducting gap in Weyl or Dirac semimetals, the superconducting state inherits the nontrivial topology of their electronic structure. As a result, Weyl superconductors are expected to host exotic phenomena, such as nonzero-momentum pairing due to their chiral node structure, or zero-energy Majorana modes at the surface. These are of fundamental interest to improve our understanding of correlated topological systems, and, moreover, practical applications in phase-coherent devices and quantum applications have been proposed. Proximity-induced superconductivity promises to allow these experiments on nonsuperconducting Weyl semimetals. We show a new route to reliably fabricate superconducting microstructures from the nonsuperconducting Weyl semimetal NbAs under ion irradiation. The significant difference in the surface binding energy of Nb and As leads to a natural enrichment of Nb at the surface during ion milling, forming a superconducting surface layer (Tc ~ 3.5 K). Being formed from the target crystal itself, the ideal contact between the superconductor and the bulk may enable an effective gapping of the Weyl nodes in the bulk because of the proximity effect. Simple ion irradiation may thus serve as a powerful tool for the fabrication of topological quantum devices from monoarsenides, even on an industrial scale. PMID:28560340

Contact CMOS imaging of gaseous oxygen sensor array

PubMed Central

Daivasagaya, Daisy S.; Yao, Lei; Yi Yung, Ka; Hajj-Hassan, Mohamad; Cheung, Maurice C.; Chodavarapu, Vamsy P.; Bright, Frank V.

2014-01-01

We describe a compact luminescent gaseous oxygen (O2) sensor microsystem based on the direct integration of sensor elements with a polymeric optical filter and placed on a low power complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager integrated circuit (IC). The sensor operates on the measurement of excited-state emission intensity of O2-sensitive luminophore molecules tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) ([Ru(dpp)3]2+) encapsulated within sol–gel derived xerogel thin films. The polymeric optical filter is made with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that is mixed with a dye (Sudan-II). The PDMS membrane surface is molded to incorporate arrays of trapezoidal microstructures that serve to focus the optical sensor signals on to the imager pixels. The molded PDMS membrane is then attached with the PDMS color filter. The xerogel sensor arrays are contact printed on top of the PDMS trapezoidal lens-like microstructures. The CMOS imager uses a 32 × 32 (1024 elements) array of active pixel sensors and each pixel includes a high-gain phototransistor to convert the detected optical signals into electrical currents. Correlated double sampling circuit, pixel address, digital control and signal integration circuits are also implemented on-chip. The CMOS imager data is read out as a serial coded signal. The CMOS imager consumes a static power of 320 µW and an average dynamic power of 625 µW when operating at 100 Hz sampling frequency and 1.8 V DC. This CMOS sensor system provides a useful platform for the development of miniaturized optical chemical gas sensors. PMID:24493909

Contact CMOS imaging of gaseous oxygen sensor array.

PubMed

Daivasagaya, Daisy S; Yao, Lei; Yi Yung, Ka; Hajj-Hassan, Mohamad; Cheung, Maurice C; Chodavarapu, Vamsy P; Bright, Frank V

2011-10-01

We describe a compact luminescent gaseous oxygen (O 2 ) sensor microsystem based on the direct integration of sensor elements with a polymeric optical filter and placed on a low power complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager integrated circuit (IC). The sensor operates on the measurement of excited-state emission intensity of O 2 -sensitive luminophore molecules tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) ([Ru(dpp) 3 ] 2+ ) encapsulated within sol-gel derived xerogel thin films. The polymeric optical filter is made with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that is mixed with a dye (Sudan-II). The PDMS membrane surface is molded to incorporate arrays of trapezoidal microstructures that serve to focus the optical sensor signals on to the imager pixels. The molded PDMS membrane is then attached with the PDMS color filter. The xerogel sensor arrays are contact printed on top of the PDMS trapezoidal lens-like microstructures. The CMOS imager uses a 32 × 32 (1024 elements) array of active pixel sensors and each pixel includes a high-gain phototransistor to convert the detected optical signals into electrical currents. Correlated double sampling circuit, pixel address, digital control and signal integration circuits are also implemented on-chip. The CMOS imager data is read out as a serial coded signal. The CMOS imager consumes a static power of 320 µW and an average dynamic power of 625 µW when operating at 100 Hz sampling frequency and 1.8 V DC. This CMOS sensor system provides a useful platform for the development of miniaturized optical chemical gas sensors.

A high-sensitivity magnetocardiography system with a divided gradiometer array inside a low boil-off Dewar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Y. H.; Yu, K. K.; Kim, J. M.; Kwon, H.; Kim, K.

2009-11-01

We fabricated a low-noise 64-channel first-order axial gradiometer system for measuring magnetocardiography (MCG) signals. The key technical features of the system are the compact structure of the gradiometer, division of the sensor array plate, direct mounting of the sensor plates into the Dewar bottom, reduced neck diameter of the liquid He Dewar, and compact readout electronics. To make the refill interval of liquid He longer, the distance between the compensation coil of the gradiometer and the input coil pads of the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) was reduced to 20 mm. By using direct ultrasonic bonding of Nb wires between the pickup coil wires and input coil pads, the superconductive connection structure became simple. The baseline of the first-order gradiometer is 70 mm, a little longer than for typical conventional axial gradiometers, to provide a larger signal amplitude for deep sources. The 64-channel gradiometer array consists of four blocks, and each block is fixed separately onto the bottom of the Dewar. The neck diameter of the He Dewar (192 mm) is smaller than the bottom diameter (280 mm) in which the gradiometers are distributed. The average boil-off rate of the Dewar is 3 l per day when the 64-channel system is in operation every day. Double relaxation oscillation SQUIDs (DROSs) having large flux-to-voltage transfer coefficients were used to operate SQUIDs via compact electronics. The magnetically shielded room (MSR) has a wall thickness of 80 mm, and consists of two layers of permalloy and one layer of aluminum. When the 64-channel system was installed inside the MSR, the field noise level of the system was about 3.5 fTrms Hz-1/2 at 100 Hz. MCG measurements with high signal quality were done successfully using the developed system. In addition to the parameter analysis method, we developed software for the three-dimensional imaging of the myocardial current on a realistic image of the heart based on the anatomical image of the torso.

Noninvasive, three-dimensional full-field body sensor for surface deformation monitoring of human body in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Zhenning; Shao, Xinxing; He, Xiaoyuan; Wu, Jialin; Xu, Xiangyang; Zhang, Jinlin

2017-09-01

Noninvasive, three-dimensional (3-D), full-field surface deformation measurements of the human body are important for biomedical investigations. We proposed a 3-D noninvasive, full-field body sensor based on stereo digital image correlation (stereo-DIC) for surface deformation monitoring of the human body in vivo. First, by applying an improved water-transfer printing (WTP) technique to transfer optimized speckle patterns onto the skin, the body sensor was conveniently and harmlessly fabricated directly onto the human body. Then, stereo-DIC was used to achieve 3-D noncontact and noninvasive surface deformation measurements. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed body sensor were verified and discussed by considering different complexions. Moreover, the fabrication of speckle patterns on human skin, which has always been considered a challenging problem, was shown to be feasible, effective, and harmless as a result of the improved WTP technique. An application of the proposed stereo-DIC-based body sensor was demonstrated by measuring the pulse wave velocity of human carotid artery.

Cross-calibration of MODIS with ETM+ and ALI sensors for long-term monitoring of land surface processes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Meyer, D.; Chander, G.

2006-01-01

Increasingly, data from multiple sensors are used to gain a more complete understanding of land surface processes at a variety of scales. Although higher-level products (e.g., vegetation cover, albedo, surface temperature) derived from different sensors can be validated independently, the degree to which these sensors and their products can be compared to one another is vastly improved if their relative spectroradiometric responses are known. Most often, sensors are directly calibrated to diffuse solar irradiation or vicariously to ground targets. However, space-based targets are not traceable to metrological standards, and vicarious calibrations are expensive and provide a poor sampling of a sensor's full dynamic range. Crosscalibration of two sensors can augment these methods if certain conditions can be met: (1) the spectral responses are similar, (2) the observations are reasonably concurrent (similar atmospheric & solar illumination conditions), (3) errors due to misregistrations of inhomogeneous surfaces can be minimized (including scale differences), and (4) the viewing geometry is similar (or, some reasonable knowledge of surface bi-directional reflectance distribution functions is available). This study explores the impacts of cross-calibrating sensors when such conditions are met to some degree but not perfectly. In order to constrain the range of conditions at some level, the analysis is limited to sensors where cross-calibration studies have been conducted (Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) on Landsat-7 (L7), Advance Land Imager (ALI) and Hyperion on Earth Observer-1 (EO-1)) and including systems having somewhat dissimilar geometry, spatial resolution & spectral response characteristics but are still part of the so-called "A.M. constellation" (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra platform). Measures for spectral response differences and methods for cross calibrating such sensors are provided in this study. These instruments are cross calibrated using the Railroad Valley playa in Nevada. Best fit linear coefficients (slope and offset) are provided for ALI-to-MODIS and ETM+-to-MODIS cross calibrations, and root-mean-squared errors (RMSEs) and correlation coefficients are provided to quantify the uncertainty in these relationships. In theory, the linear fits and uncertainties can be used to compare radiance and reflectance products derived from each instrument.

Common electronic origin of superconductivity in (Li,Fe)OHFeSe bulk superconductor and single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films.

PubMed

Zhao, Lin; Liang, Aiji; Yuan, Dongna; Hu, Yong; Liu, Defa; Huang, Jianwei; He, Shaolong; Shen, Bing; Xu, Yu; Liu, Xu; Yu, Li; Liu, Guodong; Zhou, Huaxue; Huang, Yulong; Dong, Xiaoli; Zhou, Fang; Liu, Kai; Lu, Zhongyi; Zhao, Zhongxian; Chen, Chuangtian; Xu, Zuyan; Zhou, X J

2016-02-08

The mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors remains an outstanding issue in condensed matter physics. The electronic structure plays an essential role in dictating superconductivity. Recent revelation of distinct electronic structure and high-temperature superconductivity in the single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films provides key information on the role of Fermi surface topology and interface in inducing or enhancing superconductivity. Here we report high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission measurements on the electronic structure and superconducting gap of an FeSe-based superconductor, (Li0.84Fe0.16)OHFe0.98Se, with a Tc at 41 K. We find that this single-phase bulk superconductor shows remarkably similar electronic behaviours to that of the superconducting single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films in terms of Fermi surface topology, band structure and the gap symmetry. These observations provide new insights in understanding high-temperature superconductivity in the single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films and the mechanism of superconductivity in the bulk iron-based superconductors.

Image sensor with motion artifact supression and anti-blooming

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pain, Bedabrata (Inventor); Wrigley, Chris (Inventor); Yang, Guang (Inventor); Yadid-Pecht, Orly (Inventor)

2006-01-01

An image sensor includes pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each pixel includes a photoactive region in the semiconductor substrate, a sense node, and a power supply node. A first electrode is disposed near a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bias signal on the first electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the sense node. A second electrode is disposed near the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bias signal on the second electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the power supply node. The image sensor includes a controller that causes bias signals to be provided to the electrodes so that photocharges generated in the photoactive region are accumulated in the photoactive region during a pixel integration period, the accumulated photocharges are transferred to the sense node during a charge transfer period, and photocharges generated in the photoactive region are transferred to the power supply node during a third period without passing through the sense node. The imager can operate at high shutter speeds with simultaneous integration of pixels in the array. High quality images can be produced free from motion artifacts. High quantum efficiency, good blooming control, low dark current, low noise and low image lag can be obtained.

Front-end multiplexing—applied to SQUID multiplexing: Athena X-IFU and QUBIC experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prele, D.

2015-08-01

As we have seen for digital camera market and a sensor resolution increasing to "megapixels", all the scientific and high-tech imagers (whatever the wave length - from radio to X-ray range) tends also to always increases the pixels number. So the constraints on front-end signals transmission increase too. An almost unavoidable solution to simplify integration of large arrays of pixels is front-end multiplexing. Moreover, "simple" and "efficient" techniques allow integration of read-out multiplexers in the focal plane itself. For instance, CCD (Charge Coupled Device) technology has boost number of pixels in digital camera. Indeed, this is exactly a planar technology which integrates both the sensors and a front-end multiplexed readout. In this context, front-end multiplexing techniques will be discussed for a better understanding of their advantages and their limits. Finally, the cases of astronomical instruments in the millimeter and in the X-ray ranges using SQUID (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device) will be described.

On-chip integration of a superconducting microwave circulator and a Josephson parametric amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenthal, Eric I.; Chapman, Benjamin J.; Moores, Bradley A.; Kerckhoff, Joseph; Malnou, Maxime; Palken, D. A.; Mates, J. A. B.; Hilton, G. C.; Vale, L. R.; Ullom, J. N.; Lehnert, K. W.

Recent progress in microwave amplification based on parametric processes in superconducting circuits has revolutionized the measurement of feeble microwave signals. These devices, which operate near the quantum limit, are routinely used in ultralow temperature cryostats to: readout superconducting qubits, search for axionic dark matter, and characterize astrophysical sensors. However, these amplifiers often require ferrite circulators to separate incoming and outgoing traveling waves. For this reason, measurement efficiency and scalability are limited. In order to facilitate the routing of quantum signals we have created a superconducting, on-chip microwave circulator without permanent magnets. We integrate our circulator on-chip with a Josephson parametric amplifier for the purpose of near quantum-limited directional amplification. In this talk I will present a design overview and preliminary measurements.

Improved Sensing Coils for SQUIDs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Penanen, Konstantin; Hahn, Inseob; Eom, Byeong Ho

2007-01-01

An improvement in the design and fabrication of sensing coils of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometers has been proposed to increase sensitivity. It has been estimated that, in some cases, it would be possible to increase sensitivity by about half or to reduce measurement time correspondingly. The pertinent aspects of the problems of design and fabrication can be summarized as follows: In general, to increase the sensitivity of a SQUID magnetometer, it is necessary to maximize the magnetic flux enclosed by the sensing coil while minimizing the self-inductance of this coil. It is often beneficial to fabricate the coil from a thicker wire to reduce its self-inductance. Moreover, to optimize the design of the coil with respect to sensitivity, it may be necessary to shape the wire to other than a commonly available circular or square cross-section. On the other hand, it is not practical to use thicker superconducting wire for the entire superconducting circuit, especially if the design of a specific device requires a persistent-current loop enclosing a remotely placed SQUID sensor. It may be possible to bond a thicker sensing-coil wire to thinner superconducting wires leading to a SQUID sensor, but it could be difficult to ensure reliable superconducting connections, especially if the bonded wires are made of different materials. The main idea is to mold the sensing coil in place, to more nearly optimum cross sectional shape, instead of making the coil by winding standard pre-fabricated wire. For this purpose, a thin superconducting wire loop that is an essential part of the SQUID magnetometer would be encapsulated in a form that would serve as a mold. A low-melting-temperature superconducting metal (e.g., indium, tin, or a lead/tin alloy) would be melted into the form, which would be sized and shaped to impart the required cross section to the coil thus formed.

Method and apparatus for sensor fusion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krishen, Kumar (Inventor); Shaw, Scott (Inventor); Defigueiredo, Rui J. P. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

Method and apparatus for fusion of data from optical and radar sensors by error minimization procedure is presented. The method was applied to the problem of shape reconstruction of an unknown surface at a distance. The method involves deriving an incomplete surface model from an optical sensor. The unknown characteristics of the surface are represented by some parameter. The correct value of the parameter is computed by iteratively generating theoretical predictions of the radar cross sections (RCS) of the surface, comparing the predicted and the observed values for the RCS, and improving the surface model from results of the comparison. Theoretical RCS may be computed from the surface model in several ways. One RCS prediction technique is the method of moments. The method of moments can be applied to an unknown surface only if some shape information is available from an independent source. The optical image provides the independent information.

Improvement in absolute calibration accuracy of Landsat-5 TM with Landsat-7 ETM+ data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, G.; Markham, B.L.; Micijevic, E.; Teillet, P.M.; Helder, D.L.; ,

2005-01-01

The ability to detect and quantify changes in the Earth's environment depends on satellites sensors that can provide calibrated, consistent measurements of Earth's surface features through time. A critical step in this process is to put image data from subsequent generations of sensors onto a common radiometric scale. To evaluate Landsat-5 (L5) Thematic Mapper's (TM) utility in this role, image pairs from the L5 TM and Landsat-7 (L7) Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensors were compared. This approach involves comparison of surface observations based on image statistics from large common areas observed eight days apart by the two sensors. The results indicate a significant improvement in the consistency of L5 TM data with respect to L7 ETM+ data, achieved using a revised Look-Up-Table (LUT) procedure as opposed to the historical Internal Calibrator (IC) procedure previously used in the L5 TM product generation system. The average percent difference in reflectance estimates obtained from the L5 TM agree with those from the L7 ETM+ in the Visible and Near Infrared (VNIR) bands to within four percent and in the Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) bands to within six percent.

Optical flows method for lightweight agile remote sensor design and instrumentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chong; Xing, Fei; Wang, Hongjian; You, Zheng

2013-08-01

Lightweight agile remote sensors have become one type of the most important payloads and were widely utilized in space reconnaissance and resource survey. These imaging sensors are designed to obtain the high spatial, temporary and spectral resolution imageries. Key techniques in instrumentation include flexible maneuvering, advanced imaging control algorithms and integrative measuring techniques, which are closely correlative or even acting as the bottle-necks for each other. Therefore, mutual restrictive problems must be solved and optimized. Optical flow is the critical model which to be fully represented in the information transferring as well as radiation energy flowing in dynamic imaging. For agile sensors, especially with wide-field-of view, imaging optical flows may distort and deviate seriously when they perform large angle attitude maneuvering imaging. The phenomena are mainly attributed to the geometrical characteristics of the three-dimensional earth surface as well as the coupled effects due to the complicated relative motion between the sensor and scene. Under this circumstance, velocity fields distribute nonlinearly, the imageries may badly be smeared or probably the geometrical structures are changed since the image velocity matching errors are not having been eliminated perfectly. In this paper, precise imaging optical flow model is established for agile remote sensors, for which optical flows evolving is factorized by two forms, which respectively due to translational movement and image shape changing. Moreover, base on that, agile remote sensors instrumentation was investigated. The main techniques which concern optical flow modeling include integrative design with lightweight star sensors along with micro inertial measurement units and corresponding data fusion, the assemblies of focal plane layout and control, imageries post processing for agile remote sensors etc. Some experiments show that the optical analyzing method is effective to eliminate the limitations for the performance indexes, and succeeded to be applied for integrative system design. Finally, a principle prototype of agile remote sensor designed by the method is discussed.

Active laser radar (lidar) for measurement of corresponding height and reflectance images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Froehlich, Christoph; Mettenleiter, M.; Haertl, F.

1997-08-01

For the survey and inspection of environmental objects, a non-tactile, robust and precise imaging of height and depth is the basis sensor technology. For visual inspection,surface classification, and documentation purposes, however, additional information concerning reflectance of measured objects is necessary. High-speed acquisition of both geometric and visual information is achieved by means of an active laser radar, supporting consistent 3D height and 2D reflectance images. The laser radar is an optical-wavelength system, and is comparable to devices built by ERIM, Odetics, and Perceptron, measuring the range between sensor and target surfaces as well as the reflectance of the target surface, which corresponds to the magnitude of the back scattered laser energy. In contrast to these range sensing devices, the laser radar under consideration is designed for high speed and precise operation in both indoor and outdoor environments, emitting a minimum of near-IR laser energy. It integrates a laser range measurement system and a mechanical deflection system for 3D environmental measurements. This paper reports on design details of the laser radar for surface inspection tasks. It outlines the performance requirements and introduces the measurement principle. The hardware design, including the main modules, such as the laser head, the high frequency unit, the laser beam deflection system, and the digital signal processing unit are discussed.the signal processing unit consists of dedicated signal processors for real-time sensor data preprocessing as well as a sensor computer for high-level image analysis and feature extraction. The paper focuses on performance data of the system, including noise, drift over time, precision, and accuracy with measurements. It discuses the influences of ambient light, surface material of the target, and ambient temperature for range accuracy and range precision. Furthermore, experimental results from inspection of buildings, monuments and industrial environments are presented. The paper concludes by summarizing results achieved in industrial environments and gives a short outlook to future work.

Scaling of surface energy fluxes using remotely sensed data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

French, Andrew Nichols

Accurate estimates of evapotranspiration (ET) across multiple terrains would greatly ease challenges faced by hydrologists, climate modelers, and agronomists as they attempt to apply theoretical models to real-world situations. One ET estimation approach uses an energy balance model to interpret a combination of meteorological observations taken at the surface and data captured by remote sensors. However, results of this approach have not been accurate because of poor understanding of the relationship between surface energy flux and land cover heterogeneity, combined with limits in available resolution of remote sensors. The purpose of this study was to determine how land cover and image resolution affect ET estimates. Using remotely sensed data collected over El Reno, Oklahoma, during four days in June and July 1997, scale effects on the estimation of spatially distributed ET were investigated. Instantaneous estimates of latent and sensible heat flux were calculated using a two-source surface energy balance model driven by thermal infrared, visible-near infrared, and meteorological data. The heat flux estimates were verified by comparison to independent eddy-covariance observations. Outcomes of observations taken at coarser resolutions were simulated by aggregating remote sensor data and estimated surface energy balance components from the finest sensor resolution (12 meter) to hypothetical resolutions as coarse as one kilometer. Estimated surface energy flux components were found to be significantly dependent on observation scale. For example, average evaporative fraction varied from 0.79, using 12-m resolution data, to 0.93, using 1-km resolution data. Resolution effects upon flux estimates were related to a measure of landscape heterogeneity known as operational scale, reflecting the size of dominant landscape features. Energy flux estimates based on data at resolutions less than 100 m and much greater than 400 m showed a scale-dependent bias. But estimates derived from data taken at about 400-m resolution (the operational scale at El Reno) were susceptible to large error due to mixing of surface types. The El Reno experiments show that accurate instantaneous estimates of ET require precise image alignment and image resolutions finer than landscape operational scale. These findings are valuable for the design of sensors and experiments to quantify spatially-varying hydrologic processes.

Observation of topological superconductivity on the surface of an iron-based superconductor

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Peng; Yaji, Koichiro; Hashimoto, Takahiro; ...

2018-03-08

Topological superconductors are predicted to host exotic Majorana states that obey non-Abelian statistics and can be used to implement a topological quantum computer. Most of the proposed topological superconductors are realized in difficult-to-fabricate heterostructures at very low temperatures. By using high-resolution spin-resolved and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we find that the iron-based superconductor FeTe 1–xSe x (x = 0.45; superconducting transition temperature T c = 14.5 kelvin) hosts Dirac-cone–type spin-helical surface states at the Fermi level; the surface states exhibit an s-wave superconducting gap below T c. Thus, our study shows that the surface states of FeTe 0.55Se 0.45 are topologicallymore » superconducting, providing a simple and possibly high-temperature platform for realizing Majorana states.« less

Observation of topological superconductivity on the surface of an iron-based superconductor

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

Zhang, Peng; Yaji, Koichiro; Hashimoto, Takahiro

Topological superconductors are predicted to host exotic Majorana states that obey non-Abelian statistics and can be used to implement a topological quantum computer. Most of the proposed topological superconductors are realized in difficult-to-fabricate heterostructures at very low temperatures. By using high-resolution spin-resolved and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we find that the iron-based superconductor FeTe 1–xSe x (x = 0.45; superconducting transition temperature T c = 14.5 kelvin) hosts Dirac-cone–type spin-helical surface states at the Fermi level; the surface states exhibit an s-wave superconducting gap below T c. Thus, our study shows that the surface states of FeTe 0.55Se 0.45 are topologicallymore » superconducting, providing a simple and possibly high-temperature platform for realizing Majorana states.« less

Sensor fusion V; Proceedings of the Meeting, Boston, MA, Nov. 15-17, 1992

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schenker, Paul S. (Editor)

1992-01-01

Topics addressed include 3D object perception, human-machine interface in multisensor systems, sensor fusion architecture, fusion of multiple and distributed sensors, interface and decision models for sensor fusion, computational networks, simple sensing for complex action, multisensor-based control, and metrology and calibration of multisensor systems. Particular attention is given to controlling 3D objects by sketching 2D views, the graphical simulation and animation environment for flexible structure robots, designing robotic systems from sensorimotor modules, cylindrical object reconstruction from a sequence of images, an accurate estimation of surface properties by integrating information using Bayesian networks, an adaptive fusion model for a distributed detection system, multiple concurrent object descriptions in support of autonomous navigation, robot control with multiple sensors and heuristic knowledge, and optical array detectors for image sensors calibration. (No individual items are abstracted in this volume)

A Negative Index Metamaterial-Inspired UWB Antenna with an Integration of Complementary SRR and CLS Unit Cells for Microwave Imaging Sensor Applications

PubMed Central

Islam, Mohammad Tariqul; Islam, Md. Moinul; Samsuzzaman, Md.; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal; Misran, Norbahiah

2015-01-01

This paper presents a negative index metamaterial incorporated UWB antenna with an integration of complementary SRR (split-ring resonator) and CLS (capacitive loaded strip) unit cells for microwave imaging sensor applications. This metamaterial UWB antenna sensor consists of four unit cells along one axis, where each unit cell incorporates a complementary SRR and CLS pair. This integration enables a design layout that allows both a negative value of permittivity and a negative value of permeability simultaneous, resulting in a durable negative index to enhance the antenna sensor performance for microwave imaging sensor applications. The proposed MTM antenna sensor was designed and fabricated on an FR4 substrate having a thickness of 1.6 mm and a dielectric constant of 4.6. The electrical dimensions of this antenna sensor are 0.20 λ × 0.29 λ at a lower frequency of 3.1 GHz. This antenna sensor achieves a 131.5% bandwidth (VSWR < 2) covering the frequency bands from 3.1 GHz to more than 15 GHz with a maximum gain of 6.57 dBi. High fidelity factor and gain, smooth surface-current distribution and nearly omni-directional radiation patterns with low cross-polarization confirm that the proposed negative index UWB antenna is a promising entrant in the field of microwave imaging sensors. PMID:26007721

A Negative Index Metamaterial-Inspired UWB Antenna with an Integration of Complementary SRR and CLS Unit Cells for Microwave Imaging Sensor Applications.

PubMed

Islam, Mohammad Tariqul; Islam, Md Moinul; Samsuzzaman, Md; Faruque, Mohammad Rashed Iqbal; Misran, Norbahiah

2015-05-20

This paper presents a negative index metamaterial incorporated UWB antenna with an integration of complementary SRR (split-ring resonator) and CLS (capacitive loaded strip) unit cells for microwave imaging sensor applications. This metamaterial UWB antenna sensor consists of four unit cells along one axis, where each unit cell incorporates a complementary SRR and CLS pair. This integration enables a design layout that allows both a negative value of permittivity and a negative value of permeability simultaneous, resulting in a durable negative index to enhance the antenna sensor performance for microwave imaging sensor applications. The proposed MTM antenna sensor was designed and fabricated on an FR4 substrate having a thickness of 1.6 mm and a dielectric constant of 4.6. The electrical dimensions of this antenna sensor are 0.20 λ × 0.29 λ at a lower frequency of 3.1 GHz. This antenna sensor achieves a 131.5% bandwidth (VSWR < 2) covering the frequency bands from 3.1 GHz to more than 15 GHz with a maximum gain of 6.57 dBi. High fidelity factor and gain, smooth surface-current distribution and nearly omni-directional radiation patterns with low cross-polarization confirm that the proposed negative index UWB antenna is a promising entrant in the field of microwave imaging sensors.

Magnetic-graphitic-nanocapsule templated diacetylene assembly and photopolymerization for sensing and multicoded anti-counterfeiting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nie, Xiang-Kun; Xu, Yi-Ting; Song, Zhi-Ling; Ding, Ding; Gao, Feng; Liang, Hao; Chen, Long; Bian, Xia; Chen, Zhuo; Tan, Weihong

2014-10-01

Molecular self-assembly, a process to design molecular entities to aggregate into desired structures, represents a promising bottom-up route towards precise construction of functional systems. Here we report a multifunctional, self-assembled system based on magnetic-graphitic-nanocapsule (MGN) templated diacetylene assembly and photopolymerization. The as-prepared assembly system maintains the unique color and fluorescence change properties of the polydiacetylene (PDA) polymers, while also pursues the superior Raman, NIR, magnetic and superconducting properties from the MGN template. Based on both fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 relaxivity, the MGN@PDA system could efficiently monitor the pH variations which could be used as a pH sensor. The MGN@PDA system further demonstrates potential as unique ink for anti-counterfeiting applications. Reversible color change, strong and unique Raman scattering and fluorescence emission, sensitive NIR thermal response, and distinctive magnetic properties afford this assembly system with multicoded anti-counterfeiting capabilities.Molecular self-assembly, a process to design molecular entities to aggregate into desired structures, represents a promising bottom-up route towards precise construction of functional systems. Here we report a multifunctional, self-assembled system based on magnetic-graphitic-nanocapsule (MGN) templated diacetylene assembly and photopolymerization. The as-prepared assembly system maintains the unique color and fluorescence change properties of the polydiacetylene (PDA) polymers, while also pursues the superior Raman, NIR, magnetic and superconducting properties from the MGN template. Based on both fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 relaxivity, the MGN@PDA system could efficiently monitor the pH variations which could be used as a pH sensor. The MGN@PDA system further demonstrates potential as unique ink for anti-counterfeiting applications. Reversible color change, strong and unique Raman scattering and fluorescence emission, sensitive NIR thermal response, and distinctive magnetic properties afford this assembly system with multicoded anti-counterfeiting capabilities. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr03837a

Optical Inspection In Hostile Industrial Environments: Single-Sensor VS. Imaging Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cielo, P.; Dufour, M.; Sokalski, A.

1988-11-01

On-line and unsupervised industrial inspection for quality control and process monitoring is increasingly required in the modern automated factory. Optical techniques are particularly well suited to industrial inspection in hostile environments because of their noncontact nature, fast response time and imaging capabilities. Optical sensors can be used for remote inspection of high temperature products or otherwise inaccessible parts, provided they are in a line-of-sight relation with the sensor. Moreover, optical sensors are much easier to adapt to a variety of part shapes, position or orientation and conveyor speeds as compared to contact-based sensors. This is an important requirement in a flexible automation environment. A number of choices are possible in the design of optical inspection systems. General-purpose two-dimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) imaging techniques have advanced very rapidly in the last years thanks to a substantial research effort as well as to the availability of increasingly powerful and affordable hardware and software. Imaging can be realized using 2-D arrays or simpler one-dimensional (1-D) line-array detectors. Alternatively, dedicated single-spot sensors require a smaller amount of data processing and often lead to robust sensors which are particularly appropriate to on-line operation in hostile industrial environments. Many specialists now feel that dedicated sensors or clusters of sensors are often more effective for specific industrial automation and control tasks, at least in the short run. This paper will discuss optomechanical and electro-optical choices with reference to the design of a number of on-line inspection sensors which have been recently developed at our institute. Case studies will include real-time surface roughness evaluation on polymer cables extruded at high speed, surface characterization of hot-rolled or galvanized-steel sheets, temperature evaluation and pinhole detection in aluminum foil, multi-wavelength polymer sheet thickness gauging and thermographic imaging, 3-D lumber profiling, line-array inspection of textiles and glassware, as well as on-line optical inspection for the control of automated arc welding. In each case the design choices between single or multiple-element detectors, mechanical vs. electronic scanning, laser vs. incoherent illumination, etc. will be discussed in terms of industrial constraints such as speed requirements, protection against the environment or reliability of the sensor output.

Design of shared instruments to utilize simulated gravities generated by a large-gradient, high-field superconducting magnet.

PubMed

Wang, Y; Yin, D C; Liu, Y M; Shi, J Z; Lu, H M; Shi, Z H; Qian, A R; Shang, P

2011-03-01

A high-field superconducting magnet can provide both high-magnetic fields and large-field gradients, which can be used as a special environment for research or practical applications in materials processing, life science studies, physical and chemical reactions, etc. To make full use of a superconducting magnet, shared instruments (the operating platform, sample holders, temperature controller, and observation system) must be prepared as prerequisites. This paper introduces the design of a set of sample holders and a temperature controller in detail with an emphasis on validating the performance of the force and temperature sensors in the high-magnetic field.

Design of shared instruments to utilize simulated gravities generated by a large-gradient, high-field superconducting magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Y.; Yin, D. C.; Liu, Y. M.; Shi, J. Z.; Lu, H. M.; Shi, Z. H.; Qian, A. R.; Shang, P.

2011-03-01

A high-field superconducting magnet can provide both high-magnetic fields and large-field gradients, which can be used as a special environment for research or practical applications in materials processing, life science studies, physical and chemical reactions, etc. To make full use of a superconducting magnet, shared instruments (the operating platform, sample holders, temperature controller, and observation system) must be prepared as prerequisites. This paper introduces the design of a set of sample holders and a temperature controller in detail with an emphasis on validating the performance of the force and temperature sensors in the high-magnetic field.

Development of a second generation torsion balance based on a spherical superconducting suspension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammond, Giles D.; Speake, Clive C.; Matthews, Anthony J.; Rocco, Emanuele; Peña-Arellano, Fabian

2008-02-01

This paper describes the development of a second generation superconducting torsion balance to be used for a precision measurement of the Casimir force and a short range test of the inverse square law of gravity at 4.2K. The instrument utilizes niobium (Nb) as the superconducting element and employs passive damping of the parasitic modes of oscillation. Any contact potential difference between the torsion balance and its surroundings is nulled to within ≈50mV by applying known DC biases and fitting the resulting parabolic relationship between the measured torque and the applied voltage. A digital proportional-integral-derivative servo system has been developed and characterized in order to control the azimuthal position of the instrument. The angular acceleration and displacement noise are currently limited by the capacitive sensor at the level 3×10-8rads-2/√Hz and 30nm/√Hz at 100mHz. The possibility of lossy dielectric coatings on the surface of the torsion balance test masses is also investigated. Our measurements show that the loss angles δ are (1.5±2.3)×10-4 and (2.0±2.2)×10-4 at frequencies of 5 and 10mHz, respectively. These values of loss are not significant sources of error for measurements of the Casimir force using this experimental setup.

Development of a second generation torsion balance based on a spherical superconducting suspension.

PubMed

Hammond, Giles D; Speake, Clive C; Matthews, Anthony J; Rocco, Emanuele; Peña-Arellano, Fabian

2008-02-01

This paper describes the development of a second generation superconducting torsion balance to be used for a precision measurement of the Casimir force and a short range test of the inverse square law of gravity at 4.2 K. The instrument utilizes niobium (Nb) as the superconducting element and employs passive damping of the parasitic modes of oscillation. Any contact potential difference between the torsion balance and its surroundings is nulled to within approximately 50 mV by applying known DC biases and fitting the resulting parabolic relationship between the measured torque and the applied voltage. A digital proportional-integral-derivative servo system has been developed and characterized in order to control the azimuthal position of the instrument. The angular acceleration and displacement noise are currently limited by the capacitive sensor at the level 3x10(-8) rad s(-2)/ squarerootHz and 30 nm/ squarerootHz at 100 mHz. The possibility of lossy dielectric coatings on the surface of the torsion balance test masses is also investigated. Our measurements show that the loss angles delta are (1.5+/-2.3)x10(-4) and (2.0+/-2.2)x10(-4) at frequencies of 5 and 10 mHz, respectively. These values of loss are not significant sources of error for measurements of the Casimir force using this experimental setup.

Absolute Radiometric Calibration of Narrow-Swath Imaging Sensors with Reference to Non-Coincident Wide-Swath Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McCorkel, Joel; Thome, Kurtis; Lockwood, Ronald

2012-01-01

An inter-calibration method is developed to provide absolute radiometric calibration of narrow-swath imaging sensors with reference to non-coincident wide-swath sensors. The method predicts at-sensor radiance using non-coincident imagery from the reference sensor and knowledge of spectral reflectance of the test site. The imagery of the reference sensor is restricted to acquisitions that provide similar view and solar illumination geometry to reduce uncertainties due to directional reflectance effects. Spectral reflectance of the test site is found with a simple iterative radiative transfer method using radiance values of a well-understood wide-swath sensor and spectral shape information based on historical ground-based measurements. At-sensor radiance is calculated for the narrow-swath sensor using this spectral reflectance and atmospheric parameters that are also based on historical in situ measurements. Results of the inter-calibration method show agreement on the 2 5 percent level in most spectral regions with the vicarious calibration technique relying on coincident ground-based measurements referred to as the reflectance-based approach. While the variability of the inter-calibration method based on non-coincident image pairs is significantly larger, results are consistent with techniques relying on in situ measurements. The method is also insensitive to spectral differences between the sensors by transferring to surface spectral reflectance prior to prediction of at-sensor radiance. The utility of this inter-calibration method is made clear by its flexibility to utilize image pairings with acquisition dates differing in excess of 30 days allowing frequent absolute calibration comparisons between wide- and narrow-swath sensors.

High-Performance electronics at ultra-low power consumption for space applications: From superconductor to nanoscale semiconductor technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duncan, Robert V.; Simmons, Jerry; Kupferman, Stuart; McWhorter, Paul; Dunlap, David; Kovanis, V.

1995-01-01

A detailed review of Sandia's work in ultralow power dissipation electronics for space flight applications, including superconductive electronics, new advances in quantum well structures, and ultra-high purity 3-5 materials, and recent advances in micro-electro-optical-mechanical systems (MEMS) is presented. The superconductive electronics and micromechanical devices are well suited for application in micro-robotics, micro-rocket engines, and advanced sensors.

Development of phonon-mediated transition-edge-sensor x-ray detectors for use in astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leman, Steven W.

Low temperature detectors have grown in popularity over the years for a variety of reasons. Reduced thermal noise and the associated reduction in statistical fluctuations improve signal to noise. Novel material properties at low temperature such as superconductivity can be exploited. And let us not forget easier access to cryogenic techniques, for example industry made and sold refrigerators eliminating the need for graduate students to make their own. In this thesis I discuss development of a novel phonon-mediated distributed transition-edge-sensor x-ray detector which would be useful for astrophysical studies such as magnetic recombination in the solar corona, the warm-hot intergalactic medium and surveys of clusters and groups of galaxies. The detector uses a large semiconductor absorber and Transition-Edge-Sensors (TESs) to readout the absorbed energy. Calorimetry is performed on individual photons and a partitioning of the energy between various TESs allows for position determination. Hence time varying astronomical sources can be spectroscopically studied and imaged. I will conclude with a discussion of the detector's performance and propose a next generation detector which could make significant improvements on the design discussed in this thesis.

Fermiology and Superconductivity of Topological Surface States in PdTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, O. J.; Neat, M. J.; Okawa, K.; Bawden, L.; Marković, I.; Mazzola, F.; Feng, J.; Sunko, V.; Riley, J. M.; Meevasana, W.; Fujii, J.; Vobornik, I.; Kim, T. K.; Hoesch, M.; Sasagawa, T.; Wahl, P.; Bahramy, M. S.; King, P. D. C.

2018-04-01

We study the low-energy surface electronic structure of the transition-metal dichalcogenide superconductor PdTe2 by spin- and angle-resolved photoemission, scanning tunneling microscopy, and density-functional theory-based supercell calculations. Comparing PdTe2 with its sister compound PtSe2 , we demonstrate how enhanced interlayer hopping in the Te-based material drives a band inversion within the antibonding p -orbital manifold well above the Fermi level. We show how this mediates spin-polarized topological surface states which form rich multivalley Fermi surfaces with complex spin textures. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy reveals type-II superconductivity at the surface, and moreover shows no evidence for an unconventional component of its superconducting order parameter, despite the presence of topological surface states.

Passive IR polarization sensors: a new technology for mine detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barbour, Blair A.; Jones, Michael W.; Barnes, Howard B.; Lewis, Charles P.

1998-09-01

The problem of mine and minefield detection continues to provide a significant challenge to sensor systems. Although the various sensor technologies (infrared, ground penetrating radar, etc.) may excel in certain situations there does not exist a single sensor technology that can adequately detect mines in all conditions such as time of day, weather, buried or surface laid, etc. A truly robust mine detection system will likely require the fusion of data from multiple sensor technologies. The performance of these systems, however, will ultimately depend on the performance of the individual sensors. Infrared (IR) polarimetry is a new and innovative sensor technology that adds substantial capabilities to the detection of mines. IR polarimetry improves on basic IR imaging by providing improved spatial resolution of the target, an inherent ability to suppress clutter, and the capability for zero (Delta) T imaging. Nichols Research Corporation (Nichols) is currently evaluating the effectiveness of IR polarization for mine detection. This study is partially funded by the U.S. Army Night Vision & Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD). The goal of the study is to demonstrate, through phenomenology studies and limited field trials, that IR polarizaton outperforms conventional IR imaging in the mine detection arena.

Estimating Advective Near-surface Currents from Ocean Color Satellite Images

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

of surface current information. The present study uses the sequential ocean color products provided by the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) and...on the SuomiNational Polar-Orbiting Partner- ship (S-NPP) satellite. The GOCI is the world’s first geostationary orbit satellite sensor over the...used to extract the near-surface currents by the MCC algorithm. We not only demonstrate the retrieval of currents from the geostationary satellite ocean

Robotic tool positioning process using a multi-line off-axis laser triangulation sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinto, T. C.; Matos, G.

2018-03-01

Proper positioning of a friction stir welding head for pin insertion, driven by a closed chain robot, is important to ensure quality repair of cracks. A multi-line off-axis laser triangulation sensor was designed to be integrated to the robot, allowing relative measurements of the surface to be repaired. This work describes the sensor characteristics, its evaluation and the measurement process for tool positioning to a surface point of interest. The developed process uses a point of interest image and a measured point cloud to define the translation and rotation for tool positioning. Sensor evaluation and tests are described. Keywords: laser triangulation, 3D measurement, tool positioning, robotics.

Vector Acoustics, Vector Sensors, and 3D Underwater Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindwall, D.

2007-12-01

Vector acoustic data has two more dimensions of information than pressure data and may allow for 3D underwater imaging with much less data than with hydrophone data. The vector acoustic sensors measures the particle motions due to passing sound waves and, in conjunction with a collocated hydrophone, the direction of travel of the sound waves. When using a controlled source with known source and sensor locations, the reflection points of the sound field can be determined with a simple trigonometric calculation. I demonstrate this concept with an experiment that used an accelerometer based vector acoustic sensor in a water tank with a short-pulse source and passive scattering targets. The sensor consists of a three-axis accelerometer and a matched hydrophone. The sound source was a standard transducer driven by a short 7 kHz pulse. The sensor was suspended in a fixed location and the hydrophone was moved about the tank by a robotic arm to insonify the tank from many locations. Several floats were placed in the tank as acoustic targets at diagonal ranges of approximately one meter. The accelerometer data show the direct source wave as well as the target scattered waves and reflections from the nearby water surface, tank bottom and sides. Without resorting to the usual methods of seismic imaging, which in this case is only two dimensional and relied entirely on the use of a synthetic source aperture, the two targets, the tank walls, the tank bottom, and the water surface were imaged. A directional ambiguity inherent to vector sensors is removed by using collocated hydrophone data. Although this experiment was in a very simple environment, it suggests that 3-D seismic surveys may be achieved with vector sensors using the same logistics as a 2-D survey that uses conventional hydrophones. This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research, program element 61153N.

Monitoring on-orbit calibration stability of the Terra MODIS and Landsat 7 ETM+ sensors using pseudo-invariant test sites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, G.; Xiong, X.(J.); Choi, T.(J.); Angal, A.

2010-01-01

The ability to detect and quantify changes in the Earth's environment depends on sensors that can provide calibrated, consistent measurements of the Earth's surface features through time. A critical step in this process is to put image data from different sensors onto a common radiometric scale. This work focuses on monitoring the long-term on-orbit calibration stability of the Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Landsat 7 (L7) Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensors using the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) reference standard pseudo-invariant test sites (Libya 4, Mauritania 1/2, Algeria 3, Libya 1, and Algeria 5). These sites have been frequently used as radiometric targets because of their relatively stable surface conditions temporally. This study was performed using all cloud-free calibrated images from the Terra MODIS and the L7 ETM+ sensors, acquired from launch to December 2008. Homogeneous regions of interest (ROI) were selected in the calibrated images and the mean target statistics were derived from sensor measurements in terms of top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance. For each band pair, a set of fitted coefficients (slope and offset) is provided to monitor the long-term stability over very stable pseudo-invariant test sites. The average percent differences in intercept from the long-term trends obtained from the ETM + TOA reflectance estimates relative to the MODIS for all the CEOS reference standard test sites range from 2.5% to 15%. This gives an estimate of the collective differences due to the Relative Spectral Response (RSR) characteristics of each sensor, bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF), spectral signature of the ground target, and atmospheric composition. The lifetime TOA reflectance trends from both sensors over 10 years are extremely stable, changing by no more than 0.4% per year in its TOA reflectance over the CEOS reference standard test sites.

Structured Light-Based Hazard Detection For Planetary Surface Navigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nefian, Ara; Wong, Uland Y.; Dille, Michael; Bouyssounouse, Xavier; Edwards, Laurence; To, Vinh; Deans, Matthew; Fong, Terry

2017-01-01

This paper describes a structured light-based sensor for hazard avoidance in planetary environments. The system presented here can also be used in terrestrial applications constrained by reduced onboard power and computational complexity and low illumination conditions. The sensor is on a calibrated camera and laser dot projector system. The onboard hazard avoidance system determines the position of the projected dots in the image and through a triangulation process detects potential hazards. The paper presents the design parameters for this sensor and describes the image based solution for hazard avoidance. The system presented here was tested extensively in day and night conditions in Lunar analogue environments. The current system achieves over 97 detection rate with 1.7 false alarms over 2000 images.

Science synergism study for EOS on evolution of desert surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farr, Tom G.

1987-01-01

The effectiveness of EOS data as a basis for the study of desert surfaces' evolution is presently evaluated for both long and short term geomorphic evolution. Attention is given to the usefulness of such sensor systems planned for EOS as MODIS for regional vegetation distribution/variability monitoring, HIRIS for visible-near IR observations, TIMS for lithological identification, HMMR and SSMI for soil characteristics, LASA for atmospheric profiles, SAR for surface roughness, ALT for two-dimensional topography, ACR for the calibration of imaging sensors, and ERBE for climate modeling and regional surface albedo variation determinations.

Real-time assessment of surface interactions with titanium passivation layer by surface plasmon resonance

PubMed Central

Hirata, Isao; Yoshida, Yasuhiro; Nagaoka, Noriyuki; Hiasa, Kyou; Abe, Yasuhiko; Maekawa, Kenji; Kuboki, Takuo; Akagawa, Yasumasa; Suzuki, Kazuomi; Van Meerbeek, Bart; Messersmith, Phillip B.; Okazaki, Masayuki

2011-01-01

The high corrosion resistance and strength-to-density ratio makes titanium widely used in major industry, but also in a gamut of medical applications. Here we report for the first time on our development of a titanium passivation layer sensor that makes use of surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The deposited titanium metal layer on the sensor was passivated in air, like titanium medical devices. Our ‘Ti-SPR sensor’ enables analysis of biomolecules interactions with the passivated surface of titanium in real time. As a proof of concept, corrosion of titanium passivation layer exposed to acid was monitored in real time. Also, the Ti-SPR sensor can accurately measure the time-dependence of protein adsorption onto titanium passivation layer with a sub-nanogram per square millimeter accuracy. Besides such SPR analyses, an SPR-imaging (SPRI) enables real-time assessment of chemical surface processes that occur simultaneously at ‘multiple independent spots’ on the Ti-SPR sensor, such as acid-corrosion or adhesion of cells. Our Ti-SPR sensor will therefore be very useful to study titanium-corrosion phenomena and biomolecular titanium-surface interactions with application in a broad range of industrial and biomedical fields. PMID:22154862

Inducing superconductivity in Weyl semimetal microstructures by selective ion sputtering

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

Bachmann, Maja D.; Nair, Nityan; Flicker, Felix

By introducing a superconducting gap in Weyl or Dirac semimetals, the superconducting state inherits the nontrivial topology of their electronic structure. As a result, Weyl superconductors are expected to host exotic phenomena, such as nonzero-momentum pairing due to their chiral node structure, or zero-energy Majorana modes at the surface. These are of fundamental interest to improve our understanding of correlated topological systems, and, moreover, practical applications in phase-coherent devices and quantum applications have been proposed. Proximity-induced superconductivity promises to allow these experiments on nonsuperconducting Weyl semimetals. Here, we show a new route to reliably fabricate superconducting microstructures from the nonsuperconductingmore » Weyl semimetal NbAs under ion irradiation. Furthermore, the significant difference in the surface binding energy of Nb and As leads to a natural enrichment of Nb at the surface during ion milling, forming a superconducting surface layer (Tc ~ 3.5 K). Being formed from the target crystal itself, the ideal contact between the superconductor and the bulk may enable an effective gapping of the Weyl nodes in the bulk because of the proximity effect. Simple ion irradiation may thus serve as a powerful tool for the fabrication of topological quantum devices from monoarsenides, even on an industrial scale.« less

Inducing superconductivity in Weyl semimetal microstructures by selective ion sputtering

DOE PAGES

Bachmann, Maja D.; Nair, Nityan; Flicker, Felix; ...

2017-05-24

By introducing a superconducting gap in Weyl or Dirac semimetals, the superconducting state inherits the nontrivial topology of their electronic structure. As a result, Weyl superconductors are expected to host exotic phenomena, such as nonzero-momentum pairing due to their chiral node structure, or zero-energy Majorana modes at the surface. These are of fundamental interest to improve our understanding of correlated topological systems, and, moreover, practical applications in phase-coherent devices and quantum applications have been proposed. Proximity-induced superconductivity promises to allow these experiments on nonsuperconducting Weyl semimetals. Here, we show a new route to reliably fabricate superconducting microstructures from the nonsuperconductingmore » Weyl semimetal NbAs under ion irradiation. Furthermore, the significant difference in the surface binding energy of Nb and As leads to a natural enrichment of Nb at the surface during ion milling, forming a superconducting surface layer (Tc ~ 3.5 K). Being formed from the target crystal itself, the ideal contact between the superconductor and the bulk may enable an effective gapping of the Weyl nodes in the bulk because of the proximity effect. Simple ion irradiation may thus serve as a powerful tool for the fabrication of topological quantum devices from monoarsenides, even on an industrial scale.« less

Multi-Sensor Mud Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rankin, Arturo L.; Matthies, Larry H.

2010-01-01

Robust mud detection is a critical perception requirement for Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) autonomous offroad navigation. A military UGV stuck in a mud body during a mission may have to be sacrificed or rescued, both of which are unattractive options. There are several characteristics of mud that may be detectable with appropriate UGV-mounted sensors. For example, mud only occurs on the ground surface, is cooler than surrounding dry soil during the daytime under nominal weather conditions, is generally darker than surrounding dry soil in visible imagery, and is highly polarized. However, none of these cues are definitive on their own. Dry soil also occurs on the ground surface, shadows, snow, ice, and water can also be cooler than surrounding dry soil, shadows are also darker than surrounding dry soil in visible imagery, and cars, water, and some vegetation are also highly polarized. Shadows, snow, ice, water, cars, and vegetation can all be disambiguated from mud by using a suite of sensors that span multiple bands in the electromagnetic spectrum. Because there are military operations when it is imperative for UGV's to operate without emitting strong, detectable electromagnetic signals, passive sensors are desirable. JPL has developed a daytime mud detection capability using multiple passive imaging sensors. Cues for mud from multiple passive imaging sensors are fused into a single mud detection image using a rule base, and the resultant mud detection is localized in a terrain map using range data generated from a stereo pair of color cameras.

Improvements to the swath-level near-surface atmospheric state parameter retrievals within the NRL Ocean Surface Flux System (NFLUX)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

May, J. C.; Rowley, C. D.; Meyer, H.

2017-12-01

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Ocean Surface Flux System (NFLUX) is an end-to-end data processing and assimilation system used to provide near-real-time satellite-based surface heat flux fields over the global ocean. The first component of NFLUX produces near-real-time swath-level estimates of surface state parameters and downwelling radiative fluxes. The focus here will be on the satellite swath-level state parameter retrievals, namely surface air temperature, surface specific humidity, and surface scalar wind speed over the ocean. Swath-level state parameter retrievals are produced from satellite sensor data records (SDRs) from four passive microwave sensors onboard 10 platforms: the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) sensor onboard the DMSP F16, F17, and F18 platforms; the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) sensor onboard the NOAA-15, NOAA-18, NOAA-19, Metop-A, and Metop-B platforms; the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) sensor onboard the S-NPP platform; and the Advanced Microwave Scannin Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) sensor onboard the GCOM-W1 platform. The satellite SDRs are translated into state parameter estimates using multiple polynomial regression algorithms. The coefficients to the algorithms are obtained using a bootstrapping technique with all available brightness temperature channels for a given sensor, in addition to a SST field. For each retrieved parameter for each sensor-platform combination, unique algorithms are developed for ascending and descending orbits, as well as clear vs cloudy conditions. Each of the sensors produces surface air temperature and surface specific humidity retrievals. The SSMIS and AMSR2 sensors also produce surface scalar wind speed retrievals. Improvement is seen in the SSMIS retrievals when separate algorithms are used for the even and odd scans, with the odd scans performing better than the even scans. Currently, NFLUX treats all SSMIS scans as even scans. Additional improvement in all of the surface retrievals comes from using a 3-hourly SST field, as opposed to a daily SST field.

Embedded fiber Bragg grating sensors for true temperature monitoring in Nb3Sn superconducting magnets for high energy physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiuchiolo, A.; Bajas, H.; Bajko, M.; Consales, M.; Giordano, M.; Perez, J. C.; Cusano, A.

2016-05-01

The luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) planned at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) requires the development of a new generation of superconducting magnets based on Nb3Sn technology. The instrumentation required for the racetrack coils needs the development of reliable sensing systems able to monitor the magnet thermo-mechanical behavior during its service life, from the coil fabrication to the magnet operation. With this purpose, Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors have been embedded in the coils of the Short Model Coil (SMC) magnet fabricated at CERN. The FBG sensitivity to both temperature and strain required the development of a solution able to separate mechanical and temperature effects. This work presents for the first time a feasibility study devoted to the implementation of an embedded FBG sensor for the measurement of the "true" temperature in the impregnated Nb3Sn coil during the fabrication process.

Surface plasmon resonance sensor for antibiotics detection based on photo-initiated polymerization molecularly imprinted array.

PubMed

Luo, Qiaohui; Yu, Neng; Shi, Chunfei; Wang, Xiaoping; Wu, Jianmin

2016-12-01

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor combined with nanoscale molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film as recognition element was developed for selective detection of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP). The MIP film on SPR sensor chip was prepared by in situ photo-initiated polymerization method which has the advantages of short polymerization time, controllable thickness and good uniformity. The surface wettability and thickness of MIP film on SPR sensor chip were characterized by static contact angle measurement and stylus profiler. The MIP-SPR sensor exhibited high selectivity, sensitivity and good stability for ciprofloxacin. The imprinting factors of the MIP-SPR sensor to ciprofloxacin and its structural analogue ofloxacin were 2.63 and 3.80, which is much higher than those to azithromycin, dopamine and penicillin. The SPR response had good linear relation with CIP concentration over the range 10 -11 -10 -7 molL -1 . The MIP-SPR sensor also showed good repeatability and stability during cyclic detections. On the basis of the photo-initiated polymerization method, a surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) chip modified with three types of MIP sensing spots was fabricated. The MIPs-SPRi sensor shows different response patterns to ciprofloxacin and azithromycin, revealing the ability to recognize different antibiotic molecules. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Volumetric Forest Change Detection Through Vhr Satellite Imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akca, Devrim; Stylianidis, Efstratios; Smagas, Konstantinos; Hofer, Martin; Poli, Daniela; Gruen, Armin; Sanchez Martin, Victor; Altan, Orhan; Walli, Andreas; Jimeno, Elisa; Garcia, Alejandro

2016-06-01

Quick and economical ways of detecting of planimetric and volumetric changes of forest areas are in high demand. A research platform, called FORSAT (A satellite processing platform for high resolution forest assessment), was developed for the extraction of 3D geometric information from VHR (very-high resolution) imagery from satellite optical sensors and automatic change detection. This 3D forest information solution was developed during a Eurostars project. FORSAT includes two main units. The first one is dedicated to the geometric and radiometric processing of satellite optical imagery and 2D/3D information extraction. This includes: image radiometric pre-processing, image and ground point measurement, improvement of geometric sensor orientation, quasiepipolar image generation for stereo measurements, digital surface model (DSM) extraction by using a precise and robust image matching approach specially designed for VHR satellite imagery, generation of orthoimages, and 3D measurements in single images using mono-plotting and in stereo images as well as triplets. FORSAT supports most of the VHR optically imagery commonly used for civil applications: IKONOS, OrbView - 3, SPOT - 5 HRS, SPOT - 5 HRG, QuickBird, GeoEye-1, WorldView-1/2, Pléiades 1A/1B, SPOT 6/7, and sensors of similar type to be expected in the future. The second unit of FORSAT is dedicated to 3D surface comparison for change detection. It allows users to import digital elevation models (DEMs), align them using an advanced 3D surface matching approach and calculate the 3D differences and volume changes between epochs. To this end our 3D surface matching method LS3D is being used. FORSAT is a single source and flexible forest information solution with a very competitive price/quality ratio, allowing expert and non-expert remote sensing users to monitor forests in three and four dimensions from VHR optical imagery for many forest information needs. The capacity and benefits of FORSAT have been tested in six case studies located in Austria, Cyprus, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey, using optical data from different sensors and with the purpose to monitor forest with different geometric characteristics. The validation run on Cyprus dataset is reported and commented.

Observation of topological superconductivity on the surface of an iron-based superconductor.

PubMed

Zhang, Peng; Yaji, Koichiro; Hashimoto, Takahiro; Ota, Yuichi; Kondo, Takeshi; Okazaki, Kozo; Wang, Zhijun; Wen, Jinsheng; Gu, G D; Ding, Hong; Shin, Shik

2018-04-13

Topological superconductors are predicted to host exotic Majorana states that obey non-Abelian statistics and can be used to implement a topological quantum computer. Most of the proposed topological superconductors are realized in difficult-to-fabricate heterostructures at very low temperatures. By using high-resolution spin-resolved and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we find that the iron-based superconductor FeTe 1- x Se x ( x = 0.45; superconducting transition temperature T c = 14.5 kelvin) hosts Dirac-cone-type spin-helical surface states at the Fermi level; the surface states exhibit an s-wave superconducting gap below T c Our study shows that the surface states of FeTe 0.55 Se 0.45 are topologically superconducting, providing a simple and possibly high-temperature platform for realizing Majorana states. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Radiometric Calibration of Earth Science Imagers Using HyCalCam on the Deep Space Gateway Platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butler, J. J.; Thome, K. J.

2018-02-01

HyCalCam, an SI-traceable imaging spectrometer on the Deep Space Gateway, acquires images of the Moon and Earth to characterize the lunar surface and terrestrial scenes for use as absolute calibration targets for on-orbit LEO and GEO sensors.

Cross calibration of the Landsat-7 ETM+ and EO-1 ALI sensor

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, G.; Meyer, D.J.; Helder, D.L.

2004-01-01

As part of the Earth Observer 1 (EO-1) Mission, the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) demonstrates a potential technological direction for Landsat Data Continuity Missions. To evaluate ALI's capabilities in this role, a cross-calibration methodology has been developed using image pairs from the Landsat-7 (L7) Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and EO-1 (ALI) to verify the radiometric calibration of ALI with respect to the well-calibrated L7 ETM+ sensor. Results have been obtained using two different approaches. The first approach involves calibration of nearly simultaneous surface observations based on image statistics from areas observed simultaneously by the two sensors. The second approach uses vicarious calibration techniques to compare the predicted top-of-atmosphere radiance derived from ground reference data collected during the overpass to the measured radiance obtained from the sensor. The results indicate that the relative sensor chip assemblies gains agree with the ETM+ visible and near-infrared bands to within 2% and the shortwave infrared bands to within 4%.

Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensors for Quantitative Spatial Imaging of Chemical Species.

PubMed

Yoshinobu, Tatsuo; Miyamoto, Ko-Ichiro; Werner, Carl Frederik; Poghossian, Arshak; Wagner, Torsten; Schöning, Michael J

2017-06-12

A light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) is a semiconductor-based chemical sensor, in which a measurement site on the sensing surface is defined by illumination. This light addressability can be applied to visualize the spatial distribution of pH or the concentration of a specific chemical species, with potential applications in the fields of chemistry, materials science, biology, and medicine. In this review, the features of this chemical imaging sensor technology are compared with those of other technologies. Instrumentation, principles of operation, and various measurement modes of chemical imaging sensor systems are described. The review discusses and summarizes state-of-the-art technologies, especially with regard to the spatial resolution and measurement speed; for example, a high spatial resolution in a submicron range and a readout speed in the range of several tens of thousands of pixels per second have been achieved with the LAPS. The possibility of combining this technology with microfluidic devices and other potential future developments are discussed.

Preliminary Analysis of the Performance of the Landsat 8/OLI Land Surface Reflectance Product

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vermote, Eric; Justice, Chris; Claverie, Martin; Franch, Belen

2016-01-01

The surface reflectance, i.e., satellite derived top of atmosphere (TOA) reflectance corrected for the temporally, spatially and spectrally varying scattering and absorbing effects of atmospheric gases and aerosols, is needed to monitor the land surface reliably. For this reason, the surface reflectance, and not TOA reflectance, is used to generate the greater majority of global land products, for example, from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensors. Even if atmospheric effects are minimized by sensor design, atmospheric effects are still challenging to correct. In particular, the strong impact of aerosols in the visible and near infrared spectral range can be difficult to correct, because they can be highly discrete in space and time (e.g., smoke plumes) and because of the complex scattering and absorbing properties of aerosols that vary spectrally and with aerosol size, shape, chemistry and density.

3D Cones Acquisition of Human Extremity Imaging Using a 1.5T Superconducting Magnet and an Unshielded Gradient Coil Set.

PubMed

Setoi, Ayana; Kose, Katsumi

2018-05-16

We developed ultrashort echo-time (UTE) imaging sequences with 3D Cones trajectories for a home-built compact MRI system using a 1.5T superconducting magnet and an unshielded gradient coil set. We achieved less than 7 min imaging time and obtained clear in vivo images of a human forearm with a TE of 0.4 ms. We concluded that UTE imaging using 3D Cones acquisition was successfully implemented in our 1.5T MRI system.

Theoretical studies of superconductivity in doped BaCoSO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Shengshan; Li, Yinxiang; Zhang, Qiang; Le, Congcong; Hu, Jiangping

2018-06-01

We investigate superconductivity that may exist in the doped BaCoSO, a multi-orbital Mott insulator with a strong antiferromagnetic ground state. The superconductivity is studied in both t-J type and Hubbard type multi-orbital models by mean field approach and random phase approximation (RPA) analysis. Even if there is no C 4 rotational symmetry, it is found that the system still carries a d-wave like pairing symmetry state with gapless nodes and sign changed superconducting order parameters on Fermi surfaces. The results are largely doping insensitive. In this superconducting state, the three {t_{{2_g}}} orbitals have very different superconducting form factors in momentum space. In particular, the intra-orbital pairing of the {d_{{x^2} - {y^2}}} orbital has an s-wave like pairing form factor. The two methods also predict very different pairing strength on different parts of Fermi surfaces. These results suggest that BaCoSO and related materials can be a new ground to test and establish fundamental principles for unconventional high temperature superconductivity.

ASTER First Views of Red Sea, Ethiopia - Thermal-Infrared TIR Image monochrome

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-03-11

ASTER succeeded in acquiring this image at night, which is something Visible/Near Infrared VNIR) and Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) sensors cannot do. The scene covers the Red Sea coastline to an inland area of Ethiopia. White pixels represent areas with higher temperature material on the surface, while dark pixels indicate lower temperatures. This image shows ASTER's ability as a highly sensitive, temperature-discerning instrument and the first spaceborne TIR multi-band sensor in history. The size of image: 60 km x 60 km approx., ground resolution 90 m x 90 m approximately. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA02452

Common electronic origin of superconductivity in (Li,Fe)OHFeSe bulk superconductor and single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films

PubMed Central

Zhao, Lin; Liang, Aiji; Yuan, Dongna; Hu, Yong; Liu, Defa; Huang, Jianwei; He, Shaolong; Shen, Bing; Xu, Yu; Liu, Xu; Yu, Li; Liu, Guodong; Zhou, Huaxue; Huang, Yulong; Dong, Xiaoli; Zhou, Fang; Liu, Kai; Lu, Zhongyi; Zhao, Zhongxian; Chen, Chuangtian; Xu, Zuyan; Zhou, X. J.

2016-01-01

The mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors remains an outstanding issue in condensed matter physics. The electronic structure plays an essential role in dictating superconductivity. Recent revelation of distinct electronic structure and high-temperature superconductivity in the single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films provides key information on the role of Fermi surface topology and interface in inducing or enhancing superconductivity. Here we report high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission measurements on the electronic structure and superconducting gap of an FeSe-based superconductor, (Li0.84Fe0.16)OHFe0.98Se, with a Tc at 41 K. We find that this single-phase bulk superconductor shows remarkably similar electronic behaviours to that of the superconducting single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films in terms of Fermi surface topology, band structure and the gap symmetry. These observations provide new insights in understanding high-temperature superconductivity in the single-layer FeSe/SrTiO3 films and the mechanism of superconductivity in the bulk iron-based superconductors. PMID:26853801

Satellite-based Tropical Cyclone Monitoring Capabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawkins, J.; Richardson, K.; Surratt, M.; Yang, S.; Lee, T. F.; Sampson, C. R.; Solbrig, J.; Kuciauskas, A. P.; Miller, S. D.; Kent, J.

2012-12-01

Satellite remote sensing capabilities to monitor tropical cyclone (TC) location, structure, and intensity have evolved by utilizing a combination of operational and research and development (R&D) sensors. The microwave imagers from the operational Defense Meteorological Satellite Program [Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and the Special Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder (SSMIS)] form the "base" for structure observations due to their ability to view through upper-level clouds, modest size swaths and ability to capture most storm structure features. The NASA TRMM microwave imager and precipitation radar continue their 15+ yearlong missions in serving the TC warning and research communities. The cessation of NASA's QuikSCAT satellite after more than a decade of service is sorely missed, but India's OceanSat-2 scatterometer is now providing crucial ocean surface wind vectors in addition to the Navy's WindSat ocean surface wind vector retrievals. Another Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) onboard EUMETSAT's MetOp-2 satellite is slated for launch soon. Passive microwave imagery has received a much needed boost with the launch of the French/Indian Megha Tropiques imager in September 2011, basically greatly supplementing the very successful NASA TRMM pathfinder with a larger swath and more frequent temporal sampling. While initial data issues have delayed data utilization, current news indicates this data will be available in 2013. Future NASA Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) sensors starting in 2014 will provide enhanced capabilities. Also, the inclusion of the new microwave sounder data from the NPP ATMS (Oct 2011) will assist in mapping TC convective structures. The National Polar orbiting Partnership (NPP) program's VIIRS sensor includes a day night band (DNB) with the capability to view TC cloud structure at night when sufficient lunar illumination exits. Examples highlighting this new capability will be discussed in concert with additional data fusion efforts.

Neutron Microtomography of MgB2 Superconducting Multifilament Wire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trtik, Pavel; Scheuerlein, Christian; Alknes, Patrick; Meyer, Michael; Schmid, Florian; Lehmann, Eberhard

Neutron imaging of sub-10-micrometres spatial resolution has been recently achieved in 2D mode within the framework of the Neutron Microscope project at the Paul Scherrer Institut. Here we report on the development of the PSI Neutron Microscope instrument and the results of the first microtomographic imaging experiment of multifilament superconducting MgB2 wire. The sample of MgB2 superconducting 37 multifilaments embedded in copper-nickel matrix was investigated -in microtomographic mode- with the scientific interest regarding the distribution of boron within the individual superconducting filaments (about 40 μm in diameter). The resulting tomographic dataset revealed the distribution of boron within the entire 0.8 mm thick multifilamental wire with the isotropic voxel size of 2.6 micrometres.

Sensing, Spectra and Scaling: What's in Store for Land Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goetz, Alexander F. H.

2001-01-01

Bill Pecora's 1960's vision of the future, using spacecraft-based sensors for mapping the environment and exploring for resources, is being implemented today. New technology has produced better sensors in space such as the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and SPOT, and creative researchers are continuing to find new applications. However, with existing sensors, and those intended for launch in this century, the potential for extracting information from the land surface is far from being exploited. The most recent technology development is imaging spectrometry, the acquisition of images in hundreds of contiguous spectral bands, such that for any pixel a complete reflectance spectrum can be acquired. Experience with Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) has shown that, with proper attention paid to absolute calibration, it is possible to acquire apparent surface reflectance to 5% accuracy without any ground-based measurement. The data reduction incorporates in educated guess of the aerosol scattering, development of a precipitable water vapor map from the data and mapping of cirrus clouds in the 1.38 micrometer band. This is not possible with TM. The pixel size in images of the earth plays and important role in the type and quality of information that can be derived. Less understood is the coupling between spatial and spectral resolution in a sensor. Recent work has shown that in processing the data to derive the relative abundance of materials in a pixel, also known is unmixing, the pixel size is an important parameter. A variance in the relative abundance of materials among the pixels is necessary to be able to derive the endmembers or pure material constituent spectra. In most cases, the 1 km pixel size for the Earth Observing System Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument is too large to meet the variance criterion. A pointable high spatial and spectral resolution imaging spectrometer in orbit will be necessary to make the major next step in our understanding of the solid earth surface and its changing face.

Lattice parameters guide superconductivity in iron-arsenides

DOE PAGES

Konzen, Lance M. N.; Sefat, Athena S.

2017-01-12

The discovery of superconducting materials has led to their use in modern technological marvels, such as magnetic field sensors in MRI machines, powerful research magnets, and high-speed trains. Despite such applications, the uses of superconductors are not widespread due to high cooling costs. Since the discovery of Cu- and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors (HTS), numerous studies have tried to explain and understand the superconducting phenomenon. While no exact explanations are given, several trends are reported in relation to the materials basis in magnetism and spin excitations. In fact, most HTS have antiferromagnetic undoped ‘parent’ materials that undergo a superconducting transition uponmore » small chemical substitutions in them. As it is currently unclear which ‘dopants’ can favor of superconductivity, this manuscript investigates crystal structure changes upon chemical substitutions, to find clues in lattice parameters for the superconducting occurrence. We review the chemical substitution effects on the crystal lattice of iron-based materials (2008 to present). We note that (a) HTS compounds have nearly tetragonal structures with a-lattice parameter close to 4 Å, and (b) superconductivity can depend strongly on the c-lattice parameter changes with chemical substitution. For example, a decrease in c-lattice parameter is required to induce ‘in-plane’ superconductivity. The review of lattice parameter trends in iron-based superconductors presented here, should guide synthesis of new materials and give clues for superconductivity.« less

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

Dorum, O.H.; Hoover, A.; Jones, J.P.

This paper addresses some issues in the development of sensor-based systems for mobile robot navigation which use range imaging sensors as the primary source for geometric information about the environment. In particular, we describe a model of scanning laser range cameras which takes into account the properties of the mechanical system responsible for image formation and a calibration procedure which yields improved accuracy over previous models. In addition, we describe an algorithm which takes the limitations of these sensors into account in path planning and path execution. In particular, range imaging sensors are characterized by a limited field of viewmore » and a standoff distance -- a minimum distance nearer than which surfaces cannot be sensed. These limitations can be addressed by enriching the concept of configuration space to include information about what can be sensed from a given configuration, and using this information to guide path planning and path following.« less

A sprayable luminescent pH sensor and its use for wound imaging in vivo.

PubMed

Schreml, Stephan; Meier, Robert J; Weiß, Katharina T; Cattani, Julia; Flittner, Dagmar; Gehmert, Sebastian; Wolfbeis, Otto S; Landthaler, Michael; Babilas, Philipp

2012-12-01

Non-invasive luminescence imaging is of great interest for studying biological parameters in wound healing, tumors and other biomedical fields. Recently, we developed the first method for 2D luminescence imaging of pH in vivo on humans, and a novel method for one-stop-shop visualization of oxygen and pH using the RGB read-out of digital cameras. Both methods make use of semitransparent sensor foils. Here, we describe a sprayable ratiometric luminescent pH sensor, which combines properties of both these methods. Additionally, a major advantage is that the sensor spray is applicable to very uneven tissue surfaces due to its consistency. A digital RGB image of the spray on tissue is taken. The signal of the pH indicator (fluorescein isothiocyanate) is stored in the green channel (G), while that of the reference dye [ruthenium(II)-tris-(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)] is stored in the red channel (R). Images are processed by rationing luminescence intensities (G/R) to result in pseudocolor pH maps of tissues, e.g. wounds. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

High-Resolution Displacement Sensor Using a SQUID Array Amplifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chui, Talso; Penanen, Konstantin; Barmatz, M.; Paik, Ho Jung

2004-01-01

Improvement in the measurement of displacement has profound implications for both exploration technologies and fundamental physics. For planetary exploration, the new SQUID-based capacitive displacement sensor will enable a more sensitive gravity gradiometer for mapping the interior of planets and moons. A new concept of a superfluid clock to be reported by Penanen and Chui at this workshop is also based on a high-resolution displacement sensor. Examples of high-impact physics projects that can benefit from a better displacement sensor are: detection of gravitational waves, test of the equivalence principle, search for the postulated "axion" particle, and test of the inverse square law of gravity. We describe the concept of a new displacement sensor that makes use of a recent development in the Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) technology. The SQUID array amplifier, invented by Welty and Martinis (IEEE Trans. Appl. Superconductivity 3, 2605, 1993), has about the same noise as a conventional SQUID; however, it can work at a much higher frequency of up to 5 MHz. We explain how the higher bandwidth can be translated into higher resolution using a bridge-balancing scheme that can simultaneously balance out both the carrier signal at the bridge output and the electrostatic force acting on the test mass.

Automatic development of normal zone in composite MgB2/CuNi wires with different diameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jokinen, A.; Kajikawa, K.; Takahashi, M.; Okada, M.

2010-06-01

One of the promising applications with superconducting technology for hydrogen utilization is a sensor with a magnesium-diboride (MgB2) superconductor to detect the position of boundary between the liquid hydrogen and the evaporated gas stored in a Dewar vessel. In our previous experiment for the level sensor, the normal zone has been automatically developed and therefore any energy input with the heater has not been required for normal operation. Although the physical mechanism for such a property of the MgB2 wire has not been clarified yet, the deliberate application might lead to the realization of a simpler superconducting level sensor without heater system. In the present study, the automatic development of normal zone with increasing a transport current is evaluated for samples consisting of three kinds of MgB2 wires with CuNi sheath and different diameters immersed in liquid helium. The influences of the repeats of current excitation and heat cycle on the normal zone development are discussed experimentally. The aim of this paper is to confirm the suitability of MgB2 wire in a heater free level sensor application. This could lead to even more optimized design of the liquid hydrogen level sensor and the removal of extra heater input.

Aluminum surface corrosion and the mechanism of inhibitors using pH and metal ion selective imaging fiber bundles.

PubMed

Szunerits, Sabine; Walt, David R

2002-02-15

The localized corrosion behavior of a galvanic aluminum copper couple was investigated by in situ fluorescence imaging with a fiber-optic imaging sensor. Three different, but complementary methods were used for visualizing remote corrosion sites, mapping the topography of the metal surface, and measuring local chemical concentrations of H+, OH-, and Al3+. The first method is based on a pH-sensitive imaging fiber, where the fluorescent dye SNAFL was covalently attached to the fiber's distal end. Fluorescence images were acquired as a function of time at different areas of the galvanic couple. In a second method, the fluorescent dye morin was immobilized on the fiber-optic imaging sensor, which allowed the in situ localization of corrosion processes on pure aluminum to be visualized over time by monitoring the release of Al3+. The development of fluorescence on the aluminum surface defined the areas associated with the anodic dissolution of aluminum. We also investigated the inhibition of corrosion of pure aluminum by CeCl3 and 8-hydroxyquinoline. The decrease in current, the decrease in the number of active sites on the aluminum surface, and the faster surface passivation are all consistent indications that cerium chloride and 8-hydroxyquinoline inhibit corrosion effectively. From the number and extent of corrosion sites and the release of aluminum ions monitored with the fiber, it was shown that 8-hydroxyquinoline is a more effective inhibitor than cerium chloride.

Daily monitoring of vegetation conditions and evapotranspiration at field scale by fusing multi-satellite images

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Vegetation monitoring requires frequent remote sensing observations. While imagery from coarse resolution sensors such as MODIS/VIIRS can provide daily observations, they lack spatial detail to capture surface features for vegetation monitoring. The medium spatial resolution (10-100m) sensors are su...

The application of atomic force microscopy in mineral flotation.

PubMed

Xing, Yaowen; Xu, Mengdi; Gui, Xiahui; Cao, Yijun; Babel, Bent; Rudolph, Martin; Weber, Stefan; Kappl, Michael; Butt, Hans-Jürgen

2018-06-01

During the past years, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has matured to an indispensable tool to characterize nanomaterials in colloid and interface science. For imaging, a sharp probe mounted near to the end of a cantilever scans over the sample surface providing a high resolution three-dimensional topographic image. In addition, the AFM tip can be used as a force sensor to detect local properties like adhesion, stiffness, charge etc. After the invention of the colloidal probe technique it has also become a major method to measure surface forces. In this review, we highlight the advances in the application of AFM in the field of mineral flotation, such as mineral morphology imaging, water at mineral surface, reagent adsorption, inter-particle force, and bubble-particle interaction. In the coming years, the complementary characterization of chemical composition such as using infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy for AFM topography imaging and the synchronous measurement of the force and distance involving deformable bubble as a force sensor will further assist the fundamental understanding of flotation mechanism. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

National Synchrotron Light Source annual report 1991

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

Hulbert, S.L.; Lazarz, N.M.

1992-04-01

This report discusses the following research conducted at NSLS: atomic and molecular science; energy dispersive diffraction; lithography, microscopy and tomography; nuclear physics; UV photoemission and surface science; x-ray absorption spectroscopy; x-ray scattering and crystallography; x-ray topography; workshop on surface structure; workshop on electronic and chemical phenomena at surfaces; workshop on imaging; UV FEL machine reviews; VUV machine operations; VUV beamline operations; VUV storage ring parameters; x-ray machine operations; x-ray beamline operations; x-ray storage ring parameters; superconducting x-ray lithography source; SXLS storage ring parameters; the accelerator test facility; proposed UV-FEL user facility at the NSLS; global orbit feedback systems; and NSLSmore » computer system.« less

Imaging extracellular ATP with a genetically-encoded, ratiometric fluorescent sensor

PubMed Central

Conley, Jason M.

2017-01-01

Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a key purinergic signal that mediates cell-to-cell communication both within and between organ systems. We address the need for a robust and minimally invasive approach to measuring extracellular ATP by re-engineering the ATeam ATP sensor to be expressed on the cell surface. Using this approach, we image real-time changes in extracellular ATP levels with a sensor that is fully genetically-encoded and does not require an exogenous substrate. In addition, the sensor is ratiometric to allow for reliable quantitation of extracellular ATP fluxes. Using live-cell microscopy, we characterize sensor performance when expressed on cultured Neuro2A cells, and we measure both stimulated release of ATP and its clearance by ectonucleotidases. Thus, this proof-of-principle demonstrates a first-generation sensor to report extracellular ATP dynamics that may be useful for studying purinergic signaling in living specimens. PMID:29121644

Twin-Slot Antenna-Coupled Superconducting Ti Transition-Edge Sensor at 350 GHz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W.; Miao, W.; Wang, Z.; Guo, X. H.; Liu, D.; Zhong, J. Q.; Yao, Q. J.; Shi, S. C.

2018-05-01

We have developed four-leg-supported superconducting Ti transition-edge sensors (TES) formed by KOH wet etching. Energy relaxation mechanism is changed from electron-phonon coupling to diffusive phonon after wet etching. The current-voltage curves of the same TES device were measured before and after wet etching. After wet etching, its thermal conductance (G) is reduced to 500 pW/K from 8950 pW/K. The measured effective response time (τ eff) is 143 μs, about 30 times larger. In addition, we have studied the optical noise equivalent power (NEP) with a cryogenic blackbody in combination with metal-mesh filters to define the radiation bandwidth. The obtained optical NEP is 5 × 10-16 W/√Hz, which is suitable for ground-based astronomical applications.

Performance of horn-coupled transition edge sensors for L- and S-band optical detection on the SAFARI instrument

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldie, D. J.; Glowacka, D. M.; Withington, S.; Chen, Jiajun; Ade, P. A. R.; Morozov, D.; Sudiwala, R.; Trappe, N. A.; Quaranta, O.

2016-07-01

We describe the geometry, architecture, dark- and optical performance of ultra-low-noise transition edge sensors as THz detectors for the SAFARI instrument. The TESs are fabricated from superconducting Mo/Au bilayers coupled to impedance-matched superconducting β-phase Ta thin-film absorbers. The detectors have phonon-limited dark noise equivalent powers of order 0.5 - 1.0 aW/ √ Hz and saturation powers of order 20 - 40 fW. The low temperature test configuration incorporating micro-machined backshorts is also described, and construction and typical performance characteristics for the optical load are shown. We report preliminary measurements of the optical performance of these TESs for two SAFARI bands; L-band at 110 - 210 μm and S-band 34 - 60 μm .

Transformer current sensor for superconducting magnetic coils

DOEpatents

Shen, Stewart S.; Wilson, C. Thomas

1988-01-01

A transformer current sensor having primary turns carrying a primary current for a superconducting coil and secondary turns only partially arranged within the primary turns. The secondary turns include an active winding disposed within the primary turns and a dummy winding which is not disposed in the primary turns and so does not experience a magnetic field due to a flow of current in the primary turns. The active and dummy windings are wound in opposite directions or connected in series-bucking relationship, and are exposed to the same ambient magnetic field. Voltages which might otherwise develop in the active and dummy windings due to ambient magnetic fields thus cancel out. The resultant voltage is purely indicative of the rate of change of current flowing in the primary turns.

Ultra-sensitive fluorescent imaging-biosensing using biological photonic crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Squire, Kenny; Kong, Xianming; Wu, Bo; Rorrer, Gregory; Wang, Alan X.

2018-02-01

Optical biosensing is a growing area of research known for its low limits of detection. Among optical sensing techniques, fluorescence detection is among the most established and prevalent. Fluorescence imaging is an optical biosensing modality that exploits the sensitivity of fluorescence in an easy-to-use process. Fluorescence imaging allows a user to place a sample on a sensor and use an imager, such as a camera, to collect the results. The image can then be processed to determine the presence of the analyte. Fluorescence imaging is appealing because it can be performed with as little as a light source, a camera and a data processor thus being ideal for nontrained personnel without any expensive equipment. Fluorescence imaging sensors generally employ an immunoassay procedure to selectively trap analytes such as antigens or antibodies. When the analyte is present, the sensor fluoresces thus transducing the chemical reaction into an optical signal capable of imaging. Enhancement of this fluorescence leads to an enhancement in the detection capabilities of the sensor. Diatoms are unicellular algae with a biosilica shell called a frustule. The frustule is porous with periodic nanopores making them biological photonic crystals. Additionally, the porous nature of the frustule allows for large surface area capable of multiple analyte binding sites. In this paper, we fabricate a diatom based ultra-sensitive fluorescence imaging biosensor capable of detecting the antibody mouse immunoglobulin down to a concentration of 1 nM. The measured signal has an enhancement of 6× when compared to sensors fabricated without diatoms.

π and 4 π Josephson Effects Mediated by a Dirac Semimetal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, W.; Pan, W.; Medlin, D. L.; Rodriguez, M. A.; Lee, S. R.; Bao, Zhi-qiang; Zhang, F.

2018-04-01

Cd3As2 is a three-dimensional topological Dirac semimetal with connected Fermi-arc surface states. It has been suggested that topological superconductivity can be achieved in the nontrivial surface states of topological materials by utilizing the superconductor proximity effect. Here we report observations of both π and 4 π periodic supercurrents in aluminum-Cd3As2 -aluminum Josephson junctions. The π period is manifested by both the magnetic-field dependence of the critical supercurrent and the appearance of half-integer Shapiro steps in the ac Josephson effect. Our macroscopic theory suggests that the π period arises from interference between the induced bulk superconductivity and the induced Fermi-arc surface superconductivity. The 4 π period is manifested by the missing first Shapiro steps and is expected for topological superconductivity.

Superconductivity of lanthanum revisited: enhanced critical temperature in the clean limit.

PubMed

Löptien, P; Zhou, L; Khajetoorians, A A; Wiebe, J; Wiesendanger, R

2014-10-22

The thickness dependence of the superconducting energy gap ΔLa of double hexagonally close packed (dhcp) lanthanum islands grown on W(110) is studied by scanning tunneling spectroscopy, from the bulk to the thin-film limit. Superconductivity is suppressed by the boundary conditions for the superconducting wavefunction on the surface and W/La interface, leading to a linear decrease of the critical temperature Tc as a function of the inverse film thickness. For the thick, bulk-like films, ΔLa and Tc are 40% larger compared to the literature values of dhcp La as measured by other techniques. This finding is reconciled by examining the effects of surface contamination as probed by modifications of the surface state, suggesting that the large Tc originates in the superior purity of the samples investigated here.

Superconductivity of lanthanum revisited: enhanced critical temperature in the clean limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Löptien, P.; Zhou, L.; Khajetoorians, A. A.; Wiebe, J.; Wiesendanger, R.

2014-10-01

The thickness dependence of the superconducting energy gap ΔLa of double hexagonally close packed (dhcp) lanthanum islands grown on W(110) is studied by scanning tunneling spectroscopy, from the bulk to the thin-film limit. Superconductivity is suppressed by the boundary conditions for the superconducting wavefunction on the surface and W/La interface, leading to a linear decrease of the critical temperature Tc as a function of the inverse film thickness. For the thick, bulk-like films, ΔLa and Tc are 40% larger compared to the literature values of dhcp La as measured by other techniques. This finding is reconciled by examining the effects of surface contamination as probed by modifications of the surface state, suggesting that the large Tc originates in the superior purity of the samples investigated here.

High field superconducting magnets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hait, Thomas P. (Inventor); Shirron, Peter J. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

A superconducting magnet includes an insulating layer disposed about the surface of a mandrel; a superconducting wire wound in adjacent turns about the mandrel to form the superconducting magnet, wherein the superconducting wire is in thermal communication with the mandrel, and the superconducting magnet has a field-to-current ratio equal to or greater than 1.1 Tesla per Ampere; a thermally conductive potting material configured to fill interstices between the adjacent turns, wherein the thermally conductive potting material and the superconducting wire provide a path for dissipation of heat; and a voltage limiting device disposed across each end of the superconducting wire, wherein the voltage limiting device is configured to prevent a voltage excursion across the superconducting wire during quench of the superconducting magnet.

The design of long wavelength planetary SAR sensor and its applications for monitoring shallow sub-surface of Moon and planets.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, K.

2015-12-01

SAR observations over planetary surface have been conducted mainly in two ways. The first is the subsurface sounding, for example Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) and Shallow Surface Radar (SHARAD), using ground penetration capability of long wavelength electromagnetic waves. On the other hand, imaging SAR sensors using burst mode design have been employed to acquire surface observations in the presence of opaque atmospheres such as in the case of Venus and Titan. We propose a lightweight SAR imaging system with P/L band wavelength to cover the vertical observation gap of these planetary radar observation schemes. The sensor is for investigating prominent surface and near-subsurface geological structures and physical characteristics. Such measurements will support landers and rover missions as well as future manned missions. We evaluate required power consumption, and estimate mass and horizontal resolution, which can be as good as 3-7 meters. Initial specifications for P/L dual band SARs for the lunar case at 130 km orbital altitude were designed already based on a assumptions that sufficient size antenna (>3m width diameter or width about 3m and >10kg weight) can be equipped. Useful science measurements to be obtained include: (1) derivation of subsurface regolith depth; 2) Surface and shallow subsurface radar imaging, together with radar ranging techniques such as radargrammetry and inteferometry. The concepts in this study can be used as an important technical basis for the future solid plant/satellite missions and already proposed for the 2018 Korean Lunar mission.

Multichannel System Based on a High Sensitivity Superconductive Sensor for Magnetoencephalography

PubMed Central

Rombetto, Sara; Granata, Carmine; Vettoliere, Antonio; Russo, Maurizio

2014-01-01

We developed a multichannel system based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for magnetoencephalography measurements. Our system consists of 163 fully-integrated SQUID magnetometers, 154 channels and 9 references, and all of the operations are performed inside a magnetically-shielded room. The system exhibits a magnetic field noise spectral density of approximatively 5 fT/Hz1/2. The presented magnetoencephalography is the first system working in a clinical environment in Italy. PMID:25006995

Dextran hydrogel coated surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) sensor for sensitive and label-free detection of small molecule drugs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shaopeng; Yang, Mo; Zhou, Wenfei; Johnston, Trevor G.; Wang, Rui; Zhu, Jinsong

2015-11-01

The label-free and sensitive detection of small molecule drugs on SPRi is still a challenging task, mainly due to the limited surface immobilization capacity of the sensor. In this research, a dextran hydrogel-coated gold sensor chip for SPRi was successfully fabricated via photo-cross-linking for enhanced surface immobilization capacity. The density of the dextran hydrogel was optimized for protein immobilization and sensitive small molecule detection. The protein immobilization capacity of the hydrogel was 10 times greater than a bare gold surface, and 20 times greater than an 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) surface. Such a drastic improvement in immobilization capacity allowed the SPRi sensor to detect adequate response signals when probing small molecule binding events. The binding signal of 4 nM liquid-phase biotin to streptavidin immobilized on the dextran surface reached 435 RU, while no response was observed on bare gold or MUA surfaces. The dextran hydrogel-coated SPRi sensor was also applied in a kinetic study of the binding between an immunosuppressive drug (FK506) and its target protein (FKBP12) in a high-throughput microarray format. The measured binding affinity was shown to be consistent with reported literature values, and a detection limit of 0.5 nM was achieved.

Anomalous expansion of the copper-apical-oxygen distance in superconducting cuprate bilayers

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

Zhou, Hua; Yacoby, Yizhak; Butko, Vladimir Y.

2010-08-27

We have introduced an improved x-ray phase-retrieval method with unprecedented speed of convergence and precision, and used it to determine with sub-Angstrom resolution the complete atomic structure of epitaxial La{sub 2-x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} ultrathin films. We focus on superconducting heterostructures built from constituent materials that are not superconducting in bulk samples. Single-phase metallic or superconducting films are also studied for comparison. The results show that this phase-retrieval diffraction method enables accurate measurement of structural modifications in near-surface layers, which may be critically important for elucidation of surface-sensitive experiments. Specifically we find that, while the copper-apical-oxygen distance remains approximately constant inmore » single-phase films, it shows a dramatic increase from the metallic-insulating interface of the bilayer towards the surface by as much as 0.45 {angstrom}. The apical-oxygen displacement is known to have a profound effect on the superconducting transition temperature.« less

High-kinetic inductance additive manufactured superconducting microwave cavity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holland, Eric T.; Rosen, Yaniv J.; Materise, Nicholas; Woollett, Nathan; Voisin, Thomas; Wang, Y. Morris; Torres, Sharon G.; Mireles, Jorge; Carosi, Gianpaolo; DuBois, Jonathan L.

2017-11-01

Investigations into the microwave surface impedance of superconducting resonators have led to the development of single photon counters that rely on kinetic inductance for their operation, while concurrent progress in additive manufacturing, "3D printing," opens up a previously inaccessible design space for waveguide resonators. In this manuscript, we present results from the synthesis of these two technologies in a titanium, aluminum, vanadium (Ti-6Al-4V) superconducting radio frequency resonator which exploits a design unattainable through conventional fabrication means. We find that Ti-6Al-4V has two distinct superconducting transition temperatures observable in heat capacity measurements. The higher transition temperature is in agreement with DC resistance measurements, while the lower transition temperature, not previously known in the literature, is consistent with the observed temperature dependence of the superconducting microwave surface impedance. From the surface reactance, we extract a London penetration depth of 8 ± 3 μm—roughly an order of magnitude larger than other titanium alloys and several orders of magnitude larger than other conventional elemental superconductors.

High-resolution scanning Hall probe microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hallen, Hans D.; Hess, H. F.; Chang, A. M.; Pfeiffer, Loren N.; West, Kenneth W.; Mitzi, David B.

1993-06-01

A high resolution scanning Hall probe microscope is used to spatially resolve vortices in high temperature superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+(delta) crystals. We observe a partially ordered vortex lattice at several different applied magnetic fields and temperatures. At higher temperatures, a limited amount of vortex re-arrangement is observed, but most vortices remain fixed for periods long compared to the imaging time of several hours even at temperatures as high as 75 degree(s)K (the superconducting transition temperature for these crystals is approximately 84 degree(s)K). A measure of these local magnetic penetration depth can be obtained from a fit to the surface field of several neighboring vortices, and has been measured as a function of temperature. In particular, we have measured the zero temperature penetration depth and found it to be 275 +/- 40 nm.

Digital image comparison by subtracting contextual transformations—percentile rank order differentiation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wehde, M. E.

1995-01-01

The common method of digital image comparison by subtraction imposes various constraints on the image contents. Precise registration of images is required to assure proper evaluation of surface locations. The attribute being measured and the calibration and scaling of the sensor are also important to the validity and interpretability of the subtraction result. Influences of sensor gains and offsets complicate the subtraction process. The presence of any uniform systematic transformation component in one of two images to be compared distorts the subtraction results and requires analyst intervention to interpret or remove it. A new technique has been developed to overcome these constraints. Images to be compared are first transformed using the cumulative relative frequency as a transfer function. The transformed images represent the contextual relationship of each surface location with respect to all others within the image. The process of differentiating between the transformed images results in a percentile rank ordered difference. This process produces consistent terrain-change information even when the above requirements necessary for subtraction are relaxed. This technique may be valuable to an appropriately designed hierarchical terrain-monitoring methodology because it does not require human participation in the process.

Earth Surface Monitoring with COSI-Corr, Techniques and Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leprince, S.; Ayoub, F.; Avouac, J.

2009-12-01

Co-registration of Optically Sensed Images and Correlation (COSI-Corr) is a software package developed at the California Institute of Technology (USA) for accurate geometrical processing of optical satellite and aerial imagery. Initially developed for the measurement of co-seismic ground deformation using optical imagery, COSI-Corr is now used for a wide range of applications in Earth Sciences, which take advantage of the software capability to co-register, with very high accuracy, images taken from different sensors and acquired at different times. As long as a sensor is supported in COSI-Corr, all images between the supported sensors can be accurately orthorectified and co-registered. For example, it is possible to co-register a series of SPOT images, a series of aerial photographs, as well as to register a series of aerial photographs with a series of SPOT images, etc... Currently supported sensors include the SPOT 1-5, Quickbird, Worldview 1 and Formosat 2 satellites, the ASTER instrument, and frame camera acquisitions from e.g., aerial survey or declassified satellite imagery. Potential applications include accurate change detection between multi-temporal and multi-spectral images, and the calibration of pushbroom cameras. In particular, COSI-Corr provides a powerful correlation tool, which allows for accurate estimation of surface displacement. The accuracy depends on many factors (e.g., cloud, snow, and vegetation cover, shadows, temporal changes in general, steadiness of the imaging platform, defects of the imaging system, etc...) but in practice, the standard deviation of the measurements obtained from the correlation of mutli-temporal images is typically around 1/20 to 1/10 of the pixel size. The software package also includes post-processing tools such as denoising, destriping, and stacking tools to facilitate data interpretation. Examples drawn from current research in, e.g., seismotectonics, glaciology, and geomorphology will be presented. COSI-Corr is developed in IDL (Interactive Data Language), integrated under the user friendly interface ENVI (Environment for Visualizing Images), and is distributed free of charge for academic research purposes.

Noninvasive, three-dimensional full-field body sensor for surface deformation monitoring of human body in vivo.

PubMed

Chen, Zhenning; Shao, Xinxing; He, Xiaoyuan; Wu, Jialin; Xu, Xiangyang; Zhang, Jinlin

2017-09-01

Noninvasive, three-dimensional (3-D), full-field surface deformation measurements of the human body are important for biomedical investigations. We proposed a 3-D noninvasive, full-field body sensor based on stereo digital image correlation (stereo-DIC) for surface deformation monitoring of the human body in vivo. First, by applying an improved water-transfer printing (WTP) technique to transfer optimized speckle patterns onto the skin, the body sensor was conveniently and harmlessly fabricated directly onto the human body. Then, stereo-DIC was used to achieve 3-D noncontact and noninvasive surface deformation measurements. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed body sensor were verified and discussed by considering different complexions. Moreover, the fabrication of speckle patterns on human skin, which has always been considered a challenging problem, was shown to be feasible, effective, and harmless as a result of the improved WTP technique. An application of the proposed stereo-DIC-based body sensor was demonstrated by measuring the pulse wave velocity of human carotid artery. (2017) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

Transition edge sensors for quench localization in SRF cavity tests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furci, H.; Kovács, Z.; Koettig, T.; Vandoni, G.

2017-12-01

Transition Edge Sensors (TES) are bolometers based on the gradual superconducting transition of a thin film alloy. In the frame of improvement of non-contact thermal mapping for quench localisation in SRF cavity tests, TES have been developed in-house at CERN. Based on modern photolithography techniques, a fabrication method has been established and used to produce TES from Au-Sn alloys. The fabricated sensors superconducting transitions were characterised. The sensitive temperature range of the sensors spreads over 100 mK to 200 mK and its centre can be shifted by the bias current applied between 1.5 K and 2.1 K. Maximum sensitivity being in the range of 0.5 mV/mK, it is possible to detect fast temperature variations (in the 50 μs range) below 1 mK. All these characteristics are an asset for the detection of second sound. Second sound was produced by heaters and the TES were able to distinctively detect it. The value of the speed of second sound was determined and corresponds remarkably with literature values. Furthermore, there is a clear correlation between intensity of the signal and distance, opening possibilities for a more precise signal interpretation in quench localisation.

A low energy muon spin rotation and point contact tunneling study of niobium films prepared for superconducting cavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junginger, Tobias; Calatroni, S.; Sublet, A.; Terenziani, G.; Prokscha, T.; Salman, Z.; Suter, A.; Proslier, T.; Zasadzinski, J.

2017-12-01

Point contact tunneling and low energy muon spin rotation are used to probe, on the same samples, the surface superconducting properties of micrometer thick niobium films deposited onto copper substrates using different sputtering techniques: diode, dc magnetron and HIPIMS. The combined results are compared to radio-frequency tests performances of RF cavities made with the same processes. Degraded surface superconducting properties are found to correlate to lower quality factors and stronger Q-slope. In addition, both techniques find evidence for surface paramagnetism on all samples and particularly on Nb films prepared by HIPIMS.

Estimating Morning Change in Land Surface Temperature from MODIS Day/Night Observations: Applications for Surface Energy Balance Modeling.

PubMed

Hain, Christopher R; Anderson, Martha C

2017-10-16

Observations of land surface temperature (LST) are crucial for the monitoring of surface energy fluxes from satellite. Methods that require high temporal resolution LST observations (e.g., from geostationary orbit) can be difficult to apply globally because several geostationary sensors are required to attain near-global coverage (60°N to 60°S). While these LST observations are available from polar-orbiting sensors, providing global coverage at higher spatial resolutions, the temporal sampling (twice daily observations) can pose significant limitations. For example, the Atmosphere Land Exchange Inverse (ALEXI) surface energy balance model, used for monitoring evapotranspiration and drought, requires an observation of the morning change in LST - a quantity not directly observable from polar-orbiting sensors. Therefore, we have developed and evaluated a data-mining approach to estimate the mid-morning rise in LST from a single sensor (2 observations per day) of LST from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor on the Aqua platform. In general, the data-mining approach produced estimates with low relative error (5 to 10%) and statistically significant correlations when compared against geostationary observations. This approach will facilitate global, near real-time applications of ALEXI at higher spatial and temporal coverage from a single sensor than currently achievable with current geostationary datasets.

The placido wavefront sensor and preliminary measurement on a mechanical eye.

PubMed

Carvalho, Luis Alberto; Castro, Jarbas C

2006-02-01

The hardware and software of a novel wavefront sensor was developed (The sensor presented here is patent pending.). It has the same principal of the Hartmann-Shack (HS) and other sensors that are based on slope information for recovery of wavefront surface, but a different symmetry, and does not use individual microlenses. This polar symmetry might offer differences during practical measurements that may add value to current and well-established "gold standard" techniques. The sensor consists of a set of concentric "half-donut" surfaces (longitudinally sectioned toroids) molded on an acrylic surface with a CCD located at the focal plane. When illuminated with a plane wavefront, it focuses a symmetric pattern of concentric discs on the CCD plane; for a distorted wavefront, a nonsymmetric disc pattern is formed (similar to images of a placido-based videokeratographer). From detection of shift in the radial direction, radial slopes are computed for a maximum of 2880 points, and the traditional least-squares procedure is used to fit these partial derivatives to a set of 15 conventional OSA-VSIA Zernike polynomials. Theoretical computations for several synthetic surfaces containing low-order aberration (LOA) and high-order aberration (HOA) were implemented for both the HS and the new sensor. Root mean square error (RMSE) in microns when theoretical data was taken as control, for HS sensor and new sensor, was 0.02 and 0.00003 for LOA (defocus, astigmatism) and 0.07 and 0.06 for HOA (coma, spherical, and higher terms), respectively. After this, practical preliminary measurements on a mechanical eye with a 5-mm pupil and 10 different defocus aberrations ranging from -5 D to 5 D, in steps of 1 D, were compared between sensors. RMSE for difference in measurements for HS and new sensor for sphere, cylinder, and axis, was 0.13 D, 0.07 D, and 11. Measurements were taken only on defocus aberrations. Qualitative images for astigmatism are shown. Although practical in vivo tests were not conducted in this first study, we also discuss certain possible alignment differences that may arise as a result of the different symmetry of the new sensor. To take any conclusive assumption regarding the accuracy and/or precision of this new sensor, when compared with other well-established sensors, statistically significant in vivo measurements will need to be conducted.

Origin of Superconductivity and Latent Charge Density Wave in NbS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heil, Christoph; Poncé, Samuel; Lambert, Henry; Schlipf, Martin; Margine, Elena R.; Giustino, Feliciano

2017-08-01

We elucidate the origin of the phonon-mediated superconductivity in 2 H -NbS2 using the ab initio anisotropic Migdal-Eliashberg theory including Coulomb interactions. We demonstrate that superconductivity is associated with Fermi surface hot spots exhibiting an unusually strong electron-phonon interaction. The electron-lattice coupling is dominated by low-energy anharmonic phonons, which place the system on the verge of a charge density wave instability. We also provide definitive evidence for two-gap superconductivity in 2 H -NbS2 , and show that the low- and high-energy peaks observed in tunneling spectra correspond to the Γ - and K -centered Fermi surface pockets, respectively. The present findings call for further efforts to determine whether our proposed mechanism underpins superconductivity in the whole family of metallic transition metal dichalcogenides.

DNA as Sensors and Imaging Agents for Metal Ions

PubMed Central

Xiang, Yu

2014-01-01

Increasing interests in detecting metal ions in many chemical and biomedical fields have created demands for developing sensors and imaging agents for metal ions with high sensitivity and selectivity. This review covers recent progress in DNA-based sensors and imaging agents for metal ions. Through both combinatorial selection and rational design, a number of metal ion-dependent DNAzymes and metal ion-binding DNA structures that can selectively recognize specific metal ions have been obtained. By attaching these DNA molecules with signal reporters such as fluorophores, chromophores, electrochemical tags, and Raman tags, a number of DNA-based sensors for both diamagnetic and paramagnetic metal ions have been developed for fluorescent, colorimetric, electrochemical, and surface Raman detections. These sensors are highly sensitive (with detection limit down to 11 ppt) and selective (with selectivity up to millions-fold) toward specific metal ions. In addition, through further development to simplify the operation, such as the use of “dipstick tests”, portable fluorometers, computer-readable discs, and widely available glucose meters, these sensors have been applied for on-site and real-time environmental monitoring and point-of-care medical diagnostics. The use of these sensors for in situ cellular imaging has also been reported. The generality of the combinatorial selection to obtain DNAzymes for almost any metal ion in any oxidation state, and the ease of modification of the DNA with different signal reporters make DNA an emerging and promising class of molecules for metal ion sensing and imaging in many fields of applications. PMID:24359450

Concept Study of Multi Sensor Detection Imaging and Explosive Confirmation of Mines

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-03-20

surface feature removal can be achieved in LMR images. Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Solicitation Topic 97T006 Mufi -Sensor Detection...divided by the applied voltage. This is mathematically given by: 00 Y-I-G+jB = 1o+2E’. COS m4; m1l 1-1 = j120 72(+a) where G = the input conductance...of detector operation that are incorporated into a mathematical algorithm to convert detector impedance characteristics into recognizable indicators

Defining the uncertainty of electro-optical identification system performance estimates using a 3D optical environment derived from satellite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ladner, S. D.; Arnone, R.; Casey, B.; Weidemann, A.; Gray, D.; Shulman, I.; Mahoney, K.; Giddings, T.; Shirron, J.

2009-05-01

Current United States Navy Mine-Counter-Measure (MCM) operations primarily use electro-optical identification (EOID) sensors to identify underwater targets after detection via acoustic sensors. These EOID sensors which are based on laser underwater imaging by design work best in "clear" waters and are limited in coastal waters especially with strong optical layers. Optical properties and in particular scattering and absorption play an important role on systems performance. Surface optical properties alone from satellite are not adequate to determine how well a system will perform at depth due to the existence of optical layers. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the 3d optical variability of the coastal waters along with strength and location of subsurface optical layers maximize chances of identifying underwater targets by exploiting optimum sensor deployment. Advanced methods have been developed to fuse the optical measurements from gliders, optical properties from "surface" satellite snapshot and 3-D ocean circulation models to extend the two-dimensional (2-D) surface satellite optical image into a three-dimensional (3-D) optical volume with subsurface optical layers. Modifications were made to an EOID performance model to integrate a 3-D optical volume covering an entire region of interest as input and derive system performance field. These enhancements extend present capability based on glider optics and EOID sensor models to estimate the system's "image quality". This only yields system performance information for a single glider profile location in a very large operational region. Finally, we define the uncertainty of the system performance by coupling the EOID performance model with the 3-D optical volume uncertainties. Knowing the ensemble spread of EOID performance field provides a new and unique capability for tactical decision makers and Navy Operations.

A multimodal image sensor system for identifying water stress in grapevines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yong; Zhang, Qin; Li, Minzan; Shao, Yongni; Zhou, Jianfeng; Sun, Hong

2012-11-01

Water stress is one of the most common limitations of fruit growth. Water is the most limiting resource for crop growth. In grapevines, as well as in other fruit crops, fruit quality benefits from a certain level of water deficit which facilitates to balance vegetative and reproductive growth and the flow of carbohydrates to reproductive structures. A multi-modal sensor system was designed to measure the reflectance signature of grape plant surfaces and identify different water stress levels in this paper. The multi-modal sensor system was equipped with one 3CCD camera (three channels in R, G, and IR). The multi-modal sensor can capture and analyze grape canopy from its reflectance features, and identify the different water stress levels. This research aims at solving the aforementioned problems. The core technology of this multi-modal sensor system could further be used as a decision support system that combines multi-modal sensory data to improve plant stress detection and identify the causes of stress. The images were taken by multi-modal sensor which could output images in spectral bands of near-infrared, green and red channel. Based on the analysis of the acquired images, color features based on color space and reflectance features based on image process method were calculated. The results showed that these parameters had the potential as water stress indicators. More experiments and analysis are needed to validate the conclusion.

An airborne thematic thermal infrared and electro-optical imaging system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Xiuhong; Shu, Peter

2011-08-01

This paper describes an advanced Airborne Thematic Thermal InfraRed and Electro-Optical Imaging System (ATTIREOIS) and its potential applications. ATTIREOIS sensor payload consists of two sets of advanced Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs) - a broadband Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS) and a four (4) band Multispectral Electro-Optical Sensor (MEOS) to approximate Landsat ETM+ bands 1,2,3,4, and 6, and LDCM bands 2,3,4,5, and 10+11. The airborne TIRS is 3-axis stabilized payload capable of providing 3D photogrammetric images with a 1,850 pixel swathwidth via pushbroom operation. MEOS has a total of 116 million simultaneous sensor counts capable of providing 3 cm spatial resolution multispectral orthophotos for continuous airborne mapping. ATTIREOIS is a complete standalone and easy-to-use portable imaging instrument for light aerial vehicle deployment. Its miniaturized backend data system operates all ATTIREOIS imaging sensor components, an INS/GPS, and an e-Gimbal™ Control Electronic Unit (ECU) with a data throughput of 300 Megabytes/sec. The backend provides advanced onboard processing, performing autonomous raw sensor imagery development, TIRS image track-recovery reconstruction, LWIR/VNIR multi-band co-registration, and photogrammetric image processing. With geometric optics and boresight calibrations, the ATTIREOIS data products are directly georeferenced with an accuracy of approximately one meter. A prototype ATTIREOIS has been configured. Its sample LWIR/EO image data will be presented. Potential applications of ATTIREOIS include: 1) Providing timely and cost-effective, precisely and directly georeferenced surface emissive and solar reflective LWIR/VNIR multispectral images via a private Google Earth Globe to enhance NASA's Earth science research capabilities; and 2) Underflight satellites to support satellite measurement calibration and validation observations.

Large Format Transition Edge Sensor Microcalorimeter Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chervenak, J. A.; Adams, J. A.; Bandler, S. b.; Busch, S. E.; Eckart, M. E.; Ewin, A. E.; Finkbeiner, F. M.; Kilbourne, C. A.; Kelley, R. L.; Porst, J. P.;

Multispectral Imaging in Cultural Heritage Conservation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Del Pozo, S.; Rodríguez-Gonzálvez, P.; Sánchez-Aparicio, L. J.; Muñoz-Nieto, A.; Hernández-López, D.; Felipe-García, B.; González-Aguilera, D.

2017-08-01

This paper sums up the main contribution derived from the thesis entitled "Multispectral imaging for the analysis of materials and pathologies in civil engineering, constructions and natural spaces" awarded by CIPA-ICOMOS for its connection with the preservation of Cultural Heritage. This thesis is framed within close-range remote sensing approaches by the fusion of sensors operating in the optical domain (visible to shortwave infrared spectrum). In the field of heritage preservation, multispectral imaging is a suitable technique due to its non-destructive nature and its versatility. It combines imaging and spectroscopy to analyse materials and land covers and enables the use of a variety of different geomatic sensors for this purpose. These sensors collect both spatial and spectral information for a given scenario and a specific spectral range, so that, their smaller storage units save the spectral properties of the radiation reflected by the surface of interest. The main goal of this research work is to characterise different construction materials as well as the main pathologies of Cultural Heritage elements by combining active and passive sensors recording data in different ranges. Conclusions about the suitability of each type of sensor and spectral range are drawn in relation to each particular case study and damage. It should be emphasised that results are not limited to images, since 3D intensity data from laser scanners can be integrated with 2D data from passive sensors obtaining high quality products due to the added value that metric brings to multispectral images.

Coherence and Chaos Phenomena in Josephson Oscillators for Superconducting Electronics.

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-25

represents dissipation due j+(a+/b)+ b--i(a-) to the surface resistance of the superconducting films , y is the uniform bias current normalized to the...represents series loss due series of time-dependent Fourier spatial compo- to surface resistance of the superconducting films , nents. Tis approach provides...case is that in which there is no ing films , y is the spatially uniform bias current normal- external magnetic field applied to the junction. In this

Virtual Sensors: Using Data Mining to Efficiently Estimate Spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Srivastava, Ashok; Oza, Nikunj; Stroeve, Julienne

2004-01-01

Detecting clouds within a satellite image is essential for retrieving surface geophysical parameters, such as albedo and temperature, from optical and thermal imagery because the retrieval methods tend to be valid for clear skies only. Thus, routine satellite data processing requires reliable automated cloud detection algorithms that are applicable to many surface types. Unfortunately, cloud detection over snow and ice is difficult due to the lack of spectral contrast between clouds and snow. Snow and clouds are both highly reflective in the visible wavelen,ats and often show little contrast in the thermal Infrared. However, at 1.6 microns, the spectral signatures of snow and clouds differ enough to allow improved snow/ice/cloud discrimination. The recent Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MODIS) sensors have a channel (channel 6) at 1.6 microns. Presently the most comprehensive, long-term information on surface albedo and temperature over snow- and ice-covered surfaces comes from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer ( AVHRR) sensor that has been providing imagery since July 1981. The earlier AVHRR sensors (e.g. AVHRR/2) did not however have a channel designed for discriminating clouds from snow, such as the 1.6 micron channel available on the more recent AVHRR/3 or the MODIS sensors. In the absence of the 1.6 micron channel, the AVHRR Polar Pathfinder (APP) product performs cloud detection using a combination of time-series analysis and multispectral threshold tests based on the satellite's measuring channels to produce a cloud mask. The method has been found to work reasonably well over sea ice, but not so well over the ice sheets. Thus, improving the cloud mask in the APP dataset would be extremely helpful toward increasing the accuracy of the albedo and temperature retrievals, as well as extending the time-series of albedo and temperature retrievals from the more recent sensors to the historical ones. In this work, we use data mining methods to construct a model of MODIS channel 6 as a function of other channels that are common to both MODIS and AVHRR. The idea is to use the model to generate the equivalent of MODIS channel 6 for AVHRR as a function of the AVHRR equivalents to MODIS channels. We call this a Virtual Sensor because it predicts unmeasured spectra. The goal is to use this virtual channel 6. to yield a cloud mask superior to what is currently used in APP . Our results show that several data mining methods such as multilayer perceptrons (MLPs), ensemble methods (e.g., bagging), and kernel methods (e.g., support vector machines) generate channel 6 for unseen MODIS images with high accuracy. Because the true channel 6 is not available for AVHRR images, we qualitatively assess the virtual channel 6 for several AVHRR images.

Note: Progress on the use of MgB2 superconducting joint technique for the development of MgB2 magnets for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

PubMed

Kim, Y G; Song, J B; Kim, J C; Kim, J M; Yoo, B H; Yun, S B; Hwang, D Y; Lee, H G

2017-08-01

This note presents a superconducting joint technique for the development of MgB 2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnets. The MgB 2 superconducting joint was fabricated by a powder processing method using Mg and B powders to establish a wire-bulk-wire connection. The joint resistance measured using a field-decay method was <10 -14 Ω, demonstrating that the proposed joint technique could be employed for developing "next-generation" MgB 2 MRI magnets operating in the persistent current mode.

Deployment and evaluation of a dual-sensor autofocusing method for on-machine measurement of patterns of small holes on freeform surfaces.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaomei; Longstaff, Andrew; Fletcher, Simon; Myers, Alan

2014-04-01

This paper presents and evaluates an active dual-sensor autofocusing system that combines an optical vision sensor and a tactile probe for autofocusing on arrays of small holes on freeform surfaces. The system has been tested on a two-axis test rig and then integrated onto a three-axis computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine, where the aim is to rapidly and controllably measure the hole position errors while the part is still on the machine. The principle of operation is for the tactile probe to locate the nominal positions of holes, and the optical vision sensor follows to focus and capture the images of the holes. The images are then processed to provide hole position measurement. In this paper, the autofocusing deviations are analyzed. First, the deviations caused by the geometric errors of the axes on which the dual-sensor unit is deployed are estimated to be 11 μm when deployed on a test rig and 7 μm on the CNC machine tool. Subsequently, the autofocusing deviations caused by the interaction of the tactile probe, surface, and small hole are mathematically analyzed and evaluated. The deviations are a result of the tactile probe radius, the curvatures at the positions where small holes are drilled on the freeform surface, and the effect of the position error of the hole on focusing. An example case study is provided for the measurement of a pattern of small holes on an elliptical cylinder on the two machines. The absolute sum of the autofocusing deviations is 118 μm on the test rig and 144 μm on the machine tool. This is much less than the 500 μm depth of field of the optical microscope. Therefore, the method is capable of capturing a group of clear images of the small holes on this workpiece for either implementation.

Feed rate measuring method and system

DOEpatents

Novak, J.L.; Wiczer, J.J.

1995-12-05

A system and method are provided for establishing the feed rate of a workpiece along a feed path with respect to a machine device. First and second sensors each having first and second sensing electrodes which are electrically isolated from the workpiece are positioned above, and in proximity to the desired surfaces of the workpiece along a feed path. An electric field is developed between the first and second sensing electrodes of each sensor and capacitance signals are developed which are indicative of the contour of the workpiece. First and second image signals representative of the contour of the workpiece along the feed path are developed by an image processor. The time delay between corresponding portions of the first and second image signals are then used to determine the feed rate based upon the separation of the first and second sensors and the amount of time between corresponding portions of the first and second image signals. 18 figs.

Feed rate measuring method and system

DOEpatents

Novak, James L.; Wiczer, James J.

1995-01-01

A system and method are provided for establishing the feed rate of a workpiece along a feed path with respect to a machine device. First and second sensors each having first and second sensing electrodes which are electrically isolated from the workpiece are positioned above, and in proximity to the desired surfaces of the workpiece along a feed path. An electric field is developed between the first and second sensing electrodes of each sensor and capacitance signals are developed which are indicative of the contour of the workpiece. First and second image signals representative of the contour of the workpiece along the feed path are developed by an image processor. The time delay between corresponding portions of the first and second image signals are then used to determine the feed rate based upon the separation of the first and second sensors and the amount of time between corresponding portions of the first and second image signals.

Multi-functional Infrared Sensor

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-11

infrared imaging; perforated gold films with Si3N4 overlayers, studied the fundamental understanding of surface plasmon polariton modes and their...we studied the underlying mechanism of surface plamon polariton modes and their angle dependence by means of experiment, theory and simulation (In

High-speed 3D surface measurement with a fringe projection based optical sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bräuer-Burchardt, Christian; Heist, Stefan; Kühmstedt, Peter; Notni, Gunther

2014-05-01

A new optical sensor based on fringe projection technique for the accurate and fast measurement of the surface of objects mainly for industrial inspection tasks is introduced. High-speed fringe projection and image recording with 180 Hz allows 3D rates up to 60 Hz. The high measurement velocity was achieved by consequent fringe code reduction and parallel data processing. Reduction of the image sequence length was obtained by omission of the Gray-code sequence by using the geometric restrictions of the measurement objects. The sensor realizes three different measurement fields between 20 x 20 mm2 and 40 x 40 mm2 with lateral spatial solutions between 10 μm and 20 μm with the same working distance. Measurement object height extension is between +/- 0.5 mm and +/- 2 mm. Height resolution between 1 μm and 5 μm can be achieved depending on the properties of the measurement objects. The sensor may be used e.g. for quality inspection of conductor boards or plugs in real-time industrial applications.

Unexpected superconductivity at nanoscale junctions made on the topological crystalline insulator Pb0.6Sn0.4Te

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Shekhar; Aggarwal, Leena; Roychowdhury, Subhajit; Aslam, Mohammad; Gayen, Sirshendu; Biswas, Kanishka; Sheet, Goutam

2016-09-01

Discovery of exotic phases of matter from the topologically non-trivial systems not only makes the research on topological materials more interesting but also enriches our understanding of the fascinating physics of such materials. Pb0.6Sn0.4Te was recently shown to be a topological crystalline insulator. Here, we show that by forming a mesoscopic point-contact using a normal non-superconducting elemental metal on the surface of Pb0.6Sn0.4Te, a superconducting phase is created locally in a confined region under the point-contact. This happens when the bulk of the sample remains to be non-superconducting, and the superconducting phase emerges as a nano-droplet under the point-contact. The superconducting phase shows a high transition temperature Tc that varies for different point-contacts and falls in a range between 3.7 K and 6.5 K. Therefore, this Letter presents the discovery of a superconducting phase on the surface of a topological crystalline insulator, and the discovery is expected to shed light on the mechanism of induced superconductivity in topologically non-trivial systems in general.

Cell adhesion and guidance by micropost-array chemical sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pantano, Paul; Quah, Soo-Kim; Danowski, Kristine L.

2002-06-01

An array of ~50,000 individual polymeric micropost sensors was patterned across a glass coverslip by a photoimprint lithographic technique. Individual micropost sensors were ~3-micrometers tall and ~8-micrometers wide. The O2-sensitive micropost array sensors (MPASs) comprised a ruthenium complex encapsulated in a gas permeable photopolymerizable siloxane. The pH-sensitive MPASs comprised a fluorescein conjugate encapsulated in a photocrosslinkable poly(vinyl alcohol)-based polymer. PO2 and pH were quantitated by acquiring MPAS luminescence images with an epifluorescence microscope/charge coupled device imaging system. O2-sensitive MPASs displayed linear Stern-Volmer quenching behavior with a maximum Io/I of ~8.6. pH-sensitive MPASs displayed sigmoidal calibration curves with a pKa of ~5.8. The adhesion of undifferentiated rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells across these two polymeric surface types was investigated. The greatest PC12 cell proliferation and adhesion occurred across the poly(vinyl alcohol)-based micropost arrays relative to planar poly(vinyl alcohol)-based surfaces and both patterned and planar siloxane surfaces. An additional advantage of the patterned MPAS layers relative to planar sensing layers was the ability to direct the growth of biological cells. Preliminary data is presented whereby nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells grew neurite-like processes that extended along paths defined by the micropost architecture.

Optical Probe of the Superconducting Normal Mixed State in a Magnetic Penetration Thermometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stevenson, T. R.; Balvin, M. A.; Bandler, S. R.; Denis, K. L.; Lee, S. -J.; Nagler, P. C.; Smith, S. J.

2016-01-01

Using ultraviolet photon pulses, we have probed the internal behavior of a molybdenum-gold Magnetic Penetration Thermometer (MPT) that we designed for x-ray microcalorimetry. In this low-temperature detector, the diamagnetic response of a superconducting MoAu bilayer is used to sense temperature changes in response to absorbed photons. We have previously described an approximate model that explains the high responsivity of the detector to temperature changes as a consequence of a Meissner transition of the molybdenum-gold film in the magnetic field applied by the superconducting circuit used to bias the detector. We compare measurements of MPT heat capacity and thermal conductance, derived from UV photon pulse data, to our model predictions for the thermodynamic properties of the sensor and for the electron cooling obtained by quasiparticle recombination. Our data on electron cooling power is also relevant to the operation of other superconducting detectors, such as Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors.

Superconductivity mediated by quantum critical antiferromagnetic fluctuations: The rise and fall of hot spots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiaoyu; Schattner, Yoni; Berg, Erez; Fernandes, Rafael M.

2017-05-01

In several unconventional superconductors, the highest superconducting transition temperature Tc is found in a region of the phase diagram where the antiferromagnetic transition temperature extrapolates to zero, signaling a putative quantum critical point. The elucidation of the interplay between these two phenomena—high-Tc superconductivity and magnetic quantum criticality—remains an important piece of the complex puzzle of unconventional superconductivity. In this paper, we combine sign-problem-free quantum Monte Carlo simulations and field-theoretical analytical calculations to unveil the microscopic mechanism responsible for the superconducting instability of a general low-energy model, called the spin-fermion model. In this approach, low-energy electronic states interact with each other via the exchange of quantum critical magnetic fluctuations. We find that even in the regime of moderately strong interactions, both the superconducting transition temperature and the pairing susceptibility are governed not by the properties of the entire Fermi surface, but instead by the properties of small portions of the Fermi surface called hot spots. Moreover, Tc increases with increasing interaction strength, until it starts to saturate at the crossover from hot-spots-dominated to Fermi-surface-dominated pairing. Our work provides not only invaluable insights into the system parameters that most strongly affect Tc, but also important benchmarks to assess the origin of superconductivity in both microscopic models and actual materials.

Lattice parameters guide superconductivity in iron-arsenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konzen, Lance M. N.; Sefat, Athena S.

2017-03-01

The discovery of superconducting materials has led to their use in technological marvels such as magnetic-field sensors in MRI machines, powerful research magnets, short transmission cables, and high-speed trains. Despite such applications, the uses of superconductors are not widespread because they function much below room-temperature, hence the costly cooling. Since the discovery of Cu- and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors (HTS), much intense effort has tried to explain and understand the superconducting phenomenon. While no exact explanations are given, several trends are reported in relation to the materials basis in magnetism and spin excitations. In fact, most HTS have antiferromagnetic undoped ‘parent’ materials that undergo a superconducting transition upon small chemical substitutions in them. As it is currently unclear which ‘dopants’ can favor superconductivity, this manuscript investigates crystal structure changes upon chemical substitutions, to find clues in lattice parameters for the superconducting occurrence. We review the chemical substitution effects on the crystal lattice of iron-arsenide-based crystals (2008 to present). We note that (a) HTS compounds have nearly tetragonal structures with a-lattice parameter close to 4 Å, and (b) superconductivity can depend strongly on the c-lattice parameter changes with chemical substitution. For example, a decrease in c-lattice parameter is required to induce ‘in-plane’ superconductivity. The review of lattice parameter trends in iron-arsenides presented here should guide synthesis of new materials and provoke theoretical input, giving clues for HTS.

Lattice parameters guide superconductivity in iron-arsenides.

PubMed

Konzen, Lance M N; Sefat, Athena S

2017-03-01

The discovery of superconducting materials has led to their use in technological marvels such as magnetic-field sensors in MRI machines, powerful research magnets, short transmission cables, and high-speed trains. Despite such applications, the uses of superconductors are not widespread because they function much below room-temperature, hence the costly cooling. Since the discovery of Cu- and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors (HTS), much intense effort has tried to explain and understand the superconducting phenomenon. While no exact explanations are given, several trends are reported in relation to the materials basis in magnetism and spin excitations. In fact, most HTS have antiferromagnetic undoped 'parent' materials that undergo a superconducting transition upon small chemical substitutions in them. As it is currently unclear which 'dopants' can favor superconductivity, this manuscript investigates crystal structure changes upon chemical substitutions, to find clues in lattice parameters for the superconducting occurrence. We review the chemical substitution effects on the crystal lattice of iron-arsenide-based crystals (2008 to present). We note that (a) HTS compounds have nearly tetragonal structures with a-lattice parameter close to 4 Å, and (b) superconductivity can depend strongly on the c-lattice parameter changes with chemical substitution. For example, a decrease in c-lattice parameter is required to induce 'in-plane' superconductivity. The review of lattice parameter trends in iron-arsenides presented here should guide synthesis of new materials and provoke theoretical input, giving clues for HTS.

Atomic Resolution of Calcium and Oxygen Sublattices of Calcite in Ambient Conditions by Atomic Force Microscopy Using qPlus Sensors with Sapphire Tips.

PubMed

Wastl, Daniel S; Judmann, Michael; Weymouth, Alfred J; Giessibl, Franz J

2015-01-01

Characterization and imaging at the atomic scale with atomic force microscopy in biocompatible environments is an ongoing challenge. We demonstrate atomically resolved imaging of the calcite (101̅4) surface plane using stiff quartz cantilevers ("qPlus sensors", stiffness k = 1280 N/m) equipped with sapphire tips in ambient conditions without any surface preparation. With 10 atoms in one surface unit cell, calcite has a highly complex surface structure comprising three different chemical elements (Ca, C, and O). We obtain true atomic resolution of calcite in air at relative humidity ranging from 20% to 40%, imaging atomic steps and single atomic defects. We observe a great durability of sapphire tips with their Mohs hardness of 9, only one step below diamond. Depending on the state of the sapphire tip, we resolve either the calcium or the oxygen sublattice. We determine the tip termination by comparing the experimental images with simulations and discuss the possibility of chemical tip identification in air. The main challenges for imaging arise from the presence of water layers, which form on almost all surfaces and have the potential to dissolve the crystal surface. Frequency shift versus distance spectra show the presence of at least three ordered hydration layers. The measured height of the first hydration layer corresponds well to X-ray diffraction data and molecular dynamic simulations, namely, ∼220 pm. For the following hydration layers we measure ∼380 pm for the second and third layer, ending up in a total hydration layer thickness of at least 1 nm. Understanding the influence of water layers and their structure is important for surface segregation, surface reactions including reconstructions, healing of defects, and corrosion.

Lead Detection and Mapping with Reference to Relationships Between Scale, Sensor Characteristics, Surface Conditions and Atmospheric Properties

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-10-01

satellite-derived products and to understand in a more quantitative manner the benefits of different sensor systems . While there have been studies of...radiation balance of the surface/atmosphere system in the Arctic (Curry et al., 1990; Curry et al., 1989a; Curry et al., 1989b) and 4) high level cirrus...characteristics of the target or imaging system . In such a context it assumes that a given lead pixel is completely within the FOV of the satellite

Laser speckle strain and deformation sensor using linear array image cross-correlation method for specifically arranged triple-beam triple-camera configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sarrafzadeh-Khoee, Adel K. (Inventor)

2000-01-01

The invention provides a method of triple-beam and triple-sensor in a laser speckle strain/deformation measurement system. The triple-beam/triple-camera configuration combined with sequential timing of laser beam shutters is capable of providing indications of surface strain and structure deformations. The strain and deformation quantities, the four variables of surface strain, in-plane displacement, out-of-plane displacement and tilt, are determined in closed form solutions.

Superconductor magnetic reading and writing heads

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

Barnes, F.S.; Dugas, M.P.

1990-11-20

This paper describes a head for interfacing with a magnetic recording media. It comprises: a member of magnetic material forming at least a portion of a magnetic flux circuit ending with a pole face surface in interfacing relation to the media for establishing a main pole in proximity to the media in the magnetic flux circuit, magnetically responsive means in magnetically coupled relation to the magnetic flux circuit, means encasing at least a portion of the external surfaces of the member with superconductive material except for the media interfacing portion of the pole face surface. The encasing means including superconductingmore » material substantially surrounding the magnetic flux circuit in proximity to the pole face surface, and means establishing an environment for the superconductive material at a temperature for maintaining the superconductive material in its superconductive state, whereby magnetic flux in the magnetic flux circuit associated with the encasing means is concentrated within the magnetic flux circuit while placement of the pole face surface in proximity to the recording media permits sensitive magnetic flux controlled information exchanges between the media and the head.« less

Vortex dynamics in superconducting transition edge sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ezaki, S.; Maehata, K.; Iyomoto, N.; Asano, T.; Shinozaki, B.

2018-02-01

The temperature dependence of the electrical resistance (R-T) and the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics has been measured and analyzed in a 40 nm thick Ti thin film, which is used as a transition edge sensor (TES). The analyses of the I-V characteristics with the vortex-antivortex pair dissociation model indicate the possible existence of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition in two-dimensional superconducting Ti thin films. We investigated the noise due to the vortices' flow in TESs. The values of the current noise spectral density in the TESs were estimated by employing the vortex dynamics caused by the BKT transition in the Ti thin films. The estimated values of the current noise spectral density induced by the vortices' flow were in respectable agreement with the values of excess noise experimentally observed in the TESs with Ti/Au bilayer.

High- and Mid-temperature Superconducting Sensors for Far IR/Sub-mm Applications in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lakew, Brook; Brasunas, J. C.

2004-01-01

In this review paper an overview of the potential applications of high Tc (approx. 90 K) superconductors (HTS) and mid-Tc (approx. 39 K) superconductors (MTS) thin films in far IR/Sub-mm thermal detectors is presented. HTSs (YBCO, GdBCO etc.) were discovered in the late 80s while superconductivity in MgB2, an MTS, was discovered in 2001. The sharp transition in transport properties of HTS has allowed the fabrication of composite infrared thermal detectors (bolometers) with better figures of merit than thermopile detectors - thermopiles are currently on board the CIRS instrument on the Cassini mission to Saturn. The potential for developing even more sensitive sensors for IR/Sub-mm applications using MgB2 thin films is assessed. Current MgB2 thin film deposition techniques and film quality are reviewed.

The low-order wavefront control system for the PICTURE-C mission: preliminary testbed results from the Shack-Hartmann sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howe, Glenn A.; Mendillo, Christopher B.; Hewawasam, Kuravi; Martel, Jason; Finn, Susanna C.; Cook, Timothy A.; Chakrabarti, Supriya

2017-09-01

The Planetary Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Recoverable Experiment - Coronagraph (PICTURE-C) mission will directly image debris disks and exozodiacal dust around three nearby stars from a high-altitude balloon using a vector vortex coronagraph. We present experimental results of the PICTURE-C low-order wavefront control (LOWFC) system utilizing a Shack-Hartmann (SH) sensor in an instrument testbed. The SH sensor drives both the alignment of the telescope secondary mirror using a 6-axis Hexapod and a surface parallel array deformable mirror to remove residual low-order aberrations. The sensor design and actuator calibration methods are discussed and the preliminary LOWFC closed-loop performance is shown to stabilize a reference wavefront to an RMS error of 0.30 +/- 0.29 nm.

Apparatus and method for detecting electromagnetic radiation using electron photoemission in a micromechanical sensor

DOEpatents

Datskos, Panagiotis G.; Rajic, Slobodan; Datskou, Irene C.; Egert, Charles M.

2002-01-01

A micromechanical sensor and method for detecting electromagnetic radiation involve producing photoelectrons from a metal surface in contact with a semiconductor. The photoelectrons are extracted into the semiconductor, which causes photo-induced bending. The resulting bending is measured, and a signal corresponding to the measured bending is generated and processed. A plurality of individual micromechanical sensors can be arranged in a two-dimensional matrix for imaging applications.

Proximity-Induced Superconductivity and Quantum Interference in Topological Crystalline Insulator SnTe Thin-Film Devices.

PubMed

Klett, Robin; Schönle, Joachim; Becker, Andreas; Dyck, Denis; Borisov, Kiril; Rott, Karsten; Ramermann, Daniela; Büker, Björn; Haskenhoff, Jan; Krieft, Jan; Hübner, Torsten; Reimer, Oliver; Shekhar, Chandra; Schmalhorst, Jan-Michael; Hütten, Andreas; Felser, Claudia; Wernsdorfer, Wolfgang; Reiss, Günter

2018-02-14

Topological crystalline insulators represent a new state of matter, in which the electronic transport is governed by mirror-symmetry protected Dirac surface states. Due to the helical spin-polarization of these surface states, the proximity of topological crystalline matter to a nearby superconductor is predicted to induce unconventional superconductivity and, thus, to host Majorana physics. We report on the preparation and characterization of Nb-based superconducting quantum interference devices patterned on top of topological crystalline insulator SnTe thin films. The SnTe films show weak anti-localization, and the weak links of the superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID) exhibit fully gapped proximity-induced superconductivity. Both properties give a coinciding coherence length of 120 nm. The SQUID oscillations induced by a magnetic field show 2π periodicity, possibly dominated by the bulk conductivity.

Experience With Bayesian Image Based Surface Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stutz, John C.

2005-01-01

Bayesian surface modeling from images requires modeling both the surface and the image generation process, in order to optimize the models by comparing actual and generated images. Thus it differs greatly, both conceptually and in computational difficulty, from conventional stereo surface recovery techniques. But it offers the possibility of using any number of images, taken under quite different conditions, and by different instruments that provide independent and often complementary information, to generate a single surface model that fuses all available information. I describe an implemented system, with a brief introduction to the underlying mathematical models and the compromises made for computational efficiency. I describe successes and failures achieved on actual imagery, where we went wrong and what we did right, and how our approach could be improved. Lastly I discuss how the same approach can be extended to distinct types of instruments, to achieve true sensor fusion.

iGRaND: an invariant frame for RGBD sensor feature detection and descriptor extraction with applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willis, Andrew R.; Brink, Kevin M.

2016-06-01

This article describes a new 3D RGBD image feature, referred to as iGRaND, for use in real-time systems that use these sensors for tracking, motion capture, or robotic vision applications. iGRaND features use a novel local reference frame derived from the image gradient and depth normal (hence iGRaND) that is invariant to scale and viewpoint for Lambertian surfaces. Using this reference frame, Euclidean invariant feature components are computed at keypoints which fuse local geometric shape information with surface appearance information. The performance of the feature for real-time odometry is analyzed and its computational complexity and accuracy is compared with leading alternative 3D features.

Athena Microscopic Imager investigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herkenhoff, K. E.; Squyres, S. W.; Bell, J. F.; Maki, J. N.; Arneson, H. M.; Bertelsen, P.; Brown, D. I.; Collins, S. A.; Dingizian, A.; Elliott, S. T.; Goetz, W.; Hagerott, E. C.; Hayes, A. G.; Johnson, M. J.; Kirk, R. L.; McLennan, S.; Morris, R. V.; Scherr, L. M.; Schwochert, M. A.; Shiraishi, L. R.; Smith, G. H.; Soderblom, L. A.; Sohl-Dickstein, J. N.; Wadsworth, M. V.

2003-11-01

The Athena science payload on the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) includes the Microscopic Imager (MI). The MI is a fixed-focus camera mounted on the end of an extendable instrument arm, the Instrument Deployment Device (IDD). The MI was designed to acquire images at a spatial resolution of 30 microns/pixel over a broad spectral range (400-700 nm). The MI uses the same electronics design as the other MER cameras but has optics that yield a field of view of 31 × 31 mm across a 1024 × 1024 pixel CCD image. The MI acquires images using only solar or skylight illumination of the target surface. A contact sensor is used to place the MI slightly closer to the target surface than its best focus distance (about 66 mm), allowing concave surfaces to be imaged in good focus. Coarse focusing (~2 mm precision) is achieved by moving the IDD away from a rock target after the contact sensor has been activated. The MI optics are protected from the Martian environment by a retractable dust cover. The dust cover includes a Kapton window that is tinted orange to restrict the spectral bandpass to 500-700 nm, allowing color information to be obtained by taking images with the dust cover open and closed. MI data will be used to place other MER instrument data in context and to aid in petrologic and geologic interpretations of rocks and soils on Mars.

Field Study for Remote Sensing: An instructor's manual

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wake, W. H. (Editor); Hull, G. A. (Editor)

1981-01-01

The need for and value of field work (surface truthing) in the verification of image identification from high atitude infrared and multispectral space sensor images are discussed in this handbook which presents guidelines for developing instructional and research procedures in remote sensing of the environment.

OAST Space Theme Workshop. Volume 3: Working group summary. 3: Sensors (E-3). A. Statement. B. Technology needs (form 1). C. Priority assessment (form 2). D. Additional assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

Developments required to support the space power, SETI, solar system exploration and global services programs are identified. Instrumentation and calibration sensors (rather than scientific) are needed for the space power system. Highly sophisticated receivers for narrowband detection of microwave sensors and sensors for automated stellar cataloging to provide a mapping data base for SETI are needed. Various phases of solar system exploration require large area solid state imaging arrays from UV to IR; a long focal plane telescope; high energy particle detectors; advanced spectrometers; a gravitometer; and atmospheric distanalyzer; sensors for penetrometers; in-situ sensors for surface chemical analysis, life detection, spectroscopic and microscopic analyses of surface soils, and for meteorological measurements. Active and passive multiapplication sensors, advanced multispectral scanners with improved resolution in the UV and IR ranges, and laser techniques for advanced probing and oceanographic characterization will enhance for global services.

Measurement of Vibrated Bulk Density of Coke Particle Blends Using Image Texture Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azari, Kamran; Bogoya-Forero, Wilinthon; Duchesne, Carl; Tessier, Jayson

2017-09-01

A rapid and nondestructive machine vision sensor was developed for predicting the vibrated bulk density (VBD) of petroleum coke particles based on image texture analysis. It could be used for making corrective adjustments to a paste plant operation to reduce green anode variability (e.g., changes in binder demand). Wavelet texture analysis (WTA) and gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) algorithms were used jointly for extracting the surface textural features of coke aggregates from images. These were correlated with the VBD using partial least-squares (PLS) regression. Coke samples of several sizes and from different sources were used to test the sensor. Variations in the coke surface texture introduced by coke size and source allowed for making good predictions of the VBD of individual coke samples and mixtures of them (blends involving two sources and different sizes). Promising results were also obtained for coke blends collected from an industrial-baked carbon anode manufacturer.

Detection of surface impurity phases in high T.sub.C superconductors using thermally stimulated luminescence

DOEpatents

Cooke, D. Wayne; Jahan, Muhammad S.

1989-01-01

Detection of surface impurity phases in high-temperature superconducting materials. Thermally stimulated luminescence has been found to occur in insulating impurity phases which commonly exist in high-temperature superconducting materials. The present invention is sensitive to impurity phases occurring at a level of less than 1% with a probe depth of about 1 .mu.m which is the region of interest for many superconductivity applications. Spectroscopic and spatial resolution of the emitted light from a sample permits identification and location of the impurity species. Absence of luminescence, and thus of insulating phases, can be correlated with low values of rf surface resistance.

Design of a 0-50 mbar pressure measurement channel compatible with the LHC tunnel radiation environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casas, Juan; Jelen, Dorota; Trikoupis, Nikolaos

2017-02-01

The monitoring of cryogenic facilities often require the measurement of pressure in the sub 5’000 Pa range that are used for flow metering applications, for saturated superfluid helium, etc. The pressure measurement is based on the minute displacement of a sensing diaphragm often through contactless techniques by using capacitive or inductive methods. The LHC radiation environment forbid the use of standard commercial sensors because of the embedded electronics that are affected both by radiation induced drift and transient Single Event Effects (SEE). Passive pressure sensors from two manufacturers were investigated and a CERN designed radiation-tolerant electronics has been developed for measuring variable-reluctance sensors. During the last maintenance stop of the LHC accelerator, four absolute pressure sensors were installed in some of the low pressure bayonet heat exchangers and four differential pressure sensors on the venturi flowmeters that monitor the cooling flow of the 20.5 kA current leads of the ATLAS end-cap superconducting toroids. The pressure sensors operating range is about 1000 to 5000 Pa and the targeted uncertainty is +/- 50 Pa which would permit to measure the equivalent saturation temperature at 1.8 K within better than 0.01 K. This paper describes the radiation hard measuring head that is based on an inductive bridge, its associated radiation-tolerant electronics that is installed under the LHC superconducting magnets or the ATLAS detector cavern; and the first operational experience.

Experimental design for the evaluation of high-T(sub c) superconductive thermal bridges in a sensor satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, Elaine P.; Lee, Kasey M.

1994-01-01

Infrared sensor satellites, which consist of cryogenic infrared sensor detectors, electrical instrumentation, and data acquisition systems, are used to monitor the conditions of the earth's upper atmosphere in order to evaluate its present and future changes. Currently, the electrical connections (instrumentation), which act as thermal bridges between the cryogenic infrared sensor and the significantly warmer data acquisition unit of the sensor satellite system, constitute a significant portion of the heat load on the cryogen. As a part of extending the mission life of the sensor satellite system, the researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Langley Research Center (NASA-LaRC) are evaluating the effectiveness of replacing the currently used manganin wires with high-temperature superconductive (HTS) materials as the electrical connections (thermal bridges). In conjunction with the study being conducted at NASA-LaRC, the proposed research is to design a space experiment to determine the thermal savings on a cryogenic subsystem when manganin leads are replaced by HTS leads printed onto a substrate with a low thermal conductivity, and to determine the thermal conductivities of HTS materials. The experiment is designed to compare manganin wires with two different types of superconductors on substrates by determining the heat loss by the thermal bridges and providing temperature measurements for the estimation of thermal conductivity. A conductive mathematical model has been developed and used as a key tool in the design process and subsequent analysis.

Superconducting parity effect across the Anderson limit

PubMed Central

Vlaic, Sergio; Pons, Stéphane; Zhang, Tianzhen; Assouline, Alexandre; Zimmers, Alexandre; David, Christophe; Rodary, Guillemin; Girard, Jean-Christophe; Roditchev, Dimitri; Aubin, Hervé

2017-01-01

How small can superconductors be? For isolated nanoparticles subject to quantum size effects, P.W. Anderson in 1959 conjectured that superconductivity could only exist when the electronic level spacing δ is smaller than the superconducting gap energy Δ. Here we report a scanning tunnelling spectroscopy study of superconducting lead (Pb) nanocrystals grown on the (110) surface of InAs. We find that for nanocrystals of lateral size smaller than the Fermi wavelength of the 2D electron gas at the surface of InAs, the electronic transmission of the interface is weak; this leads to Coulomb blockade and enables the extraction of electron addition energy of the nanocrystals. For large nanocrystals, the addition energy displays superconducting parity effect, a direct consequence of Cooper pairing. Studying this parity effect as a function of nanocrystal volume, we find the suppression of Cooper pairing when the mean electronic level spacing overcomes the superconducting gap energy, thus demonstrating unambiguously the validity of the Anderson criterion. PMID:28240294

Metalorganic deposition method for forming epitaxial thallium-based copper oxide superconducting films

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

Olsen, W.L.; Eddy, M.M.; Hammond, R.B.

1991-12-10

This patent describes a method for producing a superconducting article comprising an oriented metal oxide superconducting layer containing thallium, optionally calcium, barium and copper, the layer being at least 30 {Angstrom} and having a c-axis oriented normal to a crystalline substrate surface. It comprises coating the crystalline substrate surface with a solution of thallium, optionally calcium, barium and copper carboxylate soaps dispersed in a medium of hydrocarbons of halohydrocarbons with a stoichiometric metal ratio to form the oxide superconducting layer, prepyrolyzing the soaps coated on the substrate at a temperature of 350{degrees} C. or less in an oxygen containing atmosphere,more » and pyrolyzing the soaps at a temperature in the range of 800{degrees} - 900{degrees} C. in the presence of oxygen and an overpressure of thallium for a sufficient time to produce the superconducting layer on the substrate, wherein usable portions of the superconducting layer are epitaxial to the substrate.« less

Thermal stability analysis of a superconducting magnet considering heat flow between magnet surface and liquid helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, J. Y.; Hwang, Y. J.; Ahn, M. C.; Choi, Y. S.

2018-07-01

This paper represents a numerical calculation method that enables highly-accurate simulations on temperature analysis of superconducting magnets considering the heat flow between the magnet and liquid helium during a quench. A three-dimensional (3D) superconducting magnet space was divided into many cells and the finite-difference method (FDM) was adopted to calculate the superconducting magnet temperatures governed by the heat transfer and joule heating of the each cell during a quench. To enhance the accuracy of the temperature calculations during a quench, the heat flow between the superconducting magnet surface and liquid helium, which lowers the magnet temperatures, was considered in this work. The electrical equation coupled with the governing thermal equation was also applied to calculate the change of the decay of the magnet current related to the joule heating. The proposed FDM method for temperatures calculation of a superconducting magnet during a quench process achieved results that were in good agreement with those obtained from an experiment.

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2013

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2013-01-01

Topics include: Single-Photon-Sensitive HgCdTe Avalanche Photodiode Detector; Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Using Silica Whispering-Gallery Mode Resonators; 3D Hail Size Distribution Interpolation/Extrapolation Algorithm; Color-Changing Sensors for Detecting the Presence of Hypergolic Fuels; Artificial Intelligence Software for Assessing Postural Stability; Transformers: Shape-Changing Space Systems Built with Robotic Textiles; Fibrillar Adhesive for Climbing Robots; Using Pre-Melted Phase Change Material to Keep Payloads in Space Warm for Hours without Power; Development of a Centrifugal Technique for the Microbial Bioburden Analysis of Freon (CFC-11); Microwave Sinterator Freeform Additive Construction System (MS-FACS); DSP/FPGA Design for a High-Speed Programmable S-Band Space Transceiver; On-Chip Power-Combining for High-Power Schottky Diode-Based Frequency Multipliers; FPGA Vision Data Architecture; Memory Circuit Fault Simulator; Ultra-Compact Transputer-Based Controller for High-Level, Multi-Axis Coordination; Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot Excavator; Magnetically Actuated Seal; Hybrid Electrostatic/Flextensional Mirror for Lightweight, Large-Aperture, and Cryogenic Space Telescopes; System for Contributing and Discovering Derived Mission and Science Data; Remote Viewer for Maritime Robotics Software; Stackfile Database; Reachability Maps for In Situ Operations; JPL Space Telecommunications Radio System Operating Environment; RFI-SIM: RFI Simulation Package; ION Configuration Editor; Dtest Testing Software; IMPaCT - Integration of Missions, Programs, and Core Technologies; Integrated Systems Health Management (ISHM) Toolkit; Wind-Driven Wireless Networked System of Mobile Sensors for Mars Exploration; In Situ Solid Particle Generator; Analysis of the Effects of Streamwise Lift Distribution on Sonic Boom Signature; Rad-Tolerant, Thermally Stable, High-Speed Fiber-Optic Network for Harsh Environments; Towed Subsurface Optical Communications Buoy; High-Collection-Efficiency Fluorescence Detection Cell; Ultra-Compact, Superconducting Spectrometer-on-a-Chip at Submillimeter Wavelengths; UV Resonant Raman Spectrometer with Multi-Line Laser Excitation; Medicine Delivery Device with Integrated Sterilization and Detection; Ionospheric Simulation System for Satellite Observations and Global Assimilative Model Experiments - ISOGAME; Airborne Tomographic Swath Ice Sounding Processing System; flexplan: Mission Planning System for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter; Estimating Torque Imparted on Spacecraft Using Telemetry; PowderSim: Lagrangian Discrete and Mesh-Free Continuum Simulation Code for Cohesive Soils; Multiple-Frame Detection of Subpixel Targets in Thermal Image Sequences; Metric Learning to Enhance Hyperspectral Image Segmentation; Basic Operational Robotics Instructional System; Sheet Membrane Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator; Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for Low-Cost, High-Performance Liquid Rocket Combustion Chambers; Motor Qualification for Long-Duration Mars Missions.

Venus Aerobot Surface Science Imaging System (VASSIS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greeley, Ronald

1999-01-01

The VASSIS task was to design and develop an imaging system and container for operation above the surface of Venus in preparation for a Discovery-class mission involving a Venus aerobot balloon. The technical goals of the effort were to: a) evaluate the possible nadir-viewed surface image quality as a function of wavelength and altitude in the Venus lower atmosphere, b) design a pressure vessel to contain the imager and supporting electronics that will meet the environmental requirements of the VASSIS mission, c) design and build a prototype imaging system including an Active-Pixel Sensor camera head and VASSIS-like optics that will meet the science requirements. The VASSIS science team developed a set of science requirements for the imaging system upon which the development work of this task was based.

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2012

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2012-01-01

Contents of this issue are: (1) Energy-Based Tetrahedron Sensor for High-Temperature, High-Pressure Environments (2) Handheld Universal Diagnostic Sensor (3) Large-Area Vacuum Ultraviolet Sensors (4) Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor System for Monitoring Smart Composite Aerospace Structures (5) Health-Enabled Smart Sensor Fusion Technology (6) Extended-Range Passive RFID and Sensor Tags (7) Hybrid Collaborative Learning for Classification and Clustering in Sensor Networks (8) Self-Healing, Inflatable, Rigidizable Shelter (9) Improvements in Cold-Plate Fabrication (10) Technique for Radiometer and Antenna Array Calibration - TRAAC (11) Real-Time Cognitive Computing Architecture for Data Fusion in a Dynamic Environment (12) Programmable Digital Controller (13) Use of CCSDS Packets Over SpaceWire to Control Hardware (14) Key Decision Record Creation and Approval Module (15) Enhanced Graphics for Extended Scale Range (16) Debris Examination Using Ballistic and Radar Integrated Software (17) Data Distribution System (DDS) and Solar Dynamic Observatory Ground Station (SDOGS) (18) Integration Manager (19) Eclipse-Free-Time Assessment Tool for IRIS (20) Automated and Manual Rocket Crater Measurement Software (21) MATLAB Stability and Control Toolbox Trim and Static Stability Module (22) Patched Conic Trajectory Code (23) Ring Image Analyzer (24) SureTrak Probability of Impact Display (25) Implementation of a Non-Metallic Barrier in an Electric Motor (26) Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Heat Exchangers for the Mars Science Laboratory Rover (27) Uniform Dust Distributor for Testing Radiative Emittance of Dust-Coated Surfaces (28) MicroProbe Small Unmanned Aerial System (29) Highly Stable and Active Catalyst for Sabatier Reactions (30) Better Proton-Conducting Polymers for Fuel-Cell Membranes (31) CCD Camera Lens Interface for Real-Time Theodolite Alignment (32) Peregrine 100-km Sounding Rocket Project (33) SOFIA Closed- and Open-Door Aerodynamic Analyses (34) Sonic Thermometer for High-Altitude Balloons (35) Near-Infrared Photon-Counting Camera for High-Sensitivity Observations (36) Integrated Optics Achromatic Nuller for Stellar Interferometry (37) High-Speed Digital Interferometry (38) Ultra-Miniature Lidar Scanner for Launch Range Data Collection (39) Shape and Color Features for Object Recognition Search (40) Explanation Capabilities for Behavior-Based Robot Control (41) A DNA-Inspired Encryption Methodology for Secure, Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (42) Quality Control Method for a Micro-Nano-Channel Microfabricated Device (43) Corner-Cube Retroreflector Instrument for Advanced Lunar Laser Ranging (44) Electrospray Collection of Lunar Dust (45) Fabrication of a Kilopixel Array of Superconducting Microcalorimeters with Microstripline Wiring Spacecraft Attitude Tracking and Maneuver Using Combined Magnetic Actuators (46) Coherent Detector for Near-Angle Scattering and Polarization Characterization of Telescope Mirror Coatings

Superconductive articles including cerium oxide layer

DOEpatents

Wu, X.D.; Muenchausen, R.E.

1993-11-16

A ceramic superconductor comprising a metal oxide substrate, a ceramic high temperature superconductive material, and a intermediate layer of a material having a cubic crystal structure, said layer situated between the substrate and the superconductive material is provided, and a structure for supporting a ceramic superconducting material is provided, said structure comprising a metal oxide substrate, and a layer situated over the surface of the substrate to substantially inhibit interdiffusion between the substrate and a ceramic superconducting material deposited upon said structure. 7 figures.

Superconductive articles including cerium oxide layer

DOEpatents

Wu, Xin D.; Muenchausen, Ross E.

1993-01-01

A ceramic superconductor comprising a metal oxide substrate, a ceramic high temperature superconductive material, and a intermediate layer of a material having a cubic crystal structure, said layer situated between the substrate and the superconductive material is provided, and a structure for supporting a ceramic superconducting material is provided, said structure comprising a metal oxide substrate, and a layer situated over the surface of the substrate to substantially inhibit interdiffusion between the substrate and a ceramic superconducting material deposited upon said structure.

EOS mapping accuracy study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Forrest, R. B.; Eppes, T. A.; Ouellette, R. J.

1973-01-01

Studies were performed to evaluate various image positioning methods for possible use in the earth observatory satellite (EOS) program and other earth resource imaging satellite programs. The primary goal is the generation of geometrically corrected and registered images, positioned with respect to the earth's surface. The EOS sensors which were considered were the thematic mapper, the return beam vidicon camera, and the high resolution pointable imager. The image positioning methods evaluated consisted of various combinations of satellite data and ground control points. It was concluded that EOS attitude control system design must be considered as a part of the image positioning problem for EOS, along with image sensor design and ground image processing system design. Study results show that, with suitable efficiency for ground control point selection and matching activities during data processing, extensive reliance should be placed on use of ground control points for positioning the images obtained from EOS and similar programs.

Comparison of Superconducting Transition Characteristics of Two Iridium/Gold Bilayer Transition Edge Sensor Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kunieda, Yuichi; Fukuda, Daiji; Ohno, Masashi; Takahashi, Hiroyuki; Nakazawa, Masaharu; Inou, Tadashi; Ataka, Manabu

2004-05-01

We are developing a high-energy-resolution X-ray microcalorimeter for X-ray fluorescent spectrometry using a superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) that consists of a bilayer of iridium and gold (Ir/Au). In this paper, we have studied the superconducting transition characteristics of two different bilayer structures. Type 1 is a simple stacked bilayer where a square-pattern film of iridium is covered with an identical pattern of gold. Type 2 is based on the Type 1 Ir/Au film, however, it has Au side banks. The resistance-temperature characteristics of these films are investigated by a four-wired resistance measurement method. As a result, the transition curve of Type 2 obeyed the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory; however, the transition curve of Type 1 was entirely different from that of Type 2. The reason there was a difference in these transition curves of the two devices is discussed in terms of the difference in the electric current distribution inside TESs. Even if we assume a uniform bilayer film and a uniform proximity effect over the entire film, the current density inside the device affects the characteristics of the transition curves.

Far infrared through millimeter backshort-under-grid arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allen, Christine A.; Abrahams, John; Benford, Dominic J.; Chervenak, James A.; Chuss, David T.; Staguhn, Johannes G.; Miller, Timothy M.; Moseley, S. Harvey; Wollack, Edward J.

2006-06-01

We are developing a large-format, versatile, bolometer array for a wide range of infrared through millimeter astronomical applications. The array design consists of three key components - superconducting transition edge sensor bolometer arrays, quarter-wave reflective backshort grids, and Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) multiplexer readouts. The detector array is a filled, square grid of bolometers with superconducting sensors. The backshort arrays are fabricated separately and are positioned in the etch cavities behind the detector grid. The grids have unique three-dimensional interlocking features micromachined into the walls for positioning and mechanical stability. The ultimate goal of the program is to produce large-format arrays with background-limited sensitivity, suitable for a wide range of wavelengths and applications. Large-format (kilopixel) arrays will be directly indium bump bonded to a SQUID multiplexer circuit. We have produced and tested 8×8 arrays of 1 mm detectors to demonstrate proof of concept. 8×16 arrays of 2 mm detectors are being produced for a new Goddard Space Flight Center instrument. We have also produced models of a kilopixel detector grid and dummy multiplexer chip for bump bonding development. We present detector design overview, several unique fabrication highlights, and assembly technologies.

Promising critical current density characteristics of Ag-sheathed (Sr,Na)Fe2As2 tape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suwa, Takahiro; Pyon, Sunseng; Tamegai, Tsuyoshi; Awaji, Satoshi

2018-06-01

We report the fabrication of (Sr,Na)Fe2As2 superconducting tapes by the powder-in-tube technique and their characteristics, including the transport critical current density J c at 4.2 K up to 140 kOe, the magnetic J c estimated from magnetic hysteresis curves, magneto-optical (MO) images, and scanning electron microscopy images. In a tape sintered at 875 °C for 1 h, the transport J c reaches 26 kA/cm2 at 4.2 K and 100 kOe for a field perpendicular to the tape surface. When the field is parallel to the tape surface, the magnetic J c exceeds the practical level of 100 kA/cm2 at 4.2 K below 25 kOe. Analysis of the MO images reveals clear current discontinuity lines in the core, indicating that the current flows homogeneously and the connections between grains are strong in the core.

Experimental formation of a fractional vortex in a superconducting bi-layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Y.; Yamamori, H.; Yanagisawa, T.; Nishio, T.; Arisawa, S.

2018-05-01

We report the experimental formation of a fractional vortex generated by using a thin superconducting bi-layer in the form of a niobium bi-layer, observed as a magnetic flux distribution image taken by a scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscope. Thus, we demonstrated that multi-component superconductivity can be realized by an s-wave conventional superconductor, because, in these superconductors, the magnetic flux is no longer quantized as it is destroyed by the existence of an inter-component phase soliton (i-soliton).

Automatic relative RPC image model bias compensation through hierarchical image matching for improving DEM quality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noh, Myoung-Jong; Howat, Ian M.

2018-02-01

The quality and efficiency of automated Digital Elevation Model (DEM) extraction from stereoscopic satellite imagery is critically dependent on the accuracy of the sensor model used for co-locating pixels between stereo-pair images. In the absence of ground control or manual tie point selection, errors in the sensor models must be compensated with increased matching search-spaces, increasing both the computation time and the likelihood of spurious matches. Here we present an algorithm for automatically determining and compensating the relative bias in Rational Polynomial Coefficients (RPCs) between stereo-pairs utilizing hierarchical, sub-pixel image matching in object space. We demonstrate the algorithm using a suite of image stereo-pairs from multiple satellites over a range stereo-photogrammetrically challenging polar terrains. Besides providing a validation of the effectiveness of the algorithm for improving DEM quality, experiments with prescribed sensor model errors yield insight into the dependence of DEM characteristics and quality on relative sensor model bias. This algorithm is included in the Surface Extraction through TIN-based Search-space Minimization (SETSM) DEM extraction software package, which is the primary software used for the U.S. National Science Foundation ArcticDEM and Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) products.

Silicon Nanotips Antireflection Surface for Micro Sun Sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bae, Sam Y.; Lee, Choonsup; Mobasser, Sohrab; Manohara, Harish

2006-01-01

We have developed a new technique to fabricate antireflection surface using silicon nano-tips for use on a micro sun sensor for Mars rovers. We have achieved randomly distributed nano-tips of radius spanning from 20 nm to 100 nm and aspect ratio of 200 using a two-step dry etching process. The 30(deg) specular reflectance at the target wavelength of 1 (mu)m is only about 0.09 %, nearly three orders of magnitude lower than that of bare silicon, and the hemispherical reflectance is 8%. By changing the density and aspect ratio of these nanotips, the change in reflectance is demonstrated. Using surfaces covered with these nano-tips, the critical problem of ghost images that are caused by multiple internal reflections in a micro sun sensor was solved.

Imaging Radar Applications in the Death Valley Region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farr, Tom G.

1996-01-01

Death Valley has had a long history as a testbed for remote sensing techniques (Gillespie, this conference). Along with visible-near infrared and thermal IR sensors, imaging radars have flown and orbited over the valley since the 1970's, yielding new insights into the geologic applications of that technology. More recently, radar interferometry has been used to derive digital topographic maps of the area, supplementing the USGS 7.5' digital quadrangles currently available for nearly the entire area. As for their shorter-wavelength brethren, imaging radars were tested early in their civilian history in Death Valley because it has a variety of surface types in a small area without the confounding effects of vegetation. In one of the classic references of these early radar studies, in a semi-quantitative way the response of an imaging radar to surface roughness near the radar wavelength, which typically ranges from about 1 cm to 1 m was explained. This laid the groundwork for applications of airborne and spaceborne radars to geologic problems in and regions. Radar's main advantages over other sensors stems from its active nature- supplying its own illumination makes it independent of solar illumination and it can also control the imaging geometry more accurately. Finally, its long wavelength allows it to peer through clouds, eliminating some of the problems of optical sensors, especially in perennially cloudy and polar areas.

Point contact tunneling spectroscopy apparatus for large scale mapping of surface superconducting properties

DOE PAGES

Groll, Nickolas; Pellin, Michael J.; Zasadzinksi, John F.; ...

2015-09-18

In this paper, we describe the design and testing of a point contact tunneling spectroscopy device that can measure material surface superconducting properties (i.e., the superconducting gap Δ and the critical temperature T C) and density of states over large surface areas with size up to mm 2. The tip lateral (X,Y) motion, mounted on a (X,Y,Z) piezo-stage, was calibrated on a patterned substrate consisting of Nb lines sputtered on a gold film using both normal (Al) and superconducting (PbSn) tips at 1.5 K. The tip vertical (Z) motion control enables some adjustment of the tip-sample junction resistance that canmore » be measured over 7 orders of magnitudes from a quasi-ohmic regime (few hundred Ω) to the tunnel regime (from tens of kΩ up to few GΩ). The low noise electronic and LabVIEW program interface are also presented. Finally, the point contact regime and the large-scale motion capabilities are of particular interest for mapping and testing the superconducting properties of macroscopic scale superconductor-based devices.« less

High-kinetic inductance additive manufactured superconducting microwave cavity

DOE PAGES

Holland, Eric T.; Rosen, Yaniv J.; Materise, Nicholas; ...

2017-11-13

We present that investigations into the microwave surface impedance of superconducting resonators have led to the development of single photon counters that rely on kinetic inductance for their operation, while concurrent progress in additive manufacturing, “3D printing,” opens up a previously inaccessible design space for waveguide resonators. In this manuscript, we present results from the synthesis of these two technologies in a titanium, aluminum, vanadium (Ti-6Al-4V) superconducting radio frequency resonator which exploits a design unattainable through conventional fabrication means. Additionally, we find that Ti-6Al-4V has two distinct superconducting transition temperatures observable in heat capacity measurements. The higher transition temperature ismore » in agreement with DC resistance measurements, while the lower transition temperature, not previously known in the literature, is consistent with the observed temperature dependence of the superconducting microwave surface impedance. From the surface reactance, we extract a London penetration depth of 8 ± 3 μm—roughly an order of magnitude larger than other titanium alloys and several orders of magnitude larger than other conventional elemental superconductors.« less

High-kinetic inductance additive manufactured superconducting microwave cavity

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

Holland, Eric T.; Rosen, Yaniv J.; Materise, Nicholas

We present that investigations into the microwave surface impedance of superconducting resonators have led to the development of single photon counters that rely on kinetic inductance for their operation, while concurrent progress in additive manufacturing, “3D printing,” opens up a previously inaccessible design space for waveguide resonators. In this manuscript, we present results from the synthesis of these two technologies in a titanium, aluminum, vanadium (Ti-6Al-4V) superconducting radio frequency resonator which exploits a design unattainable through conventional fabrication means. Additionally, we find that Ti-6Al-4V has two distinct superconducting transition temperatures observable in heat capacity measurements. The higher transition temperature ismore » in agreement with DC resistance measurements, while the lower transition temperature, not previously known in the literature, is consistent with the observed temperature dependence of the superconducting microwave surface impedance. From the surface reactance, we extract a London penetration depth of 8 ± 3 μm—roughly an order of magnitude larger than other titanium alloys and several orders of magnitude larger than other conventional elemental superconductors.« less

National Synchrotron Light Source annual report 1991. Volume 1, October 1, 1990--September 30, 1991

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

Hulbert, S.L.; Lazarz, N.M.

1992-04-01

This report discusses the following research conducted at NSLS: atomic and molecular science; energy dispersive diffraction; lithography, microscopy and tomography; nuclear physics; UV photoemission and surface science; x-ray absorption spectroscopy; x-ray scattering and crystallography; x-ray topography; workshop on surface structure; workshop on electronic and chemical phenomena at surfaces; workshop on imaging; UV FEL machine reviews; VUV machine operations; VUV beamline operations; VUV storage ring parameters; x-ray machine operations; x-ray beamline operations; x-ray storage ring parameters; superconducting x-ray lithography source; SXLS storage ring parameters; the accelerator test facility; proposed UV-FEL user facility at the NSLS; global orbit feedback systems; and NSLSmore » computer system.« less

IR sensitivity enhancement of CMOS Image Sensor with diffractive light trapping pixels.

PubMed

Yokogawa, Sozo; Oshiyama, Itaru; Ikeda, Harumi; Ebiko, Yoshiki; Hirano, Tomoyuki; Saito, Suguru; Oinoue, Takashi; Hagimoto, Yoshiya; Iwamoto, Hayato

2017-06-19

We report on the IR sensitivity enhancement of back-illuminated CMOS Image Sensor (BI-CIS) with 2-dimensional diffractive inverted pyramid array structure (IPA) on crystalline silicon (c-Si) and deep trench isolation (DTI). FDTD simulations of semi-infinite thick c-Si having 2D IPAs on its surface whose pitches over 400 nm shows more than 30% improvement of light absorption at λ = 850 nm and the maximum enhancement of 43% with the 540 nm pitch at the wavelength is confirmed. A prototype BI-CIS sample with pixel size of 1.2 μm square containing 400 nm pitch IPAs shows 80% sensitivity enhancement at λ = 850 nm compared to the reference sample with flat surface. This is due to diffraction with the IPA and total reflection at the pixel boundary. The NIR images taken by the demo camera equip with a C-mount lens show 75% sensitivity enhancement in the λ = 700-1200 nm wavelength range with negligible spatial resolution degradation. Light trapping CIS pixel technology promises to improve NIR sensitivity and appears to be applicable to many different image sensor applications including security camera, personal authentication, and range finding Time-of-Flight camera with IR illuminations.

The earth's surface studied from space; Proceedings of Workshop II of the COSPAR 25th Plenary Meeting, Graz, Austria, June 25-July 7, 1984

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ungar, S. G. (Editor)

1985-01-01

Consideration is given to: Landsat image data quality studies; a preliminary evaluation of Landsat-4 Thematic Mapper (TM) data for mineral exploration; and the early evaluation of TM data for mapping forest, agricultural and soil resources. Among other topics discussed are: shortwave infrared detection of vegetation; SPOT image quality and post-launch assessment; an evaluation of SPOT HRV simulation data for Corps of Engineers applications; and the application potential of SPOT imagery for topographic mapping. Consideration is also given to: verification studies of MOS-1 sensors; multiple sensor geocoded data; and the utility of proposed sensors for coastal engineering studies.

Effect of Electropolishing and Low-Temperature Baking on the Superconducting Properties of Large-Grain Niobium

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

A. S. Dhavale, G. Ciovati, G. R. Myneni

Measurements of superconducting properties such as bulk and surface critical fields and thermal conductivity have been carried out in the temperature range from 2 K to 8 K on large-grain samples of different purity and on a high-purity fine-grain sample, for comparison. The samples were treated by electropolishing and low temperature baking (120° C, 48 h). While the residual resistivity ratio changed by a factor of ~3 among the samples, no significant variation was found in their superconducting properties. The onset field for flux penetration at 2 K, Hffp, measured within a ~30 µm depth from the surface, was ~160more » mT, close to the bulk value. The baking effect was mainly to increase the field range up to which a coherent superconducting phase persists on the surface, above the upper critical field.« less

General fusion approaches for the age determination of latent fingerprint traces: results for 2D and 3D binary pixel feature fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merkel, Ronny; Gruhn, Stefan; Dittmann, Jana; Vielhauer, Claus; Bräutigam, Anja

2012-03-01

Determining the age of latent fingerprint traces found at crime scenes is an unresolved research issue since decades. Solving this issue could provide criminal investigators with the specific time a fingerprint trace was left on a surface, and therefore would enable them to link potential suspects to the time a crime took place as well as to reconstruct the sequence of events or eliminate irrelevant fingerprints to ensure privacy constraints. Transferring imaging techniques from different application areas, such as 3D image acquisition, surface measurement and chemical analysis to the domain of lifting latent biometric fingerprint traces is an upcoming trend in forensics. Such non-destructive sensor devices might help to solve the challenge of determining the age of a latent fingerprint trace, since it provides the opportunity to create time series and process them using pattern recognition techniques and statistical methods on digitized 2D, 3D and chemical data, rather than classical, contact-based capturing techniques, which alter the fingerprint trace and therefore make continuous scans impossible. In prior work, we have suggested to use a feature called binary pixel, which is a novel approach in the working field of fingerprint age determination. The feature uses a Chromatic White Light (CWL) image sensor to continuously scan a fingerprint trace over time and retrieves a characteristic logarithmic aging tendency for 2D-intensity as well as 3D-topographic images from the sensor. In this paper, we propose to combine such two characteristic aging features with other 2D and 3D features from the domains of surface measurement, microscopy, photography and spectroscopy, to achieve an increase in accuracy and reliability of a potential future age determination scheme. Discussing the feasibility of such variety of sensor devices and possible aging features, we propose a general fusion approach, which might combine promising features to a joint age determination scheme in future. We furthermore demonstrate the feasibility of the introduced approach by exemplary fusing the binary pixel features based on 2D-intensity and 3D-topographic images of the mentioned CWL sensor. We conclude that a formula based age determination approach requires very precise image data, which cannot be achieved at the moment, whereas a machine learning based classification approach seems to be feasible, if an adequate amount of features can be provided.

Radiometric cross-calibration of the Terra MODIS and Landsat 7 ETM+ using an invariant desert site

USGS Publications Warehouse

Choi, T.; Angal, A.; Chander, G.; Xiong, X.

2008-01-01

A methodology for long-term radiometric cross-calibration between the Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat 7 (L7) Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensors was developed. The approach involves calibration of near-simultaneous surface observations between 2000 and 2007. Fifty-seven cloud-free image pairs were carefully selected over the Libyan desert for this study. The Libyan desert site (+28.55??, +23.39??), located in northern Africa, is a high reflectance site with high spatial, spectral, and temporal uniformity. Because the test site covers about 12 kmx13 km, accurate geometric preprocessing is required to match the footprint size between the two sensors to avoid uncertainties due to residual image misregistration. MODIS Level IB radiometrically corrected products were reprojected to the corresponding ETM+ image's Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid projection. The 30 m pixels from the ETM+ images were aggregated to match the MODIS spatial resolution (250 m in Bands 1 and 2, or 500 m in Bands 3 to 7). The image data from both sensors were converted to absolute units of at-sensor radiance and top-ofatmosphere (TOA) reflectance for the spectrally matching band pairs. For each band pair, a set of fitted coefficients (slope and offset) is provided to quantify the relationships between the testing sensors. This work focuses on long-term stability and correlation of the Terra MODIS and L7 ETM+ sensors using absolute calibration results over the entire mission of the two sensors. Possible uncertainties are also discussed such as spectral differences in matching band pairs, solar zenith angle change during a collection, and differences in solar irradiance models.

Particle trajectories and clearing times after mechanical door openings on the MSX satellite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, B. David; Galica, Gary E.; Mulhall, Phillip A.; Dyer, James S.; Uy, O. Manuel

1996-11-01

Particles generated from spacecraft surfaces will interfere with the remote sensing of emissions from objects in space, the earth, and its upper atmosphere. We have previously reviewed the sources, sizes, and composition of particles observed in local spacecraft environments and presented predictions of the optical signatures these particles would generate and presented predictions of the signatures of these nearfield particles as detected by spacecraft optical systems. Particles leaving spacecraft surfaces will be accelerated by atmospheric drag (and magnetic forces if charged). Velocities and accelerations relative to the spacecraft x,y,z, coordinate system allow the particle to move through the optical sensors' field-of-view after they leave the spacecraft surfaces. The particle's trajectory during the optical system integration time gives rise to a particle track in the detected image. Particles can be remotely detected across the UV-IR spectral region by their thermal emission, scattered sunlight, and earthshine. The spectral-bandpass-integrated signatures of these particles (dependent upon size and composition) is then mapped back onto the UV, visible, and IR sensor systems. At distances less than kilometers, these particles are out of focus for telescoped imaging systems. The image produced is blurred over several pixels. We present here data on the optical signatures observed after the mechanical doors covering the MSX primary optical sensors are removed. This data represents the first observations by these sensors on-orbit, and must be treated as preliminary until a more careful review and calibration is completed. Within these constraints, we have analyzed the data to derive preliminarily positions and trajectories.

Discovery of orbital-selective Cooper pairing in FeSe

DOE PAGES

Sprau, P. O.; Kostin, A.; Kreisel, A.; ...

2017-07-07

The superconductor iron selenide (FeSe) is of intense interest owing to its unusual nonmagnetic nematic state and potential for high-temperature superconductivity. But its Cooper pairing mechanism has not been determined. Here, we used Bogoliubov quasiparticle interference imaging to determine the Fermi surface geometry of the electronic bands surrounding the Γ = (0,0) and X = (π/a Fe, 0) points of FeSe and to measure the corresponding superconducting energy gaps. We show that both gaps are extremely anisotropic but nodeless and that they exhibit gap maxima oriented orthogonally in momentum space. Moreover, by implementing a novel technique, we demonstrate that thesemore » gaps have opposite sign with respect to each other. This complex gap configuration reveals the existence of orbital-selective Cooper pairing that, in FeSe, is based preferentially on electrons from the d yz orbitals of the iron atoms.« less

Discovery of orbital-selective Cooper pairing in FeSe

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

Sprau, P. O.; Kostin, A.; Kreisel, A.

The superconductor iron selenide (FeSe) is of intense interest owing to its unusual nonmagnetic nematic state and potential for high-temperature superconductivity. But its Cooper pairing mechanism has not been determined. Here, we used Bogoliubov quasiparticle interference imaging to determine the Fermi surface geometry of the electronic bands surrounding the Γ = (0,0) and X = (π/a Fe, 0) points of FeSe and to measure the corresponding superconducting energy gaps. We show that both gaps are extremely anisotropic but nodeless and that they exhibit gap maxima oriented orthogonally in momentum space. Moreover, by implementing a novel technique, we demonstrate that thesemore » gaps have opposite sign with respect to each other. This complex gap configuration reveals the existence of orbital-selective Cooper pairing that, in FeSe, is based preferentially on electrons from the d yz orbitals of the iron atoms.« less

Apparatus using the FARADAY effect to locate the magnetic axis of quadrupole magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Bars, Josette

1994-07-01

A development using magneto-optic sensors is underway for the location of the magnetic center of long, small aperture, superconducting quadrupole magnets. The paper will describe the measuring methods and the preliminary results which have been obtained with gradients from 2.5 T/m to 10 T/m. The sensors are made of magneto-optic garnets using the Faraday effect which changes an incident beam of linearly polarized light into a transmitted beam of elliptically polarized light. An optical fiber bundle (phi less than 20 micron) carries the incident light to a polarized film, put above the magneto optic sensor. An analyzer film collects the transmitted light. A second optic fiber bundle carries this light toward a visual (microscope, video camera) or analogic data acquisition system. Furthermore, a level is associated with these crystals to determine the gravity direction. The 'mole' is moving along the axis of a warm bore tube when the magnet is superconducting. The present results are promising for measuring quadrupoles of much higher gradients, up to 100 T/m.

Ultrasensitive Inertial and Force Sensors with Diamagnetically Levitated Magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prat-Camps, J.; Teo, C.; Rusconi, C. C.; Wieczorek, W.; Romero-Isart, O.

2017-09-01

We theoretically show that a magnet can be stably levitated on top of a punctured superconductor sheet in the Meissner state without applying any external field. The trapping potential created by such induced-only superconducting currents is characterized for magnetic spheres ranging from tens of nanometers to tens of millimeters. Such a diamagnetically levitated magnet is predicted to be extremely well isolated from the environment. We propose to use it as an ultrasensitive force and inertial sensor. A magnetomechanical readout of its displacement can be performed by using superconducting quantum interference devices. An analysis using current technology shows that force and acceleration sensitivities on the order of 10-23 N /√{Hz } (for a 100-nm magnet) and 10-14 g /√{Hz } (for a 10-mm magnet) might be within reach in a cryogenic environment. Such remarkable sensitivities, both in force and acceleration, can be used for a variety of purposes, from designing ultrasensitive inertial sensors for technological applications (e.g., gravimetry, avionics, and space industry), to scientific investigations on measuring Casimir forces of magnetic origin and gravitational physics.

Radiometric cross-calibration of EO-1 ALI with L7 ETM+ and Terra MODIS sensors using near-simultaneous desert observations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, Gyanesh; Angal, Amit; Choi, Taeyoung; Xiong, Xiaoxiong

2013-01-01

The Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite was launched on November 21, 2000, as part of a one-year technology demonstration mission. The mission was extended because of the value it continued to add to the scientific community. EO-1 has now been operational for more than a decade, providing both multispectral and hyperspectral measurements. As part of the EO-1 mission, the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) sensor demonstrates a potential technological direction for the next generation of Landsat sensors. To evaluate the ALI sensor capabilities as a precursor to the Operational Land Imager (OLI) onboard the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM, or Landsat 8 after launch), its measured top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectances were compared to the well-calibrated Landsat 7 (L7) Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and the Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors in the reflective solar bands (RSB). These three satellites operate in a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit 705 km above the Earth's surface. EO-1 was designed to fly one minute behind L7 and approximately 30 minutes in front of Terra. In this configuration, all the three sensors can view near-identical ground targets with similar atmospheric, solar, and viewing conditions. However, because of the differences in the relative spectral response (RSR), the measured physical quantities can be significantly different while observing the same target. The cross-calibration of ALI with ETM+ and MODIS was performed using near-simultaneous surface observations based on image statistics from areas observed by these sensors over four desert sites (Libya 4, Mauritania 2, Arabia 1, and Sudan 1). The differences in the measured TOA reflectances due to RSR mismatches were compensated by using a spectral band adjustment factor (SBAF), which takes into account the spectral profile of the target and the RSR of each sensor. For this study, the spectral profile of the target comes from the near-simultaneous EO-1 Hyperion data over these sites. The results indicate that the TOA reflectance measurements for ALI agree with those of ETM+ and MODIS to within 5% after the application of SBAF.

Object Imaging Accomplished with an Integrated Circuit Robotic Tactile Sensor Incorporating a Piezoelectric Polyvinylidene Fluoride Thin Film

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

sensor response. That is, the tactile sensor’s response to a temperature change could be interpreted as the sensor’s response solely to an externally...is a vector quantity. A force acting on a surface can be interpreted in terms of a normal and a tangential component. Often, these components are...polarization [12]: 3-16 h K" + (3.34) Similarly, the stress in a material due to an applied strain and polarization is [12]: T = cS- hTP (3.35) The electric

High-speed sorting of grains by color and surface texture

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A high-speed, low-cost, image-based sorting device was developed to detect and separate grains with different colors/textures. The device directly combines a complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) color image sensor with a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) that was programmed to execute ...

The IRGen infrared data base modeler

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bernstein, Uri

1993-01-01

IRGen is a modeling system which creates three-dimensional IR data bases for real-time simulation of thermal IR sensors. Starting from a visual data base, IRGen computes the temperature and radiance of every data base surface with a user-specified thermal environment. The predicted gray shade of each surface is then computed from the user specified sensor characteristics. IRGen is based on first-principles models of heat transport and heat flux sources, and it accurately simulates the variations of IR imagery with time of day and with changing environmental conditions. The starting point for creating an IRGen data base is a visual faceted data base, in which every facet has been labeled with a material code. This code is an index into a material data base which contains surface and bulk thermal properties for the material. IRGen uses the material properties to compute the surface temperature at the specified time of day. IRGen also supports image generator features such as texturing and smooth shading, which greatly enhance image realism.

Sensors and OBIA synergy for operational monitoring of surface water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masson, Eric; Thenard, Lucas

2010-05-01

This contribution will focus on combining Object Based Image Analysis (i.e. OBIA with e-Cognition 8) and recent sensors (i.e. Spot 5 XS, Pan and ALOS Prism, Avnir2, Palsar) to address the technical feasibility for an operational monitoring of surface water. Three cases of river meandering (India), flood mapping (Nepal) and dam's seasonal water level monitoring (Morocco) using recent sensors will present various application of surface water monitoring. The operational aspect will be demonstrated either by sensor properties (i.e. spatial resolution and bandwidth), data acquisition properties (i.e. multi sensor, return period and near real-time acquisition) but also with OBIA algorithms (i.e. fusion of multi sensors / multi resolution data and batch processes). In the first case of river meandering (India) we will address multi sensor and multi date satellite acquisition to monitor the river bed mobility within a floodplain using an ALOS dataset. It will demonstrate the possibility of an operational monitoring system that helps the geomorphologist in the analysis of fluvial dynamic and sediment budget for high energy rivers. In the second case of flood mapping (Nepal) we will address near real time Palsar data acquisition at high spatial resolution to monitor and to map a flood extension. This ALOS sensor takes benefit both from SAR and L band properties (i.e. atmospheric transparency, day/night acquisition, low sensibility to surface wind). It's a real achievement compared to optical imagery or even other high resolution SAR properties (i.e. acquisition swath, bandwidth and data price). These advantages meet the operational needs set by crisis management of hydrological disasters but also for the implementation of flood risk management plans. The last case of dam surface water monitoring (Morocco) will address an important issue of water resource management in countries affected by water scarcity. In such countries water users have to cope with over exploitation, frequent drought period and now with foreseen climate change impacts. This third case will demonstrate the efficiency of SPOT 5 programming in synergy with OBIA methodology to assess the evolution of dam surface water within a complete water cycle (i.e. 2008-09). In all those three cases image segmentation and classification algorithms developed with e-Cognition 8 software allow an easy to use implementation of simple to highly sophisticate OBIA rulsets fully operational in batch processes. Finally this contribution foresees the new opportunity of integration of Worldview 2 multispectral imagery (i.e. 8 bands) including its "coastal" band that will also find an application in continental surface water bathymetry. Worldview 2 is a recently launch satellite (e.g. October 2009) that starts to collect earth observation data since January 2010. It is therefore a promising new remote sensing tool to develop operational hydrology in combination high resolution SAR imagery and OBIA methodology. This contribution will conclude on the strong potential for operationalisation in hydrology and water resources management that recent and future sensors and image analysis methodologies are offering to water management and decision makers.

Visualizing domain wall and reverse domain superconductivity.

PubMed

Iavarone, M; Moore, S A; Fedor, J; Ciocys, S T; Karapetrov, G; Pearson, J; Novosad, V; Bader, S D

2014-08-28

In magnetically coupled, planar ferromagnet-superconductor (F/S) hybrid structures, magnetic domain walls can be used to spatially confine the superconductivity. In contrast to a superconductor in a uniform applied magnetic field, the nucleation of the superconducting order parameter in F/S structures is governed by the inhomogeneous magnetic field distribution. The interplay between the superconductivity localized at the domain walls and far from the walls leads to effects such as re-entrant superconductivity and reverse domain superconductivity with the critical temperature depending upon the location. Here we use scanning tunnelling spectroscopy to directly image the nucleation of superconductivity at the domain wall in F/S structures realized with Co-Pd multilayers and Pb thin films. Our results demonstrate that such F/S structures are attractive model systems that offer the possibility to control the strength and the location of the superconducting nucleus by applying an external magnetic field, potentially useful to guide vortices for computing application.

Visualizing domain wall and reverse domain superconductivity

PubMed Central

Iavarone, M.; Moore, S. A.; Fedor, J.; Ciocys, S. T.; Karapetrov, G.; Pearson, J.; Novosad, V.; Bader, S. D.

2014-01-01

In magnetically coupled, planar ferromagnet-superconductor (F/S) hybrid structures, magnetic domain walls can be used to spatially confine the superconductivity. In contrast to a superconductor in a uniform applied magnetic field, the nucleation of the superconducting order parameter in F/S structures is governed by the inhomogeneous magnetic field distribution. The interplay between the superconductivity localized at the domain walls and far from the walls leads to effects such as re-entrant superconductivity and reverse domain superconductivity with the critical temperature depending upon the location. Here we use scanning tunnelling spectroscopy to directly image the nucleation of superconductivity at the domain wall in F/S structures realized with Co-Pd multilayers and Pb thin films. Our results demonstrate that such F/S structures are attractive model systems that offer the possibility to control the strength and the location of the superconducting nucleus by applying an external magnetic field, potentially useful to guide vortices for computing application. PMID:25164004

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.

Infrared-Bolometer Arrays with Reflective Backshorts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Timothy M.; Abrahams, John; Allen, Christine A.

2011-01-01

Integrated circuits that incorporate square arrays of superconducting-transition- edge bolometers with optically reflective backshorts are being developed for use in image sensors in the spectral range from far infrared to millimeter wavelengths. To maximize the optical efficiency (and, thus, sensitivity) of such a sensor at a specific wavelength, resonant optical structures are created by placing the backshorts at a quarter wavelength behind the bolometer plane. The bolometer and backshort arrays are fabricated separately, then integrated to form a single unit denoted a backshort-under-grid (BUG) bolometer array. In a subsequent fabrication step, the BUG bolometer array is connected, by use of single-sided indium bump bonding, to a readout device that comprises mostly a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) multiplexer circuit. The resulting sensor unit comprising the BUG bolometer array and the readout device is operated at a temperature below 1 K. The concept of increasing optical efficiency by use of backshorts at a quarter wavelength behind the bolometers is not new. Instead, the novelty of the present development lies mainly in several features of the design of the BUG bolometer array and the fabrication sequence used to implement the design. Prior to joining with the backshort array, the bolometer array comprises, more specifically, a square grid of free-standing molybdenum/gold superconducting-transition-edge bolometer elements on a 1.4- m-thick top layer of silicon that is part of a silicon support frame made from a silicon-on-insulator wafer. The backshort array is fabricated separately as a frame structure that includes support beams and contains a correspond - ing grid of optically reflective patches on a single-crystal silicon substrate. The process used to fabricate the bolometer array includes standard patterning and etching steps that result in the formation of deep notches in the silicon support frame. These notches are designed to interlock with the support beams on the backshort-array structure to provide structural support and precise relative positioning. The backshort-array structure is inserted in the silicon support frame behind the bolometer array, and the notches in the frame serve to receive the support beams of the backshort-array structure and thus determine the distance between the backshort and bolometer planes. The depth of the notches and, thus, the distance between the backshort and bolometer planes, can be tailored to a value between 25 to 300 m adjusting only a few process steps. The backshort array is designed so as not to interfere with the placement of indium bumps for subsequent indium bump-bonding to the multiplexing readout circuitry

High-T c superconductivity in undoped ThFeAsN.

PubMed

Shiroka, T; Shang, T; Wang, C; Cao, G-H; Eremin, I; Ott, H-R; Mesot, J

2017-07-31

Unlike the widely studied ReFeAsO series, the newly discovered iron-based superconductor ThFeAsN exhibits a remarkably high critical temperature of 30 K, without chemical doping or external pressure. Here we investigate in detail its magnetic and superconducting properties via muon-spin rotation/relaxation and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and show that ThFeAsN exhibits strong magnetic fluctuations, suppressed below ~35 K, but no magnetic order. This contrasts strongly with the ReFeAsO series, where stoichiometric parent materials order antiferromagnetically and superconductivity appears only upon doping. The ThFeAsN case indicates that Fermi-surface modifications due to structural distortions and correlation effects are as important as doping in inducing superconductivity. The direct competition between antiferromagnetism and superconductivity, which in ThFeAsN (as in LiFeAs) occurs at already zero doping, may indicate a significant deviation of the s-wave superconducting gap in this compound from the standard s ± scenario.Exploring the interplay between the superconducting gap and the antiferromagnetic phase in Fe-based superconductors remains an open issue. Here, the authors show that Fermi-surface modifications by means of structural distortions and correlation effects are as important as doping in inducing superconductivity in undoped ThFeAsN.

Origin and Reduction of 1 / f Magnetic Flux Noise in Superconducting Devices

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

Kumar, P.; Sendelbach, S.; Beck, M. A.

2016-10-01

Magnetic flux noise is a dominant source of dephasing and energy relaxation in superconducting qubits. The noise power spectral density varies with frequency as 1=fα, with α ≲ 1, and spans 13 orders of magnitude. Recent work indicates that the noise is from unpaired magnetic defects on the surfaces of the superconducting devices. Here, we demonstrate that adsorbed molecular O2 is the dominant contributor to magnetism in superconducting thin films. We show that this magnetism can be reduced by appropriate surface treatment or improvement in the sample vacuum environment. We observe a suppression of static spin susceptibility by more thanmore » an order of magnitude and a suppression of 1=f magnetic flux noise power spectral density of up to a factor of 5. These advances open the door to the realization of superconducting qubits with improved quantum coherence.« less

Origin and Reduction of 1 /f Magnetic Flux Noise in Superconducting Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, P.; Sendelbach, S.; Beck, M. A.; Freeland, J. W.; Wang, Zhe; Wang, Hui; Yu, Clare C.; Wu, R. Q.; Pappas, D. P.; McDermott, R.

2016-10-01

Magnetic flux noise is a dominant source of dephasing and energy relaxation in superconducting qubits. The noise power spectral density varies with frequency as 1 /fα, with α ≲1 , and spans 13 orders of magnitude. Recent work indicates that the noise is from unpaired magnetic defects on the surfaces of the superconducting devices. Here, we demonstrate that adsorbed molecular O2 is the dominant contributor to magnetism in superconducting thin films. We show that this magnetism can be reduced by appropriate surface treatment or improvement in the sample vacuum environment. We observe a suppression of static spin susceptibility by more than an order of magnitude and a suppression of 1 /f magnetic flux noise power spectral density of up to a factor of 5. These advances open the door to the realization of superconducting qubits with improved quantum coherence.

Endoscopic add-on stiffness probe for real-time soft surface characterisation in MIS.

PubMed

Faragasso, A; Stilli, A; Bimbo, J; Noh, Y; Liu, H; Nanayakkara, T; Dasgupta, P; Wurdemann, H A; Althoefer, K

2014-01-01

This paper explores a novel stiffness sensor which is mounted on the tip of a laparoscopic camera. The proposed device is able to compute stiffness when interacting with soft surfaces. The sensor can be used in Minimally Invasive Surgery, for instance, to localise tumor tissue which commonly has a higher stiffness when compared to healthy tissue. The purely mechanical sensor structure utilizes the functionality of an endoscopic camera to the maximum by visually analyzing the behavior of trackers within the field of view. Two pairs of spheres (used as easily identifiable features in the camera images) are connected to two springs with known but different spring constants. Four individual indenters attached to the spheres are used to palpate the surface. During palpation, the spheres move linearly towards the objective lens (i.e. the distance between lens and spheres is changing) resulting in variations of their diameters in the camera images. Relating the measured diameters to the different spring constants, a developed mathematical model is able to determine the surface stiffness in real-time. Tests were performed using a surgical endoscope to palpate silicon phantoms presenting different stiffness. Results show that the accuracy of the sensing system developed increases with the softness of the examined tissue.

First Observations with the New Dual Sphere Superconducting Gravimeter Osg-073 at Metsähovi, Finland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virtanen, H.; Raja-Halli, A.; Bilker-Koivula, M.; Naranen, J.; Ruotsalainen, H. E. O.

2014-12-01

The new dual sphere superconducting gravimeter (SG) OSG-073 was installed in the Metsähovi Geodetic Observatory in February 2014. Its two gravity sensors are side by side, not one on top of another as in most earlier dual sensor installations. One sensor is the standard iGrav™ SG, with a lightweight sphere (5 grams) which is nearly drift-free. The second sensor uses a heavy 20-gram sphere which gives ultra low noise and a much higher quality factor Q. We present time domain observations of the first months, and estimate drift rates after the initial exponential drift. We have determined the transfer functions. Calibration factors were obtained using parallel registrations with the FG5X-221 absolute gravimeter of the FGI. We show selected free oscillation spectra from the SG, and seismic data obtained at Metsähovi with the Nanometrics Trillium 120P broadband seismometer of the Institute of Seismology (University of Helsinki). The noise level of the data is then compared with the New Low Noise Model NLNM. The results with the dual sphere SG can be compared with parallel observations with the SG T020. This 20-year old instrument is situated in the same room at a distance of 2 metres from the dual-sphere SG.

Room-temperature bonding of epitaxial layer to carbon-cluster ion-implanted silicon wafers for CMOS image sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koga, Yoshihiro; Kadono, Takeshi; Shigematsu, Satoshi; Hirose, Ryo; Onaka-Masada, Ayumi; Okuyama, Ryousuke; Okuda, Hidehiko; Kurita, Kazunari

2018-06-01

We propose a fabrication process for silicon wafers by combining carbon-cluster ion implantation and room-temperature bonding for advanced CMOS image sensors. These carbon-cluster ions are made of carbon and hydrogen, which can passivate process-induced defects. We demonstrated that this combination process can be used to form an epitaxial layer on a carbon-cluster ion-implanted Czochralski (CZ)-grown silicon substrate with a high dose of 1 × 1016 atoms/cm2. This implantation condition transforms the top-surface region of the CZ-grown silicon substrate into a thin amorphous layer. Thus, an epitaxial layer cannot be grown on this implanted CZ-grown silicon substrate. However, this combination process can be used to form an epitaxial layer on the amorphous layer of this implanted CZ-grown silicon substrate surface. This bonding wafer has strong gettering capability in both the wafer-bonding region and the carbon-cluster ion-implanted projection range. Furthermore, this wafer inhibits oxygen out-diffusion to the epitaxial layer from the CZ-grown silicon substrate after device fabrication. Therefore, we believe that this bonding wafer is effective in decreasing the dark current and white-spot defect density for advanced CMOS image sensors.

Superconducting inductive displacement detection of a microcantilever

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vinante, A.

2014-07-01

We demonstrate a superconducting inductive technique to measure the displacement of a micromechanical resonator. In our scheme, a type I superconducting microsphere is attached to the free end of a microcantilever and approached to the loop of a dc Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) microsusceptometer. A local magnetic field as low as 100 μT, generated by a field coil concentric to the SQUID, enables detection of the cantilever thermomechanical noise at 4.2 K. The magnetomechanical coupling and the magnetic spring are in good agreement with image method calculations assuming pure Meissner effect. These measurements are relevant to recent proposals of quantum magnetomechanics experiments based on levitating superconducting microparticles.

NASA Tech Briefs, October 2008

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

Topics covered include: Control Architecture for Robotic Agent Command and Sensing; Algorithm for Wavefront Sensing Using an Extended Scene; CO2 Sensors Based on Nanocrystalline SnO2 Doped with CuO; Improved Airborne System for Sensing Wildfires; VHF Wide-Band, Dual-Polarization Microstrip-Patch Antenna; Onboard Data Processor for Change-Detection Radar Imaging; Using LDPC Code Constraints to Aid Recovery of Symbol Timing; System for Measuring Flexing of a Large Spaceborne Structure; Integrated Formation Optical Communication and Estimation System; Making Superconducting Welds between Superconducting Wires; Method for Thermal Spraying of Coatings Using Resonant-Pulsed Combustion; Coating Reduces Ice Adhesion; Hybrid Multifoil Aerogel Thermal Insulation; SHINE Virtual Machine Model for In-flight Updates of Critical Mission Software; Mars Image Collection Mosaic Builder; Providing Internet Access to High-Resolution Mars Images; Providing Internet Access to High-Resolution Lunar Images; Expressions Module for the Satellite Orbit Analysis Program Virtual Satellite; Small-Body Extensions for the Satellite Orbit Analysis Program (SOAP); Scripting Module for the Satellite Orbit Analysis Program (SOAP); XML-Based SHINE Knowledge Base Interchange Language; Core Technical Capability Laboratory Management System; MRO SOW Daily Script; Tool for Inspecting Alignment of Twinaxial Connectors; An ATP System for Deep-Space Optical Communication; Polar Traverse Rover Instrument; Expert System Control of Plant Growth in an Enclosed Space; Detecting Phycocyanin-Pigmented Microbes in Reflected Light; DMAC and NMP as Electrolyte Additives for Li-Ion Cells; Mass Spectrometer Containing Multiple Fixed Collectors; Waveguide Harmonic Generator for the SIM; Whispering Gallery Mode Resonator with Orthogonally Reconfigurable Filter Function; Stable Calibration of Raman Lidar Water-Vapor Measurements; Bimaterial Thermal Compensators for WGM Resonators; Root Source Analysis/ValuStream[Trade Mark] - A Methodology for Identifying and Managing Risks; Ensemble: an Architecture for Mission-Operations Software; Object Recognition Using Feature-and Color-Based Methods; On-Orbit Multi-Field Wavefront Control with a Kalman Filter; and The Interplanetary Overlay Networking Protocol Accelerator.

Gap Symmetry of the Heavy Fermion Superconductor CeCu2Si2 at Ambient Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yu; Liu, Min; Fu, Zhaoming; Chen, Xiangrong; Yang, Fan; Yang, Yi-feng

2018-05-01

Recent observations of two nodeless gaps in superconducting CeCu2 Si2 have raised intensive debates on its exact gap symmetry, while a satisfactory theoretical basis is still lacking. Here we propose a phenomenological approach to calculate the superconducting gap functions, taking into consideration both the realistic Fermi surface topology and the intra- and interband quantum critical scatterings. Our calculations yield a nodeless s±-wave solution in the presence of strong interband pairing interaction, in good agreement with experiments. This provides a possible basis for understanding the superconducting gap symmetry of CeCu2 Si2 at ambient pressure and indicates the potential importance of multiple Fermi surfaces and interband pairing interaction in understanding heavy fermion superconductivity.

Local antiferromagnetic exchange and collaborative Fermi surface as key ingredients of high temperature superconductors

PubMed Central

Hu, Jiangping; Ding, Hong

2012-01-01

Cuprates, ferropnictides and ferrochalcogenides are three classes of unconventional high temperature superconductors, who share similar phase diagrams in which superconductivity develops after a magnetic order is suppressed, suggesting a strong interplay between superconductivity and magnetism, although the exact picture of this interplay remains elusive. Here we show that there is a direct bridge connecting antiferromagnetic exchange interactions determined in the parent compounds of these materials to the superconducting gap functions observed in the corresponding superconducting materials: in all high temperature superconductors, the Fermi surface topology matches the form factor of the pairing symmetry favored by local magnetic exchange interactions. We suggest that this match offers a principle guide to search for new high temperature superconductors. PMID:22536479

An evaluation of three-dimensional sensors for the extravehicular activity helper/retreiver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Magee, Michael

1993-01-01

The Extravehicular Activity Retriever/Helper (EVAHR) is a robotic device currently under development at the NASA Johnson Space Center that is designed to fetch objects or to assist in retrieving an astronaut who may have become inadvertently de-tethered. The EVAHR will be required to exhibit a high degree of intelligent autonomous operation and will base much of its reasoning upon information obtained from one or more three-dimensional sensors that it will carry and control. At the highest level of visual cognition and reasoning, the EVAHR will be required to detect objects, recognize them, and estimate their spatial orientation and location. The recognition phase and estimation of spatial pose will depend on the ability of the vision system to reliably extract geometric features of the objects such as whether the surface topologies observed are planar or curved and the spatial relationships between the component surfaces. In order to achieve these tasks, accurate sensing of the operational environment and objects in the environment will therefore be critical. The qualitative and quantitative results of empirical studies of three sensors that are capable of providing three-dimensional information to the EVAHR, but using completely different hardware approaches are documented. The first of these devices is a phase shift laser with an effective operating range (ambiguity interval) of approximately 15 meters. The second sensor is a laser triangulation system designed to operate at much closer range and to provide higher resolution images. The third sensor is a dual camera stereo imaging system from which range images can also be obtained. The remainder of the report characterizes the strengths and weaknesses of each of these systems relative to quality of data extracted and how different object characteristics affect sensor operation.

Process for Fabrication of Superconducting Vias for Electrical Connection to Groundplane in Cryogenic Detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Denis, Kevin L. (Inventor)

2018-01-01

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for fabrication of silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers with a superconductive via for electrical connection to a groundplane. Fabrication of the SOI wafer with a superconductive via can involve depositing a superconducting groundplane onto a substrate with the superconducting groundplane having an oxidizing layer and a non-oxidizing layer. A layer of monocrystalline silicon can be bonded to the superconducting groundplane and a photoresist layer can be applied to the layer of monocrystalline silicon and the SOI wafer can be etched with the oxygen rich etching plasma, resulting in a monocrystalline silicon top layer with a via that exposes the superconducting groundplane. Then, the fabrication can involve depositing a superconducting surface layer to cover the via.

Electrostatic separation of superconducting particles from non-superconducting particles and improvement in fuel atomization by electrorheology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chhabria, Deepika

This thesis has two major topics: (1) Electrostatic Separation of Superconducting Particles from a Mixture of Non-Superconducting Particles. (2) Improvement in fuel atomization by Electrorheology. (1) Based on the basic science research, the interactions between electric field and superconductors, we have developed a new technology, which can separate superconducting granular particles from their mixture with non-superconducting particles. The electric-field induced formation of superconducting balls is important aspect of the interaction between superconducting particles and electric field. When the applied electric field exceeds a critical value, the induced positive surface energy on the superconducting particles forces them to aggregate into balls or cling to the electrodes. In fabrication of superconducting materials, especially HTSC materials, it is common to come across materials with multiple phases: some grains are in superconducting state while the others are not. Our technology is proven to be very useful in separating superconducting grains from the rest non-superconducting materials. To separate superconducting particles from normal conducting particles, we apply a suitable strong electric field. The superconducting particles cling to the electrodes, while normal conducting particles bounce between the electrodes. The superconducting particles could then be collected from the electrodes. To separate superconducting particles from insulating ones, we apply a moderate electric field to force insulating particles to the electrodes to form short chains while the superconducting particles are collected from the middle of capacitor. The importance of this technology is evidenced by the unsuccessful efforts to utilize the Meissner effect to separate superconducting particles from nonsuperconducting ones. Because the Meissner effect is proportional to the particle volume, it has been found that the Meissner effect is not useful when the superconducting particles are smaller than 45mum. One always come across multiphase superconducting materials where most superconducting grains are much smaller than 45mum. On the other hand, since our technology is based on the surface effect, it gets stronger when the particles become smaller. Our technology is thus perfect for small superconducting particles and for fabrication of HTSC materials. The area of superconductivity is expected to be very important for 21 st Century energy industry. The key for this development is the HTSC materials. We, therefore, expect that our technology will have strong impact in the area. (2) Improving engine efficiency and reducing pollutant emissions are extremely important. Here we report our fuel injection technology based on new physics principle that proper application of electrorheology can reduce the viscosity of petroleum fuels. A small device is thus introduced just before the fuel injection for the engine, producing a strong electric field to reduce the fuel viscosity, resulting in much smaller fuel droplets in atomization. As combustion starts at the interface between fuel and air and most harmful emissions are coming from incomplete burning, reducing the size of fuel droplets would increase the total surface area to start burning, leading to a cleaner and more efficient engine. This concept has been widely accepted as the discussions about future engine for efficient and clean combustion are focused on ultra-dilute mixtures at extremely high pressure to produce much finer mist of fuel for combustion. The technology is expected to have broad applications, applicable to current internal combustion engines and future engines as well.

Superconducting Properties of Lead-Bismuth Films Controlled by Ferromagnetic Nanowire Arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Zuxin; Lyuksyutov, Igor F.; Wu, Wenhao; Naugle, Donald G.

2011-03-01

Superconducting properties of lead-bismuth (82% Pb and 18% Bi) alloy films deposited on ferromagnetic nanowire arrays have been investigated. Ferromagnetic Co or Ni nanowires are first electroplated into the columnar pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. Superconducting Pb 82 Bi 18 films are then quench-condensed onto the polished surface of the AAO membranes filled with magnetic nanowires. A strong dependence of the Pb 82 Bi 18 superconducting properties on the ratio of the superconducting film thickness to the magnetic nanowire diameter and the material variety was observed.

Superconducting properties of Pb82Bi18 films controlled by ferromagnetic nanowire arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Zuxin; Lyuksyutov, Igor F.; Wu, Wenhao; Naugle, Donald G.

2011-02-01

The superconducting properties of Pb82Bi18 alloy films deposited on ferromagnetic nanowire arrays have been investigated. Ferromagnetic Co or Ni nanowires are first electroplated into the columnar pores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. Superconducting Pb82Bi18 films are then quench condensed onto the polished surface of the AAO membranes filled with magnetic nanowires. A strong dependence of the Pb82Bi18 superconducting properties on the ratio of the superconducting film thickness to the magnetic nanowire diameter and material variety was observed.

Synthesis of high T.sub.C superconducting coatings and patterns by melt writing and oxidation of metallic precursor alloys

DOEpatents

Gao, Wei; Vander Sande, John B.

1998-01-01

A method is provided for fabrication of superconducting oxides and superconducting oxide composites and for joining superconductors to other materials. A coating of a molten alloy containing the metallic elements of the oxide is applied to a substrate surface and oxidized to form the superconducting oxide. A material can be contacted to the molten alloy which is subsequently oxidized joining the material to the resulting superconducting oxide coating. Substrates of varied composition and shape can be coated or joined by this method.

Synthesis of high {Tc} superconducting coatings and patterns by melt writing and oxidation of metallic precursor alloys

DOEpatents

Gao, W.; Vander Sande, J.B.

1998-07-28

A method is provided for fabrication of superconducting oxides and superconducting oxide composites and for joining superconductors to other materials. A coating of a molten alloy containing the metallic elements of the oxide is applied to a substrate surface and oxidized to form the superconducting oxide. A material can be contacted to the molten alloy which is subsequently oxidized joining the material to the resulting superconducting oxide coating. Substrates of varied composition and shape can be coated or joined by this method. 5 figs.

Analysis of sensor network observations during some simulated landslide experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scaioni, M.; Lu, P.; Feng, T.; Chen, W.; Wu, H.; Qiao, G.; Liu, C.; Tong, X.; Li, R.

2012-12-01

A multi-sensor network was tested during some experiments on a landslide simulation platform established at Tongji University (Shanghai, P.R. China). Here landslides were triggered by means of artificial rainfall (see Figure 1). The sensor network currently incorporates contact sensors and two imaging systems. This represent a novel solution, because the spatial sensor network incorporate either contact sensors and remote sensors (video-cameras). In future, these sensors will be installed on two real ground slopes in Sichuan province (South-West China), where Wenchuan earthquake occurred in 2008. This earthquake caused the immediate activation of several landslide, while other area became unstable and still are a menace for people and properties. The platform incorporates the reconstructed scale slope, sensor network, communication system, database and visualization system. Some landslide simulation experiments allowed ascertaining which sensors could be more suitable to be deployed in Wenchuan area. The poster will focus on the analysis of results coming from down scale simulations. Here the different steps of the landslide evolution can be followed on the basis of sensor observations. This include underground sensors to detect the water table level and the pressure in the ground, a set of accelerometers and two inclinometers. In the first part of the analysis the full data series are investigated to look for correlations and common patterns, as well as to link them to the physical processes. In the second, 4 subsets of sensors located in neighbor positions are analyzed. The analysis of low- and high-speed image sequences allowed to track a dense field of displacement on the slope surface. These outcomes have been compared to the ones obtained from accelerometers for cross-validation. Images were also used for the photogrammetric reconstruction of the slope topography during the experiment. Consequently, volume computation and mass movements could be evaluated on the basis of processed images.; Figure 1 - The landslide simulation platform at Tongji University at the end of an experiment. The picture shows the body of simulated landslide.

SPR-DNA array for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in combination with loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

PubMed

Nawattanapaiboon, Kawin; Kiatpathomchai, Wansika; Santanirand, Pitak; Vongsakulyanon, Apirom; Amarit, Ratthasart; Somboonkaew, Armote; Sutapun, Boonsong; Srikhirin, Toemsak

2015-12-15

In this study, we evaluated surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPR imaging) as a DNA biosensor for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which is one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections. The DNA sample were collected from clinical specimens, including sputum and blood hemoculture were undergone LAMP amplification for 0.18 kbp and 0.23 kbp DNA fragments of femB and mecA genes, respectively. The self-assembled monolayer surface (SAMs) was used for immobilized streptavidin-biotinylated probes on the sensor surface for the detection of LAMP amplicons from MRSA. Both LAMP amplicons were simultaneously hybridized with ssDNA probes immobilized onto a bio-functionalized surface to detect specific targets in the multiplex DNA array platform. In addition, the sensor surface could be regenerated allowing at least five cycles of use with a shortened assay time. The detection limit of LAMP-SPR sensing was 10 copies/µl and LAMP-SPR sensing system showed a good selectivity toward the MRSA. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fiber-Optic Surface Temperature Sensor Based on Modal Interference.

PubMed

Musin, Frédéric; Mégret, Patrice; Wuilpart, Marc

2016-07-28

Spatially-integrated surface temperature sensing is highly useful when it comes to controlling processes, detecting hazardous conditions or monitoring the health and safety of equipment and people. Fiber-optic sensing based on modal interference has shown great sensitivity to temperature variation, by means of cost-effective image-processing of few-mode interference patterns. New developments in the field of sensor configuration, as described in this paper, include an innovative cooling and heating phase discrimination functionality and more precise measurements, based entirely on the image processing of interference patterns. The proposed technique was applied to the measurement of the integrated surface temperature of a hollow cylinder and compared with a conventional measurement system, consisting of an infrared camera and precision temperature probe. As a result, the optical technique is in line with the reference system. Compared with conventional surface temperature probes, the optical technique has the following advantages: low heat capacity temperature measurement errors, easier spatial deployment, and replacement of multiple angle infrared camera shooting and the continuous monitoring of surfaces that are not visually accessible.

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham's Statement on

Science.gov Websites

superconducting magnets that are used to produce powerful magnetic fields for the standard body scanning technique called magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. Researchers hope to harness superconductivity for such

Processing Near-Infrared Imagery of the Orion Heatshield During EFT-1 Hypersonic Reentry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spisz, Thomas S.; Taylor, Jeff C.; Gibson, David M.; Kennerly, Steve; Osei-Wusu, Kwame; Horvath, Thomas J.; Schwartz, Richard J.; Tack, Steven; Bush, Brett C.; Oliver, A. Brandon

2016-01-01

The Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) team captured high-resolution, calibrated, near-infrared imagery of the Orion capsule during atmospheric reentry of the EFT-1 mission. A US Navy NP-3D aircraft equipped with a multi-band optical sensor package, referred to as Cast Glance, acquired imagery of the Orion capsule's heatshield during a period when Orion was slowing from approximately Mach 10 to Mach 7. The line-of-sight distance ranged from approximately 65 to 40 nmi. Global surface temperatures of the capsule's thermal heatshield derived from the near-infrared intensity measurements complemented the in-depth (embedded) thermocouple measurements. Moreover, these derived surface temperatures are essential to the assessment of the thermocouples' reliance on inverse heat transfer methods and material response codes to infer the surface temperature from the in-depth measurements. The paper describes the image processing challenges associated with a manually-tracked, high-angular rate air-to-air observation. Issues included management of significant frame-to-frame motions due to both tracking jerk and jitter as well as distortions due to atmospheric effects. Corrections for changing sky backgrounds (including some cirrus clouds), atmospheric attenuation, and target orientations and ranges also had to be made. The image processing goal is to reduce the detrimental effects due to motion (both sensor and capsule), vibration (jitter), and atmospherics for image quality improvement, without compromising the quantitative integrity of the data, especially local intensity (temperature) variations. The paper will detail the approach of selecting and utilizing only the highest quality images, registering several co-temporal image frames to a single image frame to the extent frame-to-frame distortions would allow, and then co-adding the registered frames to improve image quality and reduce noise. Using preflight calibration data, the registered and averaged infrared intensity images were converted to surface temperatures on the Orion capsule's heatshield. Temperature uncertainties will be discussed relative to uncertainties of surface emissivity and atmospheric transmission loss. Comparison of limited onboard surface thermocouple data to the image derived surface temperature will be presented.

Surface-roughness considerations for atmospheric correction of ocean color sensors. II: Error in the retrieved water-leaving radiance.

PubMed

Gordon, H R; Wang, M

1992-07-20

In the algorithm for the atmospheric correction of coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) imagery, it is assumed that the sea surface is flat. Simulations are carried out to assess the error incurred when the CZCS-type algorithm is applied to a realistic ocean in which the surface is roughened by the wind. In situations where there is no direct Sun glitter (either a large solar zenith angle or the sensor tilted away from the specular image of the Sun), the following conclusions appear justified: (1) the error induced by ignoring the surface roughness is less, similar1 CZCS digital count for wind speeds up to approximately 17 m/s, and therefore can be ignored for this sensor; (2) the roughness-induced error is much more strongly dependent on the wind speed than on the wave shadowing, suggesting that surface effects can be adequately dealt with without precise knowledge of the shadowing; and (3) the error induced by ignoring the Rayleigh-aerosol interaction is usually larger than that caused by ignoring the surface roughness, suggesting that in refining algorithms for future sensors more effort should be placed on dealing with the Rayleigh-aerosol interaction than on the roughness of the sea surface.

An overview of the web-based Google Earth coincident imaging tool

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chander, Gyanesh; Kilough, B.; Gowda, S.

2010-01-01

The Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS) Visualization Environment (COVE) tool is a browser-based application that leverages Google Earth web to display satellite sensor coverage areas. The analysis tool can also be used to identify near simultaneous surface observation locations for two or more satellites. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) CEOS System Engineering Office (SEO) worked with the CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation (WGCV) to develop the COVE tool. The CEOS member organizations are currently operating and planning hundreds of Earth Observation (EO) satellites. Standard cross-comparison exercises between multiple sensors to compare near-simultaneous surface observations and to identify corresponding image pairs are time-consuming and labor-intensive. COVE is a suite of tools that have been developed to make such tasks easier.

Development of a DNA Sensor Based on Nanoporous Pt-Rich Electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Hao, Pham; Thanh, Pham Duc; Xuan, Chu Thi; Hai, Nguyen Hoang; Tuan, Mai Anh

2017-06-01

Nanoporous Pt-rich electrodes with 72 at.% Pt composition were fabricated by sputtering a Pt-Ag alloy, followed by an electrochemical dealloying process to selectively etch away Ag atoms. The surface properties of nanoporous membranes were investigated by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), a documentation system, and a gel image system (Gel Doc Imager). A single strand of probe deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was immobilized onto the electrode surface by physical adsorption. The DNA probe and target hybridization were measured using a lock-in amplifier and an electrochemical impedance spectroscope (EIS). The nanoporous Pt-rich electrode-based DNA sensor offers a fast response time of 3.7 s, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.35 × 10-10 M of DNA target.

Common-path low-coherence interferometry fiber-optic sensor guided microincision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Kang; Kang, Jin U.

2011-09-01

We propose and demonstrate a common-path low-coherence interferometry (CP-LCI) fiber-optic sensor guided precise microincision. The method tracks the target surface and compensates the tool-to-surface relative motion with better than +/-5 μm resolution using a precision micromotor connected to the tool tip. A single-fiber distance probe integrated microdissector was used to perform an accurate 100 μm incision into the surface of an Intralipid phantom. The CP-LCI guided incision quality in terms of depth was evaluated afterwards using three-dimensional Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography imaging, which showed significant improvement of incision accuracy compared to free-hand-only operations.

Reorientation of the diagonal double-stripe spin structure at Fe 1+yTe bulk and thin-film surfaces

DOE PAGES

Hanke, Torben; Singh, Udai Raj; Cornils, Lasse; ...

2017-01-06

Here, establishing the relation between ubiquitous antiferromagnetism in the parent compounds of unconventional superconductors and their superconducting phase is important for understanding the complex physics in these materials. Going from bulk systems to thin films additionally affects their phase diagram. For Fe 1+yTe, the parent compound of Fe 1+ySe 1$-x$Tex superconductors, bulk-sensitive neutron diffraction revealed an in-plane oriented diagonal double-stripe antiferromagnetic spin structure. Here we show by spin-resolved scanning tunnelling microscopy that the spin direction at the surfaces of bulk Fe 1+yTe and thin films grown on the topological insulator Bi 2Te 3 is canted out of the high-symmetry directionsmore » of the surface unit cell resulting in a perpendicular spin component, keeping the diagonal double-stripe order. As the magnetism of the Fe d-orbitals is intertwined with the superconducting pairing in Fe-based materials, our results imply that the superconducting properties at the surface of the related superconducting compounds might be different from the bulk.« less

Reorientation of the diagonal double-stripe spin structure at Fe 1+yTe bulk and thin-film surfaces

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

Hanke, Torben; Singh, Udai Raj; Cornils, Lasse

Here, establishing the relation between ubiquitous antiferromagnetism in the parent compounds of unconventional superconductors and their superconducting phase is important for understanding the complex physics in these materials. Going from bulk systems to thin films additionally affects their phase diagram. For Fe 1+yTe, the parent compound of Fe 1+ySe 1$-x$Tex superconductors, bulk-sensitive neutron diffraction revealed an in-plane oriented diagonal double-stripe antiferromagnetic spin structure. Here we show by spin-resolved scanning tunnelling microscopy that the spin direction at the surfaces of bulk Fe 1+yTe and thin films grown on the topological insulator Bi 2Te 3 is canted out of the high-symmetry directionsmore » of the surface unit cell resulting in a perpendicular spin component, keeping the diagonal double-stripe order. As the magnetism of the Fe d-orbitals is intertwined with the superconducting pairing in Fe-based materials, our results imply that the superconducting properties at the surface of the related superconducting compounds might be different from the bulk.« less

Roughness and pH changes of enamel surface induced by soft drinks in vitro-applications of stylus profilometry, focus variation 3D scanning microscopy and micro pH sensor.

PubMed

Fujii, Mie; Kitasako, Yuichi; Sadr, Alireza; Tagami, Junji

2011-01-01

This study aimed to evaluate enamel surface roughness (Ra) and pH before and after erosion by soft drinks. Enamel was exposed to a soft drink (cola, orange juice or green tea) for 1, 5 or 60 min; Ra was measured using contact-stylus surface profilometry (SSP) and non-contact focus variation 3D microscope (FVM). Surface pH was measured using a micro pH sensor. Data were analyzed at significance level of alpha=0.05. There was a significant correlation in Ra between SSP and FVM. FVM images showed no changes in the surface morphology after various periods of exposure to green tea. Unlike cola and orange juice, exposure to green tea did not significantly affect Ra or pH. A significant correlation was observed between surface pH and Ra change after exposure to the drinks. Optical surface analysis and micro pH sensor may be useful tools for non-damaging, quantitative assessment of soft drinks erosion on enamel.

Invisible magnetic sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mach-Batlle, Rosa; Navau, Carles; Sanchez, Alvaro

2018-04-01

Sensing magnetic fields is essential in many applications in biomedicine, transportation, or smart cities. The distortion magnetic sensors create in response to the field they are detecting may hinder their use, for example, in applications requiring dense packaging of sensors or accurately shaped field distributions. For sensing electromagnetic waves, cloaking shells that reduce the scattering of sensors have been introduced. However, the problem of making a magnetic sensor undetectable remains unsolved. Here, we present a general strategy on how to make a sensor magnetically invisible while keeping its ability to sense. The sensor is rendered undetectable by surrounding it with a spherical shell having a tailored magnetic permeability. Our method can be applied to arbitrary shaped magnetic sensors in arbitrary magnetic fields. The invisibility can be made exact when the sensor is spherical and the probed field is uniform. A metasurface composed of superconducting pieces is presented as a practical realization of the ideal invisibility shell.

The Athena Microscopic Imager on the Mars Exploration Rovers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herkenhoff, K. E.; Squyres, S. W.; Bell, J. F.; Maki, J. N.; Schwochert, M. A.

2002-12-01

The Athena science payload on the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) includes the Microscopic Imager (MI). The MI is a fixed-focus camera mounted on the end of the Instrument Deployment Device (IDD). The MI was designed to acquire images at a spatial resolution of 30 microns/pixel over a broad spectral range (400-700 nm). Technically speaking, the ''microscopic'' imager is not a microscope: it has a fixed magnification of 0.4, and is intended to produce images that simulate a geologist's view when using a common hand lens. The MI uses the same electronics design as the other MER cameras, but has optics that yield a field of view of 31 x 31 mm. The MI will acquire images using only solar or skylight illumination of the target surface. A contact sensor will be used to place the MI slightly closer to the target surface than its best focus distance (about 66 mm), allowing concave surfaces to be imaged in good focus. Because the MI has a relatively small depth of field (+/- 3 mm), a single MI image of a rough surface will contain both focused and unfocused areas. Coarse (~2 mm precision) focusing will be achieved by moving the IDD away from a target after the contact sensor is activated. Multiple images taken at various distances will be acquired to ensure good focus on all parts of rough surfaces. By combining a set of images acquired in this way, a completely focused image will be assembled. The MI optics will be protected from the martian environment by a dust cover. The dust cover includes a polycarbonate window that is tinted yellow to restrict the spectral bandpass to 500-700 nm and allow color information to be obtained by taking images with the dust cover open and closed. The MI will be used to image the same materials measured by other Athena instruments, as well as targets of opportunity (before rover traverses). The resulting images will be used to place other instrumental data in context and to aid in the petrologic interpretation of rocks and soils on Mars.

Review of 2D superconductivity: the ultimate case of epitaxial monolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brun, Christophe; Cren, Tristan; Roditchev, Dimitri

2017-01-01

The purpose of this review is to focus from an experimental point-of-view on the new physical properties of some of the thinnest superconducting films that can be fabricated and studied in situ nowadays with state-of-the-art methods. An important characteristic of the films we address is that the underlying electronic system forms a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). Up to now there are only few of these systems. Such true 2D superconductors can be divided into two classes: surface-confined or interface-confined films. Because the second types of films are burried below the surface, they are not accessible to purely surface-sensitive techniques like angular-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) or scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). As a consequence the bandstructure characteristics of the 2DEG cannot be probed nor the local superconducting properties. On the other hand, in situ prepared surface-confined films are nowadays accessible not only to ARPES and STS but also to electrical transport measurements. As a consequence surface-confined systems represent at present the best archetypes on which can be summarized the new properties emerging in ultimately thin superconducting films hosting a 2DEG, probed by both macroscopic and microscopic measurement techniques. The model system we will widely refer to consists of a single atomic plane of a conventional superconductor, like for example lead (Pb), grown on top of a semiconducting substrate, like Si(111). In the introductory part 1 we first introduce the topic and give historical insights into this field. Then in the section 2, we introduce useful concepts worked out in studies of so-called ‘granular’ and ‘homogeneous’ superconducting thin films that will be necessary to understand the role of non-magnetic disorder on 2DEG superconductors. In this section, we also briefly review the superconducting properties of crystalline Pb/Si(111) ultrathin films grown under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions in order to illustrate their specific properties related to quantum-size effects. In the next section 3 we review the growth methods and structural properties of the presented 2DEG surface-confined superconductors. In section 4, we review the electronic structure and Fermi surface properties as measured by macroscopic ARPES and confront them to ab initio DFT calculations based on the characterized atomic structures of the monolayers. The following section 5 reviews the macroscopic properties inferred from in situ electrical transport measurements methods, including attempts to study the Berezinsky-Kosterlitz-Thouless 2D regime. In the last section 6, we summarize the emerging local spectroscopic properties measured by STS. These latter demonstrate variations of the local superconducting properties at a scale much shorter than the superconducting coherence length due to a combined effect of non-magnetic disorder and two-dimensionality. Further peculiar local spectroscopic effects are presented giving evidence for the presence of a mixed singlet-triplet superconducting order parameter induced by the presence of a strong Rashba spin-orbit coupling term at the surface. These local signatures will be discussed along with ARPES and transport measurements in parallel high magnetic field on closely related systems. Finally, we present in anisotropic Pb and In monolayers the peculiar role played by atomic steps on vortex properties, leading to the observation by STS of mixed Abrikosov-Josephson vortices in agreement with in situ macroscopic transport measurements. From the overview of all recent experimental and theoretical results it appears that these surface 2D superconductors, such as one monolayer of Pb on Si(111), are ideal templates to engineer and realize topological superconductivity.

Synchromodal optical in vivo imaging employing microlens array optics: a complete framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peter, Joerg

2013-03-01

A complete mathematical framework for preclinical optical imaging (OI) support comprising bioluminescence imaging (BLI), fluorescence surface imaging (FSI) and fluorescence optical tomography (FOT) is presented in which optical data is acquired by means of a microlens array (MLA) based light detector (MLA-D). The MLA-D has been developed to enable unique OI, especially in synchromodal operation with secondary imaging modalities (SIM) such as positron emission tomography (PET) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MLA-D consists of a (large-area) photon sensor array, a matched MLA for field-of-view definition, and a septum mask of specific geometry made of anodized aluminum that is positioned between the sensor and the MLA to suppresses light cross-talk and to shield the sensor's radiofrequency interference signal (essential when used inside an MRI system). The software framework, while freely parameterizable for any MLA-D, is tailored towards an OI prototype system for preclinical SIM application comprising a multitude of cylindrically assembled, gantry-mounted, simultaneously operating MLA-D's. Besides the MLA-D specificity, the framework incorporates excitation and illumination light-source declarations of large-field and point geometry to facilitate multispectral FSI and FOT as well as three-dimensional object recognition. When used in synchromodal operation, reconstructed tomographic SIM volume data can be used for co-modal image fusion and also as a prior for estimating the imaged object's 3D surface by means of gradient vector flow. Superimposed planar (without object prior) or surface-aligned inverse mapping can be performed to estimate and to fuse the emission light map with the boundary of the imaged object. Triangulation and subsequent optical reconstruction (FOT) or constrained flow estimation (BLI), both including the possibility of SIM priors, can be performed to estimate the internal three-dimensional emission light distribution. The framework is susceptible to a number of variables controlling convergence and computational speed. Utilization and performance is illustrated on experimentally acquired data employing the OI prototype system in stand-alone operation, and when integrated into an unmodified preclinical PET system performing synchromodal BLI-PET in vivo imaging.

Characterization of the range effect in synthetic aperture radar images of concrete specimens for width estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alzeyadi, Ahmed; Yu, Tzuyang

2018-03-01

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is an indispensable approach for the sustainability of critical civil infrastructure systems such as bridges and buildings. Recently, microwave/radar sensors are widely used for assessing the condition of concrete structures. Among existing imaging techniques in microwave/radar sensors, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging enables researchers to conduct surface and subsurface inspection of concrete structures in the range-cross-range representation of SAR images. The objective of this paper is to investigate the range effect of concrete specimens in SAR images at various ranges (15 cm, 50 cm, 75 cm, 100 cm, and 200 cm). One concrete panel specimen (water-to-cement ratio = 0.45) of 30-cm-by-30-cm-by-5-cm was manufactured and scanned by a 10 GHz SAR imaging radar sensor inside an anechoic chamber. Scatterers in SAR images representing two corners of the concrete panel were used to estimate the width of the panel. It was found that the range-dependent pattern of corner scatters can be used to predict the width of concrete panels. Also, the maximum SAR amplitude decreases when the range increases. An empirical model was also proposed for width estimation of concrete panels.

Athena microscopic Imager investigation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Herkenhoff, K. E.; Squyres, S. W.; Bell, J.F.; Maki, J.N.; Arneson, H.M.; Bertelsen, P.; Brown, D.I.; Collins, S.A.; Dingizian, A.; Elliott, S.T.; Goetz, W.; Hagerott, E.C.; Hayes, A.G.; Johnson, M.J.; Kirk, R.L.; McLennan, S.; Morris, R.V.; Scherr, L.M.; Schwochert, M.A.; Shiraishi, L.R.; Smith, G.H.; Soderblom, L.A.; Sohl-Dickstein, J. N.; Wadsworth, M.V.

2003-01-01

The Athena science payload on the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) includes the Microscopic Imager (MI). The MI is a fixed-focus camera mounted on the end of an extendable instrument arm, the Instrument Deployment Device (IDD). The MI was designed to acquire images at a spatial resolution of 30 microns/pixel over a broad spectral range (400-700 nm). The MI uses the same electronics design as the other MER cameras but has optics that yield a field of view of 31 ?? 31 mm across a 1024 ?? 1024 pixel CCD image. The MI acquires images using only solar or skylight illumination of the target surface. A contact sensor is used to place the MI slightly closer to the target surface than its best focus distance (about 66 mm), allowing concave surfaces to be imaged in good focus. Coarse focusing (???2 mm precision) is achieved by moving the IDD away from a rock target after the contact sensor has been activated. The MI optics are protected from the Martian environment by a retractable dust cover. The dust cover includes a Kapton window that is tinted orange to restrict the spectral bandpass to 500-700 nm, allowing color information to be obtained by taking images with the dust cover open and closed. MI data will be used to place other MER instrument data in context and to aid in petrologic and geologic interpretations of rocks and soils on Mars. Copyright 2003 by the American Geophysical Union.

Fusion of 3D laser scanner and depth images for obstacle recognition in mobile applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Budzan, Sebastian; Kasprzyk, Jerzy

2016-02-01

The problem of obstacle detection and recognition or, generally, scene mapping is one of the most investigated problems in computer vision, especially in mobile applications. In this paper a fused optical system using depth information with color images gathered from the Microsoft Kinect sensor and 3D laser range scanner data is proposed for obstacle detection and ground estimation in real-time mobile systems. The algorithm consists of feature extraction in the laser range images, processing of the depth information from the Kinect sensor, fusion of the sensor information, and classification of the data into two separate categories: road and obstacle. Exemplary results are presented and it is shown that fusion of information gathered from different sources increases the effectiveness of the obstacle detection in different scenarios, and it can be used successfully for road surface mapping.

From data to information and knowledge for geospatial applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schenk, T.; Csatho, B.; Yoon, T.

2006-12-01

An ever-increasing number of airborne and spaceborne data-acquisition missions with various sensors produce a glut of data. Sensory data rarely contains information in a explicit form such that an application can directly use it. The processing and analyzing of data constitutes a real bottleneck; therefore, automating the processes of gaining useful information and knowledge from the raw data is of paramount interest. This presentation is concerned with the transition from data to information and knowledge. With data we refer to the sensor output and we notice that data provide very rarely direct answers for applications. For example, a pixel in a digital image or a laser point from a LIDAR system (data) have no direct relationship with elevation changes of topographic surfaces or the velocity of a glacier (information, knowledge). We propose to employ the computer vision paradigm to extract information and knowledge as it pertains to a wide range of geoscience applications. After introducing the paradigm we describe the major steps to be undertaken for extracting information and knowledge from sensory input data. Features play an important role in this process. Thus we focus on extracting features and their perceptual organization to higher order constructs. We demonstrate these concepts with imaging data and laser point clouds. The second part of the presentation addresses the problem of combining data obtained by different sensors. An absolute prerequisite for successful fusion is to establish a common reference frame. We elaborate on the concept of sensor invariant features that allow the registration of such disparate data sets as aerial/satellite imagery, 3D laser point clouds, and multi/hyperspectral imagery. Fusion takes place on the data level (sensor registration) and on the information level. We show how fusion increases the degree of automation for reconstructing topographic surfaces. Moreover, fused information gained from the three sensors results in a more abstract surface representation with a rich set of explicit surface information that can be readily used by an analyst for applications such as change detection.

Ultraviolet Imaging with Low Cost Smartphone Sensors: Development and Application of a Raspberry Pi-Based UV Camera.

PubMed

Wilkes, Thomas C; McGonigle, Andrew J S; Pering, Tom D; Taggart, Angus J; White, Benjamin S; Bryant, Robert G; Willmott, Jon R

2016-10-06

Here, we report, for what we believe to be the first time, on the modification of a low cost sensor, designed for the smartphone camera market, to develop an ultraviolet (UV) camera system. This was achieved via adaptation of Raspberry Pi cameras, which are based on back-illuminated complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors, and we demonstrated the utility of these devices for applications at wavelengths as low as 310 nm, by remotely sensing power station smokestack emissions in this spectral region. Given the very low cost of these units, ≈ USD 25, they are suitable for widespread proliferation in a variety of UV imaging applications, e.g., in atmospheric science, volcanology, forensics and surface smoothness measurements.

Frequency-tunable superconducting resonators via nonlinear kinetic inductance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vissers, M. R.; Hubmayr, J.; Sandberg, M.; Chaudhuri, S.; Bockstiegel, C.; Gao, J.

2015-08-01

We have designed, fabricated, and tested a frequency-tunable high-Q superconducting resonator made from a niobium titanium nitride film. The frequency tunability is achieved by injecting a DC through a current-directing circuit into the nonlinear inductor whose kinetic inductance is current-dependent. We have demonstrated continuous tuning of the resonance frequency in a 180 MHz frequency range around 4.5 GHz while maintaining the high internal quality factor Qi > 180 000. This device may serve as a tunable filter and find applications in superconducting quantum computing and measurement. It also provides a useful tool to study the nonlinear response of a superconductor. In addition, it may be developed into techniques for measurement of the complex impedance of a superconductor at its transition temperature and for readout of transition-edge sensors.

Superconducting-electromagnetic hybrid bearing using YBCO bulk blocks for passive axial levitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicolsky, R.; de Andrade, R., Jr.; Ripper, A.; David, D. F. B.; Santisteban, J. A.; Stephan, R. M.; Gawalek, W.; Habisreuther, T.; Strasser, T.

2000-06-01

A superconducting/electromagnetic hybrid bearing has been designed using active radial electromagnetic positioning and a superconducting passive axial levitator. This bearing has been tested for an induction machine with a vertical shaft. The prototype was conceived as a four-pole, two-phase induction machine using specially designed stator windings for delivering torque and radial positioning simultaneously. The radial bearing uses four eddy-current sensors, displaced 90° from each other, for measuring the shaft position and a PID control system for feeding back the currents. The stator windings have been adapted from the ones of a standard induction motor. The superconducting axial bearing has been assembled with commercial NdFeB permanent magnets and a set of seven top-seeded-melt-textured YBCO large-grain cylindrical blocks. The bearing set-up was previously simulated by a finite element method for different permanent magnet-superconductor block configurations. The stiffness of the superconducting axial bearing has been investigated by measuring by a dynamic method the vertical and transversal elastic constants for different field cooling processes. The resulting elastic constants show a linear dependence on the air gap, i.e. the clearance between the permanent magnet assembly and the set of superconducting large-grain blocks, which is dependent on cooling distance.

Superconducting Quantum Interferometers for Nondestructive Evaluation

PubMed Central

Kostyurina, E. A.; Kalashnikov, K. V.; Maslennikov, Yu. V.; Koshelets, V. P.

2017-01-01

We review stationary and mobile systems that are used for the nondestructive evaluation of room temperature objects and are based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). The systems are optimized for samples whose dimensions are between 10 micrometers and several meters. Stray magnetic fields from small samples (10 µm–10 cm) are studied using a SQUID microscope equipped with a magnetic flux antenna, which is fed through the walls of liquid nitrogen cryostat and a hole in the SQUID’s pick-up loop and returned sidewards from the SQUID back to the sample. The SQUID microscope does not disturb the magnetization of the sample during image recording due to the decoupling of the magnetic flux antenna from the modulation and feedback coil. For larger samples, we use a hand-held mobile liquid nitrogen minicryostat with a first order planar gradiometric SQUID sensor. Low-Tc DC SQUID systems that are designed for NDE measurements of bio-objects are able to operate with sufficient resolution in a magnetically unshielded environment. High-Tc DC SQUID magnetometers that are operated in a magnetic shield demonstrate a magnetic field resolution of ~4 fT/√Hz at 77 K. This sensitivity is improved to ~2 fT/√Hz at 77 K by using a soft magnetic flux antenna. PMID:29210980

Research briefing on high-temperature superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1987-10-01

The research briefing was prepared in response to the exciting developments in superconductivity in ceramic oxide materials announced earlier in 1987. The panel's specific charge was to examine not only the scientific opportunities in high-temperature superconductivity but also the barriers to commercial exploitation. While the base of experimental knowledge on the superconductors is growing rapidly, there is as yet no generally accepted theoretical explanation of their behavior. The fabrication and processing challenges presented by the materials suggest that the period or precommercial exploration for applications will probably extend for a decade or more. Near term prospects for applications include magnetic shielding, the voltage standard, superconducting quantum interference devices, infrared sensors, microwave devices, and analog signal processing. The panel also identified a number of longer-term prospects in high-field and large-scale applications, and in electronics. The United States' competitive position in the field is discussed, major scientific and technological objectives for research and development identified, and concludes with a series of recommendations.

Prospects and progress of high Tc superconductivity for space applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Romanofsky, Robert R.; Sokoloski, Marty M.

1991-01-01

Current research in the area of high temperature superconductivity is organized around four key areas: communications and data, sensors and cryogenics, propulsion and power, and space materials technology. Recently, laser ablated YBa2Cu3O(7-x) films on LaAlO3 produced far superior RF characteristics when compared to metallic films on the same substrate. The achievement has enabled a number of unique microwave device applications, such as low insertion loss phase shifters and high-Q filters. Melt texturing and melt-quenched techniques are being used to produce bulk material with optimized magnetic properties. These yttrium-enriched materials possess enhanced flux pinning characteristics and could lead to prototype cryocooler bearings. Significant progress has also occurred in bolometer and current lead technology. Studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of high temperature superconducting materials on the performance and life of high power magnetoplasma-dynamic thrusters. Extended studies were also performed to evaluate the benefit of superconducting magnetic energy storage for LEO space station, lunar, and Mars mission applications.

14 MeV Neutron Irradiation Effect on Superconducting Magnet Materials for Fusion Device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishimura, A.; Hishinuma, Y.; Seo, K.; Tanaka, T.; Muroga, T.; Nishijima, S.; Katagiri, K.; Takeuchi, T.; Shindo, Y.; Ochiai, K.; Nishitani, T.; Okuno, K.

2006-03-01

As a large-scale plasma experimental device is planned and designed, the importance of investigations on irradiation effect of 14 MeV neutron increases and an experimental database is desired to be piled up. Recently, intense streaming of fast neutron from ports are reported and degradation of superconducting magnet performance is anticipated. To investigate the pure neutron effect on superconducting magnet materials, a cryogenic target system was newly developed and installed at Fusion Neutronics Source in Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. Although production rate of 14 MeV neutron is not large, only 14 MeV neutron can be supplied to irradiation test without gamma ray. Copper wires, superconducting wires, glass fiber reinforced composites are irradiated and the irradiation effects are characterized. At the same time, sensors for measuring temperature and magnetic field are irradiated and their performance was investigated after irradiation. This paper presents outline of the cryogenic target system and some irradiation test results.

Intraluminal laser atherectomy with ultrasound and electromagnetic guidance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gregory, Kenton W.; Aretz, H. Thomas; Martinelli, Michael A.; LeDet, Earl G.; Hatch, G. F.; Gregg, Richard E.; Sedlacek, Tomas; Haase, Wayne C.

1991-05-01

The MagellanTM coronary laser atherectomy system is described. It uses high- resolution ultrasound imaging and electromagnetic sensing to provide real-time guidance and control of laser therapy in the coronary arteries. The system consists of a flexible catheter, an electromagnetic navigation antenna, a sensor signal processor and a computer for image processing and display. The small, flexible catheter combines an ultrasound transducer and laser delivery optics, aimed at the artery wall, and an electromagnetic receiving sensor. An extra-corporeal electromagnetic transmit antenna, in combination with catheter sensors, locates the position of the ultrasound and laser beams in the artery. Navigation and ultrasound data are processed electronically to produce real-time, transverse, and axial cross-section images of the artery wall at selected locations. By exploiting the ability of ultrasound to image beneath the surface of artery walls, it is possible to identify candidate treatment sites and perform safe radial laser debulking of atherosclerotic plaque with reduced danger of perforation. The utility of the system in plaque identification and ablation is demonstrated with imaging and experimental results.

Imaging of current distributions in superconducting thin film structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dönitz, Dietmar

2006-10-01

Local analysis plays an important role in many fields of scientific research. However, imaging methods are not very common in the investigation of superconductors. For more than 20 years, Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy (LTSEM) has been successfully used at the University of Tübingen for studying of condensed matter phenomena, especially of superconductivity. In this thesis LTSEM was used for imaging current distributions in different superconducting thin film structures: - Imaging of current distributions in Josephson junctions with ferromagnetic interlayer, also known as SIFS junctions, showed inhomogeneous current transport over the junctions which directly led to an improvement in the fabrication process. An investigation of improved samples showed a very homogeneous current distribution without any trace of magnetic domains. Either such domains were not present or too small for imaging with the LTSEM. - An investigation of Nb/YBCO zigzag Josephson junctions yielded important information on signal formation in the LTSEM both for Josephson junctions in the short and in the long limit. Using a reference junction our signal formation model could be verified, thus confirming earlier results on short zigzag junctions. These results, which could be reproduced in this work, support the theory of d-wave symmetry in the superconducting order parameter of YBCO. Furthermore, investigations of the quasiparticle tunneling in the zigzag junctions showed the existence of Andreev bound states, which is another indication of the d-wave symmetry in YBCO. - The LTSEM study of Hot Electron Bolometers (HEB) allowed the first successful imaging of a stable 'Hot Spot', a self-heating region in HEB structures. Moreover, the electron beam was used to induce an - otherwise unstable - hot spot. Both investigations yielded information on the homogeneity of the samples. - An entirely new method of imaging the current distribution in superconducting interference devices (SQUIDs) could be developed. It is based on vortex imaging by LTSEM that had been established several years ago. The vortex signals can be used as local detectors for the vortex-free circulating sheet-current distribution J. Compared to previous inversion methods that infer J from the measured magnetic field, this method gives a more direct measurement of the current distribution. The experimental results were in very good agreement with numerical calculations of J. The presented investigations show how versatile and useful Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy can be for studying superconducting thin film structures. Thus one may expect that many more important results can be obtained with this method.

Topological superconductivity in an ultrathin, magnetically-doped topological insulator proximity coupled to a conventional superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Youngseok; Philip, Timothy M.; Park, Moon Jip; Gilbert, Matthew J.

2016-12-01

As a promising candidate system to realize topological superconductivity, the system of a 3D topological insulator (TI) grown on top of the s -wave superconductor has been extensively studied. To access the topological superconductivity experimentally, the 3D TI sample must be thin enough to allow for Cooper pair tunneling to the exposed surface of TI. The use of magnetically ordered dopants to break time-reversal symmetry may allow the surface of a TI to host Majorana fermion, which are believed to be a signature of topological superconductivity. In this work, we study a magnetically-doped thin film TI-superconductor hybrid system. Considering the proximity induced order parameter in thin film of TI, we analyze the gap closing points of the Hamiltonian and draw the phase diagram as a function of relevant parameters: the hybridization gap, Zeeman energy, and chemical potential of the TI system. Our findings provide a useful guide in choosing relevant parameters to facilitate the observation of topological superconductivity in thin film TI-superconductor hybrid systems. In addition, we further perform numerical analysis on a TI proximity coupled to an s -wave superconductor and find that, due to the spin-momentum locked nature of the surface states in TI, the induced s -wave order parameter of the surface states persists even at large magnitude of the Zeeman energy.

Magnetic Calorimeter Arrays with High Sensor Inductance and Dense Wiring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevenson, T. R.; Balvin, M. A.; Bandler, S. R.; Devasia, A. M.; Nagler, P. C.; Smith, S. J.; Yoon, W.

2018-05-01

We describe prototype arrays of magnetically coupled microcalorimeters fabricated with an approach scalable to very large format arrays. The superconducting interconnections and sensor coils have sufficiently low inductance in the wiring and sufficiently high inductance in the coils in each pixel, to enable arrays containing greater than 4000 sensors and 100,000 X-ray absorbers to be used in future astrophysics missions such as Lynx. We have used projection lithography to create submicron patterns (e.g., 400 nm lines and spaces) in our niobium sensor coils and wiring, integrated with gold-erbium sensor films and gold X-ray absorbers. Our prototype devices will explore the device physics of metallic magnetic calorimeters as feature sizes are reduced to nanoscale.