Accuracy of UTE-MRI-based patient setup for brain cancer radiation therapy

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

Yang, Yingli; Cao, Minsong; Kaprealian, Tania

2016-01-15

Purpose: Radiation therapy simulations solely based on MRI have advantages compared to CT-based approaches. One feature readily available from computed tomography (CT) that would need to be reproduced with MR is the ability to compute digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) for comparison against on-board radiographs commonly used for patient positioning. In this study, the authors generate MR-based bone images using a single ultrashort echo time (UTE) pulse sequence and quantify their 3D and 2D image registration accuracy to CT and radiographic images for treatments in the cranium. Methods: Seven brain cancer patients were scanned at 1.5 T using a radial UTEmore » sequence. The sequence acquired two images at two different echo times. The two images were processed using an in-house software to generate the UTE bone images. The resultant bone images were rigidly registered to simulation CT data and the registration error was determined using manually annotated landmarks as references. DRRs were created based on UTE-MRI and registered to simulated on-board images (OBIs) and actual clinical 2D oblique images from ExacTrac™. Results: UTE-MRI resulted in well visualized cranial, facial, and vertebral bones that quantitatively matched the bones in the CT images with geometric measurement errors of less than 1 mm. The registration error between DRRs generated from 3D UTE-MRI and the simulated 2D OBIs or the clinical oblique x-ray images was also less than 1 mm for all patients. Conclusions: UTE-MRI-based DRRs appear to be promising for daily patient setup of brain cancer radiotherapy with kV on-board imaging.« less

Quantitative 3D Ultrashort Time-to-Echo (UTE) MRI and Micro-CT (μCT) Evaluation of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Condylar Morphology

PubMed Central

Geiger, Daniel; Bae, Won C.; Statum, Sheronda; Du, Jiang; Chung, Christine B.

2014-01-01

Objective Temporomandibular dysfunction involves osteoarthritis of the TMJ, including degeneration and morphologic changes of the mandibular condyle. Purpose of this study was to determine accuracy of novel 3D-UTE MRI versus micro-CT (μCT) for quantitative evaluation of mandibular condyle morphology. Material & Methods Nine TMJ condyle specimens were harvested from cadavers (2M, 3F; Age 85 ± 10 yrs., mean±SD). 3D-UTE MRI (TR=50ms, TE=0.05 ms, 104 μm isotropic-voxel) was performed using a 3-T MR scanner and μCT (18 μm isotropic-voxel) was performed. MR datasets were spatially-registered with μCT dataset. Two observers segmented bony contours of the condyles. Fibrocartilage was segmented on MR dataset. Using a custom program, bone and fibrocartilage surface coordinates, Gaussian curvature, volume of segmented regions and fibrocartilage thickness were determined for quantitative evaluation of joint morphology. Agreement between techniques (MRI vs. μCT) and observers (MRI vs. MRI) for Gaussian curvature, mean curvature and segmented volume of the bone were determined using intraclass correlation correlation (ICC) analyses. Results Between MRI and μCT, the average deviation of surface coordinates was 0.19±0.15 mm, slightly higher than spatial resolution of MRI. Average deviation of the Gaussian curvature and volume of segmented regions, from MRI to μCT, was 5.7±6.5% and 6.6±6.2%, respectively. ICC coefficients (MRI vs. μCT) for Gaussian curvature, mean curvature and segmented volumes were respectively 0.892, 0.893 and 0.972. Between observers (MRI vs. MRI), the ICC coefficients were 0.998, 0.999 and 0.997 respectively. Fibrocartilage thickness was 0.55±0.11 mm, as previously described in literature for grossly normal TMJ samples. Conclusion 3D-UTE MR quantitative evaluation of TMJ condyle morphology ex-vivo, including surface, curvature and segmented volume, shows high correlation against μCT and between observers. In addition, UTE MRI allows

UTE bi-component analysis of T2* relaxation in articular cartilage

PubMed Central

Shao, H.; Chang, E.Y.; Pauli, C.; Zanganeh, S.; Bae, W.; Chung, C.B.; Tang, G.; Du, J.

2015-01-01

SUMMARY Objectives To determine T2* relaxation in articular cartilage using ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging and bi-component analysis, with an emphasis on the deep radial and calcified cartilage. Methods Ten patellar samples were imaged using two-dimensional (2D) UTE and Car-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequences. UTE images were fitted with a bi-component model to calculate T2* and relative fractions. CPMG images were fitted with a single-component model to calculate T2. The high signal line above the subchondral bone was regarded as the deep radial and calcified cartilage. Depth and orientation dependence of T2*, fraction and T2 were analyzed with histopathology and polarized light microscopy (PLM), confirming normal regions of articular cartilage. An interleaved multi-echo UTE acquisition scheme was proposed for in vivo applications (n = 5). Results The short T2* values remained relatively constant across the cartilage depth while the long T2* values and long T2* fractions tended to increase from subchondral bone to the superficial cartilage. Long T2*s and T2s showed significant magic angle effect for all layers of cartilage from the medial to lateral facets, while the short T2* values and T2* fractions are insensitive to the magic angle effect. The deep radial and calcified cartilage showed a mean short T2* of 0.80 ± 0.05 ms and short T2* fraction of 39.93 ± 3.05% in vitro, and a mean short T2* of 0.93 ± 0.58 ms and short T2* fraction of 35.03 ± 4.09% in vivo. Conclusion UTE bi-component analysis can characterize the short and long T2* values and fractions across the cartilage depth, including the deep radial and calcified cartilage. The short T2* values and T2* fractions are magic angle insensitive. PMID:26382110

k-space sampling optimization for ultrashort TE imaging of cortical bone: Applications in radiation therapy planning and MR-based PET attenuation correction

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

Hu, Lingzhi, E-mail: hlingzhi@gmail.com, E-mail: raymond.muzic@case.edu; Traughber, Melanie; Su, Kuan-Hao

Purpose: The ultrashort echo-time (UTE) sequence is a promising MR pulse sequence for imaging cortical bone which is otherwise difficult to image using conventional MR sequences and also poses strong attenuation for photons in radiation therapy and PET imaging. The authors report here a systematic characterization of cortical bone signal decay and a scanning time optimization strategy for the UTE sequence through k-space undersampling, which can result in up to a 75% reduction in acquisition time. Using the undersampled UTE imaging sequence, the authors also attempted to quantitatively investigate the MR properties of cortical bone in healthy volunteers, thus demonstratingmore » the feasibility of using such a technique for generating bone-enhanced images which can be used for radiation therapy planning and attenuation correction with PET/MR. Methods: An angularly undersampled, radially encoded UTE sequence was used for scanning the brains of healthy volunteers. Quantitative MR characterization of tissue properties, including water fraction and R2{sup ∗} = 1/T2{sup ∗}, was performed by analyzing the UTE images acquired at multiple echo times. The impact of different sampling rates was evaluated through systematic comparison of the MR image quality, bone-enhanced image quality, image noise, water fraction, and R2{sup ∗} of cortical bone. Results: A reduced angular sampling rate of the UTE trajectory achieves acquisition durations in proportion to the sampling rate and in as short as 25% of the time required for full sampling using a standard Cartesian acquisition, while preserving unique MR contrast within the skull at the cost of a minimal increase in noise level. The R2{sup ∗} of human skull was measured as 0.2–0.3 ms{sup −1} depending on the specific region, which is more than ten times greater than the R2{sup ∗} of soft tissue. The water fraction in human skull was measured to be 60%–80%, which is significantly less than the >90% water fraction

75 FR 12229 - Sweetwater Hydro, LLC and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-15

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 13615-000] Sweetwater Hydro, LLC and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and..., Sweetwater Hydro, LLC and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe filed an application for a preliminary permit, pursuant to...

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Community-Scale Solar Feasibility Study

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

Rapp, Jim; Knight, Tawnie

2014-01-30

Parametrix Inc. conducted a feasibility study for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to determine whether or not a community-scale solar farm would be feasible for the community. The important part of the study was to find where the best fit for the solar farm could be. In the end, a 3MW community-scale solar farm was found best fit with the location of two hayfield sites.

Positive contrast high-resolution 3D-cine imaging of the cardiovascular system in small animals using a UTE sequence and iron nanoparticles at 4.7, 7 and 9.4 T.

PubMed

Trotier, Aurélien J; Lefrançois, William; Van Renterghem, Kris; Franconi, Jean-Michel; Thiaudière, Eric; Miraux, Sylvain

2015-07-07

To show that 3D sequences with ultra-short echo times (UTEs) can generate a positive contrast whatever the magnetic field (4.7, 7 or 9.4 T) and whatever Ultra Small Particles of Iron Oxide (USPIO) concentration injected and to use it for 3D time-resolved imaging of the murine cardiovascular system with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Three different concentrations (50, 200 and 500 μmol Fe/kg) of USPIO were injected in mice and static images of the middle part of the animals were acquired at 4.7, 7 and 9.4 T pre and post-contrast with UTE (TE/TR = 0.05/4.5 ms) sequences. Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR) of blood and static tissus were evaluated before and after contrast agent injection. 3D-cine images (TE/TR = 0.05/3.5 ms, scan time < 12 min) at 156 μm isotropic resolution of the mouse cardiopulmonary system were acquired prospectively with the UTE sequence for the three magnetic fields and with an USPIO dose of 200 μmol Fe/kg. SNR, CNR and signal homogeneity of blood were measured. High spatial (104 μm) or temporal (3.5 ms) resolution 3D-cine imaging (scan time < 35 min) isotropic resolution were also performed at 7 T with a new sequence encoding scheme. UTE imaging generated positive contrast and higher SNR and CNR whatever the magnetic field and the USPIO concentration used compared to pre-contrast images. Time-resolved 3D acquisition enables high blood SNR (66.6 ± 4.5 at 7 T) and CNR (33.2 ± 4.2 at 7 T) without flow or motion artefact. Coronary arteries and aortic valve were visible on images acquired at 104 μm resolution. We have demonstrated that by combining the injection of iron nanoparticles with 3D-cine UTE sequences, it was possible to generate a strong positive contrast between blood and surrounding tissues. These properties were exploited to produce images of the cardiovascular system in small animals at high magnetic fields with a high spatial and temporal resolution

Quantification of neonatal lung parenchymal density via ultrashort echo time MRI with comparison to CT.

PubMed

Higano, Nara S; Fleck, Robert J; Spielberg, David R; Walkup, Laura L; Hahn, Andrew D; Thomen, Robert P; Merhar, Stephanie L; Kingma, Paul S; Tkach, Jean A; Fain, Sean B; Woods, Jason C

2017-10-01

To demonstrate that ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can achieve computed tomography (CT)-like quantification of lung parenchyma in free-breathing, non-sedated neonates. Because infant CTs are used sparingly, parenchymal disease evaluation via UTE MRI has potential for translational impact. Two neonatal control cohorts without suspected pulmonary morbidities underwent either a research UTE MRI (n = 5; 1.5T) or a clinically-ordered CT (n = 9). Whole-lung means and anterior-posterior gradients of UTE-measured image intensity (arbitrary units, au, normalized to muscle) and CT-measured density (g/cm 3 ) were compared (Mann-Whitney U-test). Separately, a diseased neonatal cohort (n = 5) with various pulmonary morbidities underwent both UTE MRI and CT. UTE intensity and CT density were compared with Spearman correlations within ∼33 anatomically matched regions of interest (ROIs) in each diseased subject, spanning low- to high-density tissues. Radiological classifications were evaluated in all ROIs, with mean UTE intensities and CT densities compared in each classification. In control subjects, whole-lung UTE intensities (0.51 ± 0.04 au) were similar to CT densities (0.44 ± 0.09 g/cm 3 ) (P = 0.062), as were UTE (0.021 ± 0.020 au/cm) and CT (0.034 ± 0.024 [g/cm 3 ]/cm) anterior-posterior gradients (P = 0.351). In diseased subjects' ROIs, significant correlations were observed between UTE and CT (P ≤0.007 in each case). Relative differences between UTE and CT were small in all classifications (4-25%). These results demonstrate a strong association between UTE image intensity and CT density, both between whole-lung tissue in control patients and regional radiological pathologies in diseased patients. This indicates the potential for UTE MRI to longitudinally evaluate neonatal pulmonary disease and to provide visualization of pathologies similar to CT, without sedation/anesthesia or ionizing radiation

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.

SU-E-J-224: Using UTE and T1 Weighted Spin Echo Pulse Sequences for MR-Only Treatment Planning; Phantom Study

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

Yu, H; Fatemi, A; Sahgal, A

Purpose: Investigating a new approach in MRI based treatment planning using the combination of (Ultrashort Echo Time) UTE and T1 weighted spin echo pulse sequences to delineate air, bone and water (soft tissues) in generating pseudo CT images comparable with CT. Methods: A gel phantom containing chicken bones, ping pang balls filled with distilled water and air bubbles, was made. It scanned with MRI using UTE and 2D T1W SE pulse sequences with (in plane resolution= 0.53mm, slice thickness= 2 mm) and CT with (in plane resolution= 0.5 mm and slice thickness= 0.75mm) as a ground truth for geometrical accuracy.more » The UTE and T1W SE images were registered with CT using mutual information registration algorithm provided by Philips Pinnacle treatment planning system. The phantom boundaries were detected using Canny edge detection algorithm for CT, and MR images. The bone, air bubbles and water in ping pong balls were segmented from CT images using threshold 300HU, - 950HU and 0HU, respectively. These tissue inserts were automatically segmented from combined UTE and T1W SE images using edge detection and relative intensity histograms of the phantom. The obtained segmentations of air, bone and water inserts were evaluated with those obtained from CT. Results: Bone and air can be clearly differentiated in UTE images comparable to CT. Combining UTE and T1W SE images successfully segmented the air, bone and water. The maximum segmentation differences from combine MRI images (UTE and T1W SE) and CT are within 1.3 mm, 1.1mm for bone, air, respectively. The geometric distortion of UTE sequence is small less than 1 pixel (0.53 mm) of MR image resolution. Conclusion: Our approach indicates that MRI can be used solely for treatment planning and its quality is comparable with CT.« less

UTE imaging with simultaneous water and fat signal suppression using a time-efficient multispoke inversion recovery pulse sequence.

PubMed

Carl, Michael; Bydder, Graeme M; Du, Jiang

2016-08-01

The long repetition time and inversion time with inversion recovery preparation ultrashort echo time (UTE) often causes prohibitively long scan times. We present an optimized method for long T2 signal suppression in which several k-space spokes are acquired after each inversion preparation. Using Bloch equations the sequence parameters such as TI and flip angle were optimized to suppress the long T2 water and fat signals and to maximize short T2 contrast. Volunteer imaging was performed on a healthy male volunteer. Inversion recovery preparation was performed using a Silver-Hoult adiabatic inversion pulse together with a three-dimensional (3D) UTE (3D Cones) acquisition. The theoretical signal curves generally agreed with the experimentally measured region of interest curves. The multispoke inversion recovery method showed good muscle and fatty bone marrow suppression, and highlighted short T2 signals such as these from the femoral and tibial cortex. Inversion recovery 3D UTE imaging with multiple spoke acquisitions can be used to effectively suppress long T2 signals and highlight short T2 signals within clinical scan times. Theoretical modeling can be used to determine sequence parameters to optimize long T2 signal suppression and maximize short T2 signals. Experimental results on a volunteer confirmed the theoretical predictions. Magn Reson Med 76:577-582, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The accuracy of ultrashort echo time MRI sequences for medical additive manufacturing

PubMed Central

Rijkhorst, Erik-Jan; Hofman, Mark; Forouzanfar, Tymour; Wolff, Jan

2016-01-01

Objectives: Additively manufactured bone models, implants and drill guides are becoming increasingly popular amongst maxillofacial surgeons and dentists. To date, such constructs are commonly manufactured using CT technology that induces ionizing radiation. Recently, ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI sequences have been developed that allow radiation-free imaging of facial bones. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of UTE MRI sequences for medical additive manufacturing (AM). Methods: Three morphologically different dry human mandibles were scanned using a CT and MRI scanner. Additionally, optical scans of all three mandibles were made to acquire a “gold standard”. All CT and MRI scans were converted into Standard Tessellation Language (STL) models and geometrically compared with the gold standard. To quantify the accuracy of the AM process, the CT, MRI and gold-standard STL models of one of the mandibles were additively manufactured, optically scanned and compared with the original gold-standard STL model. Results: Geometric differences between all three CT-derived STL models and the gold standard were <1.0 mm. All three MRI-derived STL models generally presented deviations <1.5 mm in the symphyseal and mandibular area. The AM process introduced minor deviations of <0.5 mm. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that MRI using UTE sequences is a feasible alternative to CT in generating STL models of the mandible and would therefore be suitable for surgical planning and AM. Further in vivo studies are necessary to assess the usability of UTE MRI sequences in clinical settings. PMID:26943179

The accuracy of ultrashort echo time MRI sequences for medical additive manufacturing.

PubMed

van Eijnatten, Maureen; Rijkhorst, Erik-Jan; Hofman, Mark; Forouzanfar, Tymour; Wolff, Jan

2016-01-01

Additively manufactured bone models, implants and drill guides are becoming increasingly popular amongst maxillofacial surgeons and dentists. To date, such constructs are commonly manufactured using CT technology that induces ionizing radiation. Recently, ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI sequences have been developed that allow radiation-free imaging of facial bones. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of UTE MRI sequences for medical additive manufacturing (AM). Three morphologically different dry human mandibles were scanned using a CT and MRI scanner. Additionally, optical scans of all three mandibles were made to acquire a "gold standard". All CT and MRI scans were converted into Standard Tessellation Language (STL) models and geometrically compared with the gold standard. To quantify the accuracy of the AM process, the CT, MRI and gold-standard STL models of one of the mandibles were additively manufactured, optically scanned and compared with the original gold-standard STL model. Geometric differences between all three CT-derived STL models and the gold standard were <1.0 mm. All three MRI-derived STL models generally presented deviations <1.5 mm in the symphyseal and mandibular area. The AM process introduced minor deviations of <0.5 mm. This study demonstrates that MRI using UTE sequences is a feasible alternative to CT in generating STL models of the mandible and would therefore be suitable for surgical planning and AM. Further in vivo studies are necessary to assess the usability of UTE MRI sequences in clinical settings.

Retrospective respiratory self-gating and removal of bulk motion in pulmonary UTE MRI of neonates and adults

PubMed Central

Higano, NS; Hahn, AD; Tkach, JA; Cao, X; Walkup, LL; Thomen, RP; Merhar, SL; Kingma, PS; Fain, SB; Woods, JC

2016-01-01

PURPOSE To implement pulmonary 3D radial ultrashort echo-time (UTE) MRI in non-sedated, free-breathing neonates and adults with retrospective motion-tracking of respiratory and intermittent bulk motion, to obtain diagnostic-quality, respiratory-gated images. METHODS Pulmonary 3D radial UTE MRI was performed at 1.5T during free-breathing in neonates and adult volunteers for validation. Motion-tracking waveforms were obtained from the time-course of each free induction decay’s initial point (i.e. k-space center), allowing for respiratory-gated image reconstructions that excluded data acquired during bulk motion. Tidal volumes were calculated from end-expiration and end-inspiration images. Respiratory rates were calculated from the Fourier transform of the motion-tracking waveform during quiet-breathing, with comparison to physiologic prediction in neonates and validation with spirometry in adults. RESULTS High-quality respiratory-gated anatomic images were obtained at inspiration and expiration, with less respiratory blurring at the expense of signal-to-noise for narrower gating windows. Inspiration-expiration volume differences agreed with physiologic predictions (neonates; Bland-Altman bias = 6.2 mL) and spirometric values (adults; bias = 0.11 L). MRI-measured respiratory rates compared well with observed rates (biases = −0.5 and 0.2 breaths/min for neonates and adults, respectively). CONCLUSIONS 3D radial pulmonary UTE MRI allows for retrospective respiratory self-gating and removal of intermittent bulk motion in free-breathing, non-sedated neonates and adults. PMID:26972576

The effect of excitation and preparation pulses on nonslice selective 2D UTE bicomponent analysis of bound and free water in cortical bone at 3T

PubMed Central

Li, Shihong; Chang, Eric Y.; Bae, Won C.; Chung, Christine B.; Hua, Yanqing; Zhou, Yi; Du, Jiang

2014-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of excitation, fat saturation, long T2 saturation, and adiabatic inversion pulses on ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging with bicomponent analysis of bound and free water in cortical bone for potential applications in osteoporosis. Methods: Six bovine cortical bones and six human tibial midshaft samples were harvested for this study. Each bone sample was imaged with eight sequences using 2D UTE imaging at 3T with half and hard excitation pulses, without and with fat saturation, long T2 saturation, and adiabatic inversion recovery (IR) preparation pulses. Single- and bicomponent signal models were utilized to calculate the T2*s and/or relative fractions of short and long T2*s. Results: For all bone samples UTE T2* signal decay showed bicomponent behavior. A higher short T2* fraction was observed on UTE images with hard pulse excitation compared with half pulse excitation (75.6% vs 68.8% in bovine bone, 79.9% vs 73.2% in human bone). Fat saturation pulses slightly reduced the short T2* fraction relative to regular UTE sequences (5.0% and 2.0% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for bovine bone, 6.3% and 8.2% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for human bone). Long T2 saturation pulses significantly reduced the long T2* fraction relative to regular UTE sequence (18.9% and 17.2% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for bovine bone, 26.4% and 27.7% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for human bone). With IR-UTE preparation the long T2* components were significantly reduced relative to regular UTE sequence (75.3% and 66.4% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for bovine bone, 87.7% and 90.3% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for human bone). Conclusions: Bound and free water T2*s and relative fractions can be assessed using UTE bicomponent analysis

Free-breathing pediatric chest MRI: Performance of self-navigated golden-angle ordered conical ultrashort echo time acquisition.

PubMed

Zucker, Evan J; Cheng, Joseph Y; Haldipur, Anshul; Carl, Michael; Vasanawala, Shreyas S

2018-01-01

To assess the feasibility and performance of conical k-space trajectory free-breathing ultrashort echo time (UTE) chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus four-dimensional (4D) flow and effects of 50% data subsampling and soft-gated motion correction. Thirty-two consecutive children who underwent both 4D flow and UTE ferumoxytol-enhanced chest MR (mean age: 5.4 years, range: 6 days to 15.7 years) in one 3T exam were recruited. From UTE k-space data, three image sets were reconstructed: 1) one with all data, 2) one using the first 50% of data, and 3) a final set with soft-gating motion correction, leveraging the signal magnitude immediately after each excitation. Two radiologists in blinded fashion independently scored image quality of anatomical landmarks on a 5-point scale. Ratings were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum, Wilcoxon signed-ranks, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Interobserver agreement was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). For fully sampled UTE, mean scores for all structures were ≥4 (good-excellent). Full UTE surpassed 4D flow for lungs and airways (P < 0.001), with similar pulmonary artery (PA) quality (P = 0.62). 50% subsampling only slightly degraded all landmarks (P < 0.001), as did motion correction. Subsegmental PA visualization was possible in >93% scans for all techniques (P = 0.27). Interobserver agreement was excellent for combined scores (ICC = 0.83). High-quality free-breathing conical UTE chest MR is feasible, surpassing 4D flow for lungs and airways, with equivalent PA visualization. Data subsampling only mildly degraded images, favoring lesser scan times. Soft-gating motion correction overall did not improve image quality. 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:200-209. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Generation of brain pseudo-CTs using an undersampled, single-acquisition UTE-mDixon pulse sequence and unsupervised clustering

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

Su, Kuan-Hao; Hu, Lingzhi; Traughber, Melanie

Purpose: MR-based pseudo-CT has an important role in MR-based radiation therapy planning and PET attenuation correction. The purpose of this study is to establish a clinically feasible approach, including image acquisition, correction, and CT formation, for pseudo-CT generation of the brain using a single-acquisition, undersampled ultrashort echo time (UTE)-mDixon pulse sequence. Methods: Nine patients were recruited for this study. For each patient, a 190-s, undersampled, single acquisition UTE-mDixon sequence of the brain was acquired (TE = 0.1, 1.5, and 2.8 ms). A novel method of retrospective trajectory correction of the free induction decay (FID) signal was performed based on point-spreadmore » functions of three external MR markers. Two-point Dixon images were reconstructed using the first and second echo data (TE = 1.5 and 2.8 ms). R2{sup ∗} images (1/T2{sup ∗}) were then estimated and were used to provide bone information. Three image features, i.e., Dixon-fat, Dixon-water, and R2{sup ∗}, were used for unsupervised clustering. Five tissue clusters, i.e., air, brain, fat, fluid, and bone, were estimated using the fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm. A two-step, automatic tissue-assignment approach was proposed and designed according to the prior information of the given feature space. Pseudo-CTs were generated by a voxelwise linear combination of the membership functions of the FCM. A low-dose CT was acquired for each patient and was used as the gold standard for comparison. Results: The contrast and sharpness of the FID images were improved after trajectory correction was applied. The mean of the estimated trajectory delay was 0.774 μs (max: 1.350 μs; min: 0.180 μs). The FCM-estimated centroids of different tissue types showed a distinguishable pattern for different tissues, and significant differences were found between the centroid locations of different tissue types. Pseudo-CT can provide additional skull detail and has low bias and absolute error

The effect of excitation and preparation pulses on nonslice selective 2D UTE bicomponent analysis of bound and free water in cortical bone at 3T

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

Li, Shihong; Department of Radiology, Hua Dong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040; Yancheng Medical College, Jiangsu

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of excitation, fat saturation, long T2 saturation, and adiabatic inversion pulses on ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging with bicomponent analysis of bound and free water in cortical bone for potential applications in osteoporosis. Methods: Six bovine cortical bones and six human tibial midshaft samples were harvested for this study. Each bone sample was imaged with eight sequences using 2D UTE imaging at 3T with half and hard excitation pulses, without and with fat saturation, long T2 saturation, and adiabatic inversion recovery (IR) preparation pulses. Single- and bicomponent signal modelsmore » were utilized to calculate the T2{sup *}s and/or relative fractions of short and long T2{sup *}s. Results: For all bone samples UTE T2{sup *} signal decay showed bicomponent behavior. A higher short T2{sup *} fraction was observed on UTE images with hard pulse excitation compared with half pulse excitation (75.6% vs 68.8% in bovine bone, 79.9% vs 73.2% in human bone). Fat saturation pulses slightly reduced the short T2{sup *} fraction relative to regular UTE sequences (5.0% and 2.0% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for bovine bone, 6.3% and 8.2% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for human bone). Long T2 saturation pulses significantly reduced the long T2{sup *} fraction relative to regular UTE sequence (18.9% and 17.2% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for bovine bone, 26.4% and 27.7% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for human bone). With IR-UTE preparation the long T2{sup *} components were significantly reduced relative to regular UTE sequence (75.3% and 66.4% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for bovine bone, 87.7% and 90.3% reduction, respectively, with half and hard excitation pulses for human bone). Conclusions: Bound and free water T2{sup *}s and relative

Retrospective respiratory self-gating and removal of bulk motion in pulmonary UTE MRI of neonates and adults.

PubMed

Higano, Nara S; Hahn, Andrew D; Tkach, Jean A; Cao, Xuefeng; Walkup, Laura L; Thomen, Robert P; Merhar, Stephanie L; Kingma, Paul S; Fain, Sean B; Woods, Jason C

2017-03-01

To implement pulmonary three-dimensional (3D) radial ultrashort echo-time (UTE) MRI in non-sedated, free-breathing neonates and adults with retrospective motion tracking of respiratory and intermittent bulk motion, to obtain diagnostic-quality, respiratory-gated images. Pulmonary 3D radial UTE MRI was performed at 1.5 tesla (T) during free breathing in neonates and adult volunteers for validation. Motion-tracking waveforms were obtained from the time course of each free induction decay's initial point (i.e., k-space center), allowing for respiratory-gated image reconstructions that excluded data acquired during bulk motion. Tidal volumes were calculated from end-expiration and end-inspiration images. Respiratory rates were calculated from the Fourier transform of the motion-tracking waveform during quiet breathing, with comparison to physiologic prediction in neonates and validation with spirometry in adults. High-quality respiratory-gated anatomic images were obtained at inspiration and expiration, with less respiratory blurring at the expense of signal-to-noise for narrower gating windows. Inspiration-expiration volume differences agreed with physiologic predictions (neonates; Bland-Altman bias = 6.2 mL) and spirometric values (adults; bias = 0.11 L). MRI-measured respiratory rates compared well with the observed rates (biases = -0.5 and 0.2 breaths/min for neonates and adults, respectively). Three-dimensional radial pulmonary UTE MRI allows for retrospective respiratory self-gating and removal of intermittent bulk motion in free-breathing, non-sedated neonates and adults. Magn Reson Med 77:1284-1295, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

3D printed phantoms mimicking cortical bone for the assessment of ultrashort echo time magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Rai, Robba; Manton, David; Jameson, Michael G; Josan, Sonal; Barton, Michael B; Holloway, Lois C; Liney, Gary P

2018-02-01

Human cortical bone has a rapid T2∗ decay, and it can be visualized using ultrashort echo time (UTE) techniques in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These sequences operate at the limits of gradient and transmit-receive signal performance. Development of multicompartment anthropomorphic phantoms that can mimic human cortical bone can assist with quality assurance and optimization of UTE sequences. The aims of this study were to (a) characterize the MRI signal properties of a photopolymer resin that can be 3D printed, (b) develop multicompartment phantoms based on the resin, and (c) demonstrate the feasibility of using these phantoms to mimic human anatomy in the assessment of UTE sequences. A photopolymer resin (Prismlab China Ltd, Shanghai, China) was imaged on a 3 Tesla MRI system (Siemens Skyra) to characterize its MRI properties with emphasis on T2∗ signal and longevity. Two anthropomorphic phantoms, using the 3D printed resin to simulate skeletal anatomy, were developed and imaged using UTE sequences. A skull phantom was developed and used to assess the feasibility of using the resin to develop a complex model with realistic morphological human characteristics. A tibia model was also developed to assess the suitability of the resin at mimicking a simple multicompartment anatomical model and imaged using a three-dimensional UTE sequence (PETRA). Image quality measurements of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast factor were calculated and these were compared to in vivo values. The T2∗ and T 1 (mean ± standard deviation) of the photopolymer resin was found to be 411 ± 19 μs and 74.39 ± 13.88 ms, respectively, and demonstrated no statistically significant change during 4 months of monitoring. The resin had a similar T2∗ decay to human cortical bone; however, had lower T 1 properties. The bone water concentration of the resin was 59% relative to an external water reference phantom, and this was higher than in vivo values reported for human cortical

Quantitative ultrashort echo time imaging for assessment of massive iron overload at 1.5 and 3 Tesla.

PubMed

Krafft, Axel J; Loeffler, Ralf B; Song, Ruitian; Tipirneni-Sajja, Aaryani; McCarville, M Beth; Robson, Matthew D; Hankins, Jane S; Hillenbrand, Claudia M

2017-11-01

Hepatic iron content (HIC) quantification via transverse relaxation rate (R2*)-MRI using multi-gradient echo (mGRE) imaging is compromised toward high HIC or at higher fields due to the rapid signal decay. Our study aims at presenting an optimized 2D ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequence for R2* quantification to overcome these limitations. Two-dimensional UTE imaging was realized via half-pulse excitation and radial center-out sampling. The sequence includes chemically selective saturation pulses to reduce streaking artifacts from subcutaneous fat, and spatial saturation (sSAT) bands to suppress out-of-slice signals. The sequence employs interleaved multi-echo readout trains to achieve dense temporal sampling of rapid signal decays. Evaluation was done at 1.5 Tesla (T) and 3T in phantoms, and clinical applicability was demonstrated in five patients with biopsy-confirmed massively high HIC levels (>25 mg Fe/g dry weight liver tissue). In phantoms, the sSAT pulses were found to remove out-of-slice contamination, and R2* results were in excellent agreement to reference mGRE R2* results (slope of linear regression: 1.02/1.00 for 1.5/3T). UTE-based R2* quantification in patients with massive iron overload proved successful at both field strengths and was consistent with biopsy HIC values. The UTE sequence provides a means to measure R2* in patients with massive iron overload, both at 1.5T and 3T. Magn Reson Med 78:1839-1851, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Improved UTE-based attenuation correction for cranial PET-MR using dynamic magnetic field monitoring

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

Aitken, A. P.; Giese, D.; Tsoumpas, C.

2014-01-15

Purpose: Ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI has been proposed as a way to produce segmented attenuation maps for PET, as it provides contrast between bone, air, and soft tissue. However, UTE sequences require samples to be acquired during rapidly changing gradient fields, which makes the resulting images prone to eddy current artifacts. In this work it is demonstrated that this can lead to misclassification of tissues in segmented attenuation maps (AC maps) and that these effects can be corrected for by measuring the true k-space trajectories using a magnetic field camera. Methods: The k-space trajectories during a dual echo UTEmore » sequence were measured using a dynamic magnetic field camera. UTE images were reconstructed using nominal trajectories and again using the measured trajectories. A numerical phantom was used to demonstrate the effect of reconstructing with incorrect trajectories. Images of an ovine leg phantom were reconstructed and segmented and the resulting attenuation maps were compared to a segmented map derived from a CT scan of the same phantom, using the Dice similarity measure. The feasibility of the proposed method was demonstrated inin vivo cranial imaging in five healthy volunteers. Simulated PET data were generated for one volunteer to show the impact of misclassifications on the PET reconstruction. Results: Images of the numerical phantom exhibited blurring and edge artifacts on the bone–tissue and air–tissue interfaces when nominal k-space trajectories were used, leading to misclassification of soft tissue as bone and misclassification of bone as air. Images of the tissue phantom and thein vivo cranial images exhibited the same artifacts. The artifacts were greatly reduced when the measured trajectories were used. For the tissue phantom, the Dice coefficient for bone in MR relative to CT was 0.616 using the nominal trajectories and 0.814 using the measured trajectories. The Dice coefficients for soft tissue were 0.933 and 0.934 for

Detection of different kidney stone types: an ex vivo comparison of ultrashort echo time MRI to reference standard CT.

PubMed

Ibrahim, El-Sayed H; Cernigliaro, Joseph G; Pooley, Robert A; Bridges, Mellena D; Giesbrandt, Jamie G; Williams, James C; Haley, William E

2016-01-01

With the development of ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequences, it may now be possible to detect kidney stones by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, kidney stones of varying composition and sizes were imaged using both UTE MRI as well as the reference standard of computed tomography (CT), with different surrounding materials and scan setups. One hundred and fourteen kidney stones were inserted into agarose and urine phantoms and imaged both on a dual-energy CT (DECT) scanner using a standard renal stone imaging protocol and on an MRI scanner using the UTE sequence with both head and body surface coils. A subset of the stones representing all composition types and sizes was then inserted into the collecting system of porcine kidneys and imaged in vitro with both CT and MRI. All of the stones were visible on both CT and MRI imaging. DECT was capable of differentiating between uric acid and nonuric acid stones. In MRI imaging, the choice of coil and large field of view (FOV) did not affect stone detection or image quality. The MRI images showed good visualization of the stones' shapes, and the stones' dimensions measured from MRI were in good agreement with the actual values (R(2)=0.886, 0.895, and 0.81 in the agarose phantom, urine phantom, and pig kidneys, respectively). The measured T2 relaxation times ranged from 4.2 to 7.5ms, but did not show significant differences among different stone composition types. UTE MRI compared favorably with the reference standard CT for imaging stones of different composition types and sizes using body surface coil and large FOV, which suggests potential usefulness of UTE MRI in imaging kidney stones in vivo. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Synthetic Minor NSR Permit: ConocoPhillips Company - Ute Compressor Station

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains the response to public comments and the final synthetic minor NSR permit for the ConocoPhillips Company, Ute Compressor Station, located on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in La Plata County, CO.

Externally Calibrated Parallel Imaging for 3D Multispectral Imaging Near Metallic Implants Using Broadband Ultrashort Echo Time Imaging

PubMed Central

Wiens, Curtis N.; Artz, Nathan S.; Jang, Hyungseok; McMillan, Alan B.; Reeder, Scott B.

2017-01-01

Purpose To develop an externally calibrated parallel imaging technique for three-dimensional multispectral imaging (3D-MSI) in the presence of metallic implants. Theory and Methods A fast, ultrashort echo time (UTE) calibration acquisition is proposed to enable externally calibrated parallel imaging techniques near metallic implants. The proposed calibration acquisition uses a broadband radiofrequency (RF) pulse to excite the off-resonance induced by the metallic implant, fully phase-encoded imaging to prevent in-plane distortions, and UTE to capture rapidly decaying signal. The performance of the externally calibrated parallel imaging reconstructions was assessed using phantoms and in vivo examples. Results Phantom and in vivo comparisons to self-calibrated parallel imaging acquisitions show that significant reductions in acquisition times can be achieved using externally calibrated parallel imaging with comparable image quality. Acquisition time reductions are particularly large for fully phase-encoded methods such as spectrally resolved fully phase-encoded three-dimensional (3D) fast spin-echo (SR-FPE), in which scan time reductions of up to 8 min were obtained. Conclusion A fully phase-encoded acquisition with broadband excitation and UTE enabled externally calibrated parallel imaging for 3D-MSI, eliminating the need for repeated calibration regions at each frequency offset. Significant reductions in acquisition time can be achieved, particularly for fully phase-encoded methods like SR-FPE. PMID:27403613

Ute Unit: Study Guide and Follow Up Activities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Conejos School District, Capulin, CO.

The study guide and follow-up activities were designed primarily to give students a feeling of Ute life in the San Luis Valley in Colorado. The unit begins with six Southern Ute stories about the wolf and coyote, the race between the skunk and the coyote, the frog and the eagle, why the frog croaks, the bear (Que Ye Qat), and the two Indian…

Technical Note: Deep learning based MRAC using rapid ultra-short echo time imaging.

PubMed

Jang, Hyungseok; Liu, Fang; Zhao, Gengyan; Bradshaw, Tyler; McMillan, Alan B

2018-05-15

In this study, we explore the feasibility of a novel framework for MR-based attenuation correction for PET/MR imaging based on deep learning via convolutional neural networks, which enables fully automated and robust estimation of a pseudo CT image based on ultrashort echo time (UTE), fat, and water images obtained by a rapid MR acquisition. MR images for MRAC are acquired using dual echo ramped hybrid encoding (dRHE), where both UTE and out-of-phase echo images are obtained within a short single acquisition (35 sec). Tissue labeling of air, soft tissue, and bone in the UTE image is accomplished via a deep learning network that was pre-trained with T1-weighted MR images. UTE images are used as input to the network, which was trained using labels derived from co-registered CT images. The tissue labels estimated by deep learning are refined by a conditional random field based correction. The soft tissue labels are further separated into fat and water components using the two-point Dixon method. The estimated bone, air, fat, and water images are then assigned appropriate Hounsfield units, resulting in a pseudo CT image for PET attenuation correction. To evaluate the proposed MRAC method, PET/MR imaging of the head was performed on 8 human subjects, where Dice similarity coefficients of the estimated tissue labels and relative PET errors were evaluated through comparison to a registered CT image. Dice coefficients for air (within the head), soft tissue, and bone labels were 0.76±0.03, 0.96±0.006, and 0.88±0.01. In PET quantification, the proposed MRAC method produced relative PET errors less than 1% within most brain regions. The proposed MRAC method utilizing deep learning with transfer learning and an efficient dRHE acquisition enables reliable PET quantification with accurate and rapid pseudo CT generation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Pulmonary ventilation imaging in asthma and cystic fibrosis using oxygen-enhanced 3D radial ultrashort echo time MRI.

PubMed

Zha, Wei; Kruger, Stanley J; Johnson, Kevin M; Cadman, Robert V; Bell, Laura C; Liu, Fang; Hahn, Andrew D; Evans, Michael D; Nagle, Scott K; Fain, Sean B

2018-05-01

A previous study demonstrated the feasibility of using 3D radial ultrashort echo time (UTE) oxygen-enhanced MRI (UTE OE-MRI) for functional imaging of healthy human lungs. The repeatability of quantitative measures from UTE OE-MRI needs to be established prior to its application in clinical research. To evaluate repeatability of obstructive patterns in asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF) with UTE OE-MRI with isotropic spatial resolution and full chest coverage. Volunteer and patient repeatability. Eighteen human subjects (five asthma, six CF, and seven normal subjects). Respiratory-gated free-breathing 3D radial UTE (80 μs) sequence at 1.5T. Two 3D radial UTE volumes were acquired sequentially under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions. A subset of subjects underwent repeat acquisitions on either the same day or ≤15 days apart. Asthma and CF subjects also underwent spirometry. A workflow including deformable registration and retrospective lung density correction was used to compute 3D isotropic percent signal enhancement (PSE) maps. Median PSE (MPSE) and ventilation defect percent (VDP) of the lung were measured from the PSE map. The relations between MPSE, VDP, and spirometric measures were assessed using Spearman correlations. The test-retest repeatability was evaluated using Bland-Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Ventilation measures in normal subjects (MPSE = 8.0%, VDP = 3.3%) were significantly different from those in asthma (MPSE = 6.0%, P = 0.042; VDP = 21.7%, P = 0.018) and CF group (MPSE = 4.5%, P = 0.0006; VDP = 27.2%, P = 0.002). MPSE correlated significantly with forced expiratory lung volume in 1 second percent predicted (ρ = 0.72, P = 0.017). The ICC of the test-retest VDP and MPSE were both ≥0.90. In all subject groups, an anterior/posterior gradient was observed with higher MPSE and lower VDP in the posterior compared to anterior regions (P ≤ 0.0021 for all comparisons

Coal resources of the Fruitland Formation in part of the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation, San Juan County, New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Roberts, Laura N. Robinson

1991-01-01

The coal-bearing Upper Cretaceous Fruitland Formation occupies an area of about 14 square miles in the extreme southeast corner of the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation in San Juan County, New Mexico. In this area, the Fruitland Formation contains an estimated 252 million short tons of coal in beds that range from 1.2 to 14 feet thick. About 100 million short tons of coal occur under less than 500 feet of overburden in the Ute Canyon, Upper Main, and Main coal beds. These three coal beds reach a cumulative coal thickness of about 18 feet in a stratigraphic interval that averages about 120 feet thick in the prospecting permit area, which is located in the extreme southwestern part of the study area. The southwestern part of the study area is probably best suited for surface mining, although steep dips may reduce minability locally. A major haul road that was recently constructed across the eastern half of the study area greatly improves the potential for surface mining. Core sample analyses indicate that the apparent rank of the Ute Canyon, Upper Main, and Main coal beds is high-volatile C bituminous. Average heat-of-combustion on an as-received basis is 10,250 British thermal units per pound, average ash content is 15.5 percent, and average sulfur content is 1.0 percent.

Detection of Repair of the Zone of Calcified Cartilage with Osteoarthritis through Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Ultrashort Echo Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

PubMed

Zhou, Quan; Li, Shao-Lin; Ma, Ya-Jun; de Tal, Vicki; Li, Wei; Zhao, Ying-Hua

2018-05-05

Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most commonly used imaging modality for observing the growth and development of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after in vivo transplantation to treat osteoarthritis (OA). However, it is a challenge to accurately monitor the treatment effects of MSCs in the zone of calcified cartilage (ZCC) with OA. This is especially true in the physiological and biochemical views that are not accurately detected by MRI contrast agents. In contrast, ultrashort time echo (UTE) MRI has been shown to be sensitive to the presence of the ZCC, creating the potential for more effectively observing the repair of the ZCC in OA by MSCs. A special focus is given to the outlook of the use of UTE MRI to detect repair of the ZCC with OA through MSCs. The limitations of the current techniques for clinical applications and future directions are also discussed. Using the combined keywords: "osteoarthritis", "mesenchymal stem cells", "calcified cartilage", and "magnetic resonance imaging", the PubMed/MEDLINE literature search was conducted up to June 1, 2017. A total of 132 published articles were initially identified citations. Of the 132 articles, 48 articles were selected after further detailed review. This study referred to all the important English literature in full. In contrast, UTE MRI has been shown to be sensitive to the presence of the ZCC, creating the potential for more effectively observing the repair of the ZCC in OA by MSCs. The current studies showed that the ZCC could be described in terms of its histomorphology and biochemistry by UTE MRI. We prospected that UTE MRI has been shown the potential for more effectively observing the repair of the ZCC in OA by MSCs in vivo.

Detection of Repair of the Zone of Calcified Cartilage with Osteoarthritis through Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Ultrashort Echo Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PubMed Central

Zhou, Quan; Li, Shao-Lin; Ma, Ya-Jun; de Tal, Vicki; Li, Wei; Zhao, Ying-Hua

2018-01-01

Objective: Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most commonly used imaging modality for observing the growth and development of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after in vivo transplantation to treat osteoarthritis (OA). However, it is a challenge to accurately monitor the treatment effects of MSCs in the zone of calcified cartilage (ZCC) with OA. This is especially true in the physiological and biochemical views that are not accurately detected by MRI contrast agents. In contrast, ultrashort time echo (UTE) MRI has been shown to be sensitive to the presence of the ZCC, creating the potential for more effectively observing the repair of the ZCC in OA by MSCs. A special focus is given to the outlook of the use of UTE MRI to detect repair of the ZCC with OA through MSCs. The limitations of the current techniques for clinical applications and future directions are also discussed. Data Sources: Using the combined keywords: “osteoarthritis”, “mesenchymal stem cells”, “calcified cartilage”, and “magnetic resonance imaging”, the PubMed/MEDLINE literature search was conducted up to June 1, 2017. Study Selection: A total of 132 published articles were initially identified citations. Of the 132 articles, 48 articles were selected after further detailed review. This study referred to all the important English literature in full. Results: In contrast, UTE MRI has been shown to be sensitive to the presence of the ZCC, creating the potential for more effectively observing the repair of the ZCC in OA by MSCs. Conclusions: The current studies showed that the ZCC could be described in terms of its histomorphology and biochemistry by UTE MRI. We prospected that UTE MRI has been shown the potential for more effectively observing the repair of the ZCC in OA by MSCs in vivo. PMID:29451138

Externally calibrated parallel imaging for 3D multispectral imaging near metallic implants using broadband ultrashort echo time imaging.

PubMed

Wiens, Curtis N; Artz, Nathan S; Jang, Hyungseok; McMillan, Alan B; Reeder, Scott B

2017-06-01

To develop an externally calibrated parallel imaging technique for three-dimensional multispectral imaging (3D-MSI) in the presence of metallic implants. A fast, ultrashort echo time (UTE) calibration acquisition is proposed to enable externally calibrated parallel imaging techniques near metallic implants. The proposed calibration acquisition uses a broadband radiofrequency (RF) pulse to excite the off-resonance induced by the metallic implant, fully phase-encoded imaging to prevent in-plane distortions, and UTE to capture rapidly decaying signal. The performance of the externally calibrated parallel imaging reconstructions was assessed using phantoms and in vivo examples. Phantom and in vivo comparisons to self-calibrated parallel imaging acquisitions show that significant reductions in acquisition times can be achieved using externally calibrated parallel imaging with comparable image quality. Acquisition time reductions are particularly large for fully phase-encoded methods such as spectrally resolved fully phase-encoded three-dimensional (3D) fast spin-echo (SR-FPE), in which scan time reductions of up to 8 min were obtained. A fully phase-encoded acquisition with broadband excitation and UTE enabled externally calibrated parallel imaging for 3D-MSI, eliminating the need for repeated calibration regions at each frequency offset. Significant reductions in acquisition time can be achieved, particularly for fully phase-encoded methods like SR-FPE. Magn Reson Med 77:2303-2309, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Bone quantitative susceptibility mapping using a chemical species-specific R2* signal model with ultrashort and conventional echo data.

PubMed

Dimov, Alexey V; Liu, Zhe; Spincemaille, Pascal; Prince, Martin R; Du, Jiang; Wang, Yi

2018-01-01

To develop quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) of bone using an ultrashort echo time (UTE) gradient echo (GRE) sequence for signal acquisition and a bone-specific effective transverse relaxation rate ( R2*) to model water-fat MR signals for field mapping. Three-dimensional radial UTE data (echo times ≥ 40 μs) was acquired on a 3 Tesla scanner and fitted with a bone-specific signal model to map the chemical species and susceptibility field. Experiments were performed ex vivo on a porcine hoof and in vivo on healthy human subjects (n = 7). For water-fat separation, a bone-specific model assigning R2* decay mostly to water was compared with the standard models that assigned the same decay for both fat and water. In the ex vivo experiment, bone QSM was correlated with CT. Compared with standard models, the bone-specific R2* method significantly reduced errors in the fat fraction within the cortical bone in all tested data sets, leading to reduced artifacts in QSM. Good correlation was found between bone CT and QSM values in the porcine hoof (R 2  = 0.77). Bone QSM was successfully generated in all subjects. The QSM of bone is feasible using UTE with a conventional echo time GRE acquisition and a bone-specific R2* signal model. Magn Reson Med 79:121-128, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Pulmonary MR imaging with ultra-short TEs: utility for disease severity assessment of connective tissue disease patients.

PubMed

Ohno, Yoshiharu; Nishio, Mizuho; Koyama, Hisanobu; Takenaka, Daisuke; Takahashi, Masaya; Yoshikawa, Takeshi; Matsumoto, Sumiaki; Obara, Makoto; van Cauteren, Marc; Sugimura, Kazuro

2013-08-01

To evaluate the utility of pulmonary magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with ultra-short echo times (UTEs) at a 3.0 T MR system for pulmonary functional loss and disease severity assessments of connective tissue disease (CTD) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from 18 CTD patients (eight men and ten women) and eight normal subjects with suspected chest disease (three men and five women). All subjects underwent thin-section MDCT, pulmonary MR imaging with UTEs, pulmonary function test and serum KL-6. Regional T2 maps were generated from each MR data set, and mean T2 values were determined from ROI measurements. From each thin-section MDCT data set, CT-based disease severity was evaluated with a visual scoring system. Mean T2 values for normal and CTD subjects were statistically compared by using Student's t-test. To assess capability for pulmonary functional loss and disease severity assessments, mean T2 values were statistically correlated with pulmonary functional parameters, serum KL-6 and CT-based disease severity. Mean T2 values for normal and CTD subjects were significantly different (p=0.0019) and showed significant correlations with %VC, %DLCO, serum KL-6 and CT-based disease severity of CTD patients (p<0.05). Pulmonary MR imaging with UTEs is useful for pulmonary functional loss and disease severity assessments of CTD patients with ILD. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inversion Recovery Ultrashort Echo Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Method for Simultaneous Direct Detection of Myelin and High Signal Demonstration of Iron Deposition in the Brain – A Feasibility Study

PubMed Central

Sheth, Vipul R.; Fan, Shujuan; He, Qun; Ma, Yajun; Annesse, Jacopo; Switzer, Robert; Corey-Bloom, Jody; Bydder, Graeme M; Du, Jiang

2017-01-01

Multiple sclerosis (MS)causes demyelinating lesions in the white matter and increased iron deposition in the subcortical gray matter. Myelin protons have an extremely short T2* (less than 1 ms) and are not directly detected with conventional clinical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences. Iron deposition also reduces T2*, leading to reduced signal on clinical sequences. In this study we tested the hypothesis that the inversion recovery ultrashort echo time (IR-UTE) pulse sequence can directly and simultaneously image myelin and iron deposition using a clinical 3T scanner. The technique was first validated on a synthetic myelinphantom (myelin powder in D2O) and a Feridex iron phantom. This was followed by studies of cadaveric MS specimens, healthy volunteers and MS patients. UTE imaging of the synthetic myelin phantom showed an excellent bi-component signal decay with two populations of protons, one with a T2* of 1.2 ms (residual water protons) and the other with a T2* of 290 μs (myelin protons). IR-UTE imaging shows sensitivity to a wide range of iron concentrations from 0.5 to ∼30 mM. The IR-UTE signal from white matter of the brain of healthy volunteers shows a rapid signal decay with a short T2* of ∼300 μs, consistent with the T2* values of myelin protons in the synthetic myelin phantom. IR-UTE imaging in MS brain specimens and patients showed multiple white matter lesions as well as areas of high signal in subcortical gray matter. This in specimens corresponded in position to Perl's diaminobenzide staining results, consistent with increased iron deposition. IR-UTE imaging simultaneously detects lesions with myelin loss in the white matter and iron deposition in the gray matter. PMID:28038965

Concepts of Nature and Power: Environmental Ethics of the Northern Ute.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Romeo, Stephanie

1985-01-01

Describes the approach to resource development of the Northern Ute tribe of Utah. This model preserves the traditional way of life, increases revenues, and minimizes environmental damage. The Ute's historical background and ideology of nature are discussed as well as their fundamental beliefs and moral imperatives associated with natural elements.…

Circles, Trees, and Bears: Symbols of Power of the Weenuche Ute

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McPherson, Robert S.

2012-01-01

The Ute community of White Mesa, comprised of approximately 315 people, sits in the corner of southeastern Utah, eleven miles outside of Blanding. The residents, primarily of Weenuche Ute and Paiute ancestry, enjoy a cultural heritage that embraces elements from plains, mountain, and desert/Great Basin Indian culture. Among their religious…

A novel segmentation approach for implementation of MRAC in head PET/MRI employing Short-TE MRI and 2-point Dixon method in a fuzzy C-means framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khateri, Parisa; Rad, Hamidreza Saligheh; Jafari, Amir Homayoun; Ay, Mohammad Reza

2014-01-01

Quantitative PET image reconstruction requires an accurate map of attenuation coefficients of the tissue under investigation at 511 keV (μ-map), and in order to correct the emission data for attenuation. The use of MRI-based attenuation correction (MRAC) has recently received lots of attention in the scientific literature. One of the major difficulties facing MRAC has been observed in the areas where bone and air collide, e.g. ethmoidal sinuses in the head area. Bone is intrinsically not detectable by conventional MRI, making it difficult to distinguish air from bone. Therefore, development of more versatile MR sequences to label the bone structure, e.g. ultra-short echo-time (UTE) sequences, certainly plays a significant role in novel methodological developments. However, long acquisition time and complexity of UTE sequences limit its clinical applications. To overcome this problem, we developed a novel combination of Short-TE (ShTE) pulse sequence to detect bone signal with a 2-point Dixon technique for water-fat discrimination, along with a robust image segmentation method based on fuzzy clustering C-means (FCM) to segment the head area into four classes of air, bone, soft tissue and adipose tissue. The imaging protocol was set on a clinical 3 T Tim Trio and also 1.5 T Avanto (Siemens Medical Solution, Erlangen, Germany) employing a triple echo time pulse sequence in the head area. The acquisition parameters were as follows: TE1/TE2/TE3=0.98/4.925/6.155 ms, TR=8 ms, FA=25 on the 3 T system, and TE1/TE2/TE3=1.1/2.38/4.76 ms, TR=16 ms, FA=18 for the 1.5 T system. The second and third echo-times belonged to the Dixon decomposition to distinguish soft and adipose tissues. To quantify accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the bone segmentation algorithm, resulting classes of MR-based segmented bone were compared with the manual segmented one by our expert neuro-radiologist. Results for both 3 T and 1.5 T systems show that bone segmentation applied in several

Robust MR assessment of cerebral blood volume and mean vessel size using SPION-enhanced ultrashort echo acquisition.

PubMed

Han, S H; Cho, J H; Jung, H S; Suh, J Y; Kim, J K; Kim, Y R; Cho, G; Cho, H

2015-05-15

Intravascular superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION)-enhanced MR transverse relaxation rates (∆R2(⁎) and ∆R2) are widely used to investigate in vivo vascular parameters, such as the cerebral blood volume (CBV), microvascular volume (MVV), and mean vessel size index (mVSI, ∆R2(⁎)/∆R2). Although highly efficient, regional comparison of vascular parameters acquired using gradient-echo based ∆R2(⁎) is hampered by its high sensitivity to magnetic field perturbations arising from air-tissue interfaces and large vessels. To minimize such demerits, we took advantage of the dual contrast property of SPION and both theoretically and experimentally verified the direct benefit of replacing gradient-echo based ∆R2(⁎) measurement with ultra-short echo time (UTE)-based ∆R1 contrast to generate the robust CBV and mVSI maps. The UTE acquisition minimized the local measurement errors from susceptibility perturbations and enabled dose-independent CBV measurement using the vessel/tissue ∆R1 ratio, while independent spin-echo acquisition enabled simultaneous ∆R2 measurement and mVSI calculation of the cortex, cerebellum, and olfactory bulb, which are animal brain regions typified by significant susceptibility-associated measurement errors. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

SU-F-J-112: Clinical Feasibility Test of An RF Pulse-Based MRI Method for the Quantitative Fat-Water Segmentation

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

Yee, S; Wloch, J; Pirkola, M

Purpose: Quantitative fat-water segmentation is important not only because of the clinical utility of fat-suppressed MRI images in better detecting lesions of clinical significance (in the midst of bright fat signal) but also because of the possible physical need, in which CT-like images based on the materials’ photon attenuation properties may have to be generated from MR images; particularly, as in the case of MR-only radiation oncology environment to obtain radiation dose calculation or as in the case of hybrid PET/MR modality to obtain attenuation correction map for the quantitative PET reconstruction. The majority of such fat-water quantitative segmentations havemore » been performed by utilizing the Dixon’s method and its variations, which have to enforce the proper settings (often predefined) of echo time (TE) in the pulse sequences. Therefore, such methods have been unable to be directly combined with those ultrashort TE (UTE) sequences that, taking the advantage of very low TE values (∼ 10’s microsecond), might be beneficial to directly detect bones. Recently, an RF pulse-based method (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mri.2015.11.006), termed as PROD pulse method, was introduced as a method of quantitative fat-water segmentation that does not have to depend on predefined TE settings. Here, the clinical feasibility of this method is verified in brain tumor patients by combining the PROD pulse with several sequences. Methods: In a clinical 3T MRI, the PROD pulse was combined with turbo spin echo (e.g. TR=1500, TE=16 or 60, ETL=15) or turbo field echo (e.g. TR=5.6, TE=2.8, ETL=12) sequences without specifying TE values. Results: The fat-water segmentation was possible without having to set specific TE values. Conclusion: The PROD pulse method is clinically feasible. Although not yet combined with UTE sequences in our laboratory, the method is potentially compatible with UTE sequences, and thus, might be useful to directly segment fat, water, bone and air.« less

Letters to the state of Utah, the Ten Tribes Partnership, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Tribe about potentially adding the Bonita Peak Mining District to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Feb. 23, 2016: added letters to the state of Utah, the Ten Tribes Partnership, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Tribe about adding the Bonita Peak Mining District to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

Quantification of Human Cortical Bone Bound and Free Water in Vivo with Ultrashort Echo Time MR Imaging: A Model-based Approach.

PubMed

Abbasi-Rad, Shahrokh; Saligheh Rad, Hamidreza

2017-06-01

Purpose To quantify free and bound water components of cortical bone with a model-based numeric approach with use of ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in vivo in order to introduce a new predictor for age-related deterioration of cortical bone structure. Materials and Methods Human studies were compliant with HIPAA and approved by the institutional review board. Dual-repetition time three-dimensional hybrid-radial UTE imaging was performed, followed by the application of postprocessing algorithms, to quantify free and bound water parameters (concentration [ρ] and longitudinal relaxation time [T1]) of human cortical bone in vivo. The postprocessing algorithms included the decomposition of bulk equations into free- and bound-associated equations and solving resulted inverse problem by using evolutionary strategy methods. To test the validity of the introduced biomarker, it was measured in 40 healthy women by using the proposed method, and associations among parameters were evaluated with the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results The mean free water concentration, bound water concentration, free water T1, and bound water T1 in the recruited population were 5.9%, 19.6%, 306.79 msec, and 162.47 msec, respectively. All reported values were in good agreement with those in the literature. Cortical bone free water T1 (R 2 = 0.72) and cortical bone free water concentration (R 2 = 0.62) showed strong positive correlations with age. Conclusion The cortical bone free water concentration and free water T1 derived with UTE imaging are good predictors of age-related deterioration of cortical bone structure and are potentially superior to previously introduced measures such as bone water concentration and suppression ratio. © RSNA, 2017.

78 FR 40663 - Delegation of Authority to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe To Implement and Enforce National...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-08

...] Delegation of Authority to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe To Implement and Enforce National Emissions... Indian Tribe's (SUIT) July 3, 2012 request for delegation of authority to implement and enforce National... Southern Ute Indian Tribe's (SUIT) July 3, 2012 request for delegation of authority to implement and...

Novel ultra-short and ultra-broadband polarization beam splitter based on a bent directional coupler.

PubMed

Dai, Daoxin; Bowers, John E

2011-09-12

A novel ultra-short polarization beam splitter (PBS) based on a bent directional coupler is proposed by utilizing the evanescent coupling between two bent optical waveguides with different core widths. For the bent directional coupler, there is a significant phase-mismatch for TE polarization while the phase-matching condition is satisfied for TM polarization. Therefore, the TM polarized light can be coupled from the narrow input waveguide to the adjacent wide waveguide while the TE polarization goes through the coupling region without significant coupling. An ultra-short (<10 μm-long) PBS is designed based on silicon-on-insulator nanowires and the length of the bent coupling region is as small as 4.5 μm while the gap width is chosen as 200 nm (large enough to simplify the fabrication). Numerical simulations show that the present PBS has a good fabrication tolerance for the variation of the waveguide width (more than ± 60 nm) and a very broad band (~200 nm) for an extinction ratio of >10 dB.

76 FR 12926 - Clean Air Act Proposed Interim Approval of Title V Operating Permits Program; Southern Ute Indian...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-09

... Proposed Interim Approval of Title V Operating Permits Program; Southern Ute Indian Tribe AGENCY... Title V Operating Permits Program submitted by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe (Tribe). The Tribe's Title V Operating Permit Program (Title V Program) was submitted for the purpose of administering a tribal...

77 FR 15267 - Clean Air Act Full Approval of Title V Operating Permits Program; Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-15

... Full Approval of Title V Operating Permits Program; Southern Ute Indian Tribe AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The EPA is promulgating full approval of the Title V Operating Permits Program submitted by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe (Tribe). The Tribe's Title V Operating...

Ultrashort echo-time MRI versus CT for skull aberration correction in MR-guided transcranial focused ultrasound: In vitro comparison on human calvaria.

PubMed

Miller, G Wilson; Eames, Matthew; Snell, John; Aubry, Jean-François

2015-05-01

Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (TcMRgFUS) brain treatment systems compensate for skull-induced beam aberrations by adjusting the phase and amplitude of individual ultrasound transducer elements. These corrections are currently calculated based on a preacquired computed tomography (CT) scan of the patient's head. The purpose of the work presented here is to demonstrate the feasibility of using ultrashort echo-time magnetic resonance imaging (UTE MRI) instead of CT to calculate and apply aberration corrections on a clinical TcMRgFUS system. Phantom experiments were performed in three ex-vivo human skulls filled with tissue-mimicking hydrogel. Each skull phantom was imaged with both CT and UTE MRI. The MR images were then segmented into "skull" and "not-skull" pixels using a computationally efficient, threshold-based algorithm, and the resulting 3D binary skull map was converted into a series of 2D virtual CT images. Each skull was mounted in the head transducer of a clinical TcMRgFUS system (ExAblate Neuro, Insightec, Israel), and transcranial sonications were performed using a power setting of approximately 750 acoustic watts at several different target locations within the electronic steering range of the transducer. Each target location was sonicated three times: once using aberration corrections calculated from the actual CT scan, once using corrections calculated from the MRI-derived virtual CT scan, and once without applying any aberration correction. MR thermometry was performed in conjunction with each 10-s sonication, and the highest single-pixel temperature rise and surrounding-pixel mean were recorded for each sonication. The measured temperature rises were ∼ 45% larger for aberration-corrected sonications than for noncorrected sonications. This improvement was highly significant (p < 10(-4)). The difference between the single-pixel peak temperature rise and the surrounding-pixel mean, which reflects the sharpness of the

Assessment of potential migration of radionuclides and trace elements from the White Mesa uranium mill to the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation and surrounding areas, southeastern Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Naftz, David L.; Ranalli, Anthony J.; Rowland, Ryan C.; Marston, Thomas M.

2011-01-01

In 2007, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey conduct an independent evaluation of potential offsite migration of radionuclides and selected trace elements associated with the ore storage and milling process at an active uranium mill site near White Mesa, Utah. Specific objectives of this study were (1) to determine recharge sources and residence times of groundwater surrounding the mill site, (2) to determine the current concentrations of uranium and associated trace elements in groundwater surrounding the mill site, (3) to differentiate natural and anthropogenic contaminant sources to groundwater resources surrounding the mill site, (4) to assess the solubility and potential for offsite transport of uranium-bearing minerals in groundwater surrounding the mill site, and (5) to use stream sediment and plant material samples from areas surrounding the mill site to identify potential areas of offsite contamination and likely contaminant sources.

NPDES Draft Permit for Southern Ute Indian Tribe Wastewater Treatment Facility in Colorado

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Under NPDES draft permit number CO-0022853, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe is authorized to discharge from its wastewater treatment facility in La Plata County, Colorado,to Rock Creek, a tributary of the Los Pinos River.

Ultra-short ion and neutron pulse production

DOEpatents

Leung, Ka-Ngo; Barletta, William A.; Kwan, Joe W.

2006-01-10

An ion source has an extraction system configured to produce ultra-short ion pulses, i.e. pulses with pulse width of about 1 .mu.s or less, and a neutron source based on the ion source produces correspondingly ultra-short neutron pulses. To form a neutron source, a neutron generating target is positioned to receive an accelerated extracted ion beam from the ion source. To produce the ultra-short ion or neutron pulses, the apertures in the extraction system of the ion source are suitably sized to prevent ion leakage, the electrodes are suitably spaced, and the extraction voltage is controlled. The ion beam current leaving the source is regulated by applying ultra-short voltage pulses of a suitable voltage on the extraction electrode.

The time resolved measurement of ultrashort terahertz-band electric fields without an ultrashort probe

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

Walsh, D. A., E-mail: david.walsh@stfc.ac.uk; Snedden, E. W.; Jamison, S. P.

The time-resolved detection of ultrashort pulsed THz-band electric field temporal profiles without an ultrashort laser probe is demonstrated. A non-linear interaction between a narrow-bandwidth optical probe and the THz pulse transposes the THz spectral intensity and phase information to the optical region, thereby generating an optical pulse whose temporal electric field envelope replicates the temporal profile of the real THz electric field. This optical envelope is characterised via an autocorrelation based FROG (frequency resolved optical gating) measurement, hence revealing the THz temporal profile. The combination of a narrow-bandwidth, long duration, optical probe, and self-referenced FROG makes the technique inherently immunemore » to timing jitter between the optical probe and THz pulse and may find particular application where the THz field is not initially generated via ultrashort laser methods, such as the measurement of longitudinal electron bunch profiles in particle accelerators.« less

Geologic map of the Ute Mountain 7.5' quadrangle, Taos County, New Mexico, and Conejos and Costilla Counties, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Thompson, Ren A.; Turner, Kenzie J.; Shroba, Ralph R.; Cosca, Michael A.; Ruleman, Chester A.; Lee, John P.; Brandt, Theodore R.

2014-01-01

The Ute Mountain 7.5' quadrangle is located in the south-central part of the San Luis Basin of northern New Mexico, in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, and contains deposits that record volcanic, tectonic, and associated alluvial and colluvial processes over the past four million years. Ute Mountain has the distinction of being one of the largest intermediate composition eruptive centers of the Taos Plateau, a largely volcanic tableland occupying the southern portion of the San Luis Basin. Ute Mountain rises to an elevation in excess of 3,000 m, nearly 700 m above the basaltic plateau at its base, and is characterized by three distinct phases of Pliocene eruptive activity recorded in the stratigraphy exposed on the flanks of the mountain and in the Rio Grande gorge. Unconformably overlain by largely flat-lying lava flows of Servilleta Basalt, the area surrounding Ute Mountain records a westward thickening of basin-fill volcanic deposits interstratified in the subsurface with Pliocene basin-fill sedimentary deposits derived from older Tertiary and Precambrian sources to the east. Superimposed on this volcanic stratigraphy are alluvial and colluvial deposits derived from the flanks of Ute Mountain and more distally-derived alluvium from the uplifted Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east, that record a complex temporal and stratigraphic succession of Quaternary basin deposition and erosion. Pliocene and younger basin deposition was accommodated along predominantly north-trending fault-bounded grabens. These poorly exposed fault scarps cutting lava flows of Ute Mountain volcano. The Servilleta Basalt and younger surficial deposits record largely down-to-east basinward displacement. Faults are identified with varying confidence levels in the map area. Recognizing and mapping faults developed near the surface in young, brittle volcanic rocks is difficult because: (1) they tend to form fractured zones tens of meters wide rather than discrete fault planes, (2

Ultrashort pulse energy distribution for propulsion in space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergstue, Grant Jared

This thesis effort focuses on the development of a novel, space-based ultrashort pulse transmission system for spacecraft. The goals of this research include: (1) ultrashort pulse transmission strategies for maximizing safety and efficiency; (2) optical transmission system requirements; (3) general system requirements including control techniques for stabilization; (4) optical system requirements for achieving effective ablative propulsion at the receiving spacecraft; and (5) ultrashort pulse transmission capabilities required for future missions in space. A key element of the research is the multiplexing device required for aligning the ultrashort pulses from multiple laser sources along a common optical axis for transmission. This strategy enables access to the higher average and peak powers required for useful missions in space.

High Resolution Qualitative and Quantitative MR Evaluation of the Glenoid Labrum

PubMed Central

Iwasaki, Kenyu; Tafur, Monica; Chang, Eric Y.; SherondaStatum; Biswas, Reni; Tran, Betty; Bae, Won C.; Du, Jiang; Bydder, Graeme M.; Chung, Christine B.

2015-01-01

Objective To implement qualitative and quantitative MR sequences for the evaluation of labral pathology. Methods Six glenoid labra were dissected and the anterior and posterior portions were divided into normal, mildly degenerated, or severely degenerated groups using gross and MR findings. Qualitative evaluation was performed using T1-weighted, proton density-weighted (PD), spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) and ultra-short echo time (UTE) sequences. Quantitative evaluation included T2 and T1rho measurements as well as T1, T2*, and T1rho measurements acquired with UTE techniques. Results SPGR and UTE sequences best demonstrated labral fiber structure. Degenerated labra had a tendency towards decreased T1 values, increased T2/T2* values and increased T1 rho values. T2* values obtained with the UTE sequence allowed for delineation between normal, mildly degenerated and severely degenerated groups (p<0.001). Conclusion Quantitative T2* measurements acquired with the UTE technique are useful for distinguishing between normal, mildly degenerated and severely degenerated labra. PMID:26359581

Dislocation structure produced by an ultrashort shock pulse

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

Matsuda, Tomoki, E-mail: t-matsu@mapse.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp; Hirose, Akio; Sano, Tomokazu

We found an ultrashort shock pulse driven by a femtosecond laser pulse on iron generates a different dislocation structure than the shock process which is on the nanosecond timescale. The ultrashort shock pulse produces a highly dense dislocation structure that varies by depth. According to transmission electron microscopy, dislocations away from the surface produce microbands via a network structure similar to a long shock process, but unlike a long shock process dislocations near the surface have limited intersections. Considering the dislocation motion during the shock process, the structure near the surface is attributed to the ultrashort shock duration. This approachmore » using an ultrashort shock pulse will lead to understanding the whole process off shock deformation by clarifying the early stage.« less

Long T2 suppression in native lung 3-D imaging using k-space reordered inversion recovery dual-echo ultrashort echo time MRI.

PubMed

Gai, Neville D; Malayeri, Ashkan A; Bluemke, David A

2017-08-01

Long T2 species can interfere with visualization of short T2 tissue imaging. For example, visualization of lung parenchyma can be hindered by breathing artifacts primarily from fat in the chest wall. The purpose of this work was to design and evaluate a scheme for long T2 species suppression in lung parenchyma imaging using 3-D inversion recovery double-echo ultrashort echo time imaging with a k-space reordering scheme for artifact suppression. A hyperbolic secant (HS) pulse was evaluated for different tissues (T1/T2). Bloch simulations were performed with the inversion pulse followed by segmented UTE acquisition. Point spread function (PSF) was simulated for a standard interleaved acquisition order and a modulo 2 forward-reverse acquisition order. Phantom and in vivo images (eight volunteers) were acquired with both acquisition orders. Contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated in in vivo images prior to and after introduction of the long T2 suppression scheme. The PSF as well as phantom and in vivo images demonstrated reduction in artifacts arising from k-space modulation after using the reordering scheme. CNR measured between lung and fat and lung and muscle increased from -114 and -148.5 to +12.5 and 2.8 after use of the IR-DUTE sequence. Paired t test between the CNRs obtained from UTE and IR-DUTE showed significant positive change (p < 0.001 for lung-fat CNR and p = 0.03 for lung-muscle CNR). Full 3-D lung parenchyma imaging with improved positive contrast between lung and other long T2 tissue types can be achieved robustly in a clinically feasible time using IR-DUTE with image subtraction when segmented radial acquisition with k-space reordering is employed.

Ultrashort Pulse (USP) Laser-Matter Interactions

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-05

spectroscopy • Frequency/time transfer • High-capacity comms • Coherent LIDAR • Optical clocks • Calibration Material Science ultrashort, high...Laboratory 41 Laser -driven x-rays generation (0.1 – 10 MeV) • Scattering from a 300 MeV electron beam can Doppler shift a 1-eV energy laser ...1 Integrity  Service  Excellence Ultrashort Pulse (USP) Laser – Matter Interactions 5 MAR 2013 Dr. Riq Parra Program Officer AFOSR/RTB

Ultrashort-pulse laser generated nanoparticles of energetic materials

DOEpatents

Welle, Eric J [Niceville, NM; Tappan, Alexander S [Albuquerque, NM; Palmer, Jeremy A [Albuquerque, NM

2010-08-03

A process for generating nanoscale particles of energetic materials, such as explosive materials, using ultrashort-pulse laser irradiation. The use of ultrashort laser pulses in embodiments of this invention enables one to generate particles by laser ablation that retain the chemical identity of the starting material while avoiding ignition, deflagration, and detonation of the explosive material.

The effect of freeze-thawing on magnetic resonance imaging T2* of freshly harvested bovine patellar tendon

PubMed Central

Pownder, Sarah L.; Shah, Parina H.; Potter, Hollis G.

2015-01-01

Background Analysis of fresh specimens in research studies is ideal; however, it is often necessary to freeze samples for evaluation at a later time. Limited evaluation of the effect of freeze-thawing of tendon tissue samples on inherent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, such as ultrashort echo time (UTE) T2* values, have been performed to date. Methods This study performed UTE MRI on 14 bovine patellar tendons at harvest and after four consecutive freeze-thaw cycles. Results Results demonstrated a small but significant reduction (12%) in tendon T2* values after the first freeze thaw cycle, but not after successive cycles. Tendons from juvenile animals with open physis had a significant reduction of T2* following a single freeze thaw cycle, P<0.0001. Conclusions The results of this study emphasize the importance of using uniform tendon storage protocols when using UTE MRI in preclinical models. PMID:26029639

Half radiofrequency pulse excitation with a dedicated prescan to correct eddy current effect and gradient delay.

PubMed

Abe, Takayuki

2013-03-01

To improve the slice profile of the half radiofrequency (RF) pulse excitation and image quality of ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging by compensating for an eddy current effect. The dedicated prescan has been developed to measure the phase accumulation due to eddy currents induced by the slice-selective gradient. The prescan measures two one-dimensional excitation k-space profiles, which can be acquired with a readout gradient in the slice-selection direction by changing the polarity of the slice-selective gradient. The time shifts due to the phase accumulation in the excitation k-space were calculated. The time shift compensated for the start time of the slice-selective gradient. The total prescan time was 6-15 s. The slice profile and the UTE image with the half RF pulse excitation were acquired to evaluate the slice selectivity and the image quality. Improved slice selectivity was obtained. The simple method proposed in this paper can eliminate eddy current effect. Good UTE images were obtained. The slice profile of the half RF pulse excitation and the image quality of UTE images have been improved by using a dedicated prescan. This method has a possibility that can improve the image quality of a clinical UTE imaging.

Mode-locked Er-doped fiber laser based on liquid phase exfoliated Sb2Te3 topological insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boguslawski, J.; Sotor, J.; Sobon, G.; Tarka, J.; Jagiello, J.; Macherzynski, W.; Lipinska, L.; Abramski, K. M.

2014-10-01

In this paper, femtosecond pulse generation in an Er-doped fiber laser is reported. The laser is passively mode-locked by an antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) topological insulator (TI) saturable absorber (SA) placed on a side-polished fiber. The Sb2Te3/chitosan suspension used to prepare the SA was obtained via liquid phase exfoliation from bulk Sb2Te3.Ultra-short 449 fs soliton pulses were generated due to the interaction between the evanescent field propagated in the fiber cladding and the Sb2Te3 layers. The optical spectrum is centered at 1556 nm with 6 nm of full-width at half maximum bandwidth. The presented method benefits from a much better repeatability compared to mechanical exfoliation.

MRI-Only Based Radiotherapy Treatment Planning for the Rat Brain on a Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP).

PubMed

Gutierrez, Shandra; Descamps, Benedicte; Vanhove, Christian

2015-01-01

Computed tomography (CT) is the standard imaging modality in radiation therapy treatment planning (RTP). However, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides superior soft tissue contrast, increasing the precision of target volume selection. We present MR-only based RTP for a rat brain on a small animal radiation research platform (SARRP) using probabilistic voxel classification with multiple MR sequences. Six rat heads were imaged, each with one CT and five MR sequences. The MR sequences were: T1-weighted, T2-weighted, zero-echo time (ZTE), and two ultra-short echo time sequences with 20 μs (UTE1) and 2 ms (UTE2) echo times. CT data were manually segmented into air, soft tissue, and bone to obtain the RTP reference. Bias field corrected MR images were automatically segmented into the same tissue classes using a fuzzy c-means segmentation algorithm with multiple images as input. Similarities between segmented CT and automatic segmented MR (ASMR) images were evaluated using Dice coefficient. Three ASMR images with high similarity index were used for further RTP. Three beam arrangements were investigated. Dose distributions were compared by analysing dose volume histograms. The highest Dice coefficients were obtained for the ZTE-UTE2 combination and for the T1-UTE1-T2 combination when ZTE was unavailable. Both combinations, along with UTE1-UTE2, often used to generate ASMR images, were used for further RTP. Using 1 beam, MR based RTP underestimated the dose to be delivered to the target (range: 1.4%-7.6%). When more complex beam configurations were used, the calculated dose using the ZTE-UTE2 combination was the most accurate, with 0.7% deviation from CT, compared to 0.8% for T1-UTE1-T2 and 1.7% for UTE1-UTE2. The presented MR-only based workflow for RTP on a SARRP enables both accurate organ delineation and dose calculations using multiple MR sequences. This method can be useful in longitudinal studies where CT's cumulative radiation dose might contribute to the total

MRI-Only Based Radiotherapy Treatment Planning for the Rat Brain on a Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP)

PubMed Central

Gutierrez, Shandra; Descamps, Benedicte; Vanhove, Christian

2015-01-01

Computed tomography (CT) is the standard imaging modality in radiation therapy treatment planning (RTP). However, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides superior soft tissue contrast, increasing the precision of target volume selection. We present MR-only based RTP for a rat brain on a small animal radiation research platform (SARRP) using probabilistic voxel classification with multiple MR sequences. Six rat heads were imaged, each with one CT and five MR sequences. The MR sequences were: T1-weighted, T2-weighted, zero-echo time (ZTE), and two ultra-short echo time sequences with 20 μs (UTE1) and 2 ms (UTE2) echo times. CT data were manually segmented into air, soft tissue, and bone to obtain the RTP reference. Bias field corrected MR images were automatically segmented into the same tissue classes using a fuzzy c-means segmentation algorithm with multiple images as input. Similarities between segmented CT and automatic segmented MR (ASMR) images were evaluated using Dice coefficient. Three ASMR images with high similarity index were used for further RTP. Three beam arrangements were investigated. Dose distributions were compared by analysing dose volume histograms. The highest Dice coefficients were obtained for the ZTE-UTE2 combination and for the T1-UTE1-T2 combination when ZTE was unavailable. Both combinations, along with UTE1-UTE2, often used to generate ASMR images, were used for further RTP. Using 1 beam, MR based RTP underestimated the dose to be delivered to the target (range: 1.4%-7.6%). When more complex beam configurations were used, the calculated dose using the ZTE-UTE2 combination was the most accurate, with 0.7% deviation from CT, compared to 0.8% for T1-UTE1-T2 and 1.7% for UTE1-UTE2. The presented MR-only based workflow for RTP on a SARRP enables both accurate organ delineation and dose calculations using multiple MR sequences. This method can be useful in longitudinal studies where CT’s cumulative radiation dose might contribute to the

Ultrashort-Pulse Laser System: Theory of Operation and Operating Procedures

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-07-01

Nov 89 - Jul 92 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Ultrashort-Pulse Laser System : Theory of Operation and C - F33615-88-C-0631 Operating...i ’IR~A&, D2;" T.&B [E] al uicod [] j 0 Avhi lp.bilty C: oded’ Avail i Qiv ULTRASHORT-PULSE LASER SYSTEM : THEORY OF OPERATION AND OPERATING PROCEDURES

MRI and histopathologic study of a novel cholesterol-fed rabbit model of xanthogranuloma.

PubMed

Chen, Yuanxin; Hamilton, Amanda M; Parkins, Katie M; Wang, Jian-Xiong; Rogers, Kem A; Zeineh, Michael M; Rutt, Brian K; Ronald, John A

2016-09-01

To develop a rabbit model of xanthogranuloma based on supplementation of dietary cholesterol. The aim of this study was to analyze the xanthogranulomatous lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological examination. Rabbits were fed a low-level cholesterol (CH) diet (n = 10) or normal chow (n = 5) for 24 months. In vivo brain imaging was performed on a 3T MR system using fast imaging employing steady state acquisition, susceptibility-weighted imaging, spoiled gradient recalled, T1 -weighted inversion recovery imaging and T1 relaxometry, PD-weighted and T2 -weighted spin-echo imaging and T2 relaxometry, iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation, ultrashort TE MRI (UTE-MRI), and T2* relaxometry. MR images were evaluated using a Likert scale for lesion presence and quantitative analysis of lesion size, ventricular volume, and T1 , T2 , and T2* values of lesions was performed. After imaging, brain specimens were examined using histological methods. In vivo MRI revealed that 6 of 10 CH-fed rabbits developed lesions in the choroid plexus. Region-of-interest analysis showed that for CH-fed rabbits the mean lesion volume was 8.5 ± 2.6 mm(3) and the volume of the lateral ventricle was significantly increased compared to controls (P < 0.01). The lesions showed significantly shorter mean T2 values (35 ± 12 msec, P < 0.001), longer mean T1 values (1581 ± 146 msec, P < 0.05), and shorter T2* values (22 ± 13 msec, P < 0.001) compared to adjacent brain structures. The ultrashort T2* components were visible using UTE-MRI. Histopathologic evaluation of lesions demonstrated features of human xanthogranuloma. Rabbits fed a low-level CH diet develop sizable intraventricular masses that have similar histopathological features as human xanthogranuloma. Multiparametric MRI techniques were able to provide information about the complex composition of these lesions. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016

Heat input and accumulation for ultrashort pulse processing with high average power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finger, Johannes; Bornschlegel, Benedikt; Reininghaus, Martin; Dohrn, Andreas; Nießen, Markus; Gillner, Arnold; Poprawe, Reinhart

2018-05-01

Materials processing using ultrashort pulsed laser radiation with pulse durations <10 ps is known to enable very precise processing with negligible thermal load. However, even for the application of picosecond and femtosecond laser radiation, not the full amount of the absorbed energy is converted into ablation products and a distinct fraction of the absorbed energy remains as residual heat in the processed workpiece. For low average power and power densities, this heat is usually not relevant for the processing results and dissipates into the workpiece. In contrast, when higher average powers and repetition rates are applied to increase the throughput and upscale ultrashort pulse processing, this heat input becomes relevant and significantly affects the achieved processing results. In this paper, we outline the relevance of heat input for ultrashort pulse processing, starting with the heat input of a single ultrashort laser pulse. Heat accumulation during ultrashort pulse processing with high repetition rate is discussed as well as heat accumulation for materials processing using pulse bursts. In addition, the relevance of heat accumulation with multiple scanning passes and processing with multiple laser spots is shown.

Fundamentals and industrial applications of ultrashort pulsed lasers at Bosch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

König, Jens; Bauer, Thorsten

2011-03-01

Fundamental results of ablation processes of metals with ultrashort laser pulses in the far threshold fluence regime are shown and discussed. Time-resolved measurements of the plasma transmission exhibit two distinctive minima. The minima occurring within the first nanoseconds can be attributed to electrons and sublimated material emitted from the target surface, whereas the subsequent minimum after several 10 ns is due to particles and droplets after a thermal boiling process. Industrial applications of ultrashort pulsed laser micro machining in the Bosch Group are also shown with the production of exhaust gas sensors and common rail diesel systems. Since 2007, ultrashort laser pulses are used at the BOSCH plant in Bamberg for producing lambda-probes, which are made of a special ceramic layer system and can measure the exhaust gas properties faster and more accurately. This enables further reduction of emissions by optimized combustion control. Since 2009, BOSCH uses ultrashort pulsed lasers for micro-structuring the injector of common rail diesel systems. A drainage groove allows a tight system even at increased pressures up to 2000 bar. Diesel injection is thus even more reliable, powerful and environment-friendly.

Monolithic hybrid optics for focusing ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuchs, U.

2014-03-01

Almost any application of ultrashort laser pulses involves focusing them in order to reach high intensities and/or small spot sizes as needed for micro-machining or Femto-LASIK. Hence, it is indispensable to be able to understand pulse front distortion caused by real world optics. Focusing causes pulse front distortion due to aberrations, dispersion and diffraction. Thus, the spatio-temporal profile of ultrashort laser is altered, which increases automatically the pulse duration and the focusing spot. Consequently, the main advantage of having ultrashort laser pulses - pulse durations way below 100 fs - can be lost in that one last step of the experimental set-up by focusing them unfavorable. Since compensating for dispersion, aberration and diffraction effects is quite complicated and not always possible, we pursue a different approach. We present a specially designed monolithic hybrid optics comprising refraction and diffraction effects for tight spatial and temporal focusing of ultrashort laser pulses. Both aims can be put into practice by having a high numerical aperture (NA = 0.35) and low internal dispersion at the same time. The focusing properties are very promising, due to a design, which provides diffraction limited focusing for 100 nm bandwidth at 780 nm center wavelength. Thus, pulses with durations as short as 10 fs can be focused without pulse front distortion. The outstanding performance of this optics is shown in theory and experimentally. Above that, such focusing optics are easily adapted to their special purpose - changing the center wavelength, achromatic bandwidth or even correcting for focusing into material is possible.

Post-filament self-trapping of ultrashort laser pulses.

PubMed

Mitrofanov, A V; Voronin, A A; Sidorov-Biryukov, D A; Andriukaitis, G; Flöry, T; Pugžlys, A; Fedotov, A B; Mikhailova, J M; Panchenko, V Ya; Baltuška, A; Zheltikov, A M

2014-08-15

Laser filamentation is understood to be self-channeling of intense ultrashort laser pulses achieved when the self-focusing because of the Kerr nonlinearity is balanced by ionization-induced defocusing. Here, we show that, right behind the ionized region of a laser filament, ultrashort laser pulses can couple into a much longer light channel, where a stable self-guiding spatial mode is sustained by the saturable self-focusing nonlinearity. In the limiting regime of negligibly low ionization, this post-filamentation beam dynamics converges to a large-scale beam self-trapping scenario known since the pioneering work on saturable self-focusing nonlinearities.

Black-hole evaporation and ultrashort distances

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

Jacobson, T.

1991-09-15

The role played by ultrahigh frequencies of ultrashort distances in the usual derivations of the Hawking effect is discussed and criticized. The question would a blackhole radiate if there were a Planck scale cutoff in the rest frame of the hole '' is posed. Guidance is sought from Unruh's fluid-flow analogue of black-hole radiation, by taking into account the atomic nature of the fluid. Two arguments for black-hole radiation are given which assume a Planck length cutoff. One involves the response of static accelerated detectors outside the horizon, and the other involves conservation of the expectation value of the stressmore » tensor. Neither argument is conclusive, but they do strongly suggest that, in spite of reasonable doubt about the usual derivations of black-hole radiation, a safe'' derivation which avoids our ignorance of ultrashort-distance physics can likely be formulated. Remaining open questions are discussed.« less

Ultrashort Carbon Nanotubes That Fluoresce Brightly in the Near-Infrared.

PubMed

Danné, Noémie; Kim, Mijin; Godin, Antoine G; Kwon, Hyejin; Gao, Zhenghong; Wu, Xiaojian; Hartmann, Nicolai F; Doorn, Stephen K; Lounis, Brahim; Wang, YuHuang; Cognet, Laurent

2018-06-14

The intrinsic near-infrared photoluminescence observed in long single-walled carbon nanotubes is known to be quenched in ultrashort nanotubes due to their tiny size as compared to the exciton diffusion length in these materials (>100 nm). Here, we show that intense photoluminescence can be created in ultrashort nanotubes (∼40 nm length) upon incorporation of exciton-trapping sp 3 defect sites. Using super-resolution photoluminescence imaging at <25 nm resolution, we directly show the preferential localization of excitons at the nanotube ends, which separate by less than 40 nm and behave as independent emitters. This unexpected observation opens the possibility to synthesize fluorescent ultrashort nanotubes-a goal that has been long thought impossible-for bioimaging applications, where bright near-infrared photoluminescence and small size are highly desirable, and for quantum information science, where high quality and well-controlled near-infrared single photon emitters are needed.

Distortion of ultrashort pulses caused by aberrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horváth, Z. L.; Kovács, A. P.; Bor, Zs.

The effect of the primary wave aberrations (spherical aberration, astigmatism and coma) on ultrashort pulses is studied by the Nijboer-Zernike theory. The results of the geometrical and the wave optical treatments are compared.

Acousto-optic replication of ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yushkov, Konstantin B.; Molchanov, Vladimir Ya.; Ovchinnikov, Andrey V.; Chefonov, Oleg V.

2017-10-01

Precisely controlled sequences of ultrashort laser pulses are required in various scientific and engineering applications. We developed a phase-only acousto-optic pulse shaping method for replication of ultrashort laser pulses in a TW laser system. A sequence of several Fourier-transform-limited pulses is generated from a single femtosecond laser pulse by means of applying a piecewise linear phase modulation over the whole emission spectrum. Analysis demonstrates that the main factor which limits maximum delay between the pulse replicas is spectral resolution of the acousto-optic dispersive delay line used for pulse shaping. In experiments with a Cr:forsterite laser system, we obtained delays from 0.3 to 3.5 ps between two replicas of 190 fs transform-limited pulses at the central wavelength of laser emission, 1230 nm.

Standard-, Reduced-, and No-Dose Thin-Section Radiologic Examinations: Comparison of Capability for Nodule Detection and Nodule Type Assessment in Patients Suspected of Having Pulmonary Nodules.

PubMed

Ohno, Yoshiharu; Koyama, Hisanobu; Yoshikawa, Takeshi; Kishida, Yuji; Seki, Shinichiro; Takenaka, Daisuke; Yui, Masao; Miyazaki, Mitsue; Sugimura, Kazuro

2017-08-01

Purpose To compare the capability of pulmonary thin-section magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with ultrashort echo time (UTE) with that of standard- and reduced-dose thin-section computed tomography (CT) in nodule detection and evaluation of nodule type. Materials and Methods The institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. Standard- and reduced-dose chest CT (60 and 250 mA) and MR imaging with UTE were used to examine 52 patients; 29 were men (mean age, 66.4 years ± 7.3 [standard deviation]; age range, 48-79 years) and 23 were women (mean age, 64.8 years ± 10.1; age range, 42-83 years). Probability of nodule presence was assessed for all methods with a five-point visual scoring system. All nodules were then classified as missed, ground-glass, part-solid, or solid nodules. To compare nodule detection capability of the three methods, consensus for performances was rated by using jackknife free-response receiver operating characteristic analysis, and κ analysis was used to compare intermethod agreement for nodule type classification. Results There was no significant difference (F = 0.70, P = .59) in figure of merit between methods (standard-dose CT, 0.86; reduced-dose CT, 0.84; MR imaging with UTE, 0.86). There was no significant difference in sensitivity between methods (standard-dose CT vs reduced-dose CT, P = .50; standard-dose CT vs MR imaging with UTE, P = .50; reduced-dose CT vs MR imaging with UTE, P >.99). Intermethod agreement was excellent (standard-dose CT vs reduced-dose CT, κ = 0.98, P < .001; standard-dose CT vs MR imaging with UTE, κ = 0.98, P < .001; reduced-dose CT vs MR imaging with UTE, κ = 0.99, P < .001). Conclusion Pulmonary thin-section MR imaging with UTE was useful in nodule detection and evaluation of nodule type, and it is considered at least as efficacious as standard- or reduced-dose thin-section CT. © RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Ultra-compact resonant tunneling-based TE-pass and TM-pass polarizers for SOI platform.

PubMed

Azzam, Shaimaa I; Obayya, Salah S A

2015-03-15

We investigate the polarization-dependent resonance tunneling effect in silicon waveguides to achieve ultra-compact and highly efficient polarization fitters for integrated silicon photonics, to the best of our knowledge for the first time. We hence propose simple structures for silicon-on-insulator transverse electric (TE)-pass and transverse magnetic (TM)-pass polarizers based on the resonance tunneling effect in silicon waveguides. The suggested TE-pass polarizer has insertion losses (IL), extinction ratio (ER), and return losses (RL) of 0.004 dB, 18 dB, and 24 dB, respectively; whereas, the TM-pass polarizer is characterized by IL, ER, and RL of 0.15 dB, 20 dB, and 23 dB, respectively. Both polarizers have an ultra-short device length of only 1.35 and 1.31 μm for the TE-pass and the TM-pass polarizers which are the shortest reported lengths to the best of our knowledge.

Fracture toughness of ultrashort pulse-bonded fused silica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richter, S.; Naumann, F.; Zimmermann, F.; Tünnermann, A.; Nolte, S.

2016-02-01

We determined the bond interface strength of ultrashort pulse laser-welded fused silica for different processing parameters. To this end, we used a high repetition rate ultrashort pulse laser system to inscribe parallel welding lines with a specific V-shaped design into optically contacted fused silica samples. Afterward, we applied a micro-chevron test to measure the fracture toughness and surface energy of the laser-inscribed welding seams. We analyzed the influence of different processing parameters such as laser repetition rate and line separation on the fracture toughness and fracture surface energy. Welding the entire surface a fracture toughness of 0.71 {MPa} {m}^{1/2}, about 90 % of the pristine bulk material ({≈ } 0.8 {MPa} {m}^{1/2}), is obtained.

Controlling Plasma Channels through Ultrashort Laser Pulse Filamentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ionin, Andrey; Seleznev, Leonid; Sunchugasheva, Elena

2013-09-01

A review of studies fulfilled at the Lebedev Institute in collaboration with the Moscow State University and Institute of Atmospheric Optics in Tomsk on influence of various characteristics of ultrashort laser pulse on plasma channels formed under its filamentation is presented. Filamentation of high-power laser pulses with wavefront controlled by a deformable mirror, with cross-sections spatially formed by various diaphragms and with different wavelengths was experimentally and numerically studied. An application of plasma channels formed due to filamentation of ultrashort laser pulse including a train of such pulses for triggering and guiding long electric discharges is discussed. The research was supported by RFBR Grants 11-02-12061-ofi-m and 11-02-01100, and EOARD Grant 097007 through ISTC Project 4073 P

Ultra-short pulse generator

DOEpatents

McEwan, Thomas E.

1993-01-01

An inexpensive pulse generating circuit is disclosed that generates ultra-short, 200 picosecond, and high voltage 100 kW, pulses suitable for wideband radar and other wideband applications. The circuit implements a nonlinear transmission line with series inductors and variable capacitors coupled to ground made from reverse biased diodes to sharpen and increase the amplitude of a high-voltage power MOSFET driver input pulse until it causes non-destructive transit time breakdown in a final avalanche shockwave diode, which increases and sharpens the pulse even more.

Ultra-short pulse generator

DOEpatents

McEwan, T.E.

1993-12-28

An inexpensive pulse generating circuit is disclosed that generates ultra-short, 200 picosecond, and high voltage 100 kW, pulses suitable for wideband radar and other wideband applications. The circuit implements a nonlinear transmission line with series inductors and variable capacitors coupled to ground made from reverse biased diodes to sharpen and increase the amplitude of a high-voltage power MOSFET driver input pulse until it causes non-destructive transit time breakdown in a final avalanche shock wave diode, which increases and sharpens the pulse even more. 5 figures.

Mid-infrared beam splitter for ultrashort pulses.

PubMed

Somma, Carmine; Reimann, Klaus; Woerner, Michael; Kiel, Thomas; Busch, Kurt; Braun, Andreas; Matalla, Mathias; Ickert, Karina; Krüger, Olaf

2017-08-01

A design is presented for a beam splitter suitable for ultrashort pulses in the mid-infrared and terahertz spectral range consisting of a structured metal layer on a diamond substrate. Both the theory and experiment show that this beam splitter does not distort the temporal pulse shape.

Calculus removal on a root cement surface by ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraft, Johan F.; Vestentoft, Kasper; Christensen, Bjarke H.; Løvschall, Henrik; Balling, Peter

2008-01-01

Ultrashort-pulse-laser ablation of dental calculus (tartar) and cement is performed on root surfaces. The investigation shows that the threshold fluence for ablation of calculus is a factor of two to three times smaller than that of a healthy root cement surface. This indicates that ultrashort laser pulses may provide an appropriate tool for selective removal of calculus with minimal damage to the underlying root cement. Future application of an in situ profiling technique allows convenient on-line monitoring of the ablation process.

Ultrafast charge transfer between MoTe2 and MoS2 monolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Shudi; Ceballos, Frank; Bellus, Matthew Z.; Zereshki, Peymon; Zhao, Hui

2017-03-01

High quality and stable electrical contact between metal and two-dimensional materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides, is a necessary requirement that has yet to be achieved in order to successfully exploit the advantages that these materials offer to electronics and optoelectronics. MoTe2, owing to its phase changing property, can potentially offer a solution. A recent study demonstrated that metallic phase of MoTe2 connects its semiconducting phase with very low resistance. To utilize this property to connect other two-dimensional materials, it is important to achieve efficient charge transfer between MoTe2 and other semiconducting materials. Using MoS2 as an example, we report ultrafast and efficient charge transfer between MoTe2 and MoS2 monolayers. In the transient absorption measurements, an ultrashort pump pulse is used to selectively excite electrons in MoTe2. The appearance of the excited electrons in the conduction band of MoS2 is monitored by using a probe pulse that is tuned to the resonance of MoS2. We found that electrons transfer to MoS2 on a time scale of at most 0.3 ps. The transferred electrons give rise to a large transient absorption signal at both A-exciton and B-exciton resonances due to the screening effect. We also observed ultrafast transfer of holes from MoS2 to MoTe2. Our results suggest the feasibility of using MoTe2 as a bridge material to connect MoS2 and other transition metal dichalcogenides, and demonstrate a new transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructure involving MoTe2, which extends the spectral range of such structures to infrared.

Observations and Light Curve Solutions of Ultrashort-Period Eclipsing Binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kjurkchieva, Diana P.; Dimitrov, Dinko P.; Ibryamov, Sunay I.; Vasileva, Doroteya L.

2018-02-01

Photometric observations in V and I bands and low-dispersion spectra of 10 ultrashort-period binaries (NSVS 2175434, NSVS 2607629, NSVS 5038135, NSVS 8040227, NSVS 9747584, NSVS 4876238, ASAS 071829-0336.7, SWASP 074658.62+224448.5, NSVS 2729229, NSVS 10632802) are presented. One of them, NSVS 2729229, is newly discovered target. The results from modelling and analysis of our observations revealed that (i) eight targets have overcontact configurations with considerable fill-out factor (up to 0.5), while NSVS 4876238 and ASAS 0718-03 have almost contact configurations; (ii) NSVS 4876238 is rare ultrashort-period binary of detached type; (iii) all stellar components are late dwarfs; (iv) the temperature difference of the components of each target does not exceed 400 K; (v) NSVS 2175434 and SWASP 074658.62 + 224448.5 exhibit total eclipses and their parameters could be assumed as well determined; (v) NSVS 2729229 shows emission in the Hα line. Masses, radii, and luminosities of the stellar components were estimated by the empirical relation `period, orbital axis' for short- and ultrashort-period binaries. We found linear relations mass-luminosity and mass-radius for the stellar components of our targets.

Photon-induced positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy using ultrashort laser-Compton-scattered gamma-ray pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taira, Y.; Toyokawa, H.; Kuroda, R.; Yamamoto, N.; Adachi, M.; Tanaka, S.; Katoh, M.

2013-05-01

High-energy ultrashort gamma-ray pulses can be generated via laser Compton scattering with 90° collisions at the UVSOR-II electron storage ring. As an applied study of ultrashort gamma-ray pulses, a new photon-induced positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy approach has been developed. Ultrashort gamma-ray pulses with a maximum energy of 6.6 MeV and pulse width of 2.2 ps created positrons throughout bulk lead via pair production. Annihilation gamma rays were detected by a BaF2 scintillator mounted on a photomultiplier tube. A positron lifetime spectrum was obtained by measuring the time difference between the RF frequency of the electron storage ring and the detection time of the annihilation gamma rays. We calculated the response of the BaF2 scintillator and the time jitter caused by the variation in the total path length of the ultrashort gamma-ray pulses, annihilation gamma rays, and scintillation light using a Monte Carlo simulation code. The positron lifetime for bulk lead was successfully measured.

Observations and light curve solutions of three ultrashort-period W UMa binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kjurkchieva, Diana P.; Michel, Raul; Popov, Velimir A.; Deras, Dan

2018-07-01

Photometric observations in V, Rc and Ic bands of the ultrashort-period W UMa binaries 1SWASP J044132.96+440613.7, 1SWASP J052926.88+461147.5 and NSVS 2175434 are presented. The results from the modeling and analysis of our observations reveal that: (i) All targets undergo total eclipses and their photometric mass ratios should be accepted with confidence; (ii) All stellar components are late-type dwarfs; (iii) The temperature difference of target components does not exceed 150 K; (iv) All targets have overcontact configurations with fill-out factor around 0.24; (v) The orbit of NSVS 2175434 is slightly eccentric which is unusual for such an ultrashort-period binary; (vi) The orbital periods of all targets were improved. Masses, radii and luminosities of the stellar components were estimated by the empirical relation "period, orbital axis" for short- and ultrashort-period binaries.

Hawking radiation from ultrashort laser pulse filaments.

PubMed

Belgiorno, F; Cacciatori, S L; Clerici, M; Gorini, V; Ortenzi, G; Rizzi, L; Rubino, E; Sala, V G; Faccio, D

2010-11-12

Event horizons of astrophysical black holes and gravitational analogues have been predicted to excite the quantum vacuum and give rise to the emission of quanta, known as Hawking radiation. We experimentally create such a gravitational analogue using ultrashort laser pulse filaments and our measurements demonstrate a spontaneous emission of photons that confirms theoretical predictions.

Magnetic Field Effect on Ultrashort Two-dimensional Optical Pulse Propagation in Silicon Nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konobeeva, N. N.; Evdokimov, R. A.; Belonenko, M. B.

2018-05-01

The paper deals with the magnetic field effect which provides a stable propagation of ultrashort pulses in silicon nanotubes from the viewpoint of their waveform. The equation is derived for the electromagnetic field observed in silicon nanotubes with a glance to the magnetic field for two-dimensional optical pulses. The analysis is given to the dependence between the waveform of ultrashort optical pulses and the magnetic flux passing through the cross-sectional area of the nanotube.

30-Second bound and pore water concentration mapping of cortical bone using 2D UTE with optimized half-pulses.

PubMed

Manhard, Mary Kate; Harkins, Kevin D; Gochberg, Daniel F; Nyman, Jeffry S; Does, Mark D

2017-03-01

MRI of cortical bone has the potential to offer new information about fracture risk. Current methods are typically performed with 3D acquisitions, which suffer from long scan times and are generally limited to extremities. This work proposes using 2D UTE with half pulses for quantitatively mapping bound and pore water in cortical bone. Half-pulse 2D UTE methods were implemented on a 3T Philips Achieva scanner using an optimized slice-select gradient waveform, with preparation pulses to selectively image bound or pore water. The 2D methods were quantitatively compared with previously implemented 3D methods in the tibia in five volunteers. The mean difference between bound and pore water concentration acquired from 3D and 2D sequences was 0.6 and 0.9 mol 1 H/L bone (3 and 12%, respectively). While 2D pore water methods tended to slightly overestimate concentrations relative to 3D methods, differences were less than scan-rescan uncertainty and expected differences between healthy and fracture-prone bones. Quantitative bound and pore water concentration mapping in cortical bone can be accelerated by 2 orders of magnitude using 2D protocols with optimized half-pulse excitation. Magn Reson Med 77:945-950, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Interaction of ultrashort laser pulses and silicon solar cells under short circuit conditions

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

Mundus, M., E-mail: markus.mundus@ise.fraunhofer.de; Giesecke, J. A.; Fischer, P.

Ultrashort pulse lasers are promising tools for numerous measurement purposes. Among other benefits their high peak powers allow for efficient generation of wavelengths in broad spectral ranges and at spectral powers that are orders of magnitude higher than in conventional light sources. Very recently this has been exploited for the establishment of sophisticated measurement facilities for electrical characterization of photovoltaic (PV) devices. As the high peak powers of ultrashort pulses promote nonlinear optical effects they might also give rise to nonlinear interactions with the devices under test that possibly manipulate the measurement outcome. In this paper, we present a comprehensivemore » theoretical and experimental study of the nonlinearities affecting short circuit current (I{sub SC}) measurements of silicon (Si) solar cells. We derive a set of coupled differential equations describing the radiation-device interaction and discuss the nonlinearities incorporated in those. By a semi-analytical approach introducing a quasi-steady-state approximation and integrating a Green's function we solve the system of equations and obtain simulated I{sub SC} values. We validate the theoretical model by I{sub SC} ratios obtained from a double ring resonator setup capable for reproducible generation of various ultrashort pulse trains. Finally, we apply the model to conduct the most prominent comparison of I{sub SC} generated by ultrashort pulses versus continuous illumination. We conclude by the important finding that the nonlinearities induced by ultrashort pulses are negligible for the most common I{sub SC} measurements. However, we also find that more specialized measurements (e.g., of concentrating PV or Si-multijunction devices as well as highly localized electrical characterizations) will be biased by two-photon-absorption distorting the I{sub SC} measurement.« less

Plasma-driven ultrashort bunch diagnostics

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

Dornmair, I.; Schroeder, C. B.; Floettmann, K.

2016-06-10

Ultrashort electron bunches are crucial for an increasing number of applications, however, diagnosing their longitudinal phase space remains a challenge. We propose a new method that harnesses the strong electric fields present in a laser driven plasma wakefield. By transversely displacing driver laser and witness bunch, a streaking field is applied to the bunch. This field maps the time information to a transverse momentum change and, consequently, to a change of transverse position. We illustrate our method with simulations where we achieve a time resolution in the attosecond range.

Ultrashort megaelectronvolt positron beam generation based on laser-accelerated electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Tongjun; Shen, Baifei; Xu, Jiancai; Li, Shun; Yu, Yong; Li, Jinfeng; Lu, Xiaoming; Wang, Cheng; Wang, Xinliang; Liang, Xiaoyan; Leng, Yuxin; Li, Ruxin; Xu, Zhizhan

2016-03-01

Experimental generation of ultrashort MeV positron beams with high intensity and high density using a compact laser-driven setup is reported. A high-density gas jet is employed experimentally to generate MeV electrons with high charge; thus, a charge-neutralized MeV positron beam with high density is obtained during laser-accelerated electrons irradiating high-Z solid targets. It is a novel electron-positron source for the study of laboratory astrophysics. Meanwhile, the MeV positron beam is pulsed with an ultrashort duration of tens of femtoseconds and has a high peak intensity of 7.8 × 1021 s-1, thus allows specific studies of fast kinetics in millimeter-thick materials with a high time resolution and exhibits potential for applications in positron annihilation spectroscopy.

Single-photon ultrashort-lived radionuclides: symposium proceedings

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

Paras, P.; Thiessen, J.W.

1985-01-01

The purpose was to define the current role and state-of-the-art regarding the development, clinical applications, and usefulness of generator-produced single-photon ultrashort-lived radionuclides (SPUSLR's) and to predict their future impact on medicine. Special emphasis was placed on the generator production of iridium-191, gold-195, and krypton-81. This report contains expanded summaries of the included papers. (ACR)

Laser system using ultra-short laser pulses

DOEpatents

Dantus, Marcos [Okemos, MI; Lozovoy, Vadim V [Okemos, MI; Comstock, Matthew [Milford, MI

2009-10-27

A laser system using ultrashort laser pulses is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, the system includes a laser, pulse shaper and detection device. A further aspect of the present invention employs a femtosecond laser and binary pulse shaping (BPS). Still another aspect of the present invention uses a laser beam pulse, a pulse shaper and a SHG crystal.

Influence of atomic densities on propagation property for ultrashort pulses in a two-level medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bingxin; Gong, Shangqing; Song, Xiaohong; Jin, Shiqi

2005-05-01

The influence of atomic densities on the propagation property for ultrashort pulses in a two-level atom (TLA) medium is investigated. With higher atomic densities, the self-induced transparency (SIT) cannot be recovered even for 2? ultrashort pulses. New features such as pulse splitting, red-shift and blue-shift of the corresponding spectra arise, and the component of central frequency gradually disappears.

Reconfigurable wavefront sensor for ultrashort pulses.

PubMed

Bock, Martin; Das, Susanta Kumar; Fischer, Carsten; Diehl, Michael; Börner, Peter; Grunwald, Ruediger

2012-04-01

A highly flexible Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for ultrashort pulse diagnostics is presented. The temporal system performance is studied in detail. Reflective operation is enabled by programming tilt-tolerant microaxicons into a liquid-crystal-on-silicon spatial light modulator. Nearly undistorted pulse transfer is obtained by generating nondiffracting needle beams as subbeams. Reproducible wavefront analysis and spatially resolved second-order autocorrelation are demonstrated at incident angles up to 50° and pulse durations down to 6 fs.

Modeling ultrashort electromagnetic pulses with a generalized Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofstrand, A.; Moloney, J. V.

2018-03-01

In this paper we derive a properly scaled model for the nonlinear propagation of intense, ultrashort, mid-infrared electromagnetic pulses (10-100 femtoseconds) through an arbitrary dispersive medium. The derivation results in a generalized Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (gKP) equation. In contrast to envelope-based models such as the Nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation, the gKP equation describes the dynamics of the field's actual carrier wave. It is important to resolve these dynamics when modeling ultrashort pulses. We proceed by giving an original proof of sufficient conditions on the initial pulse for a singularity to form in the field after a finite propagation distance. The model is then numerically simulated in 2D using a spectral-solver with initial data and physical parameters highlighting our theoretical results.

Nanoplasmonic generation of ultrashort EUV pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Joonhee; Lee, Dong-Hyub; Han, Seunghwoi; Park, In-Yong; Kim, Seungchul; Kim, Seung-Woo

2012-10-01

Ultrashort extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) light pulses are an important tool for time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy to investigate the ultrafast dynamics of electrons in atoms and molecules. Among several methods available to generate ultrashort EUV light pulses, the nonlinear frequency upconversion process of high-harmonic generation (HHG) draws attention as it is capable of producing coherent EUV pulses with precise control of burst timing with respect to the driving near-infrared (NIR) femtosecond laser. In this report, we present and discuss our recent experimental data obtained by the plasmon-driven HHG method that generate EUV radiation by means of plasmonic nano-focusing of NIR femtosecond pulses. For experiment, metallic waveguides having a tapered hole of funnel shape inside were fabricated by adopting the focused-ion-beam process on a micro-cantilever substrate. The plasmonic field formed within the funnelwaveguides being coupled with the incident femtosecond pulse permitted intensity enhancement by a factor of ~350, which creates a hot spot of sub-wavelength size with intensities strong enough for HHG. Experimental results showed that with injection of noble gases into the funnel-waveguides, EUV radiation is generated up to wavelengths of 32 nm and 29.6 nm from Ar and Ne gas atoms, respectively. Further, it was observed that lower-order EUV harmonics are cut off in the HHG spectra by the tiny exit aperture of the funnel-waveguide.

Application of polymer sensitive MRI sequence to localization of EEG electrodes.

PubMed

Butler, Russell; Gilbert, Guillaume; Descoteaux, Maxime; Bernier, Pierre-Michel; Whittingstall, Kevin

2017-02-15

The growing popularity of simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) opens up the possibility of imaging EEG electrodes while the subject is in the scanner. Such information could be useful for improving the fusion of EEG-fMRI datasets. Here, we report for the first time how an ultra-short echo time (UTE) MR sequence can image the materials of an MR-compatible EEG cap, finding that electrodes and some parts of the wiring are visible in a high resolution UTE. Using these images, we developed a segmentation procedure to obtain electrode coordinates based on voxel intensity from the raw UTE, using hand labeled coordinates as the starting point. We were able to visualize and segment 95% of EEG electrodes using a short (3.5min) UTE sequence. We provide scripts and template images so this approach can now be easily implemented to obtain precise, subject-specific EEG electrode positions while adding minimal acquisition time to the simultaneous EEG-fMRI protocol. T1 gel artifacts are not robust enough to localize all electrodes across subjects, the polymers composing Brainvision cap electrodes are not visible on a T1, and adding T1 visible materials to the EEG cap is not always possible. We therefore consider our method superior to existing methods for obtaining electrode positions in the scanner, as it is hardware free and should work on a wide range of materials (caps). EEG electrode positions are obtained with high precision and no additional hardware. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fully phase-encoded MRI near metallic implants using ultrashort echo times and broadband excitation.

PubMed

Wiens, Curtis N; Artz, Nathan S; Jang, Hyungseok; McMillan, Alan B; Koch, Kevin M; Reeder, Scott B

2018-04-01

To develop a fully phase-encoded MRI method for distortion-free imaging near metallic implants, in clinically feasible acquisition times. An accelerated 3D fully phase-encoded acquisition with broadband excitation and ultrashort echo times is presented, which uses a broadband radiofrequency pulse to excite the entire off-resonance induced by the metallic implant. Furthermore, fully phase-encoded imaging is used to prevent distortions caused by frequency encoding, and to obtain ultrashort echo times for rapidly decaying signal. Phantom and in vivo acquisitions were used to describe the relationship among excitation bandwidth, signal loss near metallic implants, and T 1 weighting. Shorter radiofrequency pulses captured signal closer to the implant by improving spectral coverage and allowing shorter echo times, whereas longer pulses improved T 1 weighting through larger maximum attainable flip angles. Comparisons of fully phase-encoded acquisition with broadband excitation and ultrashort echo times to T 1 -weighted multi-acquisition with variable resonance image combination selective were performed in phantoms and subjects with metallic knee and hip prostheses. These acquisitions had similar contrast and acquisition efficiency. Accelerated fully phase-encoded acquisitions with ultrashort echo times and broadband excitation can generate distortion free images near metallic implants in clinically feasible acquisition times. Magn Reson Med 79:2156-2163, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Fully Phase-Encoded MRI Near Metallic Implants Using Ultrashort Echo Times and Broadband Excitation

PubMed Central

Wiens, Curtis N.; Artz, Nathan S.; Jang, Hyungseok; McMillan, Alan B.; Koch, Kevin M.; Reeder, Scott B.

2017-01-01

Purpose To develop a fully phase-encoded MRI method for distortion-free imaging near metallic implants, in clinically feasible acquisition times. Theory and Methods An accelerated 3D fully phase-encoded acquisition with broadband excitation and ultrashort echo times is presented, which uses a broadband radiofrequency pulse to excite the entire off-resonance induced by the metallic implant. Furthermore, fully phase-encoded imaging is used to prevent distortions caused by frequency encoding, and to obtain ultrashort echo times for rapidly decaying signal. Results Phantom and in vivo acquisitions were used to describe the relationship among excitation bandwidth, signal loss near metallic implants, and T1 weighting. Shorter radiofrequency pulses captured signal closer to the implant by improving spectral coverage and allowing shorter echo times, whereas longer pulses improved T1 weighting through larger maximum attainable flip angles. Comparisons of fully phase-encoded acquisition with broadband excitation and ultrashort echo times to T1-weighted multi-acquisition with variable resonance image combination selective were performed in phantoms and subjects with metallic knee and hip prostheses. These acquisitions had similar contrast and acquisition efficiency. Conclusions Accelerated fully phase-encoded acquisitions with ultrashort echo times and broadband excitation can generate distortion free images near metallic implants in clinically feasible acquisition times. Magn Reson Med 000:000–000, 2017. PMID:28833407

The development of ultrashort acting neuromuscular relaxant tropane derivatives.

PubMed

Gyermek, Laszlo; Lee, Chingmuh

2009-03-01

There is a need for neuromuscular relaxant (NMR) agents that are of the "nondepolarizing type" and produce rapidly developing and short-lasting skeletal muscle relaxation in anesthesiology. Many efforts have been directed to produce such agents. Our research focused on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of numerous "bisquaternary" derivatives of the cyclic aminoalkanes: tropane and granatane. Through systematic "steric structure-activity relationship" studies, we arrived at some new bisquaternary tropine and granatanol diesters, which in laboratory studies appeared to be the fastest and shortest acting NMRs recognized so far. Their ultrashort duration action-mechanism was, however, linked to the formation of nephrotoxic metabolites, precluding further development. Even so, we believe that the scientific information gained from more than a thousand such agents, will be useful toward developing the "ideal," ultrashort-acting NMR that could be clinically successful without the use of "reversing" agents, at least until "new biotechnology" may solve all problematic aspects of "transient" muscle relaxation.

Cavity Optical Pulse Extraction: ultra-short pulse generation as seeded Hawking radiation.

PubMed

Eilenberger, Falk; Kabakova, Irina V; de Sterke, C Martijn; Eggleton, Benjamin J; Pertsch, Thomas

2013-01-01

We show that light trapped in an optical cavity can be extracted from that cavity in an ultrashort burst by means of a trigger pulse. We find a simple analytic description of this process and show that while the extracted pulse inherits its pulse length from that of the trigger pulse, its wavelength can be completely different. Cavity Optical Pulse Extraction is thus well suited for the development of ultrashort laser sources in new wavelength ranges. We discuss similarities between this process and the generation of Hawking radiation at the optical analogue of an event horizon with extremely high Hawking temperature. Our analytic predictions are confirmed by thorough numerical simulations.

New methods of generation of ultrashort laser pulses for ranging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jelinkova, Helena; Hamal, Karel; Kubecek, V.; Prochazka, Ivan

1993-01-01

To reach the millimeter satellite laser ranging accuracy, the goal for nineties, new laser ranging techniques have to be applied. To increase the laser ranging precision, the application of the ultrashort laser pulses in connection with the new signal detection and processing techniques, is inevitable. The two wavelength laser ranging is one of the ways to measure the atmospheric dispersion to improve the existing atmospheric correction models and hence, to increase the overall system ranging accuracy to the desired value. We are presenting a review of several nonstandard techniques of ultrashort laser pulses generation, which may be utilized for laser ranging: compression of the nanosecond pulses using stimulated Brillouin and Raman backscattering; compression of the mode-locked pulses using Raman backscattering; passive mode-locking technique with nonlinear mirror; and passive mode-locking technique with the negative feedback.

Ablation enhancement of silicon by ultrashort double-pulse laser ablation

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

Zhao, Xin; Shin, Yung C.

In this study, the ultrashort double-pulse ablation of silicon is investigated. An atomistic simulation model is developed to analyze the underlying physics. It is revealed that the double-pulse ablation could significantly increase the ablation rate of silicon, compared with the single pulse ablation with the same total pulse energy, which is totally different from the case of metals. In the long pulse delay range (over 1 ps), the enhancement is caused by the metallic transition of melted silicon with the corresponding absorption efficiency. At ultrashort pulse delay (below 1 ps), the enhancement is due to the electron excitation by the first pulse.more » The enhancement only occurs at low and moderate laser fluence. The ablation is suppressed at high fluence due to the strong plasma shielding effect.« less

Ultrashort megaelectronvolt positron beam generation based on laser-accelerated electrons

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

Xu, Tongjun; Shen, Baifei, E-mail: bfshen@mail.shcnc.ac.cn; Xu, Jiancai, E-mail: jcxu@siom.ac.cn

Experimental generation of ultrashort MeV positron beams with high intensity and high density using a compact laser-driven setup is reported. A high-density gas jet is employed experimentally to generate MeV electrons with high charge; thus, a charge-neutralized MeV positron beam with high density is obtained during laser-accelerated electrons irradiating high-Z solid targets. It is a novel electron–positron source for the study of laboratory astrophysics. Meanwhile, the MeV positron beam is pulsed with an ultrashort duration of tens of femtoseconds and has a high peak intensity of 7.8 × 10{sup 21} s{sup −1}, thus allows specific studies of fast kinetics in millimeter-thick materials withmore » a high time resolution and exhibits potential for applications in positron annihilation spectroscopy.« less

Nanopore formation in neuroblastoma cells following ultrashort electric pulse exposure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, Caleb C.; Payne, Jason A.; Wilmink, Gerald J.; Ibey, Bennett L.

2011-03-01

Ultrashort or nanosecond electrical pulses (USEP) cause repairable damage to the plasma membranes of cells through formation of nanopores. These nanopores are able to pass small ions such as sodium, calcium, and potassium, but remain impermeable to larger molecules like trypan blue and propidium iodide. What remains uncertain is whether generation of nanopores by ultrashort electrical pulses can inhibit action potentials in excitable cells. In this paper, we explored the sensitivity of excitable cells to USEP using Calcium Green AM 1 ester fluorescence to measure calcium uptake indicative of nanopore formation in the plasma membrane. We determined the threshold for nanopore formation in neuroblastoma cells for three pulse parameters (amplitude, pulse width, and pulse number). Measurement of such thresholds will guide future studies to determine if USEP can inhibit action potentials without causing irreversible membrane damage.

Manipulation of Molecular Quantum Wavepackets with Ultrashort Laser Pulses for Non-destructive Detection of Volatile Explosives

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-02-01

DTRA-TR-12-65 Manipulation of Molecular Quantum Wavepackets with Ultrashort Laser Pulses for Non-destructive Detection of Volatile Explosives ...Manipulation of Molecular Quantum Wavepackets with Ultrashort Laser Pulses for Non-destructive Detection of Volatile Explosives HDTRA1-09-1-0021 Valery...destructive detection of volatile explosives . Moshe Shapiro1, Valery Milner1 and Jun Ye2 1University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 2JILA

Spatiotemporal characterization of ultrashort optical vortex pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miranda, Miguel; Kotur, Marija; Rudawski, Piotr; Guo, Chen; Harth, Anne; L'Huillier, Anne; Arnold, Cord L.

2017-12-01

We use a spiral phase plate to generate few-cycle optical vortices from an ultrafast titanium:sapphire oscillator and characterize them in the spatiotemporal domain with a recently introduced technique based on spatially resolved Fourier transform spectrometry. The performance of this simple approach to the generation of optical vortices is analysed from a wavelength-dependent perspective as well as in the spatiotemporal domain, allowing us to characterize ultrashort vortex pulses in space, frequency and time.

Advanced diagnosis of the temporal characteristics of ultra-short electron beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otake, Yuji

2011-05-01

Monitoring the temporal structure of an ultra-short electron beam is an indispensable function in order to tune a machine to obtain a highly qualified beam for a recent sophisticated accelerator, such as an X-ray free electron laser (XFEL), and to maintain stable X-ray laser operation. For this purpose, various instruments, such as an HEM11-mode RF beam deflector (RFDEF), a screen monitor (SCM), an electro-optic (EO) sampling method that uses a ZnTe crystal, and a beam position monitor (BPM) have been developed. The SCM that is used to observe the deflected beam image has a position resolution of 2.5 μm, which corresponds to a temporal resolution of 0.5 fs and it is installed at a position 5 m downstream from the RFDEF. The EO sampling method showed the ability to observe an electron bunch length for up to 300 fs (FWHM) at the SCSS test accelerator. The phase reference cavity of the BPM has an additional function of providing beam arrival timing information. A test for the BPM showed temporal fluctuation of 46 fs on the beam arrival timing at the test accelerator. These monitors with high temporal resolutions allow us to achieve the fine beam tuning demanded for the XFEL. The above-mentioned activities are described in this paper as a review article.

Ultrafast time-resolved electron diffraction revealing the nonthermal dynamics of near-UV photoexcitation-induced amorphization in Ge2Sb2Te5.

PubMed

Hada, Masaki; Oba, Wataru; Kuwahara, Masashi; Katayama, Ikufumi; Saiki, Toshiharu; Takeda, Jun; Nakamura, Kazutaka G

2015-08-28

Because of their robust switching capability, chalcogenide glass materials have been used for a wide range of applications, including optical storages devices. These phase transitions are achieved by laser irradiation via thermal processes. Recent studies have suggested the potential of nonthermal phase transitions in the chalcogenide glass material Ge2Sb2Te5 triggered by ultrashort optical pulses; however, a detailed understanding of the amorphization and damage mechanisms governed by nonthermal processes is still lacking. Here we performed ultrafast time-resolved electron diffraction and single-shot optical pump-probe measurements followed by femtosecond near-ultraviolet pulse irradiation to study the structural dynamics of polycrystalline Ge2Sb2Te5. The experimental results present a nonthermal crystal-to-amorphous phase transition of Ge2Sb2Te5 initiated by the displacements of Ge atoms. Above the fluence threshold, we found that the permanent amorphization caused by multi-displacement effects is accompanied by a partial hexagonal crystallization.

Ultrafast time-resolved electron diffraction revealing the nonthermal dynamics of near-UV photoexcitation-induced amorphization in Ge2Sb2Te5

PubMed Central

Hada, Masaki; Oba, Wataru; Kuwahara, Masashi; Katayama, Ikufumi; Saiki, Toshiharu; Takeda, Jun; Nakamura, Kazutaka G.

2015-01-01

Because of their robust switching capability, chalcogenide glass materials have been used for a wide range of applications, including optical storages devices. These phase transitions are achieved by laser irradiation via thermal processes. Recent studies have suggested the potential of nonthermal phase transitions in the chalcogenide glass material Ge2Sb2Te5 triggered by ultrashort optical pulses; however, a detailed understanding of the amorphization and damage mechanisms governed by nonthermal processes is still lacking. Here we performed ultrafast time-resolved electron diffraction and single-shot optical pump-probe measurements followed by femtosecond near-ultraviolet pulse irradiation to study the structural dynamics of polycrystalline Ge2Sb2Te5. The experimental results present a nonthermal crystal-to-amorphous phase transition of Ge2Sb2Te5 initiated by the displacements of Ge atoms. Above the fluence threshold, we found that the permanent amorphization caused by multi-displacement effects is accompanied by a partial hexagonal crystallization. PMID:26314613

Cavity Optical Pulse Extraction: ultra-short pulse generation as seeded Hawking radiation

PubMed Central

Eilenberger, Falk; Kabakova, Irina V.; de Sterke, C. Martijn; Eggleton, Benjamin J.; Pertsch, Thomas

2013-01-01

We show that light trapped in an optical cavity can be extracted from that cavity in an ultrashort burst by means of a trigger pulse. We find a simple analytic description of this process and show that while the extracted pulse inherits its pulse length from that of the trigger pulse, its wavelength can be completely different. Cavity Optical Pulse Extraction is thus well suited for the development of ultrashort laser sources in new wavelength ranges. We discuss similarities between this process and the generation of Hawking radiation at the optical analogue of an event horizon with extremely high Hawking temperature. Our analytic predictions are confirmed by thorough numerical simulations. PMID:24060831

Numerical calculation of nonlinear ultrashort laser pulse propagation in transparent Kerr media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnold, Cord L.; Heisterkamp, Alexander; Ertmer, Wolfgang; Lubatschowski, Holger

2005-03-01

In the focal region of tightly focused ultrashort laser pulses, sufficient high intensities to initialize nonlinear ionization processes are easily achieved. Due to these nonlinear ionization processes, mainly multiphoton ionization and cascade ionization, free electrons are generated in the focus resulting in optical breakdown. A model including both nonlinear pulse propagation and plasma generation is used to calculate numerically the interaction of ultrashort pulses with their self-induced plasma in the vicinity of the focus. The model is based on a (3+1)-dimensional nonlinear Schroedinger equation describing the pulse propagation coupled to a system of rate equations covering the generation of free electrons. It is applicable to any transparent Kerr medium, whose linear and nonlinear optical parameters are known. Numerical calculations based on this model are used to understand nonlinear side effects, such as streak formation, occurring in addition to optical breakdown during short pulse refractive eye surgeries like fs-LASIK. Since the optical parameters of water are a good first-order approximation to those of corneal tissue, water is used as model substance. The free electron density distribution induced by focused ultrashort pulses as well as the pulses spatio-temporal behavior are studied in the low-power regime around the critical power for self-focusing.

Generation and measurement of velocity bunched ultrashort bunch of pC charge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, X. H.; Tang, C. X.; Li, R. K.; To, H.; Andonian, G.; Musumeci, P.

2015-03-01

In this paper, we discuss the velocity compression in a short rf linac of an electron bunch from a rf photoinjector operated in the blowout regime. Particle tracking simulations shows that with a beam charge of 2 pC an ultrashort bunch duration of 16 fs can be obtained at a tight longitudinal focus downstream of the linac. A simplified coherent transition radiation (CTR) spectrum method is developed to enable the measurement of ultrashort (sub-50 fs) bunches at low bunch energy (5 MeV) and low bunch charges (<10 pC ). In this method, the ratio of the radiation energy selected by two narrow bandwidth filters is used to estimate the bunch length. The contribution to the coherent form factor of the large transverse size of the bunch suppresses the radiation signal significantly and is included in the analysis. The experiment was performed at the UCLA Pegasus photoinjector laboratory. The measurement results show bunches of sub-40 fs with 2 pC of charge well consistent with the simulation using actual experimental conditions. These results open the way to the generation of ultrashort bunches with time-duration below 10 fs once some of the limitations of the setup (rf phase jitter, amplitude instability and low field in the gun limited by breakdown) are corrected.

Ultrashort soliton switching based on coherent energy hiding.

PubMed

Romagnoli, M; Wabnitz, S; Zoccolotti, L

1991-08-15

Coherent coupling between light and atoms may be exploited for conceiving a novel class of all-optical signalprocessing devices without a direct counterpart in the continuous-wave regime. We show that the self-switching of ultrashort soliton pulses on resonance with a transition of doping centers in a slab waveguide directional coupler is based on nonlinear group-velocity (instead of the usual phase-velocity) changes.

Effect of Stretching Combined With Ultrashort Wave Diathermy on Joint Function and Its Possible Mechanism in a Rabbit Knee Contracture Model.

PubMed

Zhang, Quan Bing; Zhou, Yun; Zhong, Hua Zhang; Liu, Yi

2018-05-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of stretching combined with ultrashort wave on joint contracture and explore its possible mechanism. Thirty-two rabbits underwent unilateral immobilization of a knee joint at full extension to cause joint contracture. At 6 wks after immobilization, the rabbits were randomly divided into the following four groups: natural recovery group, stretching treatment group, ultrashort wave treatment group, and combined treatment group. For comparison, eight control group animals of corresponding age were also examined. The effect of stretching and ultrashort wave treatment on joint contracture was assessed by measuring the joint range of motion, evaluating the collagen deposition of joint capsule and assessing the mRNA and protein levels for transforming growth factor β1 in the joint capsule. The combined treatment group led to the best recovery of joint function. The combined treatment with stretching and ultrashort wave was more effective than stretching or ultrashort wave treatment alone against the synovial thickening of suprapatellar joint capsule, the collagen deposition of anterior joint capsule, and the elevated expression of transforming growth factor β1 in the joint capsule. Stretching combined with ultrashort wave treatment was effective in improving joint range of motion, reducing the biomechanical, histological, and molecular manifestations of joint capsule fibrosis in a rabbit model of extending joint contracture.

Collapse of ultrashort spatiotemporal pulses described by the cubic generalized Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation

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

Leblond, Herve; Kremer, David; Mihalache, Dumitru

2010-03-15

By using a reductive perturbation method, we derive from Maxwell-Bloch equations a cubic generalized Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation for ultrashort spatiotemporal optical pulse propagation in cubic (Kerr-like) media without the use of the slowly varying envelope approximation. We calculate the collapse threshold for the propagation of few-cycle spatiotemporal pulses described by the generic cubic generalized Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation by a direct numerical method and compare it to analytic results based on a rigorous virial theorem. Besides, typical evolution of the spectrum (integrated over the transverse spatial coordinate) is given and a strongly asymmetric spectral broadening of ultrashort spatiotemporal pulses during collapse is evidenced.

Steering population transfer of the Na2 molecule by an ultrashort pulse train

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Dong-Hua; Wang, Shuo; Zhan, Wei-Shen; Tao, Hong-Cai; Wang, Si-Qi

2018-05-01

We theoretically investigate the complete population transfer among quantum states of the Na2 molecule using ultrashort pulse trains using the time-dependent wave packet method. The population accumulation of the target state can be steered by controlling the laser parameters, such as the variable pulse pairs, the different pulse widths, the time delays and the repetition period between two contiguous pulses; in particular, the pulse pairs and the pulse widths have a great effect on the population transfer. The calculations show that the ultrashort pulse train is a feasible solution, which can steer the population transfer from the initial state to the target state efficiently with lower peak intensities.

Availability and quality of ground water, southern Ute Indian Reservation, southwestern Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brogden, Robert E.; Hutchinson, E. Carter; Hillier, Donald E.

1979-01-01

Population growth and the potential development of subsurface mineral resources have increased the need for information on the availability and quality of ground water on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Southern Ute Tribal Council, the Four Corners Regional Planning Commission, and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, conducted a study during 1974-76 to assess the ground-water resources of the reservation. Water occurs in aquifers in the Dakota Sandstone, Mancos Shale, Mesaverde Group, Lewis Shale, Pictured Cliffs Sandstone, Fruitland Formation, Kirtland Shale, Animas and San Jose Formations, and terrace and flood-plain deposits. Well yields from sandstone and shale aquifers are small, generally in the range from 1 to 10 gallons per minute with maximum reported yields of 75 gallons per minute. Well yields from terrace deposits generally range from 5 to 10 gallons per minute with maximum yields of 50 gallons per minute. Well yields from flood-plain deposits are as much as 25 gallons per minute but average 10 gallons per minute. Water quality in aquifers depends in part on rock type. Water from sandstone, terrace, and flood-plain aquifers is predominantly a calcium bicarbonate type, whereas water from shale aquifers is predominantly a sodium bicarbonate type. Water from rocks containing interbeds of coal or carbonaceous shales may be either a calcium or sodium sulfate type. Dissolved-solids concentrations of ground water ranged from 115 to 7,130 milligrams per liter. Water from bedrock aquifers is the most mineralized, while water from terrace and flood-plain aquifers is the least mineralized. In many water samples collected from bedrock, terrace, and flood-plain aquifers, the concentrations of arsenic, chloride, dissolved solids, fluoride, iron, manganese, nitrate, selenium, and sulfate exceeded U.S. Public Health Service (1962) recommended limits for drinking water. Selenium in the ground water in excess of U

Visualization of Middle Ear Ossicles in Elder Subjects with Ultra-short Echo Time MR Imaging.

PubMed

Naganawa, Shinji; Nakane, Toshiki; Kawai, Hisashi; Taoka, Toshiaki; Suzuki, Kojiro; Iwano, Shingo; Satake, Hiroko; Grodzki, David

2017-04-10

To evaluate the visualization of middle ear ossicles by ultra-short echo time magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 3T in subjects over 50 years old. Sixty ears from 30 elder patients that underwent surgical or interventional treatment for neurovascular diseases were included (ages: 50-82, median age: 65; 10 men, 20 women). Patients received follow-up MR imaging including routine T 1 - and T 2 -weighted images, time-of-flight MR angiography, and ultra-short echo time imaging (PETRA, pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition). All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) angiography before treatment. Thin-section source CT images were correlated with PETRA images. Scan parameters for PETRA were: TR 3.13, TE 0.07, flip angle 6 degrees, 0.83 × 0.83 × 0.83 mm resolution, 3 min 43 s scan time. Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated the visibility of each ossicular structure as positive or negative using PETRA images. The structures evaluated included the head of the malleus, manubrium of the malleus, body of the incus, long process of the incus, and the stapes. Signal intensity of the ossicles was classified as: between labyrinthine fluid and air, similar to labyrinthine fluid, between labyrinthine fluid and cerebellar parenchyma, or higher than cerebellar parenchyma. In all ears, the body of the incus was visible. The head of the malleus was visualized in 36/60 ears. The manubrium of the malleus and long process of the incus was visualized in 1/60 and 4/60 ears, respectively. The stapes were not visualized in any ear. Signal intensity of the visible structures was between labyrinthine fluid and air in all ears. The body of the incus was consistently visualized with intensity between air and labyrinthine fluid on PETRA images in aged subjects. Poor visualization of the manubrium of the malleus, long process of the incus, and the stapes limits clinical significance of middle ear imaging with current PETRA methods.

Nonlinear scattering of ultrashort laser pulses on two-level system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Astapenko, Valery A.; Sakhno, Sergey V.

2015-05-01

The presentation is devoted to the theoretical investigation of nonlinear scattering of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses (USP) on two-level quantum system. We consider the scattering of several types of USP, namely, so called corrected Gaussian pulse (CGP) and cosine wavelet pulse. Such pulses have no constant component in their spectrum in contrast with traditional Gaussian pulse. It should be noted that the presence of constant component in the limit of ultrashort pulse durations leads to unphysical results. The main purpose of the present work is the investigation of the change of pulse temporal shape after scattering as a function of initial phase at different distances from the target. Numerical calculations are based on the solution of Bloch equations and expression for scattering field strength via dipole moment of two-level system exposed by the action of incident USP. In our calculation we also account for the influence of refracting index of the air on electric field strength in the pulse after scattering.

Pathogen Reduction in Human Plasma Using an Ultrashort Pulsed Laser

PubMed Central

Tsen, Shaw-Wei D.; Kingsley, David H.; Kibler, Karen; Jacobs, Bert; Sizemore, Sara; Vaiana, Sara M.; Anderson, Jeanne; Tsen, Kong-Thon; Achilefu, Samuel

2014-01-01

Pathogen reduction is a viable approach to ensure the continued safety of the blood supply against emerging pathogens. However, the currently licensed pathogen reduction techniques are ineffective against non-enveloped viruses such as hepatitis A virus, and they introduce chemicals with concerns of side effects which prevent their widespread use. In this report, we demonstrate the inactivation of both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses in human plasma using a novel chemical-free method, a visible ultrashort pulsed laser. We found that laser treatment resulted in 2-log, 1-log, and 3-log reductions in human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis A virus, and murine cytomegalovirus in human plasma, respectively. Laser-treated plasma showed ≥70% retention for most coagulation factors tested. Furthermore, laser treatment did not alter the structure of a model coagulation factor, fibrinogen. Ultrashort pulsed lasers are a promising new method for chemical-free, broad-spectrum pathogen reduction in human plasma. PMID:25372037

Ultrashort polarization-tailored bichromatic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerbstadt, Stefanie; Englert, Lars; Bayer, Tim; Wollenhaupt, Matthias

2017-06-01

We present a novel concept for the generation of ultrashort polarization-shaped bichromatic laser fields. The scheme utilizes a 4f polarization pulse shaper based on a liquid crystal spatial light modulator for independent amplitude and phase modulation of femtosecond laser pulses. By choice of either a conventional (p) or a composite (p-s) polarizer in the Fourier plane, the shaper setup enables the generation of parallel linearly and orthogonal linearly polarized bichromatic fields. Additional use of a ? wave plate behind the setup yields co-rotating and counter-rotating circularly polarized bichromatic fields. The scheme allows to independently control the spectral amplitude, phase and polarization profile of the output fields, offering an enormous versatility of bichromatic waveforms.

Multicomponent Seismic Analysis and Calibration to Improve Recovery from Algal Mounds: Application to the Roadrunner/Towaoc area of the Paradox Basin, UTE Mountain UTE Reservation, Colorado

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

Joe Hachey

2007-09-30

The goals of this project were: (1) To enhance recovery of oil contained within algal mounds on the Ute Mountain Ute tribal lands. (2) To promote the use of advanced technology and expand the technical capability of the Native American Oil production corporations by direct assistance in the current project and dissemination of technology to other Tribes. (3) To develop an understanding of multicomponent seismic data as it relates to the variations in permeability and porosity of algal mounds, as well as lateral facies variations, for use in both reservoir development and exploration. (4) To identify any undiscovered algal moundsmore » for field-extension within the area of seismic coverage. (5) To evaluate the potential for applying CO{sub 2} floods, steam floods, water floods or other secondary or tertiary recovery processes to increase production. The technical work scope was carried out by: (1) Acquiring multicomponent seismic data over the project area; (2) Processing and reprocessing the multicomponent data to extract as much geological and engineering data as possible within the budget and time-frame of the project; (3) Preparing maps and data volumes of geological and engineering data based on the multicomponent seismic and well data; (4) Selecting drilling targets if warranted by the seismic interpretation; (5) Constructing a static reservoir model of the project area; and (6) Constructing a dynamic history-matched simulation model from the static model. The original project scope covered a 6 mi{sup 2} (15.6 km{sup 2}) area encompassing two algal mound fields (Towaoc and Roadrunner). 3D3C seismic data was to acquired over this area to delineate mound complexes and image internal reservoir properties such as porosity and fluid saturations. After the project began, the Red Willow Production Company, a project partner and fully-owned company of the Southern Ute Tribe, contributed additional money to upgrade the survey to a nine-component (3D9C) survey. The

Long Wavelength Electromagnetic Light Bullets Generated by a 10.6 micron CO2 Ultrashort Pulsed Source

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-29

AFRL-AFOSR-VA-TR-2016-0365 Long Wavelength Electromagnetic Light Bullets Generated by a 10.6 micron CO2 Ultrashort Pulsed Source Jerome Moloney...SUBTITLE "Long Wavelength Electromagnetic Light Bullets Generated by a 10.6 micron CO2 Ultrashort Pulsed Source 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER FA9550-15-1-0272 5b...afosr.reports.sgizmo.com/s3/> Subject: Final Report to Dr. Arje Nachman Contract/Grant Title: Long Wavelength Electromagnetic Light Bullets Generated by a 10.6

Generation and measurement of velocity bunched ultrashort bunch of pC charge

DOE PAGES

Lu, X.  H.; Tang, C.  X.; Li, R.  K.; ...

2015-03-01

In this paper, we discuss the velocity compression in a short rf linac of an electron bunch from a rf photoinjector operated in the blowout regime. Particle tracking simulations shows that with a beam charge of 2 pC an ultrashort bunch duration of 16 fs can be obtained at a tight longitudinal focus downstream of the linac. A simplified coherent transition radiation (CTR) spectrum method is developed to enable the measurement of ultrashort (sub-50 fs) bunches at low bunch energy (5 MeV) and low bunch charges (<10 pC). In this method, the ratio of the radiation energy selected by twomore » narrow bandwidth filters is used to estimate the bunch length. The contribution to the coherent form factor of the large transverse size of the bunch suppresses the radiation signal significantly and is included in the analysis. The experiment was performed at the UCLA Pegasus photoinjector laboratory. The measurement results show bunches of sub-40 fs with 2 pC of charge well consistent with the simulation using actual experimental conditions. These results open the way to the generation of ultrashort bunches with time-duration below 10 fs once some of the limitations of the setup (rf phase jitter, amplitude instability and low field in the gun limited by breakdown) are corrected.« less

Femtosecond response time measurements of a Cs2Te photocathode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aryshev, A.; Shevelev, M.; Honda, Y.; Terunuma, N.; Urakawa, J.

2017-07-01

Success in design and construction of a compact, high-brightness accelerator system is strongly related to the production of ultra-short electron beams. Recently, the approach to generate short electron bunches or pre-bunched beams in RF guns directly illuminating a high quantum efficiency semiconductor photocathode with femtosecond laser pulses has become attractive. The measurements of the photocathode response time in this case are essential. With an approach of the interferometer-type pulse splitter deep integration into a commercial Ti:Sa laser system used for RF guns, it has become possible to generate pre-bunched electron beams and obtain continuously variable electron bunch separation. In combination with a well-known zero-phasing technique, it allows us to estimate the response time of the most commonly used Cs2Te photocathode. It was demonstrated that the peak-to-peak rms time response of Cs2Te is of the order of 370 fs, and thereby, it is possible to generate and control a THz sequence of relativistic electron bunches by a conventional S-band RF gun. This result can also be applied for investigation of other cathode materials and electron beam temporal shaping and further opens a possibility to construct wide-range tunable, table-top THz free electron laser.

Magnetic Resonance-Based Automatic Air Segmentation for Generation of Synthetic Computed Tomography Scans in the Head Region.

PubMed

Zheng, Weili; Kim, Joshua P; Kadbi, Mo; Movsas, Benjamin; Chetty, Indrin J; Glide-Hurst, Carri K

2015-11-01

To incorporate a novel imaging sequence for robust air and tissue segmentation using ultrashort echo time (UTE) phase images and to implement an innovative synthetic CT (synCT) solution as a first step toward MR-only radiation therapy treatment planning for brain cancer. Ten brain cancer patients were scanned with a UTE/Dixon sequence and other clinical sequences on a 1.0 T open magnet with simulation capabilities. Bone-enhanced images were generated from a weighted combination of water/fat maps derived from Dixon images and inverted UTE images. Automated air segmentation was performed using unwrapped UTE phase maps. Segmentation accuracy was assessed by calculating segmentation errors (true-positive rate, false-positive rate, and Dice similarity indices using CT simulation (CT-SIM) as ground truth. The synCTs were generated using a voxel-based, weighted summation method incorporating T2, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), UTE1, and bone-enhanced images. Mean absolute error (MAE) characterized Hounsfield unit (HU) differences between synCT and CT-SIM. A dosimetry study was conducted, and differences were quantified using γ-analysis and dose-volume histogram analysis. On average, true-positive rate and false-positive rate for the CT and MR-derived air masks were 80.8% ± 5.5% and 25.7% ± 6.9%, respectively. Dice similarity indices values were 0.78 ± 0.04 (range, 0.70-0.83). Full field of view MAE between synCT and CT-SIM was 147.5 ± 8.3 HU (range, 138.3-166.2 HU), with the largest errors occurring at bone-air interfaces (MAE 422.5 ± 33.4 HU for bone and 294.53 ± 90.56 HU for air). Gamma analysis revealed pass rates of 99.4% ± 0.04%, with acceptable treatment plan quality for the cohort. A hybrid MRI phase/magnitude UTE image processing technique was introduced that significantly improved bone and air contrast in MRI. Segmented air masks and bone-enhanced images were integrated into our synCT pipeline for brain, and results agreed well with clinical

Scattering of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses on metal clusters

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

Astapenko, V. A., E-mail: astval@mail.ru; Sakhno, S. V.

We have calculated and analyzed the probability of ultrashort electromagnetic pulse (USP) scattering on small metal clusters in the frequency range of plasmon resonances during the field action. The main attention is devoted to dependence of the probability of scattering on the pulse duration for various detunings of the USP carrier frequency from the plasmon resonance frequency. Peculiarities of the USP scattering from plasmon resonances with various figures of merit are revealed.

Scattering of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses on metal clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Astapenko, V. A.; Sakhno, S. V.

2016-12-01

We have calculated and analyzed the probability of ultrashort electromagnetic pulse (USP) scattering on small metal clusters in the frequency range of plasmon resonances during the field action. The main attention is devoted to dependence of the probability of scattering on the pulse duration for various detunings of the USP carrier frequency from the plasmon resonance frequency. Peculiarities of the USP scattering from plasmon resonances with various figures of merit are revealed.

Annual Technical Report, Materials Research Laboratory July 1, 1979 - June 30, 1980.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-30

dense, highly degenerate, transient electron hole systems in PbTe, nSb, a H9 Cd Te. In these experiments an intense ultrashort pulse generated a high...J. Gerritsen, J. Appl. Phys. 51 (1980), 1603. "Generation of Ultrashort Pulses in Synchronous Pumping of Near-Millimeter Wave Lasers ," A. V. Nurmikko...deformation caused by a relatively large amplitude stress pulse . . The relationship between strain rate, stress, and temperature has been examined for bcc

Laser-Material Interaction of Powerful Ultrashort Laser Pulses

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

Komashko, A

2003-01-06

Laser-material interaction of powerful (up to a terawatt) ultrashort (several picoseconds or shorter) laser pulses and laser-induced effects were investigated theoretically in this dissertation. Since the ultrashort laser pulse (USLP) duration time is much smaller than the characteristic time of the hydrodynamic expansion and thermal diffusion, the interaction occurs at a solid-like material density with most of the light energy absorbed in a thin surface layer. Powerful USLP creates hot, high-pressure plasma, which is quickly ejected without significant energy diffusion into the bulk of the material, Thus collateral damage is reduced. These and other features make USLPs attractive for amore » variety of applications. The purpose of this dissertation was development of the physical models and numerical tools for improvement of our understanding of the process and as an aid in optimization of the USLP applications. The study is concentrated on two types of materials - simple metals (materials like aluminum or copper) and wide-bandgap dielectrics (fused silica, water). First, key physical phenomena of the ultrashort light interaction with metals and the models needed to describe it are presented. Then, employing one-dimensional plasma hydrodynamics code enhanced with models for laser energy deposition and material properties at low and moderate temperatures, light absorption was self-consistently simulated as a function of laser wavelength, pulse energy and length, angle of incidence and polarization. Next, material response on time scales much longer than the pulse duration was studied using the hydrocode and analytical models. These studies include examination of evolution of the pressure pulses, effects of the shock waves, material ablation and removal and three-dimensional dynamics of the ablation plume. Investigation of the interaction with wide-bandgap dielectrics was stimulated by the experimental studies of the USLP surface ablation of water (water is a

Phase stabilization of multidimensional amplification architectures for ultrashort pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, M.; Kienel, M.; Klenke, A.; Eidam, T.; Limpert, J.; Tünnermann, A.

2015-03-01

The active phase stabilization of spatially and temporally combined ultrashort pulses is investigated theoretically and experimentally. Particularly, considering a combining scheme applying 2 amplifier channels and 4 divided-pulse replicas a bistable behavior is observed. The reason is mutual influence of the optical error signals that is intrinsic to temporal polarization beam combining. A successful mitigation strategy is proposed and is analyzed theoretically and experimentally.

Fabrication of Nb/Pb structures through ultrashort pulsed laser deposition

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

Gontad, Francisco; Lorusso, Antonella, E-mail: antonella.lorusso@le.infn.it; Perrone, Alessio

This work reports the fabrication of Nb/Pb structures with an application as photocathode devices. The use of relatively low energy densities for the ablation of Nb with ultrashort pulses favors the reduction of droplets during the growth of the film. However, the use of laser fluences in this ablation regime results in a consequent reduction in the average deposition rate. On the other hand, despite the low deposition rate, the films present a superior adherence to the substrate and an excellent coverage of the irregular substrate surface, avoiding the appearance of voids or discontinuities on the film surface. Moreover, themore » low energy densities used for the ablation favor the growth of nanocrystalline films with a similar crystalline structure to the bulk material. Therefore, the use of low ablation energy densities with ultrashort pulses for the deposition of the Nb thin films allows the growth of very adherent and nanocrystalline films with adequate properties for the fabrication of Nb/Pb structures to be included in superconducting radiofrequency cavities.« less

Delivery of ultrashort spatially focused pulses through a multimode fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morales-Delgado, Edgar E.; Papadopoulos, Ioannis N.; Farahi, Salma; Psaltis, Demetri; Moser, Christophe

2015-08-01

Multimode optical fibers potentially allow the transmission of larger amounts of information than their single mode counterparts because of their high number of supported modes. However, propagation of a light pulse through a multimode fiber suffers from spatial distortions due to the superposition of the various exited modes and from time broadening due to modal dispersion. We present a method based on digital phase conjugation to selectively excite in a multimode fiber specific optical fiber modes that follow similar optical paths as they travel through the fiber. The excited modes interfere constructively at the fiber output generating an ultrashort spatially focused pulse. The excitation of a limited number of modes following similar optical paths limits modal dispersion, allowing the transmission of the ultrashort pulse. We have experimentally demonstrated the delivery of a focused spot of pulse width equal to 500 fs through a 30 cm, 200 micrometer core step index multimode fiber. The results of this study show that two-photon imaging capability can be added to ultra-thin lensless endoscopy using commercial multimode fibers.

Critical dimension control using ultrashort laser for improving wafer critical dimension uniformity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avizemer, Dan; Sharoni, Ofir; Oshemkov, Sergey; Cohen, Avi; Dayan, Asaf; Khurana, Ranjan; Kewley, Dave

2015-07-01

Requirements for control of critical dimension (CD) become more demanding as the integrated circuit (IC) feature size specifications become tighter and tighter. Critical dimension control, also known as CDC, is a well-known laser-based process in the IC industry that has proven to be robust, repeatable, and efficient in adjusting wafer CD uniformity (CDU) [Proc. SPIE 6152, 615225 (2006)]. The process involves locally and selectively attenuating the deep ultraviolet light which goes through the photomask to the wafer. The input data for the CDC process in the wafer fab is typically taken from wafer CDU data, which is measured by metrology tools such as wafer-critical dimension-scanning electron microscopy (CD-SEM), wafer optical scatterometry, or wafer level CD (WLCD). The CD correction process uses the CDU data in order to create an attenuation correction contour, which is later applied by the in-situ ultrashort laser system of the CDC to locally change the transmission of the photomask. The ultrashort pulsed laser system creates small, partially scattered, Shade-In-Elements (also known as pixels) by focusing the laser beam inside the quartz bulk of the photomask. This results in the formation of a localized, intravolume, quartz modified area, which has a different refractive index than the quartz bulk itself. The CDC process flow for improving wafer CDU in a wafer fab with detailed explanations of the shading elements formation inside the quartz by the ultrashort pulsed laser is reviewed.

Experimental Influences in the Accurate Measurement of Cartilage Thickness in MRI.

PubMed

Wang, Nian; Badar, Farid; Xia, Yang

2018-01-01

Objective To study the experimental influences to the measurement of cartilage thickness by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Design The complete thicknesses of healthy and trypsin-degraded cartilage were measured at high-resolution MRI under different conditions, using two intensity-based imaging sequences (ultra-short echo [UTE] and multislice-multiecho [MSME]) and 3 quantitative relaxation imaging sequences (T 1 , T 2 , and T 1 ρ). Other variables included different orientations in the magnet, 2 soaking solutions (saline and phosphate buffered saline [PBS]), and external loading. Results With cartilage soaked in saline, UTE and T 1 methods yielded complete and consistent measurement of cartilage thickness, while the thickness measurement by T 2 , T 1 ρ, and MSME methods were orientation dependent. The effect of external loading on cartilage thickness is also sequence and orientation dependent. All variations in cartilage thickness in MRI could be eliminated with the use of a 100 mM PBS or imaged by UTE sequence. Conclusions The appearance of articular cartilage and the measurement accuracy of cartilage thickness in MRI can be influenced by a number of experimental factors in ex vivo MRI, from the use of various pulse sequences and soaking solutions to the health of the tissue. T 2 -based imaging sequence, both proton-intensity sequence and quantitative relaxation sequence, similarly produced the largest variations. With adequate resolution, the accurate measurement of whole cartilage tissue in clinical MRI could be utilized to detect differences between healthy and osteoarthritic cartilage after compression.

Ultrashort Echo-Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is a Sensitive Method for the Evaluation of Early Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease

PubMed Central

Roach, David J.; Crémillieux, Yannick; Fleck, Robert J.; Brody, Alan S.; Serai, Suraj D.; Szczesniak, Rhonda D.; Kerlakian, Stephanie; Clancy, John P.

2016-01-01

Rationale: Recent advancements that have been made in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improve our ability to assess pulmonary structure and function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). A nonionizing imaging modality that can be used as a serial monitoring tool throughout life can positively affect patient care and outcomes. Objectives: To compare an ultrashort echo-time MRI method with computed tomography (CT) as a biomarker of lung structure abnormalities in young children with early CF lung disease. Methods: Eleven patients with CF (mean age, 31.8 ± 5.7 mo; median age, 33 mo; 7 male and 4 female) were imaged via CT and ultrashort echo-time MRI. Eleven healthy age-matched patients (mean age, 22.5 ± 10.2 mo; median age, 23 mo; 5 male and 6 female) were imaged via ultrashort echo-time MRI. CT scans of 13 additional patients obtained for clinical indications not affecting the heart or lungs and interpreted as normal provided a CT control group (mean age, 24.1 ± 11.7 mo; median age, 24 mo; 6 male and 7 female). Studies were scored by two experienced radiologists using a well-validated CF-specific scoring system for CF lung disease. Measurements and Main Results: Correlations between CT and ultrashort echo-time MRI scores of patients with CF were very strong, with P values ≤0.001 for bronchiectasis (r = 0.96) and overall score (r = 0.90), and moderately strong for bronchial wall thickening (r = 0.62, P = 0.043). MRI easily differentiated CF and control groups via a reader CF-specific scoring system. Conclusions: Ultrashort echo-time MRI detected structural lung disease in very young patients with CF and provided imaging data that correlated well with CT. By quantifying early CF lung disease without using ionizing radiation, ultrashort echo-time MRI appears well suited for pediatric patients requiring longitudinal imaging for clinical care or research studies. Clinical Trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01832519). PMID

Optimized MLAA for quantitative non-TOF PET/MR of the brain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benoit, Didier; Ladefoged, Claes N.; Rezaei, Ahmadreza; Keller, Sune H.; Andersen, Flemming L.; Højgaard, Liselotte; Hansen, Adam E.; Holm, Søren; Nuyts, Johan

2016-12-01

For quantitative tracer distribution in positron emission tomography, attenuation correction is essential. In a hybrid PET/CT system the CT images serve as a basis for generation of the attenuation map, but in PET/MR, the MR images do not have a similarly simple relationship with the attenuation map. Hence attenuation correction in PET/MR systems is more challenging. Typically either of two MR sequences are used: the Dixon or the ultra-short time echo (UTE) techniques. However these sequences have some well-known limitations. In this study, a reconstruction technique based on a modified and optimized non-TOF MLAA is proposed for PET/MR brain imaging. The idea is to tune the parameters of the MLTR applying some information from an attenuation image computed from the UTE sequences and a T1w MR image. In this MLTR algorithm, an {αj} parameter is introduced and optimized in order to drive the algorithm to a final attenuation map most consistent with the emission data. Because the non-TOF MLAA is used, a technique to reduce the cross-talk effect is proposed. In this study, the proposed algorithm is compared to the common reconstruction methods such as OSEM using a CT attenuation map, considered as the reference, and OSEM using the Dixon and UTE attenuation maps. To show the robustness and the reproducibility of the proposed algorithm, a set of 204 [18F]FDG patients, 35 [11C]PiB patients and 1 [18F]FET patient are used. The results show that by choosing an optimized value of {αj} in MLTR, the proposed algorithm improves the results compared to the standard MR-based attenuation correction methods (i.e. OSEM using the Dixon or the UTE attenuation maps), and the cross-talk and the scale problem are limited.

Ultrashort x-ray backlighters and applications

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

Umstadter, D., University of Michigan

Previously, using ultrashort laser pulses focused onto solid targets, we have experimentally studied a controllable ultrafast broadband radiation source in the extreme ultraviolet for time-resolved dynamical studies in ultrafast science [J. Workman, A. Maksimchuk, X. Llu, U. Ellenberger, J. S. Coe, C.-Y. Chien, and D. Umstadter, ``Control of Bright Picosecond X-Ray Emission from Intense Sub- Picosecond Laser-Plasma Interactions,`` Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 2324 (1995)]. Once armed with a bright ultrafast broadband continuum x-ray source and appropriate detectors, we used the source as a backlighter to study a remotely produced plasma. The application of the source to a problem relevant tomore » high-density matter completes the triad: creating and controlling, efficiently detecting, and applying the source. This work represented the first use of an ultrafast laser- produced x-ray source as a time-resolving probe in an application relevant to atomic, plasma and high-energy-density matter physics. Using the x-ray source as a backlighter, we adopted a pump-probe geometry to investigate the dynamic changes in electronic structure of a thin metallic film as it is perturbed by an ultrashort laser pulse. Because the laser deposits its energy in a skin depth of about 100 {Angstrom} before expansion occurs, up to gigabar pressure shock waves lasting picosecond in duration have been predicted to form in these novel plasmas. This raises the possibility of studying high- energy-density matter relevant to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and astrophysics in small-scale laboratory experiments. In the past, time-resolved measurements of K-edge shifts in plasmas driven by nanosecond pulses have been used to infer conditions in highly compressed materials. In this study, we used 100-fs laser pulses to impulsively drive shocks into a sample (an untamped 1000 {Angstrom} aluminum film on 2000 {Angstrom} of parylene-n), measuring L-edge shifts.« less

Black phosphorus saturable absorber for ultrashort pulse generation

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

Sotor, J., E-mail: jaroslaw.sotor@pwr.edu.pl; Sobon, G.; Abramski, K. M.

Low-dimensional materials, due to their unique and versatile properties, are very interesting for numerous applications in electronics and optoelectronics. Recently rediscovered black phosphorus, with a graphite-like layered structure, can be effectively exfoliated up to the single atomic layer called phosphorene. Contrary to graphene, it possesses a direct band gap controllable by the number of stacked atomic layers. For those reasons, black phosphorus is now intensively investigated and can complement or replace graphene in various photonics and electronics applications. Here, we demonstrate that black phosphorus can serve as a broadband saturable absorber and can be used for ultrashort optical pulse generation.more » The mechanically exfoliated ∼300 nm thick layers of black phosphorus were transferred onto the fiber core, and under pulsed excitation at 1560 nm wavelength, its transmission increases by 4.6%. We have demonstrated that the saturable absorption of black phosphorus is polarization sensitive. The fabricated device was used to mode-lock an Er-doped fiber laser. The generated optical solitons with the 10.2 nm bandwidth and 272 fs duration were centered at 1550 nm. The obtained results unambiguously show that black phosphorus can be effectively used for ultrashort pulse generation with performances similar or even better than currently used graphene or carbon nanotubes. This application of black phosphorus proves its great potential to future practical use in photonics.« less

Propagation and spatiotemporal coupling characteristics of ultra-short Gaussian vortex pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nie, Jianye; Liu, Guodong; Zhang, Rongzhu

2018-05-01

Based on Collins diffraction integral formula, the propagation equation of ultra-short Gaussian vortex pulse beam has been derived. Using the equation, the intensity distribution variations of vortex pulse in the propagation process are calculated. Specially, the spatiotemporal coupling characteristics of ultra-short vortex beams are discussed in detail. The results show that some key parameters, such as transverse distance, transmission distance, pulse width and topological charge number will influence the spatiotemporal coupling characteristics significantly. With the increasing of transverse distance, the waveforms of the pulses distort obviously. And when transmission distance is far than 50 mm, the distribution curve of transverse intensity gradually changes into a Gaussian type. In addition, initial pulse width will affect the distribution of light field, however, when initial pulse width is larger than 3 fs, the spatiotemporal coupling effect will be insignificant. Topological charge number does not affect the time delay characteristics, since with the increasing of topological charge number, the waveform of the pulse distorts gradually but the time delay does not occur.

Validity of (Ultra-)Short Recordings for Heart Rate Variability Measurements

PubMed Central

Munoz, M. Loretto; van Roon, Arie; Riese, Harriëtte; Thio, Chris; Oostenbroek, Emma; Westrik, Iris; de Geus, Eco J. C.; Gansevoort, Ron; Lefrandt, Joop

2015-01-01

Objectives In order to investigate the applicability of routine 10s electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings for time-domain heart rate variability (HRV) calculation we explored to what extent these (ultra-)short recordings capture the “actual” HRV. Methods The standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) were measured in 3,387 adults. SDNN and RMSSD were assessed from (ultra)short recordings of 10s(3x), 30s, and 120s and compared to 240s–300s (gold standard) measurements. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r), Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement and Cohen’s d statistics were used as agreement analysis techniques. Results Agreement between the separate 10s recordings and the 240s-300s recording was already substantial (r = 0.758–0.764/Bias = 0.398–0.416/d = 0.855–0.894 for SDNN; r = 0.853–0.862/Bias = 0.079–0.096/d = 0.150–0.171 for RMSSD), and improved further when three 10s periods were averaged (r = 0.863/Bias = 0.406/d = 0.874 for SDNN; r = 0.941/Bias = 0.088/d = 0.167 for RMSSD). Agreement increased with recording length and reached near perfect agreement at 120s (r = 0.956/Bias = 0.064/d = 0.137 for SDNN; r = 0.986/Bias = 0.014/d = 0.027 for RMSSD). For all recording lengths and agreement measures, RMSSD outperformed SDNN. Conclusions Our results confirm that it is unnecessary to use recordings longer than 120s to obtain accurate measures of RMSSD and SDNN in the time domain. Even a single 10s (standard ECG) recording yields a valid RMSSD measurement, although an average over multiple 10s ECGs is preferable. For SDNN we would recommend either 30s or multiple 10s ECGs. Future research projects using time-domain HRV parameters, e.g. genetic epidemiological studies, could calculate HRV from (ultra-)short ECGs enabling such projects to be performed at a large scale. PMID:26414314

Dynamic target ionization using an ultrashort pulse of a laser field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makarov, D. N.; Matveev, V. I.; Makarova, K. A.

2014-09-01

Ionization processes under the interaction of an ultrashort pulse of an electromagnetic field with atoms in nonstationary states are considered. As an example, the ionization probability of the hydrogen-like atom upon the decay of quasi-stationary state is calculated. The method developed can be applied to complex systems, including targets in collisional states and various chemical reactions.

Evolution of optical force on two-level atom by ultrashort time-domain dark hollow Gaussian pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Xiaochao; Wang, Zhaoying; Lin, Qiang

2017-09-01

Based on the analytical expression of the ultrashort time-domain dark hollow Gaussian (TDHG) pulse, the optical force on two-level atoms induced by a TDHG pulse is calculated in this paper. The phenomena of focusing or defocusing of the light force is numerical analyzed for different detuning, various duration time, and different order of the ultrashort pulse. The transverse optical force can change from a focusing force to a defocusing force depending on the spatial-temporal coupling effect as the TDHG pulses propagating in free space. Our results also show that the initial phase of the TDHG pulse can significantly changes the envelope of the optical force.

Magnetic Resonance–Based Automatic Air Segmentation for Generation of Synthetic Computed Tomography Scans in the Head Region

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

Zheng, Weili; Kim, Joshua P.; Kadbi, Mo

2015-11-01

Purpose: To incorporate a novel imaging sequence for robust air and tissue segmentation using ultrashort echo time (UTE) phase images and to implement an innovative synthetic CT (synCT) solution as a first step toward MR-only radiation therapy treatment planning for brain cancer. Methods and Materials: Ten brain cancer patients were scanned with a UTE/Dixon sequence and other clinical sequences on a 1.0 T open magnet with simulation capabilities. Bone-enhanced images were generated from a weighted combination of water/fat maps derived from Dixon images and inverted UTE images. Automated air segmentation was performed using unwrapped UTE phase maps. Segmentation accuracy was assessedmore » by calculating segmentation errors (true-positive rate, false-positive rate, and Dice similarity indices using CT simulation (CT-SIM) as ground truth. The synCTs were generated using a voxel-based, weighted summation method incorporating T2, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), UTE1, and bone-enhanced images. Mean absolute error (MAE) characterized Hounsfield unit (HU) differences between synCT and CT-SIM. A dosimetry study was conducted, and differences were quantified using γ-analysis and dose-volume histogram analysis. Results: On average, true-positive rate and false-positive rate for the CT and MR-derived air masks were 80.8% ± 5.5% and 25.7% ± 6.9%, respectively. Dice similarity indices values were 0.78 ± 0.04 (range, 0.70-0.83). Full field of view MAE between synCT and CT-SIM was 147.5 ± 8.3 HU (range, 138.3-166.2 HU), with the largest errors occurring at bone–air interfaces (MAE 422.5 ± 33.4 HU for bone and 294.53 ± 90.56 HU for air). Gamma analysis revealed pass rates of 99.4% ± 0.04%, with acceptable treatment plan quality for the cohort. Conclusions: A hybrid MRI phase/magnitude UTE image processing technique was introduced that significantly improved bone and air contrast in MRI. Segmented air masks and bone-enhanced images were

Ultra-short wavelength operation in Thulium-doped silica fiber laser with bidirectional pumping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Xusheng; Guo, Haitao; Yan, Zhijun; Wang, Hushan; Xu, Yantao; Lu, Min; Wang, Yishan; Peng, Bo

2017-02-01

An ultra-short wavelength operation of Tm-doped all fiber laser based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) was developed. A bi-directional pump configuration for the ultra-short wavelength operation was designed and investigated for the first time. the laser yielded 3.15W of continuous-wave output at 1706.75nm with a narrow-linewidth of 50pm and a maximum slope efficiency of 42.1%. The dependencies of the slope efficiencies and pump threshold of the laser versus the length of active fiber and reflectivity of the output mirror (FBG) were investigated in detail. An experimental comparative study between two Thulium-doped fiber lasers (TDFLs) with two different pumping configuration(forward unidirectional pumping and bidirectional pumping) was presented. It is indisputable that the development of 1.7μm silicate fiber lasers with Watt-level output power open up a number of heart-stirring and tempting application windows.

Reemission spectra and interference effects at the interaction of multiatomic targets with ultrashort electromagnetic pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matveev, V. I.; Matrasulov, D. U.

2013-01-01

The processes of reemission of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses by linear chains consisting of isolated multielectron atoms have been considered. The developed method makes it possible to accurately take into account the spatial inhomogeneity of the field of an ultrashort pulse and the momenta of photons in reemission processes. The angular distributions of reemission spectra have been obtained for an arbitrary number of atoms in a chain. It has been shown that the interference of the photon emission amplitudes leads to the appearance of characteristic "diffraction" maxima. The results allow standard generalization to the cases of rescattering from two-dimensional (graphene-like) and three-dimensional lattices, as well as to the case of the inclusion of thermal vibrations of the atoms of lattices.

Selective laser melting of hypereutectic Al-Si40-powder using ultra-short laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ullsperger, T.; Matthäus, G.; Kaden, L.; Engelhardt, H.; Rettenmayr, M.; Risse, S.; Tünnermann, A.; Nolte, S.

2017-12-01

We investigate the use of ultra-short laser pulses for the selective melting of Al-Si40-powder to fabricate complex light-weight structures with wall sizes below 100 μ {m} combined with higher tensile strength and lower thermal expansion coefficient in comparison to standard Al-Si alloys. During the cooling process using conventional techniques, large primary silicon particles are formed which impairs the mechanical and thermal properties. We demonstrate that these limitations can be overcome using ultra-short laser pulses enabling the rapid heating and cooling in a non-thermal equilibrium process. We analyze the morphology characteristics and micro-structures of single tracks and thin-walled structures depending on pulse energy, repetition rate and scanning velocity utilizing pulses with a duration of 500 {fs} at a wavelength of 1030 {nm}. The possibility to specifically change and optimize the microstructure is shown.

Ultrashort pulse laser processing of hard tissue, dental restoration materials, and biocompatibles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yousif, A.; Strassl, M.; Beer, F.; Verhagen, L.; Wittschier, M.; Wintner, E.

2007-07-01

During the last few years, ultra-short laser pulses have proven their potential for application in medical tissue treatment in many ways. In hard tissue ablation, their aptitude for material ablation with negligible collateral damage provides many advantages. Especially teeth representing an anatomically and physiologically very special region with less blood circulation and lower healing rates than other tissues require most careful treatment. Hence, overheating of the pulp and induction of microcracks are some of the most problematic issues in dental preparation. Up till now it was shown by many authors that the application of picosecond or femtosecond pulses allows to perform ablation with very low damaging potential also fitting to the physiological requirements indicated. Beside the short interaction time with the irradiated matter, scanning of the ultra-short pulse trains turned out to be crucial for ablating cavities of the required quality. One main reason for this can be seen in the fact that during scanning the time period between two subsequent pulses incident on the same spot is so much extended that no heat accumulation effects occur and each pulse can be treated as a first one with respect to its local impact. Extension of this advantageous technique to biocompatible materials, i.e. in this case dental restoration materials and titanium plasma-sprayed implants, is just a matter of consequence. Recently published results on composites fit well with earlier data on dental hard tissue. In case of plaque which has to be removed from implants, it turns out that removal of at least the calcified version is harder than tissue removal. Therefore, besides ultra-short lasers, also Diode and Neodymium lasers, in cw and pulsed modes, have been studied with respect to plaque removal and sterilization. The temperature increase during laser exposure has been experimentally evaluated in parallel.

Ultra-short pulse laser micro patterning with highest throughput by utilization of a novel multi-beam processing head

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Homburg, Oliver; Jarczynski, Manfred; Mitra, Thomas; Brüning, Stephan

2017-02-01

In the last decade much improvement has been achieved for ultra-short pulse lasers with high repetition rates. This laser technology has vastly matured so that it entered a manifold of industrial applications recently compared to mainly scientific use in the past. Compared to ns-pulse ablation ultra-short pulses in the ps- or even fs regime lead to still colder ablation and further reduced heat-affected zones. This is crucial for micro patterning when structure sizes are getting smaller and requirements are getting stronger at the same time. An additional advantage of ultra-fast processing is its applicability to a large variety of materials, e.g. metals and several high bandgap materials like glass and ceramics. One challenge for ultra-fast micro machining is throughput. The operational capacity of these processes can be maximized by increasing the scan rate or the number of beams - parallel processing. This contribution focuses on process parallelism of ultra-short pulsed lasers with high repetition rate and individually addressable acousto-optical beam modulation. The core of the multi-beam generation is a smooth diffractive beam splitter component with high uniform spots and negligible loss, and a prismatic array compressor to match beam size and pitch. The optical design and the practical realization of an 8 beam processing head in combination with a high average power single mode ultra-short pulsed laser source are presented as well as the currently on-going and promising laboratory research and micro machining results. Finally, an outlook of scaling the processing head to several tens of beams is given.

Lower periprosthetic bone loss and good fixation of an ultra-short stem compared to a conventional stem in uncemented total hip arthroplasty.

PubMed

Salemyr, Mats; Muren, Olle; Ahl, Torbjörn; Bodén, Henrik; Eisler, Thomas; Stark, André; Sköldenberg, Olof

2015-01-01

We hypothesized that an ultra-short stem would load the proximal femur in a more physiological way and could therefore reduce the adaptive periprosthetic bone loss known as stress shielding. 51 patients with primary hip osteoarthritis were randomized to total hip arthroplasty (THA) with either an ultra-short stem or a conventional tapered stem. The primary endpoint was change in periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD), measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), in Gruen zones 1 and 7, two years after surgery. Secondary endpoints were change in periprosthetic BMD in the entire periprosthetic region, i.e. Gruen zones 1 through 7, stem migration measured with radiostereometric analysis (RSA), and function measured with self-administered functional scores. The periprosthetic decrease in BMD was statistically significantly lower with the ultra-short stem. In Gruen zone 1, the mean difference was 18% (95% CI: -27% to -10%). In zone 7, the difference was 5% (CI: -12% to -3%) and for Gruen zones 1-7 the difference was also 5% (CI: -9% to -2%). During the first 6 weeks postoperatively, the ultra-short stems migrated 0.77 mm more on average than the conventional stems. 3 months after surgery, no further migration was seen. The functional scores improved during the study and were similar in the 2 groups. Up to 2 years after total hip arthroplasty, compared to the conventional tapered stem the ultra-short uncemented anatomical stem induced lower periprosthetic bone loss and had equally excellent stem fixation and clinical outcome.

Ultrashort laser pulses and electromagnetic pulse generation in air and on dielectric surfaces.

PubMed

Sprangle, P; Peñano, J R; Hafizi, B; Kapetanakos, C A

2004-06-01

Intense, ultrashort laser pulses propagating in the atmosphere have been observed to emit sub-THz electromagnetic pulses (EMPS). The purpose of this paper is to analyze EMP generation from the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with air and with dielectric surfaces and to determine the efficiency of conversion of laser energy to EMP energy. In our self-consistent model the laser pulse partially ionizes the medium, forms a plasma filament, and through the ponderomotive forces associated with the laser pulse, drives plasma currents which are the source of the EMP. The propagating laser pulse evolves under the influence of diffraction, Kerr focusing, plasma defocusing, and energy depletion due to electron collisions and ionization. Collective effects and recombination processes are also included in the model. The duration of the EMP in air, at a fixed point, is found to be a few hundred femtoseconds, i.e., on the order of the laser pulse duration plus the electron collision time. For steady state laser pulse propagation the flux of EMP energy is nonradiative and axially directed. Radiative EMP energy is present only for nonsteady state or transient laser pulse propagation. The analysis also considers the generation of EMP on the surface of a dielectric on which an ultrashort laser pulse is incident. For typical laser parameters, the power and energy conversion efficiency from laser radiation to EMP radiation in both air and from dielectric surfaces is found to be extremely small, < 10(-8). Results of full-scale, self-consistent, numerical simulations of atmospheric and dielectric surface EMP generation are presented. A recent experiment on atmospheric EMP generation is also simulated.

Reduction of protection from laser eyewear with ultrashort exposure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stolarski, David J.; Stolarski, Jacob; Noojin, Gary D.; Rockwell, Benjamin A.; Thomas, Robert J.

2001-07-01

We have measured the optical density of various laser eye protection samples as a function of increasing irradiance. We show that the protective quality of some eyewear degrades as irradiance increases. In previous studies this problem has been demonstrated in samples irradiated by nanosecond pulses, but the current study shows that the modern laser eye protection seems to be robust except for the irradiance possible with ultrashort laser pulse exposure. We discuss the most likely saturation mechanisms in this pulse duration regime and discuss relevance to laser safety.

High-power ultrashort fiber laser for solar cells micromachining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lecourt, J.-B.; Duterte, C.; Liegeois, F.; Lekime, D.; Hernandez, Y.; Giannone, D.

2012-02-01

We report on a high-power ultra-short fiber laser for thin film solar cells micromachining. The laser is based on Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) scheme. The pulses are stretched to hundreds of picoseconds prior to amplification and can be compressed down to picosecond at high energy. The repetition rate is adjustable from 100 kHz to 1 MHz and the optical average output power is close to 13 W (before compression). The whole setup is fully fibred, except the compressor achieved with bulk gratings, resulting on a compact and reliable solution for cold ablation.

Three-dimensional T1 and T2* mapping of human lung parenchyma using interleaved saturation recovery with dual echo ultrashort echo time imaging (ITSR-DUTE).

PubMed

Gai, Neville D; Malayeri, Ashkan A; Bluemke, David A

2017-04-01

To develop and assess a new technique for three-dimensional (3D) full lung T1 and T2* mapping using a single free breathing scan during a clinically feasible time. A 3D stack of dual-echo ultrashort echo time (UTE) radial acquisition interleaved with and without a WET (water suppression enhanced through T1 effects) saturation pulse was used to map T1 and T2* simultaneously in a single scan. Correction for modulation due to multiple views per segment was derived. Bloch simulations were performed to study saturation pulse excitation profile on lung tissue. Optimization of the saturation delay time (for T1 mapping) and echo time (for T2* mapping) was performed. Monte Carlo simulation was done to predict accuracy and precision of the sequence with signal-to-noise ratio of in vivo images used in the simulation. A phantom study was carried out using the 3D interleaved saturation recovery with dual echo ultrashort echo time imaging (ITSR-DUTE) sequence and reference standard inversion recovery spin echo sequence (IR-SE) to compare accuracy of the sequence. Nine healthy volunteers were imaged and mean (SD) of T1 and T2* in lung parenchyma at 3T were estimated through manually assisted segmentation. 3D lung coverage with a resolution of 2.5 × 2.5 × 6 mm 3 was performed and nominal scan time was recorded for the scans. Repeatability was assessed in three of the volunteers. Regional differences in T1/T2* values were also assessed. The phantom study showed accuracy of T1 values to be within 2.3% of values obtained from IR-SE. Mean T1 value in lung parenchyma was 1002 ± 82 ms while T2* was 0.85 ± 0.1 ms. Scan time was ∼10 min for volunteer scans. Mean coefficient of variation (CV) across slices was 0.057 and 0.09, respectively. Regional variation along the gravitational direction and between right and left lung were not significant (P = 0.25 and P = 0.06, respectively) for T1. T2* showed significant variation (P = 0.03) along the

Field curvature correction method for ultrashort throw ratio projection optics design using an odd polynomial mirror surface.

PubMed

Zhuang, Zhenfeng; Chen, Yanting; Yu, Feihong; Sun, Xiaowei

2014-08-01

This paper presents a field curvature correction method of designing an ultrashort throw ratio (TR) projection lens for an imaging system. The projection lens is composed of several refractive optical elements and an odd polynomial mirror surface. A curved image is formed in a direction away from the odd polynomial mirror surface by the refractive optical elements from the image formed on the digital micromirror device (DMD) panel, and the curved image formed is its virtual image. Then the odd polynomial mirror surface enlarges the curved image and a plane image is formed on the screen. Based on the relationship between the chief ray from the exit pupil of each field of view (FOV) and the corresponding predescribed position on the screen, the initial profile of the freeform mirror surface is calculated by using segments of the hyperbolic according to the laws of reflection. For further optimization, the value of the high-order odd polynomial surface is used to express the freeform mirror surface through a least-squares fitting method. As an example, an ultrashort TR projection lens that realizes projection onto a large 50 in. screen at a distance of only 510 mm is presented. The optical performance for the designed projection lens is analyzed by ray tracing method. Results show that an ultrashort TR projection lens modulation transfer function of over 60% at 0.5 cycles/mm for all optimization fields is achievable with f-number of 2.0, 126° full FOV, <1% distortion, and 0.46 TR. Moreover, in comparing the proposed projection lens' optical specifications to that of traditional projection lenses, aspheric mirror projection lenses, and conventional short TR projection lenses, results indicate that this projection lens has the advantages of ultrashort TR, low f-number, wide full FOV, and small distortion.

Cardio-pulmonary fitness test by ultra-short heart rate variability.

PubMed

Aslani, Arsalan; Aslani, Amir; Kheirkhah, Jalal; Sobhani, Vahid

2011-10-01

It is known that exercise induces cardio-respiratory autonomic modulation. The aim of this study was to assess the cardio-pulmonary fitness by ultra-short heart rate variability. Study population was divided into 3 groups: Group-1 (n = 40) consisted of military sports man. Group-2 (n = 40) were healthy age-matched sedentary male subjects with normal body mass index [BMI = 19 - 25 kg/m(2)). Group-3 (n = 40) were healthy age-matched obese male subjects [BMI > 29 kg/m(2)). Standard deviation of normal-to-normal QRS intervals (SDNN) was recorded over 15 minutes. Bruce protocol treadmill test was used; and, maximum oxygen consumption (VO(2)max) was calculated. WHEN THE STUDY POPULATION WAS DIVIDED INTO QUARTILES OF SDNN (FIRST QUARTILE: < 60 msec; second quartile: > 60 and < 100 msec; third quartile: > 100 and <140 msec; and fourth quartile: >140 msec), progressive increase was found in VO(2)max; and, SDNN was significantly linked with estimated VO(2)max. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that exercise training improves cardio-respiratory autonomic function (and increases heart rate variability). Improvement in cardio-respiratory autonomic function seems to translate into a lower rate of long term mortality. Ultra-short heart rate variability is a simple cardio-pulmonary fitness test which just requires 15 minutes, and involves no exercise such as in the treadmill or cycle test.

Lower periprosthetic bone loss and good fixation of an ultra-short stem compared to a conventional stem in uncemented total hip arthroplasty

PubMed Central

Salemyr, Mats; Muren, Olle; Ahl, Torbjörn; Bodén, Henrik; Eisler, Thomas; Stark, André; Sköldenberg, Olof

2015-01-01

Background and purpose — We hypothesized that an ultra-short stem would load the proximal femur in a more physiological way and could therefore reduce the adaptive periprosthetic bone loss known as stress shielding. Patients and methods — 51 patients with primary hip osteoarthritis were randomized to total hip arthroplasty (THA) with either an ultra-short stem or a conventional tapered stem. The primary endpoint was change in periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD), measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), in Gruen zones 1 and 7, two years after surgery. Secondary endpoints were change in periprosthetic BMD in the entire periprosthetic region, i.e. Gruen zones 1 through 7, stem migration measured with radiostereometric analysis (RSA), and function measured with self-administered functional scores. Results — The periprosthetic decrease in BMD was statistically significantly lower with the ultra-short stem. In Gruen zone 1, the mean difference was 18% (95% CI: −27% to −10%). In zone 7, the difference was 5% (CI: −12% to −3%) and for Gruen zones 1–7 the difference was also 5% (CI: −9% to −2%). During the first 6 weeks postoperatively, the ultra-short stems migrated 0.77 mm more on average than the conventional stems. 3 months after surgery, no further migration was seen. The functional scores improved during the study and were similar in the 2 groups. Interpretation — Up to 2 years after total hip arthroplasty, compared to the conventional tapered stem the ultra-short uncemented anatomical stem induced lower periprosthetic bone loss and had equally excellent stem fixation and clinical outcome. PMID:26134386

[Flexible Guidance of Ultra-Short Laser Pulses in Ophthalmic Therapy Systems].

PubMed

Blum, J; Blum, M; Rill, M S; Haueisen, J

2017-01-01

In the last 20 years, the role of ultrashort pulsed lasers in ophthalmology has become increasingly important. However, it is still impossible to guide ultra-short laser pulses with standard glass fibres. The highly energetic femtosecond pulses would destroy the fibre material, and non-linear dispersion effects would significantly change beam parameters. In contrast, photonic crystal fibres mainly guide the laser pulses in air, so that absorption and dispersive pulse broadening have essentially no effect. This article compares classical beam guidance with mirrors, lenses and prisms with photonic crystal fibres and describes the underlying concepts and the current state of technology. A classical mirror arm possesses more variable optical properties, while the HCF (Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fibre) must be matched in terms of the laser energy and the laser spectrum. In contrast, the HCF has more advantages in respect of handling, system integration and costs. For applications based on photodisruptive laser-tissue interaction, the relatively low damage threshold of photonic crystal fibres compared to classic beam guiding systems is unacceptable. If, however, pulsed laser radiation has a sufficiently low peak intensity, e.g. as used for plasma-induced ablation, photonic crystal fibres can definitely be considered as an alternative solution to classic beam guidance. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Modification of transparent materials with ultrashort laser pulses: What is energetically and mechanically meaningful?

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

Bulgakova, Nadezhda M., E-mail: nadezhda.bulgakova@hilase.cz; Institute of Thermophysics SB RAS, 1 Lavrentyev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk; Zhukov, Vladimir P.

A comprehensive analysis of laser-induced modification of bulk glass by single ultrashort laser pulses is presented which is based on combination of optical Maxwell-based modeling with thermoelastoplastic simulations of post-irradiation behavior of matter. A controversial question on free electron density generated inside bulk glass by ultrashort laser pulses in modification regimes is addressed on energy balance grounds. Spatiotemporal dynamics of laser beam propagation in fused silica have been elucidated for the regimes used for direct laser writing in bulk glass. 3D thermoelastoplastic modeling of material relocation dynamics under laser-induced stresses has been performed up to the microsecond timescale when allmore » motions in the material decay. The final modification structure is found to be imprinted into material matrix already at sub-nanosecond timescale. Modeling results agree well with available experimental data on laser light transmission through the sample and the final modification structure.« less

Laser ablation mechanism of transparent layers on semiconductors with ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rublack, Tino; Hartnauer, Stefan; Mergner, Michael; Muchow, Markus; Seifert, Gerhard

2011-12-01

Transparent dielectric layers on semiconductors are used as anti-reflection coatings both for photovoltaic applications and for mid-infrared optical elements. We have shown recently that selective ablation of such layers is possible using ultrashort laser pulses at wavelengths being absorbed by the semiconductor. To get a deeper understanding of the ablation mechanism, we have done ablation experiments for different transparent materials, in particular SiO2 and SixNy on silicon, using a broad range of wavelengths ranging from UV to IR, and pulse durations between 50 and 2000 fs. The characterization of the ablated regions was done by light microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Utilizing laser wavelengths above the silicon band gap, selective ablation of the dielectric layer without noticeable damage of the opened silicon surface is possible. In contrast, ultrashort pulses (1-2 ps) at mid-infrared wavelengths already cause damage in the silicon at lower intensities than in the dielectric layer, even when a vibrational resonance (e.g. at λ = 9.26 μm for SiO2) is addressed. The physical processes behind this, on the first glance counterintuitive, observation will be discussed.

Ultrashort high-brightness pulses from storage rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Shaukat

2017-09-01

The brightness of short-wavelength radiation from accelerator-based sources can be increased by coherent emission in which the radiation intensity scales with the number of contributing electrons squared. This requires a microbunched longitudinal electron distribution, which is the case in free-electron lasers. The brightness of light sources based on electron storage rings was steadily improved, but could profit further from coherent emission. The modulation of the electron energy by a continuous-wave laser field may provide steady-state microbunching in the infrared regime. For shorter wavelengths, the energy modulation can be converted into a temporary density modulation by a dispersive chicane. One particular goal is coherent emission from a very short "slice" within an electron bunch in order to produce ultrashort radiation pulses with high brightness.

Negative response of HgCdTe photodiode induced by nanosecond laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zuodong; Zhang, Jianmin; Lin, Xinwei; Shao, Bibo; Yang, Pengling

2017-05-01

Photodetectors' behavior and mechanism of transient response are still not understood very well, especially under high photon injection. Most of the researches on this topic were carried out with ultra-short laser pulse, whose pulse width ranged from femtosecond scale to picosecond scale. However, in many applications the durations of incident light are in nanosecond order and the light intensities are strong. To investigate the transient response characteristics and mechanisms of narrow-bandgap photovoltaic detectors under short laser irradiation, we performed an experiment on HgCdTe photodiodes. The n+-on-p type HgCdTe photodiodes in the experiment were designed to work in spectrum from 1.0μm to 3.0μm, with conditions of zero bias and room temperature. They were exposed to in-band short laser pulses with dwell time of 20 nanosecond. When the intensity of incident laser beam rose to 0.1J/cm2 order, the photodiodes' response characteristics turned to be bipolar from unipolar. A much longer negative response with duration of about 10μs to 100μs followed the positive light response. The amplitude of the negative response increased with the laser intensity, while the dwell time of positive response decreased with the laser intensity. Considering the response characteristics and the device structure, it is proposed that the negative response was caused by space charge effect at the electrodes. Under intense laser irradiation, a temperature gradient formed in the HgCdTe material. Due to the temperature gradient, the majority carriers diffused away from upper surface and left space charge at the electrodes. Then negative response voltage could be measured in the external circuit. With higher incident laser intensity, the degree of the space charge effect would become higher, and then the negative response would come earlier and show larger amplitude.

Studies of Inactivation Mechanism of non-enveloped icosahedral viruses by a visible ultrashort pulsed laser

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The inactivation mechanism of ultrashort pulsed laser irradiation at a wavelength of 425 nm has been studied using two different-sized, non-enveloped icosahedral viruses, murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1) and human papillomavirus-16 (HPV-16) pseudovirions. Our experimental results are consistent with a mo...

Anomalous transmission of an ultrashort ionizing laser pulse through a thin foil.

PubMed

Ferrante, G; Zarcone, M; Uryupin, S A

2003-08-22

The formation of a highly anisotropic photoelectron velocity distribution as a result of the interaction of a powerful ultrashort laser pulse with a thin foil is found to yield a large skin-layer depth and an anomalous increase of the transmission coefficient. The physical reason for the effect is the influence of the incident wave magnetic field, through the Lorenz force, on the electron kinetics in the skin layer.

Growth and Spectral Assessment of Yb3+-Doped KBaGd(MoO4)3 Crystal: A Candidate for Ultrashort Pulse and Tunable Lasers

PubMed Central

Yu, Yi; Huang, Yisheng; Zhang, Lizhen; Lin, Zhoubin; Wang, Guofu

2013-01-01

In order to explore new more powerful ultrashort pulse laser and tunable laser for diode-pumping, this paper reports the growth and spectral assessment of Yb3+-doped KBaGd(MoO4)3 crystal. An Yb3+:KBaGd(MoO4)3 crystal with dimensions of 50×40×9 mm3 was grown by the TSSG method from the K2Mo2O7 flux. The investigated spectral properties indicated that Yb3+:KBaGd(MoO4)3 crystal exhibits broad absorption and emission bands, except the large emission and gain cross-sections. This feature of the broad absorption and emission bands is not only suitable for the diode pumping, but also for the production of ultrashort pulses and tunability. Therefore, Yb3+:KBaGd(MoO4)3 crystal can be regarded as a candidate for the ultrashort pulse and tunable lasers. PMID:23349892

Growth and spectral assessment of Yb(3+)-doped KBaGd(MoO4)3 crystal: a candidate for ultrashort pulse and tunable lasers.

PubMed

Yu, Yi; Huang, Yisheng; Zhang, Lizhen; Lin, Zhoubin; Wang, Guofu

2013-01-01

In order to explore new more powerful ultrashort pulse laser and tunable laser for diode-pumping, this paper reports the growth and spectral assessment of Yb(3+)-doped KBaGd(MoO(4))(3) crystal. An Yb(3+):KBaGd(MoO(4))(3) crystal with dimensions of 50×40×9 mm(3) was grown by the TSSG method from the K(2)Mo(2)O(7) flux. The investigated spectral properties indicated that Yb(3+):KBaGd(MoO(4))(3) crystal exhibits broad absorption and emission bands, except the large emission and gain cross-sections. This feature of the broad absorption and emission bands is not only suitable for the diode pumping, but also for the production of ultrashort pulses and tunability. Therefore, Yb(3+):KBaGd(MoO(4))(3) crystal can be regarded as a candidate for the ultrashort pulse and tunable lasers.

Quantum preservation of the measurements precision using ultra-short strong pulses in exact analytical solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berrada, K.; Eleuch, H.

2017-09-01

Various schemes have been proposed to improve the parameter-estimation precision. In the present work, we suggest an alternative method to preserve the estimation precision by considering a model that closely describes a realistic experimental scenario. We explore this active way to control and enhance the measurements precision for a two-level quantum system interacting with classical electromagnetic field using ultra-short strong pulses with an exact analytical solution, i.e. beyond the rotating wave approximation. In particular, we investigate the variation of the precision with a few cycles pulse and a smooth phase jump over a finite time interval. We show that by acting on the shape of the phase transient and other parameters of the considered system, the amount of information may be increased and has smaller decay rate in the long time. These features make two-level systems incorporated in ultra-short, of-resonant and gradually changing phase good candidates for implementation of schemes for the quantum computation and the coherent information processing.

Propagation of three-dimensional bipolar ultrashort electromagnetic pulses in an inhomogeneous array of carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedorov, Eduard G.; Zhukov, Alexander V.; Bouffanais, Roland; Timashkov, Alexander P.; Malomed, Boris A.; Leblond, Hervé; Mihalache, Dumitru; Rosanov, Nikolay N.; Belonenko, Mikhail B.

2018-04-01

We study the propagation of three-dimensional (3D) bipolar ultrashort electromagnetic pulses in an inhomogeneous array of semiconductor carbon nanotubes. The heterogeneity is represented by a planar region with an increased concentration of conduction electrons. The evolution of the electromagnetic field and electron concentration in the sample are governed by the Maxwell's equations and continuity equation. In particular, nonuniformity of the electromagnetic field along the axis of the nanotubes is taken into account. We demonstrate that depending on values of the parameters of the electromagnetic pulse approaching the region with the higher electron concentration, the pulse is either reflected from the region or passes it. Specifically, our simulations demonstrate that after interacting with the higher-concentration area, the pulse can propagate steadily, without significant spreading. The possibility of such ultrashort electromagnetic pulses propagating in arrays of carbon nanotubes over distances significantly exceeding characteristic dimensions of the pulses makes it possible to consider them as 3D solitons.

Shock ion acceleration by an ultrashort circularly polarized laser pulse via relativistic transparency in an exploded target.

PubMed

Kim, Young-Kuk; Cho, Myung-Hoon; Song, Hyung Seon; Kang, Teyoun; Park, Hyung Ju; Jung, Moon Youn; Hur, Min Sup

2015-10-01

We investigated ion acceleration by an electrostatic shock in an exploded target irradiated by an ultrashort, circularly polarized laser pulse by means of one- and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. We discovered that the laser field penetrating via relativistic transparency (RT) rapidly heated the upstream electron plasma to enable the formation of a high-speed electrostatic shock. Owing to the RT-based rapid heating and the fast compression of the initial density spike by a circularly polarized pulse, a new regime of the shock ion acceleration driven by an ultrashort (20-40 fs), moderately intense (1-1.4 PW) laser pulse is envisaged. This regime enables more efficient shock ion acceleration under a limited total pulse energy than a linearly polarized pulse with crystal laser systems of λ∼1μm.

An ultrashort throw ratio projection lens design based on a catadioptric structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hsiu-Cheng; Pan, Jui-Wen

2018-07-01

In this paper, we present a rotational symmetry for an ultrashort throw (UST) lens with offset field. The UST lens has a throw ratio of 0.23 and a total track of 195 mm. The optical elements of the UST lens are comprised of two parts. First, a catadioptric projection lens where the catadioptric function permits reaching an ultrashort throw ratio, short total track, while at the same time requiring fewer lens elements. The second part is a collimating lens which takes advantage of the telecentric condition to generate uniform total internal reflection (TIR) in the TIR prism. With this design, an effective focal length of -1.96 mm and a f-number of 2.4 can be obtained. The root mean square spot size and lateral colour of all fields are smaller than one pixel in size. The maximum optical distortion of -0.97% and TV distortion of 0.2% are acceptable. In terms of image quality, the modulation transfer function (MTF) values for all fields are above 0.65 at 0.245 line pairs/mm. Even when the tolerance error is considered, the MTF values for all fields are still above 0.3. The suitability of the novel UST lens design for projection applications is discussed.

Ultrashort hybrid metal-insulator plasmonic directional coupler.

PubMed

Noghani, Mahmoud Talafi; Samiei, Mohammad Hashem Vadjed

2013-11-01

An ultrashort plasmonic directional coupler based on the hybrid metal-insulator slab waveguide is proposed and analyzed at the telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm. It is first analyzed using the supermode theory based on mode analysis via the transfer matrix method in the interaction region. Then the 2D model of the coupler, including transition arms, is analyzed using a commercial finite-element method simulator. The hybrid slab waveguide is composed of a metallic layer of silver and two dielectric layers of silica (SiO2) and silicon (Si). The coupler is optimized to have a minimum coupling length and to transfer maximum power considering the layer thicknesses as optimization variables. The resulting coupling length in the submicrometer region along with a noticeable power transfer efficiency are advantages of the proposed coupler compared to previously reported plasmonic couplers.

Fractional-order Fourier analysis for ultrashort pulse characterization.

PubMed

Brunel, Marc; Coetmellec, Sébastien; Lelek, Mickael; Louradour, Frédéric

2007-06-01

We report what we believe to be the first experimental demonstration of ultrashort pulse characterization using fractional-order Fourier analysis. The analysis is applied to the interpretation of spectral interferometry resolved in time (SPIRIT) traces [which are spectral phase interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction (SPIDER)-like interferograms]. First, the fractional-order Fourier transformation is shown to naturally allow the determination of the cubic spectral phase coefficient of pulses to be analyzed. A simultaneous determination of both cubic and quadratic spectral phase coefficients of the pulses using the fractional-order Fourier series expansion is further demonstrated. This latter technique consists of localizing relative maxima in a 2D cartography representing decomposition coefficients. It is further used to reconstruct or filter SPIRIT traces.

Accurate modeling of high-repetition rate ultrashort pulse amplification in optical fibers

PubMed Central

Lindberg, Robert; Zeil, Peter; Malmström, Mikael; Laurell, Fredrik; Pasiskevicius, Valdas

2016-01-01

A numerical model for amplification of ultrashort pulses with high repetition rates in fiber amplifiers is presented. The pulse propagation is modeled by jointly solving the steady-state rate equations and the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which allows accurate treatment of nonlinear and dispersive effects whilst considering arbitrary spatial and spectral gain dependencies. Comparison of data acquired by using the developed model and experimental results prove to be in good agreement. PMID:27713496

Electromagnetic fields of an ultra-short tightly-focused radially-polarized laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salamin, Yousef I.; Li, Jian-Xing

2017-12-01

Fully analytic expressions, for the electric and magnetic fields of an ultrashort and tightly focused laser pulse of the radially polarized category, are presented to lowest order of approximation. The fields are derived from scalar and vector potentials, along the lines of our earlier work for a similar pulse of the linearly polarized variety. A systematic program is also described from which the fields may be obtained to any desired accuracy, analytically or numerically.

Generation of ultrashort pulses with minimum duration of 90\\ {\\text{fs}} in a hybrid mode-locked erbium-doped all-fibre ring laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dvoretskiy, D. A.; Sazonkin, S. G.; Voropaev, V. S.; Negin, M. A.; Leonov, S. O.; Pnev, A. B.; Karasik, V. E.; Denisov, L. K.; Krylov, A. A.; Davydov, V. A.; Obraztsova, E. D.

2016-11-01

Regimes of ultrashort pulse generation in an erbium-doped all-fibre ring laser with hybrid mode locking based on single-wall carbon - boron nitride nanotubes and the nonlinear Kerr effect in fibre waveguides are studied. Stable dechirped ultrashort pulses are obtained with a duration of ˜ 90 {\\text{fs}}, a repetition rate of ˜ 42.2 {\\text{MHz}}, and an average output power of ˜ 16.7 {\\text{mW}}, which corresponds to a pulse energy of ˜ 0.4 {\\text{nJ}} and a peak laser power of ˜ 4.4 {\\text{kW}}.

Pulsed laser deposited GeTe-rich GeTe-Sb2Te3 thin films

PubMed Central

Bouška, M.; Pechev, S.; Simon, Q.; Boidin, R.; Nazabal, V.; Gutwirth, J.; Baudet, E.; Němec, P.

2016-01-01

Pulsed laser deposition technique was used for the fabrication of Ge-Te rich GeTe-Sb2Te3 (Ge6Sb2Te9, Ge8Sb2Te11, Ge10Sb2Te13, and Ge12Sb2Te15) amorphous thin films. To evaluate the influence of GeTe content in the deposited films on physico-chemical properties of the GST materials, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction and reflectometry, atomic force microscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, optical reflectivity, and sheet resistance temperature dependences as well as variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements were used to characterize as-deposited (amorphous) and annealed (crystalline) layers. Upon crystallization, optical functions and electrical resistance of the films change drastically, leading to large optical and electrical contrast between amorphous and crystalline phases. Large changes of optical/electrical properties are accompanied by the variations of thickness, density, and roughness of the films due to crystallization. Reflectivity contrast as high as ~0.21 at 405 nm was calculated for Ge8Sb2Te11, Ge10Sb2Te13, and Ge12Sb2Te15 layers. PMID:27199107

Optical reprogramming with ultrashort femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchugonova, Aisada; Breunig, Hans G.; Batista, Ana; König, Karsten

2015-03-01

The use of sub-15 femtosecond laser pulses in stem cell research is explored with particular emphasis on the optical reprogramming of somatic cells. The reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be evoked through the ectopic expression of defined transcription factors. Conventional approaches utilize retro/lenti-viruses to deliver genes/transcription factors as well as to facilitate the integration of transcription factors into that of the host genome. However, the use of viruses may result in insertional mutations caused by the random integration of genes and as a result, this may limit the use within clinical applications due to the risk of the formation of cancer. In this study, a new approach is demonstrated in realizing non-viral reprogramming through the use of ultrashort laser pulses, to introduce transcription factors into the cell so as to generate iPS cells.

Wear-reducing Surface Functionalization of Implant Materials Using Ultrashort Laser Pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oldorf, P.; Peters, R.; Reichel, S.; Schulz, A.-P.; Wendlandt, R.

The aim of the project called "EndoLas" is the development of a reproducible and reliable method for a functionalization of articulating surfaces on hip joint endoprostheses due to a reduction of abrasion and wear by the generation of micro structures using ultrashort laser pulses. On the one hand, the microstructures shall ensure the capture of abraded particles, which cause third-body wear and thereby increase aseptic loosening. On the other hand, the structures shall improve or maintain the tribologically important lubricating film. Thereby, the cavities serve as a reservoir for the body's own synovial fluid. The dry friction, which promotes abrasion and is a part of the mixed friction in the joint, shall therefore be reduced. In experimental setups it was shown, that the abrasive wear can be reduced significantly due to micro-structuring the articulating implant surfaces. To shape the fine and deterministic cavities on the surfaces, an ultra-short pulsed laser, which is integrated in a high-precision, 5-axes micro-machining system, was used. The laser system, based on an Yb:YAG thin-disk regenerative amplifier, has an average output power of 50 W at the fundamental wavelength of 1030 nm, a maximum repetition rate of 400 kHz and a pulse duration of 6 ps. Due to this, a maximum pulse energy of 125 μJ is achievable. Furthermore external second and third harmonic generation enables the usage of wavelengths in the green and violet spectral range.

Ultrashort-pulse-train pump and dump excitation of a diatomic molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Araujo, Luís E. E.

2010-09-01

An excitation scheme is proposed for transferring population between ground-vibrational levels of a molecule. The transfer is accomplished by pumping and dumping population with a pair of coherent ultrashort-pulse trains via a stationary state. By mismatching the teeth of the frequency combs associated with the pulse trains to the vibrational levels, high selectivity in the excitation, along with high transfer efficiency, is predicted. The pump-dump scheme does not suffer from spontaneous emission losses, it is insensitive to the pump-dump-train delay, and it requires only basic pulse shaping.

Ultrashort-pulse-train pump and dump excitation of a diatomic molecule

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

Araujo, Luis E. E. de

An excitation scheme is proposed for transferring population between ground-vibrational levels of a molecule. The transfer is accomplished by pumping and dumping population with a pair of coherent ultrashort-pulse trains via a stationary state. By mismatching the teeth of the frequency combs associated with the pulse trains to the vibrational levels, high selectivity in the excitation, along with high transfer efficiency, is predicted. The pump-dump scheme does not suffer from spontaneous emission losses, it is insensitive to the pump-dump-train delay, and it requires only basic pulse shaping.

Laser mass spectrometry of chemical warfare agents using ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weickhardt, C.; Grun, C.; Grotemeyer, J.

1998-12-01

Fast relaxation processes in excited molecules such as IC, ISC, and fragmentation are observed in many environmentally and technically relevant substances. They cause severe problems to resonance ionization mass spectrometry because they reduce the ionization yield and lead to mass spectra which do not allow the identification of the compound. By the use of ultrashort laser pulses these problems can be overcome and the advantages of REMPI over conventional ionization techniques in mass spectrometry can be regained. This is demonstrated using soil samples contaminated with a chemical warfare agent.

Ultrashort optical waveguide excitations in uniaxial silica fibers: elastic collision scenarios.

PubMed

Kuetche, Victor K; Youssoufa, Saliou; Kofane, Timoleon C

2014-12-01

In this work, we investigate the dynamics of an uniaxial silica fiber under the viewpoint of propagation of ultimately ultrashort optical waveguide channels. As a result, we unveil the existence of three typical kinds of ultrabroadband excitations whose profiles strongly depend upon their angular momenta. Looking forward to surveying their scattering features, we unearth some underlying head-on scenarios of elastic collisions. Accordingly, we address some useful and straightforward applications in nonlinear optics through secured data transmission systems, as well as laser physics and soliton theory with optical soliton dynamics.

Dose-rate effect of ultrashort electron beam radiation on DNA damage and repair in vitro.

PubMed

Babayan, Nelly; Hovhannisyan, Galina; Grigoryan, Bagrat; Grigoryan, Ruzanna; Sarkisyan, Natalia; Tsakanova, Gohar; Haroutiunian, Samvel; Aroutiounian, Rouben

2017-11-01

Laser-generated electron beams are distinguished from conventional accelerated particles by ultrashort beam pulses in the femtoseconds to picoseconds duration range, and their application may elucidate primary radiobiological effects. The aim of the present study was to determine the dose-rate effect of laser-generated ultrashort pulses of 4 MeV electron beam radiation on DNA damage and repair in human cells. The dose rate was increased via changing the pulse repetition frequency, without increasing the electron energy. The human chronic myeloid leukemia K-562 cell line was used to estimate the DNA damage and repair after irradiation, via the comet assay. A distribution analysis of the DNA damage was performed. The same mean level of initial DNA damages was observed at low (3.6 Gy/min) and high (36 Gy/min) dose-rate irradiation. In the case of low-dose-rate irradiation, the detected DNA damages were completely repairable, whereas the high-dose-rate irradiation demonstrated a lower level of reparability. The distribution analysis of initial DNA damages after high-dose-rate irradiation revealed a shift towards higher amounts of damage and a broadening in distribution. Thus, increasing the dose rate via changing the pulse frequency of ultrafast electrons leads to an increase in the complexity of DNA damages, with a consequent decrease in their reparability. Since the application of an ultrashort pulsed electron beam permits us to describe the primary radiobiological effects, it can be assumed that the observed dose-rate effect on DNA damage/repair is mainly caused by primary lesions appearing at the moment of irradiation. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Japan Radiation Research Society and Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology.

Simulations of transient membrane behavior in cells subjected to a high-intensity ultrashort electric pulse.

PubMed

Hu, Q; Viswanadham, S; Joshi, R P; Schoenbach, K H; Beebe, S J; Blackmore, P F

2005-03-01

A molecular dynamics (MD) scheme is combined with a distributed circuit model for a self-consistent analysis of the transient membrane response for cells subjected to an ultrashort (nanosecond) high-intensity (approximately 0.01-V/nm spatially averaged field) voltage pulse. The dynamical, stochastic, many-body aspects are treated at the molecular level by resorting to a course-grained representation of the membrane lipid molecules. Coupling the Smoluchowski equation to the distributed electrical model for current flow provides the time-dependent transmembrane fields for the MD simulations. A good match between the simulation results and available experimental data is obtained. Predictions include pore formation times of about 5-6 ns. It is also shown that the pore formation process would tend to begin from the anodic side of an electrically stressed membrane. Furthermore, the present simulations demonstrate that ions could facilitate pore formation. This could be of practical importance and have direct relevance to the recent observations of calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum in cells subjected to such ultrashort, high-intensity pulses.

Growth And Characterization Of LPE CdHgTe/CdZnTe/CdZnTe Structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pelliciari, B.; Chamonal, J. P.; Destefanis, G. L.; Dicioccio, L.

1988-05-01

The liquid phase epitaxial technique is used to grow Hgl_x Cdx Te (x = .23) from a Te - rich solution onto a Cdl_y ZnyTe (y = .04) buffer layer grown from a Te-rich solution onto a Cdi_yZnyTe bulk substrate in an open tube multibin horizontal slider apparatus.Growth conditions and physical characterizations of both the buffer layer and the CdHgTe layer are given ; electrical properties of the CdHgTe layer are also presen-ted. PV detectors were successfully obtained on such a structure using an ion-implanted technology and their characteristics at 77 K for a 10.1 ,um cut-off wavelength are given.

Time-resolved microscopy reveals the driving mechanism of particle formation during ultrashort pulse laser ablation of dentin-like ivory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Domke, Matthias; Gavrilova, Anna; Rapp, Stephan; Frentzen, Matthias; Meister, Joerg; Huber, Heinz P.

2015-07-01

In dental health care, the application of ultrashort laser pulses enables dental tissue ablation free from thermal side effects, such as melting and cracking. However, these laser types create undesired micro- and nanoparticles, which might cause a health risk for the patient or surgeon. The aim of this study was to investigate the driving mechanisms of micro- and nanoparticle formation during ultrashort pulse laser ablation of dental tissue. Time-resolved microscopy was chosen to observe the ablation dynamics of mammoth ivory after irradiation with 660 fs laser pulses. The results suggest that nanoparticles might arise in the excited region. The thermal expansion of the excited material induces high pressure in the surrounding bulk tissue, generating a pressure wave. The rarefaction wave behind this pressure wave causes spallation, leading to ejection of microparticles.

125Te NMR chemical-shift trends in PbTe–GeTe and PbTe–SnTe alloys

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

Njegic, Bosiljka; Levin, Evgenii M.; Schmidt-Rohr, Klaus

2013-10-08

Complex tellurides, such as doped PbTe, GeTe, and their alloys, are among the best thermoelectric materials. Knowledge of the change in 125Te NMR chemical shift due to bonding to dopant or “solute” atoms is useful for determination of phase composition, peak assignment, and analysis of local bonding. We have measured the 125Te NMR chemical shifts in PbTe-based alloys, Pb 1-xGe xTe and Pb 1-xSn xTe, which have a rocksalt-like structure, and analyzed their trends. For low x, several peaks are resolved in the 22-kHz MAS 125Te NMR spectra. A simple linear trend in chemical shifts with the number of Pbmore » neighbors is observed. No evidence of a proposed ferroelectric displacement of Ge atoms in a cubic PbTe matrix is detected at low Ge concentrations. The observed chemical shift trends are compared with the results of DFT calculations, which confirm the linear dependence on the composition of the first-neighbor shell. The data enable determination of the composition of various phases in multiphase telluride materials. They also provide estimates of the 125Te chemical shifts of GeTe and SnTe (+970 and +400±150 ppm, respectively, from PbTe), which are otherwise difficult to access due to Knight shifts of many hundreds of ppm in neat GeTe and SnTe.« less

Thermochemical properties of silver tellurides including empressite (AgTe) and phase diagrams for Ag-Te and Ag-Te-O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voronin, Mikhail V.; Osadchii, Evgeniy G.; Brichkina, Ekaterina A.

2017-10-01

This study compiles original experimental and literature data on the thermodynamic properties (ΔfG°, S°, ΔfH°) of silver tellurides (α-Ag2Te, β-Ag2Te, Ag1.9Te, Ag5Te3, AgTe) obtained by the method of solid-state galvanic cell with the RbAg4I5 and AgI solid electrolytes. The thermodynamic data for empressite (AgTe, pure fraction from Empress Josephine Mine, Colorado USA) have been obtained for the first time by the electrochemical experiment with the virtual reaction Ag + Te = AgTe. The Ag-Te phase diagrams in the T - x and log fTe2 (gas) - 1/ T coordinates have been refined, and the ternary Ag-Te-O diagrams with Ag-Te-TeO2 (paratellurite) composition range have been calculated.

Pair Production Induced by Ultrashort and Ultraintense Laser Pulses in Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Yue-E.; Wang, Xue-Wen; Wang, Yuan-Sheng; Ji, Shen-Tong; Yu, Hong

2018-06-01

The probability of Schwinger pair production is calculated, which is induced by an ultraintense and ultrashort laser pulse propagating in a plasma. The dependence of the probability on the amplitude of the laser pulse and the frequency of plasmas is analyzed. Particularly, the effect of the pulse duration on the probability is discussed, by introducing a pulse-shape function to describe the temporal shape of the laser pulse. The results show that a laser with shorter pulse is more efficient in pair production. The probability of pair production increases when the order of the duration is comparable to the period of a laser.

Ultrashort electron pulses as a four-dimensional diagnosis of plasma dynamics.

PubMed

Zhu, P F; Zhang, Z C; Chen, L; Li, R Z; Li, J J; Wang, X; Cao, J M; Sheng, Z M; Zhang, J

2010-10-01

We report an ultrafast electron imaging system for real-time examination of ultrafast plasma dynamics in four dimensions. It consists of a femtosecond pulsed electron gun and a two-dimensional single electron detector. The device has an unprecedented capability of acquiring a high-quality shadowgraph image with a single ultrashort electron pulse, thus permitting the measurement of irreversible processes using a single-shot scheme. In a prototype experiment of laser-induced plasma of a metal target under moderate pump intensity, we demonstrated its unique capability of acquiring high-quality shadowgraph images on a micron scale with a-few-picosecond time resolution.

Te/C nanocomposites for Li-Te Secondary Batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Jeong-Uk; Seong, Gun-Kyu; Park, Cheol-Min

2015-01-01

New battery systems having high energy density are actively being researched in order to satisfy the rapidly developing market for longer-lasting mobile electronics and hybrid electric vehicles. Here, we report a new Li-Te secondary battery system with a redox potential of ~1.7 V (vs. Li+/Li) adapted on a Li metal anode and an advanced Te/C nanocomposite cathode. Using a simple concept of transforming TeO2 into nanocrystalline Te by mechanical reduction, we designed an advanced, mechanically reduced Te/C nanocomposite electrode material with high energy density (initial discharge/charge: 1088/740 mA h cm-3), excellent cyclability (ca. 705 mA h cm-3 over 100 cycles), and fast rate capability (ca. 550 mA h cm-3 at 5C rate). The mechanically reduced Te/C nanocomposite electrodes were found to be suitable for use as either the cathode in Li-Te secondary batteries or a high-potential anode in rechargeable Li-ion batteries. We firmly believe that the mechanically reduced Te/C nanocomposite constitutes a breakthrough for the realization and mass production of excellent energy storage systems.

Nonresonant interaction of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses with multilevel quantum systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belenov, E.; Isakov, V.; Nazarkin, A.

1994-01-01

Some features of the excitation of multilevel quantum systems under the action of electromagnetic pulses which are shorter than the inverse frequency of interlevel transitions are considered. It is shown that the interaction is characterized by a specific type of selectivity which is not connected with the resonant absorption of radiation. The simplest three-level model displays the inverse population of upper levels. The effect of an ultrashort laser pulse on a multilevel molecule was regarded as an instant reception of the oscillation velocity by the oscillator and this approach showed an effective excitation and dissociation of the molecule. The estimations testify to the fact that these effects can be observed using modern femtosecond lasers.

Complete wavefront and polarization control for ultrashort-pulse laser microprocessing.

PubMed

Allegre, O J; Jin, Y; Perrie, W; Ouyang, J; Fearon, E; Edwardson, S P; Dearden, G

2013-09-09

We report on new developments in wavefront and polarization control for ultrashort-pulse laser microprocessing. We use two Spatial Light Modulators in combination to structure the optical fields of a picosecond-pulse laser beam, producing vortex wavefronts and radial or azimuthal polarization states. We also carry out the first demonstration of multiple first-order beams with vortex wavefronts and radial or azimuthal polarization states, produced using Computer Generated Holograms. The beams produced are used to nano-structure a highly polished metal surface. Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structures are observed and used to directly verify the state of polarization in the focal plane and help to characterize the optical properties of the setup.

Near-infrared emission bands of TeH and TeD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fink, E. H.; Setzer, K. D.; Ramsay, D. A.; Vervloet, M.

1989-11-01

High-resolution emission spectra of TeH and TeD have been obtained in the region 4200 to 3600 cm -1 using a Bomem DA3.002 Fourier transform spectrometer. Analyses are given for the 0-0 and 1-1 bands of the X 22Π{1}/{2}-X 12Π{3}/{2} system of TeH and for the 0-0 band of TeD. In addition the 2-0 vibrational overtone bands of 130TeH, 128TeH, and 126TeH are observed and analyzed. Accurate molecular constants are given for the first time.

Single-pass, efficient type-I phase-matched frequency doubling of high-power ultrashort-pulse Yb-fiber laser using LiB_3O_5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shukla, Mukesh Kumar; Kumar, Samir; Das, Ritwick

2016-05-01

We report 48 % efficient single-pass second harmonic generation of high-power ultrashort-pulse ({≈ }250 fs) Yb-fiber laser by utilizing type-I phase matching in LiB_3O_5 (LBO) crystal. The choice of LBO among other borate crystals for high-power frequency doubling is essentially motivated by large thermal conductivity, low birefringence and weak group velocity dispersion. By optimally focussing the beam in a 4-mm-long LBO crystal, we have generated about 2.3 W of average power at 532 nm using 4.8 W of available pump power at 1064 nm. The ultrashort green pulses were found out to be near-transform limited sech^2 pulses with a pulse width of Δ τ ≈ 150 fs and being delivered at 78 MHz repetition rate. Due to appreciably low spatial walk-off angle for LBO ({≈ }0.4°), we obtain M^2<1.26 for the SH beam which signifies marginal distortion in comparison with the pump beam (M^2<1.15). We also discuss the impact of third-order optical nonlinearity of the LBO crystal on the generated ultrashort SH pulses.

Initial clinical experience with a radiation oncology dedicated open 1.0T MR‐simulation

PubMed Central

Wen, Ning; Hearshen, David; Kim, Joshua; Pantelic, Milan; Zhao, Bo; Mancell, Tina; Levin, Kenneth; Movsas, Benjamin; Chetty, Indrin J.; Siddiqui, M. Salim

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with 1.0T MR‐SIM including characterization, quality assurance (QA) program, and features necessary for treatment planning. Staffing, safety, and patient screening procedures were developed. Utilization of an external laser positioning system (ELPS) and MR‐compatible couchtop were illustrated. Spatial and volumetric analyses were conducted between CT‐SIM and MR‐SIM using a stereotactic QA phantom with known landmarks and volumes. Magnetic field inhomogeneity was determined using phase difference analysis. System‐related, in‐plane distortion was evaluated and temporal changes were assessed. 3D distortion was characterized for regions of interest (ROIs) 5–20 cm away from isocenter. American College of Radiology (ACR) recommended tests and impact of ELPS on image quality were analyzed. Combined ultrashort echotime Dixon (UTE/Dixon) sequence was evaluated. Amplitude‐triggered 4D MRI was implemented using a motion phantom (2–10 phases, ~2 cm excursion, 3–5 s periods) and a liver cancer patient. Duty cycle, acquisition time, and excursion were evaluated between maximum intensity projection (MIP) datasets. Less than 2% difference from expected was obtained between CT‐SIM and MR‐SIM volumes, with a mean distance of <0.2 mm between landmarks. Magnetic field inhomogeneity was <2 ppm. 2D distortion was <2 mm over 28.6–33.6 mm of isocenter. Within 5 cm radius of isocenter, mean 3D geometric distortion was 0.59±0.32 mm (maximum=1.65 mm) and increased 10–15 cm from isocenter (mean=1.57±1.06 mm, maximum=6.26 mm). ELPS interference was within the operating frequency of the scanner and was characterized by line patterns and a reduction in signal‐to‐noise ratio (4.6–12.6% for TE=50−150 ms). Image quality checks were within ACR recommendations. UTE/Dixon sequences yielded detectability between bone and air. For 4D MRI, faster breathing periods had higher duty cycles

125Te NMR and Seebeck Effect in Bi 2Te 3 Synthesized from Stoichiometric and Te-Rich Melts

DOE PAGES

Levin, E. M.; Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA; Riedemann, T. M.; ...

2016-10-14

Bi 2Te 3 is a well-known thermoelectric material and, as a new form of quantum matter, a topological insulator. Variation of local chemical composition in Bi2Te3 results in formation of several types of atomic defects, including Bi and Te vacancies and Bi and Te antisite defects; these defects can strongly affect material functionality via generation of free electrons and/or holes. Nonuniform distribution of atomic defects produces electronic inhomogeneity, which can be detected by 125Te nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Here we report on 125Te NMR and Seebeck effect (heat to electrical energy conversion) for two single crystalline samples: (#1) grown frommore » stoichiometric composition by Bridgman technique and (#2) grown out of Te-rich, high temperature flux. The Seebeck coefficients of these samples show p- and n-type conductivity, respectively, arising from different atomic defects. 125Te NMR spectra and spin–lattice relaxation measurements demonstrate that both Bi 2Te 3 samples are electronically inhomogeneous at the atomic scale, which can be attributed to a different Te environment due to spatial variation of the Bi/Te ratio and formation of atomic defects. In conclusion, correlations between 125Te NMR spectra, spin–lattice relaxation times, the Seebeck coefficients, carrier concentrations, and atomic defects are discussed. Our data demonstrate that 125Te NMR is an effective probe to study antisite defects in Bi 2Te 3.« less

125Te NMR and Seebeck Effect in Bi 2Te 3 Synthesized from Stoichiometric and Te-Rich Melts

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

Levin, E. M.; Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA; Riedemann, T. M.

Bi 2Te 3 is a well-known thermoelectric material and, as a new form of quantum matter, a topological insulator. Variation of local chemical composition in Bi2Te3 results in formation of several types of atomic defects, including Bi and Te vacancies and Bi and Te antisite defects; these defects can strongly affect material functionality via generation of free electrons and/or holes. Nonuniform distribution of atomic defects produces electronic inhomogeneity, which can be detected by 125Te nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Here we report on 125Te NMR and Seebeck effect (heat to electrical energy conversion) for two single crystalline samples: (#1) grown frommore » stoichiometric composition by Bridgman technique and (#2) grown out of Te-rich, high temperature flux. The Seebeck coefficients of these samples show p- and n-type conductivity, respectively, arising from different atomic defects. 125Te NMR spectra and spin–lattice relaxation measurements demonstrate that both Bi 2Te 3 samples are electronically inhomogeneous at the atomic scale, which can be attributed to a different Te environment due to spatial variation of the Bi/Te ratio and formation of atomic defects. In conclusion, correlations between 125Te NMR spectra, spin–lattice relaxation times, the Seebeck coefficients, carrier concentrations, and atomic defects are discussed. Our data demonstrate that 125Te NMR is an effective probe to study antisite defects in Bi 2Te 3.« less

Randomized, Controlled Trial of Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing Followed by Ultrashort Incubation Aminolevulinic Acid Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratosis.

PubMed

Alexiades, Macrene

2017-08-01

Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an established treatment option for actinic keratosis (AK), and recently fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser was shown to improve outcomes; but studies of short incubation photosensitizer are lacking. Assess the efficacy of short incubation ALA followed by blue light PDT with and without previous fractional CO2 treatment for the treatment of AK. Randomized, paired split-design, controlled trial of fractional CO2 followed by ultrashort 15-minute versus 30-minute incubation ALA and blue light PDT for the treatment of AK on the face. The complete clearance rates (CRs) at 8 weeks after ALA PDT with and without FxCO2 at 30- and 15-minute ALA incubation times were 89.78% (+FxCO2) versus 71.20% CR (-FxCO2) at 30', and 86.38% (+FxCO2) versus 69.23% (-FxCO2) at 15' ALA incubation. All lesion improvements were statistically significant. This randomized, comparative paired group controlled clinical study demonstrates that ultrashort 15- and 30-minute incubation ALA PDTs are of limited efficacy for the treatment of AK. Pretreatment with fractional ablative resurfacing yields statistically significant greater AK clearance with ALA-PDT at ultrashort ALA incubations followed by blue light.

Underwater acoustic wave generation by filamentation of terawatt ultrashort laser pulses.

PubMed

Jukna, Vytautas; Jarnac, Amélie; Milián, Carles; Brelet, Yohann; Carbonnel, Jérôme; André, Yves-Bernard; Guillermin, Régine; Sessarego, Jean-Pierre; Fattaccioli, Dominique; Mysyrowicz, André; Couairon, Arnaud; Houard, Aurélien

2016-06-01

Acoustic signals generated by filamentation of ultrashort terawatt laser pulses in water are characterized experimentally. Measurements reveal a strong influence of input pulse duration on the shape and intensity of the acoustic wave. Numerical simulations of the laser pulse nonlinear propagation and the subsequent water hydrodynamics and acoustic wave generation show that the strong acoustic emission is related to the mechanism of superfilamention in water. The elongated shape of the plasma volume where energy is deposited drives the far-field profile of the acoustic signal, which takes the form of a radially directed pressure wave with a single oscillation and a very broad spectrum.

FIBER AND INTEGRATED OPTICS: Compact fiber-optic compressor of ultrashort pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikitin, S. P.; Onishchukov, G. I.; Fomichev, A. A.

1992-02-01

A theoretical design of a universal compact fiber-optic compressor based on a monochromator with a spherical mirror in the plane of its exit slit was considered. Ultrashort pulses emitted by an actively mode-locked YAG:Nd3+ laser, whose spectrum was broadened in a fiber-optic waveguide, were compressed experimentally to 2.7 ns. A universal compact compressor was developed: it produced 4-ns pulses with an average radiation power of about 1 W. The dimensions of this compressor were several times smaller than those of a traditional scheme using a diffraction grating to compress pulses having an initial duration of about 100 ns.

Comparison of the ultrashort gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist-antagonist protocol with microdose flare -up protocol in poor responders: a preliminary study

PubMed Central

Berker, Bülent; Duvan, Candan İltemir; Kaya, Cemil; Aytaç, Ruşen; Şatıroğlu, Hakan

2010-01-01

Objective To determine the potential effect of the ultrashort gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist/GnRH antagonist protocol versus the microdose GnRH agonist protocol in poor responders undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Material and Methods The patients in the Agonist-Antagonist Group (n=41) were administered the ultrashort GnRH-agonist/ antagonist protocol, while the patients in the Microdose Group (n=41) were stimulated according to the microdose flare-up protocol. The mean number of mature oocytes retrieved was the primary outcome measure. Fertilization rate, implantation rate per embryo and clinical pregnancy rates were secondary outcome measures. Results There was no differenc between the mean number of mature oocytes retrieved in the two groups. There were also no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of peak serum E2 level, canceled cycles, endometrial thickness on hCG day, number of 2 pronucleus and number of embryos transferred. However, the total gonadotropin consumption and duration of stimulation were significantly higher with the Agonist-Antagonist Group compared with the Microdose Group. The implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were similar between the two groups. Conclusion Despite the high dose of gonadotropin consumption and longer duration of stimulation with the ultrashort GnRH agonist/ antagonist protocol, it seems that the Agonist-Antagonist Protocol is not inferior to the microdose protocol in poor responders undergoing ICSI. PMID:24591934

Comparison of the ultrashort gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist-antagonist protocol with microdose flare -up protocol in poor responders: a preliminary study.

PubMed

Berker, Bülent; Duvan, Candan İltemir; Kaya, Cemil; Aytaç, Ruşen; Satıroğlu, Hakan

2010-01-01

To determine the potential effect of the ultrashort gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist/GnRH antagonist protocol versus the microdose GnRH agonist protocol in poor responders undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The patients in the Agonist-Antagonist Group (n=41) were administered the ultrashort GnRH-agonist/ antagonist protocol, while the patients in the Microdose Group (n=41) were stimulated according to the microdose flare-up protocol. The mean number of mature oocytes retrieved was the primary outcome measure. Fertilization rate, implantation rate per embryo and clinical pregnancy rates were secondary outcome measures. There was no differenc between the mean number of mature oocytes retrieved in the two groups. There were also no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of peak serum E2 level, canceled cycles, endometrial thickness on hCG day, number of 2 pronucleus and number of embryos transferred. However, the total gonadotropin consumption and duration of stimulation were significantly higher with the Agonist-Antagonist Group compared with the Microdose Group. The implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were similar between the two groups. Despite the high dose of gonadotropin consumption and longer duration of stimulation with the ultrashort GnRH agonist/ antagonist protocol, it seems that the Agonist-Antagonist Protocol is not inferior to the microdose protocol in poor responders undergoing ICSI.

Partial Pressures of Te2 and Thermodynamic Properties of Ga-Te System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Su, Ching-Hua; Curreri, Peter A. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The partial pressures of Te2 in equilibrium with Ga(1-x)Te(x) samples were measured by optical absorption technique from 450 to 1100 C for compositions, x, between 0.333 and 0.612. To establish the relationship between the partial pressure of Te, and the measured optical absorbance, the calibration runs of a pure Te sample were also conducted to determine the Beer's Law constants. The partial pressures of Te2 in equilibrium with the GaTe(s) and Ga2Te3(s)compounds, or the so-called three-phase curves, were established. These partial pressure data imply the existence of the Ga3Te4(s) compound. From the partial pressures of Te2 over the Ga-Te melts, partial molar enthalpy and entropy of mixing for Te were derived and they agree reasonable well with the published data. The activities of Te in the Ga-Te melts were also derived from the measured partial pressures of Te2. These data agree well with most of the previous results. The possible reason for the high activity of Te measured for x less than 0.60 is discussed.

Development of experimental techniques for the characterization of ultrashort photon pulses of extreme ultraviolet free-electron lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Düsterer, S.; Rehders, M.; Al-Shemmary, A.; Behrens, C.; Brenner, G.; Brovko, O.; DellAngela, M.; Drescher, M.; Faatz, B.; Feldhaus, J.; Frühling, U.; Gerasimova, N.; Gerken, N.; Gerth, C.; Golz, T.; Grebentsov, A.; Hass, E.; Honkavaara, K.; Kocharian, V.; Kurka, M.; Limberg, Th.; Mitzner, R.; Moshammer, R.; Plönjes, E.; Richter, M.; Rönsch-Schulenburg, J.; Rudenko, A.; Schlarb, H.; Schmidt, B.; Senftleben, A.; Schneidmiller, E. A.; Siemer, B.; Sorgenfrei, F.; Sorokin, A. A.; Stojanovic, N.; Tiedtke, K.; Treusch, R.; Vogt, M.; Wieland, M.; Wurth, W.; Wesch, S.; Yan, M.; Yurkov, M. V.; Zacharias, H.; Schreiber, S.

2014-12-01

One of the most challenging tasks for extreme ultraviolet, soft and hard x-ray free-electron laser photon diagnostics is the precise determination of the photon pulse duration, which is typically in the sub 100 fs range. Nine different methods, able to determine such ultrashort photon pulse durations, were compared experimentally at FLASH, the self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser at DESY in Hamburg, in order to identify advantages and disadvantages of different methods. Radiation pulses at a wavelength of 13.5 and 24.0 nm together with the corresponding electron bunch duration were measured by indirect methods like analyzing spectral correlations, statistical fluctuations, and energy modulations of the electron bunch and also by direct methods like autocorrelation techniques, terahertz streaking, or reflectivity changes of solid state samples. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of the various techniques and a comparison of the individual experimental results. The information gained is of utmost importance for the future development of reliable pulse duration monitors indispensable for successful experiments with ultrashort extreme ultraviolet pulses.

Precision resection of intestine using ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beck, Rainer J.; Gora, Wojciech S.; Jayne, David; Hand, Duncan P.; Shephard, Jonathan D.

2016-03-01

Endoscopic resection of early colorectal neoplasms typically employs electrocautery tools, which lack precision and run the risk of full thickness thermal injury to the bowel wall with subsequent perforation. We present a means of endoluminal colonic ablation using picosecond laser pulses as a potential alternative to mitigate these limitations. High intensity ultrashort laser pulses enable nonlinear absorption processes, plasma generation, and as a consequence a predominantly non-thermal ablation regimen. Robust process parameters for the laser resection are demonstrated using fresh ex vivo pig intestine samples. Square cavities with comparable thickness to early colorectal neoplasms are removed for a wavelength of 1030 nm and 515 nm using a picosecond laser system. The corresponding histology sections exhibit in both cases only minimal collateral damage to the surrounding tissue. The ablation depth can be controlled precisely by means of the pulse energy. Overall, the application of ultrafast lasers for the resection of intestine enables significantly improved precision and reduced thermal damage to the surrounding tissue compared to conventional electrocautery.

Photoelectron emission from LiF surfaces by ultrashort electromagnetic pulses

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

Acuna, M. A.; Gravielle, M. S.; Departamento de Fisica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires

2011-03-15

Energy- and angle-resolved electron emission spectra produced by incidence of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses on a LiF(001) surface are studied by employing a distorted-wave method named the crystal surface-Volkov (CSV) approximation. The theory makes use of the Volkov phase to describe the action of the external electric field on the emitted electron, while the electron-surface interaction is represented within the tight-binding model. The CSV approach is applied to investigate the effects introduced by the crystal lattice when the electric field is oriented parallel to the surface plane. These effects are essentially governed by the vector potential of the external field, whilemore » the influence of the crystal orientation was found to be negligible.« less

Ultrashort laser pulse driven inverse free electron laser accelerator experiment

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

Moody, J. T.; Anderson, S. G.; Anderson, G.

In this paper we discuss the ultrashort pulse high gradient Inverse Free Electron laser accelerator experiment carried out at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory which demonstrated gra- dients exceeding 200 MV/m using a 4 TW 100 fs long 800 nm Ti:Sa laser pulse. Due to the short laser and electron pulse lengths, synchronization was determined to be one of the main challenges in this experiment. This made necessary the implementation of a single-shot, non destructive, electro-optic sampling based diagnostics to enable time-stamping of each laser accelerator shot with < 100 fs accuracy. The results of this experiment are expected tomore » pave the way towards the development of future GeV-class IFEL accelerators.« less

Ultrashort laser pulse driven inverse free electron laser accelerator experiment

DOE PAGES

Moody, J. T.; Anderson, S. G.; Anderson, G.; ...

2016-02-29

In this paper we discuss the ultrashort pulse high gradient Inverse Free Electron laser accelerator experiment carried out at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory which demonstrated gra- dients exceeding 200 MV/m using a 4 TW 100 fs long 800 nm Ti:Sa laser pulse. Due to the short laser and electron pulse lengths, synchronization was determined to be one of the main challenges in this experiment. This made necessary the implementation of a single-shot, non destructive, electro-optic sampling based diagnostics to enable time-stamping of each laser accelerator shot with < 100 fs accuracy. The results of this experiment are expected tomore » pave the way towards the development of future GeV-class IFEL accelerators.« less

Geologic framework of pre-Cretaceous rocks in the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and adjacent areas, southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Condon, Steven M.

1992-01-01

This report is a discussion and summary of Jurassic and older rocks in the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and adjacent areas, southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico, and is based on analysis of geophysical logs and observations of outcrops. The Reservation, which is located in the northern San Juan Basin, has been the site of deposition of sediments for much of the Phanerozoic. Geologic times represented on the Reservation are the Precambrian, Cambrian, Devonian, Mississippian, Pennsylvanian, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Quaternary. Rocks of Ordovician and Silurian age have not been reported in this region. Thicknesses of pre-Cretaceous sedimentary rocks range from about 750 feet (229 meters) on the Archuleta arch, east of the Reservation, to more than 8,300 feet (2,530 meters) just northwest of the Reservation. About 5,500 feet (1,676 meters) of pre-Cretaceous sedimentary rocks occur in the central part of the Reservation, near Ignacio. At Ignacio the top of the Jurassic lies at a depth of 7,600 feet (2,316 meters) below the surface, which is composed of Tertiary rocks. As much as 2,500 feet (762 meters) of Tertiary rocks occur in the area. More than 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) of Cretaceous and younger rocks, and 15,600 feet (4,755 meters) of all Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks occur in the vicinity of the Reservation. In the early Paleozoic the area that includes the Southern Ute Reservation was on the stable western shelf of the craton. During this time sediments that compose the following shallow-marine clastic and carbonate rocks were deposited: the Upper Cambrian Ignacio Quartzite (0-150 feet; 0-46 meters), Upper Devonian Elbert Formation (50-200 feet; 15-61 meters), Upper Devonian Ouray Limestone (10-75 feet; 3-23 meters), and Mississippian Leadville Limestone (0-250 feet; 0-76 meters). Mixed carbonate and clastic deposition, which was punctuated by a unique episode of deposition of evaporite sediments, continued through

Depolarization of an Ultrashort Pulse in a Disordered Ensemble of Mie Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorodnichev, E. E.; Ivliev, S. V.; Kuzovlev, A. I.; Rogozkin, D. B.

2017-12-01

We study propagation of an ultrashort pulse of polarized light through a turbid medium with the Reynolds-McCormick phase function. Within the basic mode approach to the vector radiative transfer equation, the temporal profile of the degree of polarization is calculated analytically with the use of the small-angle approximation. The degree of polarization is shown to be described by the self-similar dependence on some combination of the transport scattering coefficient, the temporal delay and the sample thickness. Our results are in excellent agreement with the data of numerical simulations carried out previously for aqueous suspension of polystyrene microspheres.

Simulation of a Radio-Frequency Photogun for the Generation of Ultrashort Beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikiforov, D. A.; Levichev, A. E.; Barnyakov, A. M.; Andrianov, A. V.; Samoilov, S. L.

2018-04-01

A radio-frequency photogun for the generation of ultrashort electron beams to be used in fast electron diffractoscopy, wakefield acceleration experiments, and the design of accelerating structures of the millimeter range is modeled. The beam parameters at the photogun output needed for each type of experiment are determined. The general outline of the photogun is given, its electrodynamic parameters are calculated, and the accelerating field distribution is obtained. The particle dynamics is analyzed in the context of the required output beam parameters. The optimal initial beam characteristics and field amplitudes are chosen. A conclusion is made regarding the obtained beam parameters.

Relativistic Electron Acceleration with Ultrashort Mid-IR Laser Pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feder, Linus; Woodbury, Daniel; Shumakova, Valentina; Gollner, Claudia; Miao, Bo; Schwartz, Robert; Pugžlys, Audrius; Baltuška, Andrius; Milchberg, Howard

2017-10-01

We report the first results of laser plasma wakefield acceleration driven by ultrashort mid-infrared laser pulses (λ = 3.9 μm , pulsewidth 100 fs, energy <20 mJ, peak power <1 TW), which enables near- and above-critical density interactions with moderate-density gas jets. We present thresholds for electron acceleration based on critical parameters for relativistic self-focusing and target width, as well as trends in the accelerated beam profiles, charge and energy spectra which are supported by 3D particle-in-cell simulations. These results extend earlier work with sub-TW self-modulated laser wakefield acceleration using near IR drivers to the Mid-IR, and enable us to capture time-resolved images of relativistic self-focusing of the laser pulse. This work supported by DOE (DESC0010706TDD, DESC0015516); AFOSR(FA95501310044, FA95501610121); NSF(PHY1535519); DHS.

Infrared and near infrared emission spectra of TeH and TeD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Shanshan; Shayesteh, Alireza; Fu, Dejian; Bernath, Peter F.

2005-04-01

The vibration-rotation emission spectra for the X2Π ground state and the near infrared emission spectra of the X2Π 1/2- X2Π 3/2 system of the TeH and TeD free radicals have been measured at high resolution using a Fourier transform spectrometer. TeH and TeD were generated in a tube furnace with a DC discharge of a flowing mixture of argon, hydrogen (or deuterium), and tellurium vapor. In the infrared region, for the X2Π 3/2 spin component we observed the 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 vibrational bands for most of the eight isotopologues of TeH and the 1-0 and 2-1 bands for three isotopologues of TeD. For the X2Π 1/2- X2Π 3/2 transition, we observed the 0-0 and 1-1 bands for TeH and the 0-0, 1-1, and 2-2 bands for TeD. Except for a few lines, the tellurium isotopic shift was not resolved for the X2Π 1/2- X2Π 3/2 transitions of TeH and TeD. Local perturbations with Δ v = 2 between the two spin components of the X2Π state of TeH were found: X2Π 1/2, v = 0 with X2Π 3/2, v = 2; X2Π 1/2, v = 1 with X2Π 3/2, v = 3. The new data were combined with the previous data from the literature and two kinds of fits (Hund's case (a) and Hund's case (c)) were carried out for each of the 10 observed isotopologues: 130TeD, 128TeD, 126TeD, 130TeH, 128TeH, 126TeH, 125TeH, 124TeH, 123TeH, and 122TeH.

Ultra-short silicon MMI duplexer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Huaxiang; Huang, Yawen; Wang, Xingjun; Zhou, Zhiping

2012-11-01

The fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) systems are growing fast these days, where two different wavelengths are used for upstream and downstream traffic, typically 1310nm and 1490nm. The duplexers are the key elements to separate these wavelengths into different path in central offices (CO) and optical network unit (ONU) in passive optical network (PON). Multimode interference (MMI) has some benefits to be a duplexer including large fabrication tolerance, low-temperature dependence, and low-polarization dependence, but its size is too large to integrate in conventional case. Based on the silicon photonics platform, ultra-short silicon MMI duplexer was demonstrated to separate the 1310nm and 1490nm lights. By studying the theory of self-image phenomena in MMI, the first order images are adopted in order to keep the device short. A cascaded MMI structure was investigated to implement the wavelength splitting, where both the light of 1310nm and 1490nm was input from the same port, and the 1490nm light was coupling cross the first MMI and output at the cross-port in the device while the 1310nm light was coupling through the first and second MMI and output at the bar-port in the device. The experiment was carried on with the SOI wafer of 340nm top silicon. The cascaded MMI was investigated to fold the length of the duplexer as short as 117μm with the extinct ratio over 10dB.

Electrical properties of MIS devices on CdZnTe/HgCdTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Tae-Seok; Jeoung, Y. T.; Kim, Hyun Kyu; Kim, Jae Mook; Song, Jinhan; Ann, S. Y.; Lee, Ji Y.; Kim, Young Hun; Kim, Sun-Ung; Park, Mann-Jang; Lee, S. D.; Suh, Sang-Hee

1998-10-01

In this paper, we report the capacitance-voltage (C-V) properties of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) devices on CdTe/HgCdTe by the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and CdZnTe/HgCdTe by thermal evaporation. In MOCVD, CdTe layers are directly grown on HgCdTe using the metal organic sources of DMCd and DiPTe. HgCdTe layers are converted to n-type and the carrier concentration, ND is low 1015 cm-3 after Hg-vacancy annealing at 260 degrees Celsius. In thermal evaporation, CdZnTe passivation layers were deposited on HgCdTe surfaces after the surfaces were etched with 0.5 - 2.0% bromine in methanol solution. To investigate the electrical properties of the MIS devices, the C-V measurement is conducted at 80 K and 1 MHz. C-V curve of MIS devices on CdTe/HgCdTe by MOCVD has shown nearly flat band condition and large hysteresis, which is inferred to result from many defects in CdTe layer induced during Hg-vacancy annealing process. A negative flat band voltage (VFB approximately equals -2 V) and a small hysteresis have been observed for MIS devices on CdZnTe/HgCdTe by thermal evaporation. It is inferred that the negative flat band voltage results from residual Te4+ on the surface after etching with bromine in methanol solution.

Graphics-processing-unit-accelerated finite-difference time-domain simulation of the interaction between ultrashort laser pulses and metal nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikolskiy, V. P.; Stegailov, V. V.

2018-01-01

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) serve as important tools for many modern technologies. However, the proper microscopic models of the interaction between ultrashort laser pulses and metal NPs are currently not very well developed in many cases. One part of the problem is the description of the warm dense matter that is formed in NPs after intense irradiation. Another part of the problem is the description of the electromagnetic waves around NPs. Description of wave propagation requires the solution of Maxwell’s equations and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is the classic approach for solving them. There are many commercial and free implementations of FDTD, including the open source software that supports graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration. In this report we present the results on the FDTD calculations for different cases of the interaction between ultrashort laser pulses and metal nanoparticles. Following our previous results, we analyze the efficiency of the GPU acceleration of the FDTD algorithm.

Prompt increase of ultrashort laser pulse transmission through thin silver films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bezhanov, S. G.; Danilov, P. A.; Klekovkin, A. V.; Kudryashov, S. I.; Rudenko, A. A.; Uryupin, S. A.

2018-03-01

We study experimentally and numerically the increase in ultrashort laser pulse transmissivity through thin silver films caused by the heating of electrons. Low to moderate energy femtosecond laser pulse transmission measurements through 40-125 nm thickness silver films were carried out. We compare the experimental data with the values of transmitted fraction of energy obtained by solving the equations for the field together with the two-temperature model. The measured values were fitted with sufficient accuracy by varying the electron-electron collision frequency whose exact values are usually poorly known. Since transmissivity experiences more pronounced changes with the increase in temperature compared to reflectivity, we suggest this technique for studying the properties of nonequilibrium metals.

Superstructures at Te/Au(111) interface evolving upon increasing Te coverage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Jiaqi; Huang, Xiaochun; Xu, Xiaofeng; Zhang, Shuyuan; Jia, Xun; Zhu, Xuetao; Wang, Weihua; Guo, Jiandong

2018-03-01

By in-situ low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, we systematically investigated the superstructure evolution at Te/Au(111) interface upon increasing Te coverage. Te atoms form one-dimensional √{ 3} R30∘ chains at ∼0.10 monolayer (ML) coverage. Two two-dimensional chiral superstructures, (√{ 111} ×√{ 111}) R 4 .7∘ and (3√{ 21} × 3√{ 21}) R 10 .9∘ , are selectively formed with the Te coverage below and above 1/3 ML, respectively. The two chiral superstructures can be converted to each other reversibly by adding Te atoms or moderately annealing. A honeycomb-like superstructure, decorated with adatoms that are distributed in quasi-one-dimensional chains, is observed by further increasing the Te coverage to 4/9 ML. At the Te/Au(111) interface, an interfacial state at -0.65 eV to -0.55 eV below the Fermi level is also resolved by scanning tunneling spectroscopy. The formation of these Te-induced high-order superstructures is accompanied by relaxation of gold atoms in the surface layer, indicating a strong Te-Au interaction. Our work demonstrates a reliable method to fabricate Te nanostructures on noble metals in a controlled way.

Thermodynamic characterization of Ni3TeO6, Ni2Te3O8 and NiTe2O5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dawar, Rimpi; Babu, R.; Ananthasivan, K.; Anthonysamy, S.

2017-09-01

Measurement of vapour pressure of TeO2(g) over the biphasic mixture Ni3TeO6 (s) + NiO(s) in the temperature range 1143-1272 K was carried out using transpiration-thermogravimetric technique (TTG). Gibbs energy of formation of Ni3TeO6 was obtained from the temperature dependence of vapour pressure of TeO2 (g) generated by the incongruent vapourisation reaction, Ni3TeO6 (s) → NiO(s) + TeO2 (g) + 1/2 O2 in the temperature range 1143-1272 K. An isoperibol type drop calorimeter was used to measure the enthalpy increments of Ni3TeO6, Ni2Te3O8 and NiTe2O5. Thermodynamic functions viz., heat capacity, entropy and Gibbs energy functions of these compounds were derived from the experimentally measured enthalpy increment values. Third-law analysis was carried out to ascertain absence of temperature dependent systematic errors in the measurement of vapour pressure of TeO2 (g). A value of -1265.1 ± 1.5 kJ mol-1 was obtained for Δ Hf,298K o (Ni3TeO6) using third-law analysis.

Raman characterization of a new Te-rich binary compound: CdTe2.

PubMed

Rousset, Jean; Rzepka, Edouard; Lincot, Daniel

2009-04-02

Structural characterization by Raman spectroscopy of CdTe thin films electrodeposited in acidic conditions is considered in this work. This study focuses on the evolution of material properties as a function of the applied potential and the film thickness, demonstrating the possibility to obtain a new Te-rich compound with a II/VI ratio of 1/2 under specific bath conditions. Raman measurements carried out on etched samples first allow the elimination of the assumption of a mixture of phases CdTe + Te and tend to confirm the formation of the CdTe(2) binary compound. The signature of this phase on the Raman spectrum is the increase of the LO band intensity compared to that obtained for the CdTe. The influence of the laser power is also considered. While no effect is observed on CdTe films, the increase of the incident irradiation power leads to the decomposition of the CdTe(2) compound into two more stable phases namely CdTe and Te.

Motion robust high resolution 3D free-breathing pulmonary MRI using dynamic 3D image self-navigator.

PubMed

Jiang, Wenwen; Ong, Frank; Johnson, Kevin M; Nagle, Scott K; Hope, Thomas A; Lustig, Michael; Larson, Peder E Z

2018-06-01

To achieve motion robust high resolution 3D free-breathing pulmonary MRI utilizing a novel dynamic 3D image navigator derived directly from imaging data. Five-minute free-breathing scans were acquired with a 3D ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequence with 1.25 mm isotropic resolution. From this data, dynamic 3D self-navigating images were reconstructed under locally low rank (LLR) constraints and used for motion compensation with one of two methods: a soft-gating technique to penalize the respiratory motion induced data inconsistency, and a respiratory motion-resolved technique to provide images of all respiratory motion states. Respiratory motion estimation derived from the proposed dynamic 3D self-navigator of 7.5 mm isotropic reconstruction resolution and a temporal resolution of 300 ms was successful for estimating complex respiratory motion patterns. This estimation improved image quality compared to respiratory belt and DC-based navigators. Respiratory motion compensation with soft-gating and respiratory motion-resolved techniques provided good image quality from highly undersampled data in volunteers and clinical patients. An optimized 3D UTE sequence combined with the proposed reconstruction methods can provide high-resolution motion robust pulmonary MRI. Feasibility was shown in patients who had irregular breathing patterns in which our approach could depict clinically relevant pulmonary pathologies. Magn Reson Med 79:2954-2967, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Evaluation and reduction of magnetic resonance imaging artifacts induced by distinct plates for osseous fixation: an in vitro study @ 3T.

PubMed

Rendenbach, Carsten; Schoellchen, Maximilian; Bueschel, Julie; Gauer, Tobias; Sedlacik, Jan; Kutzner, Daniel; Vallittu, Pekka K; Heiland, Max; Smeets, Ralf; Fiehler, Jens; Siemonsen, Susanne

2018-05-02

To analyze Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) artifact induced at 3 Tesla by bioresorbable, titanium and glass fiber reinforced composite (GFRC) plates for osseous reconstruction. Fixation plates including bioresorbable polymers (Inion CPS, Inion Oy, Tampere, Finland; Rapidsorb, DePuy Synthes, Umkirch, Germany; Resorb X, Gebrueder KLS Martin GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany), Glass fiber reinforced composite (Skulle Implants Oy, Turku, Finland) and titanium plates of varying thickness and design (DePuy Synthes, Umkirch, Germany) were embedded in agarose gel and a 3T MRI was performed using a standard protocol for head and neck imaging including T1w and T2w sequences. Additionally, different artifact reducing sequence techniques (slice encoding for metal artifact reduction (SEMAC) & ultrashort echotime (UTE)) were used and their impact on the extent of artifacts evaluated for each material. All titanium plates induced significantly more artefacts than resorbable plates in T1w and T2w sequences. Glass fiber-reinforced composites induced the least artefacts in both sequences. The total extent of artefacts increased with plate thickness and height. Plate thickness had no influence on the percentage of overestimation in all three dimensions. Titanium induced artefacts were significantly reduced by both artifact reducing sequence techniques. Polylactide, glass fiber-reinforced composite and magnesium plates produce less susceptibility artefacts in MRI compared to titanium, while the dimensions of titanium plates directly influence artifact extension. SEMAC and UTE significantly reduce metal artefacts at the expense of image resolution.

Ultrashort Phenomena in Biochemistry and Biological Signaling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Splinter, Robert

2014-11-01

In biological phenomena there are indications that within the long pulse-length of the action potential on millisecond scale, there is additional ultrashort perturbation encoding that provides the brain with detailed information about the origin (location) and physiological characteristics. The objective is to identify the mechanism-of-action providing the potential for encoding in biological signal propagation. The actual molecular processes involved in the initiation of the action potential have been identified to be in the femtosecond and pico-second scale. The depolarization process of the cellular membrane itself, leading to the onset of the actionpotential that is transmitted to the brain, however is in the millisecond timeframe. One example of the femtosecond chemical interaction is the photoresponse of bacteriorhodopsin. No clear indication for the spatial encoding has so far been verified. Further research will be required on a cellular signal analysis level to confirm or deny the spatial and physiological encoding in the signal wave-trains of intercellular communications and sensory stimuli. The pathological encoding process for cardiac depolarization is however very pronounced and validated, however this electro-chemical process is in the millisecond amplitude and frequency modulation spectrum.

0.4-1.4 μm Visible to Near-Infrared Widely Broadened Super Continuum Generation with Er-doped Ultrashort Pulse Fiber Laser System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishizawa, Norihiko; Mitsuzawa, Hideyuki; Sumimura, Kazuhiko

2009-03-01

Visible to near-infrared widely broadened super continuum generation is demonstrated using ultrashort-pulse fiber laser system. Er-doped fiber chirped-pulse amplification system operated at 1550 nm in wavelength is used for the amplifier system, which generated ultrashort-pulse of 112 fs in FWHM with output power of 160 mW, on average. Almost pedestal free 200 fs second harmonic generation pulse is generated at 780 nm region using periodically poled LiNbO3 and conversion efficiency is as high as 37%. 0.45-1.40 μm widely broadened super continuum is generated in highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber and spectrum flatness is within ±6 dB. All of the fiber devices are fusion spliced so that this system shows a good stability.

Designing Diameter-Modulated Heterostructure Nanowires of PbTe/Te by Controlled Dewetting.

PubMed

Kumar, Abinash; Kundu, Subhajit; Samantaray, Debadarshini; Kundu, Paromita; Zanaga, Daniele; Bals, Sara; Ravishankar, N

2017-12-13

Heterostructures consisting of semiconductors with controlled morphology and interfaces find applications in many fields. A range of axial, radial, and diameter-modulated nanostructures have been synthesized primarily using vapor phase methods. Here, we present a simple wet chemical routine to synthesize heterostructures of PbTe/Te using Te nanowires as templates. A morphology evolution study for the formation of these heterostructures has been performed. On the basis of these control experiments, a pathway for the formation of these nanostructures is proposed. Reduction of a Pb precursor to Pb on Te nanowire templates followed by interdiffusion of Pb/Te leads to the formation of a thin shell of PbTe on the Te wires. Controlled dewetting of the thin shell leads to the formation of cube-shaped PbTe that is periodically arranged on the Te wires. Using control experiments, we show that different reactions parameters like rate of addition of the reducing agent, concentration of Pb precursor and thickness of initial Te nanowire play a critical role in controlling the spacing between the PbTe cubes on the Te wires. Using simple surface energy arguments, we propose a mechanism for the formation of the hybrid. The principles presented are general and can be exploited for the synthesis of other nanoscale heterostructures.

ZnTe Alloying Effect on Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of p-Type PbTe.

PubMed

Ahn, Kyunghan; Shin, Hocheol; Im, Jino; Park, Sang Hyun; Chung, In

2017-02-01

We investigate the effect of ZnTe incorporation on PbTe to enhance thermoelectric performance. We report structural, microscopic, and spectroscopic characterizations, ab initio theoretical calculations, and thermoelectric transport properties of Pb 0.985 Na 0.015 Te-x% ZnTe (x = 0, 1, 2, 4). We find that the solid solubility limit of ZnTe in PbTe is less than 1 mol %. The introduction of 2% ZnTe in p-type Pb 0.985 Na 0.015 Te reduces the lattice thermal conductivity through the ZnTe precipitates at the microscale. Consequently, a maximum thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 1.73 at 700 K is achieved for the spark plasma-sintered Pb 0.985 Na 0.015 Te-2% ZnTe, which arises from a decreased lattice thermal conductivity of ∼0.69 W m -1 K -1 at ∼700 K in comparison with Pb 0.985 Na 0.015 Te.

The Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulation of Electrochemical Micromachining Using Ultrashort Pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozak, J.; Gulbinowicz, D.; Gulbinowicz, Z.

2009-05-01

The need for complex and accurate three dimensional (3-D) microcomponents is increasing rapidly for many industrial and consumer products. Electrochemical machining process (ECM) has the potential of generating desired crack-free and stress-free surfaces of microcomponents. This paper reports a study of pulse electrochemical micromachining (PECMM) using ultrashort (nanoseconds) pulses for generating complex 3-D microstructures of high accuracy. A mathematical model of the microshaping process with taking into consideration unsteady phenomena in electrical double layer has been developed. The software for computer simulation of PECM has been developed and the effects of machining parameters on anodic localization and final shape of machined surface are presented.

Limits of applicability of a two-temperature model under nonuniform heating of metal by an ultrashort laser pulse

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

Polyakov, D S; Yakovlev, E B

The heating of metals (silver and aluminium) by ultrashort laser pulses is analysed proceeding from a spatially nonuniform kinetic equation for the electron distribution function. The electron subsystem thermalisation is estimated in a wide range of absorbed pulse energy density. The limits of applicability are determined for the two-temperature model. (interaction of laser radiation with matter)

The structure of {sup 117}Te and {sup 118}Te and collectivity in {sup 118}Te

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

Duyar, C.; Draper, J.E.; Rubel, E.C.

1993-10-01

The reactions {sup 82}Se({sup 40}Ar,5n) and {sup 76}Ge({sup 48}Ca, 6 n) (beam energies 180MeV and 190MeV, respectively) were used to populate high spins states of {sup 117}Te and {sup 118}Te, respectively. {gamma} - {gamma} coincidences, E{sub gamma}, and coincidence I{sub gamma} have been measured. Angular correlation/distribution analysis has been made. {sup 117}Te has been extended to spin {approximately} 51/2. Our results do not support the two isolated bands found by Sharma et al. {sup 118}Te has been also extended to spin {approximately}22. A rotational band was found in {sup 118}Te with an average J {approximately}42h{sup 2}/MeV, corresponding to a {Beta}more » {approximately} 0.2.« less

Atomic and molecular dynamics triggered by ultrashort light pulses on the atto- to picosecond time scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pabst, Stefan

2013-04-01

Time-resolved investigations of ultrafast electronic and molecular dynamics were not possible until recently. The typical time scale of these processes is in the picosecond to attosecond realm. The tremendous technological progress in recent years made it possible to generate ultrashort pulses, which can be used to trigger, to watch, and to control atomic and molecular motion. This tutorial focuses on experimental and theoretical advances which are used to study the dynamics of electrons and molecules in the presence of ultrashort pulses. In the first part, the rotational dynamics of molecules, which happens on picosecond and femtosecond time scales, is reviewed. Well-aligned molecules are particularly suitable for angle-dependent investigations like x-ray diffraction or strong-field ionization experiments. In the second part, the ionization dynamics of atoms is studied. The characteristic time scale lies, here, in the attosecond to few-femtosecond regime. Although a one-particle picture has been successfully applied to many processes, many-body effects do constantly occur. After a broad overview of the main mechanisms and the most common tools in attosecond physics, examples of many-body dynamics in the attosecond world (e.g., in high-harmonic generation and attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy) are discussed.

Propagation of an ultrashort, intense laser pulse in a relativistic plasma

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

Ritchie, B.; Decker, C.D.

1997-12-31

A Maxwell-relativistic fluid model is developed for the propagation of an ultrashort, intense laser pulse through an underdense plasma. The separability of plasma and optical frequencies ({omega}{sub p} and {omega} respectively) for small {omega}{sub p}/{omega} is not assumed; thus the validity of multiple-scales theory (MST) can be tested. The theory is valid when {omega}{sub p}/{omega} is of order unity or for cases in which {omega}{sub p}/{omega} {much_lt} 1 but strongly relativistic motion causes higher-order plasma harmonics to be generated which overlap the region of the first-order laser harmonic, such that MST would not expected to be valid although its principalmore » validity criterion {omega}{sub p}/{omega} {much_lt} 1 holds.« less

Interference-Free and Interference-Dominated Photoionization: Synthesis of Ultrashort and Coherent Single-Electron Wave Packets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cajiao Vélez, F.; Kamiński, J. Z.; Krajewska, K.

2018-04-01

Ionization of hydrogen-like ions driven by intense, short, and circularly-polarized laser pulses is considered under the scope of the relativistic strong-field approximation. We show that the energy spectra of photoelectrons can exhibit two types of structures, i.e., interference-dominated or interference-free ones. These structures are analyzed in connection to the time-dependent ponderomotive energy of electrons in the laser field. A possibility of synthesis of ultrashort single-electron pulses from those structures is also investigated.

Kron-Branin modelling of ultra-short pulsed signal microelectrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zhifei; Ravelo, Blaise; Liu, Yang; Zhao, Lu; Delaroche, Fabien; Vurpillot, Francois

2018-06-01

An uncommon circuit modelling of microelectrode for ultra-short signal propagation is developed. The proposed model is based on the Tensorial Analysis of Network (TAN) using the Kron-Branin (KB) formalism. The systemic graph topology equivalent to the considered structure problem is established by assuming as unknown variables the branch currents. The TAN mathematical solution is determined after the KB characteristic matrix identification. The TAN can integrate various structure physical parameters. As proof of concept, via hole ended microelectrodes implemented on Kapton substrate were designed, fabricated and tested. The 0.1-MHz-to-6-GHz S-parameter KB model, simulation and measurement are in good agreement. In addition, time-domain analyses with nanosecond duration pulse signals were carried out to predict the microelectrode signal integrity. The modelled microstrip electrode is usually integrated in the atom probe tomography. The proposed unfamiliar KB method is particularly beneficial with respect to the computation speed and adaptability to various structures.

Optical circular deflector with attosecond resolution for ultrashort electron beam

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Zhen; Du, Yingchao; Tang, Chuanxiang; ...

2017-05-25

A novel method using high-power laser as a circular deflector is proposed for the measurement of femtosecond (fs) and sub-fs electron beam. In the scheme, the electron beam interacts with a laser pulse operating in a radially polarized doughnut mode ( TEM 01 * ) in a helical undulator, generating angular kicks along the beam in two directions at the same time. The phase difference between the two angular kicks makes the beam form a ring after a propagation section with appropriate phase advance, which can reveal the current profile of the electron beam. Detailed theoretical analysis of the methodmore » and numerical results with reasonable parameters are both presented. Lastly, it is shown that the temporal resolution can reach up to ~ 100 attosecond, which is a significant improvement for the diagnostics of ultrashort electron beam.« less

Optical circular deflector with attosecond resolution for ultrashort electron beam

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

Zhang, Zhen; Du, Yingchao; Tang, Chuanxiang

A novel method using high-power laser as a circular deflector is proposed for the measurement of femtosecond (fs) and sub-fs electron beam. In the scheme, the electron beam interacts with a laser pulse operating in a radially polarized doughnut mode ( TEM 01 * ) in a helical undulator, generating angular kicks along the beam in two directions at the same time. The phase difference between the two angular kicks makes the beam form a ring after a propagation section with appropriate phase advance, which can reveal the current profile of the electron beam. Detailed theoretical analysis of the methodmore » and numerical results with reasonable parameters are both presented. Lastly, it is shown that the temporal resolution can reach up to ~ 100 attosecond, which is a significant improvement for the diagnostics of ultrashort electron beam.« less

High-energy ultra-short pulse thin-disk lasers: new developments and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michel, Knut; Klingebiel, Sandro; Schultze, Marcel; Tesseit, Catherine Y.; Bessing, Robert; Häfner, Matthias; Prinz, Stefan; Sutter, Dirk; Metzger, Thomas

2016-03-01

We report on the latest developments at TRUMPF Scientific Lasers in the field of ultra-short pulse lasers with highest output energies and powers. All systems are based on the mature and industrialized thin-disk technology of TRUMPF. Thin Yb:YAG disks provide a reliable and efficient solution for power and energy scaling to Joule- and kW-class picosecond laser systems. Due to its efficient one dimensional heat removal, the thin-disk exhibits low distortions and thermal lensing even when pumped under extremely high pump power densities of 10kW/cm². Currently TRUMPF Scientific Lasers develops regenerative amplifiers with highest average powers, optical parametric amplifiers and synchronization schemes. The first few-ps kHz multi-mJ thin-disk regenerative amplifier based on the TRUMPF thindisk technology was developed at the LMU Munich in 20081. Since the average power and energy have continuously been increased, reaching more than 300W (10kHz repetition rate) and 200mJ (1kHz repetition rate) at pulse durations below 2ps. First experiments have shown that the current thin-disk technology supports ultra-short pulse laser solutions >1kW of average power. Based on few-picosecond thin-disk regenerative amplifiers few-cycle optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers (OPCPA) can be realized. These systems have proven to be the only method for scaling few-cycle pulses to the multi-mJ energy level. OPA based few-cycle systems will allow for many applications such as attosecond spectroscopy, THz spectroscopy and imaging, laser wake field acceleration, table-top few-fs accelerators and laser-driven coherent X-ray undulator sources. Furthermore, high-energy picosecond sources can directly be used for a variety of applications such as X-ray generation or in atmospheric research.

Growth of ZnMgTe/ZnTe waveguide structures on ZnTe (0 0 1) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumagai, Y.; Imada, S.; Baba, T.; Kobayashi, M.

2011-05-01

ZnMgTe/ZnTe/ZnMgTe layered structures were grown on (0 0 1) ZnTe substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. This structure was designed to apply to waveguides in various optoelectronic devices to reduce light loss. Since the lattice mismatch between ZnTe and ZnMgTe was not negligible, the critical layer thickness (CLT) was theoretically derived. Structures with varying Mg composition and layer thickness of ZnMgTe cladding layer were grown and examined for crystal quality with respect to theoretical data. The crystal quality was investigated by means of cross sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and reciprocal space mapping (RSM). Optical confinements were observed by irradiating a laser beam from one end of the sample and monitoring the transmitted light from the other end.

Delivery of an ultrashort spatially focused pulse to the other end of a multimode fiber using digital phase conjugation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morales Delgado, Edgar E.; Papadopoulos, Ioannis N.; Farahi, Salma; Psaltis, Demetri; Moser, Christophe

2015-03-01

Multimode optical fibers potentially allow the transmission of larger amounts of information than their single mode counterparts because of their high number of supported modes. However, propagation of a light pulse through a multimode fiber suffers from spatial distortions due to the superposition of the various exited modes and from time broadening due to modal dispersion. We present a method based on digital phase conjugation to selectively excite in a multimode fiber specific optical fiber modes that follow similar optical paths as they travel through the fiber. The excited modes interfere constructively at the fiber output generating an ultrashort spatially focused pulse. The excitation of a limited number of modes following similar optical paths limits modal dispersion, allowing the transmission of the ultrashort pulse. We have experimentally demonstrated the delivery of a focused spot of pulse width equal to 500 fs through a 30 cm, 200 micrometer core step-index multimode fiber. The results of this study show that two-photon imaging capability can be added to ultra-thin lensless endoscopy using commercial multimode fibers.

Simultaneous analysis of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances including ultrashort-chain C2 and C3 compounds in rain and river water samples by ultra performance convergence chromatography.

PubMed

Yeung, Leo W Y; Stadey, Christopher; Mabury, Scott A

2017-11-03

An analytical method using ultra performance convergence chromatography (UPC 2 ) coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer operated in negative electrospray mode was developed to measure perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) including the ultrashort-chain PFASs (C2-C3). Compared to the existing liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method using an ion exchange column, the new method has a lower detection limit (0.4pg trifluoroacetate (TFA) on-column), narrower peak width (3-6s), and a shorter run time (8min). Using the same method, different classes of PFASs (e.g., perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) and perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs), perfluorinated phosphonates (PFPAs) and phosphinates (PFPiAs), polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diesters (diPAPs)) can be measured in a single analysis. Rain (n=2) and river water (n=2) samples collected in Toronto, ON, were used for method validation and application. Results showed that short-chain PFAS (C2-C7 PFCAs and C4 PFSA) contributed to over 80% of the detectable PFASs in rain samples and the C2-C3 PFASs alone accounted for over 40% of the total. Reports on environmental levels of these ultrashort-chain PFASs are relatively scarce. Relatively large contribution of these ultrashort-chain PFASs to the total PFASs indicate the need to include the measurement of short-chain PFASs, especially C2 and C3 PFASs, in environmental monitoring. The sources of TFA and other short-chain PFASs in the environment are not entirely clear. The newly developed analytical method may help further investigation on the sources and the environmental levels of these ultrashort-chain PFASs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of Te Inclusion and Related Point Defects in THM-Growth CdMnTe Crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Yifei; Zhang, Jijun; Min, Jiahua; Liang, Xiaoyan; Huang, Jian; Tang, Ke; Ling, Liwen; Li, Ming; Zhang, Ying; Wang, Linjun

2018-02-01

This study establishes a model for describing the interaction between Te inclusions, dislocations and point defects in CdMnTe crystals. The role of the complex environment surrounding the formation of Te inclusions was analyzed. Images of Te inclusions captured by scanning electron microscope and infrared microscope were used to observe the morphology of Te inclusions. The morphology of Te inclusions is discussed in light of crystallography, from the crystal growth temperature at 900°C to the melting temperature of Te inclusions using the traveling heater method. The dislocation nets around Te inclusions were calculated by counting lattice mismatches between the Te inclusions and the bulk CdMnTe at 470°C. The point defects of Te antisites were found to be gathered around Te inclusions, with dislocation climb during the cooling phase of crystal growth from 470°C to room temperature. The Te inclusions, dislocation nets and surrounding point defects are considered to be an entirety for evaluating the effect of Te inclusions on CdMnTe detector performance, and an effective mobility-lifetime product (μτ) was obtained.

Pulsar TeV Halos Explain the Diffuse TeV Excess Observed by Milagro.

PubMed

Linden, Tim; Buckman, Benjamin J

2018-03-23

Milagro observations have found bright, diffuse TeV emission concentrated along the galactic plane of the Milky Way. The intensity and spectrum of this emission is difficult to explain with current models of hadronic γ-ray production, and has been named the "TeV excess." We show that TeV emission from pulsars naturally explains this excess. Recent observations have detected "TeV halos" surrounding pulsars that are either nearby or particularly luminous. Extrapolating this emission to the full population of Milky Way pulsars indicates that the ensemble of "subthreshold" sources necessarily produces bright TeV emission diffusively along the Milky Way plane. Models indicate that the TeV halo γ-ray flux exceeds that from hadronic γ rays above an energy of ∼500  GeV. Moreover, the spectrum and intensity of TeV halo emission naturally matches the TeV excess. Finally, we show that upcoming HAWC observations will resolve a significant fraction of the TeV excess into individual TeV halos, conclusively confirming, or ruling out, this model.

Two-dimensional angular energy spectrum of electrons accelerated by the ultra-short relativistic laser pulse

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

Borovskiy, A. V.; Galkin, A. L.; Department of Physics of MBF, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 1 Ostrovitianov Street, Moscow 117997

The new method of calculating energy spectra of accelerated electrons, based on the parameterization by their initial coordinates, is proposed. The energy spectra of electrons accelerated by Gaussian ultra-short relativistic laser pulse at a selected angle to the axis of the optical system focusing the laser pulse in a low density gas are theoretically calculated. The two-peak structure of the electron energy spectrum is obtained. Discussed are the reasons for its appearance as well as an applicability of other models of the laser field.

Thermal conductivity studies of CdZnTe with varying Te excess

DOE PAGES

Jackson, Maxx; Bennett, Brittany; Giltnane, Dustin; ...

2016-08-28

Cadmium Zine Telluride (CZT) has been extensively studied as a room temperature semiconductor gamma radiation detector. CZT continues to show promise as a bulk and pixelated gamma spectrometer with less than one percent energy resolution; however the fabrication costs are high. Improved yields of high quality, large CZT spectroscopy grade crystals must be achieved. CZT is grown by the Traveling Heater Method (THM) with a Te overpressure to account for vaporization losses. This procedure creates Te rich zones. During growth, boules will often cleave limiting the number of harvestable crystals. As a result, crystal growth parameter optimization was evaluated bymore » modeling the heat flow within the system. Interestingly, Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) is used as a thermal conductivity surrogate in the absence of a thorough study of the CZT thermal properties. The current study has measured the thermal conductivity of CZT pressed powders with varying Te concentrations from 50-100% over 25-800°C to understand the variation in this parameter from CdTe. Cd0.9Zn0.1Te1.0 is the base CZT (designated 50%). CZT exhibits a thermal conductivity of nearly 1 W/mK, an order of magnitude greater than CdTe. Lastly, the thermal conductivity decreased with increasing Te concentration.« less

Thermal conductivity studies of CdZnTe with varying Te excess

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

Jackson, Maxx; Bennett, Brittany; Giltnane, Dustin

Cadmium Zine Telluride (CZT) has been extensively studied as a room temperature semiconductor gamma radiation detector. CZT continues to show promise as a bulk and pixelated gamma spectrometer with less than one percent energy resolution; however the fabrication costs are high. Improved yields of high quality, large CZT spectroscopy grade crystals must be achieved. CZT is grown by the Traveling Heater Method (THM) with a Te overpressure to account for vaporization losses. This procedure creates Te rich zones. During growth, boules will often cleave limiting the number of harvestable crystals. As a result, crystal growth parameter optimization was evaluated bymore » modeling the heat flow within the system. Interestingly, Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) is used as a thermal conductivity surrogate in the absence of a thorough study of the CZT thermal properties. The current study has measured the thermal conductivity of CZT pressed powders with varying Te concentrations from 50-100% over 25-800°C to understand the variation in this parameter from CdTe. Cd0.9Zn0.1Te1.0 is the base CZT (designated 50%). CZT exhibits a thermal conductivity of nearly 1 W/mK, an order of magnitude greater than CdTe. Lastly, the thermal conductivity decreased with increasing Te concentration.« less

Involvement of small carbon clusters in the enhancement of high-order harmonic generation of ultrashort pulses in the plasmas produced during ablation of carbon-contained nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganeev, R. A.

2017-09-01

Various carbon-based nanoparticles ablated at the conditions suitable for efficient harmonic generation during propagation of ultrashort pulses through the laser-produced plasmas were studied. The transmission electron microscopy of ablated debris and the time-of-flight mass-spectroscopy studies of plasmas are presented. The conditions of laser ablation of the carbon-contained nanoparticles (fullerenes, graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and diamond nanoparticles) were varied to define the impeding processes restricting the harmonic yield from such laser-produced plasmas. These studies show that the enhancement of harmonics during ablation of nanoparticle targets was related with the appearance of small carbon clusters at the moment of propagation of the ultrashort laser pulses though such plasmas.

De novo design and synthesis of ultra-short peptidomimetic antibiotics having dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities.

PubMed

Murugan, Ravichandran N; Jacob, Binu; Ahn, Mija; Hwang, Eunha; Sohn, Hoik; Park, Hyo-Nam; Lee, Eunjung; Seo, Ji-Hyung; Cheong, Chaejoon; Nam, Ky-Youb; Hyun, Jae-Kyung; Jeong, Ki-Woong; Kim, Yangmee; Shin, Song Yub; Bang, Jeong Kyu

2013-01-01

Much attention has been focused on the design and synthesis of potent, cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that possess both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. However, their development into therapeutic agents has been limited mainly due to their large size (12 to 50 residues in length) and poor protease stability. In an attempt to overcome the issues described above, a set of ultra-short, His-derived antimicrobial peptides (HDAMPs) has been developed for the first time. Through systematic tuning of pendant hydrophobic alkyl tails at the N(π)- and N(τ)-positions on His, and the positive charge of Arg, much higher prokaryotic selectivity was achieved, compared to human AMP LL-37. Additionally, the most potent HDAMPs showed promising dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity and proteolytic resistance. Our results from transmission electron microscopy, membrane depolarization, confocal laser-scanning microscopy, and calcein-dye leakage experiments propose that HDAMP-1 kills microbial cells via dissipation of the membrane potential by forming pore/ion channels on bacterial cell membranes. The combination of the ultra-short size, high-prokaryotic selectivity, potent anti-MRSA activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and proteolytic resistance of the designed HDAMP-1, -3, -5, and -6 makes these molecules promising candidates for future antimicrobial therapeutics.

Ultrashort Nucleic Acid Duplexes Exhibit Long Wormlike Chain Behavior with Force-Dependent Edge Effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitley, Kevin D.; Comstock, Matthew J.; Chemla, Yann R.

2018-02-01

Despite their importance in biology and use in nanotechnology, the elastic behavior of nucleic acids on "ultrashort" (<15 nt ) length scales remains poorly understood. Here, we use optical tweezers combined with fluorescence imaging to observe directly the hybridization of oligonucleotides (7-12 nt) to a complementary strand under tension and to measure the difference in end-to-end extension between the single-stranded and duplex states. Data are consistent with long-polymer models at low forces (<8 pN ) but smaller than predicted at higher forces (>8 pN ), the result of the sequence-dependent duplex edge effects.

Radiation therapy planning and simulation with magnetic resonance images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boettger, Thomas; Nyholm, Tufve; Karlsson, Magnus; Nunna, Chandrasekhar; Celi, Juan Carlos

2008-03-01

We present a system which allows for use of magnetic resonance (MR) images as primary RT workflow modality alone and no longer limits the user to computed tomography data for radiation therapy (RT) planning, simulation and patient localization. The single steps for achieving this goal are explained in detail. For planning two MR data sets, MR1 and MR2 are acquired sequentially. For MR1 a standardized Ultrashort TE (UTE) sequence is used enhancing bony anatomy. The sequence for MR2 is chosen to get optimal contrast for the target and the organs at risk for each individual patient. Both images are naturally in registration, neglecting elastic soft tissue deformations. The planning software first automatically extracts skin and bony anatomy from MR1. The user can semi-automatically delineate target structures and organs at risk based on MR1 or MR2, associate all segmentations with MR1 and create a plan in the coordinate system of MR1. Projections similar to digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRR) enhancing bony anatomy are calculated from the MR1 directly and can be used for iso-center definition and setup verification. Furthermore we present a method for creating a Pseudo-CT data set which assigns electron densities to the voxels of MR1 based on the skin and bone segmentations. The Pseudo-CT is then used for dose calculation. Results from first tests under clinical conditions show the feasibility of the completely MR based workflow in RT for necessary clinical cases. It needs to be investigated in how far geometrical distortions influence accuracy of MR-based RT planning.

Anharmonicity and atomic distribution of SnTe and PbTe thermoelectrics

DOE PAGES

Li, C. W.; Ma, J.; Cao, H. B.; ...

2014-12-29

The structure and lattice dynamics of rock-salt thermoelectric materials SnTe and PbTe are investigated with single crystal and powder neutron diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering (INS), and first-principles simulations. Our first-principles calculations of the radial distribution function (RDF) in both SnTe and PbTe show a clear asymmetry in the first nearest-neighbor (1NN) peak, which increases with temperature, in agreement with experimental reports (Ref. 1,2). We show that this peak asymmetry for the 1NN Sn–Te or Pb–Te bond results from large-amplitude anharmonic vibrations (phonons). No atomic off-centering is found in our simulations. In addition, the atomic mean square displacements derived from ourmore » diffraction data reveal stiffer bonding at the anion site, in good agreement with the partial phonon densities of states from INS, and first-principles calculations. In conclusion, these results provide clear evidence for large-amplitude anharmonic phonons associated with the resonant bonding leading to the ferroelectric instability.« less

Fibre amplifier based on an ytterbium-doped active tapered fibre for the generation of megawatt peak power ultrashort optical pulses

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

Koptev, M Yu; Anashkina, E A; Lipatov, D S

2015-05-31

We report a new ytterbium-doped active tapered fibre used in the output amplifier stage of a fibre laser system for the generation of megawatt peak power ultrashort pulses in the microjoule energy range. The tapered fibre is single-mode at its input end (core and cladding diameters of 10 and 80 μm) and multimode at its output end (diameters of 45 and 430 μm), but ultrashort pulses are amplified in a quasi-single-mode regime. Using a hybrid Er/Yb fibre system comprising an erbium master oscillator and amplifier at a wavelength near 1.5 μm, a nonlinear wavelength converter to the 1 μm rangemore » and a three-stage ytterbium-doped fibre amplifier, we obtained pulses of 1 μJ energy and 7 ps duration, which were then compressed by a grating-pair dispersion compressor with 60% efficiency to a 130 fs duration, approaching the transform-limited pulse duration. The present experimental data agree well with numerical simulation results for pulse amplification in the threestage amplifier. (extreme light fields and their applications)« less

S–Te Interdiffusion within Grains and Grain Boundaries in CdTe Solar Cells

DOE PAGES

Li, C.; Poplawsky, J.; Paudel, N.; ...

2014-09-19

At the CdTe/CdS interface, a significant Te-S interdiffusion has been found a few nanometers into the grain interiors with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). S substitution at Te sites has been directly resolved in CdTe with STEM Z-contrast images. Moreover, when enough S substitutes for Te, a structural transformation from zinc-blende to wurtzite has been observed. Cl segregation has also been found at the interface. STEM electron-beam-induced current (EBIC) shows that the p-n junction occurs a few nm into the CdTe grains, which is consistent with the S diffusion range we observe. The shiftmore » of the p-n junction suggests a buried homo-junction which would help reduce non-radiative recombination at the junction. Meanwhile, long-range S diffusion in CdTe grain boundaries (GBs) has been detected, as well as Te and Cl diffusion in CdS GBs.« less

Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters irradiated by an ultrashort intense laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hongyu; Liu, Jiansheng; Wang, Cheng; Ni, Guoquan; Li, Ruxin; Xu, Zhizhan

2006-08-01

The explosion dynamics of hydrogen clusters driven by an ultrashort intense laser pulse has been analyzed analytically and numerically by employing a simplified Coulomb explosion model. The dependence of average and maximum proton kinetic energy on cluster size, pulse duration, and laser intensity has been investigated respectively. The existence of an optimum cluster size allows the proton energy to reach the maximum when the cluster size matches with the intensity and the duration of the laser pulse. In order to explain our experimental results such as the measured proton energy spectrum and the saturation effect of proton energy, the effects of cluster size distribution as well as the laser intensity distribution on the focus spot should be considered. A good agreement between them is obtained.

Ultrashort polarization-tailored bichromatic fields from a CEP-stable white light supercontinuum.

PubMed

Kerbstadt, Stefanie; Timmer, Daniel; Englert, Lars; Bayer, Tim; Wollenhaupt, Matthias

2017-05-29

We apply ultrafast polarization shaping to an ultrabroadband carrier envelope phase (CEP) stable white light supercontinuum to generate polarization-tailored bichromatic laser fields of low-order frequency ratio. The generation of orthogonal linearly and counter-rotating circularly polarized bichromatic fields is achieved by introducing a composite polarizer in the Fourier plane of a 4 f polarization shaper. The resulting Lissajous- and propeller-type polarization profiles are characterized experimentally by cross-correlation trajectories. The scheme provides full control over all bichromatic parameters and allows for individual spectral phase modulation of both colors. Shaper-based CEP control and the generation of tailored bichromatic fields is demonstrated. These bichromatic CEP-stable polarization-shaped ultrashort laser pulses provide a versatile class of waveforms for coherent control experiments.

Photoluminescence of ZnTe/ZnMgTe multiple quantum well structures grown on ZnTe substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Tooru; Ohshita, Hiroshi; Saito, Katsuhiko; Guo, Qixin

2018-02-01

Photoluminescence (PL) properties of ZnTe/ZnMgTe quantum well (QW) structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) were investigated systematically with respect to well widths and Mg contents. Observed PL peak energies were consistent well with the calculated emission energies of the QWs considering a lattice distortion in the ZnTe well. From the temperature dependence of PL intensity, it was found that a suppression of a carrier escape from QW is crucial to obtain a PL at higher temperature in the ZnTe/ZnMgTe QW. Based on the results, multiple quantum well structures were designed and fabricated, which exhibited a green PL at room temperature.

Treatment of spinal tuberculosis with ultrashort-course chemotherapy in conjunction with partial excision of pathologic vertebrae.

PubMed

Wang, Zili; Ge, Zhaohui; Jin, Weidong; Qiao, Yongdong; Ding, Huiqiang; Zhao, Haoning; Lin, Zhikai; Chen, Jun; Yang, Weiyu

2007-01-01

The ultrashort-course chemotherapeutical scheme of less than 6 months has been used for part of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and satisfactory curative effects have already been achieved. However, few systematic and clinical reports so far about medical treatment of spinal tuberculosis by using ultrashort-course chemotherapeutical schemes have been published in the spine-care literature. To assess the results of ultrashort-course chemotherapy (UCC) in conjunction with partial excision of pathological vertebrae for spinal tuberculosis. This is a retrospective comparative study of case series from a single center. Seventy-six cases of spinal tuberculosis, treated during 1998 and 2003 by senior author, were reviewed. All the cases underwent chemotherapies in conjunction with the uniform partial excision of pathological vertebra and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, imaging examination, examination by ultrasonic wave B, drug complications, and clinical effects based on the previously described evaluative measures. Of the 76 cases, 28 had UCC with the scheme of 2SHRZ/2.5H(2)R(2)Z(2), 23 had short-course chemotherapy (SCC) with the scheme of 3SHRZ/5H(2)R(2)Z(2), and 25 had standard chemotherapy (SC) with the scheme of 3SHRZ/9H(2)R(2)Z(2). All the patients had anterior partial excisions of pathological vertebrae, large iliac strut graft, and anterior or posterior fixation. The mean time of follow-up surveys for the ultrashort-course, short-course, and standard chemotherapy cases was 42.3 m, 46.5 m, and 55.4 m, respectively. The observance indices included 1) clinical manifestations: disappearance of tuberculosis symptoms, no CC pains, recovery of normal life or work, no percussion pains on pathologic sites, and recovery of neural functions; 2) laboratory tests: normal or close to normal test results of both erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) or one of them; 3) imaging examinations: X

Synthesis and thermoelectric properties of the (GeTe) 1-x(PbTe) x alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, S. P.; Li, J. Q.; Wang, Q. B.; Wang, L.; Liu, F. S.; Ao, W. Q.

2011-02-01

The Ge-rich (GeTe) 1-x(PbTe) x alloys with x = 0.10, 0.14, 0.18 and 0.22 were prepared by induction melting, ball milling and spark plasma sintering techniques. The thermoelectric properties of the samples were investigated. The experimental results show that all samples consist of the solid solutions of the two phases GeTe and PbTe. The samples are of p-type semiconductors. The existence of PbTe solution in GeTe increases its resistivity and Seebeck coefficient slightly, but reduces its thermal conductivity significantly. As result, the figures of merit for the materials can be enhanced. The maximum figure of merit ZT value of 0.81 was obtained in the sample (GeTe) 0.82(PbTe) 0.18 at 673K.

Ultra-short heart rate variability recording reliability: The effect of controlled paced breathing.

PubMed

Melo, Hiago M; Martins, Thiago C; Nascimento, Lucas M; Hoeller, Alexandre A; Walz, Roger; Takase, Emílio

2018-06-04

Recent studies have reported that Heart Rate Variability (HRV) indices remain reliable even during recordings shorter than 5 min, suggesting the ultra-short recording method as a valuable tool for autonomic assessment. However, the minimum time-epoch to obtain a reliable record for all HRV domains (time, frequency, and Poincare geometric measures), as well as the effect of respiratory rate on the reliability of these indices remains unknown. Twenty volunteers had their HRV recorded in a seated position during spontaneous and controlled respiratory rhythms. HRV intervals with 1, 2, and 3 min were correlated with the gold standard period (6-min duration) and the mean values of all indices were compared in the two respiratory rhythm conditions. rMSSD and SD1 were more reliable for recordings with ultra-short duration at all time intervals (r values from 0.764 to 0.950, p < 0.05) for spontaneous breathing condition, whereas the other indices require longer recording time to obtain reliable values. The controlled breathing rhythm evokes stronger r values for time domain indices (r values from 0.83 to 0.99, p < 0.05 for rMSSD), but impairs the mean values replicability of domains across most time intervals. Although the use of standardized breathing increases the correlations coefficients, all HRV indices showed an increase in mean values (t values from 3.79 to 14.94, p < 0.001) except the RR and HF that presented a decrease (t = 4.14 and 5.96, p < 0.0001). Our results indicate that proper ultra-short-term recording method can provide a quick and reliable source of cardiac autonomic nervous system assessment. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Propagation of an ultra-short, intense laser in a relativistic fluid

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

Ritchie, A.B.; Decker, C.D.

1997-12-31

A Maxwell-relativistic fluid model is developed to describe the propagation of an ultrashort, intense laser pulse through an underdense plasma. The model makes use of numerically stabilizing fast Fourier transform (FFT) computational methods for both the Maxwell and fluid equations, and it is benchmarked against particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. Strong fields generated in the wake of the laser are calculated, and the authors observe coherent wake-field radiation generated at harmonics of the plasma frequency due to nonlinearities in the laser-plasma interaction. For a plasma whose density is 10% of critical, the highest members of the plasma harmonic series begin to overlapmore » with the first laser harmonic, suggesting that widely used multiple-scales-theory, by which the laser and plasma frequencies are assumed to be separable, ceases to be a useful approximation.« less

Highly efficient broadband terahertz generation from ultrashort laser filamentation in liquids.

PubMed

Dey, Indranuj; Jana, Kamalesh; Fedorov, Vladimir Yu; Koulouklidis, Anastasios D; Mondal, Angana; Shaikh, Moniruzzaman; Sarkar, Deep; Lad, Amit D; Tzortzakis, Stelios; Couairon, Arnaud; Kumar, G Ravindra

2017-10-30

Generation and application of energetic, broadband terahertz pulses (bandwidth ~0.1-50 THz) is an active and contemporary area of research. The main thrust is toward the development of efficient sources with minimum complexities-a true table-top setup. In this work, we demonstrate the generation of terahertz radiation via ultrashort pulse induced filamentation in liquids-a counterintuitive observation due to their large absorption coefficient in the terahertz regime. The generated terahertz energy is more than an order of magnitude higher than that obtained from the two-color filamentation of air (the most standard table-top technique). Such high terahertz energies would generate electric fields of the order of MV cm -1 , which opens the doors for various nonlinear terahertz spectroscopic applications. The counterintuitive phenomenon has been explained via the solution of nonlinear pulse propagation equation in the liquid medium.

Cross-Phase Modulation: A New Technique for Controlling the Spectral, Temporal, and Spatial Properties of Ultrashort Pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baldeck, P. L.; Ho, P. P.; Alfano, Robert R.

Self-phase modulation (SPM) is the principal mechanism responsible for the generation of picosecond and femtosecond white-light supercontinua. When an intense ultrashort pulse progagates through a medium, it distorts the atomic configuration of the material, which changes the refractive index. The pulse phase is time modulated, which causes the generation of new frequencies. This phase modulation originates from the pulse itself (self-phase modulation). It can also be generated by a copropagating pulse (cross-phase modulation).

Determining and Controlling the Magnesium Composition in CdTe/CdMgTe Heterostructures

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

LeBlanc, E. G.; Edirisooriya, M.; Ogedengbe, O. S.

The relationships between Mg composition, band gap, and lattice characteristics are investigated for Cd 1-xMg xTe barrier layers using a combination of cathodoluminescence, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, variable angle spectral ellipsometry, and atom probe tomography. The use of a simplified, yet accurate, variable angle spectral ellipsometry analysis is shown to be appropriate for fast determination of composition in thin Cd 1-xMg xTe layers. The validity of using high-resolution x-ray diffraction for CdTe/Cd 1-xMg xTe double heterostructures is discussed. Furthermore, the stability of CdTe/Cd 1-xMg xTe heterostructures are investigated with respect to thermal processing.

Determining and Controlling the Magnesium Composition in CdTe/CdMgTe Heterostructures

DOE PAGES

LeBlanc, E. G.; Edirisooriya, M.; Ogedengbe, O. S.; ...

2017-06-05

The relationships between Mg composition, band gap, and lattice characteristics are investigated for Cd 1-xMg xTe barrier layers using a combination of cathodoluminescence, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, variable angle spectral ellipsometry, and atom probe tomography. The use of a simplified, yet accurate, variable angle spectral ellipsometry analysis is shown to be appropriate for fast determination of composition in thin Cd 1-xMg xTe layers. The validity of using high-resolution x-ray diffraction for CdTe/Cd 1-xMg xTe double heterostructures is discussed. Furthermore, the stability of CdTe/Cd 1-xMg xTe heterostructures are investigated with respect to thermal processing.

Relativistic longitudinal self-compression of ultrashort time-domain hollow Gaussian pulses in plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Xiaochao; Fang, Feiyun; Wang, Zhaoying; Lin, Qiang

2017-10-01

We report a study on dynamical evolution of the ultrashort time-domain dark hollow Gaussian (TDHG) pulses beyond the slowly varying envelope approximation in homogenous plasma. Using the complex-source-point model, an analytical formula is proposed for describing TDHG pulses based on the oscillating electric dipoles, which is the exact solution of the Maxwell's equations. The numerical simulations show the relativistic longitudinal self-compression (RSC) due to the relativistic mass variation of moving electrons. The influences of plasma oscillation frequency and collision effect on dynamics of the TDHG pulses in plasma have been considered. Furthermore, we analyze the evolution of instantaneous energy density of the TDHG pulses on axis as well as the off axis condition.

D-shaped fiber grating refractive index sensor induced by an ultrashort pulse laser.

PubMed

Liao, Changrui; Wang, Qiao; Xu, Lei; Liu, Shen; He, Jun; Zhao, Jing; Li, Zhengyong; Wang, Yiping

2016-03-01

The fabrication of fiber Bragg gratings was here demonstrated using ultrashort pulse laser point-by-point inscription. This is a very convenient means of creating fiber Bragg gratings with different grating periods and works by changing the translation speed of the fiber. The laser energy was first optimized in order to improve the spectral properties of the fiber gratings. Then, fiber Bragg gratings were formed into D-shaped fibers for use as refractive index sensors. A nonlinear relationship was observed between the Bragg wavelength and liquid refractive index, and a sensitivity of ∼30  nm/RIU was observed at 1.450. This shows that D-shaped fiber Bragg gratings might be used to develop promising biochemical sensors.

Dynamics of the Coulomb explosion of large hydrogen iodide clusters irradiated by superintense ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krainov, V. P.; Roshchupkin, A. S.

2001-12-01

Dynamics of the inner and outer above-barrier ionization and of the Coulomb explosion are calculated for large hydrogen iodide clusters irradiated by superintense ultrashort laser pulses. We have found that the Coulomb forces predominate in the expansion of these clusters in comparison with the hydrodynamic forces. The energy distribution of the iodine multiple atomic ions in laser focal volume is derived. Results of our calculations are in a good agreement with the recent experimental data of Tisch et al. [Phys. Rev. A 60, 3076 (1999)].

Development of ultrashort x-ray/gamma-ray sources using ultrahigh power lasers (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyung Taek; Nakajima, Kazuhisa; Hojbota, Calin; Jeon, Jong Ho; Rhee, Yong-Joo; Lee, Kyung Hwan; Lee, Seong Ku; Sung, Jae Hee; Lee, Hwang Woon; Pathak, Vishwa B.; Pae, Ki Hong; Sebban, Stéphane; Tissandier, Fabien; Gautier, Julien; Ta Phuoc, Kim; Malka, Victor; Nam, Chang Hee

2017-05-01

Short-pulse x-ray/gamma-ray sources have become indispensable light sources for investigating material science, bio technology, and photo-nuclear physics. In past decades, rapid advancement of high intensity laser technology led extensive progresses in the field of radiation sources based on laser-plasma interactions - x-ray lasers, betatron radiation and Compton gamma-rays. Ever since the installation of a 100-TW laser in 2006, we have pursued the development of ultrashort x-ray/gamma-ray radiations, such as x-ray lasers, relativistic high-order harmonics, betatron radiation and all-optical Compton gamma-rays. With the construction of two PW Ti:Sapphire laser beamlines having peak powers of 1.0 PW and 1.5 PW in 2010 and 2012, respectively [1], we have investigated the generation of multi-GeV electron beams [2] and MeV betatron radiations. We plan to carry out the Compton backscattering to generate MeV gamma-rays from the interaction of a GeV electron beam and a PW laser beam. Here, we present the recent progress in the development of ultrashort x-ray/gamma-ray radiation sources based on laser plasma interactions and the plan for developing Compton gamma-ray sources driven by the PW lasers. In addition, we will present the applications of laser-plasma x-ray lasers to x-ray holography and coherent diffraction imaging. [references] 1. J. H. Sung, S. K. Lee, T. J. Yu, T. M. Jeong, and J. Lee, Opt. Lett. 35, 3021 (2010). 2. H. T. Kim, K. H. Pae, H. J. Cha, I J. Kim, T. J. Yu, J. H. Sung, S. K. Lee, T. M. Jeong, J. Lee, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 165002 (2013).

Iodine Doping of CdTe and CdMgTe for Photovoltaic Applications

DOE PAGES

Ogedengbe, O. S.; Swartz, C. H.; Jayathilaka, P. A. R. D.; ...

2017-06-06

Here, iodine-doped CdTe and Cd 1-xMg xTe layers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Secondary ion mass spectrometry characterization was used to measure dopant concentration, while Hall measurement was used for determining carrier concentration. Photoluminescence intensity and time-resolved photoluminescence techniques were used for optical characterization. Maximum n-type carrier concentrations of 7.4 x 10 18 cm -3 for CdTe and 3 x 10 17 cm -3 for Cd 0.65Mg 0.35Te were achieved. Studies suggest that electrically active doping with iodine is limited with dopant concentration much above these values. Dopant activation of about 80% was observed in most of the CdTemore » samples. The estimated activation energy is about 6 meV for CdTe and the value for Cd 0.65Mg 0.35Te is about 58 meV. Iodine-doped samples exhibit long lifetimes with no evidence of photoluminescence degradation with doping as high as 2 x 10 18 cm -3, while indium shows substantial non-radiative recombination at carrier concentrations above 5 x 10 16 cm -3. Iodine was shown to be thermally stable in CdTe at temperatures up to 600 °C. Results suggest iodine may be a preferred n-type dopant compared to indium in achieving heavily doped n-type CdTe.« less

Consistency of signal intensity and T2* in frozen ex vivo heart muscle, kidney, and liver tissue.

PubMed

Kaye, Elena A; Josan, Sonal; Lu, Aiming; Rosenberg, Jarrett; Daniel, Bruce L; Pauly, Kim Butts

2010-03-01

To investigate tissue dependence of the MRI-based thermometry in frozen tissue by quantification and comparison of signal intensity and T2* of ex vivo frozen tissue of three different types: heart muscle, kidney, and liver. Tissue samples were frozen and imaged on a 0.5 Tesla MRI scanner with ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequence. Signal intensity and T2* were determined as the temperature of the tissue samples was decreased from room temperature to approximately -40 degrees C. Statistical analysis was performed for (-20 degrees C, -5 degrees C) temperature interval. The findings of this study demonstrate that signal intensity and T2* are consistent across three types of tissue for (-20 degrees C, -5 degrees C) temperature interval. Both parameters can be used to calculate a single temperature calibration curve for all three types of tissue and potentially in the future serve as a foundation for tissue-independent MRI-based thermometry.

De Novo Design and Synthesis of Ultra-Short Peptidomimetic Antibiotics Having Dual Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

PubMed Central

Ahn, Mija; Hwang, Eunha; Sohn, Hoik; Park, Hyo-Nam; Lee, Eunjung; Seo, Ji-Hyung; Cheong, Chaejoon; Nam, Ky-Youb; Hyun, Jae-Kyung; Jeong, Ki-Woong; Kim, Yangmee; Shin, Song Yub; Bang, Jeong Kyu

2013-01-01

Background Much attention has been focused on the design and synthesis of potent, cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that possess both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. However, their development into therapeutic agents has been limited mainly due to their large size (12 to 50 residues in length) and poor protease stability. Methodology/Principal Findings In an attempt to overcome the issues described above, a set of ultra-short, His-derived antimicrobial peptides (HDAMPs) has been developed for the first time. Through systematic tuning of pendant hydrophobic alkyl tails at the N(π)- and N(τ)-positions on His, and the positive charge of Arg, much higher prokaryotic selectivity was achieved, compared to human AMP LL-37. Additionally, the most potent HDAMPs showed promising dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as anti–methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity and proteolytic resistance. Our results from transmission electron microscopy, membrane depolarization, confocal laser-scanning microscopy, and calcein-dye leakage experiments propose that HDAMP-1 kills microbial cells via dissipation of the membrane potential by forming pore/ion channels on bacterial cell membranes. Conclusion/Significance The combination of the ultra-short size, high-prokaryotic selectivity, potent anti-MRSA activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and proteolytic resistance of the designed HDAMP-1, -3, -5, and -6 makes these molecules promising candidates for future antimicrobial therapeutics. PMID:24302996

Pressure dependence of the charge-density-wave and superconducting states in GdTe 3 ,   TbTe 3 , and DyTe 3

DOE PAGES

Zocco, D. A.; Hamlin, J. J.; Grube, K.; ...

2015-05-14

Here, we present electrical resistivity and ac-susceptibility measurements of GdTe 3, TbTe 3 and DyTe 3 performed under pressure. An upper charge-density-wave (CDW) is suppressed at a rate of dT CW,1/dP~ –85K/GPa. For TbTe 3 and DyTe 3, a second CDW below T CDW,2 increases with pressure until it reaches the T CDW,1(P) line. For GdTe 3, the lower CDW emerges as pressure is increased above ~1GPa. As these two CDW states are suppressed with pressure, superconductivity (SC) appears in the three compounds at lower temperatures. Ac-susceptibility experiments performed on TbTe 3 provide compelling evidence for bulk SC in themore » low-pressure region of the phase diagram. We provide measurements of superconducting critical fields and discuss the origin of a high-pressure superconducting phase occurring above 5 GPa.« less

Performance and Metastability of CdTe Solar Cells with a Te Back-Contact Buffer Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moore, Andrew

Thin-film CdTe photovoltaics are quickly maturing into a viable clean-energy solution through demonstration of competitive costs and performance stability with existing energy sources. Over the last half decade, CdTe solar technology has achieved major gains in performance; however, there are still aspects that can be improved to progress toward their theoretical maximum efficiency. Perhaps equally valuable as high photovoltaic efficiency and a low levelized cost of energy, is device reliability. Understanding the root causes for changes in performance is essential for accomplishing long-term stability. One area for potential performance enhancement is the back contact of the CdTe device. This research incorporated a thin-film Te-buffer layer into the contact structure, between the CdTe and contact metal. The device performance and characteristics of many different back contact configurations were rigorously studied. CdTe solar cells fabricated with the Te-buffer contact showed short-circuit current densities and open-circuit voltages that were on par with the traditional back-contacts used at CSU. However, the Te-buffer contact typically produced 2% larger fill-factors on average, leading to greater conversation efficiency. Furthermore, using the Te buffer allowed for incorporation of 50% less Cu, which is used for p-type doping but is also known to decrease lifetime and stability. This resulted in an additional 3% fill-factor gain with no change in other parameters compared to the standard-Cu treated device. In order to better understand the physical mechanisms of the Te-buffer contact, electrical and material properties of the Te layer were extracted and used to construct a simple energy band diagram. The Te layer was found to be highly p-type (>1018 cm-3) and possess a positive valence-band offset of 0.35-0.40 eV with CdTe. An existing simulation model incorporating the Te-layer properties was implemented and validated by comparing simulated results of CdTe

Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters irradiated by an ultrashort intense laser pulse

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

Li Hongyu; Liu Jiansheng; Wang Cheng

The explosion dynamics of hydrogen clusters driven by an ultrashort intense laser pulse has been analyzed analytically and numerically by employing a simplified Coulomb explosion model. The dependence of average and maximum proton kinetic energy on cluster size, pulse duration, and laser intensity has been investigated respectively. The existence of an optimum cluster size allows the proton energy to reach the maximum when the cluster size matches with the intensity and the duration of the laser pulse. In order to explain our experimental results such as the measured proton energy spectrum and the saturation effect of proton energy, the effectsmore » of cluster size distribution as well as the laser intensity distribution on the focus spot should be considered. A good agreement between them is obtained.« less

Photonic approach to the selective inactivation of viruses with a near-infrared ultrashort pulsed laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsen, K. T.; Tsen, Shaw-Wei D.; Fu, Q.; Lindsay, S. M.; Kibler, K.; Jacobs, B.; Wu, T. C.; Li, Zhe; Yan, Hao; Cope, Stephanie; Vaiana, Sara; Kiang, Juliann G.

2010-02-01

We report a photonic approach for selective inactivation of viruses with a near-infrared ultrashort pulsed (USP) laser. We demonstrate that this method can selectively inactivate viral particles ranging from nonpathogenic viruses such as M13 bacteriophage, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) to pathogenic viruses like human papillomavirus (HPV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). At the same time sensitive materials like human Jurkat T cells, human red blood cells, and mouse dendritic cells remain unharmed. Our photonic approach could be used for the disinfection of viral pathogens in blood products and for the treatment of blood-borne viral diseases in the clinic.

Atomistic simulations of ultra-short pulse laser ablation of aluminum: validity of the Lambert-Beer law

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisfeld, Eugen; Roth, Johannes

2018-05-01

Based on hybrid molecular dynamics/two-temperature simulations, we study the validity of the application of Lambert-Beer's law, which is conveniently used in various modeling approaches of ultra-short pulse laser ablation of metals. The method is compared to a more rigorous treatment, which involves solving the Helmholtz wave equation for different pulse durations ranging from 100 fs to 5 ps and a wavelength of 800 nm. Our simulations show a growing agreement with increasing pulse durations, and we provide appropriate optical parameters for all investigated pulse durations.

Analysis of Te and TeO 2 on CdZnTe Nuclear Detectors Treated with Hydrogen Bromide and Ammonium-Based Solutions

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

Drabo, Mebougna L.; Egarievwe, Stephen U.; Okwechime, Ifechukwude O.

Surface defects caused during cutting and polishing in the fabrication of cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) nuclear detectors limit their spectral performance. Chemical treatments are often used to remove surface damages and defects. In this paper, we present the analysis of Te and TeO 2 species on the surfaces of CdZnTe nuclear detectors treated with hydrogen bromide and ammonium-based solutions. The CdZnTe wafers were chemo-mechanically polished in a mixture of hydrogen bromide in hydrogen peroxide and ethylene glycol, followed by a chemical passivation in a mixture of ammonium fluoride and hydrogen peroxide solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed significant conversion of Temore » to TeO 2, thus producing a more chemically stable surface. The resistivity of the CdZnTe samples is in the order of 1010 ohms-cm. The current for a given applied voltage increased following the passivation and decreased after a 3-hour period. Results from spectral response measurements showed that the 59.5-keV gamma-peak of Am-241 was stable under the same channel for the surface treatment processes.« less

Analysis of Te and TeO 2 on CdZnTe Nuclear Detectors Treated with Hydrogen Bromide and Ammonium-Based Solutions

DOE PAGES

Drabo, Mebougna L.; Egarievwe, Stephen U.; Okwechime, Ifechukwude O.; ...

2017-04-30

Surface defects caused during cutting and polishing in the fabrication of cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) nuclear detectors limit their spectral performance. Chemical treatments are often used to remove surface damages and defects. In this paper, we present the analysis of Te and TeO 2 species on the surfaces of CdZnTe nuclear detectors treated with hydrogen bromide and ammonium-based solutions. The CdZnTe wafers were chemo-mechanically polished in a mixture of hydrogen bromide in hydrogen peroxide and ethylene glycol, followed by a chemical passivation in a mixture of ammonium fluoride and hydrogen peroxide solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed significant conversion of Temore » to TeO 2, thus producing a more chemically stable surface. The resistivity of the CdZnTe samples is in the order of 1010 ohms-cm. The current for a given applied voltage increased following the passivation and decreased after a 3-hour period. Results from spectral response measurements showed that the 59.5-keV gamma-peak of Am-241 was stable under the same channel for the surface treatment processes.« less

Cyclotron resonance in HgTe/CdTe-based heterostructures in high magnetic fields

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Cyclotron resonance study of HgTe/CdTe-based quantum wells with both inverted and normal band structures in quantizing magnetic fields was performed. In semimetallic HgTe quantum wells with inverted band structure, a hole cyclotron resonance line was observed for the first time. In the samples with normal band structure, interband transitions were observed with wide line width due to quantum well width fluctuations. In all samples, impurity-related magnetoabsorption lines were revealed. The obtained results were interpreted within the Kane 8·8 model, the valence band offset of CdTe and HgTe, and the Kane parameter EP being adjusted. PMID:23013642

Multifunctional gold nanorods for selective plasmonic photothermal therapy in pancreatic cancer cells using ultra-short pulse near-infrared laser irradiation.

PubMed

Patino, Tania; Mahajan, Ujjwal; Palankar, Raghavendra; Medvedev, Nikolay; Walowski, Jakob; Münzenberg, Markus; Mayerle, Julia; Delcea, Mihaela

2015-03-12

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) have attracted considerable attention in plasmonic photothermal therapy for cancer treatment by exploiting their selective and localized heating effect due to their unique photophysical properties. Here we describe a strategy to design a novel multifunctional platform based on AuNRs to: (i) specifically target the adenocarcinoma MUC-1 marker through the use of the EPPT-1 peptide, (ii) enhance cellular uptake through a myristoylated polyarginine peptide (MPAP) and (iii) selectively induce cell death by ultra-short near infrared laser pulses. We used a biotin-avidin based approach to conjugate EPPT-1 and MPAP to AuNRs. Dual-peptide (EPPT-1+MPAP) labelled AuNRs showed a significantly higher uptake by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells when compared to their single peptide or avidin conjugated counterparts. In addition, we selectively induced cell death by ultra-short near infrared laser pulses in small target volumes (∼1 μm3), through the creation of plasmonic nanobubbles that lead to the destruction of a local cell environment. Our approach opens new avenues for conjugation of multiple ligands on AuNRs targeting cancer cells and tumors and it is relevant for plasmonic photothermal therapy.

Ultra-short pulse delivery at high average power with low-loss hollow core fibers coupled to TRUMPF's TruMicro laser platforms for industrial applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumbach, S.; Pricking, S.; Overbuschmann, J.; Nutsch, S.; Kleinbauer, J.; Gebs, R.; Tan, C.; Scelle, R.; Kahmann, M.; Budnicki, A.; Sutter, D. H.; Killi, A.

2017-02-01

Multi-megawatt ultrafast laser systems at micrometer wavelength are commonly used for material processing applications, including ablation, cutting and drilling of various materials or cleaving of display glass with excellent quality. There is a need for flexible and efficient beam guidance, avoiding free space propagation of light between the laser head and the processing unit. Solid core step index fibers are only feasible for delivering laser pulses with peak powers in the kW-regime due to the optical damage threshold in bulk silica. In contrast, hollow core fibers are capable of guiding ultra-short laser pulses with orders of magnitude higher peak powers. This is possible since a micro-structured cladding confines the light within the hollow core and therefore minimizes the spatial overlap between silica and the electro-magnetic field. We report on recent results of single-mode ultra-short pulse delivery over several meters in a lowloss hollow core fiber packaged with industrial connectors. TRUMPF's ultrafast TruMicro laser platforms equipped with advanced temperature control and precisely engineered opto-mechanical components provide excellent position and pointing stability. They are thus perfectly suited for passive coupling of ultra-short laser pulses into hollow core fibers. Neither active beam launching components nor beam trackers are necessary for a reliable beam delivery in a space and cost saving packaging. Long term tests with weeks of stable operation, excellent beam quality and an overall transmission efficiency of above 85 percent even at high average power confirm the reliability for industrial applications.

Evaluation of Tp-Te Interval and Tp-Te/QT Ratio in Patients with Coronary Slow Flow Tp-Te/QT Ratio and Coronary Slow Flow.

PubMed

Tenekecioglu, Erhan; Karaagac, Kemal; Yontar, Osman Can; Agca, Fahriye Vatansever; Ozluk, Ozlem Arican; Tutuncu, Ahmet; Arslan, Burhan; Yilmaz, Mustafa

2015-06-01

Coronary slow flow (CSF) phenomenon is described by angiographically normal coronary arteries with delayed opacification of the distal vasculature. Several studies have suggested that the interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic T wave (Tp-Te) may correspond to the transmural dispersion of the repolarization and that increased Tp-Te interval and Tp-Te/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ventricular repolarization by using Tp-Te interval and Tp-Te/QT ratio in patients with CSF. This study included 50 CSF patients (40 male, mean age 48.6±12.5 years) and 40 control individuals (23 male, mean age 47.8±12.5 years). Tp-Te interval and Tp-Te/QT ratio were measured from the 12-lead electrocardiogram. These parameters were compared in groups. Baseline characteristics of the study groups were comparable. In electrocardiographic parameters analysis, QT and corrected QT were similar in CSF patients compared to the controls (357±35.2 vs 362±38.0 milliseconds and 419±25.8 vs 430±44.2 milliseconds, all p value >0.05). Tp-Te interval, Tp-Te/QT and Tp-Te/QTc ratio were significantly higher in CSF patients (85±13.7 vs 74±9.9 milliseconds and 0.24±0.03 vs 0.20±0.02 and 0.20±0.03 vs 0.17±0.02 all p value <0.001). Our study revealed that QTd, Tp-Te interval and Tp-Te/QT ratio are prolonged in patients with CSF.

Near-infrared emitting AgInTe2 and Zn-Ag-In-Te colloidal nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langevin, Marc-Antoine; Pons, Thomas; Ritcey, Anna M.; Nì. Allen, Claudine

2015-06-01

The synthesis of AgInTe2 nanocrystals emitting between 1095 nm and 1160 nm is presented. Evolution of the Ag:In:Te ratio shows progressive incorporation of In3+ in Ag2Te, leading to the formation of orthorhombic AgInTe2. When zinc is added to the synthesis, the photoluminescence quantum yield reaches 3.4 %.

Modeling HCV cure after an ultra-short duration of therapy with direct acting agents

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

Goyal, Ashish; Lurie, Yoav; Meissner, Eric G.

In cases of sustained-virological response (SVR or cure) after an ultra-short duration (≤ 27 days) of direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-based therapy, despite HCV being detected at end of treatment (EOT), have been reported. Established HCV mathematical models that predict the treatment duration required to achieve cure do not take into account the possibility that the infectivity of virus produced during treatment might be reduced. The aim of this study was to develop a new mathematical model that considers the fundamental and critical concept that HCV RNA in serum represents both infectious virus (V i) and non-infectious virus (V ni) in ordermore » to explain the observation of cure with ultrashort DAA therapy. Established HCV models were compared to the new mathematical model to retrospectively explain cure in 2 patients who achieved cure after 24 or 27 days of paritaprevir, ombitasvir, dasabuvir, ritonavir and ribavirin or sofosbuvir plus ribavirin, respectively. Fitting established models with measured longitudinal HCV viral loads indicated that in both cases, cure would not have been expected without an additional 3–6 weeks of therapy after the actual EOT. In contrast, the new model fits the observed outcome by considering that in addition to blocking V i and V ni production (ε~0.998), these DAA + ribavirin treatments further enhanced the ratio of V ni to V i, thus increasing the log (V ni/V i) from 1 at pretreatment to 6 by EOT, which led to <1 infectious-virus particle in the extracellular body fluid (i.e., cure) prior to EOT. This new model can explain cure after short duration of DAA + ribavirin therapy by suggesting that a minimum 6-fold increase of log (V ni/V i) results from drug-induced enhancement of the V ni/V i.« less

Modeling HCV cure after an ultra-short duration of therapy with direct acting agents

DOE PAGES

Goyal, Ashish; Lurie, Yoav; Meissner, Eric G.; ...

2017-06-30

In cases of sustained-virological response (SVR or cure) after an ultra-short duration (≤ 27 days) of direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-based therapy, despite HCV being detected at end of treatment (EOT), have been reported. Established HCV mathematical models that predict the treatment duration required to achieve cure do not take into account the possibility that the infectivity of virus produced during treatment might be reduced. The aim of this study was to develop a new mathematical model that considers the fundamental and critical concept that HCV RNA in serum represents both infectious virus (V i) and non-infectious virus (V ni) in ordermore » to explain the observation of cure with ultrashort DAA therapy. Established HCV models were compared to the new mathematical model to retrospectively explain cure in 2 patients who achieved cure after 24 or 27 days of paritaprevir, ombitasvir, dasabuvir, ritonavir and ribavirin or sofosbuvir plus ribavirin, respectively. Fitting established models with measured longitudinal HCV viral loads indicated that in both cases, cure would not have been expected without an additional 3–6 weeks of therapy after the actual EOT. In contrast, the new model fits the observed outcome by considering that in addition to blocking V i and V ni production (ε~0.998), these DAA + ribavirin treatments further enhanced the ratio of V ni to V i, thus increasing the log (V ni/V i) from 1 at pretreatment to 6 by EOT, which led to <1 infectious-virus particle in the extracellular body fluid (i.e., cure) prior to EOT. This new model can explain cure after short duration of DAA + ribavirin therapy by suggesting that a minimum 6-fold increase of log (V ni/V i) results from drug-induced enhancement of the V ni/V i.« less

Effect of Te inclusions in CdZnTe crystals at different temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hossain, A.; Bolotnikov, A. E.; Camarda, G. S.; Gul, R.; Kim, K.-H.; Cui, Y.; Yang, G.; Xu, L.; James, R. B.

2011-02-01

CdZnTe crystals often exhibit nonuniformities due to the presence of Te inclusions and dislocations. High concentrations of such defects in these crystals generally entail severe charge-trapping, a major problem in ensuring the device's satisfactory performance. In this study, we employed a high-intensity, high-spatial-resolution synchrotron x-ray beam as the ideal tool to generate charges by focusing it over the large Te inclusions, and then observing the carrier's response at room- and at low-temperatures. A high spatial 5-μm resolution raster scan revealed the fine details of the presence of extended defects, like Te inclusions and dislocations in the CdZnTe crystals. A noticeable change was observed in the efficiency of electron charge collection at low temperature (1 °C), but it was hardly altered at room-temperature.

PET/MRI for Oncologic Brain Imaging: A Comparison of Standard MR-Based Attenuation Corrections with a Model-Based Approach for the Siemens mMR PET/MR System.

PubMed

Rausch, Ivo; Rischka, Lucas; Ladefoged, Claes N; Furtner, Julia; Fenchel, Matthias; Hahn, Andreas; Lanzenberger, Rupert; Mayerhoefer, Marius E; Traub-Weidinger, Tatjana; Beyer, Thomas

2017-09-01

The aim of this study was to compare attenuation-correction (AC) approaches for PET/MRI in clinical neurooncology. Methods: Forty-nine PET/MRI brain scans were included: brain tumor studies using 18 F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine ( 18 F-FET) ( n = 31) and 68 Ga-DOTANOC ( n = 7) and studies of healthy subjects using 18 F-FDG ( n = 11). For each subject, MR-based AC maps (MR-AC) were acquired using the standard DIXON- and ultrashort echo time (UTE)-based approaches. A third MR-AC was calculated using a model-based, postprocessing approach to account for bone attenuation values (BD, noncommercial prototype software by Siemens Healthcare). As a reference, AC maps were derived from patient-specific CT images (CTref). PET data were reconstructed using standard settings after AC with all 4 AC methods. We report changes in diagnosis for all brain tumor patients and the following relative differences values (RDs [%]), with regards to AC-CTref: for 18 F-FET (A)-SUVs as well as volumes of interest (VOIs) defined by a 70% threshold of all segmented lesions and lesion-to-background ratios; for 68 Ga-DOTANOC (B)-SUVs as well as VOIs defined by a 50% threshold for all lesions and the pituitary gland; and for 18 F-FDG (C)-RD of SUVs of the whole brain and 10 anatomic regions segmented on MR images. Results: For brain tumor imaging (A and B), the standard PET-based diagnosis was not affected by any of the 3 MR-AC methods. For A, the average RDs of SUV mean were -10%, -4%, and -3% and of the VOIs 1%, 2%, and 7% for DIXON, UTE, and BD, respectively. Lesion-to-background ratios for all MR-AC methods were similar to that of CTref. For B, average RDs of SUV mean were -11%, -11%, and -3% and of the VOIs 1%, -4%, and -3%, respectively. In the case of 18 F-FDG PET/MRI (C), RDs for the whole brain were -11%, -8%, and -5% for DIXON, UTE, and BD, respectively. Conclusion: The diagnostic reading of PET/MR patients with brain tumors did not change with the chosen AC method. Quantitative accuracy of

AsTeRICS.

PubMed

Drajsajtl, Tomáš; Struk, Petr; Bednárová, Alice

2013-01-01

AsTeRICS - "The Assistive Technology Rapid Integration & Construction Set" is a construction set for assistive technologies which can be adapted to the motor abilities of end-users. AsTeRICS allows access to different devices such as PCs, cell phones and smart home devices, with all of them integrated in a platform adapted as much as possible to each user. People with motor disabilities in the upper limbs, with no cognitive impairment, no perceptual limitations (neither visual nor auditory) and with basic skills in using technologies such as PCs, cell phones, electronic agendas, etc. have available a flexible and adaptable technology which enables them to access the Human-Machine-Interfaces (HMI) on the standard desktop and beyond. AsTeRICS provides graphical model design tools, a middleware and hardware support for the creation of tailored AT-solutions involving bioelectric signal acquisition, Brain-/Neural Computer Interfaces, Computer-Vision techniques and standardized actuator and device controls and allows combining several off-the-shelf AT-devices in every desired combination. Novel, end-user ready solutions can be created and adapted via a graphical editor without additional programming efforts. The AsTeRICS open-source framework provides resources for utilization and extension of the system to developers and researches. AsTeRICS was developed by the AsTeRICS project and was partially funded by EC.

Method and apparatus for measuring the intensity and phase of one or more ultrashort light pulses and for measuring optical properties of materials

DOEpatents

Trebino, Rick P.; DeLong, Kenneth W.

1996-01-01

The intensity and phase of one or more ultrashort light pulses are obtained using a non-linear optical medium. Information derived from the light pulses is also used to measure optical properties of materials. Various retrieval techniques are employed. Both "instantaneously" and "non-instantaneously" responding optical mediums may be used.

Ultrashort electromagnetic pulse control of intersubband quantum well transitions

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

We study the creation of high-efficiency controlled population transfer in intersubband transitions of semiconductor quantum wells. We give emphasis to the case of interaction of the semiconductor quantum well with electromagnetic pulses with a duration of few cycles and even a single cycle. We numerically solve the effective nonlinear Bloch equations for a specific double GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well structure, taking into account the ultrashort nature of the applied field, and show that high-efficiency population inversion is possible for specific pulse areas. The dependence of the efficiency of population transfer on the electron sheet density and the carrier envelope phase of the pulse is also explored. For electromagnetic pulses with a duration of several cycles, we find that the change in the electron sheet density leads to a very different response of the population in the two subbands to pulse area. However, for pulses with a duration equal to or shorter than 3 cycles, we show that efficient population transfer between the two subbands is possible, independent of the value of electron sheet density, if the pulse area is Π. PMID:22916956

Ultrashort electromagnetic pulse control of intersubband quantum well transitions.

PubMed

Paspalakis, Emmanuel; Boviatsis, John

2012-08-23

: We study the creation of high-efficiency controlled population transfer in intersubband transitions of semiconductor quantum wells. We give emphasis to the case of interaction of the semiconductor quantum well with electromagnetic pulses with a duration of few cycles and even a single cycle. We numerically solve the effective nonlinear Bloch equations for a specific double GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well structure, taking into account the ultrashort nature of the applied field, and show that high-efficiency population inversion is possible for specific pulse areas. The dependence of the efficiency of population transfer on the electron sheet density and the carrier envelope phase of the pulse is also explored. For electromagnetic pulses with a duration of several cycles, we find that the change in the electron sheet density leads to a very different response of the population in the two subbands to pulse area. However, for pulses with a duration equal to or shorter than 3 cycles, we show that efficient population transfer between the two subbands is possible, independent of the value of electron sheet density, if the pulse area is Π.

PharmTeX: a LaTeX-Based Open-Source Platform for Automated Reporting Workflow.

PubMed

Rasmussen, Christian Hove; Smith, Mike K; Ito, Kaori; Sundararajan, Vijayakumar; Magnusson, Mats O; Niclas Jonsson, E; Fostvedt, Luke; Burger, Paula; McFadyen, Lynn; Tensfeldt, Thomas G; Nicholas, Timothy

2018-03-16

Every year, the pharmaceutical industry generates a large number of scientific reports related to drug research, development, and regulatory submissions. Many of these reports are created using text processing tools such as Microsoft Word. Given the large number of figures, tables, references, and other elements, this is often a tedious task involving hours of copying and pasting and substantial efforts in quality control (QC). In the present article, we present the LaTeX-based open-source reporting platform, PharmTeX, a community-based effort to make reporting simple, reproducible, and user-friendly. The PharmTeX creators put a substantial effort into simplifying the sometimes complex elements of LaTeX into user-friendly functions that rely on advanced LaTeX and Perl code running in the background. Using this setup makes LaTeX much more accessible for users with no prior LaTeX experience. A software collection was compiled for users not wanting to manually install the required software components. The PharmTeX templates allow for inclusion of tables directly from mathematical software output as well and figures from several formats. Code listings can be included directly from source. No previous experience and only a few hours of training are required to start writing reports using PharmTeX. PharmTeX significantly reduces the time required for creating a scientific report fully compliant with regulatory and industry expectations. QC is made much simpler, since there is a direct link between analysis output and report input. PharmTeX makes available to report authors the strengths of LaTeX document processing without the need for extensive training. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Multifunctional gold nanorods for selective plasmonic photothermal therapy in pancreatic cancer cells using ultra-short pulse near-infrared laser irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patino, Tania; Mahajan, Ujjwal; Palankar, Raghavendra; Medvedev, Nikolay; Walowski, Jakob; Münzenberg, Markus; Mayerle, Julia; Delcea, Mihaela

2015-03-01

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) have attracted considerable attention in plasmonic photothermal therapy for cancer treatment by exploiting their selective and localized heating effect due to their unique photophysical properties. Here we describe a strategy to design a novel multifunctional platform based on AuNRs to: (i) specifically target the adenocarcinoma MUC-1 marker through the use of the EPPT-1 peptide, (ii) enhance cellular uptake through a myristoylated polyarginine peptide (MPAP) and (iii) selectively induce cell death by ultra-short near infrared laser pulses. We used a biotin-avidin based approach to conjugate EPPT-1 and MPAP to AuNRs. Dual-peptide (EPPT-1 + MPAP) labelled AuNRs showed a significantly higher uptake by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells when compared to their single peptide or avidin conjugated counterparts. In addition, we selectively induced cell death by ultra-short near infrared laser pulses in small target volumes (~1 μm3), through the creation of plasmonic nanobubbles that lead to the destruction of a local cell environment. Our approach opens new avenues for conjugation of multiple ligands on AuNRs targeting cancer cells and tumors and it is relevant for plasmonic photothermal therapy.Gold nanorods (AuNRs) have attracted considerable attention in plasmonic photothermal therapy for cancer treatment by exploiting their selective and localized heating effect due to their unique photophysical properties. Here we describe a strategy to design a novel multifunctional platform based on AuNRs to: (i) specifically target the adenocarcinoma MUC-1 marker through the use of the EPPT-1 peptide, (ii) enhance cellular uptake through a myristoylated polyarginine peptide (MPAP) and (iii) selectively induce cell death by ultra-short near infrared laser pulses. We used a biotin-avidin based approach to conjugate EPPT-1 and MPAP to AuNRs. Dual-peptide (EPPT-1 + MPAP) labelled AuNRs showed a significantly higher uptake by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Shock wave acceleration of protons in inhomogeneous plasma interacting with ultrashort intense laser pulses

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

Lecz, Zs.; Andreev, A.; Max-Born Institute, Berlin

The acceleration of protons, triggered by solitary waves in expanded solid targets is investigated using particle-in-cell simulations. The near-critical density plasma is irradiated by ultrashort high power laser pulses, which generate the solitary wave. The transformation of this soliton into a shock wave during propagation in plasma with exponentially decreasing density profile is described analytically, which allows to obtain a scaling law for the proton energy. The high quality proton bunch with small energy spread is produced by reflection from the shock-front. According to the 2D simulations, the mechanism is stable only if the laser pulse duration is shorter thanmore » the characteristic development time of the parasitic Weibel instability.« less

High resistivity in undoped CdTe: carrier compensation of Te antisites and Cd vacancies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindström, A.; Mirbt, S.; Sanyal, B.; Klintenberg, M.

2016-01-01

In this paper, we focus on the high resistivity of intentionally undoped CdTe, where the most prevalent defects are Cd vacancies and Te antisites. Our calculated formation energies lead to the conclusion that the Fermi energy of undoped CdTe is at midgap due to carrier compensation of Te antisites and Cd vacancies, which explains the experimentally observed high resistivity. We use density functional theory with the hybrid functional of Heyd, Scuseria and Ernzerhof (HSE06) and show that the proper description of the native defects in general fails using the local density approximation (LDA) instead of HSE06. We conclude that LDA is insufficient to understand the high resistivity of undoped CdTe. We calculate the neutral and double acceptor state of the Te antisite to be intrinsic DX-centers.

Nonlinear Thomson scattering of a relativistically strong tightly focused ultrashort laser pulse

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

Vais, O. E.; Bochkarev, S. G., E-mail: bochkar@sci.lebedev.ru; Bychenkov, V. Yu.

The problem of nonlinear Thomson scattering of a relativistically strong linearly polarized ultrashort laser pulse tightly focused into a spot with a diameter of D{sub F} ≳ λ (where λ is the laser wavelength) is solved. The energy, spectral, and angular distributions of radiation generated due to Thomson scattering from test electrons located in the focal region are found. The characteristics of scattered radiation are studied as functions of the tightness of laser focusing and the initial position of test particles relative to the center of the focal region for a given laser pulse energy. It is demonstrated that themore » ultratight focusing is not optimal for obtaining the brightest and hardest source of secondary electromagnetic radiation. The hardest and shortest radiation pulse is generated when the beam waist diameter is ≃10λ.« less

Non-destructive testing of ceramic materials using mid-infrared ultrashort-pulse laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, S. C.; Qi, Hong; An, X. Y.; Ren, Y. T.; Qiao, Y. B.; Ruan, Liming M.

2018-04-01

The non-destructive testing (NDT) of ceramic materials using mid-infrared ultrashort-pulse laser is investigated in this study. The discrete ordinate method is applied to solve the transient radiative transfer equation in 2D semitransparent medium and the emerging radiative intensity on boundary serves as input for the inverse analysis. The sequential quadratic programming algorithm is employed as the inverse technique to optimize objective function, in which the gradient of objective function with respect to reconstruction parameters is calculated using the adjoint model. Two reticulated porous ceramics including partially stabilized zirconia and oxide-bonded silicon carbide are tested. The retrieval results show that the main characteristics of defects such as optical properties, geometric shapes and positions can be accurately reconstructed by the present model. The proposed technique is effective and robust in NDT of ceramics even with measurement errors.

Lifetimes in Te 124 : Examining critical-point symmetry in the Te nuclei

DOE PAGES

Hicks, S. F.; Vanhoy, J. R.; Burkett, P. G.; ...

2017-03-27

The Doppler-shift attenuation method following inelastic neutron scattering was used to determine the lifetimes of nuclear levels to 3.3-MeV excitation in 124Te. Level energies and spins, γ -ray energies and branching ratios, and multipole-mixing ratios were deduced from measured γ-ray angular distributions at incident neutron energies of 2.40 and 3.30 MeV, γ-ray excitation functions, and γγ coincidence measurements. The newly obtained reduced transition probabilities and level energies for 124Te were compared to critical-point symmetry model predictions. The E(5) and β 4 potential critical-point symmetries were also investigated in 122Te and 126Te.

Optical reprogramming of human somatic cells using ultrashort Bessel-shaped near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchugonova, Aisada; Breunig, Hans Georg; Batista, Ana; König, Karsten

2015-11-01

We report a virus-free optical approach to human cell reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem cells with low-power nanoporation using ultrashort Bessel-shaped laser pulses. Picojoule near-infrared sub-20 fs laser pulses at a high 85 MHz repetition frequency are employed to generate transient nanopores in the membrane of dermal fibroblasts for the introduction of four transcription factors to induce the reprogramming process. In contrast to conventional approaches which utilize retro- or lentiviruses to deliver genes or transcription factors into the host genome, the laser method is virus-free; hence, the risk of virus-induced cancer generation limiting clinical application is avoided.

Crack-free conditions in welding of glass by ultrashort laser pulse.

PubMed

Miyamoto, Isamu; Cvecek, Kristian; Schmidt, Michael

2013-06-17

The spatial distribution of the laser energy absorbed by nonlinear absorption process in bulk glass w(z) is determined and thermal cycles due to the successive ultrashort laser pulse (USLP) is simulated using w(z) based on the transient thermal conduction model. The thermal stress produced in internal melting of bulk glass by USLP is qualitatively analyzed based on a simple thermal stress model, and crack-free conditions are studied in glass having large coefficient of thermal expansion. In heating process, cracks are prevented when the laser pulse impinges into glass with temperatures higher than the softening temperature of glass. In cooling process, shrinkage stress is suppressed to prevent cracks, because the embedded molten pool produced by nonlinear absorption process behaves like an elastic body under the compressive stress field unlike the case of CW-laser welding where the molten pool having a free surface produced by linear absorption process is plastically deformed under the compressive stress field.

Generation of UV light by intense ultrashort laser pulses in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexeev, Ilya; Ting, Antonio; Gordon, Daniel; Briscoe, Eldridge; Penano, Joe; Sprangle, Phillip

2004-11-01

The propagation of collimated high-peak-power ultrashort laser pulses in air has attracted considerable attention, which may have a variety of important applications including remote sensing and chemical-biological aerosols standoff detection. Sub-millimeter diameter laser filaments can develop without any focusing optics and instead solely from laser self-focusing and plasma formation in air. These filaments can produce ultraviolet radiations in the form of the 3rd harmonic of the fundamental frequency and also through spectral broadening due to self-phase modulation of the laser pulse. Using femtosecond laser pulses produced by a high power Ti:Sapphire laser (0.8 TW, 50 fs, 800 nm) we observed generation of the third harmonic radiation light in air (centered around 267 nm) by the laser filaments. Characterization of the 3rd harmonic generation with respect to the major gas components of the air will be reported. Supported by the ONR and RDECOM. I. Alexeev is NRC/NRL Post-Doc.

Optical design of ultrashort throw liquid crystal on silicon projection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Jiun-Woei

2017-05-01

An ultrashort throw liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) projector for home cinema, virtual reality, and automobile heads-up display has been designed and fabricated. To achieve the best performance and highest-quality image, this study aimed to design wide-angle projection optics and optimize the illumination for LCoS. Based on the telecentric lens projection system and optimized Koehler illumination, the optical parameters were calculated. The projector's optical system consisted of a conic aspheric mirror and image optics using either symmetric double Gauss or a large-angle eyepiece to achieve a full projection angle larger than 155 deg. By applying Koehler illumination, image resolution was enhanced and the modulation transfer function of the image in high spatial frequency was increased to form a high-quality illuminated image. The partial coherence analysis verified that the design was capable of 2.5 lps/mm within a 2 m×1.5 m projected image. The throw ratio was less than 0.25 in HD format.

Influence of Illumination on the Electrical Properties of p-(ZnMgTe/ZnTe:N)/CdTe/n-(CdTe:I)/GaAs Heterojunction Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jum'h, I.; Abd El-Sadek, M. S.; Al-Taani, H.; Yahia, I. S.; Karczewski, G.

2017-02-01

Heterostructure p-(ZnMgTe/ZnTe:N)/CdTe/n-(CdTe:I)/GaAs was evaporated using molecular beam epitaxy and investigated for photovoltaic energy conversion application. The electrical properties of the studied heterostructure were measured and characterized in order to understand the relevant electrical transport mechanisms. Electrical properties derived from the current-voltage ( I- V) characteristics of solar cells provide essential information necessary for the analysis of performance losses and device efficiency. I- V characteristics are investigated in dark conditions and under different light intensities. All the electrical and power parameters of the heterostructure were measured, calculated and explained.

Ultra-short laser interactions with nanoparticles in different media: from electromagnetic to thermal and electrostatic effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Itina, Tatiana E.

2017-02-01

Key issues of the controlled synthesis of nanoparticles and nanostructures, as well as laser-particle interactions are considered in the context of the latest applications appearing in many fields such as photonics, medicine, 3D printing, etc. The results of a multi-physics numerical study of laser interaction with nanoparticles will be presented in the presence of several environments. In particular, attention will be paid to the numerical study of laser interactions with heterogeneous materials (eg. colloidal liquids and/or nanoparticles in a dielectric medium) and the aggregation/sintering/fragmentation processes induced by ultra-short laser pulses.

Influence of dispersion stretching of ultrashort UV laser pulse on the critical power for self-focusing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ionin, A. A.; Mokrousova, D. V.; Piterimov, D. A.; Seleznev, L. V.; Sinitsyn, D. V.; Sunchugasheva, E. S.

2018-04-01

The critical power for self-focusing in air for ultrashort ultraviolet laser pulses, stretched due to dispersion from 90 to 730 fs, was experimentally measured. It was shown that the pulse duration enhancement due to its propagation in condensed media leads to an almost linear decrease in the critical power for self-focusing. It was also observed that when the pulse peak power exceeds the critical one, the maximum of linear plasma distribution along the ultraviolet laser filament does not shift in the direction opposite to the laser pulse propagation, as observed for infrared laser filaments, but remains at the geometrical focus.

Investigation of Temperature Change under Influence of Ultrashort Laser Pulses Taking into Account Relaxation Properties of Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eremin, A. V.; Kudinov, V. A.; Stefanyuk, E. V.; Kudinov, I. V.

2018-03-01

By using the modified Fourier law’s formula considering the relaxation of heat flow and temperature gradient, a mathematical model of the local non-equilibrium process of plate heating with ultrashort laser pulses was developed. The research showed that consideration of non-locality results in the delayed plate heat up irrespective of the laser radiation flow intensity. It was also shown that in consideration of the relaxation phenomena, the boundary conditions may not be fulfilled immediately – they may be set only within a definite range of the initial time.

Photo-ionization and modification of nanoparticles on transparent substrates by ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruzdev, Vitaly; Komolov, Vladimir; Li, Hao; Yu, Qingsong; Przhibel'skii, Sergey; Smirnov, Dmitry

2011-02-01

The objective of this combined experimental and theoretical research is to study the dynamics and mechanisms of nanoparticle interaction with ultrashort laser pulses and related modifications of substrate surface. For the experimental effort, metal (gold), dielectric (SiO2) and dielectric with metal coating (about 30 nm thick) spherical nanoparticles deposited on glass substrate are utilized. Size of the particles varies from 20 to 200 nm. Density of the particles varies from low (mean inter-particle distance 100 nm) to high (mean inter-particle distance less than 1 nm). The nanoparticle assemblies and the corresponding empty substrate surfaces are irradiated with single 130-fs laser pulses at wavelength 775 nm and different levels of laser fluence. Large diameter of laser spot (0.5-2 mm) provides gradient variations of laser intensity over the spot and allows observing different laser-nanoparticle interactions. The interactions vary from total removal of the nanoparticles in the center of laser spot to gentle modification of their size and shape and totally non-destructive interaction. The removed particles frequently form specific sub-micrometer-size pits on the substrate surface at their locations. The experimental effort is supported by simulations of the nanoparticle interactions with high-intensity ultrashort laser pulse. The simulation employs specific modification of the molecular dynamics approach applied to model the processes of non-thermal particle ablation following laser-induced electron emission. This technique delivers various characteristics of the ablation plume from a single nanoparticle including energy and speed distribution of emitted ions, variations of particle size and overall dynamics of its ablation. The considered geometry includes single isolated particle as well a single particle on a flat substrate that corresponds to the experimental conditions. The simulations confirm existence of the different regimes of laser

Breast MRI at Very Short TE (minTE): Image Analysis of minTE Sequences on Non-Fat-Saturated, Subtracted T1-Weighted Images.

PubMed

Wenkel, Evelyn; Janka, Rolf; Geppert, Christian; Kaemmerer, Nadine; Hartmann, Arndt; Uder, Michael; Hammon, Matthias; Brand, Michael

2017-02-01

Purpose  The aim was to evaluate a minimum echo time (minTE) protocol for breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with breast lesions compared to a standard TE (nTE) time protocol. Methods  Breasts of 144 women were examined with a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner. Additionally to the standard gradient-echo sequence with nTE (4.8 ms), a variant with minimum TE (1.2 ms) was used in an interleaved fashion which leads to a better temporal resolution and should reduce the scan time by approximately 50 %. Lesion sizes were measured and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as well as the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Subjective confidence was evaluated using a 3-point scale before looking at the nTE sequences (1 = very sure that I can identify a lesion and classify it, 2 = quite sure that I can identify a lesion and classify it, 3 = definitely want to see nTE for final assessment) and the subjective image quality of all examinations was evaluated using a four-grade scale (1 = sharp, 2 = slight blur, 3 = moderate blur and 4 = severe blur/not evaluable) for lesion and skin sharpness. Lesion morphology and contrast enhancement were also evaluated. Results  With minTE sequences, no lesion was rated with "definitely want to see nTE sequences for final assessment". The difference of the longitudinal and transverse diameter did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). With minTE, lesions and skin were rated to be significantly more blurry (p < 0.01 for lesions and p < 0.05 for skin). There was no difference between both sequences with respect to SNR, CNR, lesion morphology, contrast enhancement and detection of multifocal disease. Conclusion  Dynamic breast MRI with a minTE protocol is feasible without a major loss of information (SNR, CNR, lesion morphology, contrast enhancement and lesion sizes) and the temporal resolution can be increased by a factor of 2 using minTE sequences. Key points   · Increase of

Nanoheterostructures with CdTe/ZnMgSeTe Quantum Dots for Single-Photon Emitters Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sorokin, S. V.; Sedova, I. V.; Belyaev, K. G.; Rakhlin, M. V.; Yagovkina, M. A.; Toropov, A. A.; Ivanov, S. V.

2018-03-01

Data on the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technology, design, and luminescent properties of heterostructures with CdTe/Zn(Mg)(Se)Te quantum dots on InAs(001) substrates are presented. X-ray diffraction has been used to study short-period ZnTe/MgTe/MgSe superlattices used as wide-bandgap barriers in structures with CdTe/ZnTe quantum dots for the effective confinement of holes. It is shown that the design of these superlattices must take into account the replacement of Te atoms by selenium on MgSe/ZnTe and MgTe/MgSe heterointerfaces. Heterostructures with CdTe/Zn(Mg)(Se)Te quantum dots exhibit photoluminescence at temperatures up to 300 K. The spectra of microphotoluminescence at T = 10 K display a set of emission lines from separate CdTe/ZnTe quantum dots, the surface density of which is estimated at 1010 cm-2.

Non-destructive NIR spectral imaging assessment of bone water: Comparison to MRI measurements.

PubMed

Rajapakse, Chamith S; Padalkar, Mugdha V; Yang, Hee Jin; Ispiryan, Mikayel; Pleshko, Nancy

2017-10-01

Bone fracture risk increases with age, disease states, and with use of certain therapeutics, such as acid-suppressive drugs, steroids and high-dose bisphosphonates. Historically, investigations into factors that underlie bone fracture risk have focused on evaluation of bone mineral density (BMD). However, numerous studies have pointed to factors other than BMD that contribute to fragility, including changes in bone collagen and water. The goal of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using near infrared spectral imaging (NIRSI) to determine the spatial distribution and relative amount of water and organic components in whole cross-sections of bone, and to compare those results to those obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. Cadaver human whole-section tibiae samples harvested from 18 donors of ages 27-97years underwent NIRSI and ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI. As NIRSI data is comprised of broad absorbances, second derivative processing was evaluated as a means to narrow peaks and obtain compositional information. The (inverted) second derivative peak heights of the NIRSI absorbances correlated significantly with the mean peak integration of the water, collagen and fat NIR absorbances, respectively, indicating that either processing method could be used for compositional assessment. The 5797cm -1 absorbance was validated as arising from the fat present in bone marrow, as it completely disappeared after ultrasonication. The MRI UTE-determined bound water content in tibial cortical bone samples ranged from 62 to 91%. The NIRSI water peaks at 5152cm -1 and at 7008cm -1 correlated significantly with the UTE data, with r=0.735, p=0.016, and r=0.71, p=0.0096, respectively. There was also a strong correlation between the intensity of the NIRSI water peak at 7008cm -1 and the intensity of the collagen peak at 4608cm -1 (r=0.69, p=0.004). Since NIRSI requires minimal to no sample preparation, this approach has great potential to become a gold

Minimally Manipulated Bone Marrow Concentrate Compared with Microfracture Treatment of Full-Thickness Chondral Defects: A One-Year Study in an Equine Model.

PubMed

Chu, Constance R; Fortier, Lisa A; Williams, Ashley; Payne, Karin A; McCarrel, Taralyn M; Bowers, Megan E; Jaramillo, Diego

2018-01-17

Microfracture is commonly performed for cartilage repair but usually results in fibrocartilage. Microfracture augmented by autologous bone marrow concentrate (BMC) was previously shown to yield structurally superior cartilage repairs in an equine model compared with microfracture alone. The current study was performed to test the hypothesis that autologous BMC without concomitant microfracture improves cartilage repair compared with microfracture alone. Autologous sternal bone marrow aspirate (BMA) was concentrated using a commercial system. Cells from BMC were evaluated for chondrogenic potential in vitro and in vivo. Bilateral full-thickness chondral defects (15-mm diameter) were created on the midlateral trochlear ridge in 8 horses. Paired defects were randomly assigned to treatment with BMC without concomitant microfracture, or to microfracture alone. The repairs were evaluated at 1 year by in vitro assessment, arthroscopy, morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), quantitative T2-weighted and ultrashort echo time enhanced T2* (UTE-T2*) MRI mapping, and histological assessment. Culture-expanded but not freshly isolated cells from BMA and BMC underwent cartilage differentiation in vitro. In vivo, cartilage repairs in both groups were fibrous to fibrocartilaginous at 1 year of follow-up, with no differences observed between BMC and microfracture by arthroscopy, T2 and UTE-T2* MRI values, and histological assessment (p > 0.05). Morphological MRI showed subchondral bone changes not observed by arthroscopy and improved overall outcomes for the BMC repairs (p = 0.03). Differences in repair tissue UTE-T2* texture features were observed between the treatment groups (p < 0.05). When BMC was applied directly to critical-sized, full-thickness chondral defects in an equine model, the cartilage repair results were similar to those of microfracture. Our data suggest that, given the few mesenchymal stem cells in minimally manipulated BMC, other mechanisms such as

Searching for low-workfunction phases in the Cs-Te system: The case of Cs2Te5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruth, Anthony; Németh, Károly; Harkay, Katherine C.; Terdik, Joseph Z.; Spentzouris, Linda; Terry, Jeff

2013-05-01

We have computationally explored workfunction values of Cs2Te5 surfaces, an existing crystalline phase of the Cs-Te system and a small bandgap semiconductor, in order to search for reduced workfunction alternatives of Cs2Te that preserve the exceptionally high quantum efficiency of the Cs2Te seasoned photoemissive material. We have found that the Cs2Te5(010) surface exhibits a workfunction value of ≈1.9 eV when it is covered by Cs atoms. Cs2Te5 is analogous to our recently proposed low-workfunction materials, Cs2TeC2, and other ternary acetylides [J. Z. Terdik et al., Phys. Rev. B 86, 035142 (2012)], in as much as it also contains quasi one-dimensional substructures embedded in a Cs-matrix, forming the foundation for anomalous workfunction anisotropy and low workfunction values. The one-dimensional substructures in Cs2Te5 are polytelluride ions in a tetragonal rod-like packing. Cs2Te5 has the advantage of simpler composition and availability as compared to Cs2TeC2; however, its low workfunction surface is less energetically favored to the other surfaces than in Cs2TeC2. A significant and remarkable advantage of Cs2Te5 as compared to Cs2Te is its high optical absorption of visible photons that can allow for high quantum efficiency electron emission at visible photon energies.

78 FR 28626 - Te Connectivity, Industrial Division, Middletown, Pennsylvania; Te Connectivity, Corporate Shared...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-15

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration [TA-W-81,557; TA-W-81,557A; TA-W-81,557B; TA-W-81,557C; ;TA-W-81,557D; Ta-W-81,557e] Te Connectivity, Industrial Division, Middletown, Pennsylvania; Te Connectivity, Corporate Shared Services Group 100 & 200 Amp Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Te Connectivity Corporate Shared Services...

CdZnTe substrate impurities and their effects on liquid phase epitaxy HgCdTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tower, J. P.; Tobin, S. P.; Kestigian, M.; Norton, P. W.; Bollong, A. B.; Schaake, H. F.; Ard, C. K.

1995-05-01

Impurity levels were tracked through the stages of substrate and liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) layer processing to identify sources of elements which degrade infrared photodetector performance. Chemical analysis by glow discharge mass spectrometry and Zeeman corrected graphite furnace atomic absorption effectively showed the levels of impurities introduced into CdZnTe substrate material from the raw materials and the crystal growth processes. A new purification process (in situ distillation zone refining) for raw materials was developed, resulting in improved CdZnTe substrate purity. Substrate copper contamination was found to degrade the LPE layer and device electrical properties, in the case of lightly doped HgCdTe. Anomalous HgCdTe carrier type conversion was correlated to certain CdZnTe and CdTe substrate ingots.

Fabrication of Te and Te-Au Nanowires-Based Carbon Fiber Fabrics for Antibacterial Applications

PubMed Central

Chou, Ting-Mao; Ke, Yi-Yun; Tsao, Yu-Hsiang; Li, Ying-Chun; Lin, Zong-Hong

2016-01-01

Pathogenic bacteria that give rise to diseases every year remain a major health concern. In recent years, tellurium-based nanomaterials have been approved as new and efficient antibacterial agents. In this paper, we developed the approach to directly grow tellurium nanowires (Te NWs) onto commercial carbon fiber fabrics and demonstrated their antibacterial activity. Those Te NWs can serve as templates and reducing agents for gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to deposit. Three different Te-Au NWs with varied concentration of Au NPs were synthesized and showed superior antibacterial activity and biocompability. These results indicate that the as-prepared carbon fiber fabrics with Te and Te-Au NWs can become antimicrobial clothing products in the near future. PMID:26861380

Ultrathin endoscopy versus high-resolution endoscopy for diagnosing superficial gastric neoplasia.

PubMed

Toyoizumi, Hirobumi; Kaise, Mitsuru; Arakawa, Hiroshi; Yonezawa, Jin; Yoshida, Yukinaga; Kato, Masayuki; Yoshimura, Noboru; Goda, Ken-ichi; Tajiri, Hisao

2009-08-01

Ultrathin endoscopy (UTE) is an acceptable and cost-effective alternative to EGD with the patient under sedation, although the diagnostic accuracy of UTE is not well established. To compare the diagnostic accuracy of UTE and high-resolution endoscopy (HRE) for superficial gastric neoplasia. Prospective comparative study. Academic center. Patients with or without superficial gastric neoplasia underwent peroral UTE and HRE, back-to-back in a random order while under standard sedation. The procedures were performed by 2 endoscopists who were blinded to the clinical information. The rate of missed lesions and misdiagnosis, sensitivity, and specificity for the diagnosis of gastric neoplasia when using pathology as the reference standard. In total, 126 lesions (41 superficial gastric neoplasias, 85 nonneoplastic lesions) were recorded in 57 enrolled patients. For the diagnosis of gastric neoplasia, the sensitivity of UTE (58.5%) was significantly (P = .021) lower than that of HRE (78%), and the specificity of UTE (91.8%) was significantly (P = .014) lower than that of HRE (100%). The rate of missed lesions and misdiagnosis of gastric neoplasias when using UTE (41.5%) was significantly (P > .001) higher than that of HRE (22.0%). The corresponding rate of neoplasias at the proximal portion (fornix and corpus) when using UTE (29%) was significantly (P = .002) higher than that of HRE (7.2%), although the rates of neoplasias at the distal portion (angulus and antrum) were comparable for UTE and HRE. Small sample numbers in an enriched population. The diagnostic accuracy of UTE is significantly lower than that of HRE for superficial gastric neoplasia, and this difference is particularly striking for neoplasias in the proximal stomach. For UTE to be used as an alternative modality, improvements in optical quality and the incorporation of additional procedures, including close-range observations and chromoendoscopy, are required to enhance visualization.

Electronic properties of GeTe and Ag- or Sb-substituted GeTe studied by low-temperature Te 125 NMR

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

Cui, J.; Levin, E. M.; Lee, Y.

We have carried out 125Te nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in a wide temperature range of 1.5–300 K to investigate the electronic properties of Ge 50 Te 50, Ag 2 Ge 48Te 50 , and Sb 2 Ge 48 Te 50 from a microscopic point of view. From the temperature dependence of the NMR shift (K) and nuclear spin lattice relaxation rate (1/T 1), we found that two bands contribute to the physical properties of the materials. One band overlaps the Fermi level providing the metallic state where no strong electron correlations are revealed by Korringa analysis. The other band ismore » separated from the Fermi level by an energy gap of E g/k B ~67 K, which gives rise to semiconductorlike properties. First-principles calculation reveals that the metallic band originates from the Ge vacancy while the semiconductorlike band is related to the fine structure of the density of states near the Fermi level. We find low-temperature Te125 NMR data for the materials studied here clearly show that Ag substitution increases hole concentration while Sb substitution decreases it.« less

Electronic properties of GeTe and Ag- or Sb-substituted GeTe studied by low-temperature Te 125 NMR

DOE PAGES

Cui, J.; Levin, E. M.; Lee, Y.; ...

2016-08-18

We have carried out 125Te nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in a wide temperature range of 1.5–300 K to investigate the electronic properties of Ge 50 Te 50, Ag 2 Ge 48Te 50 , and Sb 2 Ge 48 Te 50 from a microscopic point of view. From the temperature dependence of the NMR shift (K) and nuclear spin lattice relaxation rate (1/T 1), we found that two bands contribute to the physical properties of the materials. One band overlaps the Fermi level providing the metallic state where no strong electron correlations are revealed by Korringa analysis. The other band ismore » separated from the Fermi level by an energy gap of E g/k B ~67 K, which gives rise to semiconductorlike properties. First-principles calculation reveals that the metallic band originates from the Ge vacancy while the semiconductorlike band is related to the fine structure of the density of states near the Fermi level. We find low-temperature Te125 NMR data for the materials studied here clearly show that Ag substitution increases hole concentration while Sb substitution decreases it.« less

T2* measurements of 3-T MRI with ultrashort TEs: capabilities of pulmonary function assessment and clinical stage classification in smokers.

PubMed

Ohno, Yoshiharu; Koyama, Hisanobu; Yoshikawa, Takeshi; Matsumoto, Keiko; Takahashi, Masaya; Van Cauteren, Marc; Sugimura, Kazuro

2011-08-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of MRI with ultrashort TEs on a 3-T system and of thin-section MDCT for pulmonary function assessment and clinical stage classification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in smokers. Forty smokers (24 men and 16 women; mean age ± SD, 68.0 ± 9.3 years) underwent MRI with ultrashort TEs and thin-section MDCT. Pulmonary function testing was also performed to determine the following: the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (percentage predicted) (FEV(1/)FVC%), percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (%FEV(1)), and percentage predicted diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide corrected for alveolar volume (%DLCO/V(A)). All subjects were classified into one of four groups as follows: smokers without COPD, with mild COPD, with moderate COPD, and with severe or very severe COPD. T2(*) maps were expressed using proprietary software. Regional T2(*) values were determined by region of interest measurements and were averaged to determine a mean T2(*) value for each subject. CT-based functional lung volume and the ratio of the wall area to the total airway area were also determined. All indexes were statistically correlated with pulmonary function parameters. Then, all indexes were compared among all groups by means of Tukey's honest significance test. All indexes had significant correlation with FEV(1)/FVC%, %FEV(1), and % DLCO/V(A) (p < 0.05). All indexes except WA% of smokers without COPD and smokers with mild COPD differed significantly from those of smokers with moderate COPD and smokers with severe or very severe COPD (p < 0.05). Moreover, the mean T2(*) value of the moderate COPD group was significantly different from that of the severe or very severe COPD group (p < 0.05). MRI with ultrashort TEs is potentially as useful as quantitatively assessed MDCT for pulmonary function loss assessment and clinical stage classification of COPD in

Bi-exponential T2 analysis of healthy and diseased Achilles tendons: an in vivo preliminary magnetic resonance study and correlation with clinical score.

PubMed

Juras, Vladimir; Apprich, Sebastian; Szomolanyi, Pavol; Bieri, Oliver; Deligianni, Xeni; Trattnig, Siegfried

2013-10-01

To compare mono- and bi-exponential T2 analysis in healthy and degenerated Achilles tendons using a recently introduced magnetic resonance variable-echo-time sequence (vTE) for T2 mapping. Ten volunteers and ten patients were included in the study. A variable-echo-time sequence was used with 20 echo times. Images were post-processed with both techniques, mono- and bi-exponential [T2 m, short T2 component (T2 s) and long T2 component (T2 l)]. The number of mono- and bi-exponentially decaying pixels in each region of interest was expressed as a ratio (B/M). Patients were clinically assessed with the Achilles Tendon Rupture Score (ATRS), and these values were correlated with the T2 values. The means for both T2 m and T2 s were statistically significantly different between patients and volunteers; however, for T2 s, the P value was lower. In patients, the Pearson correlation coefficient between ATRS and T2 s was -0.816 (P = 0.007). The proposed variable-echo-time sequence can be successfully used as an alternative method to UTE sequences with some added benefits, such as a short imaging time along with relatively high resolution and minimised blurring artefacts, and minimised susceptibility artefacts and chemical shift artefacts. Bi-exponential T2 calculation is superior to mono-exponential in terms of statistical significance for the diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy. • Magnetic resonance imaging offers new insight into healthy and diseased Achilles tendons • Bi-exponential T2 calculation in Achilles tendons is more beneficial than mono-exponential • A short T2 component correlates strongly with clinical score • Variable echo time sequences successfully used instead of ultrashort echo time sequences.

High thermoelectric potential of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} alloyed GeTe-rich phases

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

Madar, Naor; Givon, Tom; Mogilyansky, Dmitry

2016-07-21

In an attempt to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, associated with severe environmental effects, the current research is focused on the identification of the thermoelectric potential of p-type (GeTe){sub 1−x}(Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}){sub x} alloys, with x values of up to 20%. Higher solubility limit of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} in GeTe, than previously reported, was identified around ∼9%, extending the doping potential of GeTe by the Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} donor dopant, for an effective compensation of the high inherent hole concentration of GeTe toward thermoelectrically optimal values. Around the solubility limit of 9%, an electronic optimization resulted in an impressivemore » maximal thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, of ∼1.55 at ∼410 °C, which is one of the highest ever reported for any p-type GeTe-rich alloys. Beyond the solubility limit, a Fermi Level Pinning effect of stabilizing the Seebeck coefficient was observed in the x = 12%–17% range, leading to stabilization of the maximal ZTs over an extended temperature range; an effect that was associated with the potential of the governed highly symmetric Ge{sub 8}Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 11} and Ge{sub 4}Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 7} phases to create high valence band degeneracy with several bands and multiple hole pockets on the Fermi surface. At this compositional range, co-doping with additional dopants, creating shallow impurity levels (in contrast to the deep lying level created by Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}), was suggested for further electronic optimization of the thermoelectric properties.« less

Electronic structure of Fe1.08Te bulk crystals and epitaxial FeTe thin films on Bi2Te3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnold, Fabian; Warmuth, Jonas; Michiardi, Matteo; Fikáček, Jan; Bianchi, Marco; Hu, Jin; Mao, Zhiqiang; Miwa, Jill; Singh, Udai Raj; Bremholm, Martin; Wiesendanger, Roland; Honolka, Jan; Wehling, Tim; Wiebe, Jens; Hofmann, Philip

2018-02-01

The electronic structure of thin films of FeTe grown on Bi2Te3 is investigated using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy and first principles calculations. As a comparison, data from cleaved bulk Fe1.08Te taken under the same experimental conditions is also presented. Due to the substrate and thin film symmetry, FeTe thin films grow on Bi2Te3 in three domains, rotated by 0°, 120°, and 240°. This results in a superposition of photoemission intensity from the domains, complicating the analysis. However, by combining bulk and thin film data, it is possible to partly disentangle the contributions from three domains. We find a close similarity between thin film and bulk electronic structure and an overall good agreement with first principles calculations, assuming a p-doping shift of 65 meV for the bulk and a renormalization factor of around two. By tracking the change of substrate electronic structure upon film growth, we find indications of an electron transfer from the FeTe film to the substrate. No significant change of the film’s electronic structure or doping is observed when alkali atoms are dosed onto the surface. This is ascribed to the film’s high density of states at the Fermi energy. This behavior is also supported by the ab initio calculations.

Measurement of ultrashort laser pulses using single-crystal films of 4-aminobenzophenone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhowmik, Achintya K.; Tan, Shida; Ahyi, Ayayi C.; Dharmadhikari, J. A.; Dharmadhikari, A. K.; Mathur, D.

2007-12-01

Single-crystal thin-film of an organic second-order nonlinear optical material, 4-aminobenzophenone (ABP), is used to measure the pulsewidth of a Ti-Sapphire laser producing ˜45 fs pulses at 1 kHz repetition rate, by the non-collinear second-harmonic generation (SHG) intensity autocorrelation technique. These films are suitable for measurements over a broad wavelength range, down to 780 nm, due to their wide optical transparency. The single-crystal film with thickness (˜3 μm) less than the coherence length requires no phase-matching for efficient broadband SHG. Pulse walk-off due to group-velocity mismatch (GVM) and temporal broadening of the pulses due to group-velocity dispersion (GVD) are found to be negligible. These effects have been estimated for pulse width down to few-cycle pulses (˜10 fs), and the analyses show that these films can be used to characterize such ultrashort optical pulses.

Magnetic resonance imaging of third molars: developing a protocol suitable for forensic age estimation.

PubMed

De Tobel, Jannick; Hillewig, Elke; Bogaert, Stephanie; Deblaere, Karel; Verstraete, Koenraad

2017-03-01

Established dental age estimation methods in sub-adults study the development of third molar root apices on radiographs. In living individuals, however, avoiding ionising radiation is expedient. Studying dental development with magnetic resonance imaging complies with this requirement, adding the advantage of imaging in three dimensions. To elaborate the development of an MRI protocol to visualise all third molars for forensic age estimation, with particular attention to the development of the root apex. Ex vivo scans of porcine jaws and in vivo scans of 10 volunteers aged 17-25 years were performed to select adequate sequences. Studied parameters were T1 vs T2 weighting, ultrashort echo time (UTE), fat suppression, in plane resolution, slice thickness, 3D imaging, signal-to-noise ratio, and acquisition time. A bilateral four-channel flexible surface coil was used. Two observers evaluated the suitability of the images. T2-weighted images were preferred to T1-weighted images. To clearly distinguish root apices in (almost) fully developed third molars an in plane resolution of 0.33 × 0.33 mm 2 was deemed necessary. Taking acquisition time limits into account, only a T2 FSE sequence with slice thickness of 2 mm generated images with sufficient resolution and contrast. UTE, thinner slice T2 FSE and T2 3D FSE sequences could not generate the desired resolution within 6.5 minutes. Three Tesla MRI of the third molars is a feasible technique for forensic age estimation, in which a T2 FSE sequence can provide the desired in plane resolution within a clinically acceptable acquisition time.

Sci-Thur PM - Colourful Interactions: Highlights 04: A Fast Quantitative MRI Acquisition and Processing Pipeline for Radiation Treatment Planning and Simulation

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

Jutras, Jean-David

MRI-only Radiation Treatment Planning (RTP) is becoming increasingly popular because of a simplified work-flow, and less inconvenience to the patient who avoids multiple scans. The advantages of MRI-based RTP over traditional CT-based RTP lie in its superior soft-tissue contrast, and absence of ionizing radiation dose. The lack of electron-density information in MRI can be addressed by automatic tissue classification. To distinguish bone from air, which both appear dark in MRI, an ultra-short echo time (UTE) pulse sequence may be used. Quantitative MRI parametric maps can provide improved tissue segmentation/classification and better sensitivity in monitoring disease progression and treatment outcome thanmore » standard weighted images. Superior tumor contrast can be achieved on pure T{sub 1} images compared to conventional T{sub 1}-weighted images acquired in the same scan duration and voxel resolution. In this study, we have developed a robust and fast quantitative MRI acquisition and post-processing work-flow that integrates these latest advances into the MRI-based RTP of brain lesions. Using 3D multi-echo FLASH images at two different optimized flip angles (both acquired in under 9 min, and 1mm isotropic resolution), parametric maps of T{sub 1}, proton-density (M{sub 0}), and T{sub 2}{sup *} are obtained with high contrast-to-noise ratio, and negligible geometrical distortions, water-fat shifts and susceptibility effects. An additional 3D UTE MRI dataset is acquired (in under 4 min) and post-processed to classify tissues for dose simulation. The pipeline was tested on four healthy volunteers and a clinical trial on brain cancer patients is underway.« less

Mode-locking peculiarities in an all-fiber erbium-doped ring ultrashort pulse laser with a highly-nonlinear resonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dvoretskiy, Dmitriy A.; Sazonkin, Stanislav G.; Kudelin, Igor S.; Orekhov, Ilya O.; Pnev, Alexey B.; Karasik, Valeriy E.; Denisov, Lev K.

2017-12-01

Today ultrashort pulse (USP) fiber lasers are in great demand in a frequency metrology field, THz pulse spectroscopy, optical communication, quantum optics application, etc. Therefore mode-locked (ML) fiber lasers have been extensively investigated over the last decade due the number of scientific, medical and industrial applications. It should be noted, that USP fiber lasers can be treated as an ideal platform to expand future applications due to the complex ML nonlinear dynamics in a laser resonator. Up to now a series of novel ML regimes have been investigated e.g. self-similar pulses, noise-like pulses, multi-bound solitons and soliton rain generation. Recently, we have used a highly nonlinear germanosilicate fiber (with germanium oxides concentration in the core 50 mol. %) inside the resonator for more reliable and robust launching of passive mode-locking based on the nonlinear polarization evolution effect in fibers. In this work we have measured promising and stable ML regimes such as stretched pulses, soliton rain and multi-bound solitons formed in a highly-nonlinear ring laser and obtained by intracavity group velocity dispersion (GVD) variation in slightly negative region. As a result, we have obtained the low noise ultrashort pulse generation with duration < 250 fs (more than 20 bound pulses when obtained multi-bound soliton generation with intertemporal width 5 ps) at a repetition rate 11.3 MHz (with signal-to-noise ratio at fundamental frequency > 59 dB) and relative intensity noise <-101 dBc / Hz.

Relaxivity enhancement of aquated Tris(β-diketonate)gadolinium(III) chelates by confinement within ultrashort single-walled carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Law, Justin J; Guven, Adem; Wilson, Lon J

2014-01-01

Ultrashort single-walled carbon nanotubes loaded with gadolinium ions (gadonanotubes) have been previously shown to exhibit extremely high T1 -weighted relaxivities (>100 mm(-1) s(-1) ). To further examine the effect of nanoconfinement on the relaxivity of gadolinium-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, a series of ultrashort single-walled carbon nanotube (US-tube) materials internally loaded with gadolinium chelates have been prepared and studied. US-tubes were loaded with Gd(acac)3  · 2H2 O, Gd(hfac)3  · 2H2 O, and Gd(thd)3 (acac = acetylacetone, hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone, thd = tetramethylheptanedione). The longitudinal relaxivities of the prepared materials determined at 25°C in a 1.5 T field were 103 mm(-1) s(-1) for Gd(acac)3  · 2H2 O@US-tubes, 105 mm(-1) s(-1) for Gd(hfac)3  · 2H2 O@US-tubes and 26 mm(-1) s(-1) for Gd(thd)3 @US-tubes. Compared with the relaxivities obtained for the unloaded chelates (<10 mm(-1) s(-1) ) as well as accounting for the T1 reduction observed for the empty US-tubes, the boost in relaxivity for chelate-loaded US-tubes is attributed to confinement within the nanotube and depends on the number of coordinated water molecules. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of pulse temporal shape on optical trapping and impulse transfer using ultrashort pulsed lasers.

PubMed

Shane, Janelle C; Mazilu, Michael; Lee, Woei Ming; Dholakia, Kishan

2010-03-29

We investigate the effects of pulse duration on optical trapping with high repetition rate ultrashort pulsed lasers, through Lorentz-Mie theory, numerical simulation, and experiment. Optical trapping experiments use a 12 femtosecond duration infrared pulsed laser, with the trapping microscope's temporal dispersive effects measured and corrected using the Multiphoton Intrapulse Interference Phase Scan method. We apply pulse shaping to reproducibly stretch pulse duration by 1.5 orders of magnitude and find no material-independent effects of pulse temporal profile on optical trapping of 780nm silica particles, in agreement with our theory and simulation. Using pulse shaping, we control two-photon fluorescence in trapped fluorescent particles, opening the door to other coherent control applications with trapped particles.

Tuning the frequency of ultrashort laser pulses by a cross-phase-modulation-induced shift in a photonic crystal fiber.

PubMed

Konorov, S O; Akimov, D A; Zheltikov, A M; Ivanov, A A; Alfimov, M V; Scalora, M

2005-06-15

Femtosecond pulses of fundamental Cr:forsterite laser radiation are used as a pump field to tune the frequency of copropagating second-harmonic pulses of the same laser through cross-phase modulation in a photonic crystal fiber. Sub-100-kW femtosecond pump pulses coupled into a photonic crystal fiber with an appropriate dispersion profile can shift the central frequency of the probe field by more than 100 nm, suggesting a convenient way to control propagation and spectral transformations of ultrashort laser pulses.

Anisotropic layered Bi2Te3-In2Te3 composites: control of interface density for tuning of thermoelectric properties

PubMed Central

Liu, Dongmei; Li, Xinzhong; Borlido, Pedro Miguel de Castro; Botti, Silvana; Schmechel, Roland; Rettenmayr, Markus

2017-01-01

Layered (Bi1−xInx)2Te3-In2Te3 (x = 0.075) composites of pronounced anisotropy in structure and thermoelectric properties were produced by zone melting and subsequent coherent precipitation of In2Te3 from a (Bi1−xInx)2Te3 (x > 0.075) matrix. Employing solid state phase transformation, the Bi2Te3/In2Te3 interface density was tuned by modifying the driving force for In2Te3 precipitation. The structure-property relationship in this strongly anisotropic material is characterized thoroughly and systematically for the first time. Unexpectedly, with increasing Bi2Te3/In2Te3 interface density, an increase in electrical conductivity and a decrease in the absolute Seebeck coefficient were found. This is likely to be due to electron accumulation layers at the Bi2Te3/In2Te3 interfaces and the interplay of bipolar transport in Bi2Te3. Significantly improved thermoelectric properties of Bi2Te3-In2Te3 composites as compared to the single phase (Bi1−xInx)2Te3 solid solution are obtained. PMID:28272541

X-ray absorption of a warm dense aluminum plasma created by an ultra-short laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lecherbourg, L.; Renaudin, P.; Bastiani-Ceccotti, S.; Geindre, J.-P.; Blancard, C.; Cossé, P.; Faussurier, G.; Shepherd, R.; Audebert, P.

2007-05-01

Point-projection K-shell absorption spectroscopy has been used to measure absorption spectra of transient aluminum plasma created by an ultra-short laser pulse. The 1s-2p and 1s-3p absorption lines of weakly ionized aluminum were measured for an extended range of densities in a low-temperature regime. Independent plasma characterization was obtained using frequency domain interferometry diagnostic (FDI) that allows the interpretation of the absorption spectra in terms of spectral opacities. A detailed opacity code using the density and temperature inferred from the FDI reproduce the measured absorption spectra except in the last stage of the recombination phase.

Ultrashort polarization splitter based on dual-core photonic crystal fibers with gold wire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Qiang; Zhao, Ya; Xia, Houping; Lin, Shebao; Zhang, Yani

2018-04-01

An ultrashort polarization splitter based on dual-core photonic crystal fibers with gold wire has been proposed. Based on the beam propagation method with anisotropic perfectly matched layers, its polarization splitter coupling length, coupling length ratio, extinction ratio (ER), and bandwidth are numerically investigated. When the gold thread is filled in the fiber, the surface of the gold wire will produce the surface plasmon polaritons, which has certain influence on the beam propagation. A polarization splitter with shorter length and greater working bandwidth can be obtained by filling the gold wire. Numerical results demonstrate that the polarization splitter possesses extremely the length of 290 μm and high ER of -56.5 dB at the wavelength of 1.55 μm. Moreover, the polarization splitter is proposed to achieve ER better than -10 dB and a bandwidth of 19.2 nm.

The life cycle of infrared ultra-short high intensity laser pulses in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Cunliang; Lin, Wenbin

2015-08-01

The life cycle of ultra-short high intensity laser pulses propagation in air is studied. As the controversial of the high-order Kerr indices measured by Loriot et al. [Opt. Express 18, 3011 (2010)], we focus on two models which are high-order Kerr effect included and not included. Two factors are mainly analyzed, group-velocity-dispersion and the energy evolution of the pulse. It is found that the group-velocity-dispersion can not be simply ignored even though the pulse's duration is as long as several hundreds femtoseconds. The energy loss due to the multi-photon-absorption is very small, and it may hardly change the propagation length of the pulse. Another contribution of this work is to introduce a probability quantity, which may be useful in validating the positive and negative alternating of the Kerr and high-order Kerr indices.

Pseudogap and proximity effect in the Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor.

PubMed

He, M Q; Shen, J Y; Petrović, A P; He, Q L; Liu, H C; Zheng, Y; Wong, C H; Chen, Q H; Wang, J N; Law, K T; Sou, I K; Lortz, R

2016-09-02

In the interfacial superconductor Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe, two dimensional superconductivity occurs in direct vicinity to the surface state of a topological insulator. If this state were to become involved in superconductivity, under certain conditions a topological superconducting state could be formed, which is of high interest due to the possibility of creating Majorana fermionic states. We report directional point-contact spectroscopy data on the novel Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor for a Bi2Te3 thickness of 9 quintuple layers, bonded by van der Waals epitaxy to a Fe1+yTe film at an atomically sharp interface. Our data show highly unconventional superconductivity, which appears as complex as in the cuprate high temperature superconductors. A very large superconducting twin-gap structure is replaced by a pseudogap above ~12 K which persists up to 40 K. While the larger gap shows unconventional order parameter symmetry and is attributed to a thin FeTe layer in proximity to the interface, the smaller gap is associated with superconductivity induced via the proximity effect in the topological insulator Bi2Te3.

Pseudogap and proximity effect in the Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor

PubMed Central

He, M. Q.; Shen, J. Y.; Petrović, A. P.; He, Q. L.; Liu, H. C.; Zheng, Y.; Wong, C. H.; Chen, Q. H.; Wang, J. N.; Law, K. T.; Sou, I. K.; Lortz, R.

2016-01-01

In the interfacial superconductor Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe, two dimensional superconductivity occurs in direct vicinity to the surface state of a topological insulator. If this state were to become involved in superconductivity, under certain conditions a topological superconducting state could be formed, which is of high interest due to the possibility of creating Majorana fermionic states. We report directional point-contact spectroscopy data on the novel Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor for a Bi2Te3 thickness of 9 quintuple layers, bonded by van der Waals epitaxy to a Fe1+yTe film at an atomically sharp interface. Our data show highly unconventional superconductivity, which appears as complex as in the cuprate high temperature superconductors. A very large superconducting twin-gap structure is replaced by a pseudogap above ~12 K which persists up to 40 K. While the larger gap shows unconventional order parameter symmetry and is attributed to a thin FeTe layer in proximity to the interface, the smaller gap is associated with superconductivity induced via the proximity effect in the topological insulator Bi2Te3. PMID:27587000

Nanowire growth and sublimation: CdTe quantum dots in ZnTe nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orrù, M.; Robin, E.; Den Hertog, M.; Moratis, K.; Genuist, Y.; André, R.; Ferrand, D.; Cibert, J.; Bellet-Amalric, E.

2018-04-01

The role of the sublimation of the compound and of the evaporation of the constituents from the gold nanoparticle during the growth of semiconductor nanowires is exemplified with CdTe-ZnTe heterostructures. Operating close to the upper temperature limit strongly reduces the amount of Cd present in the gold nanoparticle and the density of adatoms on the nanowire sidewalls. As a result, the growth rate is small and strongly temperature dependent, but a good control of the growth conditions allows the incorporation of quantum dots in nanowires with sharp interfaces and adjustable shape, and it minimizes the radial growth and the subsequent formation of additional CdTe clusters on the nanowire sidewalls, as confirmed by photoluminescence. Uncapped CdTe segments dissolve into the gold nanoparticle when interrupting the flux, giving rise to a bulblike (pendant-droplet) shape attributed to the Kirkendall effect.

Ultrashort Microwave-Pumped Real-Time Thermoacoustic Breast Tumor Imaging System.

PubMed

Ye, Fanghao; Ji, Zhong; Ding, Wenzheng; Lou, Cunguang; Yang, Sihua; Xing, Da

2016-03-01

We report the design of a real-time thermoacoustic (TA) scanner dedicated to imaging deep breast tumors and investigate its imaging performance. The TA imaging system is composed of an ultrashort microwave pulse generator and a ring transducer array with 384 elements. By vertically scanning the transducer array that encircles the breast phantom, we achieve real-time, 3D thermoacoustic imaging (TAI) with an imaging speed of 16.7 frames per second. The stability of the microwave energy and its distribution in the cling-skin acoustic coupling cup are measured. The results indicate that there is a nearly uniform electromagnetic field in each XY-imaging plane. Three plastic tubes filled with salt water are imaged dynamically to evaluate the real-time performance of our system, followed by 3D imaging of an excised breast tumor embedded in a breast phantom. Finally, to demonstrate the potential for clinical applications, the excised breast of a ewe embedded with an ex vivo human breast tumor is imaged clearly with a contrast of about 1:2.8. The high imaging speed, large field of view, and 3D imaging performance of our dedicated TAI system provide the potential for clinical routine breast screening.

Ultrashort vortex from a Gaussian pulse - An achromatic-interferometric approach.

PubMed

Naik, Dinesh N; Saad, Nabil A; Rao, D Narayana; Viswanathan, Nirmal K

2017-05-24

The more than a century old Sagnac interferometer is put to first of its kind use to generate an achromatic single-charge vortex equivalent to a Laguerre-Gaussian beam possessing orbital angular momentum (OAM). The interference of counter-propagating polychromatic Gaussian beams of beam waist ω λ with correlated linear phase (ϕ 0  ≥ 0.025 λ) and lateral shear (y 0  ≥ 0.05 ω λ ) in orthogonal directions is shown to create a vortex phase distribution around the null interference. Using a wavelength-tunable continuous-wave laser the entire range of visible wavelengths is shown to satisfy the condition for vortex generation to achieve a highly stable white-light vortex with excellent propagation integrity. The application capablitiy of the proposed scheme is demonstrated by generating ultrashort optical vortex pulses, its nonlinear frequency conversion and transforming them to vector pulses. We believe that our scheme for generating robust achromatic vortex (implemented with only mirrors and a beam-splitter) pulses in the femtosecond regime, with no conceivable spectral-temporal range and peak-power limitations, can have significant advantages for a variety of applications.

Transition between strong and weak topological insulator in ZrTe5 and HfTe5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Zongjian; Liang, Qi-Feng; Chen, Y. B.; Yao, Shu-Hua; Zhou, Jian

2017-04-01

ZrTe5 and HfTe5 have attracted increasingly attention recently since the theoretical prediction of being topological insulators (TIs). However, subsequent works show many contradictions about their topolog-ical nature. Three possible phases, i.e. strong TI, weak TI, and Dirac semi-metal, have been observed in different experiments until now. Essentially whether ZrTe5 or HfTe5 has a band gap or not is still a question. Here, we present detailed first-principles calculations on the electronic and topological prop-erties of ZrTe5 and HfTe5 on variant volumes and clearly demonstrate the topological phase transition from a strong TI, going through an intermediate Dirac semi-metal state, then to a weak TI when the crystal expands. Our work might give a unified explain about the divergent experimental results and propose the crucial clue to further experiments to elucidate the topological nature of these materials.

Unstable and multiple pulsing can be invisible to ultrashort pulse measurement techniques

DOE PAGES

Rhodes, Michelle A.; Guang, Zhe; Trebino, Rick

2016-12-29

Here, multiple pulsing occurs in most ultrashort-pulse laser systems when pumped at excessively high powers, and small fluctuations in pump power in certain regimes can cause unusual variations in the temporal separations of sub-pulses. Unfortunately, the ability of modern intensity-and-phase pulse measurement techniques to measure such unstable multi-pulsing has not been studied. Here we report calculations and simulations finding that allowing variations in just the relative phase of a satellite pulse causes the second pulse to completely disappear from a spectral interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction (SPIDER) measurement. We find that, although neither frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) nor autocorrelationmore » can determine the precise properties of satellite pulses due to the presence of instability, they always succeed in, at least, seeing the satellite pulses. Also, additional post-processing of the measured FROG trace can determine the correct approximate relative height of the satellite pulse and definitively indicate the presence of unstable multiple-pulsing.« less

Unstable and multiple pulsing can be invisible to ultrashort pulse measurement techniques

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

Rhodes, Michelle A.; Guang, Zhe; Trebino, Rick

Here, multiple pulsing occurs in most ultrashort-pulse laser systems when pumped at excessively high powers, and small fluctuations in pump power in certain regimes can cause unusual variations in the temporal separations of sub-pulses. Unfortunately, the ability of modern intensity-and-phase pulse measurement techniques to measure such unstable multi-pulsing has not been studied. Here we report calculations and simulations finding that allowing variations in just the relative phase of a satellite pulse causes the second pulse to completely disappear from a spectral interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction (SPIDER) measurement. We find that, although neither frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) nor autocorrelationmore » can determine the precise properties of satellite pulses due to the presence of instability, they always succeed in, at least, seeing the satellite pulses. Also, additional post-processing of the measured FROG trace can determine the correct approximate relative height of the satellite pulse and definitively indicate the presence of unstable multiple-pulsing.« less

Multimodal evaluation of ultra-short laser pulses treatment for skin burn injuries.

PubMed

Santos, Moises Oliveira Dos; Latrive, Anne; De Castro, Pedro Arthur Augusto; De Rossi, Wagner; Zorn, Telma Maria Tenorio; Samad, Ricardo Elgul; Freitas, Anderson Zanardi; Cesar, Carlos Lenz; Junior, Nilson Dias Vieira; Zezell, Denise Maria

2017-03-01

Thousands of people die every year from burn injuries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of high intensity femtosecond lasers as an auxiliary treatment of skin burns. We used an in vivo animal model and monitored the healing process using 4 different imaging modalities: histology, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Second Harmonic Generation (SHG), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. 3 dorsal areas of 20 anesthetized Wistar rats were burned by water vapor exposure and subsequently treated either by classical surgical debridement, by laser ablation, or left without treatment. Skin burn tissues were non-invasively characterized by OCT images and biopsied for further histopathology analysis, SHG imaging and FTIR spectroscopy at 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after burn. The laser protocol was found as efficient as the classical treatment for promoting the healing process. The study concludes to the validation of femtosecond ultra-short pulses laser treatment for skinburns, with the advantage of minimizing operatory trauma.

Pressure-Induced Phase Transitions in GeTe-Rich Ge-Sb-Te Alloys across the Rhombohedral-to-Cubic Transitions.

PubMed

Krbal, Milos; Bartak, Jaroslav; Kolar, Jakub; Prytuliak, Anastasiia; Kolobov, Alexander V; Fons, Paul; Bezacier, Lucile; Hanfland, Michael; Tominaga, Junji

2017-07-17

We demonstrate that pressure-induced amorphization in Ge-Sb-Te alloys across the ferroelectric-paraelectric transition can be represented as a mixture of coherently distorted rhombohedral Ge 8 Sb 2 Te 11 and randomly distorted cubic Ge 4 Sb 2 Te 7 and high-temperature Ge 8 Sb 2 Te 11 phases. While coherent distortion in Ge 8 Sb 2 Te 11 does not prevent the crystalline state from collapsing into its amorphous counterpart in a similar manner to pure GeTe, the pressure-amorphized Ge 8 Sb 2 Te 11 phase begins to revert to the crystalline cubic phase at ∼9 GPa in contrast to Ge 4 Sb 2 Te 7 , which remains amorphous under ambient conditions when gradually decompressed from 40 GPa. Moreover, experimentally, it was observed that pressure-induced amorphization in Ge 8 Sb 2 Te 11 is a temperature-dependent process. Ge 8 Sb 2 Te 11 transforms into the amorphous phase at ∼27.5 and 25.2 GPa at room temperature and 408 K, respectively, and completely amorphizes at 32 GPa at 408 K, while some crystalline texture could be seen until 38 GPa (the last measurement point) at room temperature. To understand the origins of the temperature dependence of the pressure-induced amorphization process, density functional theory calculations were performed for compositions along the (GeTe) x - (Sb 2 Te 3 ) 1-x tie line under large hydrostatic pressures. The calculated results agreed well with the experimental data.

Cl-doping of Te-rich CdTe: Complex formation, self-compensation and self-purification from first principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindström, A.; Klintenberg, M.; Sanyal, B.; Mirbt, S.

2015-08-01

The coexistence in Te-rich CdTe of substitutional Cl-dopants, ClTe, which act as donors, and Cd vacancies, VC d - 1 , which act as electron traps, was studied from first principles utilising the HSE06 hybrid functional. We find ClTe to preferably bind to VC d - 1 and to form an acceptor complex, (ClTe-VCd)-1. The complex has a (0,-1) charge transfer level close to the valence band and shows no trap state (deep level) in the band gap. During the complex formation, the defect state of VCd-1 is annihilated and leaves the Cl-doped CdTe bandgap without any trap states (self-purification). We calculate Cl-doped CdTe to be semi-insulating with a Fermi energy close to midgap. We calculate the formation energy of the complex to be sufficiently low to allow for spontanous defect formation upon Cl-doping (self-compensation). In addition, we quantitatively analyse the geometries, DOS, binding energies and formation energies of the (ClTe-VCd) complexes.

Avalanche atomic switching in strain engineered Sb2Te3-GeTe interfacial phase-change memory cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xilin; Behera, Jitendra K.; Lv, Shilong; Wu, Liangcai; Song, Zhitang; Simpson, Robert E.

2017-09-01

By confining phase transitions to the nanoscale interface between two different crystals, interfacial phase change memory heterostructures represent the state of the art for energy efficient data storage. We present the effect of strain engineering on the electrical switching performance of the {{Sb}}2{{Te}}3-GeTe superlattice van der Waals devices. Multiple Ge atoms switching through a two-dimensional Te layer reduces the activation barrier for further atoms to switch; an effect that can be enhanced by biaxial strain. The out-of-plane phonon mode of the GeTe crystal remains active in the superlattice heterostructures. The large in-plane biaxial strain imposed by the {{Sb}}2{{Te}}3 layers on the GeTe layers substantially improves the switching speed, reset energy, and cyclability of the superlattice memory devices. Moreover, carefully controlling residual stress in the layers of {{Sb}}2{{Te}}3-GeTe interfacial phase change memories provides a new degree of freedom to design the properties of functional superlattice structures for memory and photonics applications.

Process Properties of Electronic High Voltage Discharges Triggered by Ultra-short Pulsed Laser Filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cvecek, Kristian; Gröschel, Benjamin; Schmidt, Michael

Remote processing of metallic workpieces by techniques based on electric arc discharge or laser irradiation for joining or cutting has a long tradition and is still being intensively investigated in present-day research. In applications that require high power processing, both approaches exhibit certain advantages and disadvantages that make them specific for a given task. While several hybrid approaches exist that try to combine the benefits of both techniques, none were as successful in providing a fixed electric discharge direction as discharges triggered by plasma filaments generated by ultra-short pulsed lasers. In this work we investigate spatial and temporal aspects of laser filament guided discharges and give an upper time delay between the filament creation and the electrical build-up of a dischargeable voltage for a successful filament triggered discharge.

Kinetic barriers for Cd and Te adatoms on Cd and Te terminated CdTe (111) surface using ab initio simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naderi, Ebadollah; Nanavati, Sachin P.; Majumder, Chiranjib; Ghaisas, S. V.

2014-03-01

In the present work we have calculated using density functional theory (DFT), diffusion barrier potentials on both the CdTe (111) surfaces, Cd terminated (A-type) & Te terminated (B-type). We employ nudge elastic band method (NEB) for obtaining the barrier potentials. The barrier is computed for Cd and for Te adatoms on both A-type and B-type surfaces. We report two energetically favourable positions along the normal to the surface, one above and other below the surface. The one above the surface has binding energy slightly more the one below. According to the results of this work, binding energy (in all cases) for adatoms are reasonable and close to experimental data. The barrier potential for hopping adatoms (Cd and Te) on both the surfaces is less than 0.35 eV. Apart from these most probable sites, there are other at least two sites on both the types of surfaces which are meta stable. We have also computed barriers for hopping to and from these meta stable positions. The present results can shade light on the defect formation mechanism in CdTe thin films during growth. The authors would like to thank C-DAC for the computing time on its PARAM series of supercomputers and DST Govt. of India, for partial funding.

First-principles study of lattice thermal conductivity in ZrTe5 and HfTe5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Cong; Wang, Haifeng; Chen, Y. B.; Yao, Shu-Hua; Zhou, Jian

2018-05-01

Recently, the layered transition-metal pentatellurides ZrTe5 and HfTe5 have attracted increasing attention because of their interesting topological electronic properties. Nevertheless, some of their other good physical properties seem to be ignored now. Actually, both ZrTe5 and HfTe5 have high electric conductivities (>105 Ω-1 m-1) and Seebeck coefficients (> 100 μV/K) at room temperature, thus making them promising thermoelectric materials. However, the disadvantage is that the thermal conductivities of the two materials are relatively high according to the few available experiments; meanwhile, the detailed mechanism of the intrinsic thermal conductivity has not been studied yet. Based on the density functional theory and the Boltzmann transport theory, we present here the theoretical study of the intrinsic lattice thermal conductivities of ZrTe5 and HfTe5, which are found to be in the range of 5-8 W/mṡK at room temperature and well consistent with the experimental results. We also find that the thermal conductivities of the two materials are anisotropic, which are mainly caused by their anisotropic crystal structures. Based on the detailed analysis, we proposed that the thermal conductivities of the two materials could possibly be reduced by different kinds of structural engineering at the atomic and mesoscopic scales, such as alloying, doping, nano-structuring, and polycrystalline structuring, which could make ZrTe5 and HfTe5 good thermoelectric materials for room temperature thermoelectric applications.

Schreibende Messgeräte

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plaßmann, Wilfried

Die schreibenden Messgeräte werden hauptsächlich eingesetzt, um Vorgänge aufzuzeichnen und zu dokumentieren, die sich im Minuten- und Stunden-Bereich abspielen. Sie sind weitgehend durch Oszilloskope oder elektronische Geräte ähnlich einem Oszilloskop ersetzt worden, die entsprechend für Langzeitaufnahmen ausgelegt sind. Der Vorteil dieser Geräte gegenüber den schreibenden Messgeräten ist der, dass die Daten dauerhaft gespeichert sind, einschließlich der notwendigen Kenngrößen wie Zeitmaßstab, Amplitude, Datum, Aufzeichnungsgerät usw., und sich in dieser Form beliebig oft ausdrucken und vor allem direkt weiterverarbeiten lassen. Weiterhin entfallen die Probleme mit der Mechanik, dem Papier und den Schreibstiften. Deshalb folgt hier eine nur kurze Darstellung der Geräte.

Superconductivity in Ta3Pd3Te14 with quasi-one-dimensional PdTe2 chains.

PubMed

Jiao, Wen-He; He, Lan-Po; Liu, Yi; Xu, Xiao-Feng; Li, Yu-Ke; Zhang, Chu-Hang; Zhou, Nan; Xu, Zhu-An; Li, Shi-Yan; Cao, Guang-Han

2016-02-15

We report bulk superconductivity at 1.0 K in a low-dimensional ternary telluride Ta3Pd3Te14 containing edge-sharing PdTe2 chains along crystallographic b axis, similar to the recently discovered superconductor Ta4Pd3Te16. The electronic heat capacity data show an obvious anomaly at the transition temperature, which indicates bulk superconductivity. The specific-heat jump is ΔC/(γ(n)T(c)) ≈ 1.35, suggesting a weak coupling scenario. By measuring the low-temperature thermal conductivity, we conclude that Ta3Pd3Te14 is very likely a dirty s-wave superconductor. The emergence of superconductivity in Ta3Pd3Te14 with a lower T(c), compared to that of Ta4Pd3Te16, may be attributed to the lower density of states.

Syntheses, crystal structures, and characterization of two new Tl+-Cu2+-Te6+ oxides: Tl4CuTeO6 and Tl6CuTe2O10

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeon, Jeongho; Kim, Sang-Hwan; Green, Mark A.; Bhatti, Kanwal Preet; Leighton, C.; Shiv Halasyamani, P.

2012-12-01

Crystals and polycrystalline powders of two new oxide materials, Tl4CuTeO6 and Tl6CuTe2O10, have been synthesized by hydrothermal and solid-state methods. The materials were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Tl4CuTeO6 and Tl6CuTe2O10 exhibit one dimensional anionic slabs of [CuTeO6]4- and [CuTe2O10]6-, respectively. Common to both slabs is the occurrence of Cu2+O4 distorted squares and Te6+O6 octahedra. The slabs are separated by Tl+ cations. For Tl4CuTeO6, magnetic measurements indicate a maximum at ∼8 K in the temperature dependence of the susceptibility. Low temperature neutron diffraction data confirm no long-range magnetic ordering occurs and the susceptibility was adequately accounted for by fits to a Heisenberg alternating chain model. For Tl6CuTe2O10 on the other hand, magnetic measurements revealed paramagnetism with no evidence of long-range magnetic ordering. Infrared, UV-vis spectra, thermogravimetric, and differential thermal analyses are also reported. Crystal data: Tl4CuTeO6, Triclinic, space group P-1 (No. 2), a=5.8629(8) Å, b=8.7848(11) Å, c=9.2572(12) Å, α=66.0460(10), β=74.2010(10), γ=79.254(2), V=417.70(9) Å3, and Z=2; Tl6CuTe2O10, orthorhombic, space group Pnma (No. 62), a=10.8628(6) Å, b=11.4962(7) Å, c=10.7238(6) Å, V=1339.20(13) Å3, and Z=4.

Self-Catalyzed CdTe Wires.

PubMed

Baines, Tom; Papageorgiou, Giorgos; Hutter, Oliver S; Bowen, Leon; Durose, Ken; Major, Jonathan D

2018-04-25

CdTe wires have been fabricated via a catalyst free method using the industrially scalable physical vapor deposition technique close space sublimation. Wire growth was shown to be highly dependent on surface roughness and deposition pressure, with only low roughness surfaces being capable of producing wires. Growth of wires is highly (111) oriented and is inferred to occur via a vapor-solid-solid growth mechanism, wherein a CdTe seed particle acts to template the growth. Such seed particles are visible as wire caps and have been characterized via energy dispersive X-ray analysis to establish they are single phase CdTe, hence validating the self-catalysation route. Cathodoluminescence analysis demonstrates that CdTe wires exhibited a much lower level of recombination when compared to a planar CdTe film, which is highly beneficial for semiconductor applications.

co2amp: A software program for modeling the dynamics of ultrashort pulses in optical systems with CO 2 amplifiers

DOE PAGES

Polyanskiy, Mikhail N.

2015-01-01

We describe a computer code for simulating the amplification of ultrashort mid-infrared laser pulses in CO 2 amplifiers and their propagation through arbitrary optical systems. This code is based on a comprehensive model that includes an accurate consideration of the CO 2 active medium and a physical optics propagation algorithm, and takes into account the interaction of the laser pulse with the material of the optical elements. Finally, the application of the code for optimizing an isotopic regenerative amplifier is described.

CdCl2 passivation of polycrystalline CdMgTe and CdZnTe absorbers for tandem photovoltaic cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swanson, Drew E.; Reich, Carey; Abbas, Ali; Shimpi, Tushar; Liu, Hanxiao; Ponce, Fernando A.; Walls, John M.; Zhang, Yong-Hang; Metzger, Wyatt K.; Sampath, W. S.; Holman, Zachary C.

2018-05-01

As single-junction silicon solar cells approach their theoretical limits, tandems provide the primary path to higher efficiencies. CdTe alloys can be tuned with magnesium (CdMgTe) or zinc (CdZnTe) for ideal tandem pairing with silicon. A II-VI/Si tandem holds the greatest promise for inexpensive, high-efficiency top cells that can be quickly deployed in the market using existing polycrystalline CdTe manufacturing lines combined with mature silicon production lines. Currently, all high efficiency polycrystalline CdTe cells require a chloride-based passivation process to passivate grain boundaries and bulk defects. This research examines the rich chemistry and physics that has historically limited performance when extending Cl treatments to polycrystalline 1.7-eV CdMgTe and CdZnTe absorbers. A combination of transmittance, quantum efficiency, photoluminescence, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy clearly reveals that during passivation, Mg segregates and out-diffuses, initially at the grain boundaries but eventually throughout the bulk. CdZnTe exhibits similar Zn segregation behavior; however, the onset and progression is localized to the back of the device. After passivation, CdMgTe and CdZnTe can render a layer that is reduced to predominantly CdTe electro-optical behavior. Contact instabilities caused by inter-diffusion between the layers create additional complications. The results outline critical issues and paths for these materials to be successfully implemented in Si-based tandems and other applications.

CdCl2 Passivation of Polycrystalline CdMgTe and CdZnTe Absorbers for Tandem Photovoltaic Cells

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

Metzger, Wyatt K; Swanson, Drew; Reich, Carey

As single-junction silicon solar cells approach their theoretical limits, tandems provide the primary path to higher efficiencies. CdTe alloys can be tuned with magnesium (CdMgTe) or zinc (CdZnTe) for ideal tandem pairing with silicon. A II-VI/Si tandem holds the greatest promise for inexpensive, high-efficiency top cells that can be quickly deployed in the market using existing polycrystalline CdTe manufacturing lines combined with mature silicon production lines. Currently, all high efficiency polycrystalline CdTe cells require a chloride-based passivation process to passivate grain boundaries and bulk defects. This research examines the rich chemistry and physics that has historically limited performance when extendingmore » Cl treatments to polycrystalline 1.7-eV CdMgTe and CdZnTe absorbers. A combination of transmittance, quantum efficiency, photoluminescence, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy clearly reveals that during passivation, Mg segregates and out-diffuses, initially at the grain boundaries but eventually throughout the bulk. CdZnTe exhibits similar Zn segregation behavior; however, the onset and progression is localized to the back of the device. After passivation, CdMgTe and CdZnTe can render a layer that is reduced to predominantly CdTe electro-optical behavior. Contact instabilities caused by inter-diffusion between the layers create additional complications. The results outline critical issues and paths for these materials to be successfully implemented in Si-based tandems and other applications.« less

75 FR 11555 - Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Great...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-11

... consultation with representatives of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (formerly the Pueblo of San Juan); Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado; Ute Indian Tribe of the...

Functional Imaging of the Lungs with Gas Agents

PubMed Central

Kruger, Stanley J.; Nagle, Scott K.; Couch, Marcus J.; Ohno, Yoshiharu; Albert, Mitchell; Fain, Sean B.

2015-01-01

This review focuses on the state-of-the-art of the three major classes of gas contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – hyperpolarized (HP) gas, molecular oxygen, and fluorinated gas – and their application to clinical pulmonary research. During the past several years there has been accelerated development of pulmonary MRI. This has been driven in part by concerns regarding ionizing radiation using multi-detector computed tomography (CT). However, MRI also offers capabilities for fast multi-spectral and functional imaging using gas agents that are not technically feasible with CT. Recent improvements in gradient performance and radial acquisition methods using ultra-short echo time (UTE) have contributed to advances in these functional pulmonary MRI techniques. Relative strengths and weaknesses of the main functional imaging methods and gas agents are compared and applications to measures of ventilation, diffusion, and gas exchange are presented. Functional lung MRI methods using these gas agents are improving our understanding of a wide range of chronic lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and cystic fibrosis (CF) in both adults and children. PMID:26218920

Coexistence of optically active radial and axial CdTe insertions in single ZnTe nanowire.

PubMed

Wojnar, P; Płachta, J; Zaleszczyk, W; Kret, S; Sanchez, Ana M; Rudniewski, R; Raczkowska, K; Szymura, M; Karczewski, G; Baczewski, L T; Pietruczik, A; Wojtowicz, T; Kossut, J

2016-03-14

We report on the growth, cathodoluminescence and micro-photoluminescence of individual radial and axial CdTe insertions in ZnTe nanowires. In particular, the cathodoluminescence technique is used to determine the position of each emitting object inside the nanowire. It is demonstrated that depending on the CdTe deposition temperature, one can obtain an emission either from axial CdTe insertions only, or from both, radial and axial heterostructures, simultaneously. At 350 °C CdTe grows only axially, whereas at 310 °C and 290 °C, there is also significant deposition on the nanowire sidewalls resulting in radial core/shell heterostructures. The presence of Cd atoms on the sidewalls is confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Micro-photoluminescence study reveals a strong linear polarization of the emission from both types of heterostructures in the direction along the nanowire axis.

Topological crystalline insulator SnTe nanoribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dahal, Bishnu R.; Dulal, Rajendra P.; Pegg, Ian L.; Philip, John

2017-03-01

Topological crystalline insulators are systems in which a band inversion that is protected by crystalline mirror symmetry gives rise to nontrivial topological surface states. SnTe is a topological crystalline insulator. It exhibits p-type conductivity due to Sn vacancies and Te antisites, which leads to high carrier density in the bulk. Thus growth of high quality SnTe is a prerequisite for understanding the topological crystalline insulating behavior. We have grown SnTe nanoribbons using a solution method. The width of the SnTe ribbons varies from 500 nm to 2 μm. They exhibit rock salt crystal structure with a lattice parameter of 6.32 Å. The solution method that we have adapted uses low temperature, so the Sn vacancies can be controlled. The solution grown SnTe nanoribbons exhibit strong semiconducting behavior with an activation energy of 240 meV. This activation energy matches with the calculated band gap for SnTe with a lattice parameter of 6.32 Å, which is higher than that reported for bulk SnTe. The higher activation energy makes the thermal excitation of bulk charges very difficult on the surface. As a result, the topological surfaces will be free from the disturbance caused by the thermal excitations

The diagnostics of ultra-short pulse laser-produced plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, Markus

2011-09-01

Since the invention of the laser, coherent light has been used to break down solid or gaseous material and transform it into a plasma. Over the last three decades two things have changed. Due to multiple advancements and design of high power lasers it is now possible to increase the electric and magnetic field strength that pushed the electron motion towards the regime of relativistic plasma physics. Moreover, due to the short pulse duration of the driving laser the underlying physics has become so transient that concepts like thermal equilibrium (even a local one) or spatial isotropy start to fail. Consequently short pulse laser-driven plasmas have become a rich source of new phenomena that we are just about beginning to explore. Such phenomena, like particle acceleration, nuclear laser-induced reactions, the generation of coherent secondary radiation ranging from THz to high harmonics and the production of attosecond pulses have excited an enormous interest in the study of short pulse laser plasmas. The diagnostics of such ultra-short pulse laser plasmas is a challenging task that involves many and different techniques compared to conventional laser-produced plasmas. While this review cannot cover the entire field of diagnostics that has been developed over the last years, we will try to give a summarizing description of the most important techniques that are currently being used.

Characteristics of Ions Emission from Ultrashort Laser Produced Plasma

PubMed Central

Elsied, Ahmed M.; Termini, Nicholas C.; Diwakar, Prasoon K.; Hassanein, Ahmed

2016-01-01

The dynamic characteristics of the ions emitted from ultrashort laser interaction with materials were studied. A series of successive experiments were conducted for six different elements (C, Al, Cu, Mo, Gd, and W) using 40 fs, 800 nm Ti: Sapphire laser. Time-of-flight (TOF) ion profile was analyzed and charge emission dependencies were investigated. The effects of incident laser interaction with each element were studied over a wide range of laser fluences (0.8 J/cm2 to 24 J/cm2) corresponding to laser intensities (2.0 × 1013 W/cm2 to 6.0 × 1014 W/cm2). The dependencies of the angular resolved ion flux and energy were also investigated. The TOF ion profile exhibits two peaks corresponding to a fast and a slow ion regime. The slow ions emission was the result of thermal vaporization while fast ions emission was due to time dependent ambipolar electric field. A theoretical model is proposed to predict the total ion flux emitted during femtosecond laser interaction that depends on laser parameters, material properties, and plume hydrodynamics. Incident laser fluence directly impacts average charge state and in turn affects the ion flux. Slow ions velocity exhibited different behavior from fast ions velocity. The fast ions energy and flux were found to be more collimated. PMID:27905553

Polarization-maintaining, high-energy, wavelength-tunable, Er-doped ultrashort pulse fiber laser using carbon-nanotube polyimide film.

PubMed

Senoo, Y; Nishizawa, N; Sakakibara, Y; Sumimura, K; Itoga, E; Kataura, H; Itoh, K

2009-10-26

A high-energy, wavelength-tunable, all-polarization-maintaining Er-doped ultrashort fiber laser was demonstrated using a polyimide film dispersed with single-wall carbon nanotubes. A variable output coupler and wavelength filter were used in the cavity configuration, and high-power operation was demonstrated. The maximum average power was 12.6 mW and pulse energy was 585 pJ for stable single-pulse operation with an output coupling ratio as high as 98.3%. Wide wavelength-tunable operation at 1532-1562 nm was also demonstrated by controlling the wavelength filter. The RF amplitude noise characteristics were examined in terms of their dependence on output coupling ratio and oscillation wavelength.

40 CFR 147.3000 - EPA-administered program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Section 147.3000 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) WATER PROGRAMS..., Ute Mountain Ute, and All Other New Mexico Tribes § 147.3000 EPA-administered program. (a) Contents... Mountain Ute lands in Utah and New Mexico), and all wells on other Indian lands in New Mexico is...

30 CFR 1206.173 - How do I calculate the alternative methodology for dual accounting?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Ute Reservation; (M) Turtle Mountain Reservation; (N) Ute Mountain Ute Reservation; (O) Uintah and... equation, the increment for dual accounting is the number you take from the applicable Btu range, determined under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, in the following table: BTU range Increment if Lessee has...

76 FR 9603 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-18

... Reservation of Idaho; Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada; Southern Ute Indian Tribe...-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute...; Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation of Idaho; Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley...

Synthesis and Evaluation of Thick Films of Electrochemically Deposited Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 Thermoelectric Materials

PubMed Central

Trung, Nguyen Huu; Sakamoto, Kei; Toan, Nguyen Van; Ono, Takahito

2017-01-01

This paper presents the results of the synthesis and evaluation of thick thermoelectric films that may be used for such applications as thermoelectric power generators. Two types of electrochemical deposition methods, constant and pulsed deposition with improved techniques for both N-type bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and P-type antimony telluride (Sb2Te3), are performed and compared. As a result, highly oriented Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 thick films with a bulk-like structure are successfully synthesized with high Seebeck coefficients and low electrical resistivities. Six hundred-micrometer-thick Bi2Te3 and 500-µm-thick Sb2Te3 films are obtained. The Seebeck coefficients for the Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 films are −150 ± 20 and 170 ± 20 µV/K, respectively. Additionally, the electrical resistivity for the Bi2Te3 is 15 ± 5 µΩm and is 25 ± 5 µΩm for the Sb2Te3. The power factors of each thermoelectric material can reach 15 × 10−4 W/mK2 for Bi2Te3 and 11.2 × 10−4 W/mK2 for Sb2Te3. PMID:28772511

Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of a trigonal Te-rich Cr5Te8 single crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Xiao-Hua; Ren, Wei-Jun; Zhang, Zhi-Dong

2018-01-01

A trigonal Te-rich Cr5Te8 single crystal was grown by the Te-flux method. The usual and rotating magnetocaloric effects have been investigated by measuring isothermal magnetization curves on both a single crystal and polycrystalline powder. The Curie temperature and the magnetic moment of trigonal Te-rich Cr5Te8 were determined to be 250 K and 2.03 μB/Cr, respectively. The difference from the usual magnetocaloric effect, the rotating magnetocaloric effect has saturation tendency when the applied field is above the anisotropy field. The temperature, where the rotating entropy change has its maximum, decreases with increasing the magnetic field. The temperature dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy is the determining factor for the rotating magnetocaloric effect.

76 FR 14054 - Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, White...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-15

.... Visual inspection by Colorado State University, Laboratory of Public Archaeology, of the skeletal... Ute tribes. Also, the burial was located directly underneath a rock art panel that is consistent with the Early Ute Historic Style of rock art found in the region. Site 5RB699 dated Fremont and Ute...

Photographic copy of photograph, photographer unknown, ca. 1915 (original print ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Photographic copy of photograph, photographer unknown, ca. 1915 (original print located at Southern Ute Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office, Ignacio, Colorado). Overall view of Southern Ute Agency Boarding School, with main building (boy's dormitory) at right. - Southern Ute Boarding School, Boy's Dormitory, Ouray & Capote Drives, Ignacio, La Plata County, CO

Interfacial Reaction and Shear Strength of SnAgCu/Ni/Bi2Te3-Based TE Materials During Aging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jing, Hongyang; Li, Yuan; Xu, Lianyong; Han, Yongdian; Lu, Guoquan; Zhang, Hao

2015-12-01

As a diffusion barrier layer, Ni is widely applied in power electronics packaging, especially in thermoelectric devices. This paper presents the variation of Ni diffusion barrier layer during aging and failure mechanisms of thermoelectric device joints. The thermoelectric joint consists of Sn96.5Ag3.0Cu0.5 (SAC305) solder and Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric materials such as Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and Bi1.8Sb0.2Se0.15Te2.85 during service. The result shows that with the increasing aging time, Ni layer was constantly consumed by SAC305 and Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric materials simultaneously. The reaction products are (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 and NiTe or Ni(Bi,Te), respectively. Besides, the shear strength of SAC305/Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 joint or SAC305/Bi1.8Sb0.2Se0.15Te2.85 joint gets gradually decreased and thermoelectric conversion performance gets worse. Meantime, the different failure mechanisms are also compared between SAC305/Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 couple joints and SAC305/Bi1.8Sb0.2Se0.15Te2.85 couple joints.

Multi-dimensional simulation package for ultrashort pulse laser-matter interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suslova, Anastassiya; Hassanein, Ahmed

2017-10-01

Advanced simulation models recently became a popular tool of investigation of ultrashort pulse lasers (USPLs) to enhance understanding of the physics and allow minimizing the experimental costs for optimization of laser and target parameters for various applications. Our research interest is focused on developing multi-dimensional simulation package FEMTO-2D to investigate the USPL-matter interactions and laser induced effects. The package is based on solution of two heat conduction equations for electron and lattice sub-systems - enhanced two temperature model (TTM). We have implemented theoretical approach based on the collision theory to define the thermal dependence of target material optical properties and thermodynamic parameters. Our approach allowed elimination of fitted parameters commonly used in TTM based simulations. FEMTO-2D is used to simulated the light absorption and interactions for several metallic targets as a function of wavelength and pulse duration for wide range of laser intensity. The package has capability to consider different angles of incidence and polarization. It has also been used to investigate the damage threshold of the gold coated optical components with the focus on the role of the film thickness and substrate heat sink effect. This work was supported by the NSF, PIRE project.

CdTe devices and method of manufacturing same

DOEpatents

Gessert, Timothy A.; Noufi, Rommel; Dhere, Ramesh G.; Albin, David S.; Barnes, Teresa; Burst, James; Duenow, Joel N.; Reese, Matthew

2015-09-29

A method of producing polycrystalline CdTe materials and devices that incorporate the polycrystalline CdTe materials are provided. In particular, a method of producing polycrystalline p-doped CdTe thin films for use in CdTe solar cells in which the CdTe thin films possess enhanced acceptor densities and minority carrier lifetimes, resulting in enhanced efficiency of the solar cells containing the CdTe material are provided.

Electrodeposition of Ni on Bi2Te3 and Interfacial Reaction Between Sn and Ni-Coated Bi2Te3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tseng, Yu-Chen; Lee, Hsuan; Hau, Nga Yu; Feng, Shien-Ping; Chen, Chih-Ming

2018-01-01

Bismuth-telluride (Bi2Te3)-based compounds are common thermoelectric materials used for low-temperature applications, and nickel (Ni) is usually deposited on the Bi2Te3 substrates as a diffusion barrier. Deposition of Ni on the p-type (Sb-doped) and n-type (Se-doped) Bi2Te3 substrates using electroplating and interfacial reactions between Sn and Ni-coated Bi2Te3 substrates are investigated. Electrodeposition of Ni on different Bi2Te3 substrates is characterized based on cyclic voltammetry and Tafel measurements. Microstructural characterizations of the Ni deposition and the Sn/Ni/Bi2Te3 interfacial reactions are performed using scanning electron microscopy. A faster growth rate is observed for the Ni deposition on the n-type Bi2Te3 substrate which is attributed to a lower activation energy of reduction due to a higher density of free electrons in the n-type Bi2Te3 material. The common Ni3Sn4 phase is formed at the Sn/Ni interfaces on both the p-type and n-type Bi2Te3 substrates, while the NiTe phase is formed at a faster rate at the interface between Ni and n-type Bi2Te3 substrates.

Thermodynamic Properties of AgIn2Te3I and AgIn2Te3Br, Determined by EMF Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moroz, M. V.; Prokhorenko, M. V.; Prokhorenko, S. V.; Yatskov, M. V.; Reshetnyak, O. V.

2018-01-01

Differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electromotive force (EMF) are used to triangulate Ag-In-Te-I(Br) systems in the vicinity of compounds AgIn2Te3I and AgIn2Te3Br. The three-dimensional position of the AgIn2Te3I-InTe-Ag2Te-AgI and AgIn2Te3Br-InTe-Ag3TeBr phase areas with respect to the figurative points of silver is used to create equations of potential-determining chemical reactions. The potential-determining reactions are conducted in (-)C|Ag|Ag3GeS3I(Br) glass|D|C(+) electrochemical cells (ECCs), where C stands for inert (graphite) electrodes, Ag and D are ECC electrodes (D denotes alloys of one-, three-, and four-phase areas), and Ag3GeS3I and Ag3GeS3Br glasses are membranes with purely ionic Ag+ conductivity. Linear parts of the temperature dependences of the cell EMFs are used to calculate the standard integral thermodynamic functions of saturated solid solutions based on AgIn2Te3I and AgIn2Te3Br, and the relative partial thermodynamic functions of silver in the stoichiometric quaternary compounds.

The crystal structures of BiTeO 3I, NdTeO 3X (X=Cl, Br) and Bi 5TeO 8.5I 2: some crystal chemistry peculiarities of layered Bi(Ln)Te oxyhalides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berdonosov, Peter S.; Charkin, Dmitry O.; Kusainova, Ardak M.; Hervoches, Charles H.; Dolgikh, Valeriy A.; Lightfoot, Philip

2000-09-01

Four new layered oxyhalides related to the Sillen family have been prepared and characterized by Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray and neutron diffraction data. BiTeO 3I and NdTeO 3Br both adopt tetragonal symmetry, space group P4/ nmm (for BiTeO 3I, a=4.10811(8), c=27.988(1) Å; NdTeO 3Br, a=4.06603(7), c=26.922(1) Å, at 25°C). The structures are composed of triple and double fluorite-related mixed metal oxide layers separated by single and double halogen layers, in the sequence MTe 2O 5XXMTe 2O 5XM 2O 2X, which may be represented by the symbol X 13X 13X 22, where the subscript signifies the number of halogen layers and the superscript the number of metal sublayers within the fluorite block, by analogy with Sillen's notation. The double fluorite layers are occupied exclusively by Bi, whereas there is an ordered arrangement of Bi/Te within the triple fluorite layers, with Te exclusively occupying the outer sublayers of the block. NdTeO 3Cl adopts an orthorhombically distorted form of this structure type, space group Pmmn, a=4.08096(8), b=4.03441(8), c=25.7582(7) Å at 25°C. Bi 5TeO 8.5I 2 adopts a distorted, non-centrosymmetric version of the simpler X 13 structure type, space group Cmm2, a=5.6878(3), b=5.7230(3), c=9.7260(6) Å, consisting of single halogen layers sandwiched between triple fluorite layers, in which there is partial ordering of the Bi/Te cations.

Markerless attenuation correction for carotid MRI surface receiver coils in combined PET/MR imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eldib, Mootaz; Bini, Jason; Robson, Philip M.; Calcagno, Claudia; Faul, David D.; Tsoumpas, Charalampos; Fayad, Zahi A.

2015-06-01

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of attenuation of MR coils on quantitative carotid PET/MR exams. Additionally, an automated attenuation correction method for flexible carotid MR coils was developed and evaluated. The attenuation of the carotid coil was measured by imaging a uniform water phantom injected with 37 MBq of 18F-FDG in a combined PET/MR scanner for 24 min with and without the coil. In the same session, an ultra-short echo time (UTE) image of the coil on top of the phantom was acquired. Using a combination of rigid and non-rigid registration, a CT-based attenuation map was registered to the UTE image of the coil for attenuation and scatter correction. After phantom validation, the effect of the carotid coil attenuation and the attenuation correction method were evaluated in five subjects. Phantom studies indicated that the overall loss of PET counts due to the coil was 6.3% with local region-of-interest (ROI) errors reaching up to 18.8%. Our registration method to correct for attenuation from the coil decreased the global error and local error (ROI) to 0.8% and 3.8%, respectively. The proposed registration method accurately captured the location and shape of the coil with a maximum spatial error of 2.6 mm. Quantitative analysis in human studies correlated with the phantom findings, but was dependent on the size of the ROI used in the analysis. MR coils result in significant error in PET quantification and thus attenuation correction is needed. The proposed strategy provides an operator-free method for attenuation and scatter correction for a flexible MRI carotid surface coil for routine clinical use.

X-ray emission as a potential hazard during ultrashort pulse laser material processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Legall, Herbert; Schwanke, Christoph; Pentzien, Simone; Dittmar, Günter; Bonse, Jörn; Krüger, Jörg

2018-06-01

In laser machining with ultrashort laser pulses unwanted X-ray radiation in the keV range can be generated when a critical laser intensity is exceeded. Even if the emitted X-ray dose per pulse is low, high laser repetition rates can lead to an accumulation of X-ray doses beyond exposure safety limits. For 925 fs pulse duration at a center wavelength of 1030 nm, the X-ray emission was investigated up to an intensity of 2.6 × 1014 W/cm2. The experiments were performed in air with a thin disk laser at a repetition rate of 400 kHz. X-ray spectra and doses were measured for various planar target materials covering a wide range of the periodic table from aluminum to tungsten. Without radiation shielding, the measured radiation doses at this high repetition rate clearly exceed the regulatory limits. Estimations for an adequate radiation shielding are provided.

Fabrication of amorphous micro-ring arrays in crystalline silicon using ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuentes-Edfuf, Yasser; Garcia-Lechuga, Mario; Puerto, Daniel; Florian, Camilo; Garcia-Leis, Adianez; Sanchez-Cortes, Santiago; Solis, Javier; Siegel, Jan

2017-05-01

We demonstrate a simple way to fabricate amorphous micro-rings in crystalline silicon using direct laser writing. This method is based on the fact that the phase of a thin surface layer can be changed into the amorphous phase by irradiation with a few ultrashort laser pulses (800 nm wavelength and 100 fs duration). Surface-depressed amorphous rings with a central crystalline disk can be fabricated without the need for beam shaping, featuring attractive optical, topographical, and electrical properties. The underlying formation mechanism and phase change pathway have been investigated by means of fs-resolved microscopy, identifying fluence-dependent melting and solidification dynamics of the material as the responsible mechanism. We demonstrate that the lateral dimensions of the rings can be scaled and that the rings can be stitched together, forming extended arrays of structures not limited to annular shapes. This technique and the resulting structures may find applications in a variety of fields such as optics, nanoelectronics, and mechatronics.

Surface ablation of aluminum and silicon by ultrashort laser pulses of variable width

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zayarny, D. A.; Ionin, A. A.; Kudryashov, S. I.; Makarov, S. V.; Kuchmizhak, A. A.; Vitrik, O. B.; Kulchin, Yu. N.

2016-06-01

Single-shot thresholds of surface ablation of aluminum and silicon via spallative ablation by infrared (IR) and visible ultrashort laser pulses of variable width τlas (0.2-12 ps) have been measured by optical microscopy. For increasing laser pulse width τlas < 3 ps, a drastic (threefold) drop of the ablation threshold of aluminum has been observed for visible pulses compared to an almost negligible threshold variation for IR pulses. In contrast, the ablation threshold in silicon increases threefold with increasing τlas for IR pulses, while the corresponding thresholds for visible pulses remained almost constant. In aluminum, such a width-dependent decrease in ablation thresholds has been related to strongly diminished temperature gradients for pulse widths exceeding the characteristic electron-phonon thermalization time. In silicon, the observed increase in ablation thresholds has been ascribed to two-photon IR excitation, while in the visible range linear absorption of the material results in almost constant thresholds.

Determination of a natural valence-band offset - The case of HgTe and CdTe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shih, C. K.; Spicer, W. E.

1987-01-01

A method to determine a natural valence-band offset (NVBO), i.e., the change in the valence-band maximum energy which is intrinsic to the bulk band structures of semiconductors is proposed. The HgTe-CdTe system is used as an example in which it is found that the valence-band maximum of HgTe lies 0.35 + or - 0.06 eV above that of CdTe. The NVBO of 0.35 eV is in good agreement with the X-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurement of the heterojunction offset. The procedure to determine the NVBO between semiconductors, and its implication on the heterojunction band lineup and the electronic structures of semiconductor alloys, are discussed.

Giant spin splitting in optically active ZnMnTe/ZnMgTe core/shell nanowires.

PubMed

Wojnar, Piotr; Janik, Elżbieta; Baczewski, Lech T; Kret, Sławomir; Dynowska, Elżbieta; Wojciechowski, Tomasz; Suffczyński, Jan; Papierska, Joanna; Kossacki, Piotr; Karczewski, Grzegorz; Kossut, Jacek; Wojtowicz, Tomasz

2012-07-11

An enhancement of the Zeeman splitting as a result of the incorporation of paramagnetic Mn ions in ZnMnTe/ZnMgTe core/shell nanowires is reported. The studied structures are grown by gold-catalyst assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The near band edge emission of these structures, conspicuously absent in the case of uncoated ZnMnTe nanowires, is activated by the presence of ZnMgTe coating. Giant Zeeman splitting of this emission is studied in ensembles of nanowires with various average Mn concentrations of the order of a few percent, as well as in individual nanowires. Thus, we show convincingly that a strong spin sp-d coupling is indeed present in these structures.

High pressure structural stability of the Na-Te system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Youchun; Tian, Fubo; Li, Da; Duan, Defang; Xie, Hui; Liu, Bingbing; Zhou, Qiang; Cui, Tian

2018-03-01

The ab initio evolutionary algorithm is used to search for all thermodynamically stable Na-Te compounds at extreme pressure. In our calculations, several new structures are discovered at high pressure, namely, Imma Na2Te, Pmmm NaTe, Imma Na8Te2 and P4/mmm NaTe3. Like the known structures of Na2Te (Fm-3m, Pnma and P63/mmc), the Pmmm NaTe, Imma Na8Te2 and P4/mmm NaTe3 structures also show semiconductor properties with band-gap decreases when pressure increased. However, we find that the band-gap of Imma Na2Te structure increases with pressure. We presume that the result may be caused by the increasing of splitting between Te p states and Na s, Na p and Te d states. Furthermore, we think that the strong hybridization between Na p state and Te d state result in the band gap increasing with pressure.

Quantum linear magnetoresistance in NbTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hongxiang; Li, Zhilin; Fan, Xiao; Guo, Liwei; Chen, Xiaolong

2018-07-01

NbTe2 is a quasi-2D layered semimetal with charge density wave ground state showing a distorted-1T structure at room temperature. Here we report the anisotropic magneto-transport properties of NbTe2. An anomalous linear magnetoresistance up to 30% at 3 K in 9 T was observed, which can be well explained by a quantum linear magnetoresistance model. Our results reveal that a large quasi-2D Fermi surface and small Fermi pockets with linearly dispersive bands coexist in NbTe2. The comparison with the isostructural TaTe2 provides more information about the band structure evolution with charge density wave transitions in NbTe2 and TaTe2.

Te homogeneous precipitation in Ge dislocation loop vicinity

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

Perrin Toinin, J.; Portavoce, A., E-mail: alain.portavoce@im2np.fr; Texier, M.

2016-06-06

High resolution microscopies were used to study the interactions of Te atoms with Ge dislocation loops, after a standard n-type doping process in Ge. Te atoms neither segregate nor precipitate on dislocation loops, but form Te-Ge clusters at the same depth as dislocation loops, in contradiction with usual dopant behavior and thermodynamic expectations. Atomistic kinetic Monte Carlo simulations show that Te atoms are repulsed from dislocation loops due to elastic interactions, promoting homogeneous Te-Ge nucleation between dislocation loops. This phenomenon is enhanced by coulombic interactions between activated Te{sup 2+} or Te{sup 1+} ions.

Ultrashort pulse high repetition rate laser system for biological tissue processing

DOEpatents

Neev, Joseph; Da Silva, Luiz B.; Matthews, Dennis L.; Glinsky, Michael E.; Stuart, Brent C.; Perry, Michael D.; Feit, Michael D.; Rubenchik, Alexander M.

1998-01-01

A method and apparatus is disclosed for fast, efficient, precise and damage-free biological tissue removal using an ultrashort pulse duration laser system operating at high pulse repetition rates. The duration of each laser pulse is on the order of about 1 fs to less than 50 ps such that energy deposition is localized in a small depth and occurs before significant hydrodynamic motion and thermal conduction, leading to collateral damage, can take place. The depth of material removed per pulse is on the order of about 1 micrometer, and the minimal thermal and mechanical effects associated with this ablation method allows for high repetition rate operation, in the region 10 to over 1000 Hertz, which, in turn, achieves high material removal rates. The input laser energy per ablated volume of tissue is small, and the energy density required to ablate material decreases with decreasing pulse width. The ablation threshold and ablation rate are only weakly dependent on tissue type and condition, allowing for maximum flexibility of use in various biological tissue removal applications. The use of a chirped-pulse amplified Titanium-doped sapphire laser is disclosed as the source in one embodiment.

Ultrashort pulse high repetition rate laser system for biological tissue processing

DOEpatents

Neev, J.; Da Silva, L.B.; Matthews, D.L.; Glinsky, M.E.; Stuart, B.C.; Perry, M.D.; Feit, M.D.; Rubenchik, A.M.

1998-02-24

A method and apparatus are disclosed for fast, efficient, precise and damage-free biological tissue removal using an ultrashort pulse duration laser system operating at high pulse repetition rates. The duration of each laser pulse is on the order of about 1 fs to less than 50 ps such that energy deposition is localized in a small depth and occurs before significant hydrodynamic motion and thermal conduction, leading to collateral damage, can take place. The depth of material removed per pulse is on the order of about 1 micrometer, and the minimal thermal and mechanical effects associated with this ablation method allows for high repetition rate operation, in the region 10 to over 1000 Hertz, which, in turn, achieves high material removal rates. The input laser energy per ablated volume of tissue is small, and the energy density required to ablate material decreases with decreasing pulse width. The ablation threshold and ablation rate are only weakly dependent on tissue type and condition, allowing for maximum flexibility of use in various biological tissue removal applications. The use of a chirped-pulse amplified Titanium-doped sapphire laser is disclosed as the source in one embodiment. 8 figs.

Use of separate ZnTe interface layers to form ohmic contacts to p-CdTe films

DOEpatents

Gessert, T.A.

1999-06-01

A method of is disclosed improving electrical contact to a thin film of a p-type tellurium-containing II-VI semiconductor comprising: depositing a first undoped layer of ZnTe on a thin film of p-type tellurium containing II-VI semiconductor with material properties selected to limit the formation of potential barriers at the interface between the p-CdTe and the undoped layer, to a thickness sufficient to control diffusion of the metallic-doped ZnTe into the p-type tellurium-containing II-VI semiconductor, but thin enough to minimize affects of series resistance; depositing a second heavy doped p-type ZnTe layer to the first layer using an appropriate dopant; and depositing an appropriate metal onto the outer-most surface of the doped ZnTe layer for connecting an external electrical conductor to an ohmic contact. 11 figs.

Use of separate ZnTe interface layers to form OHMIC contacts to p-CdTe films

DOEpatents

Gessert, Timothy A.

1999-01-01

A method of improving electrical contact to a thin film of a p-type tellurium-containing II-VI semiconductor comprising: depositing a first undoped layer of ZnTe on a thin film of p-type tellurium containing II-VI semiconductor with material properties selected to limit the formation of potential barriers at the interface between the p-CdTe and the undoped layer, to a thickness sufficient to control diffusion of the metallic-doped ZnTe into the p-type tellurim-containing II-VI semiconductor, but thin enough to minimize affects of series resistance; depositing a second heavy doped p-type ZnTe layer to the first layer using an appropriate dopant; and depositing an appropriate metal onto the outer-most surface of the doped ZnTe layer for connecting an external electrical conductor to an ohmic contact.

Practical issues in ultrashort-laser-pulse measurement using frequency-resolved optical gating

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

DeLong, K.W.; Fittinghoff, D.N.; Trebino, R.

1996-07-01

The authors explore several practical experimental issues in measuring ultrashort laser pulses using the technique of frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG). They present a simple method for checking the consistency of experimentally measured FROG data with the independently measured spectrum and autocorrelation of the pulse. This method is a powerful way of discovering systematic errors in FROG experiments. They show how to determine the optimum sampling rate for FROG and show that this satisfies the Nyquist criterion for the laser pulse. They explore the low- and high-power limits to FROG and determine that femtojoule operation should be possible, while the effectsmore » of self-phase modulation limit the highest signal efficiency in FROG to 1%. They also show quantitatively that the temporal blurring due to a finite-thickness medium in single-shot geometries does not strongly limit the FROG technique. They explore the limiting time-bandwidth values that can be represented on a FROG trace of a given size. Finally, they report on a new measure of the FROG error that improves convergence in the presence of noise.« less

Expanding the remarkable structural diversity of uranyl tellurites: hydrothermal preparation and structures of K[UO(2)Te(2)O(5)(OH)], Tl(3)[(UO(2))(2)[Te(2)O(5)(OH)](Te(2)O(6))].2H(2)O, beta-Tl(2)[UO(2)(TeO(3))(2)], and Sr(3)[UO(2)(TeO(3))(2)](TeO(3))(2).

PubMed

Almond, Philip M; Albrecht-Schmitt, Thomas E

2002-10-21

The reactions of UO(2)(C(2)H(3)O(2))(2).2H(2)O with K(2)TeO(3).H(2)O, Na(2)TeO(3) and TlCl, or Na(2)TeO(3) and Sr(OH)(2).8H(2)O under mild hydrothermal conditions yield K[UO(2)Te(2)O(5)(OH)] (1), Tl(3)[(UO(2))(2)[Te(2)O(5)(OH)](Te(2)O(6))].2H(2)O (2) and beta-Tl(2)[UO(2)(TeO(3))(2)] (3), or Sr(3)[UO(2)(TeO(3))(2)](TeO(3))(2) (4), respectively. The structure of 1 consists of tetragonal bipyramidal U(VI) centers that are bound by terminal oxo groups and tellurite anions. These UO(6) units span between one-dimensional chains of corner-sharing, square pyramidal TeO(4) polyhedra to create two-dimensional layers. Alternating corner-shared oxygen atoms in the tellurium oxide chains are protonated to create short/long bonding patterns. The one-dimensional chains of corner-sharing TeO(4) units found in 1 are also present in 2. However, in 2 there are two distinct chains present, one where alternating corner-shared oxygen atoms are protonated, and one where the chains are unprotonated. The uranyl moieties in 2 are bound by five oxygen atoms from the tellurite chains to create seven-coordinate pentagonal bipyramidal U(VI). The structures of 3 and 4 both contain one-dimensional [UO(2)(TeO(3))(2)](2-) chains constructed from tetragonal bipyramidal U(VI) centers that are bridged by tellurite anions. The chains differ between 3 and 4 in that all of the pyramidal tellurite anions in 3 have the same orientation, whereas the tellurite anions in 4 have opposite orientations on each side of the chain. In 4, there are also additional isolated TeO(3)(2-) anions present. Crystallographic data: 1, orthorhombic, space group Cmcm, a = 7.9993(5) A, b = 8.7416(6) A, c = 11.4413(8) A, Z = 4; 2, orthorhombic, space group Pbam, a = 10.0623(8) A, b = 23.024(2) A, c = 7.9389(6) A, Z = 4; 3, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 5.4766(4) A, b = 8.2348(6) A, c = 20.849(3) A, beta = 92.329(1) degrees, Z = 4; 4, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 20.546(1) A, b = 5.6571(3) A, c = 13.0979(8) A, beta

Structural and magnetic properties of hexagonal Cr1-δTe films grown on CdTe(001) by molecular beam epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanazawa, Ken; Yamawaki, Kazuma; Sekita, Naoya; Nishio, Yôtarô; Kuroda, Shinji; Mitome, Masanori; Bando, Yoshio

2015-04-01

We investigated the structural and magnetic properties of Cr1-δTe thin films grown on CdTe(001) layers by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) with systematic variations of the ratio between Cr and Te fluxes and the substrate temperature Ts during the growth. Cr1-δTe of the hexagonal structure (hex-Cr1-δTe) was always formed irrespective of the growth conditions, but the growth orientation was different depending on the Cr/Te flux ratio and Ts. Hex-Cr1-δTe was grown in the [0001] axis in the range of small Cr/Te ratios and high Ts while it was also grown in the direction normal to the (1-102) plane at larger Cr/Te ratios or lower Ts. Hex-Cr1-δTe films grown in the both orientations show ferromagnetism, but they exhibit a clear contrast in the field dependence of perpendicular magnetization at 2 K; a square hysteretic loop in the film grown in the [0001] axis versus a round-shape loop in the film grown in the direction normal to the (1-102) plane. Moreover, the films grown in the [0001] axis at the smallest Cr/Te ratio show variations of ferromagnetic properties with Curie temperature (Tc) and the coercivity (Hc) varying according to the value of Ts.

MOCVD of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 on GaAs substrates for thin-film thermoelectric applications.

PubMed

Kim, Jeong-Hun; Jung, Yong-Chul; Suh, Sang-Hee; Kim, Jin-Sang

2006-11-01

Metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) has been investigated for growth of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 films on (001) GaAs substrates using trimethylbismuth, triethylantimony and diisopropyltelluride as metal organic sources. The surface morphologies of Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 films were strongly dependent on the deposition temperatures as it varies from a step-flow growth mode to island coalescence structures depending on deposition temperature. In-plane carrier concentration and electrical Hall mobility were highly dependent on precursor ratio of VI/V and deposition temperature. By optimizing growth parameters, we could clearly observe an electrically intrinsic region of the carrier concentration over the 240 K in Bi2Te3 films. The high Seebeck coefficient (of -160 microVK(-1) for Bi2Te3 and +110 microVK(-1) for Sb2Te3 films, respectively) and good surface morphologies of these materials are promising for the fabrication of a few nm thick periodic Bi2Te3/Sb2Te3 super lattice structures for thin film thermoelectric device applications.

On the electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of BiTeBr and BiTeI single crystals and of BiTeI with the addition of BiI{sub 3} and CuI

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

Kulbachinskii, Vladimir A., E-mail: kulb@mig.phys.msu.ru; Kytin, Vladimir G.; Kudryashov, Alexey A.

The electronic structures were calculated for BiTeBr and BiTeI using the density-functional theory approach and accounting for the strong spin-orbital interaction. Qualitatively, the band structures for two compounds are similar, showing strong mixing of the p states of all elements in vicinity of the Fermi level, with the band gaps of 0.595 and 0.478 eV for BiTeBr and BiTeI, respectively. The optimized crystal structures show a tendency for the Bi-X (X=Br, I) bond elongation compared to the Bi-Te one. Both compounds are intrinsic n-type semiconductors but display a metallic-like conductivity coupled to rather large thermopower, which is rationalized within themore » frames of the acoustic phonons scattering model. Because of larger thermopower BiTeBr exhibits a twice higher thermoelectric figure-of-merit near room temperature, ZT=0.17, compared to BiTeI. The addition of 1 mass% of BiI{sub 3} or CuI to BiTeI decreases the mobility of electrons by two orders of magnitude, leading to significantly lower electrical conductivity, but at the same time effectively reduces the thermal conductivity. The prospects of further enhancing the thermoelectric efficiency are briefly discussed. - Graphical abstract: View of the crystal structure of BiTeBr is shown in the figure The optimized crystal structures show a tendency for the Bi-X (X=Br, I) bond elongation compared to the Bi-Te one. The electronic structures were calculated for BiTeBr and BiTeI using the density-functional theory approach and accounting for the strong spin-orbital interaction. Qualitatively, the band structures for two compounds are similar, showing strong mixing of the p states of all elements in vicinity of the Fermi level, with the band gaps of 0.595 and 0.478 eV for BiTeBr and BiTeI, respectively. Both compounds are intrinsic n-type semiconductors but display a metallic-like conductivity coupled to rather large thermopower, which is rationalized within the frames of the acoustic phonons scattering

{[Ga(en){sub 3}]{sub 2}(Ge{sub 2}Te{sub 15})}n : a polymeric semiconducting polytelluride with boat-shaped Te{sub 8}{sup 4-} rings and cross-shaped Te{sub 5}{sup 6-} units.

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

Zhang, Q.; Malliakas, C. D.; Kanatzidis, M. G.

2009-11-11

The reaction of the Zintl compound K{sub 4}Ge{sub 9} with Te and Ga{sub 2}Te{sub 3} in ethylenediamine (en) at 190 C gave the germanium polytelluride {l_brace}[Ga(en){sub 3}]{sub 2}[(GeTe){sub 2}(Te{sub 5}){sup 6-}(Te{sub 8}){sup 4-}]{r_brace}n (1). The single-crystal structure analysis revealed that 1 has two different polytelluride fragments: cross-shaped 36-e- TeTe{sub 4}{sup 6-} anions and boat-shaped 52-e- Te{sup 8}{sup 4-} rings. The new material is a p-type semiconductor at room temperature and switches to n-type at 380 K.

Chromium as Resonant Donor Impurity in PbTe

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

Nielsen, M.D.; Levin, Evgenii; Jaworski, C.M.

2012-01-25

We synthesize and perform structural, thermoelectric, magnetic, and 125Te NMR characterization measurements on chromium-doped PbTe. 125Te NMR and magnetic measurements show that Pb1−xCrxTe is a solid solution up to x = 0.4 at.% and forms an n-type dilute paramagnetic semiconductor. The Cr level is resonant and pins the Fermi level about 100 meV into the conduction band at liquid nitrogen temperatures and below, but it moves into the gap as the temperature increases to 300 K. 125Te NMR spectra exhibit a Knight shift that correlates well with Hall effect measurements and resolve peaks of Te near Cr. Magnetic behavior indicatesmore » that Cr exists mainly as Cr2+. No departure from the Pisarenko relation for PbTe is observed. Secondary Cr2Te3 and Cr3+δTe4 phases are present in samples with x > 0.4%.« less

Thermoelectric Inhomogeneities in (Ag(sub 1-y)SbTe2)(sub x)(PbTe)(sub 1-x)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snyder, G. Jeffrey; Chen, Nancy; Gascoin, Franck; Mueller, Eckhard; Karpinski, Gabriele; Stiewe, Christian

2006-01-01

A document presents a study of why materials of composition (Ag1 ySbTe2)0.05 (PbTe)0.95 [0< or = y < or = 1] were previously reported to have values of the thermoelectric figure of merit [ZT (where Z = alpha(sup 2)/rk, alpha is the Seebeck coefficient, r is electrical resistivity, k is thermal conductivity, and T is absolute temperature)] ranging from <1 to >2. In the study, samples of (AgSbTe2)0.05(PbTe)0.95, (Ag0.67SbTe2)0.05 (PbTe)0.95, and (Ag0.55SbTe2)0.05(PbTe)0.95 were prepared by melting followed, variously, by slow or rapid cooling. Analyses of these samples by x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and scanning-microprobe measurements of the Seebeck coefficient led to the conclusion that these materials have a multiphase character on a scale of the order of millimeters, even though they appear homogeneous in x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The Seebeck measurements showed significant variations, including both n-type and p-type behavior in the same sample. These variations were found to be consistent with observed variations of ZT. The rapidly quenched samples were found to be less inhomogeneous than were the furnace-cooled ones; hence, rapid quenching was suggested as a basis of research on synthesizing more nearly uniform high-ZT samples.

Current-induced depairing in the Bi2Te3/FeTe interfacial superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kunchur, M. N.; Dean, C. L.; Moghadam, N. Shayesteh; Knight, J. M.; He, Q. L.; Liu, H.; Wang, J.; Lortz, R.; Sou, I. K.; Gurevich, A.

2015-09-01

We investigated current induced depairing in the Bi2Te3 /FeTe topological insulator-chalcogenide interface superconductor. The measured depairing current density provides information on the magnetic penetration depth and superfluid density, which in turn shed light on the nature of the normal state that underlies the interfacial superconductivity.

Low-Energy Amorphization of Ti1Sb2Te5 Phase Change Alloy Induced by TiTe2 Nano-Lamellae

PubMed Central

Ding, Keyuan; Rao, Feng; Lv, Shilong; Cheng, Yan; Wu, Liangcai; Song, Zhitang

2016-01-01

Increasing SET operation speed and reducing RESET operation energy have always been the innovation direction of phase change memory (PCM) technology. Here, we demonstrate that ∼87% and ∼42% reductions of RESET operation energy can be achieved on PCM cell based on stoichiometric Ti1Sb2Te5 alloy, compared with Ge2Sb2Te5 and non-stoichiometric Ti0.4Sb2Te3 based PCM cells at the same size, respectively. The Ti1Sb2Te5 based PCM cell also shows one order of magnitude faster SET operation speed compared to that of the Ge2Sb2Te5 based one. The enhancements may be caused by substantially increased concentration of TiTe2 nano-lamellae in crystalline Ti1Sb2Te5 phase. The highly electrical conduction and lowly thermal dissipation of the TiTe2 nano-lamellae play a major role in enhancing the thermal efficiency of the amorphization, prompting the low-energy RESET operation. Our work may inspire the interests to more thorough understanding and tailoring of the nature of the (TiTe2)n(Sb2Te3)m pseudobinary system which will be advantageous to realize high-speed and low-energy PCM applications. PMID:27469931

Low-Energy Amorphization of Ti1Sb2Te5 Phase Change Alloy Induced by TiTe2 Nano-Lamellae.

PubMed

Ding, Keyuan; Rao, Feng; Lv, Shilong; Cheng, Yan; Wu, Liangcai; Song, Zhitang

2016-07-29

Increasing SET operation speed and reducing RESET operation energy have always been the innovation direction of phase change memory (PCM) technology. Here, we demonstrate that ∼87% and ∼42% reductions of RESET operation energy can be achieved on PCM cell based on stoichiometric Ti1Sb2Te5 alloy, compared with Ge2Sb2Te5 and non-stoichiometric Ti0.4Sb2Te3 based PCM cells at the same size, respectively. The Ti1Sb2Te5 based PCM cell also shows one order of magnitude faster SET operation speed compared to that of the Ge2Sb2Te5 based one. The enhancements may be caused by substantially increased concentration of TiTe2 nano-lamellae in crystalline Ti1Sb2Te5 phase. The highly electrical conduction and lowly thermal dissipation of the TiTe2 nano-lamellae play a major role in enhancing the thermal efficiency of the amorphization, prompting the low-energy RESET operation. Our work may inspire the interests to more thorough understanding and tailoring of the nature of the (TiTe2)n(Sb2Te3)m pseudobinary system which will be advantageous to realize high-speed and low-energy PCM applications.

Safety of ultrashort-term sit with pollen allergoids adjuvanted by monophosphoryl lipid A: a prospective Italian survey.

PubMed

Crivellaro, M; Senna, G E; Pappacoda, A; Vanzelli, R; Spacal, B; Marchi, G; Recchia, G; Makatsori, M

2011-03-01

A 3-year prospective post marketing survey on the safety of the recently developed ultrashort pre-seasonal subcutaneous immunotherapy (uSCIT-MPL4) with pollen allergoids adjuvanted with monophosphoryl lipid A was performed. A total of 510 patients received uSCIT-MPL4, 61% for grass, 35.7% for birch, 13.2% for parietaria and 3% for other pollens (ragweed, mugwort, and olive). A total of 3308 injections were given and the mean duration of uSCIT-MPL-4 was 2.3 years. Overall, only 7 slight systemic reactions (SR) were observed in 510 patients (1.37%) and 2.11/1000 injections suggesting that this treatment is even safer than traditional depot injection SIT.

Masses of Te130 and Xe130 and Double-β-Decay Q Value of Te130

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Redshaw, Matthew; Mount, Brianna J.; Myers, Edmund G.; Avignone, Frank T., III

2009-05-01

The atomic masses of Te130 and Xe130 have been obtained by measuring cyclotron frequency ratios of pairs of triply charged ions simultaneously trapped in a Penning trap. The results, with 1 standard deviation uncertainty, are M(Te130)=129.906222744(16)u and M(Xe130)=129.903509351(15)u. From the mass difference the double-β-decay Q value of Te130 is determined to be Qββ(Te130)=2527.518(13)keV. This is a factor of 150 more precise than the result of the AME2003 [G. Audi , Nucl. Phys. A729, 337 (2003)NUPABL0375-947410.1016/j.nuclphysa.2003.11.003].

EXAFS and electrical studies of new narrow-gap semiconductors: InTe1-xSex and In1-xGaxTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lebedev, A. I.; Michurin, A. V.; Sluchinskaya, I. A.; Demin, V. N.; Munro, I. H.

2000-12-01

The local environment of Ga, Se and Tl atoms in InTe-based solid solutions was studied by EXAFS technique. It was shown that all investigated atoms are substitutional impurities, which enter the In(1), Te and In(2) positions in the InTe structure, respectively. The electrical measurements revealed that In1-xGaxTe and InTe1-xSex solid solutions become semiconductors at x>0.24 and >0.15, respectively.

[Clinical randomized controlled trial on ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy for the treatment of early stage distal radius fractures].

PubMed

Wang, Guan-Jie; Liu, Jia

2012-07-01

To explore the effect of application of ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy instrument on the swelling regression in distal radius fractures treated by splint external fixation in initial stage. From March 2007 to May 2010,90 patients with distal radial fracture were treated by manual reduction and splint external fixation. After manual reduction and small splints external fixation, these patients were randomly divided into electrical physical therapy group, western medicine group and the control group by the order of calling number, with 30 cases each group. In control group, there were 9 males and 21 females with an average age of (61.29 +/- 1.97) years, the patients raised and exercise the limb and fingers only. The other two groups also carried out this treatment. In electrical physical therapy group, there were 9 males and 21 females with an average age of (62.37 +/- 2.48) years, the patients were treated with ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy instrument for early intervention, once a day, 5 days for a course of treatment and three cycle were operated. In western medicine group,there were 8 males and 22 females with an average age of (60.12 +/- 2.87) years, the patients were injected with beta-aescin (20 mg, intravenous injection,once a day) for 5 days, followed by Danshen injection (20 ml, intravenous injection, once a day) for 10 days. The limb swelling of patients were assessed every day for 20 days after manual reduction and small splints external fixation. The time of swelling regression in electrical physical therapy group, western medicine group and the control group were respectively (9.62 +/- 3.32), (10.05 +/- 3.05) and (14.57 +/- 2.93) days. Both of that in electrical physical therapy group and western medicine group were shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05), then there were not statistical difference between electrical physical therapy group and western medicine group (P>0.05). The effective rate of swelling regression in electrical

Positron annihilation spectroscopy of vacancy-related defects in CdTe:Cl and CdZnTe:Ge at different stoichiometry deviations

PubMed Central

Šedivý, L.; Čížek, J.; Belas, E.; Grill, R.; Melikhova, O.

2016-01-01

Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) was used to examine the effect of defined Cd-rich and Te-rich annealing on point defects in Cl-doped CdTe and Ge-doped CdZnTe semi-insulating single crystals. The as-grown crystals contain open-volume defects connected with Cd vacancies . It was found that the Cd vacancies agglomerate into clusters coupled with Cl in CdTe:Cl, and in CdZnTe:Ge they are coupled with Ge donors. While annealing in Cd pressure reduces of the density, subsequent annealing in Te pressure restores . The CdTe:Cl contains negatively-charged shallow traps interpreted as Rydberg states of A-centres and representing the major positron trapping sites at low temperature. Positrons confined in the shallow traps exhibit lifetime, which is shorter than the CdTe bulk lifetime. Interpretation of the PAS data was successfully combined with electrical resistivity, Hall effect measurements and chemical analysis, and allowed us to determine the principal point defect densities. PMID:26860684

Plasma Membrane Permeabilization by Trains of Ultrashort Electric Pulses

PubMed Central

Ibey, Bennett L.; Mixon, Dustin G.; Payne, Jason A.; Bowman, Angela; Sickendick, Karl; Wilmink, Gerald J.; Roach, W. Patrick; Pakhomov, Andrei G.

2010-01-01

Ultrashort electric pulses (USEP) cause long-lasting increase of cell membrane electrical conductance, and that a single USEP increased cell membrane electrical conductance proportionally to the absorbed dose (AD) with a threshold of about 10 mJ/g. The present study extends quantification of the membrane permeabilization effect to multiple USEP and employed a more accurate protocol that identified USEP effect as the difference between post- and pre-exposure conductance values (Δg) in individual cells. We showed that Δg can be increased by either increasing the number of pulses at a constant E-field, or by increasing the E-field at a constant number of pulses. For 60-ns pulses, an E-field threshold of 6 kV/cm for a single pulse was lowered to less than 1.7 kV/cm by applying 100-pulse or longer trains. However, the reduction of the E-field threshold was only achieved at the expense of a higher AD compared to a single pulse exposure. Furthermore, the effect of multiple pulses was not fully determined by AD, suggesting that cells permeabilized by the first pulse(s) in the train become less vulnerable to subsequent pulses. This explanation was corroborated by a model that treated multiple-pulse exposures as a series of single-pulse exposures and assumed an exponential decline of cell susceptibility to USEP as Δg increased after each pulse during the course of the train. PMID:20171148

Anomalous Phase Change in [(GeTe)2/(Sb2Te3)]20 Superlattice Observed by Coherent Phonon Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makino, K.; Saito, Y.; Mitrofanov, K.; Tominaga, J.; Kolobov, A. V.; Nakano, T.; Fons, P.; Hase, M.

The temperature-dependent ultrafast coherent phonon dynamics of topological (GeTe)2/(Sb2Te3) super lattice phase change memory material was investigated. By comparing with Ge-Sb-Te alloy, a clear contrast suggesting the unique phase change behavior was found.

THz Pulse Detection by Multilayered GeTe/Sb2Te3.

PubMed

Makino, Kotaro; Kuromiya, Shota; Takano, Keisuke; Kato, Kosaku; Nakajima, Makoto; Saito, Yuta; Tominaga, Junji; Iida, Hitoshi; Kinoshita, Moto; Nakano, Takashi

2016-11-30

We proposed and demonstrated terahertz (THz) pulse detection by means of multilayered GeTe/Sb 2 Te 3 phase-change memory materials that are also known as a multilayer topological insulator-normal insulator (MTN) system. THz time-domain spectroscopy measurement was performed for MTN films with different multilayer repetitions as well as a conventional as-grown Ge-Te-Sb (GST) alloy film. It was found that MTNs absorb THz waves and that the absorption coefficient depends on the number of layers, while the as-grown GST alloy film was almost transparent for THz waves. Simple MTN-based THz detection devices were fabricated, and the THz-induced change in the current signal was measured when a DC bias voltage was applied between the electrodes. We confirmed that irradiation of THz pulse causes a decrease in the resistance of the MTNs. This result indicates that our devices are capable of THz detection.

Characterization of HgCdTe Films Grown on Large-Area CdZnTe Substrates by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arkun, F. Erdem; Edwall, Dennis D.; Ellsworth, Jon; Douglas, Sheri; Zandian, Majid; Carmody, Michael

2017-09-01

Recent advances in growth of Hg1- x Cd x Te films on large-area (7 cm × 7.5 cm) CdZnTe (CZT) substrates is presented. Growth of Hg1- x Cd x Te with good uniformity on large-area wafers is achieved using a Riber 412 molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) tool designed for growth of Hg1- x Cd x Te compounds. The reactor is equipped with conventional CdTe, Te, and Hg sources for achieving uniform exposure of the wafer during growth. The composition of the Hg1- x Cd x Te compound is controlled in situ by employing a closed-loop spectral ellipsometry technique to achieve a cutoff wavelength ( λ co) of 14 μm at 78 K. We present data on the thickness and composition uniformity of films grown for large-format focal-plane array applications. The composition and thickness nonuniformity are determined to be <1% over the area of a 7 cm × 7.5 cm wafer. The films are further characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopy, and Hall measurements. Additionally, defect maps show the spatial distribution of defects generated during the epitaxial growth of the Hg1- x Cd x Te films. Microdefect densities are in the low 103 cm-2 range, and void defects are below 500 cm-2. Dislocation densities less than 5 × 105 cm-2 are routinely achieved for Hg1- x Cd x Te films grown on CZT substrates. HgCdTe 4k × 4k focal-plane arrays with 15 μm pitch for astronomical wide-area infrared imagers have been produced using the recently developed MBE growth process at Teledyne Imaging Sensors.

Physical properties of electron beam evaporated CdTe and CdTe:Cu thin films

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

Punitha, K.; Sivakumar, R., E-mail: krsivakumar1979@yahoo.com; Sanjeeviraja, C.

2014-12-07

In this paper, we report on physical properties of pure and Cu doped cadmium telluride (CdTe) films deposited onto corning 7059 microscopic glass substrates by electron beam evaporation technique. X-ray diffraction study showed that all the deposited films belong to amorphous nature. The average transmittance of the films is varied between 77% and 90%. The optical energy band gap of pure CdTe film is 1.57 eV and it decreased to 1.47 eV upon 4 wt. % of Cu addition, which may be due to the extension of localized states in the band structure. The refractive index of the films was calculated using Swanepoel method.more » It was observed that the dispersion data obeyed the single oscillator of the Wemple-Didomenico model, from which the dispersion energy (E{sub d}) parameters, dielectric constants, plasma frequency, and oscillator energy (E{sub o}) of CdTe and CdTe:Cu films were calculated and discussed in detail with the light of possible mechanisms underlying the phenomena. The variation in intensity of photoluminescence band edge emission peak observed at 820 nm with Cu dopant is due to the change in surface state density. The observed trigonal lattice of Te peaks in the micro-Raman spectra confirms the p-type conductive nature of films, which was further corroborated by the Hall effect measurement. The lowest resistivity of 6.61 × 10{sup 4} Ω cm was obtained for the CdTe:Cu (3 wt. %) film.« less

Photoluminescence characteristics of ZnTe bulk crystal and ZnTe epilayer grown on GaAs substrate by MOVPE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lü, Hai-Yan; Mu, Qi; Zhang, Lei; Lü, Yuan-Jie; Ji, Zi-Wu; Feng, Zhi-Hong; Xu, Xian-Gang; Guo, Qi-Xin

2015-12-01

Excitation power and temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the ZnTe epilayer grown on (100) GaAs substrate and ZnTe bulk crystal are investigated. The measurement results show that both the structures are of good structural quality due to their sharp bound excitonic emissions and absence of the deep level structural defect-related emissions. Furthermore, in contrast to the ZnTe bulk crystal, although excitonic emissions for the ZnTe epilayer are somewhat weak, perhaps due to As atoms diffusing from the GaAs substrate into the ZnTe epilayer and/or because of the strain-induced degradation of the crystalline quality of the ZnTe epilayer, neither the donor-acceptor pair (DAP) nor conduction band-acceptor (e-A) emissions are observed in the ZnTe epilayer. This indicates that by further optimizing the growth process it is possible to obtain a high-crystalline quality ZnTe heteroepitaxial layer that is comparable to the ZnTe bulk crystal. Project supported by the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (Grant No. 20120131110006), the Key Science and Technology Program of Shandong Province, China (Grant No. 2013GGX10221), the Key Laboratory of Functional Crystal Materials and Device (Shandong University, Ministry of Education), China (Grant No. JG1401), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61306113), the Major Research Plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 91433112), and the Partnership Project for Fundamental Technology Researches of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

Analysis of Nanoprecipitates in a Na-Doped PbTe-SrTe Thermoelectric Material with a High Figure of Merit.

PubMed

Kim, Yoon-Jun; Zhao, Li-Dong; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G; Seidman, David N

2017-07-05

The dimensionless figure of merit, ZT, of bulk thermoelectric materials depends mainly on the transport properties of charge carriers and heat-carrying phonons. PbTe-4 mol % SrTe doped with 2 mol % Na (Pb 0.94 Na 0.02 Sr 0.04 Te) is a nanostructured material system that exhibits a ZT higher than 2. The precipitate size distribution of SrTe precipitates is believed to play a key role. This raises the question of whether its performance is limited by precipitate coarsening (Ostwald ripening) at elevated temperatures. Herein, we utilize an atom-probe tomography (APT) to study the number density and mean radii of precipitates in concert with partial radial distribution functions (RDFs) of individual atoms. We find that the SrTe precipitates actually contain oxygen: SrTe 1-x O x . We correlate this information with the overall ZT performance, specifically focusing on the electrical and lattice thermal conductivities after isothermal heat treatments at 300 and 400 °C for 7 days, followed by furnace cooling. Comparison of the samples annealed at 400 and 300 °C demonstrates significant coarsening of SrTe 1-x O x precipitates as well as strong segregation of oxygen impurities in the SrTe 1-x O x precipitates. Additionally, on the basis of the partial RDFs, the Na dopant atoms cluster with other Na atoms as well as with Pb, Te, and Sr atoms; clustering depends strongly on the annealing temperature and concomitantly affects the overall ZT values. We found that the coarsening slightly increases the lattice thermal conductivity and also increases the electrical conductivity, thereby having little or even a beneficial effect on the ZT values. Importantly, these findings demonstrate that APT enables quantitative analyses in three dimensions of the PbTe-4 mol % SrTe samples in addition to correlation of their properties with the thermoelectric performance.

Surface passivation for CdTe devices

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

Reese, Matthew O.; Perkins, Craig L.; Burst, James M.

2017-08-01

In one embodiment, a method for surface passivation for CdTe devices is provided. The method includes adjusting a stoichiometry of a surface of a CdTe material layer such that the surface becomes at least one of stoichiometric or Cd-rich; and reconstructing a crystalline lattice at the surface of the CdTe material layer by annealing the adjusted surface.

Design principles for HgTe based topological insulator devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sengupta, Parijat; Kubis, Tillmann; Tan, Yaohua; Povolotskyi, Michael; Klimeck, Gerhard

2013-07-01

The topological insulator properties of CdTe/HgTe/CdTe quantum wells are theoretically studied. The CdTe/HgTe/CdTe quantum well behaves as a topological insulator beyond a critical well width dimension. It is shown that if the barrier (CdTe) and well-region (HgTe) are altered by replacing them with the alloy CdxHg1-xTe of various stoichiometries, the critical width can be changed. The critical quantum well width is shown to depend on temperature, applied stress, growth directions, and external electric fields. Based on these results, a novel device concept is proposed that allows to switch between a normal semiconducting and topological insulator state through application of moderate external electric fields.

Microscopic study of thermoelectric In-doped SnTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nan, Pengfei; Liu, Ruibin; Chang, Yunjie; Wu, Hongbo; Wang, Yumei; Yu, Richeng; Shen, Jun; Guo, Wei; Ge, Binghui

2018-06-01

SnTe is a p-type thermoelectric material that is isostructural with PbTe, for which it is a potential environmentally friendly replacement. By doping the SnTe lattice with In, the thermal conductivity of SnTe can be significantly reduced and the thermoelectric conversion efficiency improved. A large number of precipitates were present in the In-doped SnTe samples; based on atomic-resolution high-angle annular dark-field images and electron energy loss spectra, these precipitates were identified as the zinc-blende phase of In2Te3. Through geometry phase analysis, a new phonon scattering mechanism is discussed.

Quantum oscillations in a two-dimensional electron gas at the rocksalt/zincblende interface of PbTe/CdTe (111) heterostructures

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Bingpo; Lu, Ping; Liu, Henan; ...

2015-06-05

Quantum oscillations are observed in the 2DEG system at the interface of novel heterostructures, PbTe/CdTe (111), with nearly identical lattice parameters (a PbTe = 0.6462 nm, a CdTe = 0.648 nm) but very different lattice structures (PbTe: rock salt, CdTe: zinc blende). The 2DEG formation mechanism, a mismatch in the bonding configurations of the valence electrons at the interface, is uniquely different from the other known 2DEG systems. The aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (AC-STEM) characterization indicates an abrupt interface without cation interdiffusion due to a large miscibility gap between the two constituent materials. As a result, electronic transport measurementsmore » under magnetic field up to 60 T, with the observation of Landau level filling factor ν = 1, unambiguously reveal a π Berry phase, suggesting the Dirac Fermion nature of the 2DEG at the heterostructure interface, and the PbTe/CdTe heterostructure being a new candidate for 2D topological crystalline insulators.« less

All-fiber mode-locked erbium-doped ring laser based on a highly-nonlinear resonator with a low-noise ultrashort pulse generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudelin, Igor S.; Dvoretskiy, Dmitriy A.; Sazonkin, Stanislav G.; Orekhov, Ilya O.; Pnev, Alexey B.; Karasik, Valeriy E.; Denisov, Lev K.

2018-04-01

Ultrashort pulse (USP) fiber lasers have found applications in such various fields as frequency metrology and spectroscopy, telecommunication systems, etc. For the last decade, mode-locking (ML) fiber lasers have been under carefully investigations for scientific, medical and industrial applications. Also, USP fiber sources can be treated as an ideal platform to expand future applications due to the complex ML nonlinear dynamics with a presence of high value of group velocity dispersion (GVD) and the third order dispersion in the resonator. For more reliable and robust launching of passive mode-locking based on a nonlinear polarization evolution, we used a highly nonlinear germanosilicate fiber (with germanium oxides concentration in the core 50 mol. %) inside the cavity and we have obtained ultrashort stretched pulses with a high peak power and energy. In this work relative intensity noise and frequency repetition stability is improved by applying isolator-polarizer (ISO-PM) with increased extinction ratio Pext and by compensation of intracavity group-velocity dispersion from the value β2 - 0.021 ps2 to - 0.0053 ps2 at 1550 nm. As a result, we have obtained the low-noise stretched pulse generation with duration 180 fs at a repetition rate 11.3 MHz (with signal-tonoise ratio at fundamental frequency 59 dB) with Allan deviation of a pulse repetition frequency for 1 s interval 5,7 * 10-9 and a relative intensity noise < -101 dBc / Hz.

Optimization of Monocrystalline MgxCd1-xTe/MgyCd1-yTe Double-Heterostructure Solar Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, Jacob J.

Polycrystalline CdS/CdTe solar cells continue to dominate the thin-film photovoltaics industry with an achieved record efficiency of over 22% demonstrated by First Solar, yet monocrystalline CdTe devices have received considerably less attention over the years. Monocrystalline CdTe double-heterostructure solar cells show great promise with respect to addressing the problem of low Voc with the passing of the 1 V benchmark. Rapid progress has been made in driving the efficiency in these devices ever closer to the record presently held by polycrystalline thin-films. This achievement is primarily due to the utilization of a remote p-n heterojunction in which the heavily doped contact materials, which are so problematic in terms of increasing non-radiative recombination inside the absorber, are moved outside of the CdTe double heterostructure with two MgyCd1-yTe barrier layers to provide confinement and passivation at the CdTe surfaces. Using this design, the pursuit and demonstration of efficiencies beyond 20% in CdTe solar cells is reported through the study and optimization of the structure barriers, contacts layers, and optical design. Further development of a wider bandgap MgxCd1-xTe solar cell based on the same design is included with the intention of applying this knowledge to the development of a tandem solar cell constructed on a silicon subcell. The exploration of different hole-contact materials--ZnTe, CuZnS, and a-Si:H--and their optimization is presented throughout the work. Devices utilizing a-Si:H hole contacts exhibit open-circuit voltages of up to 1.11 V, a maximum total-area efficiency of 18.5% measured under AM1.5G, and an active-area efficiency of 20.3% for CdTe absorber based devices. The achievement of voltages beyond 1.1V while still maintaining relatively high fill factors with no rollover, either before or after open-circuit, is a promising indicator that this approach can result in devices surpassing the 22% record set by polycrystalline

Thermopower of thermoelectric materials with resonant levels: PbTe:Tl versus PbTe:Na and Cu1 -xNix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiendlocha, Bartlomiej

2018-05-01

Electronic transport properties of thermoelectric materials containing resonant levels are discussed by analyzing the two best known examples: copper-nickel metallic alloy (Cu-Ni, constantan) and thallium-doped lead telluride (PbTe:Tl). As a contrasting example of a material with a nonresonant impurity, sodium-doped PbTe is considered. Theoretical calculations of the electronic structure, Bloch spectral functions, and energy-dependent electrical conductivity at T =0 K are done using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method with the coherent potential approximation and the Kubo-Greenwood formalism. The effect of a resonance on the residual resistivity and electronic lifetimes in PbTe is analyzed. By using the full Fermi integrals, room-temperature thermopower is calculated, confirming its increase in PbTe:Tl versus PbTe:Na, due to the presence of the resonant level. In addition, our calculations support the self-compensation model, in which the experimentally observed reduction of carrier concentration in PbTe:Tl against the nominal one is explained by the presence of n -type Te vacancies.

Progress in the Development of CdTe and CdZnTe Semiconductor Radiation Detectors for Astrophysical and Medical Applications

PubMed Central

Sordo, Stefano Del; Abbene, Leonardo; Caroli, Ezio; Mancini, Anna Maria; Zappettini, Andrea; Ubertini, Pietro

2009-01-01

Over the last decade, cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) wide band gap semiconductors have attracted increasing interest as X-ray and gamma ray detectors. Among the traditional high performance spectrometers based on silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), CdTe and CdZnTe detectors show high detection efficiency and good room temperature performance and are well suited for the development of compact and reliable detection systems. In this paper, we review the current status of research in the development of CdTe and CdZnTe detectors by a comprehensive survey on the material properties, the device characteristics, the different techniques for improving the overall detector performance and some major applications. Astrophysical and medical applications are discussed, pointing out the ongoing Italian research activities on the development of these detectors. PMID:22412323

Phase Diagram of HgTe -ZnTe Pseudobinary and Density, Heat Capacity, and Enthalphy of Mixing of Hg(sub 1-x)Zn(sub x)Te Pseudobinary Melts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Su, Ching-Hua; Sha, Yi-Gao; Mazuruk, K.; Lehoczky, S. L.

1996-01-01

In this article, the solidus temperatures of the Hg(sub 1-x) Zn(sub x)Te pseudobinary phase diagram for several compositions in the low x region were measured by differential thermal analysis and the HgTe-ZnTe pseudobinary phase diagram was constructed. The densities of two HgZnTe melts, x = 0.10 and 0.16, were determined by an in situ pycnometric technique in a transparent furnace over, respectively, 110 and 50 C ranges of temperature. The thermodynamic properties of the melts, such as the heat capacity and enthalpy of mixing, were calculated for temperatures between the liquidus and 1500 C by assuming an associated solution model for the liquid phase.

Nanosized thin SnO₂ layers doped with Te and TeO₂ as room temperature humidity sensors.

PubMed

Georgieva, Biliana; Podolesheva, Irena; Spasov, Georgy; Pirov, Jordan

2014-05-21

In this paper the humidity sensing properties of layers prepared by a new method for obtaining doped tin oxide are studied. Different techniques-SEM, EDS in SEM, TEM, SAED, AES and electrical measurements-are used for detailed characterization of the thin layers. The as-deposited layers are amorphous with great specific area and low density. They are built up of a fine grained matrix, consisting of Sn- and Te-oxides, and a nanosized dispersed phase of Te, Sn and/or SnTe. The chemical composition of both the matrix and the nanosized particles depends on the ratio R(Sn/Te) and the evaporation conditions. It is shown that as-deposited layers with R(Sn/Te) ranging from 0.4 to 0.9 exhibit excellent characteristics as humidity sensors operating at room temperature-very high sensitivity, good selectivity, fast response and short recovery period. Ageing tests have shown that the layers possess good long-term stability. Results obtained regarding the type of the water adsorption on the layers' surface help better understand the relation between preparation conditions, structure, composition and humidity sensing properties.

Recycling of CdTe photovoltaic waste

DOEpatents

Goozner, Robert E.; Long, Mark O.; Drinkard, Jr., William F.

1999-01-01

A method for extracting and reclaiming metals from scrap CdTe photovoltaic cells and manufacturing waste by leaching the waste with a leaching solution comprising nitric acid and water, skimming any plastic material from the top of the leaching solution, separating the glass substrate from the liquid leachate and electrolyzing the leachate to separate Cd from Te, wherein the Te is deposits onto a cathode while the Cd remains in solution.

Laser-Bioplasma Interaction: The Blood Type Transmutation Induced by Multiple Ultrashort Wavelength Laser Beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stefan, V. Alexander

2015-11-01

The interaction of ultrashort wavelength multi laser beams with the flowing blood thin films leads to the transmutation of the blood types A, B, and AB into O type. This is a novel mechanism of importance for the transfusion medicine. Laser radiation is in resonance with the eigen-frequency modes of the antigen proteins and forces the proteins to parametrically oscillate until they get kicked out from the surface. The stripping away of antigens is done by the scanning-multiple-lasers of a high repetition rate in the blue-purple frequency domain. The guiding-lasers are in the red-green frequency domain. The laser force, (parametric interaction with the antigen eigen-oscillation), upon the antigen protein molecule must exceed its weight. The scanning laser beam is partially reflected as long as the antigen(s) is not eliminated. The process of the protein detachment can last a few minutes. Supported by Nikola Tesla Labs., Stefan University.

Admittance of MIS-Structures Based on HgCdTe with a Double-Layer CdTe/Al2O3 Insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dzyadukh, S. M.; Voitsekhovskii, A. V.; Nesmelov, S. N.; Sidorov, G. Yu.; Varavin, V. S.; Vasil'ev, V. V.; Dvoretsky, S. A.; Mikhailov, N. N.; Yakushev, M. V.

2018-03-01

Admittance of MIS structures based on n( p)- Hg1-xCdxTe (at x from 0.22 to 0.40) with SiO2/Si3N4, Al2O3, and CdTe/Al2O3 insulators is studied experimentally at 77 K. Growth of an intermediate CdTe layer during epitaxy results in the almost complete disappearance of the hysteresis of electrophysical characteristics of MIS structures based on graded-gap n-HgCdTe for a small range of the voltage variation. For a wide range of the voltage variation, the hysteresis of the capacitance-voltage characteristics appears for MIS structures based on n-HgCdTe with the CdTe/Al2O3 insulator. However, the hysteresis mechanism differs from that in case of a single-layer Al2O3 insulator. For MIS structures based on p-HgCdTe, introduction of an additional CdTe layer does not lead to a significant decrease of the hysteresis phenomena, which may be due to the degradation of the interface properties when mercury leaves the film as a result of low-temperature annealing changing the conductivity type of the semiconductor.

Start-to-end simulation of single-particle imaging using ultra-short pulses at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser

DOE PAGES

Fortmann-Grote, Carsten; Buzmakov, Alexey; Jurek, Zoltan; ...

2017-09-01

Single-particle imaging with X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has the potential to provide structural information at atomic resolution for non-crystalline biomolecules. This potential exists because ultra-short intense pulses can produce interpretable diffraction data notwithstanding radiation damage. This paper explores the impact of pulse duration on the interpretability of diffraction data using comprehensive and realistic simulations of an imaging experiment at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser. In conclusion, it is found that the optimal pulse duration for molecules with a few thousand atoms at 5 keV lies between 3 and 9 fs.

Start-to-end simulation of single-particle imaging using ultra-short pulses at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser

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

Fortmann-Grote, Carsten; Buzmakov, Alexey; Jurek, Zoltan

Single-particle imaging with X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has the potential to provide structural information at atomic resolution for non-crystalline biomolecules. This potential exists because ultra-short intense pulses can produce interpretable diffraction data notwithstanding radiation damage. This paper explores the impact of pulse duration on the interpretability of diffraction data using comprehensive and realistic simulations of an imaging experiment at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser. In conclusion, it is found that the optimal pulse duration for molecules with a few thousand atoms at 5 keV lies between 3 and 9 fs.

Start-to-end simulation of single-particle imaging using ultra-short pulses at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser

PubMed Central

Buzmakov, Alexey; Jurek, Zoltan; Loh, Ne-Te Duane; Samoylova, Liubov; Santra, Robin; Schneidmiller, Evgeny A.; Tschentscher, Thomas; Yakubov, Sergey; Yoon, Chun Hong; Yurkov, Michael V.; Ziaja-Motyka, Beata; Mancuso, Adrian P.

2017-01-01

Single-particle imaging with X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has the potential to provide structural information at atomic resolution for non-crystalline biomolecules. This potential exists because ultra-short intense pulses can produce interpretable diffraction data notwithstanding radiation damage. This paper explores the impact of pulse duration on the interpretability of diffraction data using comprehensive and realistic simulations of an imaging experiment at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser. It is found that the optimal pulse duration for molecules with a few thousand atoms at 5 keV lies between 3 and 9 fs. PMID:28989713

In-well pumped mid-infrared PbTe/CdTe quantum well vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers

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

Khiar, A., E-mail: amir.khiar@jku.at; Witzan, M.; Hochreiner, A.

2014-06-09

Optical in-well pumped mid-infrared vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers based on PbTe quantum wells embedded in CdTe barriers are realized. In contrast to the usual ternary barrier materials of lead salt lasers such as PbEuTe of PbSrTe, the combination of narrow-gap PbTe with wide-gap CdTe offers an extremely large carrier confinement, preventing charge carrier leakage from the quantum wells. In addition, optical in-well pumping can be achieved with cost effective and readily available near infrared lasers. Free carrier absorption, which is a strong loss mechanism in the mid-infrared, is strongly reduced due to the insulating property of CdTe. Lasingmore » is observed from 85 K to 300 K covering a wavelength range of 3.3–4.2 μm. The best laser performance is achieved for quantum well thicknesses of 20 nm. At low temperature, the threshold power is around 100 mW{sub P} and the output power more than 700 mW{sub P}. The significance of various charge carrier loss mechanisms are analyzed by modeling the device performance. Although Auger losses are quite low in IV–VI semiconductors, an Auger coefficient of C{sub A} = 3.5 × 10{sup −27} cm{sup 6} s{sup −1} was estimated for the laser structure, which is attributed to the large conduction band offset.« less

Femtosecond timing-jitter between photo-cathode laser and ultra-short electron bunches by means of hybrid compression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pompili, R.; Anania, M. P.; Bellaveglia, M.; Biagioni, A.; Castorina, G.; Chiadroni, E.; Cianchi, A.; Croia, M.; Di Giovenale, D.; Ferrario, M.; Filippi, F.; Gallo, A.; Gatti, G.; Giorgianni, F.; Giribono, A.; Li, W.; Lupi, S.; Mostacci, A.; Petrarca, M.; Piersanti, L.; Di Pirro, G.; Romeo, S.; Scifo, J.; Shpakov, V.; Vaccarezza, C.; Villa, F.

2016-08-01

The generation of ultra-short electron bunches with ultra-low timing-jitter relative to the photo-cathode (PC) laser has been experimentally proved for the first time at the SPARC_LAB test-facility (INFN-LNF, Frascati) exploiting a two-stage hybrid compression scheme. The first stage employs RF-based compression (velocity-bunching), which shortens the bunch and imprints an energy chirp on it. The second stage is performed in a non-isochronous dogleg line, where the compression is completed resulting in a final bunch duration below 90 fs (rms). At the same time, the beam arrival timing-jitter with respect to the PC laser has been measured to be lower than 20 fs (rms). The reported results have been validated with numerical simulations.

Antimony diffusion in CdTe

DOE PAGES

Colegrove, Eric; Harvey, Steven P.; Yang, Ji -Hui; ...

2017-02-08

Group V dopants may be used for next-generation high-voltage cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar photovoltaics, but fundamental defect energetics and kinetics need to be understood. Here, antimony (Sb) diffusion is studied in single-crystal and polycrystalline CdTe under Cd-rich conditions. Diffusion profiles are determined by dynamic secondary ion mass spectroscopy and analyzed with analytical bulk and grain-boundary diffusion models. Slow bulk and fast grain-boundary diffusion are found. Density functional theory is used to understand formation energy and mechanisms. Lastly, the theory and experimental results create new understanding of group V defect kinetics in CdTe.

Pyrazole derived ultra-short antimicrobial peptidomimetics with potent anti-biofilm activity.

PubMed

Ahn, Mija; Gunasekaran, Pethaiah; Rajasekaran, Ganesan; Kim, Eun Young; Lee, Soo-Jae; Bang, Geul; Cho, Kun; Hyun, Jae-Kyung; Lee, Hyun-Ju; Jeon, Young Ho; Kim, Nam-Hyung; Ryu, Eun Kyoung; Shin, Song Yub; Bang, Jeong Kyu

2017-01-05

In this study, we report on the first chemical synthesis of ultra-short pyrazole-arginine based antimicrobial peptidomimetics derived from the newly synthesized N-alkyl/aryl pyrazole amino acids. Through the systematic tuning of hydrophobicity, charge, and peptide length, we identified the shortest peptide Py11 with the most potent antimicrobial activity. Py11 displayed greater antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including MRSA, MDRPA, and VREF, which was approximately 2-4 times higher than that of melittin. Besides its higher selectivity (therapeutic index) toward bacterial cells than LL-37, Py11 showed highly increased proteolytic stability against trypsin digestion and maintained its antimicrobial activity in the presence of physiological salts. Interestingly, Py11 exhibited higher anti-biofilm activity against MDRPA compared to LL-37. The results from fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) suggested that Py11 kills bacterial cells possibly by integrity disruption damaging the cell membrane, leading to the cytosol leakage and eventual cell lysis. Furthermore, Py11 displayed significant anti-inflammatory (endotoxin-neutralizing) activity by inhibiting LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and TNF-α. Collectively, our results suggest that Py11 may serve as a model compound for the design of antimicrobial and antisepsis agents. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

LETTER: Test of Te profile invariance by sensitivity studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, G.

1992-06-01

The response of the electron temperature profile shape to variations of the electron heating and density profiles is investigated in different confinement regimes. It is shown that the changes in rTe = -Te/(dTe/dr) exceed the measurement error if the shape of the electron heat diffusivity χe(r) is kept fixed. The observed constancy of rTe(r) in the outer half of the plasma is incompatible with such a fixed χe(r) shape, i.e., a Te profile constraining mechanism must be present. Local transport laws of the form χe varies as rTe-α with α gtrsim 4 and χe propto (dTe/dr)α with α >= 2 yield the experimental stiffness of the Te(r) shape but conflict with empirical χe scalings. These results support the model of a self-organizing and adjusting χe(r) causing Te profile invariance

Band Degeneracy, Low Thermal Conductivity, and High Thermoelectric Figure of Merit in SnTe-CaTe Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al Rahal Al Orabi, R.; Mecholsky, N.; Hwang, J. P.; Kim, W.; Rhyee, J. S.; Wee, D.; Fornari, M.

Pure lead-free SnTe has limited thermoelectric potentials because of the low Seebeck coeffcients and the relatively large thermal conductivity. In this study, we provide experimental evidence and theoretical understanding that alloying SnTe with Ca greatly improves the transport properties leading to ZT of 1.35 at 873 K, the highest ZT value so far reported for singly doped SnTe materials. The introduction of Ca (0-9%) in SnTe induces multiple effects: (1) Ca replaces Sn and reduces the hole concentration due to Sn vacancies, (2) the energy gap increases limiting the bipolar transport, (3) several bands with larger effective masses become active in transport, and (4) the lattice thermal conductivity is reduced of about 70% due to the contribution of concomitant scattering terms associated with the alloy disorder and the presence of nanoscale precipitates. An effciency of 10% (for ΔT = 400 K) was predicted for high temperature thermoelectric power generation using SnTe-based n- and p-type materials.

LaTeX for Agricultural Extension Professionals

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

LaTeX is a free open source document preparation system for professional quality documents and presentation materials. Extension professionals, trying to reach their audience though various forms of printed and online resources, can benefit from the vast potential of LaTeX. Using LaTeX empowers the ...

Mimicking lizard-like surface structures upon ultrashort laser pulse irradiation of inorganic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermens, U.; Kirner, S. V.; Emonts, C.; Comanns, P.; Skoulas, E.; Mimidis, A.; Mescheder, H.; Winands, K.; Krüger, J.; Stratakis, E.; Bonse, J.

2017-10-01

Inorganic materials, such as steel, were functionalized by ultrashort laser pulse irradiation (fs- to ps-range) to modify the surface's wetting behavior. The laser processing was performed by scanning the laser beam across the surface of initially polished flat sample material. A systematic experimental study of the laser processing parameters (peak fluence, scan velocity, line overlap) allowed the identification of different regimes associated with characteristic surface morphologies (laser-induced periodic surface structures, grooves, spikes, etc.). Analyses of the surface using optical as well as scanning electron microscopy revealed morphologies providing the optimum similarity to the natural skin of lizards. For mimicking skin structures of moisture-harvesting lizards towards an optimization of the surface wetting behavior, additionally a two-step laser processing strategy was established for realizing hierarchical microstructures. In this approach, micrometer-scaled capillaries (step 1) were superimposed by a laser-generated regular array of small dimples (step 2). Optical focus variation imaging measurements finally disclosed the three dimensional topography of the laser processed surfaces derived from lizard skin structures. The functionality of these surfaces was analyzed in view of wetting properties.

Estimation of ultrashort laser irradiation effect over thin transparent biopolymer films morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daskalova, A.; Nathala, C.; Bliznakova, I.; Slavov, D.; Husinsky, W.

2015-01-01

The collagen - elastin biopolymer thin films treated by CPA Ti:Sapphire laser (Femtopower - Compact Pro) at 800nm central wavelength with 30fs and 1kHz repetition rate are investigated. A process of surface modifications and microporous scaffold creation after ultrashort laser irradiation has been observed. The single-shot (N=1) and multi-shot (N<1) ablation threshold values were estimated by studying the linear relationship between the square of the crater diameter D2 and the logarithm of the laser fluence F for determination of the threshold fluences for N=1, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 30 number of laser pulses. The incubation analysis by calculation of the incubation coefficient ξ for multi - shot fluence threshold for selected materials by power - law relationship form Fth(N)=Fth(1)Nξ-1 was also obtained. In this paper, we have also shown another consideration of the multi - shot ablation threshold calculation by logarithmic dependence of the ablation rate d on the laser fluence. The morphological surface changes of the modified regions were characterized by scanning electron microscopy to estimate the generated variations after the laser treatment.

Excitation of atoms and ions in plasmas by ultra-short electromagnetic pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Astapenko, V. A.; Sakhno, S. V.; Svita, S. Yu; Lisitsa, V. S.

2017-02-01

The problem of atoms and ions diagnostics in rarefied and dense plasmas by ultrashort laser pulses (USP) is under consideration. The application of USP provides: 1) excitation from ground states due to their carrier frequency high enough, 2) penetration into optically dense media due to short pulses duration. The excitation from ground atomic states increases sharply populations of excited atomic states in contrast with standard laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy based on radiative transitions between excited atomic states. New broadening parameter in radiation absorption, namely inverse pulse duration time 1/τ appears in addition to standard line-shape width in the profile G(ω). The Lyman-beta absorption spectra for USP are calculated for Holtsmark static broadening mechanism. Excitation of highly charged H-like ions in hot plasmas is described by both Gaussian shapes for Doppler broadening and pulse spectrum resulting in analytical absorption line-shape. USP penetration into optically thick media and corresponding excitation probability are calculated. It is shown a great effect of USP duration on excitation probabilities in optically thick media. The typical situations for plasma diagnostics by USP are discussed in details.

Phonon-assisted nonlinear optical processes in ultrashort-pulse pumped optical parametric amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isaienko, Oleksandr; Robel, István

2016-03-01

Optically active phonon modes in ferroelectrics such as potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) and potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA) in the ~7-20 THz range play an important role in applications of these materials in Raman lasing and terahertz wave generation. Previous studies with picosecond pulse excitation demonstrated that the interaction of pump pulses with phonons can lead to efficient stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) accompanying optical parametric oscillation or amplification processes (OPO/OPA), and to efficient polariton-phonon scattering. In this work, we investigate the behavior of infrared OPAs employing KTP or KTA crystals when pumped with ~800-nm ultrashort pulses of duration comparable to the oscillation period of the optical phonons. We demonstrate that under conditions of coherent impulsive Raman excitation of the phonons, when the effective χ(2) nonlinearity cannot be considered instantaneous, the parametrically amplified waves (most notably, signal) undergo significant spectral modulations leading to an overall redshift of the OPA output. The pump intensity dependence of the redshifted OPA output, the temporal evolution of the parametric gain, as well as the pump spectral modulations suggest the presence of coupling between the nonlinear optical polarizations PNL of the impulsively excited phonons and those of parametrically amplified waves.

Optimization of the parameters for intrastromal refractive surgery with ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heisterkamp, Alexander; Ripken, Tammo; Lubatschowski, Holger; Welling, Herbert; Dommer, Wolfgang; Luetkefels, Elke; Mamom, Thanongsak; Ertmer, Wolfgang

2001-06-01

Focussing femtosecond laser pulses into a transparent media, such as corneal tissue, leads to optical breakdown, generation of a micro-plasma and, thus, a cutting effect inside the tissue. To proof the potential of fs-lasers in refractive surgery, three-dimensional cutting within the corneal stroma was evaluated. With the use of ultrashort laser pulses within the LASIK procedure (laser in situ keratomileusis) possible complications in handling of a mechanical knife, the microkeratome, can be reduced by using the treatment laser as the keratome itself. To study woundhealing effects, animal studies were carried out in rabbit specimen. The surgical outcome was analyzed by means of histological sections, as well as light and scanning electron microscopy. Dependencies on the dispersion caused by focussing optics were evaluated and optimized. Thus, pulse energies well below 1 (mu) J were sufficient to perform the intrastromal cuts. The laser pulses with a duration of 180 fs and energies of 0.5-100 (mu) J were provided by a modelocked frequency doubled erbium fiber-laser with subsequent chirped pulse amplification in a titanium sapphire amplifier at up to 3 kHz.

Pressure-induced reinforcement of interfacial superconductivity in a Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe heterostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Junying; Heuckeroth, Claire; Deng, Yuhang; He, Qinglin; Liu, Hong Chao; Liang, Jing; Wang, Jiannong; Sou, Iam Keong; Schilling, James S.; Lortz, Rolf

2017-12-01

We investigate the hydrostatic pressure dependence of interfacial superconductivity occurring at the atomically sharp interface between two non-superconducting materials: the topological insulator (TI) Bi2Te3 and the parent compound Fe1+yTe of the chalcogenide iron-based superconductors. Under pressure, a significant increase in the superconducting transition temperature Tc is observed. We interpret our data in the context of a pressure-induced enhanced coupling of the Fe1+yTe interfacial layer with the Bi2Te3 surface state, which modifies the electronic properties of the interface layer in a way that superconductivity emerges and becomes further enhanced under pressure. This demonstrates the important role of the TI in the interfacial superconducting mechanism.

Preparation and structure of BiCrTeO{sub 6}: A new compound in Bi–Cr–Te–O system. Thermal expansion studies of Cr{sub 2}TeO{sub 6}, Bi{sub 2}TeO{sub 6} and BiCrTeO{sub 6}

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

Vats, Bal Govind; Phatak, Rohan; Krishnan, K.

Graphical abstract: A new compound BiCrTeO{sub 6} in the Bi–Cr–Te–O system was prepared by solid state route and characterized by X-ray diffraction method. The crystal structure of BiCrTeO{sub 6} shows that there is one distinct site for bismuth (Bi) atom (pink color), one chromium rich (Cr/Te = 68/32) (blue/green color), one tellurium rich (Te/Cr = 68/32) sites (green/blue color), and one distinct site for oxygen (O) atom (red color) in the unit cell. All cations in this structure show an octahedral coordination with oxygen atoms at the corners. The thermogram (TG) of the compound in air shows that it ismore » stable up to 1103 K and decomposes thereafter. The thermal expansion behaviour of BiCrTeO{sub 6} was studied using high temperature X-ray diffraction method from room temperature to 923 K under vacuum of 10{sup −8} atmosphere and showed positive thermal expansion with the average volume thermal expansion coefficients of 16.0 × 10{sup −6}/K. - Highlights: • A new compound BiCrTeO{sub 6} in Bi–Cr–Te–O system was prepared and characterized. • The crystal structure of BiCrTeO{sub 6} was determined by Rietveld refinement method. • The structure of BiCrTeO{sub 6} shows an octahedral coordination for all the metal ions. • The thermal expansion behavior of BiCrTeO{sub 6} from room temperature to 923 K showed a positive thermal expansion. • The average volume thermal expansion coefficient for BiCrTeO{sub 6} is 16.0 × 10{sup −6}/K. - Abstract: A new compound BiCrTeO{sub 6} in Bi–Cr–Te–O system was prepared by solid state reaction of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} and H{sub 6}TeO{sub 6} in oxygen and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. It could be indexed on a trigonal lattice, with the space group P-31c, unit cell parameters a = 5.16268(7) Å and c = 9.91861(17) Å. The crystal structure of BiCrTeO{sub 6} was determined by Rietveld refinement method using the powder XRD data. Structure shows that there is one

A general route for the rapid synthesis of one-dimensional nanostructured single-crystal Te, Se and Se Te alloys directly from Te or/and Se powders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Bo; Zhu, Jun-Jie

2006-03-01

A general and template-free 'disproportionation and reversal' route was developed to synthesize one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures of Te, Se and Se-Te alloys directly from Te or/and Se powders. The products were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Te nanorods and nanowires with a width varying from about 40 nm to about 300 nm, Se nanowires with a width of 60-100 nm and a length of 4-6 µm, and SexTe100-x alloy nanorods with x in a wide range, and with a width of 30-70 nm and an aspect ratio of three to five, were prepared. The mechanism of formation of the nanorods and nanowires and the effects of the experimental conditions, such as solution concentration, cooling rate, solvent nature and heating process, on the morphology and size of the products have been discussed. We believe that this general route and some other proper reversible processes between solid state and solution state can be extended to the transformations from various bulk materials into nanosized materials with various morphologies.

Analysis of Etched CdZnTe Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benson, J. D.; Bubulac, L. O.; Jaime-Vasquez, M.; Lennon, C. M.; Arias, J. M.; Smith, P. J.; Jacobs, R. N.; Markunas, J. K.; Almeida, L. A.; Stoltz, A.; Wijewarnasuriya, P. S.; Peterson, J.; Reddy, M.; Jones, K.; Johnson, S. M.; Lofgreen, D. D.

2016-09-01

State-of-the-art as-received (112)B CdZnTe substrates have been examined for surface impurity contamination and polishing residue. Two 4 cm × 4 cm and one 6 cm × 6 cm (112)B state-of-the-art as-received CdZnTe wafers were analyzed. A maximum surface impurity concentration of Al = 1.7 × 1015 atoms cm-2, Si = 3.7 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Cl = 3.12 × 1015 atoms cm-2, S = 1.7 × 1014 atoms cm-2, P = 1.1 × 1014 atoms cm-2, Fe = 1.0 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Br = 1.2 × 1014 atoms cm-2, and Cu = 4 × 1012 atoms cm-2 was observed on the as-received CdZnTe wafers. CdZnTe particulates and residual SiO2 polishing grit were observed on the surface of the as-received (112)B CdZnTe substrates. The polishing grit/CdZnTe particulate density on CdZnTe wafers was observed to vary across a 6 cm × 6 cm wafer from ˜4 × 107 cm-2 to 2.5 × 108 cm-2. The surface impurity and damage layer of the (112)B CdZnTe wafers dictate that a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) preparation etch is required. The contamination for one 4 cm × 4 cm and one 6 cm × 6 cm CdZnTe wafer after a standard MBE Br:methanol preparation etch procedure was also analyzed. A maximum surface impurity concentration of Al = 2.4 × 1015 atoms cm-2, Si = 4.0 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Cl = 7.5 × 1013 atoms cm-2, S = 4.4 × 1013 atoms cm-2, P = 9.8 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Fe = 1.0 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Br = 2.9 × 1014 atoms cm-2, and Cu = 5.2 × 1012 atoms cm-2 was observed on the MBE preparation-etched CdZnTe wafers. The MBE preparation-etched surface contamination consists of Cd(Zn)Te particles/flakes. No residual SiO2 polishing grit was observed on the (112)B surface.

Multiphoton photoemission from a copper cathode illuminated by ultrashort laser pulses in an RF photoinjector.

PubMed

Musumeci, P; Cultrera, L; Ferrario, M; Filippetto, D; Gatti, G; Gutierrez, M S; Moody, J T; Moore, N; Rosenzweig, J B; Scoby, C M; Travish, G; Vicario, C

2010-02-26

In this Letter we report on the use of ultrashort infrared laser pulses to generate a copious amount of electrons by a copper cathode in an rf photoinjector. The charge yield verifies the generalized Fowler-Dubridge theory for multiphoton photoemission. The emission is verified to be prompt using a two pulse autocorrelation technique. The thermal emittance associated with the excess kinetic energy from the emission process is comparable with the one measured using frequency tripled uv laser pulses. In the high field of the rf gun, up to 50 pC of charge can be extracted from the cathode using a 80 fs long, 2 microJ, 800 nm pulse focused to a 140 mum rms spot size. Taking into account the efficiency of harmonic conversion, illuminating a cathode directly with ir laser pulses can be the most efficient way to employ the available laser power.

Fields of an ultrashort tightly focused radially polarized laser pulse in a linear response plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salamin, Yousef I.

2017-10-01

Analytical expressions for the fields of a radially polarized, ultrashort, and tightly focused laser pulse propagating in a linear-response plasma are derived and discussed. The fields are obtained from solving the inhomogeneous wave equations for the vector and scalar potentials, linked by the Lorenz gauge, in a plasma background. First, the scalar potential is eliminated using the gauge condition, then the vector potential is synthesized from Fourier components of an initial uniform distribution of wavenumbers, and the inverse Fourier transformation is carried out term-by-term in a truncated series (finite sum). The zeroth-order term in, for example, the axial electric field component is shown to model a pulse much better than its widely used paraxial approximation counterpart. Some of the propagation characteristics of the fields are discussed and all fields are shown to have manifested the expected limits for propagation in a vacuum.

Minimization of Dead-Periods in MRI Pulse Sequences for Imaging Oblique Planes

PubMed Central

Atalar, Ergin; McVeigh, Elliot R.

2007-01-01

With the advent of breath-hold MR cardiac imaging techniques, the minimization of TR and TE for oblique planes has become a critical issue. The slew rates and maximum currents of gradient amplifiers limit the minimum possible TR and TE by adding dead-periods to the pulse sequences. We propose a method of designing gradient waveforms that will be applied to the amplifiers instead of the slice, readout, and phase encoding waveforms. Because this method ensures that the gradient amplifiers will always switch at their maximum slew rate, it results in the minimum possible dead-period for given imaging parameters and scan plane position. A GRASS pulse sequence has been designed and ultra-short TR and TE values have been obtained with standard gradient amplifiers and coils. For some oblique slices, we have achieved shorter TR and TE values than those for nonoblique slices. PMID:7869900

Microdose GnRH Agonist Flare-Up versus Ultrashort GnRH Agonist Combined with Fixed GnRH Antagonist in Poor Responders of Assisted Reproductive Techniques Cycles

PubMed Central

Eftekhar, Maryam; Mohammadian, Farnaz; Yousefnejad, Fariba; Khani, Parisa

2013-01-01

Background: This study compares the microdose flare-up protocol to the ultrashort gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) agonist flare combined with the fixed multidose GnRH antagonist protocol in poor responders undergoing ovarian stimulation. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 120 women who were candidates for assisted reproductive techniques (ART) and had histories of one or more failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles with three or fewer retrieved oocytes were prospectively randomized into two groups. Group I (60 patients) received the microdose flare-up regimen and group II (60 patients) received the ultrashort GnRH agonist combined with fixed GnRH antagonist. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in the number of used gonadotropin ampoules (p=0.591), duration of stimulation (p=0.610), number of retrieved oocytes (p=0.802), fertilization rate (p=0.456), and the number of transferred embryos (p=0.954). The clinical pregnancy rates were statistically similar in group I (10%) compared with group II (13.3%, p=0.389). Conclusion: According to our results, there is no significant difference between these protocols for improving the ART outcome in poor responders. Additional prospective, randomized studies with more patients is necessary to determine the best protocol (Registration Number: IRCT201105096420N1). PMID:24520450

Microdose GnRH Agonist Flare-Up versus Ultrashort GnRH Agonist Combined with Fixed GnRH Antagonist in Poor Responders of Assisted Reproductive Techniques Cycles.

PubMed

Eftekhar, Maryam; Mohammadian, Farnaz; Yousefnejad, Fariba; Khani, Parisa

2013-01-01

This study compares the microdose flare-up protocol to the ultrashort gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) agonist flare combined with the fixed multidose GnRH antagonist protocol in poor responders undergoing ovarian stimulation. In this randomized clinical trial, 120 women who were candidates for assisted reproductive techniques (ART) and had histories of one or more failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles with three or fewer retrieved oocytes were prospectively randomized into two groups. Group I (60 patients) received the microdose flare-up regimen and group II (60 patients) received the ultrashort GnRH agonist combined with fixed GnRH antagonist. There were no significant differences between the groups in the number of used gonadotropin ampoules (p=0.591), duration of stimulation (p=0.610), number of retrieved oocytes (p=0.802), fertilization rate (p=0.456), and the number of transferred embryos (p=0.954). The clinical pregnancy rates were statistically similar in group I (10%) compared with group II (13.3%, p=0.389). According to our results, there is no significant difference between these protocols for improving the ART outcome in poor responders. Additional prospective, randomized studies with more patients is necessary to determine the best protocol (Registration Number: IRCT201105096420N1).

125Te NMR Probes of Tellurium Oxide Crystals: Shielding-Structure Correlations.

PubMed

Garaga, Mounesha N; Werner-Zwanziger, Ulrike; Zwanziger, Josef W

2018-01-16

The local environments around tellurium atoms in a series of tellurium oxide crystals were probed by 125 Te solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Crystals with distinct TeO n units (n from 3 to 6), including Na 2 TeO 3 , α-TeO 2 and γ-TeO 2 , Te 2 O(PO 4 ) 2 , K 3 LaTe 2 O 9 , BaZnTe 2 O 7 , and CsYTe 3 O 8 were studied. The latter four were synthesized through a solid-state process. X-ray diffraction was used to confirm the successful syntheses. The 125 Te chemical shift was found to exhibit a strong linear correlation with the Te coordination number. The 125 Te chemical-shift components (δ 11 , δ 22 , and δ 33 ) of the TeO 4 units were further correlated to the O-Te-O-bond angles. With the aid of 125 Te NMR, it is likely that these relations can be used to estimate the coordination states of Te atoms in unknown Te crystals and glasses.

HgCdTe barrier infrared detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kopytko, M.; Rogalski, A.

2016-05-01

In the last decade, new strategies to achieve high-operating temperature (HOT) detectors have been proposed, including barrier structures such as nBn devices, unipolar barrier photodiodes, and multistage (cascade) infrared detectors. The ability to tune the positions of the conduction and valence band edges independently in a broken-gap type-II superlattices is especially helpful in the design of unipolar barriers. This idea has been also implemented in HgCdTe ternary material system. However, the implementation of this detector structure in HgCdTe material system is not straightforward due to the existence of a valence band discontinuity (barrier) at the absorber-barrier interface. In this paper we present status of HgCdTe barrier detectors with emphasis on technological progress in fabrication of MOCVD-grown HgCdTe barrier detectors achieved recently at the Institute of Applied Physics, Military University of Technology. Their performance is comparable with state-of-the-art of HgCdTe photodiodes. From the perspective of device fabrication their important technological advantage results from less stringent surface passivation requirements and tolerance to threading dislocations.

Self-Assembled Formation of Well-Aligned Cu-Te Nano-Rods on Heavily Cu-Doped ZnTe Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Jing; Cheng, Man Kit; Lai, Ying Hoi; Wei, Guanglu; Yang, Sean Derman; Wang, Gan; Ho, Sut Kam; Tam, Kam Weng; Sou, Iam Keong

2016-11-01

Cu doping of ZnTe, which is an important semiconductor for various optoelectronic applications, has been successfully achieved previously by several techniques. However, besides its electrical transport characteristics, other physical and chemical properties of heavily Cu-doped ZnTe have not been reported. We found an interesting self-assembled formation of crystalline well-aligned Cu-Te nano-rods near the surface of heavily Cu-doped ZnTe thin films grown via the molecular beam epitaxy technique. A phenomenological growth model is presented based on the observed crystallographic morphology and measured chemical composition of the nano-rods using various imaging and chemical analysis techniques. When substitutional doping reaches its limit, the extra Cu atoms favor an up-migration toward the surface, leading to a one-dimensional surface modulation and formation of Cu-Te nano-rods, which explain unusual observations on the reflection high energy electron diffraction patterns and apparent resistivity of these thin films. This study provides an insight into some unexpected chemical reactions involved in the heavily Cu-doped ZnTe thin films, which may be applied to other material systems that contain a dopant having strong reactivity with the host matrix.

The synthesis of ternary acetylides with tellurium: Li 2 TeC 2 and Na 2 TeC 2

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

Németh, Károly; Unni, Aditya K.; Kalnmals, Christopher

The synthesis of ternary acetylides Li 2TeC 2 and Na 2TeC 2 is presented as the first example of ternary acetylides with metalloid elements instead of transition metals. The synthesis was carried out by the direct reaction of the corresponding bialkali acetylides with tellurium powder in liquid ammonia. Alternatively, the synthesis of Na 2TeC 2 was also carried out by the direct reaction of tellurium powder and two equivalents of NaC 2H in liquid ammonia leading to Na 2TeC 2 and acetylene gas through an equilibrium containing the assumed NaTeC 2H molecules besides the reactants and the products. The resultingmore » disordered crystalline materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Implications of these new syntheses on the synthesis of other ternary acetylides with metalloid elements and transition metals are also discussed.« less

Growth and optical investigations of high quality individual CdTe/(Cd,Mg)Te core/shell nanowires.

PubMed

Wojnar, P; Płachta, J; Kret, S; Kaleta, A; Zaleszczyk, W; Szymura, M; Wiater, M; Baczewski, L T; Pietruczik, A; Karczewski, G; Wojtowicz, T; Kossut, J

2017-01-27

CdTe nanowires with the average diameter of only 40 nm coated with (Cd,Mg)Te shells are grown using Au-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid growth mechanism in a system for molecular beam epitaxy. High optical quality of individual nanowires is revealed by means of low temperature cathodoluminescence and micro-luminescence. It is found that, the optical emission spectrum consists mostly of the near band edge emission without any significant contribution of defect related luminescence. Moreover, the importance of surface passivation with (Cd,Mg)Te coating shells is demonstrated.

HgZnTe-based detectors for LWIR NASA applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patten, Elizabeth A.; Kalisher, Murray H.

1990-01-01

The initial goal was to grow and characterize HgZnTe and determine if it indeed had the advantageous properties that were predicted. Researchers grew both bulk and liquid phase epitaxial HgZnTe. It was determined that HgZnTe had the following properties: (1) microhardness at least 50 percent greater than HgCdTe of equivalent bandgap; (2) Hg annealing rates of at least 2 to 4 times longer than HgCdTe; and (3) higher Hg vacancy formation energies. This early work did not focus on one specific composition (x-value) of HgZnTe since NASA was interested in HgZnTe's potential for a variety of applications. Since the beginning of 1989, researchers have been concentrating, however, on the liquid phase growth of very long wavelength infrared (VLWIR) HgZnTe (cutoff approx. equals 17 microns at 65K) to address the requirements of the Earth Observing System (EOS). Since there are no device models to predict the advantages in reliability one can gain with increased microhardness, surface stability, etc., one must fabricate HgZnTe detectors and assess their relative bake stability (accelerated life test behavior) compared with HgCdTe devices fabricated in the same manner. Researchers chose to fabricate HIT detectors as a development vehicle for this program because high performance in the VLWIR has been demonstrated with HgCdTe HIT detectors and the HgCdTe HIT process should be applicable to HgZnTe. HIT detectors have a significant advantage for satellite applications since these devices dissipate much less power than conventional photoconductors to achieve the same responsivity.

Temperature-Dependent Energy Gap Shift and Thermally Activated Transition in Multilayer CdTe/ZnTe Quantum Dots.

PubMed

Man, Minh Tan; Lee, Hong Seok

2015-10-01

We investigated the influence of growth conditions on carrier dynamics in multilayer CdTe/ZnTe quantum dots (QDs) by monitoring the temperature dependence of the photoluminescence emission energy. The results were analyzed using the empirical Varshni and O'Donnell relations for temperature variation of the energy gap shift. Best fit values showed that the thermally activated transition between two different states occurs due to band low-temperature quenching with values separated by 5.0-6.5 meV. The addition of stack periods in multilayer CdTe/ZnTe QDs plays an important role in the energy gap shift, where the exciton binding energy is enhanced, and, conversely, the exciton-phonon coupling strength is suppressed with an average energy of 19.3-19.8 meV.

Lattice thermal transport in group II-alloyed PbTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Yi; Hodges, James M.; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.; Chan, Maria K. Y.

2018-04-01

PbTe, one of the most promising thermoelectric materials, has recently demonstrated a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of above 2.0 when alloyed with group II elements. The improvements are due mainly to significant reduction of lattice thermal conductivity (κl), which was in turn attributed to nanoparticle precipitates. However, a fundamental understanding of various phonon scattering mechanisms within the bulk alloy is still lacking. In this work, we apply the newly-developed density-functional-theory-based compressive sensing lattice dynamics approach to model lattice heat transport in PbTe, MTe, and Pb0.94M0.06Te (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and compare our results with experimental measurements, with focus on the strain effect and mass disorder scattering. We find that (1) CaTe, SrTe, and BaTe in the rock-salt structure exhibit much higher κl than PbTe, while MgTe in the same structure shows anomalously low κl; (2) lattice heat transport of PbTe is extremely sensitive to static strain induced by alloying atoms in solid solution form; (3) mass disorder scattering plays a major role in reducing κl for Mg/Ca/Sr-alloyed PbTe through strongly suppressing the lifetimes of intermediate- and high-frequency phonons, while for Ba-alloyed PbTe, precipitated nanoparticles are also important.

In situ accurate determination of the zero time delay between two independent ultrashort laser pulses by observing the oscillation of an atomic excited wave packet.

PubMed

Zhang, Qun; Hepburn, John W

2008-08-15

We propose a novel method that uses the oscillation of an atomic excited wave packet observed through a pump-probe technique to accurately determine the zero time delay between a pair of ultrashort laser pulses. This physically based approach provides an easy fix for the intractable problem of synchronizing two different femtosecond laser pulses in a practical experimental environment, especially where an in situ time zero measurement with high accuracy is required.

MBE Growth of HgCdTe on Large-Area Si and CdZnTe Wafers for SWIR, MWIR and LWIR Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reddy, M.; Peterson, J. M.; Lofgreen, D. D.; Franklin, J. A.; Vang, T.; Smith, E. P. G.; Wehner, J. G. A.; Kasai, I.; Bangs, J. W.; Johnson, S. M.

2008-09-01

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth of HgCdTe on large-size Si (211) and CdZnTe (211)B substrates is critical to meet the demands of extremely uniform and highly functional third-generation infrared (IR) focal-panel arrays (FPAs). We have described here the importance of wafer maps of HgCdTe thickness, composition, and the macrodefects across the wafer not only to qualify material properties against design specifications but also to diagnose and classify the MBE-growth-related issues on large-area wafers. The paper presents HgCdTe growth with exceptionally uniform composition and thickness and record low macrodefect density on large Si wafers up to 6-in in diameter for the detection of short-wave (SW), mid-wave (MW), and long-wave (LW) IR radiation. We have also proposed a cost-effective approach to use the growth of HgCdTe on low-cost Si substrates to isolate the growth- and substrate-related problems that one occasionally comes across with the CdZnTe substrates and tune the growth parameters such as growth rate, cutoff wavelength ( λ cutoff) and doping parameters before proceeding with the growth on costly large-area CdZnTe substrates. In this way, we demonstrated HgCdTe growth on large CdZnTe substrates of size 7 cm × 7 cm with excellent uniformity and low macrodefect density.

Post-growth annealing of Bridgman-grown CdZnTe and CdMnTe crystals for room-temperature nuclear radiation detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Egarievwe, Stephen U.; Yang, Ge; Egarievwe, Alexander A.; Okwechime, Ifechukwude O.; Gray, Justin; Hales, Zaveon M.; Hossain, Anwar; Camarda, Giuseppe S.; Bolotnikov, Aleksey E.; James, Ralph B.

2015-06-01

Bridgman-grown cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) and cadmium manganese telluride (CdMnTe or CMT) crystals often have Te inclusions that limit their performances as X-ray- and gamma-ray-detectors. We present here the results of post-growth thermal annealing aimed at reducing and eliminating Te inclusions in them. In a 2D analysis, we observed that the sizes of the Te inclusions declined to 92% during a 60-h annealing of CZT at 510 °C under Cd vapor. Further, tellurium inclusions were eliminated completely in CMT samples annealed at 570 °C in Cd vapor for 26 h, whilst their electrical resistivity fell by an order of 102. During the temperature-gradient annealing of CMT at 730 °C and an 18 °C/cm temperature gradient for 18 h in a vacuum of 10-5 mbar, we observed the diffusion of Te from the sample, so causing a reduction in size of the Te inclusions. For CZT samples annealed at 700 °C in a 10 °C/cm temperature gradient, we observed the migration of Te inclusions from a low-temperature region to a high one at 0.022 μm/s. During the temperature-gradient annealing of CZT in a vacuum of 10-5 mbar at 570 °C and 30 °C/cm for 18 h, some Te inclusions moved toward the high-temperature side of the wafer, while other inclusions of the same size, i.e., 10 μm in diameter, remained in the same position. These results show that the migration, diffusion, and reaction of Te with Cd in the matrix of CZT- and CMT-wafers are complex phenomena that depend on the conditions in local regions, such as composition and structure, as well as on the annealing conditions.

Post-Growth Annealing of Bridgman-grown CdZnTe and CdMnTe Crystals for Room-temperature Nuclear Radiation Detectors

DOE PAGES

Egarievwe, Stephen U.; Yang, Ge; Egarievwe, Alexander; ...

2015-02-11

Bridgman-grown cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) and cadmium manganese telluride (CdMnTe or CMT) crystals often have Te inclusions that limit their performances as X-ray- and gamma-ray-detectors. We present here the results of post-growth thermal annealing aimed at reducing and eliminating Te inclusions in them. In a 2D analysis, we observed that the sizes of the Te inclusions declined to 92% during a 60-h annealing of CZT at 510 °C under Cd vapor. Further, tellurium inclusions were eliminated completely in CMT samples annealed at 570 °C in Cd vapor for 26 h, whilst their electrical resistivity fell by an ordermore » of 10 2. During the temperature-gradient annealing of CMT at 730 °C and an 18 °C/cm temperature gradient for 18 h in a vacuum of 10 -5 mbar, we observed the diffusion of Te from the sample, causing a reduction in size of the Te inclusions. For CZT samples annealed at 700 °C in a 10 °C/cm temperature gradient, we observed the migration of Te inclusions from a low-temperature region to a high one at 0.022 μm/s. During the temperature-gradient annealing of CZT in a vacuum of 10 -5 mbar at 570 °C and 30 °C/cm for 18 h, some Te inclusions moved toward the high-temperature side of the wafer, while other inclusions of the same size, i.e., 10 µm in diameter, remained in the same position. These results show that the migration, diffusion, and reaction of Te with Cd in the matrix of CZT- and CMT-wafers are complex phenomena that depend on certain conditions.« less

Recycling of CdTe photovoltaic waste

DOEpatents

Goozner, Robert E.; Long, Mark O.; Drinkard, Jr., William F.

1999-04-27

A method for extracting and reclaiming metals from scrap CdTe photovoltaic cells and manufacturing waste by leaching the metals in dilute nitric acid, leaching the waste with a leaching solution comprising nitric acid and water, skimming any plastic material from the top of the leaching solution, separating the glass substrate from the liquid leachate, adding a calcium containing base to the leachate to precipitate Cd and Te, separating the precipitated Cd and Te from the leachate, and recovering the calcium-containing base.

Superconductivity with twofold symmetry in Bi2Te3/FeTe0.55Se0.45 heterostructures.

PubMed

Chen, Mingyang; Chen, Xiaoyu; Yang, Huan; Du, Zengyi; Wen, Hai-Hu

2018-06-01

Topological superconductors are an interesting and frontier topic in condensed matter physics. In the superconducting state, an order parameter will be established with the basic or subsidiary symmetry of the crystalline lattice. In doped Bi 2 Se 3 or Bi 2 Te 3 with a basic threefold symmetry, it was predicted, however, that bulk superconductivity with order parameters of twofold symmetry may exist because of the presence of odd parity. We report the proximity effect-induced superconductivity in the Bi 2 Te 3 thin film on top of the iron-based superconductor FeTe 0.55 Se 0.45 . By using the quasiparticle interference technique, we demonstrate clear evidence of twofold symmetry of the superconducting gap. The gap minimum is along one of the main crystalline axes following the so-called Δ 4 y notation. This is also accompanied by the elongated vortex shape mapped out by the density of states within the superconducting gap. Our results provide an easily accessible platform for investigating possible topological superconductivity in Bi 2 Te 3 /FeTe 0.55 Se 0.45 heterostructures.