Modelling and simulation of high-frequency (100 MHz) ultrasonic linear arrays based on single crystal LiNbO3

Background

High-frequency ultrasonic transducer arrays are essential for high resolution imaging in clinical analysis and Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE). However, the fabrication of conventional backing-layer structure, which requires a pitch (distance between the centers of two adjacent elements) of half wavelength in medium, is really a great challenge.

Objective and method

Here we present an alternative buffer-layer structure with a silicon lens for volumetric imaging. The requirement for the size of the pitch is less critical for this structure, making it possible to fabricate high-frequency (100 MHz) ultrasonic linear array transducers. Using silicon substrate also makes it possible to integrate the arrays with IC (Integrated Circuit). To compare with the conventional backing-layer structure, a finite element tool, COMSOL, is employed to investigate the performances of acoustic beam focusing, the influence of pitch size for the buffer-layer configuration, and to calculate the electrical properties of the arrays, including crosstalk effect and electrical impedance.

Results

For a 100 MHz 10-element array of buffer-layer structure, the ultrasound beam in azimuth plane in water could be electronically focused to obtain a spatial resolution (a half-amplitude width) of 86 μm at the focal depth. When decreasing from half wavelength in silicon (42 μm) to half wavelength in water (7.5 μm), the pitch sizes weakly affect the focal resolution. The lateral spatial resolution is increased by 4.65% when the pitch size decreases from 42 μm to 7.5 μm. The crosstalk between adjacent elements at the central frequency is, respectively, −95 dB, −39.4 dB, and −60.5 dB for the 10-element buffer, 49-element buffer and 49-element backing arrays. Additionally, the electrical impedance magnitudes for each structure are, respectively, 4 kΩ, 26.4 kΩ, and 24.2 kΩ, which is consistent with calculation results using Krimholtz, Leedom, and Matthaei (KLM) model.

Conclusion

These results show that the buffer-layer configuration is a promising alternative for the fabrication of high-frequency ultrasonic linear arrays dedicated to volumetric imaging.     

Improved dispersion tolerance of a Mach-Zehnder modulator by optimizing the modulator voltage and time delay

We present a method for improving the dispersion tolerance of a dual-arm Mach-Zehnder modulator by independently optimizing the applied voltage on each arm and the time delay between them. We found a significant improvement in the dispersion tolerance. Using the negative chirp effect and the time delay, it was possible to extend the transmission distance of 10 Gbit/s optical nonreturn-to-zero signals without any additional electrical or optical components.     

Effects of forming gas annealing on LiNbO3 single crystals

Z-cut congruent LiNbO₃ single crystals were annealed in 95%N₂+5%H₂ at high temperatures. X-ray diffraction showed that 2θ of (0 0 0 6) peak is obviously reduced by 0.6° and 1.0° for the samples annealed at 600 and 900 °C, respectively. A new peak appears at the high-energy side of O 1s spectrum in X-ray photoelelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses, and the leakage current is greatly increased. It is proposed that hydrogen is incorporated in LiNbO₃ single crystals through forming gas annealing at temperatures up to 900 °C and exists in LiNbO₃ as a proton bound to an oxygen ion through O-H bond with its electron donated.     

Improved dispersion tolerance of an optical duobinary transmitter based on a Mach-Zehnder modulator and an optical delay interferometer

We present a method for improving the dispersion tolerance of an optical duobinary transmitter based on a dual-arm Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator and an optical delay interferometer without electrical low-pass filters. Since such a duobinary modulator using a standard 1-bit delay cannot provide high dispersion tolerance, we investigated the impact of the modulator driving voltages and the bit delay in the interferometer to improve the transmitter’s dispersion tolerance.     

Second-Harmonic Generation in Domain-Inverted Grating Induced by Focused Ion Beam

The fabrication of a periodic domain inversion in LiTaO₃ and LiNbO₃ using direct ion-beam writing is presented. The polarization of these materials can be reversed at room temperature by irradiating Si²⁺ ions into +c faces. A first-order periodic domain inversion with a 50% duty cycle, a depth of 300μ, and an interaction length of 1 mm was realized in LiTaO₃. Using this structure, 300μW of blue light was generated for a conversion efficiency of 0.25%/W.     

Photonic Electric-Field Sensor Utilizing an Asymmetric Ti:LiNbO3 Mach–Zehnder Interferometer with a Dipole Antenna

Abstract

The use of an asymmetric Ti:LiNbO₃ Mach–Zehnder interferometer with a dipole antenna to measure an electric-field strength is described in this article. The device has a small size of 46 × 7 × 1 mm and operates at a wavelength of 1.3 μm. The AC output characteristics show the modulation depth of ~75% at V_π voltage of ~5.3 V. The minimum detectable electric fields are ~0.28 V/m and ~0.646 V/m, corresponding to a dynamic range of about ~32 dB and ~26 dB at frequencies 20 MHz and 50 MHz, respectively. The sensors exhibit an almost linear response for the applied electric-field intensity from 0.298 V/m to 29.84 V/m.     

Irreversible magnetovolume effect in Nd7Rh3 single crystal

Magnetovolume effect in Nd₇Rh₃ single crystal has been studied by measuring the magnetostriction as a function of external magnetic field at 4.2 K. An irreversible magnetovolume effect having a negative remanent volume magnetostriction was observed when the external magnetic field was applied along the b-axis. The irreversible magnetostrictive effect takes place in the longitudinal magnetostriction along the b-axis. The remanent magnetostriction along the b-axis relaxes after removing external magnetic field for several hours and equilibrium state is stabilized.     

Assessment of damage ranges by measurements of the refractive index in ion implanted LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

Ion implantation in LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ produces radiation damage by nuclear collisions. The amorphisation of the lattice reduces the refractive index of the material. In the case of fast ion bombardment with helium this damage layer is buried below the surface. The refractive index profile which then exists is suitable for an optical waveguide on the surface which supports several modes. Analysis of the refractive index profile yields the damage distribution in the crystal and this in turn can be compared with theoretical estimates of the damage production and ion ranges.

Our analyses show that in the high energy range from 0.5 to 2.0 MeV the depth of the damage is predominantly controlled by the electronic stopping.     

Pattern dependency comparison of four different 40-Gb/s optical duobinary transmitters using low-bandwidth modulators

We investigate the pattern dependency of the 40-Gb/s optical duobinary signals generated by a 10-Gb/s-rated Mach-Zehnder modulator with four different configurations. These configurations correspond to all possible combinations of a 15-GHz-bandwidth low-pass filter and a 0.24-nm bandwidth optical filter used to shape up the duobinary signals. We compare through experiment the back-to-back sensitivities and transmission performances of the duobinary signals for pseudorandom bit sequence lengths of 2⁷-1 and 2³¹-1. The results show that the combination of the 10-Gb/s-rated modulator and the 0.24-nm optical filter exhibits the best performance in terms of both the receiver sensitivity and pattern dependency owing to the good frequency response of the optical filter.     

High-pressure single-crystal studies of MnTiO3

Abstract

Recent high-pressure single-crystal x-ray diffraction experiments have provided new information on the crystal chemistry of MnTiO₃ and have provided insight into polymorphic transitions among phases of this composition. The stable polymorph of MnTiO₃ at room P and T has the ilmenite structure. At high P and T, MnTiO₃ ilmenite (MnTiO₃ II) transforms to a LiNbO₃ structure through a cation reordering process, and the quenched LiNbO₃-structure phase transforms to a perovskite structure as the pressure is again increased. This transition is unique in that twinned MnTiO₃ II crystals transform under pressure to untwinned crystals having the perovskite structure. The back-transformation of perovskite to the LiNbO₃ structure as pressure is released is similar to that observed previously for the rutile-type dioxides TiO₂ and SnO₂.     

Photochemical conversion and optical absorption spectra of V centers in coloured KI crystals

Abstract

The initial V₂ and V₃ bands observed after quenching of coloured KI crystals are found to be the superposition of absorption bands due to two kinds of V centres with ?110? and ?111? symmetries. The ratio of concentrations of the former to the latter V centers is estimated to be about 3:1. When a quenched crystal is irradiated at 19 K with V₃-light in the 270-nm region, V centers are bleached forming I_2-like centers. On the basis of the I₃ molecule-ion model bound to a cation vacancy, a review is given of recent work on the photochemical conversion of V centers at low temperatures.     

Sn3InSb4合金嵌Li性能的第一性原理研究

采用第一性原理超软赝势平面波方法计算了Sn₃InSb₄的嵌Li性能,得到各种嵌Li相的嵌Li形成能、理论质量比容量、体积膨胀率、能带结构、态密度和差分电荷密度等.从能量角度分析,Li在嵌入时,优先占据晶胞的四面体间隙位置,然后逐步挤出处于节点位置的Sn原子和In原子.在嵌Li过程中,材料表现出较大的体积膨胀率(11.74%-43.40%),这是导致Sn₃InSb₄作为Li离子电极材料循环性能差的重要原因.态密度计算表明,体系的导电性能首先随嵌Li量的增加而增加,当所有的间隙位置被Li填满,发生Sn的替换反应时,富Li态合金相的导电性反而下降.     

1H NMR Spectral Simplification with Achiral and Chiral Lanthanide Shift Reagents. Methastyridone, 2,2-Dimethyl-5-(2-Phenylethenyl)-4-Oxazolidinone

Abstract

The 60 MHz ¹H NMR spectra of methastyridone, 2,2-dimethyl-5-(2-phenylethenyl)-4-oxazolidinone, 1, have been studied at 28° in CDCl₃ solution with the achiral reagent tris(6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedionato)europium(III), 2, Eu(FOD)₃, and the chiral reagent tris[3-(heptafluoropropylhydroxy-methylene)-d?camphorato]europium(III), 3, Eu(HFC)₃.     

1H NMR Spectral Simplification with Achiral and Chiral Lanthanide Shift Reagents. Mexiletine

The 60 MHz ¹H NMR spectra of mexiletine, 1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-2-propanamine, 1, have been studied at 28° in CDCl₃ solution with the achiral reagent, tris(6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedionato) europium(III), 2, Eu(FOD)₃, and the chiral reagents tris[3-(trifluoromethylhydroxymethylene)-d-camphorato]europium(III), 3, Eu(FACAM)₃, and tris[3-(heptafluoropropylhydroxymethylene)-d-camphorato]europium(III), 4, Eu(HFC)₃. Substantial lanthanide-induced shifts were seen for the proton signals of 1 with each reagent. Appreciable enantiomeric shift differences were seen for both methyl signals and for each of the CH₂CH proton signals using 3 and 4 that should permit direct determinations of enantiomeric excess for samples of 1. A predominant conformation for 1 is suggested based on observed splittings of the CH₂ proton signals and their relative lanthanide-induced shifts.     

1H NMR Spectral Simplification with Achiral and Chiral Lanthanide Shift Reagents. Paramethadione, 5-Ethyl-3,5-Dimethyl-2,4-Oxazolidinedione

Abstract

The 60 MHz ¹H NMR spectra of paramethadione, 5-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione, 1, have been studied at 28° in CDCl₃ solution with the achiral reagent tris(6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedionato)europium(III), 2, and the chiral reagents tris[3-(trifluoromethylhydroxymethylene)?(+)-camphorato]europium(III), 3, and tris[3?(heptafluoropropylhydroxymethylene)?(+)-camphorato]europium(III), 4.SubstantiaΔδ values and spectral simplification are achieved with 2 or 4. Significant enatiomeric shift differences, ΔΔδ, are observed with 4 that should provide direct optical purity determinations of ? 1, using the C(5)CH3 or the NCH, signals with &;:Iratios of 1.3–1.5. Valley height for the CCH, resonance as low as 4.8% was achieved, which should allow detection of as little as 3–4% of the minor enantiomer. Results are discussed in terms of the structural features of I and of the LSR. Substantial nb values and spectral simplification     

周期极化掺镁不同组分LiNbO3晶体的研究

利用气相平衡扩散法研制出掺镁不同组分的LiNbO₃晶体，并对其极化特性进行了研究.研究表明晶体的开关电场和自发极化不仅与晶体组分［Li］/［Nb］比有关而且与掺镁量有关，［Li］/［Nb］比为0.973掺入2mol% MgO的近化学比LiNbO₃晶体的开关电场仅为1.8kV/mm，是同成分晶体的1/12，且其极化结构的质量要远好于同成分LiNbO₃晶体和近化学比LiNbO₃晶体. 关键词： 气相平衡扩散 3晶体')" href="#">掺镁LiNbO₃晶体 周期极化     

Investigation of quasi lateral-field-excitation on (yxl)-17° LiNbO3 single crystal

Quasi lateral-field-excitation (LFE) on LiNbO₃ crystal is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. It is found that when the driving electric field direction is parallel to the crystallographic X-axis of the piezoelectric substrate, (yxl)-17° LiNbO₃ LFE bulk acoustic wave devices work on quasi-LFE mode. The experimental results agreed with the theoretical prediction well. The results provide the cut of LiNbO₃ crystal for quasi-LFE bulk acoustic wave devices, which is important for designing high performance LFE sensors on LiNbO₃ substrates.     

Theoretical explanation of g factors for Ti ions in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 crystals

The EPR g factors g_// and g_⊥ for Ti³⁺ ions at the trigonal octahedral Li⁺ sites of LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ crystals are calculated from the third-order perturbation formulas of g factors for 3d¹ ion in trigonal symmetry. In the calculations, the crystal-field parameters are obtained from the structural data by using the superposition model. The calculated values are in reasonable agreement with the observed values. The results are discussed.     

Charge fluctuation,charge ordering,and zero-gap state in organic conductors

We have carried out a series of measurements of angular dependence of solid-state NMR spectrum using single crystal samples on various organic molecular conductors, in order to investigate the natures of the electronic states at low temperatures. We confirmed a charge ordered insulating state in α-(BEDT-TTF)₂I₃ and large charge disproportionation in the metallic state of this salt. In another charge ordered system, θ-(BEDT-TTF)₂RbZn(SCN)₄, we observed unusual NMR line broadening, proportional to resonance shift, in the metallic state above the transition. We found that this broadening is due to charge disproportionation, or more correctly, due to the inhomogeneity of local susceptibility at nuclear sites and analyzed its dynamics. We observed similar broadening in various organic molecular conductors as well, such as θ-(BEDT-TTF)₂CsZn(SCN)₄, an exotic Bechgaad salt, (TMTSF)₂FSO₃, and λ-type BETS salts, λ-(BETS)₂(Fe,Ga)Cl₄. We found the mechanism of CD in each system is different, respectively.     

Growth and optical properties of Hf,Ce co-doped lithium niobate crystals

In this paper, a series of Hf,Ce co-doped lithium niobate crystals with various HfO₂ concentrations were grown by Czochralski method. The ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and the infrared transmittance spectra were measured to study defect structure of the crystals. The optical damage resistance was measured by the transmitted facula distortion method. The results showed that the optical damage resistance of Hf:Ce:LiNbO₃ was greatly improved when the Hf-doping concentration was above 4 mol%.