Mid-infrared upconversion spectroscopy based on a Yb:fiber femtosecond laser

We present a system for molecular spectroscopy using a broadband mid-infrared laser with near-infrared detection. Difference frequency generation of a Yb:fiber femtosecond laser produced a mid-infrared (MIR) source tunable from 2100–3700 cm⁻¹ (2.7–4.7 μm) with average power up to 40 mW. The MIR spectrum was upconverted to near-infrared wavelengths for broadband detection using a two-dimensional dispersion imaging technique. Absorption measurements were performed over bandwidths of 240 cm⁻¹ (7.2 THz) with 0.048 cm⁻¹ (1.4 GHz) resolution, and absolute frequency scale uncertainty was better than 0.005 cm⁻¹ (150 MHz). The minimum detectable absorption coefficient per spectral element was determined to be 4.4×10⁻⁷ cm⁻¹ from measurements in low pressure CH₄, leading to a projected detection limit of 2 parts-per-billion of methane in pure nitrogen. In a natural atmospheric sample, the methane detection limit was found to be 30 parts-per-billion. The spectral range, resolution, and frequency accuracy of this system show promise for determination of trace concentrations in gas mixtures containing both narrow and broad overlapping spectral features, and we demonstrate this in measurements of air and solvent samples.     

Fourier transform measurements of SO2 absorption cross sections: II.: Temperature dependence in the 29 000–44 000 cm (227–345 nm) region

This paper is the second of a series that reports results on the measurements of the absorption cross section of SO₂ in the UV/visible region at high resolution and that investigates high temperatures in support to planetary applications. Absorption cross sections of SO₂ have been obtained in the 29 000–44 000 cm⁻¹ spectral range (227–345 nm) with a Fourier transform spectrometer at a resolution of 2 cm⁻¹ (0.4500 cm MOPD and boxcar apodisation). Pure SO₂ samples were used and measurements were performed at room temperature (298 K) as well as at 318, 338 and 358 K. Temperature effects in this spectral region are investigated and are favorably compared to existing studies in the literature. Comparison of the absorption cross section at room temperature shows good agreement in intensity with most of the literature data, but shows that most of the latter suffer from inaccurate wavelength scale definition. Moreover, literature data are often given only on restricted spectral intervals. Combined with the data described in the first part of this series of papers on SO₂, this new data set offers the considerable advantage of covering the large spectral interval extending from 24 000 to 44 000 cm⁻¹ (227–420 nm), at the four temperatures investigated.     

Femtosecond OPO based on LBO pumped by a frequency-doubled Yb-fiber laser-amplifier system for CARS spectroscopy

We present detailed investigations of a femtosecond green-pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on lithium triborate. As pump source, a frequency-doubled Yb-fiber laser-amplifier system is used. The OPO generates signal pulses tunable over a spectral range from 780 to 940 nm and idler pulses tunable from 1630 to 1190 nm. More than 250 mW are generated in the signal beam and more than 300 mW in the idler beam. Without dispersion compensation chirped signal pulses with a pulse duration between 100 and 250 fs are measured. Using this system for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering spectroscopy, vibrational resonances between 1110 and 6760 cm⁻¹ can be excited. Due to the chirped pulses, a spectral resolution of 100 cm⁻¹ is achieved, which is 2.5 times higher compared to an excitation with time-bandwidth limited pulses.     

Optimally chirped CARS using fiber stretchers

High spectral resolution coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy and microscopy are demonstrated with femtosecond laser systems. We perform optimal chirping in glass fibers and demonstrate a spectral resolution enhancement to better than 26 cm⁻¹, which is limited by the bandwidth of the measured resonances. Considering the convolution with the resonance bandwidth this corresponds to a spectral resolution of approximately 2.5 cm⁻¹, which is an enhancement by a factor of 165 with respect to the use of bandwidth-limited pulses. In microscopic imaging, a water background suppression of 81.5% is achieved.     

Fourier transform measurements of SO2 absorption cross sections:: I. Temperature dependence in the 24 000–29 000 cm−1 (345–420 nm) region

Absorption cross sections of SO₂ have been obtained in the 24 000–29 000 cm^?1 spectral range (345–420 nm) with a Fourier transform spectrometer at a resolution of 2 cm^?1. Pure SO₂ samples were used and measurements were performed at room temperature (298 K) as well as at 318, 338 and 358 K. This is the first time that temperature effects in this spectral region are reported and investigated. This paper is the first of a series that will report on measurements of the absorption cross section of SO₂ in the UV/visible region at a higher than previously reported resolution and that will investigate temperature effects in support of tropospheric, stratospheric and astrophysical or planetary applications.     

Luminescence of Strontianite (SrCO3) from Strontian (Scotland, UK)

An historic Strontianite-type specimen from Strontian, Scotland, UK, was characterized to broaden our knowledge on luminescence properties of common carbonates. These fibrous aggregates are Strontianite (Sr_xCa_1−xCO₃) with circa 6% of CaO, interfacial water, hydrosilicate anions and substitutional divalent cations, e.g., Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺ in structural Sr²⁺ positions. The specimen was analyzed by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with an Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (ESEM-EDS) probe, Spatially-resolved Cathodoluminescence under the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-CL), Differential-Thermal Analyses (DTA), Thermogravimetry (TG), Thermoluminescence (TL), Radioluminescence (RL) and High Resolution Spectra Thermoluminescence (3DTL), to gain an overview of the spectral emissions, the defect linkages were modified by heating from room temperature (RT) up to 500 °C. Substitutional transition elements are probably responsible for the spectral emission bands from 500 nm to 800 nm and hydrous molecules from 300 nm to 400 nm. DTA–TG analyses performed on little chips, to preserve the fiber interfaces coherence, exhibit minor endothermic peaks attributed to outflow of water groups in fiber interfaces. Both, CL and RL curves show common spectral positions but UV–blue and red emission intensities are counterbalanced since electron irradiation reduces the UV–blue emissions while X-irradiation increases them. The TL curves show a top thermal limit at 300 °C for the 300–400 nm TL emissions which become irreversibly destroyed, whereas the longer wavelength region emits at higher temperature. The non-reversible changes observed in the 320 nm and 360 nm bands during the spectra 3DTL emission could be linked with non-bridging oxygen defects, protons and hydroxyl groups and the red emissions to the ⁴G (⁴T_1g)–⁶S Mn²⁺ ion transition. Following assignations and similar spectral CL patterns of Russian Strontianite samples, the emission-defect assignments: Dy³⁺ 480 nm; Tb³⁺ 540 nm; Dy³⁺ 580 nm and Sm³⁺ 640 nm cannot be disregarded.     

Measurements of the size distribution of unattached radon progeny by using the imaging plate

The size distribution of unattached radon progeny is an important parameter for an accurate estimation of the internal dose of radon exposure. In this study, a new measuring system was developed to evaluate the size distribution of unattached radon progeny in air. In the system, airborne radon progeny were collected with a newly designed graded screen array (GSA), the activity concentrations were measured by using the imaging plate technique, and the size distribution of unattached fraction was retrieved by using an iterative nonlinear algorithm. The simulation results indicated that the collection characteristics of the new GSA system were well agreed with other systems. Test experiments showed that the activity-weighted median diameters (AMD) for unattached ²¹⁸Po, ²¹⁴Pb and ²¹⁴Bi were 0.89 ± 0.11 nm, 0.96 ± 0.13 nm and 1.01 ± 0.25 nm in a particle-free radon chamber, and the distribution changed with different concentrations of particles. As multiple measurements can be simultaneously carried out with a single IP, the new technique is considered as an optional and useful way to measure the size distribution measurement of unattached radon progeny.     

Realization of relative responsivity scale with the electrically calibrated pyroelectric radiometer

In UME, the relative spectral responsivity scale extending from 250 to 2500 nm was realized using electrically calibrated pyroelectric radiometer (ECPR). Its absolute spectral responsivity was determined against the electrical substitution cryogenic radiometer (ESCR) facility at 488.1, 514.6, 532.0, and 632.8 nm with an uncertainty of 1 part in 10⁴ (k=2). The relative spectral responsivity scale of ECPR was derived from the surface reflectance data and absolute spectral responsivity data for the mentioned spectral range. Optical characterization of its spatial non-uniformity (at 632.8 nm) and surface reflectance (over 250–2500 nm wavelength region) indicated that the gold-black absorber is spectrally flat within 0.1%. The total expanded uncertainty in the realization of the mentioned radiometric scale along with ECPR was estimated as 1.74%.     

Broad band antireflection coating on zinc sulphide simultaneously effective in SWIR, MWIR and LWIR regions

In recent years multi-spectral imagery is steadily growing popularity. Multi-channel imaging which includes short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) systems are useful for threat detection, tracking, thermal signature detection and terrain analysis. In this paper, a broad band antireflection coating on ZnS substrate, simultaneously effective in SWIR, MWIR and LWIR is reported. The coating design approach was evolved using gradient index concept, where refractive index varies gradually from incident media to the ZnS (n = 2.2) substrate. The gradient index profile depicted by 4th degree polynomial n(t) = −0.45t⁴ + 1.9t³ − 2.7t² + 1.9t + 1,where n(t) is the refractive index at the distance t from ambient, and t is the thickness in micron. The profile is best approximated by eight discrete step index layers, whose first layer is thorium fluoride (n = 1.42; lowest index stable material available). Other seven layers are replaced by two equivalent layer system of real materials thorium fluoride and zinc sulphide. Final 15 layers design is deposited by e-beam evaporation. The maximum layer thickness was restricted around 0.7 μm to overcome the stress problem in the film. This 15 layers coating has shown average transmission 95% in 0.9–10.5 μm spectral band having peak 99% at 9 μm.     

Characterization of channel waveguides in Pr:YLiF<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals fabricated by direct femtosecond laser writing

Single tracks and pairs of tracks are written in the volume of Pr-doped LiYF₄-crystals using tightly focused femtosecond laser radiation (λ=1045 nm, τ _p=400–500 fs, f=0.1–1 MHz). Waveguiding between the tracks is demonstrated and optimized by varying the distance between the tracks and the laser writing conditions. The stress-induced guiding mechanism is explained based on TEM, interference microscopy, near-field and far-field measurements. It is shown that the single-crystalline material is getting poly-crystalline under femtosecond laser irradiation. By measuring the lifetime of the ³P₁→³H₅ transition and the emission spectrum at excitation with λ=444 nm, no influence on these properties of the guided light is observed. This possibly enables the realization of a channel waveguide laser in the visible spectral range.     

An open-access, very-low-field MRI system for posture-dependent 3He human lung imaging

We describe the design and operation of an open-access, very-low-field, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for in vivo hyperpolarized ³He imaging of the human lungs. This system permits the study of lung function in both horizontal and upright postures, a capability with important implications in pulmonary physiology and clinical medicine, including asthma and obesity. The imager uses a bi-planar B₀ coil design that produces an optimized 65 G (6.5 mT) magnetic field for ³He MRI at 210 kHz. Three sets of bi-planar coils produce the x, y, and z magnetic field gradients while providing a 79-cm inter-coil gap for the imaging subject. We use solenoidal Q-spoiled RF coils for operation at low frequencies, and are able to exploit insignificant sample loading to allow for pre-tuning/matching schemes and for accurate pre-calibration of flip angles. We obtain sufficient SNR to acquire 2D ³He images with up to 2.8 mm resolution, and present initial 2D and 3D ³He images of human lungs in both supine and upright orientations. ¹H MRI can also be performed for diagnostic and calibration reasons.     

Experimental study of signal trapping of OH laser induced fluorescence and chemiluminescence in flames

The absorption of OH^∗ chemiluminescence and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) in the exhaust gas of confined premixed laminar CH₄/air flames at atmospheric pressure was investigated. One flame was used as source and a second as absorber. OH LIF was excited in the ν″=0→ν′=1 band of the A–X electronic system around ≈283 nm and spectrally resolved detected in the (0,0) and (1,1) vibrational bands around 305–320 nm. For OH^∗ chemiluminescence, spectrally resolved detection was performed in the wavelength range 280–340 nm. For an absorption path of 54 mm and at T≈2000 K, signal trapping on the order of 10–40% was observed. Signal trapping was most pronounced in the (0,0) band, as expected from the thermal population distribution of OH in the electronic ground state. The spectral distribution of the signals and the wavelength dependence of the signal trapping are addressed in this paper. Implications from the results with respect to detection strategies and chemiluminescence-based equivalence ratio measurements are discussed.     

BaFBr:Eu2+ nanophosphor-SiO2 hybrid entrapped in Anodise Alumina membrane pores array

Sol–gel template method has been used to prepare BaFBr:Eu²⁺ nanophosphor-SiO₂ hybrid entrapped within the nanopores array (of about 200 nm size) of a comercial anodized alumina (AA) membrane. Structural and morphological measurements using electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have shown the presence of the BaFBr:Eu²⁺ nanophosphor in the silica xerogel entrapped within the nanopores array; photoluminescence and X-ray excited luminescence measurements have shown Eu²⁺ luminescence at 395 nm accompanied by a broad band due to AA membrane. The method assures a relatively uniform spreading of the BaFBr nanophosphor into the AA membrane pores array without the nanoparticles agglomeration. Preliminary imaging tests have shown a spatial resolution in the micrometer range and even in the submicrometer range can be expected. As BaFBr:Eu²⁺ is a very efficient X-ray phosphor the material might be used as X-ray micro-imaging detector.     

Analytical modeling to design the vertically aligned Si-nanowire metal-oxide-semiconductor photosensors for direct color sensing with high spectral resolution

In the current work, an analytical model for the design of vertically aligned silicon (Si) nanowire metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor based multi-color photodetectors has been developed for the detection of entire visible spectrum with high spectral resolution. The photogeneration phenomena within the nanostructures are analyzed in detail by developing a quantum field model associated with second quantization electron-photon field operators. The non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) formalism is employed to solve the relevant equations. The study shows that the proposed device with specified design of diameter-voltage combinations is capable of detecting 64 spectral bands of the entire visible spectrum (380 nm to700 nm) directly with a very high resolution of 5 nm wavelength. Such direct sensing of each wavelength is observed to be independent of the fluctuations of illumination intensity. The device is designed to obtain a full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) smaller than the spectral resolution (5 nm) for each wavelength of the visible range, which indicates a very high quality digital imaging/sensing method. Such devices may be a potential alternative for the future nanoelectronics based photodevices for superior sensing/imaging applications.     

Absorption spectrum of nitrous acid for the ν1+2ν3 band studied with continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy and theoretical calculations

We present the high resolution absorption measurements of gaseous HONO at room temperature using continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy in the near-infrared region between 6017 and 6067 cm⁻¹ at a resolution of 1 pm (0.037 cm⁻¹). For the trans-HONO isomer an extensive analysis of the ν₁+2ν₃ combination band 6045.8089 cm^–1 was performed starting from the results of a previous study for the 1¹ and 3¹ vibrational states [Guilmot J-M, Godefroid M, Herman M. Rovibrational parameters for trans-nitrous acid. J Mol Spectrosc 1993;160:387–400]. The present combination band is perturbed because of the existence of several dark states of HONO which could not be identified unambiguously. The rotational constants achieved for the 1¹3² state deviate slightly from the values which are predicted from the rotational constants achieved in the previous studies for the 1¹ and 3¹ vibrational states of trans-HONO.     

A long-range,high-resolution optical coherence tomography for physical and environmental measurements

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging optical imaging technique that is applied with low coherence interference to perform noninvasive, high-resolution images on internal and surface structures. In this study, we built an optical coherence system and developed a combined envelope-fringe and carrier-fringe technique that can take advantage of high-resolution and long-range for taking physical and environmental measurements. The proposed system demonstrated that the detection resolution of the changes of the refractive index was 1.89 × 10^? 4 for the long-range set-up (i.e. using the envelope-fringe only), and 4.15 × 10^? 5 for the high-resolution set-up (i.e. using the carrier-fringe). In addition, we successfully applied the system to measure the refractive index of a body of water, as the index for determining the pollution condition of different lakes.     

Non-linear optical properties of (Pb<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films

Thin films of (Pb_1−x Sr _x )TiO₃, x=0,0.5,1.0 have been prepared on glass substrates by the chemical-solution method using the spin-coating technique. The optical nonlinearity in the visible spectral region is investigated using short (5 ns) laser pulses at the off-resonant wavelength of 532 nm employing the open aperture z-scan technique. It is found that the third order nonlinear absorption is dependent on the lead content of the films, with the compositions x=0, 0.5 exhibiting large values (β∼10⁻⁷ m/W), thereby suggesting the possible use of these materials as optical limiters. No optical nonlinearity is observed for the composition with x=1.0.     

基于布拉格反射镜的X射线多色单能成像谱仪

报道了一种基于布拉格反射镜的多色单能成像谱仪研制工作,谱仪由针孔阵列、布拉格反射镜和CCD相机组成.大约有300个微孔的针孔阵列板置于布拉格镜前用于空间成像,通过布拉格反射镜的单色化,投射到CCD上的数百个小孔成像沿色散方向获得了能量分辨.经过图像处理,可以还原得到目标的多色单能二维成像.根据采用的布拉格分光元件和图像还原方法,谱仪的能量分辨达到了50—200（λ/Δλ）;针孔成像的空间分辨优于10 μm.同时还为该谱仪开发了专门的单能图像重建软件及图像数据后处理软件,可以在任意选择的窄能带内还原准单能图像.并重点介绍了该谱仪的优化设计、获得的技术指标以及专门研制的超短周期（2.5 nm）X射线W/B₄C多层镜. 关键词： X射线光学 诊断技术 布拉格反射镜 X射线多层镜     

A method to study polydispersity of humic acid from fluorescence quenching by Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> ions

The spectral dependence of Stern–Volmer constants (K_SV^lK_{SV}^{\lambda} ) for fluorescence quenching by Cu²⁺ ions in a standard sample of humic acid (HA) (IHSS) with monochromatic excitation (λ_ex = 337.1 nm) conditions has been studied in the spectral range 400–600 nm. This is interpreted within a concept implying that HA macromolecules possess the property of polydispersity, which means that fluorophore-containing sites are different in terms of chemical nature and spatial accessibility. Modeling data show that the minimum number of spectral components required for the simulated spectral dependence of K_SV^lK_{SV}^{\lambda} to agree as closely as possible with that observed experimentally is three.