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Full-Text Articles in Physics

On-Chip Nanoscale Plasmonic Optical Modulators, Abdalrahman Mohamed Nader Abdelhamid Jun 2021

On-Chip Nanoscale Plasmonic Optical Modulators, Abdalrahman Mohamed Nader Abdelhamid

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis work, techniques for downsizing Optical modulators to nanoscale for the purpose of utilization in on chip communication and sensing applications are explored. Nanoscale optical interconnects can solve the electronics speed limiting transmission lines, in addition to decrease the electronic chips heat dissipation. A major obstacle in the path of achieving this goal is to build optical modulators, which transforms data from the electrical form to the optical form, in a size comparable to the size of the electronics components, while also having low insertion loss, high extinction ratio and bandwidth. Also, lap-on-chip applications used for fast diagnostics, …


Computational Electromagnetic Modeling Of Metasurface Optical Devices With Defect Study, Carlos D. Diaz Mar 2021

Computational Electromagnetic Modeling Of Metasurface Optical Devices With Defect Study, Carlos D. Diaz

Theses and Dissertations

One of the first fabricated metasurface optical devices, the in-plane V-antenna lenses, were plagued by a fundamental transmission limit (<25 >). Two distinct sets of Out-of-Plane phase elements were designed with improved transmission (~60 ). These were fabricated as beamsteerers and characterized in terms of their Bidirectional Transmittance Distribution Function measured as a function of scatter angle. Experimental data from the beamsteerers was analyzed via simulations using a finite element method (FEM). The measurements showed the designed beamsteering, but also a strong zero-order diffraction not present in the simulations, which motivated this study to understand what was causing these differences. …


Measurement Of The 160Gd(P,N)160Tb Excitation Function From 4 18 Mev, Using A Stacked Foil Technique, Ryan K. Chapman Mar 2020

Measurement Of The 160Gd(P,N)160Tb Excitation Function From 4 18 Mev, Using A Stacked Foil Technique, Ryan K. Chapman

Theses and Dissertations

A stack of thin Gd, Ti, and Cu foils were irradiated with an 18 MeV proton beam at Lawrence-Berkeley National Laboratory's 88-Inch Cyclotron to investigate the 160Gd(p,n)160Tb nuclear reaction for nuclear forensics applications. This experiment will improve knowledge of 160Tb production rates, allowing 160Tb to be efficiently created in a foil stack consisting of other proton induced isotopes for forensics applications. A set of 15 measured cross sections between 4-18 MeV for 160Gd(p,n)160Tb were obtained using a stacked foil technique. The foil stack consisted of one stainless steel, one iron, fifteen gadolinium, …


Targeted Germanium Ion Irradiation Of Aluminum Gallium Nitride/Gallium Nitride High Electron Mobility Transistors, Melanie E. Mace Aug 2019

Targeted Germanium Ion Irradiation Of Aluminum Gallium Nitride/Gallium Nitride High Electron Mobility Transistors, Melanie E. Mace

Theses and Dissertations

Microscale beams of germanium ions were used to target different locations of aluminum galliumnitride/gallium nitride (AlGaN/GaN) high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) to determine location dependent radiation effects. 1.7 MeV Ge ions were targeted at the gap between the gate and the drain to observe displacement damage effects while 47 MeV Ge ions were targeted at the gate to observe ionization damage effects. Electrical data was taken pre, during, and post irradiation. To separate transient from permanent degradation, the devices were characterized after a room temperature anneal for at least 30 days. Optical images were also analyzed pre and post irradiation. …


Designing Liquid Crystal For Optoacoustic Detection, Michael T. Dela Cruz Mar 2019

Designing Liquid Crystal For Optoacoustic Detection, Michael T. Dela Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

This research impacts the development of a cost-saving, on-chip device that can replace a wide range of costly, bulky sensors for commercial and defense applications. In particular, the goals of this work were to design and test a sensor that uses the optical properties of liquid crystal (LC) to detect acoustic waves. This began with developing a method to fine-tune the optical features of the liquid crystal. Statistical analysis of select experimental variables, or factors, lead to ideal settings of those variables when creating the sensor. A two-factor and three-factor experiment were separately conducted and analyzed as a preliminary demonstration …


Beyond Conventional C-Plane Gan-Based Light Emitting Diodes: A Systematic Exploration Of Leds On Semi-Polar Orientations, Morteza Monavarian Jan 2016

Beyond Conventional C-Plane Gan-Based Light Emitting Diodes: A Systematic Exploration Of Leds On Semi-Polar Orientations, Morteza Monavarian

Theses and Dissertations

Despite enormous efforts and investments, the efficiency of InGaN-based green and yellow-green light emitters remains relatively low, and that limits progress in developing full color display, laser diodes, and bright light sources for general lighting. The low efficiency of light emitting devices in the green-to-yellow spectral range, also known as the “Green Gap”, is considered a global concern in the LED industry. The polar c-plane orientation of GaN, which is the mainstay in the LED industry, suffers from polarization-induced separation of electrons and hole wavefunctions (also known as the “quantum confined Stark effect”) and low indium incorporation efficiency that …


Propagation Of An Optical Vortex In Fiber Arrays With Triangular Lattices, Muhammad Abdulrahman Mushref Aug 2014

Propagation Of An Optical Vortex In Fiber Arrays With Triangular Lattices, Muhammad Abdulrahman Mushref

Theses and Dissertations

The propagation of optical vortices (OVs) in linear and nonlinear media is an important field of research in science and engineering. The most important goal is to explore the properties of guiding dynamics for potential applications such as sensing, all-optical switching, frequency mixing and modulation. In this dissertation, we present analytical methods and numerical techniques to investigate the propagation of an optical vortex in fiber array waveguides. Analytically, we model wave propagation in a waveguide by coupled mode Equations as a simplified approximation. The beam propagation method (BPM) is also employed to numerically solve the paraxial wave Equation by finite …


Analysis And Application Of The Bi-Directional Scatter Distribution Function Of Photonic Crystals, Robert B. Lamott Mar 2009

Analysis And Application Of The Bi-Directional Scatter Distribution Function Of Photonic Crystals, Robert B. Lamott

Theses and Dissertations

Photonic crystals (PCs) are periodic structures built from materials with different refractive indices repeated at sub-wavelength intervals, which results in unusual optical characteristics, including narrowband laser protection, and zero reflectance and high absorption anomalies. Most of the research into the optical properties of PCs has concentrated only on the small range of wavelengths and angles where these effects occur. To better understand where all light leaving a PC is scattered, a Complete Angle Scatter Instrument was used to analyze the scatter from three Guided Mode Resonance Filters designed for laser protection. In the plane of incidence, measurements of the scatter …


Thermally Activated, Variable Blazed Grating For Coherent Beam Steering, Matthew T. Johnson Mar 2007

Thermally Activated, Variable Blazed Grating For Coherent Beam Steering, Matthew T. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The ability to perform non-mechanical optical beam steering is of critical importance in laser communication and remote sensing; it is as vital as a phased-array antenna is for RADAR. Directed energy transmission and direction-selective reception increase performance and produce tactical advantage in DoD applications. However, specific geometric features of non-mechanical beam steering devices must be designed in proportion to the wavelength of the monochromatic light to be steered. Also, the ability to handle higher energies by reducing the energy per unit requires large areas of uniform properties on the micrometer scale. These challenges have been addressed in the past using …


Assessing The Potential For Improved Scramjet Performance Through Application Of Electromagnetic Flow Control, Martin F. Lindsey Mar 2006

Assessing The Potential For Improved Scramjet Performance Through Application Of Electromagnetic Flow Control, Martin F. Lindsey

Theses and Dissertations

Hypersonic flight using scramjet propulsion bridges the gap between turbojets and rockets. Recent efforts focus on magnetogasdynamic (MGD) flow control to mitigate the problems of high thermomechanical loads and low efficiencies associated with scramjets. This research is the first flight-scale, three-dimensional computational analysis of a realistic scramjet to assess how MGD flow control improves scramjet performance. Developing a quasi-one dimensional design tool culminated in the first open source scramjet geometry. This geometry was tested with the Air Force Research Laboratory's electromagnetic computational code. To increase fidelity, an algorithm was developed to incorporate thermochemistry, resulting in the only open-source model of …


Polar Phase Screens: A Comparison With Other Methods Of Random Phase Screen Generation, Rebecca J. Eckert Mar 2006

Polar Phase Screens: A Comparison With Other Methods Of Random Phase Screen Generation, Rebecca J. Eckert

Theses and Dissertations

This research provides the first organized comparison of random phase screen generation methods, including logarithmic polar Fourier series, using structure functions. Random phase screens are essential elements of simulating light propagation through turbulent media. In order to be effective, they must accurately reflect theory and be practical to implement. This research explains and evaluates three methods of generating random phase screens: using a Fourier series upon a polar frequency grid with logarithmic spacing; using the fast Fourier transform, with its Cartesian frequency grid; and using Zernike polynomials. It provides a comparison of the Polar Fourier Series technique with the two …


Active Optical Tracking With Spatial Light Modulators, Steven R. Mawhorter Mar 2006

Active Optical Tracking With Spatial Light Modulators, Steven R. Mawhorter

Theses and Dissertations

Two spatial light modulators are utilized for beam splitting, steering and tracking. Both linear and holographic phase screens are used in a demonstration of technology to allow real time tracking to communicate in a one-to-several type scenario. One SLM is used to apply a linear phase modulation to steer multiple beams onto a detector. The spots that are produced represent the targets as they move around the field of view of the central communication node. A Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm will subsequently use the detected spots as the desired pointing locations. Using this as input, the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm yields a phase only …


Computational Model Of One-Dimensional Dielectric Barrier Discharges, Krista G. Marchand Mar 2005

Computational Model Of One-Dimensional Dielectric Barrier Discharges, Krista G. Marchand

Theses and Dissertations

As theory lags experiment for dielectric barrier discharge flow control, two different computational methods are implemented to give further insight into characteristics of the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). A one-dimensional fluid model of a surface-type dielectric barrier discharge is created using He as the background gas. This simple model, which only considers ionizing collisions and recombination in the electropositive gas, creates an important framework for future studies into the origin of experimentally observed flow-control effects of the DBD. The two methods employed in this study include the semi-implicit sequential algorithm and the fully implicit simultaneous algorithm. The first involves consecutive …


Electro-Optic Beam Steering Using Domain Engineered Lithium Tantalate, Daren J. Chauvin Mar 2005

Electro-Optic Beam Steering Using Domain Engineered Lithium Tantalate, Daren J. Chauvin

Theses and Dissertations

The operation of a 14-channel five stage electro-optic beam steering device was studied. Beam deflection scanned from 0° to 10.1° was demonstrated. The maximum angle is within 0.3% of design. Many laser systems in operation today implement mechanical beam steering methods that are often expensive in terms of cost, weight and power. They are slow and subject to wear and vibration. A non-inertial beam scanning mechanism, such as one based on the device studied in this research could enhance the performance of these systems. The device studied here is fabricated in LiTaO3 using micro-patterned domain reversal. The 14 channels …


Laser Intensity Scaling Through Stimulated Scattering In Optical Fibers, Timothy H. Russell Dec 2001

Laser Intensity Scaling Through Stimulated Scattering In Optical Fibers, Timothy H. Russell

Theses and Dissertations

The influence of stimulated scattering on laser intensity in fiber optic waveguides is examined. Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in long, multimode optical waveguides is found to generate a Stokes beam that propagates in the fiber LP01 mode. Additionally, the same process is found to combine multiple laser beams into a single spatially coherent source. Limitations in beam cleanup and combining are also investigated to identify ways to overcome them. The last portion of the dissertation theoretically examines suppression of stimulated Raman scattering in fibers to eliminate the restriction this imposes on the power of a fiber laser or amplifier. The …


Space Charge Structure Of A Glow Discharge In The Presence Of A Longitudinal Inhomogeneity, Frank A. Tersigni Mar 1999

Space Charge Structure Of A Glow Discharge In The Presence Of A Longitudinal Inhomogeneity, Frank A. Tersigni

Theses and Dissertations

A survey of space charge structures arising due to inhomogeneities in glow discharges was conducted. Space charge structures associated with tube geometries, the cathode sheath, striations, and shockwaves were examined. Space charge effects on the Electron Energy Distribution Function (EEDF) were explored for a geometric inhomogeneity using an approximate nonlocal solution to the one dimensional Boltzmann equation after Godyak. The approximate solution partially captured qualitative aspects of space charge effects on the EEDF. Simplification of collisional effects and adaptation of an approximate electric field restricted quantitative comparisons with experimental data. It is recommended that any future analysis of space charge …


Spontaneous Emission In Microcavity Lasers, Dustin Philip Ziegler Dec 1997

Spontaneous Emission In Microcavity Lasers, Dustin Philip Ziegler

Theses and Dissertations

An understanding of spontaneous emission processes within microcavities is crucial in addressing the need to make tomorrow's microlasers more efficient. One approach to improving the device efficiency is to reduce the threshold input energy at which lasing begins to occur. It has been suggested that the threshold in a microcavity laser can be decreased by increasing the fraction of spontaneous emission into the lasing mode, this can be accomplished by preferentially coupling the gain medium of the laser to the electromagnetic cavity mode of interest. It therefore becomes necessary to understand the mechanism by which this coupling takes place. This …


Two-Wavelength Neodymium Based Lasers, Scott H. Mccracken Dec 1995

Two-Wavelength Neodymium Based Lasers, Scott H. Mccracken

Theses and Dissertations

A dual wavelength Q switched laser cavity has been successfully designed and assembled to evaluate the new neodymium (Nd) based materials. Initial characterization has been achieved for Nd:YAG and Nd:YLF. The results indicate that for a fixed pulse repetition frequency, the delay time can be used to adjust the relative energy between the 1.06 and 1.32 micrometer pulses. Any deficiency in the performance of one transition can be made up by performance in the other simply by changing the relative amount of time the population inversion is allowed to build up for each pulse. The best performance was obtained using …


Frame Selection Performance Limits For Statistical Image Reconstruction Of Adaptive Optics Compensated Images, Stephen D. Ford Dec 1994

Frame Selection Performance Limits For Statistical Image Reconstruction Of Adaptive Optics Compensated Images, Stephen D. Ford

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Air Force uses adaptive optics systems to collect images of extended objects beyond the atmosphere. These systems use wavefront sensors and deformable mirrors to compensate for atmospheric turbulence induced aberrations. Adaptive optics greatly enhance image quality; however, wavefront aberrations are not completely eliminated. Therefore, post-detection processing techniques are employed to further improve the compensated images. Typically, many short exposure images are collected, recentered to compensate for tilt, and then averaged to overcome randomness in the images and improve signal-to-noise ratio. Experience shows that some short exposure images in a data set are better than others. Frame selection exploits …


Spectroscopic And Vibrational Energy Transfer Studies In Molecular Bromine, Courtney D. Holmberg Dec 1993

Spectroscopic And Vibrational Energy Transfer Studies In Molecular Bromine, Courtney D. Holmberg

Theses and Dissertations

Vibrational transfer and electronic quenching in the lower vibrational levels (v' < 3) of the B3π(0u+) state of 79Br2 were investigated using spectrally resolved, temporally resolved laser induced fluorescence techniques. Spectrally resolved emissions from collisionally populated Br2(B) vibrational levels were observed for Br2 and rare gas collision partners. Vibrational transfer was efficient in the non-predissociative vibrational levels and was adequately described by the Montroll-Shuler model for harmonic oscillators. A single fundamental rate coefficient for vibrational transfer from v' = 1 to v' = 0, kv(1,0), characterizes vibrational relaxation. For Br2, the …