Near-IR absorption in high-purity photothermorefractive glass and holographic optical elements: measurement and application for high-energy lasers

Volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) in photothermorefractive (PTR) glass are widely used for laser beam control including high-power laser systems. Among them, spectral beam combining based on VBGs is one of the most promising. Achieving 100+ kW of combined laser beams requires the development of PTR glass and VBGs with an extremely low absorption coefficient and therefore methods of its measurement. This paper describes the calorimetric method that was developed for measuring a low absorption coefficient in PTR glass and VBGs. It is based on transmission monitoring of the intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer produced by the plane-parallel surfaces of the measured optical elements when heated by high-power laser radiation. An absorption coefficient at 1085 nm as low as 5×10(-5) cm(-1) is demonstrated in pristine PTR glass while an absorption coefficient as low as 1×10(-4) cm(-1) is measured in high-efficiency reflecting Bragg gratings with highest purity. The actual level of absorption in PTR glass allows laser beam control at the 10 kW level, while the 100 kW level would require active cooling and/or decreasing the absorption in PTR Bragg gratings to a value similar to that in virgin PTR glass.     

Polarization of almost-plane waves

The general polarization behavior of almost-plane waves, in which the electric field varies slowly over a circular pupil, is considered, on the basis of an axial Hertz potential treatment and expansion in Zernike polynomials. The resultant modes of a circular aperture are compared with the well-known waveguide (or optical fiber) modes and Gaussian beam modes. The wave can be decomposed into partial waves of electric and magnetic types. The modes for a square pupil are also considered. The particular application of the effect on polarization of focusing the waves is discussed. Another application discussed is the Fresnel reflection from a dielectric interface, it being shown that the Fresnel reflection alters the relative strength of the electric and magnetic components.     

Fresnel phasing of segmented mirror telescopes

Shack-Hartmann (S-H) phasing of segmented telescopes is based upon a physical optics generalization of the geometrical optics Shack-Hartmann test, in which each S-H lenslet straddles an intersegment edge. For the extremely large segmented telescopes currently in the design stages, one is led naturally to very large pupil demagnifications for the S-H phasing cameras. This in turn implies rather small Fresnel numbers F for the lenslets; the nominal design for the Thirty Meter Telescope calls for F=0.6. For such small Fresnel numbers, it may be possible to eliminate the lenslets entirely, replacing them with a simple mask containing a sparse array of clear subapertures and thereby also eliminating a number of manufacturing problems and experimental complications associated with lenslets. We present laboratory results that demonstrate the validity of this approach.     

Elliptic Laguerre-Gaussian beams

An analytical expression for the diffraction of an elliptic Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam is derived and analyzed. We show that a beam with even singularity order has nonzero axial intensity for any degree of ellipticity and at any finite distance z from the initial plane, whereas at z = 0 and z = infinity the axial intensity is zero. We show that for a beam with a small degree of ellipticity and even order of singularity, two isolated intensity zeroes appear in the Fresnel zone on a straight line at an angle of 45 deg or -45 deg, depending whether the beam's spin is right or left. The theoretical conclusions are confirmed by numerical simulation and physical experiments.     

Physical activation of graphene: An effective,simple and clean procedure for obtaining microporous graphene for high-performance Li/S batteries

Graphene nanosheets are a promising scaffold to accommodate S for achieving high performance Li/S battery. Nanosheet activation is used as a viable strategy to induce a micropore system and further improve the battery performance. Accordingly, chemical activation methods dominate despite the need of multiple stages, which slow down the process in addition to making them tiresome. Here, a three-dimensional (3D) N-doped graphene specimen was physically activated with CO₂, a clean and single step process, and used for the preparation of a sulfur composite (A-3DNG/S). The A-3DNG/S composite exhibited outstanding electrochemical properties such as an excellent rate capability (1,000 mAh·g⁻¹ at 2C), high reversible capacity and cycling stability (average capacity ~ 800 mAh·g⁻¹ at 1C after 200 cycles), values which exceed those measured in chemically activated graphene. Therefore, these results support the use of physical activation as a simple and efficient alternative to improve the performance of carbons as an S host for high-performance Li-S batteries.

     

Signal distortion induced by Fresnel reflection in open-loop fiber-optic gyroscopes

The signal distortion that is due to Fresnel reflection in open-loop fiber-optic gyroscopes was theoretically analyzed to determine the relationship between the reflection ratio and the scale factor error of the gyroscopes. The analysis showed that the in-phase component of each Fourier harmonic of the gyroscope signal deviates from the true sinusoidal function, a quadrature-phase component appears, and the pi/2 rotation rates of harmonic components disagree. We evaluated the degree of scale factor degradation by defining the harmonic distortion ratio, which can be used as a measure for the reflectional quality of the gyroscopic optical system. The theory was verified by the response of an experimental gyroscope. The Fresnel reflection was eliminated by optical and electrical means, and the signal distortion of the experimental gyroscope was suppressed.     

膨胀石墨/酚醛树脂-聚乙烯醇缩丁醛复合双极板的制备与性能

采用聚乙烯醇缩丁醛（PVB）对酚醛树脂（PF）进行改性,并以膨胀石墨为第一导电填料,用模压成型法制备了新型质子交换膜燃料电池用膨胀石墨/PF-PVB复合材料双极板。研究了PVB与PF质量比、改性树脂含量及炭黑的添加对膨胀石墨/PF-PVB复合材料双极板电导率、抗弯强度等性能的影响。结果表明,当改性树脂质量分数固定为30wt%时,膨胀石墨/PF-PVB复合材料双极板在PVB：PF=0.5时表现出最佳的电导率及抗弯强度,分别为192.3 S/cm、47.25 MPa,与不添加PVB的膨胀石墨/PF复合材料双极板相比,平面内电导率和抗弯强度分别提高了12.3%、14.2%。在PVB含量固定的条件下（PVB：PF=0.5）,当改性树脂的质量分数由25wt%增加至45wt%时,膨胀石墨/PF-PVB复合材料双极板的电导率下降,而抗弯强度增加。进一步添加炭黑提高膨胀石墨/PF-PVB复合材料双极板的导电性能,当改性树脂质量分数固定为45wt%时,炭黑添加量为4wt%的试样表现出最佳的平面电导率和面比电阻,分别为137 S/cm、14.4 mΩ·cm²。     

外腔半导体激光器阵列波长稳定的实验研究

自由运行的半导体激光器列阵输出激光谱线较宽、中心波长易漂移.为此,本文采用体全息光栅(VBG)构成外腔半导体激光器阵列(EcLD)系统,利用体光栅能够稳定波长、压窄线宽的特点,从而克服上述缺点.实验表明:采用了VBG外腔反馈后,在最好的情况下,LDA的输出光谱宽度从自由运行时的2.3 nm压窄到了O.96 nm;在测试的环境温度变化范围内(14～3l℃),LDA的峰值波长稳定在体光栅布拉格波长808 nm处,输出光的线宽维持在1.14 nm之下;并且,在测试的偏置电流变化范围内(7-13A)峰值波长和谱宽无明显变化.     

The influence of fibre properties of the performance of glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide 6,6

We discuss the effect of fibre strength and diameter on the balance of mechanical properties of glass-reinforced polyamide 6,6. The results show that the elastic properties of injection-moulded short-glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide 6,6 are not strongly influenced by fibre diameter in the 10–17 micron range. The ultimate properties of these composites (strength and Izod impact behaviour) showed a clear dependence on fibre diameter and were increased by the presence of high-strength S-2 glass fibres. The relationship between the observed mechanical properties and the length, diameter and orientation of the fibres is explored. We have measured fibre length as a function of diameter in composites containing a single glass-reinforcement product and blends of two glass products. The reduction in glass-fibre length from glass-fibre production to final composite moulding has been followed step by step. The final composite mechanical properties, the fibre length, strength, diameter and orientation are all inter-related.     

Development of heat-and impact-resistant coatings for main pipelines

We have developed composite layered temperature-resistant silicon-organic sandwich-type coatings with thin polyurethane silicon-organic interlayers. We used the following materials as binding components: KO 921 silicon-organic lacquer with addition of éD-20 epoxy resin for prime coat, the same lacquer with addition of PZ 1040 S polyurethane elastomer for thin soft interlayers, and only KO 921 lacquer for thick hard layers. The mineral filler represented a mixture of coal ash and omiacarb in proportion 70 / 30 mass %. We have manufactured and tested laboratory specimens with two hard layers and two interlayers as well as with three hard layers and two thin interlayers. We have established that the developed composite layered coatings exceed, in their basic characteristics, the requirements of the State Standard Committee of Ukraine and foreign normative documents for the rust protection of steel main pipelines. Our coatings possess high impact strength, heightened elasticity and adhesion strength and, as to their electrical insulating characteristics, exceed these requirements by an order of magnitude. We note the complexity of the technology of applying layered composite coatings and the necessity of its improvement. __________ Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 42, No. 4, pp. 59–65, July–August, 2006.     

国产T700级碳纤维/BMI复合材料湿热性能

为研究国产碳纤维复合材料湿热性能,基于热压罐制备工艺,分别将国产T700级碳纤维和日本东丽T700S碳纤维与国产QY9611双马树脂进行匹配,从纤维表面物理/化学状态、吸湿曲线、吸湿后玻璃化转变温度、宏观力学性能等方面对2种复合材料开展湿热性能研究.结果表明:国产T700/BMI复合材料的饱和吸湿率为0.77%(35 d),T700S/BMI复合材料的饱和吸湿率为0.81%(19 d);71℃水浸168 h后,国产T700/BMI的玻璃化转变温度(T_g)下降10.3%(由252.1℃到226.2℃),T700S/BMI复合材料的玻璃化转变温度(T_g)下降8.7%(由256.6℃到234.3℃);150℃湿态环境下,国产T700/BMI复合材料90°拉伸强度与T700S/BMI基本相当,0°压缩强度较T700S/BMI高约17.9%,层间剪切强度较T700S/BMI高约9.3%,表明国产T700/BMI复合材料具有更优良的湿热力学性能.     

Reflection and refraction of multipole radiation by an interface

Reflection and refraction of electromagnetic multipole radiation by an interface is studied. The multipole can be electric or magnetic and is of arbitrary order (dipole, quadrupole). From the angular spectrum representation of the radiation emitted by the multipole, I have obtained the angular spectrum representations of the reflected and transmitted fields, which involve the Fresnel reflection and transmission coefficients. The intensity distribution in the far field is evaluated with the method of stationary phase. The result is very simple in appearance and can be expressed in terms of two auxiliary functions of a complex variable. By exchanging the Fresnel coefficients for s and p polarization, the result for an electric multipole can be obtained from the result for a magnetic multipole.     

A numerical methodology for optimizing the geometry of composite structural parts with regard to strength

The increased use of composite materials in lightweight structures has generated the need for optimizing the geometry of composite structural parts with regard to strength, weight and cost. Most existing optimization methodologies focus on weight and cost mainly due to the difficulties in predicting strength of composite materials. In this paper, a numerical methodology for optimizing the geometry of composite structural parts with regard to strength by maintaining the initial weight is proposed. The methodology is a combination of the optimization module of the ANSYS FE code and a progressive damage modeling module. Both modules and the interface between them were programmed using the ANSYS programming language, thus enabling the implementation of the methodology in a single step. The parametric design language involves two verifications tests: one of the progressive damage model against experiments and one of the global optimization methodology performed by comparing the strength of the initial and the optimum geometry. There were made two applications of the numerical optimization methodology, both on H-shaped adhesively bonded joints subjected to quasi-static load. In the first application, the H-shaped joining profile was made from non-crimp fabric composite material while in the second from a novel fully interlaced 3D woven composite material. In the optimization of the joint’s geometry, failure in the composite material as well as debonding between the assembled parts was considered. For both cases, the optimization led to a considerable increase in joint’s strength.     

Generation of phase singularity through diffracting a plane or Gaussian beam by a spiral phase plate

We deduce and study an analytical expression for Fresnel diffraction of a plane wave by a spiral phase plate (SPP) that imparts an arbitrary-order phase singularity on the light field. Estimates for the optical vortex radius that depends on the singularity's integer order n (also termed topological charge, or order of the dislocation) have been derived. The near-zero vortex intensity is shown to be proportional to rho2n, where p is the radial coordinate. Also, an analytical expression for Fresnel diffraction of the Gaussian beam by a SPP with nth-order singularity is analyzed. The far-field intensity distribution is derived. The radius of maximal intensity is shown to depend on the singularity number. The behavior of the Gaussian beam intensity after a SPP with second-order singularity (n = 2) is studied in more detail. The parameters of the light beams generated numerically with the Fresnel transform and via analytical formulas are in good agreement. In addition, the light fields with first- and second-order singularities were generated by a 32-level SPP fabricated on the resist by use of the electron-beam lithography technique.     

Interaction mechanism of in-situ nano-TiN-AlN particles and solid/liquid interface during solidification

This paper deals with the interaction mechanism between in situ nanometer-grade TiN-AlN particles and the solid/liquid (S/L) interface during the solidification of an in situ TiN-AlN/Al composite. According to the setting of a force balance for the particles in front of the S/L interface during solidification, F = F(buoyant) + F(repulsive) + F(viscous). We obtained the relationship between the critical cooling velocity of the liquid composite, Vr, and the size of the ceramic particle, rp. By this relationship formula, we can know that the S/L interface engulfs particles or pushes them to the crystal grain boundary during the solidification of a TiN-AlN/Al composite. It is found that Vr is proportional to the radius of ceramic particles by transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation. The TEM test indicates that the smaller the particle is, the more easily the S/L interface engulfs particles.     

Parallel optical computing using recoded trinary signed-digit numbers

We propose a simple recoded trinary signed-digit number representation for parallel optical computing. This technique performs multidigit carry-free addition and borrow-free subtraction in constant time, using only 50% of the, minterms required in the most recently reported trinary signed-digit arithmetic technique. One may use a single-step optoelectronic or a two step all-optical architecture to implement the proposed technique.     

Processing of Al/B4C composites by cross-roll accumulative roll bonding

In the present study, Al/B₄C composites were successfully produced in the form of sheets, through accumulative roll bonding (ARB) and cross-roll accumulative roll bonding (CRARB) processes. The CRARB process was performed in two steps. In the first step, the strips were roll-bonded with a draft percentage of 66% reduction, while in the second step the strips were roll-bonded with a draft percentage of 50%. The results indicated that the dispersion of the B₄C particles in the CRARB process is more homogeneous than the ARB process. In addition, the tensile strength of the CRARBed composite is higher than that of the ARBed composite.     

A composite photocatalyst of cdS nanoparticles deposited on TiO2 nanosheets

A nanocomposite photocatalyst consisting of deposited CdS nanoparticles on TiO2 nanosheets was fabricated by a simple one-pot method. The contact between two phases was maximized by making a composite structure of TiO2 nanosheet decorated with CdS nanoparticles. The composite photocatalyst showed higher photoactivity for hydrogen production from aqueous Na2S/Na2SO3 solution and decomposition of methylene blue under visible light irradiation (lamda > or =420 nm) compared with single component CdS nanoparticles or a physical mixture of CdS nanoparticles and TiO2 nanorods. The intentional formation of nanoscale heterojunctions between two phases appears beneficial for inducing an efficient electron-hole separation.     

Digital processing of electronic speckle pattern interferometry addition fringes

A digital image-processing method for analyzing double-pulsed electronic speckle pattern interferometry addition fringes is described. The procedure consists of three steps, forming a combination particularly suited to addressing some important practical limitations of the measurement system. In the first step it is shown that in certain cases fringe visibility may be enhanced by subtraction of a reference interferogram, so that a pattern with a quality similar to that of a subtraction one is obtained. In the second step noise is reduced by the application of a spectral subtraction image-restoration method. The third step concerns the calculation of the wrapped phase by means of a Fourier transform method with bandpass filtering. Preliminary experimental results that illustrate the performance of this approach are presented.     

Optical propagation in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis: paraxial theory and beyond

We describe monochromatic light propagation in uniaxial crystals by means of an exact solution of Maxwell's equations. We subsequently develop a paraxial scheme for describing a beam traveling orthogonal to the optical axis. We show that the Cartesian field components parallel and orthogonal to the optical axis are extraordinary and ordinary, respectively, and hence uncoupled. The ordinary component exhibits a standard Fresnel behavior, whereas the extraordinary one exhibits interesting anisotropic diffraction dynamics. We interpret the anisotropic diffraction as a composition of two spatial geometrical affinities and a single Fresnel propagation step. As an application, we obtain the analytical expression of the extraordinary Gaussian beam. We then derive the first nonparaxial correction to the paraxial beam, thus giving a scheme for describing slightly nonparaxial fields. We find that nonparaxiality couples the Cartesian components of the field and that the resultant longitudinal component is greater than the correction to the transverse component orthogonal to the optical axis. Finally, we derive the analytical expression for the nonparaxial correction to the paraxial Gaussian beam.