Design and Test of a Slab Waveguide Spectrometer for Spatial Heterodyne Observations of Water Vapor

The Slab Waveguide Interferometric Spatial Heterodyne (SWISH) Spectrometer was designed as a high-resolution instrument designed to demonstrate the ability of slab waveguide spatial heterodyne spectrometer technology through measurements of water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere. It is based on a multiaperture Fourier-transform planar waveguide spectrometer. The Fourier technique was used for spectra retrieval. The absorption signal will be measured with a spectral range of 2.5 nm centered in the near infrared spectral region on the 1.3645 μm wavelength with a spectral resolution of 0.05 nm. The resolution of the interferometer array is designed so that errors in the retrieved spectrum, measured using the least squares method, are minimized. The slab waveguide itself was constructed such that the interferometers and monitoring waveguides have an output pitch, which matches that of the linear detector array. It was designed for the 1.3645 μm wavelength range using a 1.3 μm wide and 0.75 μm high silicon-on-insulator (SOI) ridge waveguides and contained 100 Mach-Zehnder interferometers along with 11 'pass-through' waveguide. This thesis spans several components of the project relating to the development and testing of the SWISH Spectrometer. These parts include: (1) developing and building a prototype slab waveguide spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SWSHS) chip and breadboard optical instrument at spatial heterodyne observations of water (SHOW) wavelengths; (2) investigating alternative method(s) for increased coupling efficiency; (3) assembling a prototype spectrometer for SHOW waveband; (4) assembling input optics for the SWSHS; (5) developing system packaging and build a prototype system; (6) developing inversion algorithms and calibration procedures for system using test data from laboratory tests of micro-SHOW linear prototype

Energy reconstruction on the LHC ATLAS TileCal upgraded front end: feasibility study for a sROD co-processing unit

Dissertation presented in ful lment of the requirements for the degree of: Master of Science in Physics 2016The Phase-II upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in the early 2020s will enable an order of magnitude increase in the data produced, unlocking the potential for new physics discoveries. In the ATLAS detector, the upgraded Hadronic Tile Calorimeter (TileCal) Phase-II front end read out system is currently being prototyped to handle a total data throughput of 5.1 TB/s, from the current 20.4 GB/s. The FPGA based Super Read Out Driver (sROD) prototype must perform an energy reconstruction algorithm on 2.88 GB/s raw data, or 275 million events per second. Due to the very high level of pro ciency required and time consuming nature of FPGA rmware development, it may be more e ective to implement certain complex energy reconstruction and monitoring algorithms on a general purpose, CPU based sROD co-processor. Hence, the feasibility of a general purpose ARM System on Chip based co-processing unit (PU) for the sROD is determined in this work. A PCI-Express test platform was designed and constructed to link two ARM Cortex-A9 SoCs via their PCI-Express Gen-2 x1 interfaces. Test results indicate that the latency of the PCI-Express interface is su ciently low and the data throughput is superior to that of alternative interfaces such as Ethernet, for use as an interconnect for the SoCs to the sROD. CPU performance benchmarks were performed on ve ARM development platforms to determine the CPU integer, oating point and memory system performance as well as energy e ciency. To complement the benchmarks, Fast Fourier Transform and Optimal Filtering (OF) applications were also tested. Based on the test results, in order for the PU to process 275 million events per second with OF, within the 6 s timing budget of the ATLAS triggering system, a cluster of three Tegra-K1, Cortex-A15 SoCs connected to the sROD via a Gen-2 x8 PCI-Express interface would be suitable. A high level design for the PU is proposed which surpasses the requirements for the sROD co-processor and can also be used in a general purpose, high data throughput system, with 80 Gb/s Ethernet and 15 GB/s PCI-Express throughput, using four X-Gene SoCs

Spectroscopy of ionizing radiation using methods of digital signal processing

Nuclear spectroscopy is an interdisciplinary subject of physics and electronics, which adopts state-of-the-art digital electronic technology and computer technology to analyze the information in ionizing radiation. The use of FPGAs shortens the development cycles of the digital circuit design and reduces system noise with compact electronics size. As a result, digital spectrometers with FPGAs are gaining popularity in research and industrial markets. The motivation behind this work was to replace conventional analog electronics with modern digital technology to provide an excellent energy resolution for different kinds of nuclear detectors and experiments. In this thesis, a SiPM-based scintillation detector is first designed based on the basic principles of ionizing radiation. The readout circuit of the detector is given in detail. Subsequently, a real-time DPP module is designed using the FPGA of Lattice. The system noise of the DPP is measured, compared, and analyzed after the hardware verification and implementation of digital algorithms to assess the capability of the DPP module. Afterward, digital pulse processing algorithms are investigated in detail to improve the performance of the designed digital module. The design and implementation of multipass moving average and trapezoidal filter are presented. The PZC and BLR are designed and implemented according to the analysis of the trapezoidal filter’s weakness to have a better energy resolution of the digital system. Algorithms are designed and implemented on a Simulink platform. Experimental results and analyses are provided at the end of this thesis. The acquired data are analyzed in real-time or by offline software. Spectra and resolutions are demonstrated of different detectors to evaluate the performance of digital module and algorithms implementation. The resolution of the scintillation detector can be obtained to 4.2%, which is almost the optimal value based on their datasheet. The implementations of digital algorithms are verified. Other applications are provided, such as coincidence and cosmic muons measurements

An Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (IFTS) for Climate Observations

Climate change is an ongoing global phenomenon having a greater impact at higher latitudes. The instrument development reported herein is aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of using an Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (IFTS) to measure carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) mixing ratios at high latitudes using oxygen A-band measurements as a surface pressure reference. This thesis details the optical design, instrumental setup, and development criteria for the IFTS. The development of a software package to control and acquire data is also discussed. The instrument is developed to achieve the Technology Readiness Level 4 standard which covers the breadboard validation of a space system in a laboratory environment. Hardware specifications and software algorithms of the instrument are presented. Results from an external Helium-Neon (HeNe) laser and a broadband light source limited by spectral bandpass filters are presented. Finally, recommendations and future improvements to this research and development program are listed

A complete system for controlling and monitoring the timing of the LHCb experiment

The LHCb experiment at CERN will study the results of the production of B/antiB in the LHC accelerator mesons with the higher precision ever. It is vital that the experiment is able to record sub-detectors signals at the optimal detector efficiency, referring to the right collision occurring in the LHC ring, and that those signals are stable, clean and reliable. The solution is the development of a complete system to centrally time align and at the same time to monitor the timing of the whole experiment. An electronics custom-made acquisition board, called Beam Phase and Intensity Monitor (BPIM), has the main aim to monitor the beam processing a bipolar signal coming from a dedicated Beam Pick-Up detector, sitting along the LHC ring and whose signal is a clear representation of the bunches of protons. The BPIM is then able to integrate the intensity of the beam and at the same time to compare the phase of the bunch signal with the clock coming from the timing distribution system as well as the phase of the orbit signal with the signal generated from the first beam bunch. The principal applications of the BPIM are to determine the position of the orbit signal locally, to monitor bunch-by-bunch the clock phase with respect to the bunch passing through the detector, to have a clear structure of the beam injected, to determine the exact trigger conditions for sampling events in the detector, to determine the exact trigger conditions for significative events of not, checking whether the detector samples a bunch with protons (or lead ions) or an empty bunch, to produce an empty crossing veto for the sampled events whenever a bunch is absent in the expected location, to have a relative measure of the intensities of bunch, to have instantaneaous information about the presence/absence of beam, and, not less important, to search for ghost bunches. The board is paired with the RF2TTC system developed by the LHC group and whose aim is to control, clean, convert and transmit the bunch clock (~40 MHz) and the orbit clock (~11 KHz) to the the whole experiment. A complete user-friendly interface system, developed using the SCADA software PVSS II with the Distributed Information Management (DIM) system as communication protocol, allows to control and monitor real-time the available information

Developing a Methane Detector for Aerospace Applications

Greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere are raising the global temperature and causing adverse side effects. Of these greenhouse gasses, methane is one of the most impactful, second only to carbon dioxide. One of the methods for determining the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is taking images of the earth from space. The purpose of this project is to further a new imaging technology for detecting methane leaks called FINIS (Filter Incidence Narrow-band Infrared Spectrometer), thus improving our capability to detect and locate methane leaks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. FINIS has been developed in various stages since 2018 and has been accepted to fly on a CubeSat called ACMES (Active Cooling for Multispectral Earth Sensors) in 2024. My thesis will explore a new and optimized design for FINIS to be implemented on a CubeSat and determine whether it can survive the space environment. As part of the design and testing process, we will determine whether the precision of the FINIS instrument is comparable to other satellites observing methane. FINIS is estimated to be more compact, capable, and affordable than previous space-based sensors and has the potential for providing a next-generation methane sensor

NASA Tech Briefs, June 2012

Topics covered include: iGlobe Interactive Visualization and Analysis of Spatial Data; Broad-Bandwidth FPGA-Based Digital Polyphase Spectrometer; Small Aircraft Data Distribution System; Earth Science Datacasting v2.0; Algorithm for Compressing Time-Series Data; Onboard Science and Applications Algorithm for Hyperspectral Data Reduction; Sampling Technique for Robust Odorant Detection Based on MIT RealNose Data; Security Data Warehouse Application; Integrated Laser Characterization, Data Acquisition, and Command and Control Test System; Radiation-Hard SpaceWire/Gigabit Ethernet-Compatible Transponder; Hardware Implementation of Lossless Adaptive Compression of Data From a Hyperspectral Imager; High-Voltage, Low-Power BNC Feedthrough Terminator; SpaceCube Mini; Dichroic Filter for Separating W-Band and Ka-Band; Active Mirror Predictive and Requirement Verification Software (AMP-ReVS); Navigation/Prop Software Suite; Personal Computer Transport Analysis Program; Pressure Ratio to Thermal Environments; Probabilistic Fatigue Damage Program (FATIG); ASCENT Program; JPL Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) Portal; Data::Downloader; Fault Tolerance Middleware for a Multi-Core System; DspaceOgreTerrain 3D Terrain Visualization Tool; Trick Simulation Environment 07; Geometric Reasoning for Automated Planning; Water Detection Based on Color Variation; Single-Layer, All-Metal Patch Antenna Element with Wide Bandwidth; Scanning Laser Infrared Molecular Spectrometer (SLIMS); Next-Generation Microshutter Arrays for Large-Format Imaging and Spectroscopy; Detection of Carbon Monoxide Using Polymer-Composite Films with a Porphyrin-Functionalized Polypyrrole; Enhanced-Adhesion Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Titanium Substrates for Stray Light Control; Three-Dimensional Porous Particles Composed of Curved, Two-Dimensional, Nano-Sized Layers for Li-Ion Batteries 23 Ultra-Lightweight; and Ultra-Lightweight Nanocomposite Foams and Sandwich Structures for Space Structure Applications

Cryogenic fibre-fed laser metrology

Cryogenic cooling is a fundamental requirement for broadband far-infrared spectroscopic instrumentation to benefit from state-of-the-art far-infrared detectors. The precision to which the moving cryogenic components of the instrument can be measured and controlled affects its ability to recover the spectrum and exacts a low power robust position metrology system. This thesis explores a number of laser-based position metrology solutions and shows that a fibre-fed range-resolved interferometer meets the stringent precision and low power requirements of a metrology system for future space missions. Two cryogenic fibre-fed range-resoled interferometers are theoretically discussed and subsequently constructed; the first using the Clarke transform to decode three-phase signals, and the second based on sinusoidal laser frequency modulation. Experimental results of room and cryogenic (<4 K) temperature testing for both systems are presented. Lessons learned, suggested improvements, and the employment of a range-resolved interferometer for cryogenic accelerometry, lunar seismology, and other applications are discussed

NASA Tech Briefs, March 2012

The topics include: 1) Spectral Profiler Probe for In Situ Snow Grain Size and Composition Stratigraphy; 2) Portable Fourier Transform Spectroscopy for Analysis of Surface Contamination and Quality Control; 3) In Situ Geochemical Analysis and Age Dating of Rocks Using Laser Ablation-Miniature Mass Spectrometer; 4) Physics Mining of Multi-Source Data Sets; 5) Photogrammetry Tool for Forensic Analysis; 6) Connect Global Positioning System RF Module; 7) Simple Cell Balance Circuit; 8) Miniature EVA Software Defined Radio; 9) Remotely Accessible Testbed for Software Defined Radio Development; 10) System-of-Systems Technology-Portfolio-Analysis Tool; 11) VESGEN Software for Mapping and Quantification of Vascular Regulators; 12) Constructing a Database From Multiple 2D Images for Camera Pose Estimation and Robot Localization; 13) Adaption of G-TAG Software for Validating Touch and Go Asteroid Sample Return Design Methodology; 14) 3D Visualization for Phoenix Mars Lander Science Operations; 15) RxGen General Optical Model Prescription Generator; 16) Carbon Nanotube Bonding Strength Enhancement Using Metal Wicking Process; 17) Multi-Layer Far-Infrared Component Technology; 18) Germanium Lift-Off Masks for Thin Metal Film Patterning; 19) Sealing Materials for Use in Vacuum at High Temperatures; 20) Radiation Shielding System Using a Composite of Carbon Nanotubes Loaded With Electropolymers; 21) Nano Sponges for Drug Delivery and Medicinal Applications; 22) Molecular Technique to Understand Deep Microbial Diversity; 23) Methods and Compositions Based on Culturing Microorganisms in Low Sedimental Fluid Shear Conditions; 24) Secure Peer-to-Peer Networks for Scientific Information Sharing; 25) Multiplexer/Demultiplexer Loading Tool (MDMLT); 26) High-Rate Data-Capture for an Airborne Lidar System; 27) Wavefront Sensing Analysis of Grazing Incidence Optical Systems; 28) Foam-on-Tile Damage Model; 29) Instrument Package Manipulation Through the Generation and Use of an Attenuated-Fluent Gas Fold; 30) Multicolor Detectors for Ultrasensitive Long-Wave Imaging Cameras; 31) Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Command and Data Handling Flight Electronics Subsystem; and 32) Electro-Optic Segment-Segment Sensors for Radio and Optical Telescopes