Micro-/Nano-Fiber Sensors and Optical Integration Devices

The development of micro/nanofiber sensors and associated integrated systems is a major project spanning photonics, engineering, and materials science, and has become a key academic research trend. During the development of miniature optical sensors, different materials and micro/nanostructures have been reasonably designed and functionalized on the ordinary single-mode optical fibers. The combination of various special optical fibers and new micro/nanomaterials has greatly improved the performance of the sensors. In terms of optical integration, micro/nanofibers play roles in independent and movable optical waveguide devices, and can be conveniently integrated into two-dimensional chips to realize the efficient transmission and information exchange of optical signals based on optical evanescent field coupling technology. In terms of systematic integration, the unique optical transmission mode of optical fiber has shown great potential in the array and networking of multiple sensor units.In this book, more than ten research papers were collected and studied, presenting research on optical micro/nanofiber devices and related integrated systems, covering high-performance optical micro/nanofiber sensors, fine characterization technologies for optical micro/nanostructures, weak signal detection technologies in photonic structures, as well as fiber-assisted highly integrated optical detection systems

Optical Fiber Interferometric Sensors

The contributions presented in this book series portray the advances of the research in the field of interferometric photonic technology and its novel applications. The wide scope explored by the range of different contributions intends to provide a synopsis of the current research trends and the state of the art in this field, covering recent technological improvements, new production methodologies and emerging applications, for researchers coming from different fields of science and industry. The manuscripts published in the Special issue, and re-printed in this book series, report on topics that range from interferometric sensors for thickness and dynamic displacement measurement, up to pulse wave and spirometry applications

Ionizing Radiation Detection Using Microstructured Optical Fiber

Ionizing radiation detecting microstructured optical fibers are fabricated, modeled and experimentally measured for X-ray detection in the 10-40 keV energy range. These fibers operate by containing a scintillator material which emits visible light when exposed to ionizing radiation. An X-ray source characterized with a CdTe spectrometer is used to quantify the X-ray detection efficiency of the fibers. The solid state CdTe detector is considered 100% efficient in this energy range. A liquid filled microstructured optical fiber (MOF) is presented where numerical analysis and experimental observation leads to a geometric theory of photon transmission using total internal reflection. The model relates the quantity and energy of absorbed X-rays to transmitted and measured visible light photons. Experimental measurement of MOF photon counts show good quantitative agreement with calculated theoretical values. This work is extended to a solid organic scintillator, anthracene, which shows improved light output due to its material properties. A detailed description of the experimental approach used to fabricate anthracene MOF is presented. The fabrication technique uses a modified Bridgman-Stockbarger crystal growth technique to grow anthracene single crystals inside MOF. The anthracene grown in the MOF is characterized using spectrophotometry, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. These results show the anthracene grown is a high purity crystal with a structure similar to anthracene grown from the liquid, vapor and melt techniques. The X-ray measurement technique uses the same approach as that for liquid filled MOF for efficiency comparison. A specific fiber configuration associated with the crystal growth allows an order of magnitude improvement in X-ray detection efficiency. The effect of thin film external coatings on the measured efficiency is presented and related to the fiber optics. Lastly, inorganic alkali halide scintillator materials of CsI(Tl), CsI(Na), and NaI(Tl) are grown as single crystals inside the MOF. These alkali halide fibers show an improvement in X-ray detection efficiency comparable with the CdTe detector and can be more efficient, dependent upon the photon counter efficiency and fiber configuration. The fiber configuration for this improved efficiency is described as the same for the higher efficiency anthracene MOF

Conceptual design for the Space Station Freedom fluid physics/dynamics facility

A study team at NASA's Lewis Research Center has been working on a definition study and conceptual design for a fluid physics and dynamics science facility that will be located in the Space Station Freedom's baseline U.S. Laboratory module. This modular, user-friendly facility, called the Fluid Physics/Dynamics Facility, will be available for use by industry, academic, and government research communities in the late 1990's. The Facility will support research experiments dealing with the study of fluid physics and dynamics phenomena. Because of the lack of gravity-induced convection, research into the mechanisms of fluids in the absence of gravity will help to provide a better understanding of the fundamentals of fluid processes. This document has been prepared as a final version of the handout for reviewers at the Fluid Physics/Dynamics Facility Assessment Workshop held at Lewis on January 24 and 25, 1990. It covers the background, current status, and future activities of the Lewis Project Study Team effort. It is a revised and updated version of a document entitled 'Status Report on the Conceptual Design for the Space Station Fluid Physics/Dynamics Facility', dated January 1990

Advances in Fiber-Optic Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometric Physical and Mechanical Sensors: A Review

Fabry-Perot Interferometers Have Found a Multitude of Scientific and Industrial Applications Ranging from Gravitational Wave Detection, High-Resolution Spectroscopy, and Optical Filters to Quantum Optomechanics. Integrated with Optical Fiber Waveguide Technology, the Fiber-Optic Fabry-Perot Interferometers Have Emerged as a Unique Candidate for High-Sensitivity Sensing and Have Undergone Tremendous Growth and Advancement in the Past Two Decades with their Successful Applications in an Expansive Range of Fields. the Extrinsic Cavity-Based Devices, I.e., the Fiber-Optic Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometers (EFPIs), Enable Great Flexibility in the Design of the Sensitive Fabry-Perot Cavity Combined with State-Of-The-Art Micromachining and Conventional Mechanical Fabrication, Leading to the Development of a Diverse Array of EFPI Sensors Targeting at Different Physical Quantities. Here, We Summarize the Recent Progress of Fiber-Optic EFPI Sensors, Providing an overview of Different Physical and Mechanical Sensors based on the Fabry-Perot Interferometer Principle, with a Special Focus on Displacement-Related Quantities, Such as Strain, Force, Tilt, Vibration and Acceleration, Pressure, and Acoustic. the Working Principle and Signal Demodulation Methods Are Shown in Brief. Perspectives on Further Advancement of EFPI Sensing Technologies Are Also Discussed

Optical Sensors

This book is a compilation of works presenting recent developments and practical applications in optical sensor technology. It contains 10 chapters that encompass contributions from various individuals and research groups working in the area of optical sensing. It provides the reader with a broad overview and sampling of the innovative research on optical sensors in the world

Apollo Lightcraft Project

The ultimate goal for this NASA/USRA-sponsored Apollo Lightcraft Project is to develop a revolutionary manned launch vehicle technology which can potentially reduce payload transport costs by a factor of 1000 below the Space Shuttle Orbiter. The Rensselaer design team proposes to utilize advanced, highly energetic, beamed-energy sources (laser, microwave) and innovative combined-cycle (airbreathing/rocket) engines to accomplish this goal. The research effort focuses on the concept of a 100 MW-class, laser-boosted Lightcraft Technology Demonstrator (LTD) drone. The preliminary conceptual design of this 1.4 meter diameter microspacecraft involved an analytical performance analysis of the transatmospheric engine in its two modes of operation (including an assessment of propellant and tankage requirements), and a detailed design of internal structure and external aeroshell configuration. The central theme of this advanced propulsion research was to pick a known excellent working fluid (i.e., air or LN sub 2), and then to design a combined-cycle engine concept around it. Also, a structural vibration analysis was performed on the annular shroud pulsejet engine. Finally, the sensor satellite mission was examined to identify the requisite subsystem hardware: e.g., electrical power supply, optics and sensors, communications and attitude control systems

Contribution to the development of methods and systems for the automatization during the early stages of bioprocess development

This thesis is framed within the field of red biotechnology and more specifically in the development of bioprocesses for cell species that feature some therapeutical interest, either for the production of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies or stem cell experimental research. The main objective was the development and application of different instrumental techniques for the control and online monitorization of cell cultures. Oxygen consumption OUR (Oxygen Uptake Rate) was chosen as the central theme since this parameter has often been referenced as the most straighforward indicator of metabolic activity in animal cell culture. This thesis was carried out in the context of a Spin-Off project (Hexascreen Culture Technologies) whose objective was the development of disposable Minibioreactors intended for biopharmaceutical research. Obviously, this has led to a number of important trade-offs, as well as the proposal of several imaginative solutions to solve various technological challenges. For this reason and in order to offer a better idea of the work's scope, it was decided to include in the thesis not only the description of the method and results related to the OUR estimation but a detailed description of the systems developed. Results demonstrate the feasibility of a simplified procedure for estimating the oxygen consumption. This is a review of the Stationary liquid phase mass balance method which allows reducing the implementation cost and unlike the Dynamic method (The most usual thechnique) prevents changes on the oxygen tension that could affect the cell's normal arctivity. The proposed method is based on the accurate control of the oxygen concentration by means of PWM driven electrovalves and using the control loop internal signals to estimate the OUR.Aquesta Tesi doctoral està enquadrada en l'àmbit de la Biotecnologia vermella i més concretament en el desenvolupament de Bioprocessos relacionats amb espècies cel·lulars d’interès terapèutic, bé sigui per a la producció de vacunes, anticossos monoclonals o bé per a la recerca experimental amb cèl·lules mare. L'objectiu general ha estat el desenvolupament i aplicació de diferents tècniques instrumentals per al control i monitorització en línia de cultius cel·lulars, tant mateix d'entre les diferents tècniques emprades es va escollir la monitorització de la demanda d'oxigen O.U.R. (Oxygen Uptake Rate) com a tema central de la tesi degut a que aquest paràmetre ha estat referenciat sovint com un dels millors indicadors de l'activitat metabòlica en cultius de cèl·lules animals. Cal mencionar que la Tesi ha estat duta a terme en el context d'un projecte empresarial (HexaScreen Culture Technologies) l'objectiu del qual ha estat el desenvolupament de Minibioreactors d'un sol ús orientats al mon de la recerca Biofarmacèutica. Òbviament això ha comportant un número important de compromisos a l'hora d'abordar les diferents tasques, així com el plantejament de solucions imaginatives per a la resolució dels diferents reptes tecnològic. Per aquest motiu i per tal de transmetre una millor idea de l'abast del treball realitzat, es va decidir incloure en la tesi no només la descripció del mètode i resultats relacionats amb l'estimació de la O.U.R. sinó amés una descripció prou detallada dels sistemes desenvolupats. Pel que fa al tema central de la tesi, es demostra la viabilitat d'un procediment simplificat per a l'estimació de la demanda d’oxigen. Es tracta d'una revisió del procediment d'estimació de la OUR en condicions de concentració estacionària en la fase líquida que permet reduir-ne el cost de implementació tot prescindint de l'ús de cabalímetres màssics, així com a diferència del mètode dinàmic (Tècnica més habitual) evitar cap mena de canvi en la tensió d’oxigen que pogués afectar l’activitat normal de les cèl·lules. El mètode proposat, es basa en el control de la concentració d’oxigen mitjançant actuació PWM de les vàlvules d'aereació i l’ús dels propis senyals del llaç de control per tal d'estimar la O.U.R.Postprint (published version

Smart Textiles Production

The research field of smart textiles is currently witnessing a rapidly growing number of applications integrating intelligent functions in textile substrates. With an increasing amount of new developed product prototypes, the number of materials used and that of specially designed production technologies are also growing. This book is intended to provide an overview of materials, production technologies, and product concepts to different groups concerned with smart textiles. It will help designers to understand the possibilities of smart textile production, so that they are enabled to design this type of products. It will also help textile and electronics manufacturers to understand which production technologies are suitable to meet certain product requirements

Design and development of a hyphenated technique for monitoring the cure of epoxy-amine resin systems

The main focus of the current study was to design, construct and evaluate a common platform to enable the integration of multiple sensing systems for cure monitoring. An Abbe refractometer was selected to house a custom-made cell which accommodated the following optical sensors: (i) Fresnel reflection sensor; (ii) near-infrared transmission sensor; (iii) evanescent wave sensor; and (iv) fibre Bragg grating sensor. The cell was designed such that it was also possible to simultaneously acquire conventional refractive index data during the cross-linking process. Thus, the cross-correlation of data on refractive index, cross-linking kinetics, strain and temperature was facilitated. It was found that the trends observed in the qualitative (intensity-based refractive index monitoring via the Fresnel reflection sensor) and quantitative (optical fibre-based transmission FTIR spectroscopy) approaches were similar during the cure of common thermosetting resin systems. Furthermore, for the first time, S-2 glass® fibres were used to obtain evanescent wave spectra during cross-linking, and excellent correlation was observed with the transmission FTIR spectral data. Fibre Bragg grating sensors were used to infer the magnitude of the residual fabrication strain. Excellent correlation was observed between the refractive index data generated using the Abbe refractometer and Fresnel reflection sensor