Length distributed measurement of temperature effects in Yb-doped fibers during pumping

We demonstrate a distributed measurement technique to observe temperature changes along pumped Yb-doped fibers. This technique is based on an array of fiber Bragg gratings acting as a temperature sensor line. The Bragg gratings are inscribed directly into the Yb-doped fiber core using high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses and an interferometric setup. We studied the temperature evolution in differently co-doped Yb fibers during optical pumping and identified different effects contributing to the observed temperature increase. We found that preloading of fibers with hydrogen supports the formation of Yb2+ during UV irradiation and has a large impact on fiber temperature during pumping. The proposed technique can be applied to investigate the homogeneity of pump absorption in active fibers and to support spatially resolved photodarkening measurements

Bending insensitivity of fiber Bragg gratings in suspended-core optical fibers

This Letter presents simulation and experimental results that explore bending insensitivity of fiber Bragg gratings in suspended-core optical fibers. The implementation of thin silica bridge in the fibers enhances index contrast of the fiber core and reduces bending-induced strain transfer to the fiber core. This fiber design lead to a reduction of over 7 times in strain-induced fiber Bragg grating resonant peak shifts in the suspended-core fiber compared with that in standard telecommunication fiber, and an 0:14dB bending loss at a bending radius of 6:35mm. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Suspended-core fiber Bragg grating sensor for directional- dependenttransverse stress monitoring

This Letter presents simulation and experimental results of orientation-dependent transverse stress fiber sensors using fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) inscribed in four-hole suspended-core fibers. Resonant peak shifts and splitting of FBGs were studied as functions of the applied transverse load and fiber orientation. Both simulation and experimental results revealed that the response of FBGs in suspended-core fibers is sensitive to both the orientation and magnitude of an applied transverse stress. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Experimental and computational investigations of electron dynamics in micro atmospheric pressure radio-frequency plasma jets operated in He/N2 mixtures

The electron power absorption dynamics in radio frequency driven micro atmospheric pressure capacitive plasma jets are studied based on experimental phase resolved optical emission spectroscopy and the computational particle in cell simulations with Monte Carlo treatment of collisions. The jet is operated at 13.56 MHz in He with different admixture concentrations of N2 and at several driving voltage amplitudes. We find the spatio-temporal dynamics of the light emission of the plasma at various wavelengths to be markedly different. This is understood by revealing the population dynamics of the upper levels of selected emission lines/bands based on comparisons between experimental and simulation results. The populations of these excited states are sensitive to different parts of the electron energy distribution function and to contributions from other excited states. Mode transitions of the electron power absorption dynamics from the Ω- to the Penning-mode are found to be induced by changing the N2 admixture concentration and the driving voltage amplitude. Our numerical simulations reveal details of this mode transition and provide novel insights into the operation details of the Penning-mode. The characteristic excitation/emission maximum at the time of maximum sheath voltage at each electrode is found to be based on two mechanisms: (i) a direct channel, i.e. excitation/emission caused by electrons generated by Penning ionization inside the sheaths and (ii) an indirect channel, i.e. secondary electrons emitted from the electrode due to the impact of positive ions generated by Penning ionization at the electrodes

A manpower model and structural analysis for a Coast Guard enlisted rating

The Coast Guard must maintain a balance of personnel inventories to billet requirements while providing adequate promotion opportunities. Future changes in billet requirements must be studied to see the effects they may have on the personnel system. Thishttp://archive.org/details/amanpowermodelnd1094539939Lieutenant Commander, United States Coast GuardApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Influence of spore size distribution, gas mixture, and process time on the removal rate of B. subtilis spores in low-pressure plasmas

The size reduction of B. subtilis spores due to removal of biological material in low-pressure plasmas was analyzed in a double inductively coupled plasma system. Argon, nitrogen, and oxygen at 5 Pa were used as feed gases to investigate the impact of different reactive species and high energy radiation on the process. The spore size was determined using scanning electron microscopy images and the length of thousands of spores were evaluated using an automated algorithm. By applying a statistical test the precision of the mean spore size determination was increased and the applicability of a normal distribution to describe the spore size distribution was demonstrated. The removal rate was found to vary depending on the process gas as well as on the process time and was found to be largest with a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen and lowest in pure argon. With increasing treatment time the removal rate decreases significantly and tends to stop in all gases and inhibits the complete removal of spores and potentially hazardous biological material. Possible explanations for this effect are the aggregation of non-volatile compounds or the formation of cross-linked layers which significantly reduce the etching efficiency

Comparing Spore Resistance of Bacillus Strains Isolated from Hydrothermal Vents and Spacecraft Assembly Facilities to Environmental Stressors and Decontamination Treatments

Submarine hydrothermal vents are inhabited by a variety of microorganisms capable of tolerating environmental extremes, making them ideal candidates to further expand our knowledge of the limitations for terrestrial life, including their ability to survive the exposure of spaceflight-relevant conditions. The spore resistance of two Bacillus spp. strains, APA and SBP3, isolated from two shallow vents off Panarea Island (Aeolian Islands, Italy), to artificial and environmental stressors (i.e., UVC radiation, X-rays, heat, space vacuum, hydrogen peroxide [H₂O₂], and low-pressure plasma), was compared with that of two close phylogenetic relatives (Bacillus horneckiae and Bacillus oceanisediminis). Additional comparisons were made with Bacillus sp. isolated from spacecraft assembly facilities (B. horneckiae, Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032, and Bacillus nealsonii) and the biodosimetry strain and space microbiology model organism Bacillus subtilis. Overall, a high degree of spore resistance to stressors was observed for the strains isolated from spacecraft assembly facilities, with an exceptional level of resistance seen by B. pumilus SAFR-032. The environmental isolate SBP3 showed a more robust spore resistance to UVC, X-rays, H₂O₂, dry heat, and space vacuum than the closely related B. horneckiae. Both strains (SBP3 and APA) were more thermotolerant than their relatives, B. horneckiae and B. oceanisediminis, respectively. SBP3 may have a novel use as a bacterial model organism for future interrogations into the potential of forward contamination in extraterrestrial environments (e.g., icy moons of Jupiter or Saturn), spacecraft sterilization and, broadly, microbial responses to spaceflight-relevant environmental stressors