Thermo-mechanical effects in majorana type quantum devices

We have developed a multi-scale model, consisting of an atomistic model in LAMMPS of an InSb nanowire, and a continuum model in COMSOL of a socalled Majorana research device, to study the effects of thermo-mechanical deformations during the cool down from room temperature to the operating temperature of about 50 mK. For the simulation of the InSb nano-wire suitable potentials were implemented in LAMMPS. The simulation results of the nano-wire show size dependent Young's moduli and gradients in the radial lattice spacing during uniaxial straining. The materials properties that were derived from the atomistic model, were introduced in the continuum model. Cool down of the device from room temperature to it's operating temperature introduced significant deformation. However, the stresses in the system are moderate and no fracture or damage is expected. Still, deformation of the device will induce shifts in band gap behavior of the device. Band gap shifts using a simple approximation are estimated to be about 34%

Zeolites as coating materials for Fiber Bragg Grating chemical sensors for extreme conditions

Important progress has been made towards the expanding of the limits of applicability of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) optical sensors. The development of new inorganic coatings consisting of MFI zeolite crystals (silicalite and ZSM-5) has opened up the possibility towards the use of this technology at high temperatures and pressures. Using two different, purposely-built experimental setups, it was shown that zeolite-coated FBG sensors can be used for chemical gas sensing, both at ambient as well as at extreme conditions, i.e. at temperatures of up to 260 °C and pressures of up to 200 bar. The sensors are selective for linear alkanes, show no significant cross-sensitivity towards H2O and CO2, are thermally and chemically robust and have response times of 5 min or less. Additionally, molecular simulations are used to bring insight into the underlying nature of the sensing mechanism