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Optical Physics and Engineering
- Equipment for Machining of Microdischarge Devices
- Experimental Studies of Microdischarge Devices and Arrays
- Microdischarges and Rare Earth-doped Waveguide Devices: Visible and Ultraviolet Sources for Lasers and Sensors
- Novel Miniature Diagnostic Using Microdischarge Technology
- Visible and Infrared Laser Spectroscopy
^ Equipment for Machining of Microdischarge Devices
J. G. Eden,* C. Herring, J. Gao, A. Oldenburg
U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, F49620-99-1-0106
Under the DOD DURIP program, equipment is being purchased to facilitate the fabrication of microdischarge devices in silicon and other materials systems. A 1-kHz pulse repetition frequency Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier will be used with an existing oscillator to ablatively machine microchannels in silicon for use in arrays of discharge devices. Also, vacuum ultraviolet optics enabling arrays of sub-50 μm diameter cylindrical channels to be machined in Si metals or SiO2 at 193 nm have been obtained. The introduction of polymer films into these multilayer devices as dielectrics or emission down-converters is another thrust of this program.
^ Experimental Studies of Microdischarge Devices and Arrays
J. G. Eden,* C. Wagner, S. Kim, P. Galvez, J. Tang
U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, F49620-99-1-0317
This research program is focused on fabricating and examining the properties of arrays of microdischarge devices. A variety of processes (wet and dry chemical processing, laser ablation, and ultrasonic milling) are employed to fabricate cylindrical and pyramidal cathodes in silicon as part of a multilayer structure suitable for large-scale production. The properties of arrays and single devices operating in the rare gases are of particular interest, and emphasis is being placed on the characteristics of devices smaller than 50 μm.
^ Microdischarges and Rare Earth-doped Waveguide Devices: Visible and Ultraviolet Sources for Lasers and Sensors
J. G. Eden,* C. Wagner, A. Oldenburg, A. Senin, F. Shen, J. Conway
U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, F49620-98-1-0030
The demonstration of new sources of ultraviolet and visible radiation is the thrust of this research program. Current efforts are two-pronged. Microdischarge devices developed in this laboratory are under study as emission sources for displays or as chemical sensors. Cylindrical and typically 20 to 400 mm in diameter, these microdischarges have properties (VI characteristics, specific power loading) that are unique and quite attractive for a variety of applications. The second facet of this research effort is the study of nonlinear optical phenomena on the sub-1000 fs time scale and at intensities exceeding 1010 W-cm-2. Using colliding pulse, mode-locked and Ti:Al2O3 laser systems, wave packet formation, four wave mixing, and high order harmonic generation are being studied, both experimentally and theoretically.
^ Novel Miniature Diagnostic Using Microdischarge Technology
J. G. Eden,* C. Wagner
National Science Foundation; SBIR; SBC ETA UI-99-09-P1
This SBIR program is developing chemical sensors based on microdischarges fabricated in a "flow through" geometry. Because of the high specific power loadings accessible with microdischarges (> 100 kW-cm-3), arrays of these devices are well-suited for the remediation of toxic gases. The emission spectra of gases flowing through a single 100–400 μm diameter microdischarge are presently being studied as a diagnostic of molecular fragmentation in the discharge and as a means of detecting impurities in the gas flow stream.
^ Visible and Infrared Laser Spectroscopy
J. G. Eden,* F. Shen, J. Conway, A. Oldenburg
Northrop Grumman Corp.
Atomic and molecular laser spectroscopy in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared is the focus of this research effort. Currently, emphasis is being placed on the spectroscopy of the Rydberg states of the neon dimer. Excitation spectroscopy of this molecule has yielded the first rotationally resolved bands as well as observation of triplet splitting. As a result, structural constants of the molecule have been determined. Fluoride glass fiber lasers, pumped by a red InGaAlP diode laser and operating in the infrared (2.9 μm) are also of interest, and the spectral and output power characteristics of these lasers are under study.
