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This paper presents a novel multiclass, multiparameter real-valued weightless neural network-based classifier for fault detection and identification. In contrast to primitive variants of weightless neural nets, the proposed method is capable of multiclass identification with real-valued input features and has improved recognition and generalization capabilities. The major accomplishments of the proposed method include an improved input-to-address mapping strategy that is suitable for address assignment within discriminator units and an effective memory expansion scheme based on similarity metric-based membership value. The developed classifier is utilized for fault detection and identification in single-phase and three-phase induction motors. The sensitivity analysis of the method is investigated for design parameter variation and the fault diagnosis is performed for multiple faults of the motor. The proposed method achieves the highest accuracy of 99.6% and 89.25% for single-phase and three-phase induction motor fault identification, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time delayed pump–probe measurement techniques, such as Time Domain Thermoreflectance (TDTR), have opened up a wealth of opportunities for metrology at ultra-fast timescales and nanometer length scales. For nanoscale thermal transport measurements, typical thermal lifetimes used to measure thermal conductivity and thermal boundary conductance span from sub-picosecond to ∼ 6 nanoseconds. In this work, we demonstrate a simple rearrangement and validation of a configuration that allows access to the entire 12.5 ns time delay available in the standard pulse train. By reconfiguring a traditional TDTR system so that the pump and probe arrive concurrently when the delay stage reaches its midpoint, followed by unwrapping the temporal scan, we obtain a dataset that is bounded only by the oscillator repetition rate. Sensitivity analysis along with conducted measurements shows that great increases in measurement sensitivity are available with this approach, particularly for thin films with low thermal conductivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitivity- and resolution-improving method for a low-frequency micro-vibration accelerometer is presented in this paper. A sensitivity model of the measurement system is derived and established. The key parameters that limit the sensitivity and the resolution of the accelerometer were identified through the sensitivity coefficient analysis method. The structural parameters and the signal process method were then optimized. Experimental results show that the sensitivity of the accelerometer has improved from 1.10 V/(m/s2) to 19.21 V/(m/s2), and the resolution has improved from 1.47 mm/s2 to 0.21 mm/s2. The lowest working frequency range has expanded from 1 Hz to 0.7 Hz. The presented method is effective and cheap and can be applied to other sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of the stress–strength model of the ball bearing with random parameters, the reliability sensitivity of the raceway strength is examined. The basic parameters are regarded as random variables subject to normal distribution. The Latin hypercube sampling method is adopted to obtain the samples, which are brought into the bearing model to obtain the corresponding maximum orthogonal shear stress. The explicit expression of shear stress was obtained by genetic algorithm-back propagation neural network fitting, and the limit-state equation is established in combination with the yield limit of bearing materials. First, this study analyzes the sensitivity of the maximum shear stress with respect to various parameters and obtains the effect of parameters on shear stress at various rotational speeds. Then, based on the stress–strength state equation, the strength reliability is obtained by using the improved first-order second-moment method, which is verified by Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, the reliability sensitivity with respect to the mean and standard variance of random variables is analyzed. This research can provide theoretical guidance for the design, production, and use of bearings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to research the measurements error propagation principle about the measurement-assembly equipment of aero engine multistage rotor, besides analyze the effect of guide linear motion and turntable rotational motion on the final alignment error. Furthermore, we can improve the measurement and assembly accuracy of the aero engine multistage rotor. In this paper, a novel error analysis method related to measurement-assembly equipment was proposed. First, the topology of the measuring equipment was established based on the multibody system theory, the error propagation path was constructed by using the low order body sorting method. Second, the error transfer model of the linear motion and the rotational motion were established by using the homogeneous coordinate transformation matrix, and the total measurement terminal errors introduced by the equipment were calculated. Finally, through numerical simulation, the magnitude of the measurement terminal offset error was obtained, sensitivity analysis was performed to calculate key error sources. Measurement accuracy not only depended on the accuracy of the sensor but also closely related to the accuracy of the measurement-assembly equipment. Through the simulation verification, when the linearity error is 0.1 μm and the angular error is 0.1″, the final cumulative offset displacement error is about −0.1002 μm to −0.0998 μm with a probability of 97%. Different type errors have different effects on the results. We can give a conclusion that linear guide alignment error and verticality error are the primary error sources, and the angle error of the turntable need to be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an erratum for a scientific paper titled "Sensitivity analysis of a resonant-mass gravitational wave antenna with a parametric transducer." The erratum corrects an error in Equation (17) of the original paper, stating that it should be replaced by a new equation. The correction is a simple typo and does not affect any of the results. The work was funded by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems and Dark Matter Particle Physics. The author of the erratum is Michael E. Tobar. [Extracted from the article]

Strain can alter the properties of semiconductor materials. The selection of a strain measurement technique is a trade-off between sensitivity, resolution, and field of view, among other factors. We introduce a new technique based on the degree of polarization of cathodoluminescence (CL), which has excellent sensitivity (10−5), an intermediate resolution (about 100 nm), and an adjustable field of view. The strain information provided is complementary to that obtained by CL spectroscopy. Feasibility studies are presented. The experimental setup and the data treatment procedure are described in detail. Current limitations are highlighted. The technique is tested on the cross section of bulk indium phosphide samples strained by a patterned hard mask. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a real-time method to obtain normalized differential count rate signals from modulated systems with photon detection at single-photon count rates. The method is demonstrated with a real-time peak-locking and frequency control to track magnetic field using optically detected magnetic resonance of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. This procedure allows us to measure the magnetic field continuously with a sensitivity of 4.1 µT/Hz1/2 and to track magnetic field sweep rates up to 50 µT/s. The differential rate meter automates the processing of voltage pulse outputs from the photon detector and provides noise levels on par with traditional photon counting methods using digital counters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulses of I o i (10 SP 11 sp ) neutrons may be feasible for single-shot thermometry on other loading platforms, with significant challenges in loading over an adequate area and in protecting the laser source and the detector. Compared with LANSCE experiments using spallation neutrons, laser-accelerated neutrons with a lower initial mean energy do mean that the moderator can be slightly smaller for the same luminosity per neutron. Several further orders of magnitude increase in neutron production are needed before short-pulse laser facilities could usefully perform single-shot NRS thermometry on laser-loaded samples. [Extracted from the article]

We present a high resolution method for measuring magnetostriction in millisecond pulsed magnetic fields at cryogenic temperatures with a sensitivity of 1.11 × 10-11/√Hz. The sample is bonded to a thin piezoelectric plate such that when the sample's length changes, it strains the piezoelectric and induces a voltage change. This method is more sensitive than a fiber-Bragg grating method. It measures two axes simultaneously instead of one. The gauge is small and versatile, functioning in DC and millisecond pulsed magnetic fields. We demonstrate its use by measuring the magnetostriction of Ca3Co1.03Mn0.97O6 single crystals in pulsed magnetic fields. By comparing our data to new and previously published results from a fiber-Bragg grating magnetostriction setup, we confirm that this method detects magnetostriction effects. We also demonstrate the small size and versatility of this technique by measuring angle dependence with respect to the applied magnetic field in a rotator probe in 65 T millisecond pulsed magnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropic thermal properties are of both fundamental and practical interests, but remain challenging to characterize using conventional methods. In this work, a new metrology based on asymmetric beam time-domain thermoreflectance (AB-TDTR) is developed to measure three-dimensional anisotropic thermal transport by extending the conventional TDTR technique. Using an elliptical laser beam with controlled elliptical ratio and spot size, the experimental signals can be exploited to be dominantly sensitive to measure thermal conductivity along the cross-plane or any specific in-plane directions. An analytic solution for a multi-layer system is derived for the AB-TDTR signal in response to the periodical pulse, elliptical laser beam, and heating geometry to extract the anisotropic thermal conductivity from experimental measurement. Examples with experimental data are given for various materials with in-plane thermal conductivity from 5 W/m K to 2000 W/m K, including isotropic materials (silicon, boron phosphide, and boron nitride), transversely isotropic materials (graphite, quartz, and sapphire), and transversely anisotropic materials (black phosphorus). Furthermore, a detailed sensitivity analysis is conducted to guide the optimal setting of experimental configurations for different materials. The developed AB-TDTR metrology provides a new approach to accurately measure anisotropic thermal phenomena for rational materials design and thermal applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance (VNA-FMR) spectrometer with field differential detection. This technique differentiates the S-parameter by applying a small binary modulation field in addition to the DC bias field to the sample. By setting the modulation frequency sufficiently high, slow sensitivity fluctuations of the VNA, i.e., low-frequency components of the trace noise, which limit the signal-to-noise ratio of the conventional VNA-FMR spectrometer, can be effectively removed, resulting in a very clean FMR signal. This paper presents the details of the hardware implementation and measurement sequence as well as the data processing and analysis algorithms tailored for the FMR spectrum obtained with this technique. Because the VNA measures a complex S-parameter, it is possible to estimate the Gilbert damping parameter from the slope of the phase variation of the S-parameter with respect to the bias field. We show that this algorithm is more robust against noise than the conventional algorithm based on the linewidth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) based on superconducting quantum interference devices enables the measurement of very weak magnetic fields (10-1000 fT) generated from the human or animal brain. In this article, we introduce a small MEG system that we developed specifically for use with rats. Our system has the following characteristics: (1) variable distance between the pick-up coil and outer Dewar bottom (~5 mm), (2) small pick-up coil (4 mm) for high spatial resolution, (3) good field sensitivity (45 ~ 80 fT/cm/√Hz), (4) the sensor interval satisfies the Nyquist spatial sampling theorem, and (5) small source localization error for the region to be investigated. To reduce source localization error, it is necessary to establish an optimal sensor layout. To this end, we simulated confidence volumes at each point on a grid on the surface of a virtual rat head. In this simulation, we used locally fitted spheres as model rat heads. This enabled us to consider more realistic volume currents.We constrained the model such that the dipoles could have only four possible orientations: the x- and y-axes from the original coordinates, and two tangentially layered dipoles (local x- and y-axes) in the locally fitted spheres.We considered the confidence volumes according to the sensor layout and dipole orientation and positions.We then conducted a preliminary test with a 4-channel MEG system prior to manufacturing the multi-channel system. Using the 4-channel MEG system, we measured rat magnetocardiograms. We obtained well defined P-, QRS-, and T-waves in rats with a maximum value of 15 pT/cm. Finally, we measured auditory evoked fields and steady state auditory evoked fields with maximum values 400 fT/cm and 250 fT/cm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high sensitivity field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer (FAIMS) was designed, fabricated, and tested. The main components of the system are a 10.6 eV UV photoionization source, an ion filter driven by a high voltage/high frequency n-MOS inverter circuit, and a low noise ion detector. The ion filter electronics are capable to generate square waveforms with peak-to-peak voltages up to 1000 V at frequencies up to 1 MHz with adjustable duty cycles. The ion detector current amplifier has a gain up to 1012 V/A with an effective equivalent input noise level down to about 1 fA/Hz1/2 during operation with the ion filter at the maximum voltage and frequency. The FAIMS system was characterized by detecting different standard chemical compounds. Additionally, we investigated the use of a synchronous modulation/demodulation technique to improve the signal-to-noise ratio in FAIMS measurements. In particular, we implemented the modulation of the compensation voltage with the synchronous demodulation of the ion current. The analysis of the measurements at low concentration levels led to an extrapolated limit of detection for acetone of 10 ppt with an averaging time of 1 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new projection type imaging system is presented. The system can directly image the field emission site distribution on a cathode surface by making use of anode screens in the standard parallel plate configuration. The lateral spatial resolution of the imager is on the order of 1-10 µm. The imaging sensitivity to the field emission current can be better than the current sensitivity of a typical electrometer, i.e., less than 1 nA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF) is a widely applicable experimental technique for studyingchemical element distributions across finely layered structures at extremely high sensitivity. To promoteand facilitate scientific discovery using TXRF, we developed aMATLAB-based software package witha graphical user interface, named XeRay, for quick, accurate, and intuitive data analysis. XeRay lets theuser model any layered system, each layer with its independent chemical composition and thickness, and enables fine-tuned data fitting. The accuracy of XeRay has been tested in the analysis of TXRFdata from both air/liquid interface and liquid/liquid interfacial studies and has been compared toliterature results. In an air/liquid interface study, Ca2+ sequestration was measured at a Langmuirmonolayer of 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidic acid (SOPA) on a buffer solution of 1mM CaCl2 at pH 7.5. Data analysis with XeRay reveals that each 1 nm2 of interfacial area contains2.38 0.06 Ca2+ ions, which corresponds to a 1:1 ratio between SOPA headgroups and Ca2+ ions, consistent with several earlier reports. For the liquid/liquid interface study of Sr2+ enrichment atthe dodecane/surfactant/water interface, analysis using XeRay gives a surface enrichment of Sr2+ at68-5+6 Å2 per ion, consistent with the result published for the same dataset. Published by AIP Publishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct absorption spectroscopy has been the mainstay for spectral acquisition in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelength regimes because of the sensitivity offered by standard hot electron bolometer detectors. However, this approach is limited in its utility because of the slow spectral acquisition speeds. A few rapid acquisition techniques that offer reasonable levels of sensitivity have been developed, but these rely on specialized and costly equipment. We present here a new instrument design for a (sub)millimeter spectrometer that offers both rapid spectral acquisition and highly sensitive detection while using equipment from existing chirped-pulse Fourier transform spectrometers and direct absorption spectrometers. We report on spectrometer design and performance and compare the results to standard lock-in detection techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metrological performance of a virtual flowmeter-based transducer for monitoring helium under cryogenic conditions is assessed. At this aim, an uncertainty model of the transducer, mainly based on a valve model, exploiting finite-element approach, and a virtual flowmeter model, based on the Sereg-Schlumberger method, are presented. The models are validated experimentally on a case study for helium monitoring in cryogenic systems at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The impact of uncertainty sources on the transducer metrological performance is assessed by a sensitivity analysis, based on statistical experiment design and analysis of variance. In this way, the uncertainty sources most influencing metrological performance of the transducer are singled out over the input range as a whole, at varying operating and setting conditions. This analysis turns out to be important for CERN cryogenics operation because the metrological design of the transducer is validated, and its components and working conditions with critical specifications for future improvements are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We carried out a study of the pressure dependence of the solidification temperature in nine pressure transmitting media that are liquid at ambient temperature, under pressures up to 2.3 GPa. These fluids are 1:1 isopentane/n-pentane, 4:6 light mineral oil/n-pentane, 1:1 isoamyl alcohol/n-pentane, 4:1 methanol/ethanol, 1:1 FC72/FC84 (Fluorinert), Daphne 7373, isopentane, and Dow Corning PMX silicone oils 200 and 60000 cS. We relied on the high sensitivity of the electrical resistivity of Ba(Fe1-xRux)2As2 single crystals to the freezing of the pressure media and cross-checked with corresponding anomalies observed in the resistance of the manganin coil that served as the ambient temperature resistive manometer. In addition to establishing the temperature-pressure line separating the liquid (hydrostatic) and frozen (non-hydrostatic) phases, these data permit rough estimates of the freezing pressure of these media at ambient temperature. This pressure establishes the extreme limit for the medium to be considered hydrostatic. For higher applied pressures, the medium has to be treated as non-hydrostatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous measurement of local thermal diffusivity and conductivity is demonstrated on a range of ceramic samples. This was accomplished by measuring the temperature field spatial profile of samples excited by an amplitude modulated continuous wave laser beam. A thin gold film is applied to the samples to ensure strong optical absorption and to establish a second boundary condition that introduces an expression containing the substrate thermal conductivity. The diffusivity and conductivity are obtained by comparing the measured phase profile of the temperature field to a continuum based model. A sensitivity analysis is used to identify the optimal film thickness for extracting the both substrate conductivity and diffusivity. Proof of principle studies were conducted on a range of samples having thermal properties that are representatives of current and advanced accident tolerant nuclear fuels. It is shown that by including the Kapitza resistance as an additional fitting parameter, the measured conductivity and diffusivity of all the samples considered agreed closely with the literature values. A distinguishing feature of this technique is that it does not require a priori knowledge of the optical spot size which greatly increases measurement reliability and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polystyrene and many other materials turn yellow when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. All photodegradation mechanisms including photoyellowing are functions of the exposure wavelength, which can be described with an action spectrum. In this work, a new high-resolution transmittance measurement setup based on lasers has been developed for measuring color changes, such as the photoyellowing of translucent materials aged with a spectrograph. The measurement setup includes 14 power-stabilized laser lines between 325 nm and 933 nm wavelengths, of which one at a time is directed on to the aged sample. The power transmitted through the sample is measured with a silicon detector utilizing an integrating sphere. The sample is mounted on a high-resolution XY translation stage. Measurement at various locations aged with different wavelengths of exposure radiation gives the transmittance data required for acquiring the action spectrum. The combination of a UV spectrograph and the new high-resolution transmittance measurement setup enables a novel method for studying the UV-induced ageing of translucent materials with a spectral resolution of 3-8 nm, limited by the adjustable spectral bandwidth range of the spectrograph. These achievements form a significant improvement over earlier methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel design and sensitivity analysis of a knife edge-based optical displacement sensor that can be embedded with nanopositioning stages. The measurement system consists of a laser, two knife edge locations, two photodetectors, and axillary optics components in a simple configuration. The knife edge is installed on the stage parallel to its moving direction and two separated laser beams are incident on knife edges. While the stage is in motion, the direct transverse and diffracted light at each knife edge is superposed producing interference at the detector. The interference is measured with two photodetectors in a differential amplification configuration. The performance of the proposed sensor was mathematically modeled, and the effect of the optical and mechanical parameters, wavelength, beam diameter, distances from laser to knife edge to photode-tector, and knife edge topography, on sensor outputs was investigated to obtain a novel analytical method to predict linearity and sensitivity. From the model, all parameters except for the beam diameter have a significant influence on measurement range and sensitivity of the proposed sensing system. To validate the model, two types of knife edges with different edge topography were used for the experiment. By utilizing a shorter wavelength, smaller sensor distance and higher edge quality increased measurement sensitivity can be obtained. The model was experimentally validated and the results showed a good agreement with the theoretically estimated results. This sensor is expected to be easily implemented into nanopositioning stage applications at a low cost and mathematical model introduced here can be used for design and performance estimation of the knife edge-based sensor as a tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interferometry system that enables acquisition of spatially resolved velocity-time profiles with very high velocity sensitivity has been designed and applied to two diverse, instructive experimental problems: (1) measurement of low-amplitude reverberations in laser-driven flyer plates and (2) measurement of ramp-wave profiles in symmetric impact studies of fused silica. The delay leg in this version of a line-imaging optically recording velocity interferometer system (ORVIS) consists of a long air path that includes relay optics to transmit the optical signal through the interferometer cavity. Target image quality from the delay path at the image recombination plane is preserved by means of a compact and flexible optical design utilizing two parabolic reflectors (serving as the relay optics) in a folded path. With an instrument tuned to a velocity per fringe constant of 22.4 m s-1 fringe-1, differences of 1-2 m s-1 across the probe line segment can be readily distinguished. Measurements that capture small spatial variations in flyer velocity are presented and briefly discussed. In the fused silica impact experiments, the ramp-wave profile observed by this air-delay instrument compares favorably to the profile recorded simultaneously by a conventional line-imaging ORVIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact Sagnac interferometer with a long-period grating (LPG) inscribed in a polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF-LPG) and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed. The PMF-LPG is intrinsically sensitive to the external refractive index (ERI) and temperature, whereas the FBG is only sensitive to temperature. Simultaneous measurement of the ERI and temperature can be achieved by detecting wavelength shifts in the interference patterns of the Sagnac interferometer and the FBG. Because a Sagnac interference structure is used, a high ERI sensitivity of -21.07 nm/refractive index unit in measurement range 1.33-1.43 is obtained, which is about three times higher than for the normal LPG ERI sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A few years back, our lab developed a signal averaging technique that greatly reduces the number of scans required to achieve a comparable signal-to-noise ratio to that of conventional signal averaging for continuous wave magnetic resonance measurements. We utilize an adaptive filter in a signal averaging scheme without any prior knowledge of the signal under observation. We termed this technique adaptive signal averaging (ASA). The technique was successful in reducing the noise variance by a factor of at least 10 in a single trace and is shown to converge in time by the same factor. ASA can also be useful in many other applications where signal averaging is utilized, such as medical imaging, electrocardiography, or electroencephalography. The purpose of this paper is to describe the advancements made to the technique, present a derivation of its performance enhancement, and illustrate the power of the technique through a set of simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we propose and verify by experiment a measurement system capable to survey both magnetic (H) and electric (E) fields at the same point, considering that the existing low frequency (50 Hz-10 kHz) instruments permit the survey at two different points, one for H and the other for E. This measurement system has a sensor with a special configuration, with a sensitivity to electric field of 1.3 mV/(V/m), and a sensitivity to magnetic induction of 143 mV/μT. The instrument is suitable for long term survey of low frequency H and E fields by making spot measurements of the fields, both time domain and frequency domain representations of H and E. The correlation between the theoretical analysis of the instrument and the experimental results was very good. The proposed measurement system was used for an automatic survey of background magnetic and electric fields generated by power line in a room from an apartment building. These results are presented in this paper, highlighting the performances of the instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a technique for making electrical transport measurements in a diamond anvil cell using an alcohol pressure medium, permitting acute sensitivity while preserving sample fidelity. The sample is suspended in the liquid medium by four gold leads that are electrically isolated by a composite gasket made of stainless steel and an alumina-loaded epoxy. We demonstrate the technique with four-probe resistivity measurements of chromium single crystals at temperatures down to 4 K and pressures above 10 GPa. Our assembly is optimized for making high precision measurements of the magnetic phase diagram and quantum critical regime of chromium, which require repeated temperature sweeps and fine pressure steps while maintaining high sample quality. The high sample quality enabled by the quasi-hydrostatic pressure medium is evidenced by the residual resistivity below 0.1 μΩ cm and the relative resistivity ratio ρ(120 K)/ρ(5 K) = 15.9 at 11.4 GPa. By studying the quality of Cr's antiferromagnetic transition over a range of pressures, we show that the pressure inhomogeneity experienced by the sample is always below 5%. Finally, we solve for the Debye temperature of Cr up to 11.4 GPa using the Bloch-Gruneisen formula and find it to be independent of pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfabricated cantilever beams have been used in microelectromechanical systems for a variety of sensor and actuator applications. Bimorph cantilevers accurately measure temperature change and heat flux with resolutions several orders of magnitude higher than those of conventional sensors such as thermocouples, semiconductor diodes, as well as resistance and infrared thermometers. The use of traditional cantilevers, however, entails a series of important measurement limitations, because their interactions with the sample and surroundings often create parasitic deflection forces and the typical metal layer degrades the thermal sensitivity of the cantilever. The paper introduces a design to address these issues by decoupling the sample and detector section of the cantilever, along with a thermomechanical model, the fabrication, system integration, and characterization. The custom-designed bi-arm cantilever is over one order of magnitude more sensitive than current commercial cantilevers due to the significantly reduced thermal conductance of the cantilever sample arm. The rigid and immobile sample section offers measurement versatility ranging from photothermal absorption, near-field thermal radiation down to contact, conduction, and material thermal characterization measurements in nearly identical configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a comprehensive review of the combination of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) with various optical spectroscopies, with a particular focus on Raman spectroscopy. Efforts to combine SPM with optical spectroscopy will be described, and the technical difficulties encountered will be examined. These efforts have so far focused mainly on the development of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, a powerful technique to detect and image chemical signatures with single molecule sensitivity, which will be reviewed. Beyond tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and/or topography measurements, combinations of SPM with optical spectroscopy have a great potential in the characterization of structure and quantitative measurements of physical properties, such as mechanical, optical, or electrical properties, in delicate biological samples and nanomaterials. The different approaches to improve the spatial resolution, the chemical sensitivity, and the accuracy of physical properties measurements will be discussed. Applications of such combinations for the characterization of structure, defects, and physical properties in biology and materials science will be reviewed. Due to the versatility of SPM probes for the manipulation and characterization of small and/or delicate samples, this review will mainly focus on the apertureless techniques based on SPM probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a digital compensator imposing real-time voltage to compensate the frequency offset of quartz resonator under acceleration. To begin with, a triple-axis MEMS acceleration sensor, whose package is less than 3 mm × 3 mm × 0.9 mm, is mounted at the bottom of quartz resonator. Then acceleration sensitivity vector, based on sensor's coordinator, can be calculated by imposing sinusoidal vibration on singular axis and measuring the amplitude of sideband. So, the frequency offset can be calculated and the compensate value can also be inferred. A digital circuit is designed to generate compensate voltage real time to counteract the frequency offset. A FPGA is employed, which can realize computation in one clock period. Experiments show that the digital compensator presented here has a good effect at low frequency vibration just at which mechanical cushion is ineffective. At steady state, it can almost eliminate the frequency offset. Because of the integration and miniaturization of digital elements, the whole compensator is flexible, low cost, and easy to be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical properties of nanostructures depend on size, shape, material, and local environment. These characteristics can be probed interferometrically, given a broadband source. However, broadband supercontinuum sources are intrinsically noisy, limiting the measurement sensitivity. In this article we describe the application of an auto-balancing technique to reduce the noise in a broadband supercontinuum source, thus increasing the signal to noise ratio. We show a noise reduction of 41 dB allowing optical powers as small as 0.01 pW to be interferometrically detected with a 5 ms integration time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a very sensitive ion collection device, for diagnostic of laser ablated-target plasma, is described. It allows for reducing down to few microvolts the signal threshold at digital scope input. A standard ion collector is coupled to a transimpedance amplifier, specially designed, which increases data acquisition sensitivity by a gain ≈1100 and does not introduce any significant distortion of input signal. By time integration of current intensity, an amount of charge as small as 2.7 × 10-2 pC can be detected for photopeak events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A miniature fast response high temperature pressure probe, with demonstrated use in liquid metals up to 255 °C (528 K), has been developed. Innovative packaging technologies have been applied to integrate a conventional piezoresistive silicon pressure sensor into the probe, without the need of an auxiliary water-cooling system. In situ static calibrations are used to verify the linearity of the pressure signal and the stability of the pressure sensitivity (0.5% standard deviation over 70 min at 255 °C). Dynamic calibration, completed in an air shock tube facility, yields the probe's natural frequency. This frequency, when corrected for probe operation in liquid tin, is found to be 100 kHz. The reliability and accuracy of the probe is assessed by mounting it in a tin droplet dispenser for use in an extreme ultraviolet light source. Droplet dispensers typically include an excitation mechanism, which can be based on the generation of acoustic pressure waves to impose a desired droplet frequency. The probe accuracy is verified by the comparison of pressure measurements with laser Doppler vibrometry measurements of the pressure generating structure. A reference pressure measurement, conducted at representative conditions, shows a complex frequency response, with peaks distributed over three orders of magnitude and maximum amplitude of 440 mbar. Time variance of the excitation mechanism due to thermal transients is studied by monitoring the pressure response during operation. Finally, the linearity of the excitation system, with respect to the excitation amplitude, is verified by response measurements. In conclusion, the developed probe is capable of characterizing the excitation mechanism of a liquid metal droplet dispenser. Additionally, real-time monitoring of the performance of the excitation system during long-term operation is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing popularity of nanometrology and nanospectroscopy has pushed researchers to develop complex new analytical systems. This paper describes the development of a platform on which to build a microscopy tool that will allow for flexibility of customization to suit research needs. The novelty of the described system lies in its versatility of capabilities. So far, one version of this microscope has allowed for successful near-field and far-field fluorescence imaging with single molecule detection sensitivity. This system is easily adapted for reflection, polarization (Kerr magneto-optical (MO)), Raman, super-resolution techniques, and other novel scanning probe imaging and spectroscopic designs. While collecting a variety of forms of optical images, the system can simultaneously monitor topographic information of a sample with an integrated tuning fork based shear force system. The instrument has the ability to image at room temperature and atmospheric pressure or under liquid. The core of the design is a field programmable gate array (FPGA) data acquisition card and a single, low cost computer to control the microscope with analog control circuitry using off-the-shelf available components. A detailed description of electronics, mechanical requirements, and software algorithms as well as examples of some different forms of the microscope developed so far are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper developed a portable detector based on a specific material-based fluorescent sensing film for an ultra trace detection of explosives, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) or its derivate 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), in ambient air or on objects tainted by explosives. The fluorescent sensing films are based on single-layer chemistry and the signal amplification effect of conjugated polymers, which exhibited higher sensitivity and shorter response time to TNT or DNT at their vapor pressures. Due to application of the light emitting diode and the solid state photomultiplier and the cross-correlation-based circuit design technology, the device has the advantages of low-power, low-cost, small size, and an improved signal to noise ratio. The results of the experiments showed that the detector can real-time detect and identify of explosive vapors at extremely low levels; it is suitable for the identification of suspect luggage, forensic analyses, or battlefields clearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a novel method to improve the measurement sensitivity and reduce impact forces in tapping-mode atomic force microscopy by reshaping the tip trajectory. A tapping drive signal composed of two harmonics is used to generate an oscillating trajectory with a broader valley compared to the typical sinusoidal trajectory. The wide broad valley reduces the velocity of the tip in the vicinity of the sample and allots a greater portion of each period in the vicinity of the sample. Numerical simulations show that this results in decreased impact force and increased sensitivity of the cantilever oscillation to changes in tip-sample offset. Experimental results demonstrate an increase in image sharpness and decrease in tip wear using the bi-harmonic driving signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 200 °C high vacuum chamber has been built to improve vibration measurement sensitivity. The optimized design addresses two significant issues: (i) vibration measurements under high vacuum conditions and (ii) use of design optimization tools to reduce operating costs. A test rig consisting of a cylindrical vessel with one access port has been constructed with a welded-bellows assembly used to seal the vessel and enable vibration measurements in high vacuum that are comparable with measurements in air. The welded-bellows assembly provides a force transmissibility of 0.1 or better at 15 Hz excitation under high vacuum conditions. Numerical results based on design optimization of a larger diameter chamber are presented. The general constraints on the new design include material yield stress, chamber first natural frequency, vibration isolation performance, and forced convection heat transfer capabilities over the exterior of the vessel access ports. Operating costs of the new chamber are reduced by 50% compared to a preexisting chamber of similar size and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental setup has been realized to measure weak magnetic moments which can be modulated at radio frequencies (∼1-5 MHz). Using an optimized radio-frequency (RF) pickup coil and lock-in amplifier, an experimental sensitivity of 10-15 Am2 corresponding to 10-18 emu has been demonstrated with a 1 s time constant. The detection limit at room temperature is 9.3 × 10-16 Am2/[formula] limited by Johnson noise of the coil. The setup has been used to directly measure the magnetic moment due to a small number (∼7 × 108) of spin polarized electrons generated by polarization modulated optical radiation in GaAs and Ge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A direct detection of gravitational waves is still lacking today. A network of several earthbound interferometric detectors is currently operating with a continuously improving sensitivity. The window of interest for observation has a lower cut off in the frequency domain below some tens of hertz, determined by the effect of seismic motion. For larger frequencies, the sensitivity is limited by thermal effects below few hundreds of hertz and by the quantum nature of light above that value. Each of these sources of noise pose a big technological challenge to experimentalists, and there are big expectations for the next generation of detectors. A reduction of thermal effects by at least one order of magnitude will be obtained with new and carefully designed materials. At that point the quantum nature of light will become an issue, and the use of quantum non-demolition techniques will become mandatory. In this review, we discuss interferometric detection of gravitational waves from an instrumental point of view. We try to address conceptually important issues with an audience of non-experts in mind. A particular emphasis is given to the description of the current limitations and to the perspectives of beating them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the electrical calcium test - a method to measure very small rates of water vapor permeation through barrier films with high throughput. The sensitivity range for our design is found to be 10-5 to 15 g/(m2 d). Moreover, a closer look at the importance of electrodes series resistance is taken: We show that permeation rates are underestimated if it is neglected. Taking this series resistance and Fickian diffusion into account not only the steady, but also the transient state of the permeation curve can be fitted. Using this approach, permeation barriers with different permeabilities are evaluated leading to water vapor transmission rates well comparable to coulometric measurements. The calcium layer morphology is investigated by atomic force microscopy measurements indicating microscopical inhomogeneities during degradation. Variations of electrode material and calcium layer thickness are carried out to examine their influence on the measured permeation. Additionally, optical and electrical calcium tests are compared. Small differences in the time dependence are observed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for measuring the domain wall velocity in a single, ultrathin ferromagnetic amorphous wire with the diameter down to 100 nm is presented. The method has been developed in order to increase the sensitivity in studying the domain wall propagation in bistable magnetic wires in a wide range of field amplitudes, with much larger values of the applied field as compared to those employed when studying the wall propagation in typical amorphous microwires. The large fields required to propagate the domain walls in ultrathin wires are able to nucleate new domain walls in the samples and, therefore, they can affect the accuracy of the entire measurement. The proposed experimental setup prevents such situations by using a number of complex pick-up coils, which allow the detection of the direction of the wall propagation along with the precise measurement of the domain wall velocity. The newly developed method is especially important now, when large effort is devoted to the development of domain wall logic devices based on ultrathin magnetic wires and nanowires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first experimental demonstration of an active interfacial shear microrheometer (ISMR) that uses a particle trapped by oscillating optical tweezers (OT) to probe the shear modulus Gs*(ω) of a gas/liquid interface. The most significant advantages of the oscillating OT in a rheology study are: (1) very high sensitivity compared to other active microrheology methods and (2) the ability to measure both the real and imaginary components of the complex shear modulus without relying on the use of Kramers-Kronig relation, which can be problematic at low frequencies for most of the passive methods. We demonstrate the utilities of our ISMR in two case studies: (1) a 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine monolayer and (2) a composite of poly(styrene sulfonate) and dioctadecyldimethylammonium at the air/water interface in regimes where no other active instruments can explore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When used at facilities like OMEGA and the NIF, CR-39 is exposed to high vacuum environments before and after irradiation by charged particles and neutrons. Using an electrostatic linear accelerator at MIT, studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of high vacuum exposure on the sensitivity of CR-39 to fusion protons in the ∼1-9 MeV energy range. High vacuum conditions, of order 10-5 Torr, experienced by CR-39 samples at these facilities were emulated. It is shown that vacuum exposure times longer than ∼16 h before proton irradiation result in a decrease in proton sensitivity, whereas no effect was observed for up to 67 h of vacuum exposure after proton irradiation. CR-39 sensitivity curves are presented for samples with prolonged exposure to high vacuum before and after proton irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tilt sensor with a compact dimension based on a long-period fiber grating (LPG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The LPG is fixed in a rigid Plexi-glass tubular with a slant orientation and half of the LPG is immersed into the NaCl aqueous solutions, whereas the other half is exposed in air. The tilt angle is obtained by monitoring the dip wavelength shift of the LPG, which changes gradually when the immersed length of the LPG varies with the tilt angle. Experimental results show that the average sensitivity 0.077 nm/° is achieved within the measurement range from -30º to 30º at the static measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prototype cantilevers are presented that enable quantitative surface force measurements using contact-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). The 'hammerhead' cantilevers facilitate precise optical lever system calibrations for cantilever flexure and torsion, enabling quantifiable adhesion measurements and friction measurements by lateral force microscopy (LFM). Critically, a single hammerhead cantilever of known flexural stiffness and probe length dimension can be used to perform both a system calibration as well as surface force measurements in situ, which greatly increases force measurement precision and accuracy. During LFM calibration mode, a hammerhead cantilever allows an optical lever 'torque sensitivity' to be generated for the quantification of LFM friction forces. Precise calibrations were performed on two different AFM instruments, in which torque sensitivity values were specified with sub-percent relative uncertainty. To examine the potential for accurate lateral force measurements using the prototype cantilevers, finite element analysis predicted measurement errors of a few percent or less, which could be reduced via refinement of calibration methodology or cantilever design. The cantilevers are compatible with commercial AFM instrumentation and can be used for other AFM techniques such as contact imaging and dynamic mode measurements [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel design of a purpose-built, portable sample cell for in situ x-ray scattering experiments of radioactive or atmosphere sensitive samples. The cell has a modular design that includes two independent layers of containment that are used simultaneously to isolate the sensitive samples. Both layers of containment can be flushed with an inert gas, thus serving a double purpose as containment of radiological material (either as a solid sample or as a liquid phase) and in separating reactive samples from the ambient atmosphere. A remote controlled solution flow system is integrated into the containment system that allows sorption experiments to be performed on the diffractometer. The cell's design is discussed in detail and we demonstrate the cell's performance by presenting first results of crystal truncation rod measurements. The results were obtained from muscovite mica single crystals reacted with 1 mM solutions of ThIV with 0.1 M NaCl background electrolyte. Data were obtained in specular as well as off-specular geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitivity (limit of detection) of high-resolution Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (HRBS) is mainly determined by the background noise of the spectrometer. There are two major origins of the background noise in HRBS, one is the stray ions scattered from the inner wall of the vacuum chamber of the spectrometer and the other is the dark noise of the microchannel plate (MCP) detector which is commonly used as a focal plane detector of the spectrometer in HRBS. In order to reject the stray ions, several barriers are installed inside the spectrometer and a thin Mylar foil is mounted in front of the detector. The dark noise of the MCP detector is rejected by the coincidence measurement with the secondary electrons emitted from the Mylar foil upon the ion passage. After these improvements, the background noise is reduced by a factor of 200 at a maximum. The detection limit can be improved down to 10 ppm for As in Si at a measurement time of 1 h under ideal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tubular furnace specifically designed for growing nanostructured materials is presented in this work. The configuration allows an accurate control of evaporation temperature, substrate temperature, total pressure, oxygen partial pressure, volumetric flow and source-substrate distance, with the possibility of performing both downstream and upstream depositions. In order to illustrate the versatility of the equipment, the furnace was used for growing semiconducting oxide nanostructures under different deposition conditions. Highly crystalline indium oxide nanowires with different morphologies were synthesized by evaporating mixtures of indium oxide and graphite powders with different mass ratios at temperatures between 900 ºC and 1050 ºC. The nanostructured layers were deposited onto oxidized silicon substrates with patterned gold catalyst in the temperature range from 600 ºC to 900 ºC. Gas sensors based on these nanowires exhibited enhanced sensitivity towards oxygen, with good response and recovery times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of sensitivity in quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) applications has been addressed in the last decades by increasing the sensor fundamental frequency, following the increment of the frequency/mass sensitivity with the square of frequency predicted by Sauerbrey. However, this sensitivity improvement has not been completely transferred in terms of resolution. The decrease of frequency stability due to the increase of the phase noise, particularly in oscillators, made impossible to reach the expected resolution. A new concept of sensor characterization at constant frequency has been recently proposed. The validation of the new concept is presented in this work. An immunosensor application for the detection of a low molecular weight contaminant, the insecticide carbaryl, has been chosen for the validation. An, in principle, improved version of a balanced-bridge oscillator is validated for its use in liquids, and applied for the frequency shift characterization of the QCM immunosensor application. The classical frequency shift characterization is compared with the new phase-shift characterization concept and system proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a high sensitivity and high spectral resolution laser absorption spectrometer based upon the frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy (FS-CRDS) technique. We used the Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) method to lock the probe laser to the high-finesse ring-down cavity. We show that the concomitant narrowing of the probe laser line width leads to dramatically increased ring-down event acquisition rates (up to 14.3 kHz), improved spectrum signal-to-noise ratios for weak O2 absorption spectra at λ = 687 nm and substantial increase in spectrum acquisition rates compared to implementations of FS-CRDS that do not incorporate high-bandwidth locking techniques. The minimum detectable absorption coefficient and the noise-equivalent absorption coefficient for the spectrometer are about 2×10-10 cm-1 and 7.5×10-11 cm-1Hz-1/2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]