Novel LED-based radiation source and its application in diffuse reflectometry and polarization measurements

An LED sphere radiator (LED-SR) was constructed to improve the accuracy in spectral radiance factor measurements performed with the robot-based gonioreflectometer at PTB. Its properties with respect to the spectral range and coverage, the temporal stability, and the homogeneity of the radiation field are presented. Two types of matte ceramic reflection standards were used for spectral radiance factor validation measurements comparing the standardly used halogen sphere radiator (Halogen-SR) and the LED-SR. Due to its designed spectral range at the border between the visible and the UV-A spectral range, the LED-SR is well suited for many applications in diffuse reflectometry. Its use for absolute radiance factor measurements and investigations of the fluorescence properties of diffuse reflecting samples is shown. Reliable polarization-resolved measurements at wavelengths below 430 nm could be carried out with PTB’s gonioreflectometer for the first time due to the beneficial signal-to-noise ratio of the LED-SR.

GRB Polarization: A Unique Probe of GRB Physics

Over half a century from the discovery of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the dominant radiation mechanism responsible for their bright and highly variable prompt emission remains poorly understood. Spectral information alone has proven insufficient for understanding the composition and main energy dissipation mechanism in GRB jets. High-sensitivity polarimetric observations from upcoming instruments in this decade may help answer such key questions in GRB physics. This article reviews the current status of prompt GRB polarization measurements and provides comprehensive predictions from theoretical models. A concise overview of the fundamental questions in prompt GRB physics is provided. Important developments in gamma-ray polarimetry including a critical overview of different past instruments are presented. Theoretical predictions for different radiation mechanisms and jet structures are confronted with time-integrated and time-resolved measurements. The current status and capabilities of upcoming instruments regarding the prompt emission are presented. The very complimentary information that can be obtained from polarimetry of X-ray flares as well as reverse-shock and early to late forward-shock (afterglow) emissions are highlighted. Finally, promising directions for overcoming the inherent difficulties in obtaining statistically significant prompt-GRB polarization measurements are discussed, along with prospects for improvements in the theoretical modeling, which may lead to significant advances in the field.

Spin separation based on-chip optical polarimeter via inverse design

Polarimetry has been demonstrated essential in various disciplines, such as optical communications, imaging, and astronomy. On-chip nanostructures for polarization measurements are most expected to replace the conventional bulk elements, and hence minimize the polarimeter for integrated applications. Some on-chip nanophotonic polarimeter via polarization detection has been implemented, in which the separation of two spin polarized states is needed. However, due to the relatively low coupling efficiency or complicated photonic silicon circuits, on-chip polarimetry using a single device still remains challenging. Here, we introduce and investigate an on-chip polarimeter with nanostructures using the inverse design method. The developed device shows the ability to detect the four polarization components of light, two of which are the spin polarizations, and the other two are the linear polarizations. The retrieved Stokes parameters with experimentally tested data are in close agreement with the numerical results. We also show the proof of concept demonstration for high-speed Stokes vector optical signals detection. In the high-speed communication experiment with data rate up to 16 GBd, the detected optical signals via polarization measurements at multiple wavelengths in the C-band were recovered with the bit error rate below the 20% forward error correction threshold. The proposed on-chip polarimeter shows promising performance both in Stokes polarimetry and high-speed optical communication applications.

Corrosion Behavior of AlFeCrCoNiZrx High-Entropy Alloys in 0.5 M Sulfuric Acid Solution

AlCoCrFeNiZrx (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were prepared by a non-consumable vacuum arc melting technology, and the microstructure and corrosion behavior were investigated by XRD, SEM, immersion tests, and electrochemical measurements. The results indicate that galvanic corrosion of the AlCoCrFeNiZrx alloys occurred in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution, and only 0.1 mol of the added Zr could greatly improve the corrosion resistance of the alloys. The corrosion properties of the AlCoCrFeNiZrx HEAs had similar change tendencies with the increase in the Zr content in the immersion tests, potentiodynamic polarization measurements, and electrochemical impedance analysis, that is, the corrosion resistance of the AlCoCrFeNiZrx alloys in a 0.5 M H2SO4 solution first increased and then decreased with the increase in the Zr content. The Zr0.1 alloys were found to have the best selective corrosion and general corrosion resistance with the smallest corrosion rate, whereas the Zr0.3 alloys presented the worst selective corrosion and general corrosion resistance with the highest corrosion rate from both the immersion tests and the potentiodynamic polarization measurements.

Study of Steel Electro-dissolution Behavior in Presence of Some Surfactants. Electrochemical Investigation and Surface Active Properties Determination

Steel electro-dissolution performance was investigated in orthophosphoric acid in the presence of N-oleyl 1.3 diaminopropane, Benzalkounuim chloride, Soduim lauryl sulphate and Di-Isononyl phthalate as a surfactant using potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The retardation performance of these surfactants was examined. The surfactant surface active parameters were estimated based on surface tension measurements. The parameters calculated comprise the critical micelle concentration (CMC), maximum surface excess (Гmax), minimum surface area (Amin) and effectiveness (πCMC). The micellization thermodynamic parameters (ΔGmic, ΔSmic) for the estimated surfactants were also computed. Results obtained from surface active properties are comparable with those gained from galvanostatic polarization measurements. Temperature influence on the steel dissolution performance was examined at 25 to 40oC range. Steel kinetic study in orthophosphoric acid- free solution and orthophosphoric acid containing surfactant was also examined. The dissolution kinetic and activated parameters were computed. Results based on microscopy measurement indicate that, addition of new four surfactants, resulting in the solution shows potential, a discrete progress in the metal texture was monitored. Improvement produced in electro-polishing bath by the investigated SAS that owing to the adsorption of such surface active agents on the anode surface.