Simple interferometric setup enabling sub-Fourier-scale ultra-short laser pulses

In this work, we describe an interferometric method to generate ultra-short pulses below the Fourier limit. It is done by extending concepts first developed in the spatial domain to achieve sub-diffractive beams through the addition of a spatial chirp in one of the arms of a Michelson interferometer using a spherical mirror. To experimentally synthesize sub-Fourier pulses, we replace the spherical mirror with a water cell, since it produces chirp in the temporal domain. We also present an alternative procedure, based on asymmetrical interference between the widened pulse and the original pulse where the peaks of both pulses exhibit a temporal delay achieving the narrowing of ultra-short pulses with sub-Fourier scales. To characterize the performance of the system, we performed a preliminary assessment considering the percentage of FWHM shrinking obtained for each scheme. By means of a symmetrical configuration 7 and 12 \% pulse reductions were verified, both experimentally and analytically, while for the non-symmetrical configuration 10 and 24\% reductions were achieved corresponding to main lobe to side-lobes ratios of 10 and 30\% . The experimental setup scheme is simple, versatile and able to work with high-power laser sources and ultra-short pulses with a broad bandwidth at any central wavelength. The results presented in this work are promising and help to enlighten new routes and strategies in the design of coherent control systems. We envision that they will become broadly useful in different areas from strong field domain to quantum information.

Polarization-Insensitive Broadband THz Absorber Based on Circular Graphene Patches

A polarization-insensitive broadband terahertz absorber based on single-layer graphene metasurface has been designed and simulated, in which the graphene metasurface is composed of isolated circular patches. After simulation and optimization, the absorption bandwidth of this absorber with more than 90% absorptance is up to 2 THz. The simulation results demonstrate that the broadband absorption can be achieved by combining the localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonances on the graphene patches and the resonances caused by the coupling between them. The absorption bandwidth can be changed by changing the chemical potential of graphene and the structural parameters. Due to the symmetrical configuration, the proposed absorber is completely insensitive to polarization and have the characteristics of wide angle oblique incidence that they can achieve broadband absorption with 70% absorptance in the range of incident angle from 0° to 50° for both TE and TM polarized waves. The flexible and simple design, polarization insensitive, wide-angle incident, broadband and high absorption properties make it possible for our proposed absorber to have promising applications in terahertz detection, imaging and cloaking objects.

Performance of an Indirect Packed Bed Reactor for Chemical Energy Storage

Chemical systems for thermal energy storage are promising routes to overcome the issue of solar irradiation discontinuity, helping to improve the cost-effectiveness and dispatchability of this technology. The present work is concerned with the simulation of a configuration based on an indirect-packed bed heat exchanger, for which few experimental and modelling data are available about practical applications. Since air shows advantages both as a reactant and heat transfer fluid, the modelling was performed considering a redox oxide based system, and, for this purpose, it was considered a pelletized aluminum/manganese spinel. A symmetrical configuration was selected and the calculation was carried out considering a heat duty of 125 MWth and a storage period of 8 h. Firstly, the heat exchanger was sized considering the mass and energy balances for the discharging step, and, subsequently, air inlet temperature and mass flow were determined for the charging step. The system performances were then modelled as a function of the heat exchanger length and the charging and discharging time, by solving the relative 1D Navier-Stokes equations. Despite limitations in the global heat exchange efficiency, resulting in an oversize of the storage system, the results showed a good storage efficiency of about 0.7.

DC Solid-State Circuit Breakers with Two-Winding Coupled Inductor for Low Voltage DC Microgrid

Ensuring a protection scheme in DC distribution is more difficult to achieve against pole-to-ground fault than in AC distribution system because of the absence of zero crossing points and low line impedance. To complement the major obstacle of limiting the fault current, several compositions have been proposed related to mechanical switching and solid-state switching. Among them, solid-state circuit breakers(SSCBs) are considered a possible solution to limit fast fault current. However, they may cause problems in circuit complexity, reliability and cost-related troubles due to the use of multiple power semiconductor devices and additional circuit configuration to commutate current. This paper proposes the SSCB with a coupled inductor(SSCB-CI) which has symmetrical configuration. The circuit is comprised of passive components like commutation capacitors, a CI and damping resistors. Thus, proposed SSCB-CI offers the advantages of simple circuit configuration and fewer utilized power semiconductor devices than another typical SSCBs in LVDC microgrid. For analysis, six operation states are described for the voltage across main switches and fault current. The effectiveness of the SSCB-CI against a short-circuit fault is proved via simulation and experimental results in a lab-scale prototype.

Suitability Study of Structure-from-Motion for the Digitisation of Architectural (Heritage) Spaces to Apply Divergent Photograph Collection

The digitisation of architectural heritage has experienced a great development of low-cost and high-definition data capture technologies, thus enabling the accurate and effective modelling of complex heritage assets. Accordingly, research has identified the best methods to survey historic buildings, but the suitability of Structure-from-Motion/Multi-view-Stereo (SfM/MVS) for interior square symmetrical architectural spaces is unexplored. In contrast to the traditional SfM surveying for which the camera surrounds the object, the photograph collection approach is divergent in courtyards. This paper evaluates the accuracy of SfM point clouds against Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) for these large architectural spaces with a symmetrical configuration, with the main courtyard of Casa de Pilatos in Seville, Spain, as a case study. Two different SfM surveys were conducted: (1) Without control points, and (2) referenced using a total station. The first survey yielded unacceptable results: A standard deviation of 0.0576 m was achieved in the northwest sector of the case study, mainly because of the difficulty of aligning the SfM and TLS data due to the way they are produced. This value could be admissible depending on the purpose of the photogrammetric model.

Aberration-Based Quality Metrics in Holographic Lenses

Aberrations and the image quality of holographic lenses were evaluated by a Hartmann–Shack (HS) wavefront sensor. Two lenses, one recorded with a symmetrical configuration and the other with an asymmetrical one, were stored in a photopolymer called Biophotopol. Each was reconstructed with two different wavelengths, 473 nm and 633 nm. Different metrics were applied to determine and quantify the aberration of the lenses (Zernike coefficients, Seidel coefficients, Marechal tolerances, root-mean-square (RMS), peak to valley, critical fraction of the pupil), and the quality of the image they provided (Strehl ratio, entropy, cutoff frequency, modulation transfer function (MTF), and area under the MTF). Good agreement between the metrics related to optical quality was obtained. The negative asymmetric holographic lenses had less aberration than the positive symmetric ones.

Acyl radical to rhodacycle addition and cyclization relay to access butterfly flavylium fluorophores

Transition metal-catalyzed C–H activation and radical reactions are two versatile strategies to construct diverse organic skeletons. Here we show the construction of a class of flavylium fluorophores via the merge of radical chemistry and C–H activation starting from (hetero)aryl ketones and alkynes. This protocol is not only applicable to aryl ketones but also to heteroaryl ketones such as thiophene, benzothiophene and benzofuran, thus leading to structural diversity. Mechanism studies, including control experiments, intermediate separation, radical trapping, EPR and ESI-HRMS experiments, demonstrate that the key step lies in the addition of the acyl radical generated by the copper-catalyzed C–C bond cleavage of aryl ketone to the rhodacycle formed via the C–H activation of aryl ketone. The flavylium fluorophores feature butterfly symmetrical configuration, nearly planar skeleton and delocalized positive charge, and exhibit intriguing photophysical properties, such as tunable absorption and emission wavelengths and high quantum yields.

A New Method to Reconstruct in 3D the Emission Position of the Prompt Gamma Rays following Proton Beam Irradiation

A new technique for range verification in proton beam therapy has been developed. It is based on the detection of the prompt γ rays that are emitted naturally during the delivery of the treatment. A spectrometer comprising 16 LaBr3(Ce) detectors in a symmetrical configuration is employed to record the prompt γ rays emitted along the proton path. An algorithm has been developed that takes as inputs the LaBr3(Ce) detector signals and reconstructs the maximum γ-ray intensity peak position, in full 3 dimensions. For a spectrometer radius of 8 cm, which could accommodate a paediatric head and neck case, the prompt γ-ray origin can be determined from the width of the detected peak with a σ of 4.17 mm for a 180 MeV proton beam impinging a water phantom. For spectrometer radii of 15 and 25 cm to accommodate larger volumes this value increases to 5.65 and 6.36 mm. For a 8 cm radius, with a 5 and 10 mm undershoot, the σ is 4.31 and 5.47 mm. These uncertainties are comparable to the range uncertainties incorporated in treatment planning. This work represents the first step towards a new accurate, real-time, 3D range verification device for spot-scanning proton beam therapy.