Beam Size Research Articles

μeV electron spectromicroscopy using free-space light

The synergy between free electrons and light has recently been leveraged to reach an impressive degree of simultaneous spatial and spectral resolution, enabling applications in microscopy and quantum optics. However, the required combination of electron optics and light injection into the spectrally narrow modes of arbitrary specimens remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate microelectronvolt spectral resolution with a sub-nanometer probe of photonic modes with quality factors as high as 104. We rely on mode matching of a tightly focused laser beam to whispering gallery modes to achieve a 108-fold increase in light-electron coupling efficiency. By adapting the shape and size of free-space optical beams to address specific physical questions, our approach allows us to interrogate any type of photonic structure with unprecedented spectral and spatial detail.

Evaluation of the shear size effect in glued laminated timber using a stochastic FE model calibrated on 17000 glue-line tests

Glue-line tests provide the shear resistance and failure mode of samples extracted from laminated timber products. Several papers questioned the practical use of such tests affirming the lack of correlation between the capacity of the beam and the outcomes of glue-line tests. However, no studies provide a probabilistic framework for interpreting glue-line tests. This paper presents and discusses the largest database of glue-line tests ever published, consisting of approximately 17000 tests on glued laminated timber (GLT) beams, carried out at the Treteknisk, the Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology (Norway). This database has been used to develop in Abaqus a stochastic FE model to predict the shear capacity of glued laminated timber beams (GLT) using advanced modelling concepts, including discrete cracking and plasticity. The authors examine the dependence of the shear capacity on the beam size to assess the shear size effect in GLT components. The methodology is based on Montecarlo simulations. The mechanical properties of the elementary volumes composing the beam are assigned using a random field model calibrated on the glue-line tests.

Wave optics approach to solar cell BRDF modeling with experimental results.

Light curve analysis is often used to discern information about satellites in geosynchronous orbits. Solar panels, comprising a large part of the satellite's body, contribute significantly to these light curves. Historically, theoretical bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs) have failed to capture key features in the scattered light from solar panels. In recently published work, a new solar cell BRDF was developed by combining specular microfacet and "two-slit" diffraction terms to capture specular and periodic/array scattering, respectively. This BRDF was experimentally motivated and predicted many features of the solar cell scattered irradiance. However, the experiments that informed the BRDF were limited to a single laser wavelength, single beam size, and single solar cell sample. In addition, the BRDF was not physics based and therefore, physical insight into what causes certain features in the scattered irradiance was not evident. In this work, we examine solar cell scattering from first principles and derive a simple physics-based expression for the scattered irradiance. We analyze this expression and physically link terms to important scattering features, e.g., out-of-plane phenomena. In addition, we compare our model with experimental data and find good agreement in the locations and behaviors of these features. Our new model, being more predictive by nature, will allow for greater flexibility and accuracy when modeling reflection from solar cells in both real-world and experimental situations.

ELECTRON BEAMS IN THE GRADIENT MAGNETIC FIELD: CONTROL FOR CONVERTING LONGITUDINAL MOTION INTO TRANSVERSAL

The motion of electrons in a cylindrical magnetic field with the gradient-type potential is considered. The motion of electrons in the cylindrical magnetic field with the gradient-type potential is considered. It is found that in the selected field, the initial motion of electrons along the longitudinal axis is converted into motion along the radius. It is determined that such the transformation is due to the action of a solenoidal magnetic field with large longitudinal gradient. The transformation of the longitudinal direction of motion into the transverse one turned out to be stable in the energy range of 20...55 keV of electrons and in the range of 5...50 mm of radial dimensions of the particle beam. The main dependences of the motion of the electron beam in the given solenoidal magnetic field are studied with the help of the software tool. The results of numerical simulation of electron trajectories in the gradient magnetic field with the circular secondary emission cathode located in the middle of the system are presented. To study the mechanism of stability with respect to magnetic field, two experimentally realized magnetic fields were used. Based on these two fields, arrays of additional 4 fields are numerically synthesized. For the set of 6 named fields, the operation of the gun, in which the particle undergoes the stable transformation of the direction of motion, is numerically studied. It is shown that for the given electron energy and the fixed magnetic field, the parameter that determines the rotation of the particles is the magnetic field gradient at the boundary of the entry region. It is found that the rotation effect takes place for the considered range of radial beam sizes, which leads to particle focusing. The possibility is shown to control the vertical coordinate of the focused beam on the basis of the field adjustment, thereby giving the interpretation of the pore dependence of the registration of electrons on the detector. The dependence of the formation of the final distribution of particles on the amplitude and gradient of the magnetic field along the axis of the system is studied. The results of numerical simulation on the motion of the electron beam are presented. Based on the model of electron flow motion, the characteristics of the resulting electron beam are considered. It is shown that the beam, having radial dimensions of 5...50 mm, is transformed and focused vertically on the area of 1 mm.

Construction and dosimetric characterization of a motorized scanning-slit system for electron FLASH experiments.

Beam scanning is a useful technique for the treatment of large tumors when the primary beam size is limited, which is the case with radiation beams used in FLASH radiotherapy. To optimize beam scanning as a dose delivery method for FLASH radiotherapy, it is necessary to first understand the effects of beam scanning on the FLASH effect. To do so, biological FLASH experiments need to be done using defined beam parameters with beam scanning and compared to the situation without beam scanning. In this regard, we propose implementation of a simple slit scanning system with an electron FLASH beam to obtain a scanned radiation field that closely resembles a static field. A pulsed electron linear accelerator (linac) was used in combination with a scanning slit system in order to simulate a scanned electron beam. Three configurations that produced homogeneous lateral profiles and high enough doses per pulse for FLASH experiments were established. The optimal scanning parameters were found for each configuration by examining the flatness of the obtained lateral dose profiles. Using the optimal scanning parameters, the scanned FLASH beams were dosimetrically characterized and compared to non-scanned open field beam. A final electron FLASH beam scanning configuration was found for a 1mm wide slit at a distance of 350mm from the linac and a 2mm wide slit at distances of 350 and 490mm from the linac. The lateral profiles for these final configurations were found to have a homogeneity that is comparable to the open field profiles. The percentage depth dose (PDD) values found for these final configurations closely matched (by a few percentage) the PDD of the open field beam. Three electron FLASH beam scanning configurations achieved by the motorized slit system were found to produce radiation fields similar to a non-scanned open field electron beam. These final configurations can therefore be used in future biological FLASH experiments to compare to non-scanned beam experiments in order to optimize beam scanning as a technique permitting the treatment of larger tumors with FLASH radiotherapy.

Demonstration of an imaging-free terahertz generation setup using segmented tilted-pulse-front excitation.

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, compact, imaging-free, tilted-pulse-front (TPF) pumped terahertz (THz) source based on a LiNbO3 slab with a small wedge angle (< 8°) and with an echelon microstructure on its input surface has been demonstrated. Single-cycle pulses of more than 40-µJ energy and 0.28-THz central frequency have been generated by 100-mJ, 400-fs pump pulses with 4.1 × 10-4 efficiency and excellent focusability. The peak electric field value focused by a single parabolic mirror was 540 kV/cm. Using 200-fs-long pump pulses, the efficiency increased to 1.0 × 10-3, which is in qualitative agreement with the measured increased diffraction efficiency in the velocity matched diffraction order. A further ∼8x increase in efficiency is expected by pumping a cryogenically cooled wedged echelon with appropriate step sizes, better microstructured surface quality, and antireflection coating on both the input and the output sides. THz generation efficiency maxima were found at ∼2.7-mm crystal thickness for both pump pulse durations. The focused THz beam was diffraction limited within 5% accuracy. Compared to conventional THz sources, this setup is very compact, easy to align, can be pumped by larger beam sizes maintaining the high THz generation efficiency, and produces THz pulses with superior focusability.

Electron Energy Spectrometer for MIR-THz FEL Light Source at Chiang Mai University

The linear accelerator system of the PBP-CMU Electron Linac Laboratory has been designed with the aim of generating free-electron lasers (FELs) in the mid-infrared (MIR) and terahertz (THz) regions. The quality of the radiation is strongly dependent on the properties of the electron beam. Among the important beam parameters, the electron beam energy and energy spread are particularly important. To accurately measure the electron beam energy, the first dipole magnet in the bunch compressor system and the downstream screen station are employed as an energy spectrometer. The A Space Charge Tracking Algorithm (ASTRA) software is used for the design and optimization of this system. Simulation results demonstrate that the developed spectrometer is capable of accurately measuring the energy within the 5–25 MeV range. The screen station system is designed and constructed to have the ability to capture a beam size with a resolution of 0.1 mm per pixel. This resolution is achieved with a screen-to-camera distance of 1.2 m, which proves sufficient for precise energy measurement. The systematic error in energy measurement is found to be less than 10%, with a minimum energy spread of 0.4% achievable when the horizontal beam size remains below 3 mm.

Structural pounding of three adjacent multi degree of freedom system under subsurface blast and seismic action by considering and ignoring the effect of soil structure interaction

A lack of spacing between the adjacent structures is mostly observed in metropolitan cities due to more land cost, which has led to more serious problem called as structural pounding in many recent earthquakes. Large impact forces and short acceleration pulses are mostly noticed during the structural pounding, and which is hazardous to structural health of the buildings involved in this phenomena. In the present paper three adjacent multi-degree-of-freedom linear elastic systems subjected to seismic and subsurface blast actions are analyzed by considering and ignoring the effect of soil structure interactions. Three dimensional buildings are analyzed and designed for deciding the column and beam sizes in SAP 2000 NL software considering all possible load combinations of dead load, live load and earthquake load as per IS 1893:2016 Part I. The subsurface indirect method is used for studying the effect of soil structure interaction. The SSI spring stiffness’s and damping constants are calculated as per FEMA 356. These buildings are converted into the lumped mass model as per the principles of dynamics of structures. The entire analysis of three adjacent lumped mass models with insufficient separation is carried out in time domain form using MATLAB programming. The outputs are measured in the forms of top storey displacement time history plots, top floor level pounding force time history plots and base shear force time history plots. From the outputs, it is noticed that the SSI amplifies the displacement response of building than that of fixed base system. SSI also overrates the pounding response of structure. Blast force response is much smoothens than seismic response of structure.

Gas, dust, and the CO-to-molecular gas conversion factor in low-metallicity starbursts

The factor relating CO emission to molecular hydrogen column density, XCO, is still subject to uncertainty, in particular at low metallicity. In this paper, to quantify XCO at two different spatial resolutions, we exploited a dust-based method together with ALMA 12-m and ACA data and H I maps of three nearby metal-poor starbursts, NGC 625, NGC 1705, and NGC 5253. Dust opacity at 250 pc resolution was derived based on dust temperatures estimated by fitting two-temperature modified blackbodies to Herschel PACS data. By using the HI maps, we were then able to estimate dust-to-gas ratios in the regions dominated by atomic gas, and, throughout the galaxy, to infer total gas column densities and H2 column densities as the difference with HI. Finally, from the ACA CO(1–0) maps, we derived XCO. We used a similar technique with 40 pc ALMA 12-m data for the three galaxies, but instead derived dust attenuation at 40 pc resolution from reddening maps based on VLT/MUSE data. At 250 pc resolution, we find XCO ∼ 1022 − 1023 cm−2/K km s−1, 5–1000 times the Milky Way value, with much larger values than would be expected from a simple metallicity dependence. Instead, at 40 pc resolution, XCO again shows large variation, but is roughly consistent with a power-law metallicity dependence, given the Z ∼ 1/3 Z⊙ metal abundances of our targets. The large scatter in both estimations could imply additional parameter dependence, which we have investigated by comparing XCO with the observed velocity-integrated brightness temperatures, ICO, as predicted by recent simulations. Indeed, larger XCO is significantly correlated with smaller ICO, but with slightly different slopes and normalizations than predicted by theory. Such behavior can be attributed to the increasing fraction of CO-faint (or dark) H2 gas with lower spatial resolution (larger beams). This confirms the idea the XCO is multivariate, depending not only on metallicity but also on the CO brightness temperature and beam size. Future work is needed to consolidate these empirical results by sampling galaxies with different metal abundances observed at varying spatial resolutions.

Testing high-resolution transverse profile monitors by measuring the dependence of the electron beam size on the beam energy at SwissFEL

Transverse profile monitors are essential devices to characterize particle beams in accelerators. Here, we present an improved design of beam profile monitors at SwissFEL that combines the use of high-quality filters and dynamic focusing. We reconstruct the profile monitor resolution in a gentle way by measuring the electron beam size for different energies. The results show a significant improvement of the new design compared to the previous version, from 20 to 14 µm.

Manipulating vortices with a rotating laser beam in Bose–Einstein condensates

We investigate the influence of a rotating laser beam on the dynamics of a topological vortex excitation in single-component and binary two-dimensional Bose–Einstein condensates loaded in harmonic traps. The vortex dynamics show different characters by considering the relative position of the vortex and the laser beam and the excitations in the condensates with respect to the rotating frequency and the size of the laser beam. We show the dynamic phase diagrams of single-component condensates with radial isotropy and anisotropy and binary condensates with the vortex and the laser beam being in the same component and different components. Interesting dynamical states such as bound-state, free-state, chaotic-state, free-chaotic-state and bound-chaotic-state are identified for different systems within certain parameter regions.

Low-loss tunable beam collimator and expander assembly with no moving parts using anengineered diffuser and varifocal lenses.

In this paper, we present a novel design for a tunable beam collimator. A variable collimator assists in achieving an adaptive size of an output collimated beam. Alternatively, it can also provide an adjustable output beam divergence angle for a noncollimated beam output. Tunable collimators are highly desirable for various applications in testing, engineering, and measurements. Such devices are also useful in providing tunable illumination of samples or targets in microscopes and emulating different target distances for characterizing the performance of camera systems in laboratory settings. The proposed collimator has two distinct advantages: it is light-efficient compared with pinhole-based collimator designs, and it delivers a large range of output beam sizes without involving the mechanical motion of bulk components. These attributes are achieved via the use of an engineered diffuser (in the place of a pinhole) and a pair of large aperture tunable focus lenses, which deliver a tunable magnification to the output collimated beam. In laboratory experiments, we achieve an optical transmission efficiency of 90% for the proposed tunable collimator.

Design and experiment of 10 kW-level laser with high-uniformity distribution and large-size output beam

A 11.5 kW laser irradiation source was established to study the pyrolysis and fire of combustibles. The high-power laser diode array (LDA) is first used in the laser irradiation source. By using the homogenized waveguide and large-aperture reshaper, we obtained the high-uniformity distribution and large-size beam simultaneously. The intensity uniformity and the beam size were 95 % and 102.3 mm respectively, correspondingly the power intensity was 1.4 MW/m2. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to realize the large-size high-uniformity and MW/m²-level laser irradiation source, which lays a solid foundation for the experiment of the pyrolysis and fire of combustibles induced by the light irradiation. In addition, by the innovative designs, it is effectively enhanced that the damage threshold and the thermal stability of homogenized waveguide under the high-power CW laser.

Impact of Photo-induced Physical and Chemical Processes on Lateral Transport of Excitons in Quantum Dot Thin Films

We study how lateral transport of excitons (exciton diffusion) in quantum dot thin films is influenced by the photo-physical and photo-chemical properties of the quantum dots. For this, thin layers of colloidal quantum dots on glass substrates are exposed to laser pulses with different total average powers. Spatial mappings of the lifetimes of the quantum dots within the diffraction-limited spot sizes of the laser beam show that their photo-induced properties can be influenced by the excitation intensity mode profiles significantly, leading to three distinct regimes of exciton diffusion across the films. These include the cases wherein the lateral energy transport (i) is linearly influenced by the laser intensity mode profiles, (ii) is convoluted by variations of laser intensity and photo-physical and photo-chemical properties of the quantum dots, and (iii) is significantly influenced by the formation of oxidation hole burning. The third regime, oxidation hole burning effect, occurs at the center of the excited regions of the quantum dot thin films, suppressing their emission and transport of energy considerably. We will discuss variations of the diffusivity as a function of the laser intensity mode profiles and time. The results shed light on the impact of photo-chemical and photo-physical processes on transport of energy in quantum dot thin films, highlight the regimes of efficient exciton diffusion, and demonstrate the prominent impact of the intensity mode profiles of the light used to excite quantum dot thin films.

Towards a wavefront-preservation X-ray crystal monochromator for high-repetition-rate FELs.

The wavefront preservation of coherent X-ray free-electron laser beams is pushing the requirement on the quality and performance of X-ray optics to an unprecedented level. The Strehl ratio can be used to quantify this requirement. In this paper, the criteria for thermal deformation of the X-ray optics are formulated, especially for crystal monochromators. To preserve the X-ray wavefront, the standard deviation of the height error should be sub-nm for mirrors and less than 25 pm for crystal monochromators. Cryocooled silicon crystals combined with two techniques can be used to achieve this level of performance for monochromator crystals: (1) using a focusing element to compensate the second-order component of the thermal deformation; (2)introducing a cooling pad between the cooling block and silicon crystal and optimizing the effective cooling temperature. Each of these techniques allows the thermal deformation in standard deviation of the height error to be reduced by an order of magnitude. As an example, for the LCLS-II-HE Dynamic X-ray Scattering instrument, the criteria on thermal deformation of a high-heat-load monochromator crystal can be achieved for a 100 W SASE FEL beam. Wavefront propagation simulations confirm that the reflected beam intensity profile is satisfactory on both the peak power density and focused beam size.

Container moves per lift: the impact of spreader technology on bay time

The trend of increasing containership size (length, beam, and draft) continues. The increase in containership size, especially beam size (bay size), increased berth and port time at a given number of lifts per hour. There are emerging technologies that allow a spreader of ship-to-shore gantry to handle multiple containers in a single lift. This paper studies the impact of the increase in the containership bay size on berth time and the role the spreader of gantry cranes can play in keeping up with the increase of bay size, thus reducing vessel port time. The paper analyzes the moves of containers per lift with different spreader technologies, where a spreader can handle one or multiple containers in one lift. The paper determines the combination of spreader technology needed to accommodate mega containerships with large bay sizes in order to reduce vessel port time. After a literature review, using the bay time determination method developed by the authors, the paper analyzes the moves per lift of different spreader technologies, vessel operations and containership bay size configurations. The analysis determines the optimal combination of equipment to comply with liner service schedules and the difficulties the equipment might pose on a marine container terminal.

STDGL3, a Reference Material for Analysis of Sulfide Minerals by Laser Ablation ICP‐MS: An Assessment of Matrix Effects and the Impact of Laser Wavelengths and Pulse Widths

A new reference material, STDGL3, for the calibration of in situ analyses of sulfide minerals by LA‐ICP‐MS has been developed and characterised. It represents a lithium‐borate‐based glass containing a mixture of Zn‐ and Fe‐sulfide concentrates doped with several chalcophile elements as well as Zr, Gd, Hf and Ta required for assessing common interferences on Ag, Au and Pt. STDGL3 has a wider range of elements and a better homogeneity compared with existing reference materials for LA‐ICP‐MS analysis of sulfides. Compositional variations for most elements are below 3% RSD, below 5% RSD for Ag, Au and Pt, and below 7% RSD for Se, when performing spot analyses with a 50 μm beam size. Its preparation recipe is reproducible allowing for multiple batches to be made. Use of STDGL3 significantly improves accuracy of sulfide mineral analysis by LA‐ICP‐MS when compared with use of other available reference materials. Performance of STDGL3 was evaluated using several different laser systems. No significant change was observed between 193 nm ArF excimer lasers with 5 and 20 ns pulse widths, but use of 213 and 248 nm lasers displays more systematic differences, especially when analysing galena. Correction coefficients are needed for some elements (Zn and Cd in particular) when analysing sulfide minerals using STDGL3 as a calibration reference material.

Reconfigurable structured light generation and its coupling to air–core fiber

Recently, structured light beams have attracted substantial attention in many applications, including optical communications, imaging, optical tweezers, and quantum optics. We propose and experimentally demonstrate a reconfigurable structured light beam generator in order to generate diverse structured light beams with adjustable beam types, beam orders, and beam sizes. By controlling the sizes of generated free-space structured light beams, free-space orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams and vector beams are coupled into an air–core fiber. To verify that our structured light generator enables generating structured light with high beam quality, polarization distributions and mode purity of generated OAM beams and vector beams in both free space and air–core fiber are characterized. Such a structured light generator may pave the way for future applications based on higher-order structured light beams.

Development of a novel beam profiling prototype with laser self-mixing via the knife-edge approach

Laser is widely used in industry, biomedical and other kinds of fields. Beam size is the most important parameter among the laser variables. Typical state-of-the-art profiling techniques employ either a scanning-based or camera-based system, using photodiodes or image sensors as the signal receiver. Despite their profiling capabilities, these systems do not tend to be budget-friendly and easy to operate. In this paper, a novel cost-effective beam profiling prototype based on self-mixing interference was developed to measure the Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) of a range of laser diodes by the knife-edge approach. The difference between our prototype and other systems is that the photodiode is placed behind the laser source, and beam size is calculated by analyzing the feedback signal. A commercial camera beam profiler was used to benchmark our prototype. Results show that though there is a variation of 45.29 % and 65.44 % between the measured beam size and the integrated beam size in the x and y directions due to diffuse and specular reflection, our USD 200 prototype has an accuracy ranging from 89.59 % to 98.74 % on the prediction of laser beam sizes. Our prototype could provide accurate predicted beam size both for Gaussian-alike beam and top-hat-alike beam. This is the very first study to explore the application of self-mixing interference in laser beam profiling. It is believed that our proposed approach has contributed to the on-going development of laser beam profiling methodology.

A novel calorimeter for synchrotron produced monochromatic x-ray beams.

Electron synchrotrons produce x-ray beams with dose rates orders of magnitude greater than conventional x-ray tubes and with beam sizes on the order of a few millimeters. These characteristics put severe challenges on current dosimeters to accurately realize absorbed dose or air kerma. This work seeks to investigate the suitability of a novel aluminum-based calorimeter to determine absorbed dose to water with an uncertainty significantly smaller than currently possible with conventional detectors. A lower uncertainty in the determination of absolute dose rate would impact both therapeutic applications of synchrotron-produced x-ray beams and research investigations. A vacuum-based calorimeter prototype with an aluminum core was built, matching the beam profile of the 140keV monochromatic x-ray beam, produced by the Canadian Light Source Biomedical Imaging and Therapy beamline. The choice of material and overall calorimeter design was optimized using FEM thermal modeling software while Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations were used to model the impact of interactions of the radiation beam with the detector components. Corrections for both the thermal conduction and radiation transport effects were of the order of 3% and the simplicity of the geometry, combined with the monochromatic nature of the incident x-ray beam, meant that the uncertainty in each correction was ≤0.5%. The calorimeter performance was found to be repeatable over multiple irradiations of 1Gy at the±0.6% level, and no systematic dependence on environmental effects or total dose was observed. The combined standard uncertainty in the determination of absorbed dose to aluminum was estimated to be 0.8%, indicating that absorbed dose to water, the ultimate quantity of interest, could be determined with an uncertainty on the order of 1%. This value is an improvement over current techniques used for synchrotron dosimetry and comparable with the state-of-the art for conventional kV x-ray dosimetry.