Incident Microwave Power Research Articles

Broadband loop gap resonator for nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond.

We present an S-band tunable loop gap resonator (LGR), which provides strong, homogeneous, and directionally uniform broadband microwave (MW) drive for nitrogen-vacancy (NV) ensembles. With 42 dBm of input power, the composite device provides drive field amplitudes approaching 5 G over a circular area ≳50 mm2 or cylindrical volume ≳250 mm3. The wide 80 MHz device bandwidth allows driving all NV Zeeman resonances for bias magnetic fields below 20 G. The device realizes percent-scale MW drive inhomogeneity; we measure a fractional root-mean-square inhomogeneity σ rms = 1.6% and a peak-to-peak variation σ pp = 3% over a circular area of 11 mm2 and σ rms = 3.2% and σ pp = 10.5% over a larger 32 mm2 circular area. We demonstrate incident MW power coupling to the LGR using two methodologies: a printed circuit board-fabricated exciter antenna for deployed compact bulk sensors and an inductive coupling coil suitable for microscope-style imaging. The inductive coupling coil allows for approximately 2π steradian combined optical access above and below the device, ideal for envisioned and existing NV imaging and bulk sensing applications.

Bended probe diagnostics of the plasma characteristics within an ECR ion source with a rectangular waveguide

To reveal the argon plasma characteristics within the entire region of an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source, the plasma parameters were diagnosed using a bended Langmuir probe with the filament axis perpendicular to the diagnosing plane. Experiments indicate that, with a gas volume flow rate and incident microwave power of 4 sccm and 8.8 W, respectively, the gas was ionized to form plasma with a luminous ring. When the incident microwave power was above 27 W, the luminous ring was converted to a bright column, the dark area near its axis was narrowed, and the microwave power absorbing efficiency was increased. This indicates that there was a mode transition phenomenon in this ECR ion source when the microwave power increased. The diagnosis shows that, at an incident microwave power of 17.4 W, the diagnosed electron temperature and ion density were below 8 eV and 3 × 1017 m−3, respectively, while at incident microwave power levels of 30 W and 40 W, the maximum electron temperature and ion density were above 11 eV and 6.8 × 1017 m−3, respectively. Confined by magnetic mirrors, the higher density plasma region had a bow shape, which coincided with the magnetic field lines but deviated from the ECR layer.

Inner shell ionization of argon in ECRIS plasma

The volumetric Kα emission rate of argon emitted from the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heated plasmas of the JYFL (University of Jyväskylä, Department of Physics) 14 GHz ECR ion source (ECRIS) and the 14.5 GHz Grenoble Test Source (GTS) at iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences have been measured to gain an understanding of the influence of the ion source tune parameters on the absolute inner shell ionization rate. It was observed that the behaviour of the ionization rate and the extracted ion beam currents react differently, depending the parametric sweep performed. The neutral gas pressure and incident microwave power was found to have the strongest influence on the ionization rate. At high neutral gas pressure, the absolute inner shell ionization rate was found to saturate. This observation is as a result of the plasma energy content becoming insufficient to sustain the growth in ionization rate. It was also observed that the incident microwave power should be increased much more to counter the decrease in high charge state production as a result of the gas increase and subsequent increase in charge exchange. At low incident microwave, the ionization rate per unit absorbed microwave power was found to be high, which suggests that the inner shell ionization process is driven by the ion dynamics as opposed to the electron dynamics. The influence of the biased disc voltage and magnetic field configuration on the ionization rate was found to be minimal. This led to the suggestion that these two tune parameters does not directly impact the warm electron population of the ECRIS plasma during the parametric sweeps. The Kα emission rate can be used as an additional tool for benchmarking the results of numerical simulation codes on ECRIS plasmas.

Superhyperfine Structure of the EPR Spectra of Nd3+ Impurity Ions in Fluorite CaF2

EPR spectra of a CaF2 single crystal that was grown from melt containing a small addition of NdF3 were studied. Signals corresponding to tetragonal centers of Nd3+ ions and cubic centers of Er3+ and Yb3+ ions were found. Superhyperfine structure (SHFS) in the spectra of the Nd3+ ions was observed for the first time in this crystal; parameters of the superhyperfine interaction of the Nd3+ ions with the nearest nine fluorine ions were determined. The dependence of the resolution of the Nd3+ EPR spectrum SHFS on the incident microwave power at the temperature of T ≈ 6 K was studied. Obtained results are discussed and compared with the literature data.

Experimental investigation on drying characteristic of titanium slag using microwave heating

ABSTRACTDrying characteristic of titanium slag using microwave heating is attempted in the present work, so as to assess the effect of microwave power and sample mass, and to understand the mechanism and morphological changes. The results show that the water removal rate of titanium slag increased with both incident microwave power and sample mass. For the 50 g of sample microwaved at 600 W, for duration of 80 s, water content could be reduced to 0.02%. The thermal stability of the titanium slag and the morphological changes before and after microwave heating were characterized by TG/DSC and SEM. The results show an obvious endothermic peak at about 86°C, which indicates the dehydration processes of titanium slag, and the chemical stability of the drying materials within the drying temperature range. In addition, after certain duration, the sample under microwave heating developed internal microcracks, which augmented the release of internal water, improving the drying rate.

Суперсверхтонкая структура спектров ЭПР примесных ионов Nd-=SUP=-3+-=/SUP=- во флюорите CaF-=SUB=-2-=/SUB=-

AbstractEPR spectra of a CaF_2 single crystal that was grown from melt containing a small addition of NdF_3 were studied. Signals corresponding to tetragonal centers of Nd^3+ ions and cubic centers of Er3+ and Yb3+ ions were found. Superhyperfine structure (SHFS) in the spectra of the Nd^3+ ions was observed for the first time in this crystal; parameters of the superhyperfine interaction of the Nd^3+ ions with the nearest nine fluorine ions were determined. The dependence of the resolution of the Nd^3+ EPR spectrum SHFS on the incident microwave power at the temperature of T ≈ 6 K was studied. Obtained results are discussed and compared with the literature data.

Exploring constant substrate temperature and constant high pressure SCD growth using variable pocket holder depths

SCD substrates were successfully synthesized using an optimized pocket holder design. The pocket holder design creates an appropriate thermal environment to shield the diamond substrate from the intense microwave discharge. This substrate configuration allows for a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) rimless, uniform single crystal diamond (SCD) growth process. Square shaped pocket holders with a constant width but with varying depths were used. The SCD growth procedures were carried out via microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (MPACVD) in a 2.45GHz microwave cavity plasma reactor C at a constant pressure of 240Torr and high power density of ~500W/cm3. By continuously adjusting incident microwave power (Pinc), the substrate temperature (Ts) was held at 1020°C±5°C throughout the entire process cycle. Under these growth conditions, the crystal morphologies exhibited a smooth and flat surface. The average growth rate of the SCDs varied between 30 and 24μm/h as the pocket depth increased from 2.0 to 2.9mm. The PCD rim was eliminated for all pocket depths and the shape of the final, as grown, top SCD surface varied from a square to a circular shape as the pocket holder depth increased. When using the 2.0mm and 2.3mm pockets, the final top SCD surface area increased to almost twice the original HPHT diamond seed area and the lateral growth rate was slightly larger than the vertical growth rate. Birefringence imaging of the grown CVD diamond indicated low stress and SIMS analysis indicated nitrogen concentration levels in the freestanding, CVD diamond plates were in the range of 50ppb to 140ppb. Prime novelty statementSingle crystal diamond is grown by high power density, microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition in a pocket holder held at a constant temperature of 1020°C, a constant pressure of 240Torr and with 5% CH4/H2. Experimental variables were pocket depth and deposition time. Thick, PCD rimless growth was achieved, and for shallow holders, top growth surface area gains of 1. 4–1.9 were demonstrated.

Application of microwave energy in the destruction of dioxins in the froth product after flotation of hospital solid waste incinerator fly ash

Most of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and powder-activated carbon (PAC) in hospital solid waste incinerator fly ash are enriched in the froths produced through flotation. Because PAC is an excellent microwave absorber, microwave treatment was performed on the froths in this study to decompose PCDD/Fs. The results showed that the destruction efficiency of PCDD/Fs increased with increasing microwave incident power and processing time, particularly for highly chlorinated PCDD/Fs. With a microwave incident power of 2100W at 7min, the total mass destruction efficiency of the PCDD/Fs in the froths reached 99.6wt.% and the total toxic equivalent (TEQ) of PCDD/F was substantially reduced from 29.0 to 0.08 ng–I-TEQ/g. PCDD/Fs in the froths were mostly decomposed and evaporated very little into exhaust gas under microwave treatment, especially at 2100W. The treated froths displayed good porous structures, enabling the potential recovery of PAC for reuse. Microwave treatment of the froths could promote the rapid decomposition of PCDD/Fs and the recovery of a typical waste resource; also it could present a viable alternative to combustion treatment for the froths.

Electron cyclotron plasma startup in the GDT experiment

We report on a new plasma startup scenario in the gas dynamic trap (GDT) magnetic mirror device. The primary 5 MW neutral beam injection (NBI) plasma heating system fires into a sufficiently dense plasma target (‘seed plasma’), which is commonly supplied by an arc plasma generator. In the reported experiments, a different approach to seed plasma generation is explored. One of the channels of the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heating system is used to ionize the neutral gas and build up the density of plasma to a level suitable for NBI capture. After a short transition of approximately 1 ms the discharge becomes essentially similar to a standard one initiated by the plasma gun. This paper presents the discharge scenario and experimental data on the seed plasma evolution during ECRH, along with the dependencies on incident microwave power, magnetic configuration and pressure of a neutral gas. The characteristics of the consequent high-power NBI discharge are studied and differences from the conventional scenario are discussed. A theoretical model describing the ECR breakdown and the seed plasma accumulation in a large-scale mirror trap is developed on the basis of the GDT experiment.

Microwave heating characteristics of magnetite ore

The heating characteristics of magnetite ore under microwave irradiation were investigated as a function of incident microwave power, particle size, and magnetite ore mass. The results showed that the heating rate of magnetite ore is highly dependent on microwave power and magnetite ore mass. The maximum heating rate was obtained at a microwave irradiation power of 1.70 kW with a mass of 25 g and particle size between 53-75 µm. The volumetric heating rate of magnetite ore was investigated by measuring the temperature at different depths during microwave irradiation. Microwave irradiation resulted in modification of the microstructure of the magnetite ore, but new phases such as FeO or Fe2O3 were not formed. In addition, the crystal size decreased from 115 nm to 63 nm after microwave irradiation up to 1573 K.

MPACVD growth of single crystalline diamond substrates with PCD rimless and expanding surfaces

Single crystal diamond (SCD) growth was performed in optimized pocket substrate holders at a high pressure (240 Torr) and a high power density (∼1000 W/cm3). In an effort to overcome the challenges of growing large area SCD substrates without a corresponding polycrystalline diamond (PCD) rim, a growth recipe using these pocket holders was developed. This growth recipe controls the substrate temperature (Ts) and the incident microwave power (Pinc) in a prescribed function of growth time. Through this process, the feasibility to enlarge the SCD substrate in situ, i.e., during the growth itself is shown. By allowing the temperature to increase from ∼980 °C to 1040 °C, then reducing the temperature, and then allowing it to drift up again, the deposition process alternates between the fast growth of the different crystal directions (i.e., 〈110〉, 〈111〉, and 〈100〉) and a slow growth to smoothen the top surface. This leads to an increased lateral SCD growth. The slow growth of the crystal faces in turn leads to a smooth and enlarged top surface. Certain strategies such as the termination of the growth process at the appropriate time are critical in obtaining flat and smooth SCD surfaces without the formation of any PCD rim. The SCD substrates grown via this method have been analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopies. The lateral SCD surface area increased between 1.7 and 2 times greater than the initial seed surface area during one continuous run. The deposited SCDs have high growth rates of ∼30 μm/h resulting in smooth, flat and rimless substrates, hence indicating the improvement in the quality and morphology of the deposited substrates.

Time evolution of the electron energy distribution function in pulsed microwave magnetoplasma in H2

Time evolution of the Electron Energy Distribution Function (EEDF) is measured in pulsed hydrogen microwave magnetoplasma working at 2.45 GHz. Analysis is performed both in resonance (B = 0.087 T) and off-resonance conditions (B = 0.120 T), at two pressures (0.38 Pa and 0.62 Pa), respectively, and for different incident microwave powers. The important effect of the magnetic field on the electron kinetic is discussed, and a critical analysis of Langmuir probe measurements is given. The Electron Energy Distribution Function is calculated using the Druyvesteyn theory (EEDF) and is corrected using the theory developed by Arslanbekov in the case of magnetized plasma. Three different components are observed in the EEDF, whatever the theory used. They are: (a) a low electron energy component at energy lower than 10 eV, which is ascribed to the electron having inelastic collisions with heavy species (H2, H, ions), (b) a high energy component with a mean energy ranging from 10 to 20 eV, which is generally ascribed to the heating of the plasma by the incident microwave power, and (c) a third component observed between the two other ones, mainly at low pressure and in resonance conditions, has been correlated to the electron rotation in the magnetic field.

Design and Optimization of a Rectenna for Wireless Remote Supply Applications

This paper describes a new method to design and improve a rectenna (rectifying-antenna) for wireless remote supply applications. It focuses on designing a high-performance rectenna for low RF power (-3dBm) working at ISM band centered at 2.45 GHz (frequency widely used due to its low attenuation through the ambient conditions). This study sheds light on impedance matching between the antenna and the rectifying circuit. A comparative study of different matching impedance methods was carried out in order to find out an adequate one. We demonstrate that optimizing the rectifying circuit after insertion of impedance matching circuit improve the rectenna performances in terms of reducing the return loss and increasing both the output DC voltage and the RF to DC conversion efficiency. Compared to the state of the art, an efficient rectenna was developed using this method. It achieves an output voltage of 2.8 V and an RF to DC conversion efficiency of 80% for -3dBm microwave incident power.

Frequency swept microwaves for hyperfine decoupling and time domain dynamic nuclear polarization

Hyperfine decoupling and pulsed dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) are promising techniques to improve high field DNP NMR. We explore experimental and theoretical considerations to implement them with magic angle spinning (MAS). Microwave field simulations using the high frequency structural simulator (HFSS) software suite are performed to characterize the inhomogeneous phase independent microwave field throughout a 198GHz MAS DNP probe. Our calculations show that a microwave power input of 17W is required to generate an average EPR nutation frequency of 0.84MHz. We also present a detailed calculation of microwave heating from the HFSS parameters and find that 7.1% of the incident microwave power contributes to dielectric sample heating. Voltage tunable gyrotron oscillators are proposed as a class of frequency agile microwave sources to generate microwave frequency sweeps required for the frequency modulated cross effect, electron spin inversions, and hyperfine decoupling. Electron spin inversions of stable organic radicals are simulated with SPINEVOLUTION using the inhomogeneous microwave fields calculated by HFSS. We calculate an electron spin inversion efficiency of 56% at a spinning frequency of 5kHz. Finally, we demonstrate gyrotron acceleration potentials required to generate swept microwave frequency profiles for the frequency modulated cross effect and electron spin inversions.

Giant microwave photo-conductance of a tunnel point contact with a bridged gate

We study the microwave photo-response of a quantum point contact (QPC) formed on a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure with a high-electron-mobility two-dimensional electron gas. The QPCs are fabricated by two types of gates: a traditional split gate and a specially designed bridged gate. We observe a three orders of magnitude enhancement of the dark QPC conductance in the tunneling regime at the incident microwave power density of ∼10 mW/cm2. The response of the bridged-gate structure is more than ten times larger than that of the split-gate QPC. This giant effect and the difference between the two types of gates are explained by the influence of microwaves on the steady-state electron distribution function in the vicinity of the tunnel contact. Experimental results are in good quantitative agreement with theoretical calculations. The bridged-gate QPC can be used for the creation of highly sensitive detectors of electromagnetic radiation.

Strong Local Interaction of Microwave Discharges With Solid Dielectrics in Vacuum

Excitation of microwave discharges by pulsed microwave radiation (≤2 MW, 1.95 GHz, 1-10 μs) on dielectric surfaces in vacuum (10-6 torr) was studied experimentally. Different stages of a surface microwave discharge were observed: secondary-electron-emission microwave discharge (multipactor), surface microwave breakdown (filamentary microwave discharge), and plasma-flare microwave discharge. It is found that, in the stage of microwave breakdown (which lasts for ~0.1 μs), ≥70% of the incident microwave power is absorbed by a dense plasma filament with a diameter of ~100 μm, an electron density of up to 2 × 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">18</sup> cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-3</sup> , and an electron temperature of about 2 eV. Strong interaction of the dense plasma of the filamentary microwave discharge with the dielectric leads to local destruction of the dielectric surface in the form of a long thin erosion track (l ≈ 6 cm, d ~ 100 μm). The coefficient of microwave power absorption by a plasma filament in a rectangular waveguide is calculated using an electrodynamic model that does not involve expansion in the waveguide modes and takes into account reflections of the scattered wave from the waveguide walls by introducing an array of filament mirror images. It is shown that the coefficient of microwave power absorption by the filamentary discharge plasma can reach 70% and more, which agrees well with the experimental data.

OPTIMIZATION OF MICROWAVE AND AIR DRYING CONDITIONS OF QUINCE (CYDONIA OBLONGA, MILLER) USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Effects of slice thickness of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) , microwave incident power and air drying temperature on antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of quince were investigated during drying in microwave and air drying. Optimum conditions were found to be: i) for microwave drying, 285 W and 4.14 mm thick (maximum antioxidant activity) and 285 W and 6.85 mm thick (maximum total phenolic content), and ii) for air drying, 75 oC and 1.2 mm thick (both maximum antioxidant activity and total phenolic content). Drying conditions were optimized by using the response surface methodology. 13 experiments were carried out considering incident microwave powers from 285 to 795 W, air temperature from 46 to 74 oC and slice thickness from 1.2 to 6.8 mm.

Microwave Plasma Jets Excitated With Low Power

Plasma jet provides an effective mode for many potential industrial applications. Microwave plasma jet excitated by surface plasmon polaritons is displayed under different operational conditions. Images of the observed plasma jets are presented. Ar, N <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> , and air are chosen as the feed gases. Incident microwave power of 5, 15, 30, and 50 W is used, and the longest length of plasma jet is 300 mm for argon under the pressure of 63 Pa.

Dielectric and magnetic properties of NiFe2O4 at 2.45GHz and heating capacity for potential uses under microwaves

Abstract This paper presents the dielectric and magnetic properties, measured at 2.45 GHz, of a new nickel ferrite, NiFe 2 O 4 , synthetized by plasma technology. These properties were measured by the small perturbation method in a resonant cavity, from 293 to 513 K. Using these values, the adiabatic heating of nanoparticles of NiFe 2 O 4 under microwave irradiation was also modeled. The wave propagation equation (Maxwell׳s equation) coupled to the heat transfer in the solid was numerically solved. The influence of parameters such as the bed volume, its porosity, the microwave incident power or the microwave system geometry is discussed. This study demonstrates that NiFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles can be rapidly heated up to at least 513 K under microwaves and can probably achieve higher temperatures according to the thermal insulation. The magnetic contribution to heating overcomes the dielectric one in the explored temperature range. Very efficient energy yield (>90%) can then be achieved when the magnetic field position is centered over the bed.

Temporally and spatially resolved characterization of microwave induced argon plasmas: Experiment and modeling

Experiments and modeling of the plasma-microwave interaction have been performed in a coaxial microwave plasma source at a field frequency of 2.45 GHz generating argon plasmas at pressures of 20 and 40 millibars and a ratio of flow rate to pressure of 0.125 sccm/Pa. The incident microwave power between 100 W and 300 W is supplied in a regime of a pulse-width modulation with cycle duration of 110 ms and a power-on time of 23 ms. The experiments are based on heterodyne reflectometry and microwave interferometry at 45.75 GHz. They provide the temporal behaviour of the complex reflection coefficient, the microwave power in the plasma, as well as the electron density in the afterglow zone of the discharge. The self-consistent spatially two-dimensional and time-dependent modeling complements the analysis of the plasma-microwave interaction delivering the plasma and electromagnetic field parameters. The consolidating experimental observations and model predictions allow further characterizing the plasma source. The generated plasma has a core occupying the region close to the end of the inner electrode, where maximum electron densities above 1020 m−3 and electron temperatures of about 1 eV are observed. Due to a longer outer electrode of the coaxial structure, the plasma region is extended and fills the volume comprised by the outer electrode. The electron density reaches values of the order of 1019 m−3. The heating of the gas occurs in its great part due to elastic collisions with the plasma electrons. However, the contribution of the convective heating is important especially in the extended plasma region, where the gas temperature reaches its maximum values up to approximately 1400 K. The temporally and spatially resolved modeling enables a thorough investigation of the plasma-microwave interaction which clearly shows that the power in-coupling occurs in the region of the highest electron density during the early stage of the discharge. In the steady state phase, however, the power in-coupling occurs close to the source walls where the electron density is significantly lower than on the discharge axis.