Proof Of Principle Experiment Research Articles

Theory of particle beams transport over curved plasma-discharge capillaries

We present a new approach that demonstrates the deflection and guiding of relativistic electron beams over curved paths by means of the magnetic field generated in a plasma-discharge capillary. The active bending plasma (ABP) represents a promising solution that has been recently demonstrated with a proof of principle experiment. An ABP device consists of a curved capillary where large discharges (of the order of kA) are propagated in a plasma channel. Unlike conventional bending magnets, in which the field is constant over the bending plane, in the ABP, the azimuthal magnetic field generated by the discharge grows with the distance from the capillary axis. This features makes the device less affected by the beam chromatic dispersion so that it can be used to efficiently guide particle beams with non-negligible energy spreads. The study we present in the following aims to provide a theoretical basis of the main ABP features by presenting an analytical description of a single-particle motion and rms beam dynamics. The retrieved relationships are verified by means of numerical simulations and provide the theoretical matrix formalism needed to completely characterize such a new transport device. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Probing Ion Diffusion and Ion Sieving through Hollow Porous Silica Shells by Imaging the Mobility of Colloids Inside the Shells

AbstractIonic transport through porous membranes and porous materials has received enormous attention due to its importance to many applications. An innovative methodology is proposed to study ion diffusion and ion sieving through mesoporous silica membranes (shells). The mobility of fluorescently labeled core particles within a hollow porous shell, filled with an index‐matched electrolyte solution, is observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The core motion range, i.e., the area explored by the core within the hollow compartment, sensitively changed depending on the local ionic concentration. Monitoring transitions in the core motion range is a practical way to detect which ions can migrate through the shells and on what timescale. For instance, lithium and chloride ions easily diffused through the porous silica shells, resulting in a core motion range that changed relatively quickly upon change of the ion concentrations outside of the shell. However, the motion range changed significantly slower upon changing to a bigger cation (tetraoctylammonium ion). This proof of principle experiment can be explained by the Gibbs‐Donnan effect, revealing that the detection of core motion ranges is a good probe to measure both ion diffusion and ion sieving through porous membranes.

Confirming the theoretical foundation of steady-state microbunching

Steady-State Microbunching (SSMB) has been proposed as a concept to generate coherent synchrotron radiation at an electron storage ring. SSMB promises to supply kilowatt level average power radiation in the extreme ultraviolet regime, meeting the power level demands for lithography applications that presently cannot be fulfilled by established accelerator technologies. SSMB is under theoretical and experimental study, building on a proof-of-principle (PoP) experiment at the Metrology Light Source which previously showed the viability of the idea. Here we report experimental findings from systematic studies in the ongoing SSMB PoP experiment, where microbunching is generated from an energy modulation imposed by a laser of wavelength 1064 nm. The results confirm the expected dependence of the microbunching process on modulation amplitude and show that the influence of transverse-longitudinal coupling dynamics is as predicted. This confirmation of key parts of the SSMB theory establishes a solid footing for continuing the proof-of-principle efforts towards the goal of constructing a prototype SSMB light source facility.

Folded interferometer to measure coherence-polarization matrix.

We present and experimentally demonstrate a new, to the best of our knowledge, technique to quantitatively measure coherence-polarization (BCP) matrix with correlations of only two Stokes fluctuations. The BCP matrix is a square matrix with four elements that involves two-point correlations among orthogonal polarization components. A theoretical framework of the technique is developed, and its viability is demonstrated by a proof of principle experiment. Experimental tests and measurement of the elements of the BCP matrix of statistically stationary beams are demonstrated.

Determining neutron-induced reaction cross sections through surrogate reactions at storage rings

Determining the cross sections of neutron-induced reactions on short-lived nuclei is imperative to rate calculations in stellar nucleosynthesis and applications of nuclear physics. It is also an immense experimental challenge due to the radioactivity of the targets involved. Our goal is to circumvent this obstacle by using surrogate reactions in inverse kinematics at the heavy-ion storage rings of GSI/FAIR. We present here preliminary results from the first proof of principle experiment, where a beam of 208Pb impinged on a H2 gas jet target in the Experimental Storage Ring (ESR).

Demonstration of a Bosonic Quantum Classifier with Data Reuploading.

In a single qubit system, a universal quantum classifier can be realized using the data reuploading technique. In this study, we propose a new quantum classifier applying this technique to bosonic systems and successfully demonstrate it using a silicon-based photonic integrated circuit. We established a theory of quantum machine learning algorithm applicable to bosonic systems and implemented a programmable optical circuit combined with an interferometer. Learning and classification using part of the implemented optical quantum circuit with uncorrelated two photons resulted in a classification with a success probability of 94±0.8% in the proof of principle experiment. As this method can be applied to an arbitrary two-mode N-photon system, further development of optical quantum classifiers, such as extensions to quantum entangled and multiphoton states, is expected in the future.

Label-free multiplex sensing from buffer and immunoglobulin G sensing from whole blood with photonic crystal slabs using angle-tuning of an optical interference filter.

Direct detection of biomarkers from unpurified whole blood has been a challenge for label-free detection platforms, such as photonic crystal slabs (PCS). A wide range of measurement concepts for PCS exist, but exhibit technical limitations, which render them unsuitable for label-free biosensing with unfiltered whole blood. In this work, we single out the requirements for a label-free point-of-care setup based on PCS and present a wavelength selecting concept by angle tuning of an optical interference filter, which fulfills these requirements. We investigate the limit of detection (LOD) for bulk refractive index changes and obtain a value of 3.4 E-4 refractive index units (RIU). We demonstrate label-free multiplex detection for different types of immobilization entities, including aptamers, antigens, and simple proteins. For this multiplex setup we detect thrombin at a concentration of 6.3 µg/ml, antibodies of glutathione S-transferase (GST) diluted by a factor of 250, and streptavidin at a concentration of 33 µg/ml. In a first proof of principle experiment, we demonstrate the ability to detect immunoglobulins G (IgG) from unfiltered whole blood. These experiments are conducted directly in the hospital without temperature control of the photonic crystal transducer surface or the blood sample. We set the detected concentration levels into a medical frame of reference and point out possible applications.

Counting and mapping of subwavelength nanoparticles from a single shot scattering pattern

Abstract Particle counting is of critical importance for nanotechnology, environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical, food and semiconductor industries. Here we introduce a super-resolution single-shot optical method for counting and mapping positions of subwavelength particles on a surface. The method is based on the deep learning analysis of the intensity profile of the coherent light scattered on the group of particles. In a proof of principle experiment, we demonstrated particle counting accuracies of more than 90%. We also demonstrate that the particle locations can be mapped on a 4 × 4 grid with a nearly perfect accuracy (16-pixel binary imaging of the particle ensemble). Both the retrieval of number of particles and their mapping is achieved with super-resolution: accuracies are similar for sets with closely located optically unresolvable particles and sets with sparsely located particles. As the method does not require fluorescent labelling of the particles, is resilient to small variations of particle sizes, can be adopted to counting various types of nanoparticulates and high rates, it can find applications in numerous particles counting tasks in nanotechnology, life sciences and beyond.

Ultrafast Yb:CALGO laser oscillator based on cross-polarization pumping with a cost-efficient multi-mode diode

We demonstrate a multimode diode-pumped Yb:CALGO laser oscillator based on bandwidth-optimized cross-polarization pumping targeting sub-30-fs operation. In our first proof of principle experiment we achieved mode-locked operation at 83 MHz repetition rate with 0.4 W of average power and a 33-nm-bandwidth optical spectrum supporting sub-40-fs pulses. This concept offers a simple and cost-efficient alternative to green-pumped Ti:sapphire lasers.

Smart Flexible 3D Sensor for Monitoring Orthodontics Forces: Prototype Design and Proof of Principle Experiment.

There is a critical need for an accurate device for orthodontists to know the magnitude of forces exerted on the tooth by the orthodontic brackets. Here, we propose a new orthodontic force measurement principle to detect the deformation of the elastic semi-sphere sensor. Specifically, we aimed to detail technical issues and the feasibility of the sensor performance attached to the inner surface of the orthodontic aligner or on the tooth surface. Accurate force tracking is important for the optimal decision of aligner replacement and cost reduction. A finite element (FE) model of the semi-sphere sensor was developed, and the relationship between the force and the contact area change was investigated. The prototype was manufactured, and the force detection performance was experimentally verified. In the experiment, the semi-sphere sensor was manufactured using thermoplastic polymer, and a high-precision mold sized 3 mm in diameter. The change in the contact area in the semi-sphere sensor was captured using a portable microscope. Further development is justified, and future implementation of the proposed sensor would be an array of multiple semi-sphere sensors in different locations for directional orthodontic force detection.

Passive laser power stabilization via an optical spring.

Metrology experiments can be limited by the noise produced by the laser involved via small fluctuations in the laser's power or frequency. Typically, active power stabilization schemes consisting of an in-loop sensor and a feedback control loop are employed. Those schemes are fundamentally limited by shot noise coupling at the in-loop sensor. In this Letter, we propose to use the optical spring effect to passively stabilize the classical power fluctuations of a laser beam. In a proof of principle experiment, we show that the relative power noise of the laser is stabilized from approximately 2 × 10-5 Hz-1/2 to a minimum value of 1.6 × 10-7 Hz-1/2, corresponding to the power noise reduction by a factor of 125. The bandwidth at which stabilization occurs ranges from 400 Hz to 100 kHz. The work reported in this Letter further paves the way for high power laser stability techniques which could be implemented in optomechanical experiments and in gravitational wave detectors.

Slow beam extraction method from synchrotron for uniform spill and fast beam switching using an RF knockout method of multi-band colored noise signal—POP Experiment and simulation

A proof of principle experiment (POP) was performed at the WERC synchrotron on the innovative slow beam extraction method with use of RF-knockout. The goal of experiment was to demonstrate the usefulness of the concept of colored noise signals including many frequency bands around the betatron resonances to obtain the uniform beam spill and the fast beam switching off time. The beam experiment shows that a small standard deviation of spill fluctuation can be attained without the longitudinal beam bunching of circulating particles. It is also shown that a beam switching-off time of around 100 μs could be obtained with a uniform spill. The experimental results are compared with the simulation results.

Nanoparticles labeled with antibodies hit their target

A proof of principle experiment uses electron microscopy to prove nanoparticles reach their antigen targets in vivo, which could help treat cancers.

Ultra-fast prompt gamma detection in single proton counting regime for range monitoring in particle therapy

In order to fully exploit the ballistic potential of particle therapy, we propose an online range monitoring concept based on time-of-flight (TOF)-resolved prompt gamma (PG) detection in a single proton counting regime. In a proof of principle experiment, different types of monolithic scintillating gamma detectors are read in time coincidence with a diamond-based beam hodoscope, in order to build TOF spectra of PG generated in a target presenting an air cavity of variable thickness. Since the measurement was carried out at low beam currents (< 1 proton/bunch) it was possible to reach excellent coincidence time resolutions, of the order of 100 ps (σ). Our goal is to detect possible deviations of the proton range with respect to treatment planning within a few intense irradiation spots at the beginning of the session and then carry on the treatment at standard beam currents. The measurements were limited to 10 mm proton range shift. A Monte Carlo simulation study reproducing the experiment has shown that a 3 mm shift can be detected at 2σ by a single detector of ∼1.4 × 10−3 absolute detection efficiency within a single irradiation spot (∼108 protons) and an optimised experimental set-up.

Selective tuning of Hilbert spaces in states encoded with spatial modes of light

Spatial modes of light directly give the most easily accessible degree of freedom that span an infinite dimensional Hilbert space. The higher dimensional spatial mode entanglement realized using spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) process is generally restricted to the subspace defined by a single spatial mode in pump. Access to other modal subspaces can be realized by pumping beams carrying several easily tunable transverse modes. As a proof of principle experiment, we generate twin-photon states in an SPDC process with pump as a superposition of first order Laguerre–Gaussian (or Hermite–Gaussian) modes. We show that the generated states can be easily tuned between different subspaces by controlling the respective modal content in the pump superposition.

Dynamic Polarization of Electron Spins Interacting with Nuclei in Semiconductor Nanostructures.

We suggest a new spin orientation mechanism for localized electrons: dynamic electron spin polarization provided by nuclear spin fluctuations. The detrimental effect of nuclear spin fluctuations can be harnessed and employed to provide angular momentum for the electrons via the hyperfine interaction in a weak magnetic field. For this, the sample is illuminated by an unpolarized light, which directly polarizes neither the electrons nor the nuclei. We predict that, for the electrons bound in localized excitons, 100% spin polarization can be reached in longitudinal magnetic fields of a few millitesla. The proof of principle experiment is performed on momentum-indirect excitons in (In,Al)As/AlAs quantum dots, where in a magnetic field of 17mT the electron spin polarization of 30% is measured.

Compressive Sensing for Dynamic XRF Scanning

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) scanning is a widespread technique of high importance and impact since it provides chemical composition maps crucial for several scientific investigations. There are continuous requirements for larger, faster and highly resolved acquisitions in order to study complex structures. Among the scientific applications that benefit from it, some of them, such as wide scale brain imaging, are prohibitively difficult due to time constraints. However, typically the overall XRF imaging performance is improving through technological progress on XRF detectors and X-ray sources. This paper suggests an additional approach where XRF scanning is performed in a sparse way by skipping specific points or by varying dynamically acquisition time or other scan settings in a conditional manner. This paves the way for Compressive Sensing in XRF scans where data are acquired in a reduced manner allowing for challenging experiments, currently not feasible with the traditional scanning strategies. A series of different compressive sensing strategies for dynamic scans are presented here. A proof of principle experiment was performed at the TwinMic beamline of Elettra synchrotron. The outcome demonstrates the potential of Compressive Sensing for dynamic scans, suggesting its use in challenging scientific experiments while proposing a technical solution for beamline acquisition software.

3D sub-pixel correlation length imaging

Quantitative 2D neutron dark-field-imaging with neutron grating interferometry has been used to characterize structures in the size range below the imaging resolution. We present the first 3D quantitative neutron dark-field imaging experiment. We characterize sub-pixel structure sizes below the imaging resolution in tomography by quantitatively analyzing the change in dark-field contrast with varying neutron wavelength. This proof of principle experiment uses a dedicated reference sample with four different solutions of microspheres, each with a different diameter. The result is a 3D tomogram featuring a real space scattering function in each voxel. The presented experiment is expected to mark the path for future material science research through the individual quantification of small-angle scattering structures in each voxel of a volume of a bulk inhomogeneous sample material.

Structure Radio Beam Construction in Azimuthal Domain

Structure radio beams with diverse radiation patterns exhibit huge potentials in many applications. In this paper, we propose a plane spiral orbital angular momentum (PS-OAM) based structure radio beam construction scheme, in which several PS-OAM waves are superposed together to acquire the anticipated radiation pattern and phase distribution in azimuthal domain. Firstly, some typical shapes of the radiation patterns are demonstrated. Then, the properties of this kind of structure radio beam, for example diversity, periodicity, vorticity and directional gain are analysed in detail from mathematical analysis and simulation verification. Finally, a proof of principle experiment is carried out at 10 GHz using a multi PS-OAM antenna to further testify the feasibility of the structure radio beam construction. The interesting properties provided by structure radio beams would offer promising solutions to radar imaging, smart antenna, massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) and spatial modulation multiple input multiple output (SM-MIMO).

Fusion-induced fission measurements with the MUSIC active target detector

The rapid neutron capture process (r-process) is believed to be responsible for about half of the production of the elements heavier than iron and it may also contribute to abundances of some lighter nuclides. Great excitement was recently generated by evidence for r-process nucleosynthesis in binary neutron star mergers via multi-wavelength observations of kilonova emission and gravitational waves. In order to interpret the observations and validate theoretical predictions, an understanding of the fission process, in particular of the evolution of fission barrier heights, is needed. An experimental study of fusioninduced fission cross sections using active-target detectors is a promising idea since the fission excitation function can be studied with a single beam energy. The Multi-Sampling Ionization Chamber (MUSIC) is an active-target detector in which a gas serves as both, counting gas and target nuclei. A proof-of principle experiment to explore the ability to identify fission events with MUSIC was recently performed at Argonne National Laboratory. In this work, ideas, results and perspectives will be discussed.