Radio-frequency Resonator Research Articles

Non-calorimetric determination of absorbed power during magnetic nanoparticle based hyperthermia

Nanomagnetic hyperthermia (NMH) is intensively studied with the prospect of cancer therapy. A major challenge is to determine the dissipated power during in vivo conditions and conventional methods are either invasive or inaccurate. We present a non-calorimetric method which yields the heat absorbed during hyperthermia: it is based on accurately measuring the quality factor change of a resonant radio frequency circuit which is employed for the irradiation. The approach provides the absorbed power in real-time, without the need to monitor the sample temperature as a function of time. As such, it is free from the problems caused by the non-adiabatic heating conditions of the usual calorimetry. We validate the method by comparing the dissipated power with a conventional calorimetric measurement. We present the validation for two types of resonators with very different filling factors: a solenoid and a so-called birdcage coil. The latter is a volume coil, which is generally used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under in vivo condition. The presented method therefore allows to effectively combine MRI and thermotherapy and is thus readily adaptable to existing imaging hardware.

EPR hyperthermia of S. cerevisiae using superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Presently we communicate a newly developed method of resonant radiofrequency heating, applicable in hyperthermal therapy. This method uses electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to transform the electromagnetic field energy into heat. We report the growth dynamics of the S. cerevisiae yeast cells exposed to EPR heating with superparamagnetic magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, with only 4% of yeast cells surviving hyperthermia. Given that EPR functions independently of type of the biologic species exposed, and produces spatially localized heating in conjunction with MRI hardware, it may be used in hyperthermal therapy of cancer and other diseases.

Recent development and status of magnetoelectric materials and devices

The magnetoelectric (ME) materials and related devices have been attracting increasing research attention over the last few years. They exhibit strong ME coupling effect at room temperature, and electric field control of magnetization or magnetic field control of ferroelectric polarization can be achieved. The ME coupling effect brings novel functionalities to develop ultra-fast, low-power, and miniaturized electronics. Recent progress shows the performance of ME materials is further improved and the materials are used to develop many new types of electronics such as high-speed memory, radio frequency resonator, compact ME antenna, and weak magnetic field sensor. In this review, we present the overview in those fields with emphasis on both the opportunities and challenges for the application of ME materials and devices in the cutting-edge technologies.

Real‐time temperature compensation for tunable cavity‐based BPFs and BSFs

In this study, a real-time temperature compensation control system for tunable high-Q cavity-based filters are designed, implemented, and experimentally validated. Both bandpass (BPFs) (700–1000 MHz) and bandstop filters (BSFs) (1300–1600 MHz) with high-Q () resonators are monitored in real time to compensate for any temperature variations. The monitoring scheme includes additional resonators that share the same tuning piezoelectric actuators with the resonators of the radio frequency (RF) filters. An oscillator is coupled with each monitoring resonator resulting in an output signal at a frequency directly linked to the RF resonance. Each monitoring resonator is controlled by a user-provided input through a closed-loop in real time. The presented system is capable of compensating for temperature variations in the and range. The average system resolution varies from 0.23 to 9 MHz, depending on temperature, with a 1 ms sensing period. The closed-loop frequency shift is 6.5 MHz (0.93%) and 8.75 MHz (0.65%) for the BPFs and BSFs, respectively, in the to temperature range. This is to be compared with the open-loop change of 256 MHz (36%) and 590 MHz (44%) for the same temperature change. The monitoring oscillator power leakage to the RF cavities is optimised and measured to −101 dBm.

Propagation of modulated electron and X-ray beams through matter and interactions with radio-frequency structures

The generation and evolution of modulated particle beams and their interactions with resonant radiofrequency (RF) structures are of fundamental interest for both particle accelerator and vacuum electronic systems. When the constraint of propagation in a vacuum is removed, the evolution of such beams can be greatly affected by interactions with matter including scattering, absorption, generation of atmospheric plasma, and the production of multiple generations of secondary particles. Here, we study the propagation of 21 MeV and 25 MeV electron beams produced in S-band and L-band linear accelerators, and their interaction with resonant RF structures, under a number of combinations of geometry, including transmission through both air and metal. Both resonant and nonresonant interactions were observed, with the resonant interactions indicating that the RF modulation on the electron beam is at least partially preserved as the beam propagates through air and metal. When significant thicknesses of metal are placed upstream of a resonant structure, preventing any primary beam electrons from reaching the structure, RF signals could still be induced in the structures. This indicated that the RF modulation present on the electron beam was also impressed onto the x-rays generated when the primary electrons were stopped in the metal, and that this RF modulation was also present on the secondary electrons generated when the x-rays struck the resonant structures. The nature of these interactions and their sensitivities to changes in system configurations will be discussed.

New methods for probing and exploring magnetoelastic properties of amorphous ferromagnetic alloys

We describe two new methods for investigating and exploring magnetoelastic properties of ribbons of amorphous magnetic alloys. One consists of exciting the ribbon mechanically while detecting the electromagnetic response, and the second method involves the use of a radiofrequency resonator as a contactless technique for measuring magneto-impedance [C. A. Grimes, S. C. Roy, S. Rani, and Q. Cai, Sensors 11, 2809–2844 (2011)]. The electromagnetic response to mechanical vibration is discussed in connection with the possibility of observing Fano resonance in a classical system, and the magneto-impedance is found to be highly sensitive to magnetic domains formation and their dynamics.

Micromechanical Resonator Driven by Radiation Pressure Force

Radiation pressure exerted by light on any surface is the pressure generated by the momentum of impinging photons. The associated force – fundamentally, a quantum mechanical aspect of light – is usually too small to be useful, except in large-scale problems in astronomy and astrodynamics. In atomic and molecular optics, radiation pressure can be used to trap or cool atoms and ions. Use of radiation pressure on larger objects such as micromechanical resonators has been so far limited to its coupling to an acoustic mode, sideband cooling, or levitation of microscopic objects. In this Letter, we demonstrate direct actuation of a radio-frequency micromechanical plate-type resonator by the radiation pressure force generated by a standard laser diode at room temperature. Using two independent methods, the magnitude of the resonator’s response to forcing by radiation pressure is found to be proportional to the intensity of the incident light.

High-kinetic inductance additive manufactured superconducting microwave cavity

Investigations into the microwave surface impedance of superconducting resonators have led to the development of single photon counters that rely on kinetic inductance for their operation, while concurrent progress in additive manufacturing, “3D printing,” opens up a previously inaccessible design space for waveguide resonators. In this manuscript, we present results from the synthesis of these two technologies in a titanium, aluminum, vanadium (Ti-6Al-4V) superconducting radio frequency resonator which exploits a design unattainable through conventional fabrication means. We find that Ti-6Al-4V has two distinct superconducting transition temperatures observable in heat capacity measurements. The higher transition temperature is in agreement with DC resistance measurements, while the lower transition temperature, not previously known in the literature, is consistent with the observed temperature dependence of the superconducting microwave surface impedance. From the surface reactance, we extract a London penetration depth of 8 ± 3 μm—roughly an order of magnitude larger than other titanium alloys and several orders of magnitude larger than other conventional elemental superconductors.

Collision Induced Dissociation of Benzylpyridinium-Substituted Porphyrins: Towards a Thermometer Scale for Multiply Charged Ions?

We have determined breakdown curves for a range of multiply charged benzylpyridinium-substituted porphyrin cations by collision induced dissociation measurements (CID) as mediated by resonant pulsed radio-frequency (rf) excitation in a helium-filled linear ion trap. Measurements were compared with the predictions of DFT calculations. We find a linear correlation between experimental fragmentation thresholds (in instrumental units of "normalized collision energy") and theoretical dissociation energies, suggesting that these species can be used as calibrants to gauge the fragmentation energetics of closely related systems. We have confirmed this by also studying the fragmentation thresholds of metalloporphyrin-based ions - including multiply negatively charged metalloporphyrin oligomers. Unfortunately, the slope of the linear correlation obtained for benzylpyridinium-substituted porphyrin multications differs significantly from that obtained by us for a set of smaller, singly charged substituted benzylpyridines put forward as "thermometer" ions in previous work. Multiplying the threshold energies in an ad hoc fashion by the ion charge basically reconciles both calibration curves. We conclude that one should use caution when applying small, singly charged benzylpyridines as calibrants to gauge the CID of large, multiply charged ions in ion-trap mass spectrometers. Graphical Abstract.

Theory and particle tracking simulations of a resonant radiofrequency deflection cavity in TM110 mode for ultrafast electron microscopy

We present a theoretical description of resonant radiofrequency (RF) deflecting cavities in TM110 mode as dynamic optical elements for ultrafast electron microscopy. We first derive the optical transfer matrix of an ideal pillbox cavity and use a Courant-Snyder formalism to calculate the 6D phase space propagation of a Gaussian electron distribution through the cavity. We derive closed, analytic expressions for the increase in transverse emittance and energy spread of the electron distribution. We demonstrate that for the special case of a beam focused in the center of the cavity, the low emittance and low energy spread of a high quality beam can be maintained, which allows high-repetition rate, ultrafast electron microscopy with 100 fs temporal resolution combined with the atomic resolution of a high-end TEM. This is confirmed by charged particle tracking simulations using a realistic cavity geometry, including fringe fields at the cavity entrance and exit apertures.

Wettability Investigations and Wet Transfer Enhancement of Large-Area CVD-Graphene on Aluminum Nitride.

The two-dimensional and virtually massless character of graphene attracts great interest for radio frequency devices, such as surface and bulk acoustic wave resonators. Due to its good electric conductivity, graphene might be an alternative as a virtually massless electrode by improving resonator performance regarding mass-loading effects. We report on an optimization of the commonly used wet transfer technique for large-area graphene, grown via chemical vapor deposition, onto aluminum nitride (AlN), which is mainly used as an active, piezoelectric material for acoustic devices. Today, graphene wet transfer is well-engineered for silicon dioxide (SiO2). Investigations on AlN substrates reveal highly different surface properties compared to SiO2 regarding wettability, which strongly influences the quality of transferred graphene monolayers. Both physical and chemical effects of a plasma treatment of AlN surfaces change wettability and avoid large-scale cracks in the transferred graphene sheet during desiccation. Spatially-resolved Raman spectroscopy reveals a strong strain and doping dependence on AlN plasma pretreatments correlating with the electrical conductivity of graphene. In our work, we achieved transferred crack-free large-area (40 × 40 mm2) graphene monolayers with sheet resistances down to 350 Ω/sq. These achievements make graphene more powerful as an eco-friendly and cheaper replacement for conventional electrode materials used in radio frequency resonator devices.

Non-exponential decoherence of radio-frequency resonance rotation of spin in storage rings

Precision experiments, such as the search for electric dipole moments of charged particles using radiofrequency spin rotators in storage rings, demand for maintaining the exact spin resonance condition for several thousand seconds. Synchrotron oscillations in the stored beam modulate the spin tune of off-central particles, moving it off the perfect resonance condition set for central particles on the reference orbit. Here we report an analytic description of how synchrotron oscillations lead to non-exponential decoherence of the radiofrequency resonance driven up-down spin rotations. This non-exponential decoherence is shown to be accompanied by a nontrivial walk of the spin phase. We also comment on sensitivity of the decoherence rate to the harmonics of the radiofreqency spin rotator and a possibility to check predictions of decoherence-free magic energies.

Monolithic OLED-Microwire Devices for Ultrastrong Magnetic Resonant Excitation.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) make highly sensitive probes to test magnetic resonance phenomena under unconventional conditions since spin precession controls singlet-triplet transitions of electron-hole pairs, which in turn give rise to distinct recombination currents in conductivity. Electron paramagnetic resonance can therefore be detected in the absence of spin polarization. We exploit this characteristic to explore the exotic regime of ultrastrong light-matter coupling, where the Rabi frequency of a charge carrier spin is of the order of the transition frequency of the two-level system. To reach this domain, we have to lower the Zeeman splitting of the spin states, defined by the static magnetic field B0, and raise the strength of the oscillatory driving field of the resonance, B1. This is achieved by shrinking the OLED and bringing the source of resonant radio frequency (RF) radiation as close as possible to the organic semiconductor in a monolithic device structure, which incorporates an OLED fabricated directly on top of an RF microwire within one monolithic thin-film device structure. With an RF driving power in the milliwatt range applied to the microwire, the regime of bleaching and inversion of the magnetic resonance signal is reached due to the onset of the spin-Dicke effect. In this example of ultrastrong light-matter coupling, the individual resonant spin transitions of electron-hole pairs become indistinguishable with respect to the driving field, and superradiance of the magnetic dipole transitions sets in.

Tuning the Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Nitrogen-Functionalized Few-Layered Graphene Nanoflakes

In this article, we report the modification of the electronic and magnetic properties of few-layered graphene (FLG) nanoflakes by nitrogen functionalization carried out using radio-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (rf-PECVD) and electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma processes. Even though the rf-PECVD N2 treatment led to higher N-doping levels in the FLG (4.06 atomic %) as compared to the ECR process (2.18 atomic %), the ferromagnetic behavior of the ECR FLG (118.62 × 10–4 emu/g) was significantly higher than that of the rf-PECVD FLG (0.39 × 10–4 emu/g) and pristine graphene (3.47 × 10–4 emu/g). Although both plasma processes introduce electron-donating N atoms into the graphene structure, distinct dominant nitrogen bonding configurations (pyridinic, pyrrolic) were observed for the two FLG types. Whereas the ECR plasma introduced more sp2-type nitrogen moieties, the rf-PECVD process led to the formation of sp3-coordinated nitrogen functionalities, as confirmed through Raman measurem...

Capacitors Quality Effect in Magnetic Resonance Radiofrequency Coils

Radiofrequency (RF) coils are key components in magnetic resonance (MR) systems since the use of coils which fit around parts of the body to be imaged is necessary for obtaining high-quality images. As a first approximation, an RF coil is essentially a tuned electrical circuit that comprises an inductor and a capacitor, which may be adjusted to make the resonant frequency the desired Larmor frequency. Capacitor losses can drastically reduce RF coil overall performances. This work reviews literature describing how the choice of the capacitors quality affects the coil overall performance. Moreover, experiments with a loop-conductor coil were performed comparing low and high-quality capacitors with benchtop tests at high and low frequencies, and an imaging test was performed with a 1.5 T MR clinical scanner.

A compact linear accelerator based on a scalable microelectromechanical-system RF-structure.

A new approach for a compact radio-frequency (RF) accelerator structure is presented. The new accelerator architecture is based on the Multiple Electrostatic Quadrupole Array Linear Accelerator (MEQALAC) structure that was first developed in the 1980s. The MEQALAC utilized RF resonators producing the accelerating fields and providing for higher beam currents through parallel beamlets focused using arrays of electrostatic quadrupoles (ESQs). While the early work obtained ESQs with lateral dimensions on the order of a few centimeters, using a printed circuit board (PCB), we reduce the characteristic dimension to the millimeter regime, while massively scaling up the potential number of parallel beamlets. Using Microelectromechanical systems scalable fabrication approaches, we are working on further reducing the characteristic dimension to the sub-millimeter regime. The technology is based on RF-acceleration components and ESQs implemented in the PCB or silicon wafers where each beamlet passes through beam apertures in the wafer. The complete accelerator is then assembled by stacking these wafers. This approach has the potential for fast and inexpensive batch fabrication of the components and flexibility in system design for application specific beam energies and currents. For prototyping the accelerator architecture, the components have been fabricated using the PCB. In this paper, we present proof of concept results of the principal components using the PCB: RF acceleration and ESQ focusing. Ongoing developments on implementing components in silicon and scaling of the accelerator technology to high currents and beam energies are discussed.

Eigenmode compendium of the third harmonic module of the European X-ray Free Electron Laser

Chains of superconducting radio-frequency resonators are key components of modern particle accelerators such as the European XFEL, which is currently under construction in the north of Germany. In addition to the accelerating mode of the resonators, their beam excited higher order modes are of special interest, because they can harm the beam quality. In contrast to the accelerating mode, these modes are in general not confined within single resonators of the cavity string. For instance, eigenmodes can be localized between adjacent cavities or can be distributed along the entire chain of cavities. Therefore, the full chain has to be considered for a reasonable investigation of its resonant spectra. Accounting for such complex structures is computationally challenging and is therefore often avoided. In this article, the challenge is faced by using the so-called state-space concatenation approach, which is a combination of domain decomposition and model-order reduction. The technique allows for a reduction of the number of degrees of freedom by a factor of $\ensuremath{\approx}\text{ }1.471\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$. The method is employed to generate a compendium of eigenmodes in the chain of third harmonic cavities for the European XFEL. The results are discussed in detail and are compared with experimental measurements. The compendium serves as a reference for experiments (inter alia for diagnostics based on higher order modes) at the third harmonic cavity string of the European XFEL, it allows for qualitative understanding of resonant effects appearing in chains of cavities, and it is meant to be a proof of principle of the state-space concatenation approach to handle very long and complex radio-frequency structures. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first time that a modal compendium of a structure with the given complexity is generated. The article presents geometrical details of the chain, defines quantities relevant to superconducting radio-frequency cavities, and describes the employed computational approach.

Electrifying catheters with light.

Smart minimally invasive devices face a connectivity challenge. An example is found in intracardiac echocardiography where the signal transmission and supply of power at the distal end require many thin and fragile wires in order to keep the catheter slim and flexible. We have built a fully functional bench-top prototype to demonstrate that electrical wires may be replaced by optical fibers. The prototype is immediately scalable to catheter dimensions. The absence of conductors will provide intrinsic galvanic isolation as well as radio frequency (RF) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatibility. Using optical fibers, we show signal transfer of synthetic aperture ultrasound images as well as photo-voltaic conversion to supply all electronics. The simple design utilizes only off the shelf components and holds a promise of cost effectiveness which may be pivotal for translation of these advanced devices into the clinic.

Contactless Radio Frequency Monitoring of Dielectric Properties of Egg White During Gelation

The evaluation of dielectric properties in the radio frequency (RF) bandwidth is highly relevant to characterize the physical or physiological state of organic materials. This paper reports on the implementation of an easy-to-use and contactless RF dielectric sensing technique used for the monitoring of the heat-induced gelation of a white egg sample. The sensing technique basically consists in the distant monitoring of a high-quality factor inductive RF resonator operating at 98 MHz, which is electromagnetically coupled to the egg white sample. A lumped element modeling of the contactless RF probe interacting with the egg white is proposed. It is used to estimate both the conductivity and the permittivity of the sample during its gelation, starting from the impedance changes measured at the ends of the RF probe, and after probe calibration carried out using a reference NaCl solution. The results obtained during a 10 h monitoring experience allow the dynamics of the egg white gelation to be analyzed. These results open the way to the development of easy-to-implement and non-invasive dielectric monitoring of organic materials, with many prospects in agrifood as well as health monitoring applications.

Developments and Applications of Diamond-Like Carbon

Carbonous material always promotes the development of human being’s civilization. The diamond-like carbon (DLC) is one of the new kinds of materials. In the past fifty years, DLC has reached the level of semi-industrialization. From the unintentional discovery of DLC to the booming study all over the world, and then to the wide use in various fields, DLC has become a symbol of the era. In order to study the relationship between the structure and properties of DLC, researchers have been working on its classification and puting forward its theoretical model. Preparation technologies of DLC have been improving continuously. Nowadays there are some popular technologies such as the unbalanced magnetron sputtering technology, the electron cyclotron resonance radio frequency technology, the femtosecond laser technology, and the meshed plasma immersion ion deposition technology. The application field of DLC has expanded from simple life products to the field of machinery precision cutting tools, precision molds, medical devices and implants, and the aerospace field. Although DLC has developed a lot in the area of industrial application, there are some problems about its connection between technological parameter and performance. In this paper, the development history, structure, preparation methods, development status and the research prospects of DLC coatings are introduced in detail.