We developed a polarimetric imaging drone for field inspections of CSP Heliostats. By utilizing the polarization pattern of the skylight calculated with the Rayleigh scattering model, the difficult scenarios for visible images show a good enhancement in the contrast of features, such as edges and cracks of the heliostat mirror facets. Analysis of the test results carried out at Sandia NSTTF validated the feasibility of applying this method and system to the CSP fields. Future work is desired for image fusion of high-resolution visible images and polarization images with well-designed angles.
The soiling level of heliostat mirrors in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) fields is one of the key factors that significantly influences optical efficiency. While several methods of monitoring heliostats soiling levels have been developed, it remains challenging to determine heliostats soiling levels quickly and non-intrusively with large area scanning. We have developed a method based on polarimetric imaging to accomplish this goal, using the natural light’s polarization information and ray tracing calculations. With the flexibility to be integrated into a UAV-based imaging system or portable imaging setup, this method holds the potential of deployment to any CSP field for mirror soiling detection high efficiency and accuracy.
Optical metasurface refers to a kind of nanostructured material with sub-wavelength thickness and on-demand optical properties, which are not possible for natural materials. By rationally engineering the metasurface structures, one could achieve new capabilities for the manipulation of light, e.g., ultra-thin flat lenses, waveplates and holographic plates. Yet, the optical efficiency and performance of most metasurface-based devices are yet to improve to meet the requirements for real-world applications. In this talk, I will present our research on highly efficient on-chip integratable metasurface devices for ultra-compact polarimetric detection and imaging devices.
I will discuss about our approach to realize highly efficient broadband hybrid metasurfaces (based on integrated dielectric and plasmonic metasurfaces) for phase and polarization control of light in near infrared wavelength (1.2-1.7 µm). We have theoretically investigated and experimentally demonstrated circular polarization (CP) detection with CP extinction ratio (defined as the ratio between the transmission of CP light with desired handedness and that of CP light with the other handedness) of 30 and transmission efficiency over 80%.
I will also discuss about another approach of realizing highly efficient plasmonic metasurfaces for phase and polarization control of light in mid-infrared wavelength (2-12 µm). Despite the high ohmic loss of plasmonic metasurfaces, I will show that by rationally designing the metasurface structure, it is possible to realize highly efficient plasmonic devices with superior performance. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we have designed and experimentally demonstrated CP polarization filters with transmission efficiency >85% and CP extinction ratio >50 at 4 µm (bandwidth > 600 nm for CP extinction ratio> 10). The total thickness of the metasurface structure is less than 1/10 of the operational wavelength.
Last but not the least, I will present our recent progress on chip-integration of metasurface devices for full-stokes polarimetric detection and imaging.
QC laser active regions with multiple transitions from strongly coupled upper laser states to lower laser states were
designed to achieve broad gain spectra as well as high performance. Two broad gain QC laser designs in the 7-9 μm
wavelength region were demonstrated based on the continuum-to-bound design. The first embodiment of one design at
~8 μm enables external cavity tuning over 190 cm-1 (7.5 - 8.8 μm) in pulsed mode operation at 0°C. We also
demonstrated a QC laser structure based on a continuum-to-continuum active region in the 4-5 μm wavelength region
with a gain spectrum of ~ 430 cm-1. External cavity tuning over 340 cm-1 (4.4 - 5.2 μm) was achieved with this design in
pulsed mode operation at 15°C. In spite of the broad gain spectrum, a low threshold current density (1.6 kA/cm2), large
slope efficiency (4.5 W/A), good temperature performance (T0=160 K), high peak power (up to 5 W) and high wall plug
efficiency (WPE, up to 20%) were achieved for ridge lasers with as cleaved facets, in pulsed mode operation at 295 K,
demonstrating that it is possible to make a wide gain spectrum compatible with high power and efficiency performance.
We present ring-cavity surface-emitting lasers (ring-CSELs) based on quantum cascade structures as an elementary building block for two-dimensional quantum cascade laser arrays. The devices operate at temperatures of 380 K and above. A reduction in threshold current density and enhanced radiation efficiency are observed as compared to Fabry-Pérot lasers. The devices exhibit single-mode emission at a wavelength around 8 µm with a side-mode suppression ratio of 30 dB at room temperature. Tuning of the resonance is achieved by variation of the grating period or change in temperature. The emitters exhibit a low-divergence ring-shaped beam pattern with a lobe separation of 1.5 deg. Based on a direct coupling scheme, phase locking of two ring-CSELs is demonstrated with a fringe visibility of 60%. Coherent operation of ring-type lasers results in a narrow spectral line and thus in an enhancement of the spectral brightness.
The ν1+ν3 combination band of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) is targeted to perform analytical enrichment measurements
using laser absorption spectroscopy. A high performance widely tunable EC-QCL sources emitting radiation at 7.74 μm
(1291 cm-1) is employed as an UF6-LAS optical source to measure the unresolved rotational-vibrational spectral
structure of several tens of wavenumbers (cm-1). A preliminary spectroscopic measurement based on a direct laser
absorption spectroscopy of methane (CH4) as an appropriate UF6 analyte simulant, was demonstrated.
The voltage tuning of gain spectra in three types of Quantum Cascade laser designs is investigated. The gain spectra of
the luminescence device are tunable over the whole voltage operation range for all designs. The lasers are as tunable as
the electroluminescence below threshold, while a reduced tunability is observed in all lasers above threshold. This is
attributed to the decrease of resistance across the laser active region as the photon density increases. A resumed
tunability high above threshold occurs in all lasers based on the anti-crossed designs. Lasers based on the anti-crossed
diagonal transition are tunable above threshold, with a tuning range of about 40 cm-1 (~4% of the laser emission
wavenumber) at room temperature, i.e. a tuning rate of 800 cm-1 per volt per period of active region and injector.
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