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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
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    Cryogenic time-domain multiplexer based on SQUID arrays and superconducting/normal conducting switches
    (Bristol : Institute of Physics Publishing, 2014) Beev, N.; Kiviranta, M.; Van Der Kuur, J.; Bruijn, M.; Brandel, O.; Linzen, S.; Fritzsch, L.; Ahoranta, J.; Penttilä, J.; Roschier, L.
    We have demonstrated the operation of a 12-channel Beyer-style SQUID-based time domain multiplexer. It was manufactured using a fabrication process that is cross-compatible between VTT and IPHT-Jena. The multiplexer consists of twelve 12-SQUID series arrays, each shunted by a Zappe-style interferometer array acting as a flux-controlled superconducting/normal conducting switch. By keeping all switches but one in the superconducting state, it is possible to select one active readout channel at a time. A flux feedback coil common to all SQUID arrays allows realization of a flux-locked loop. We present characteristics of the multiplexer and measurement data from experiments with a 25-pixel X-ray calorimeter array operated at T < 100 mK in a dilution refrigerator.
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    Pinning and trapped field in MgB2- and MT-YBaCuO bulk superconductors manufactured under pressure
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2016) Prikhna, T.; Eisterer, M.; Chaud, X.; Weber, H.W.; Habisreuther, T.; Moshchil, V.; Kozyrev, A.; Shapovalov, A.; Gawalek, W.; Wu, M.; Litzkendorf, D.; Goldacker, W.; Sokolovsky, V.; Shaternik, V.; Rabier, J.; Joulain, A.; Grechnev, G.; Boutko, V.; Gusev, A.; Shaternik, A.; Barvitskiy, P.
    The relevant pinning centers of Abrikosov vortices in MgB2-based materials are oxygen-enriched Mg-B-O inclusions or nanolayers and inclusions of MgBx (x>4) phases. The high critical current densities, jc, of 106 and 103A/cm2 at 1 and 8.5 T, respectively, at 20 K can be achieved in polycrystalline materials (prepared at 2 GPa) containing a large amount of admixed oxygen. Besides, oxygen can be incorporated into the MgB2 structure in small amounts (MgB1.5O0.5), which is supported by Auger studies and calculations of the DOS and the binding energy. The jc of melt textured YBa2Cu3O7-δ (or Y123)-based superconductors (MT-YBaCuO) depends not only on the perfectness of texture and the amount of oxygen in the Y123 structure, but also on the density of twins and micro-cracks formed during the oxygenation (due to shrinking of the c-lattice parameter). The density of twins and microcracks increases with the reduction of the distance between Y2BaCuO5 (Y211) inclusions in Y123. At 77 K jc=8·104 A/cm2 in self-field and jc=103 A/cm2 at 10 T were found in materials oxygenated at 16 MPa for 3 days with a density of twins of 22–35 per µm (thickness of the lamellae: 45-30 nm) and a density of micro-cracks of 200–280 per mm. Pinning can occur at the points of intersection between the Y123 twin planes and the Y211 inclusions. MTYBaCuO at 77 K can trap 1.4 T (38×38×17 mm, oxygenated at 0.1 MPa for 20 days) and 0.8 T (16 mm in diameter and 10 mm thick with 0.45 mm holes oxygenated at 10 MPa for 53 h). The sensitivity of MgB2 to magnetic field variations (flux jumps) complicates estimates of the trapped field. At 20 K 1.8 T was found for a block of 30 mm in diameter and a thickness of 7.5 mm and 1.5 T (if the magnetic field was increased at a rate of 0.1 T) for a ring with dimensions 24×18 mm and a thickness of 8 mm.
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    Hollow square core fiber sensor for physical parameters measurement
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Pereira, Diana; Bierlich, Jörg; Kobelke, Jens; Ferreira, Marta S.
    The measurement of physical parameters is important in many current applications, since they often rely on these measurands to operate with the due quality and the necessary safety. In this work, a simple and robust optical fiber sensor based on an antiresonant hollow square core fiber (HSCF) is proposed to measure simultaneously temperature, strain, and curvature. The proposed sensor was designed in a transmission configuration where a segment of HSCF, with a 10 mm length, was spliced between two single mode fibers. In this sensor, a cladding modal interference (CMI) and a Mach-Zehnder interference (MZI) are enhanced along with the antiresonance (AR) guidance. All the present mechanisms exhibit different responses towards the physical parameters. For the temperature, sensitivities of 32.8 pm/°C, 18.9 pm/°C, and 15.7 pm/°C were respectively attained for the MZI, AR, and CMI. As for the strain, sensitivities of 0.45 pm/μϵ, -0.93 pm/μϵ, and -2.72 pm/μϵ were acquired for the MZI, AR and CMI respectively. Meanwhile, for the curvature measurements, two regions of analysis were considered. In the first region (0 m-1 - 0.7 m-1) sensitivities of 0.033 nm/m-1, -0.27 nm/m-1, and -2.21 nm/m-1 were achieved, whilst for the second region (0.7 m-1 - 1.5 m-1) sensitivities of 0.067 nm/m-1, -0.63 nm/m-1, and -0.49 nm/m-1 were acquired for the MZI, AR and CMI, respectively.
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    Single-electron transitions in one-dimensional native nanostructures
    (Bristol : Institute of Physics Publishing, 2014) Reiche, M.; Kittler, M.; Schmelz, M.; Stolz, R.; Pippel, E.; Uebensee, H.; Kermann, M.; Ortlepp, T.
    Low-temperature measurements proved the existence of a two-dimensional electron gas at defined dislocation arrays in silicon. As a consequence, single-electron transitions (Coulomb blockades) are observed. It is shown that the high strain at dislocation cores modifies the band structure and results in the formation of quantum wells along dislocation lines. This causes quantization of energy levels inducing the formation of Coulomb blockades.
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    Superconductivity in multi-phase Mg-B-O compounds
    (Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2012) Prikhna, T.; Gawalek, W.; Eisterer, M.; Weber, H.W.; Noudem, J.; Sokolovsky, V.; Chaud, X.; Moshchil, V.; Karpets, M.; Kovylaev, V.; Borimskiy, A.; Tkach, V.; Kozyrev, A.; Kuznietsov, R.; Dellith, J.; Shmidt, C.; Basyuk, T.; Litzkendorf, D.; Karau, F.; Dittrich, U.; Tomsic, M.
    Structures of MgB2-based materials manufactured under pressure (up to 2 GPa) by different methods having high superconducting performance and connectivity are multiphase and contain different Mg-B-O compounds. Some oxygen can be incorporated into MgB2 and boron into MgO structures, MgBx (X=4-20) inclusions contain practically no oxygen. Regulating manufacturing temperature, pressure, introducing additions one can influence oxygen and boron distribution in the materials and thus, affect the formation, amount and sizes of Mg-B-O and MgBx inclusions and changing type of pinning, pinning force and so affect critical current density jc. The boron concentration increase in initial Mg and B mixture allows obtaining sample containing 88.5 wt% of MgB12 with Tc of 37.4 K (estimated magnetically).
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    Wet-chemical Passivation of Anisotropic Plasmonic Nanoparticles for LSPR-sensing by a Silica Shell
    (Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2015) Thiele, Matthias; Götz, Isabell; Trautmann, Steffen; Müller, Robert; Csáki, Andrea; Henkel, Thomas; Fritzsche, Wolfgang
    Metal nanoparticles showing the effect of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), a collective oscillation of the conduction electrons upon interaction with light, represent an interesting tool for bioanalytics. This resonance is influenced by changes in the environment, and can be therefore used for the detection of molecular layers. The sensitivity, this means the extent of wavelength resonance shift per change in refractive index in the environment, represents an important performance parameter. It is higher for silver compared to gold particles, and is also increased for anisotropic particles. So silver triangles show a high potential for highly sensitive plasmonic nanoparticles. However, the stability under ambient conditions is rather poor. The paper demonstrates the passivation of silver triangles by silica coating using a wet-chemical approach. It compares the sensitivity for particles with and without passivation, and visualizes the passivation effect in a high resolution, single particle TEM study.
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    Measuring conditions for second order X-ray Bragg-spectrometry
    (Bristol : Institute of Physics Publishing, 2014) Dellith, J.; Scheffel, A.; Wendt, M.
    The KL2,3 (α)1,2-lines of 19K, the L3M4,5 (α)1,2-lines of 48Cd, and the M5N6,7 (α)1,2-lines of 92U are lines of comparable energy in the region of approximately 3 keV. In none of these cases were we able to resolve the three doublets when recording the spectra in first order Bragg spectrometry using a PET crystal as the dispersing element. For the purpose of enhancing the resolving power of the spectrometer, the three α spectra were recorded in second order reflection, thereby transferring the lines into another spectral region dominated by X-ray quanta of half the energy. In order to achieve high net peak intensities as well as a high peak-to-background ratio and, consequently, a high level of detection capability, the discriminator settings should be optimized quite carefully. In this manner, we were able to resolve the three α doublets and estimate α2/α1 intensity ratios. Inexplicably, current monographs, e.g., by Goldstein et al, do not contain any indications about the rational use of high order spectrometry. Only a few rather old monographs contain some hints in this regard.
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    Process flow to integrate nanostructures on silicon grass in surface micromachined systems
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2016) Mehner, H.; Müller, L.; Biermann, S.; Hänschke, F.; Hoffmann, M.
    The process flow to integrate metallic nanostructures in surface micromachining processes is presented. The nanostructures are generated by evaporation of microstructured silicon grass with metal. The process flow is based on the lift-off of a thin amorphous silicon layer deposited using a CVD process. All steps feature a low temperature load beneath 120 °C and high compatibility with many materials as only well-established chemicals are used. As a result metallic nanostructures usable for optical applications can be generated as part of multilayered microsystems fabricated in surface micromachining.
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    Capillary based hybrid fiber sensor in a balloon-like shape for simultaneous measurement of displacement and temperature
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Santos, João P.; Bierlich, Jörg; Kobelke, Jens; Ferreira, Marta S.
    In this work, a hybrid sensor based on a silica capillary in a balloon-like shape for simultaneous measurement of displacement and temperature is proposed for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The sensor is fabricated by splicing a segment of a hollow core fiber between two single mode fibers (SMF) and by bending the fiber in a balloon shape with the capillary at the top-center position. In a transmission scheme, the SMF-capillary-SMF configuration excites an antiresonant (AR) guidance and the balloon shape enhances a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). The different responses of the interferometers to external displacement and temperature variations are conducive to a hybrid application of the sensor for simultaneous measurement of these parameters. Experimental results show that, for a capillary length of 1.2 cm and a balloon length of 4 cm, AR is insensitive to displacement and its sensitivity to temperature is 14.3 pm/°C, while the MZI has a sensitivity to displacement of 1.68 nm/mm and twice the sensitivity of AR to temperature, of 28.6 pm/°C. The proposed fiber sensor consists of only one sensing element in one configuration exciting two interferometers at the same time, which makes it of simple fabrication as well as low cost.