Algebraic solutions for the Fourier transform interrogator.

A new method for fast, high resolution interrogation of an array of photonic sensors is proposed. The technique is based on the integrated Fourier transform (FT) interrogator previously introduced by the authors. Compared to other interferometric interrogators, the FT-interrogator is very compact and has an unprecedented tolerance to variations in the nominal values of the sensors' resonance wavelength. In this paper, the output voltages of the interrogator are written as a polynomial function of complex variables whose modulus is unitary and whose argument encodes the resonance wavelength modulation of the photonic sensors. Two different methods are proposed to solve the system of polynomial equations. In both cases, the Gröbner basis of the polynomial ideal is computed using lexicographical monomial ordering, resulting in a system of polynomials whose complex variable contributions can be decoupled. Using an NVidia graphics processing card, the processing time for 1 026 000 systems of algebraic equations takes around 9 ms, which is more than two orders of magnitude faster than the interrogation method previously introduced by the authors. Such a performance allows for real time interrogation of high-speed sensors. Multiple solutions satisfy the algebraic system of equations, but, in general, only one of the solutions gives the actual resonance wavelength modulation of the sensors. Other solutions have been used for optimization, leading to a reduction in the cross-talk among the sensors. The dynamic strain resolution is 1.66 n ε/H z.

On-chip interrogator based on Fourier transform spectroscopy.

In this paper, the design and the characterization of a novel interrogator based on integrated Fourier transform (FT) spectroscopy is presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first integrated FT spectrometer used for the interrogation of photonic sensors. It consists of a planar spatial heterodyne spectrometer, which is implemented using an array of Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) with different optical path differences. Each MZI employs a 3×3 multi-mode interferometer, allowing the retrieval of the complex Fourier coefficients. We derive a system of non-linear equations whose solution, which is obtained numerically from Newton's method, gives the modulation of the sensor's resonances as a function of time. By taking one of the sensors as a reference, to which no external excitation is applied and its temperature is kept constant, about 92% of the thermal induced phase drift of the integrated MZIs has been compensated. The minimum modulation amplitude that is obtained experimentally is 400 fm, which is more than two orders of magnitude smaller than the FT spectrometer resolution.

Multipurpose furnace for in situ studies of polycrystalline materials using synchrotron radiation.

We report a multipurpose furnace designed for studies using synchrotron radiation on polycrystalline materials, namely, metals, ceramics, and (semi)crystalline polymers. The furnace has been designed to carry out three-dimensional (3D) x-ray diffraction measurements but can also be used for other types of synchrotron radiation research. The furnace has a very low thermal gradient across the specimen (<0.2 degrees C/mm). Accurate determination of the temperature can be carried out by welding a thermocouple to the specimen. The furnace can be rotated over an angle of 90 degrees in order to determine the crystallographic orientation of each individual grain. It is possible to follow growth kinetics of all grains in the illuminated volume of the specimen. The specimen environment can be controlled varying from vacuum (up to 10(-5) mbar) to gas or air filled. The maximum temperature of operation is 1500 degrees C, with the possibility of achieving high heating (up to 20 degrees C/s) and cooling rates (up to 30 degrees C/s without quenching gas). 3D maps of the microstructure of the specimen can be generated at elevated temperatures by bringing the high-resolution detector close to the specimen. We show an example of a simulation of the heat affected zone during the thermal cycle of a weld in a transformation-induced plasticity steel carried out using the furnace. The unique characteristics of the furnace open possibility of new fields in materials research using synchrotron radiation.