Douglas Maukonen

Far infrared spectroscopy of carbonate minerals

Abstract This study presents far infrared spectra in the range 650-70 cm-1 of 18 common and rare carbonate minerals. Mineral samples of known provenance are selected and physically characterized to determine the purity of the crystalline phase and their composition. The fine ground mineral powders are embedded in polyethylene pellets, and their transmittance spectra are collected with a Fourier spectrometer. The far infrared spectra of different carbonate minerals from the same structural group have well-defined similarities. Observed shifts generally manifest the mass effect of the constituent metal cations. Remarkable spectral differences occur for different carbonates in the far IR region and may serve as fingerprints for mineral identification and are more useful identifiers of carbonate species than those in any other infrared range. For some of the minerals studied here, like kutnohorite, artinite, gaylussite, and trona, no far infrared spectra to that extend (up to 70 cm-1) have been found in literature.

Optical Salisbury screen with design-tunable resonant absorption bands

A thin-film selective absorber at visible and near infra-red wavelengths is demonstrated. The structure consists of an optically thick layer of gold, a SiO2 dielectric spacer and a partially transparent gold film on top. The optical cavity so formed traps and absorbs light at a resonance wavelength determined by the film thicknesses. Observed fundamental-resonance absorption strengths are in the range 93%–97%. The absorption red-shifts and broadens as the thickness of the top gold layer is decreased with little change in absorption strength. Thus, strong absorption with design-tunable wavelength and width is achieved easily by unstructured blanket depositions. Observed angle-dependent spectra agree well with the recent three-layer analytical model of Shu et al. [Opt. Express 21, 25307 (2013)], if effective medium approximation is used to calculate the permittivity of the top gold film when it becomes discontinuous at the lowest thicknesses.

Thin-film, wide-angle, design-tunable, selective absorber from near UV to far infrared

We experimentally demonstrate a structured thin film that selectively absorbs incident electromagnetic waves in discrete bands, which by design occur in any chosen range from near UV to far infrared. The structure consists of conducting islands separated from a conducting plane by a dielectric layer. By changing dimensions and materials, we have achieved broad absorption resonances centered at 0.36, 1.1, 14, and 53 microns wavelength. Angle-dependent specular reflectivity spectra are measured using UV-visible or Fourier spectrometers. The peak absorption ranges from 85 to 98%. The absorption resonances are explained using the model of an LCR resonant circuit created by coupling between dipolar plasma resonance in the surface structures and their image dipoles in the ground plane. The resonance wavelength is proportional to the dielectric permittivity and to the linear dimension of the surface structures. These absorbers have application to thermal detectors of electromagnetic radiation.

Quantum cascade laser intracavity absorption spectrometer for trace gas sensing

A mid-infrared intracavity laser absorption spectrometer for trace gas sensing is demonstrated. An external-cavity multi-mode quantum cascade laser with central wavelength 8.0 μm was combined with a scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer, which analyzed the change of the laser emission spectrum caused by introducing an analyte inside the cavity. The detection mechanism is based on monitoring the laser spectrum dynamics at adiabatically changing laser conditions in long pulse operation mode. Fast acquisition and vapor exchange allow nearly real-time analyte detection. Sensitivity at the level of 1 × 10−5 cm−1 was demonstrated based on a weak water vapor absorption line.

A New Gas Cell for High-precision Doppler Measurements in the Near-infrared

High-resolution spectroscopy in the near-infrared could become the leading method for discovering extra-solar planets around very low mass stars and brown dwarfs. In order to help to achieve an accuracy of {approx}m s{sup -1}, we are developing a gas cell which consists of a mixture of gases whose absorption spectral lines span all over the near-infrared region. We present the most promising mixture, made of acetylene, nitrous oxide, ammonia, chloromethanes, and hydrocarbons. The mixture is contained in a small size 13 cm long gas cell and covers most of the H and K bands. It also shows small absorptions in the J band, but they are few and not sharp enough for near-infrared wavelength calibration. We describe the working method and experiments, and compare our results with the state of the art for near-infrared gas cells.

Mobile terawatt laser propagation facility (Conference Presentation)

This presentation will describe the design and construction status of a new mobile high-energy femtosecond laser systems producing 500 mJ, 100 fs pulses at 10 Hz. This facility is built into a shipping container and includes a cleanroom housing the laser system, a separate section for the beam director optics with a retractable roof, and the environmental control equipment necessary to maintain stable operation. The laser system includes several innovations to improve the utility of the system for “in field” experiments. For example, this system utilizes a fiber laser oscillator and a monolithic chirped Bragg grating stretcher to improve system robustness/size and employs software to enable remote monitoring and system control. Uniquely, this facility incorporates a precision motion-controlled gimbal altitude-azimuth mount with a coudé path to enable aiming of the beam over a wide field of view. In addition to providing the ability to precisely aim at multiple targets, it is also possible to coordinate the beam with separate tracking/diagnostic sensing equipment as well as other laser systems. This mobile platform will be deployed at the Townes Institute Science and Technology Experimental Facility (TISTEF) located at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, to utilize the 1-km secured laser propagation range and the wide array of meteorological instrumentation for atmospheric and turbulence characterization. This will provide significant new data on the propagation of high peak power ultrashort laser pulses and detailed information on the atmospheric conditions in a coastal semi-tropical environment.

Planetary atmospheres minor species sensor balloon flight test to near space

The Planetary Atmospheres Minor Species Sensor (PAMSS) is an intracavity laser absorption spectrometer that uses a mid-infrared quantum cascade laser in an open external cavity for sensing ultra-trace gases with parts-per-billion sensitivity. PAMSS was flown on a balloon by Near Space Corporation from Madras OR to 30 km on 17 July 2014. Based on lessons learned, it was modified and was flown a second time to 32 km by World View Enterprises from Pinal AirPark AZ on 8 March 2015. Successes included continuous operation and survival of software, electronics, optics, and optical alignment during extreme conditions and a rough landing. Operation of PAMSS in the relevant environment of near space has significantly elevated its Technical Readiness Level for trace-gas sensing with potential for planetary and atmospheric science in harsh environments.