Urs Sennhauser

Measurement of thermal conductivity of individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes by the 3-ω method

The thermal conductivity of individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes (outer diameter of ∼45nm) was obtained by employing the 3-ω method. To this end, the third-harmonic amplitude as a response to the applied alternate current at fundamental frequency (ω) is expressed in terms of thermal conductivity. A microfabricated device composed of a pair of metal electrodes 1μm apart is used to place a single nanotube across the designated metal electrodes by utilizing the principle of dielectrophoresis. The multiwalled carbon nanotube was modeled as a one-dimensional diffusive energy transporter and its thermal conductivity was measured to be 650–830W∕mK at room temperature.

Reliability of fiber Bragg grating based sensors for downhole applications

A sensor for accurate and long-term fluid pressure monitoring in oil bore-holes based on optical fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) is presented. The sensor converts fluid pressure into optical fiber strain by means of a mechanical transducer designed to withstand downhole conditions. The sensor response is investigated as a function of pressure and temperature. Effects of shock and vibration are also considered. The expected stability and lifetime of the polyimide-coated gratings in a downhole environment are estimated by modeling and extended accelerated mechanical and thermal aging tests.

Time-lapsed assessment of microcrack initiation and propagation in murine cortical bone at submicrometer resolution

The strength of bone tissue is not only determined by its mass, but also by other properties usually referred to as bone quality, such as microarchitecture, distribution of bone cells, or microcracks and damage. It has been hypothesized that the bone ultrastructure affects microcrack initiation and propagation. Due to its high resolution, bone assessment by means of synchrotron radiation (SR)-based computed tomography (CT) allows unprecedented three-dimensional (3D) and non-invasive insights into ultrastructural bone phenotypes, such as the canal network and the osteocyte lacunar system. The aims of this study were to describe the initiation and propagation of microcracks and their relation with these ultrastructural phenotypes. To this end, femora from the two genetically distinct inbred mouse strains C3H/He (C3H) and C57BL/6 (B6) were loaded axially under compression, from 0% strain to failure, with 1% strain steps. Between each step, a high-resolution 3D image (700 nm nominal resolution) was acquired at the mid-diaphysis using SR CT for characterization and quantitative analysis of the intracortical porosity, namely the bone canal network, the osteocyte lacunar system and the emerging microcracks. For C3H mice, the canal, lacunar, and microcrack volume densities accounted typically for 1.91%, 2.11%, and 0.27% of the cortical total volume at 2% apparent strain, respectively. Due to its 3D nature, SR CT allowed to visualize and quantify also the volumetric extent of microcracks. At 2% apparent strain, the average microcrack thickness for both mouse strains was 2.0 microm for example. Microcracks initiated at canal and at bone surfaces, whereas osteocyte lacunae provided guidance to the microcracks. Moreover, we observed that microcracks could appear as linear cracks in one plane, but as diffuse cracks in a perpendicular plane. Finally, SR CT images permitted visualization of uncracked ligament bridging, which is thought to be of importance in bone toughening mechanisms. In conclusion, this study showed the power of SR CT for 3D visualization and quantification of the different ultrastructural phases of the intracortical bone porosity. We particularly postulate the necessity of 3D imaging techniques to unravel microcrack initiation and propagation and their effects on bone mechanics. We believe that this new investigation tool will be very useful to further enhance our understanding of bone failure mechanisms.

Batch fabrication of carbon nanotube bearings

Relative displacements between the atomically smooth, nested shells in multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) can be used as a robust nanoscale motion enabling mechanism. Here, we report on a novel method suited for structuring large arrays of MWNTs into such nanobearings in a parallel fashion. By creating MWNT nanostructures with nearly identical electrical circuit resistance and heat transport conditions, uniform Joule heating across the array is used to simultaneously engineer the shell geometry via electric breakdown. The biasing approach used optimizes process metrics such as yield and cycle-time. We also present the parallel and piecewise shell engineering at different segments of a single nanotube to construct multiple, but independent, high density bearings. We anticipate this method for constructing electromechanical building blocks to be a fundamental unit process for manufacturing future nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) with sophisticated architectures and to drive several nanoscale transduction applications such as GHz-oscillators, shuttles, memories, syringes and actuators.

Connection Availability Analysis of Shared Backup Path-Protected Mesh Networks

Dual-span failures dominate the system unavailability in a mesh-restorable network with full restorability to single-span failures. Traditional availability analysis based on reliability block diagrams is not suitable for survivable networks with shared spare capacity. Therefore, a new concept is proposed to facilitate the calculations of connection availability. A U.S. network consisting of 19 nodes and 28 spans yielding 171 bidirectional connections is investigated. We find that networks with shared backup path protection can have average connection unavailabilities of the same order of magnitude as those with dedicated automatic protection switching, however, with a much better capacity efficiency. The proposed method can exactly calculate the unavailability of a specific connection with known restoration details or the average connection performance without any restoration details by presuming the dual-span failures to be the only failure mode and an arbitrary allocation rule of spare capacity

Rectification in three-terminal graphene junctions

Nonlinear electrical properties of graphene-based three-terminal nanojunctions are presented. Intrinsic rectification of voltage is observed up to room temperature. The sign and the efficiency of the rectification can be tuned by a gate. Changing the charge carrier type from holes to electrons results in a change in the rectification sign. At a bias <20 mV and at a temperature below 4.2 K the sign and the efficiency of the rectification are governed by universal conductance fluctuations.

Multiwavelength shearography for quantitative measurements of two-dimensional strain distributions

We report on the development of a multiwavelength speckle pattern shearing interferometer for the determination of two-dimensional strain distributions. This system is based on simultaneous illumination of the object with three diode lasers that emit at different wavelengths between 800 and 850 nm. Wavelength separation and image acquisition were performed with a special optical arrangement, including narrow-bandpass filters and three black-and-white cameras. The shearographic camera with a variable shearing element, in combination with the appropriate illumination geometry, permitted us to isolate all six displacement derivatives from phase-stepped fringe patterns. The optical system and the measurement procedure were validated with two different experiments. First, the shearographic sensor head was used for the determination of in-plane displacements, and, second, in-plane strain distributions of an aluminum block caused by temperature expansion were measured.

Tomography studies of human foreskin fibroblasts on polymer yarns

Abstract Cell culture experiments are usually performed as in vitro studies based on 2D seeding and characterization (light microscopy). With respect to the in vivo situation, however, 2D studies are often inappropriate due to the 3D character of living tissue in nature. Textiles with their versatile 3D structures are chosen as suitable scaffolds in tissue engineering for 3D in vitro studies. Micro-computed tomography using X-rays (μCT) belongs to the most promising techniques for isotropic, noninvasive 3D characterization. Using synchrotron radiation (SRμCT) the spatial resolution can be extended to the sub-micrometer range well below cell size. μCT does not need vacuum conditions making experiments in the hydrated state possible, as we show by data from SRμCT acquired at second and third-generation synchrotron sources. We seeded human foreskin fibroblasts on polymer multifilament yarns. These composites, embedded in a hydrogel or fluid, are held in thin-walled glass capillaries. Since the composites consist of light elements, the cells have to be labeled for visualization by the use of highly absorptive agents, osmium and gold. In order to hold the label concentration as low as possible, we present a way to choose the photon energy for which the minimum concentration is reached. Differences in threshold selection for second- and third-generation synchrotron sources are pointed out, revealing the advantages of both types with respect to quantitative analysis. The study is based on appropriate staining methods and protocols developed in our laboratory. With the results we demonstrate that SRμCT yields images similar to established electron and light microscopy but uncovers also the microstructure in 3D space.

Laser Direct Writing of Single-Mode Polysiloxane Optical Waveguides and Devices

Using a custom-built laser direct writing system, single-mode polymer optical waveguides, and devices for board-level optical interconnects were fabricated. A novel photopatternable polysiloxane material was developed that combines low-loss, simple, and large-area processability, and reliability during manufacturing and system operation. The polysiloxane waveguides were designed with quadratic cross sections of 5.5 × 5.5 μm2 and a refractive index contrast of 0.0086 between core and cladding polymer for single-mode operation at the wavelength of 1.3 μm. A straight waveguide propagation loss of 0.28 dB/cm was achieved. A wide range of passive optical devices, including Y-splitters, directional couplers, and Mach-Zehnder interferometers were successfully fabricated and characterized. The results prove that the presented combination of material and process technology is a viable implementation for short distance board-level optical links.

Additive–subtractive two-wavelength ESPI contouring by using a synthetic wavelength phase shift

The addition correlation of two speckle fields by simultaneousillumination at different wavelengths is used for object contouring ina Twyman-Green-type interferometer. Fringe visibility is enhancedwhen the stochastic speckle background intensity obtained from areference plane modulation is subtracted. We calculate the contourphase map by using a phase-shift algorithm in the syntheticwavelength. A comparison with a sequential illumination, phasedifference method based on a laser wavelength phase shift isgiven. The test setup does not need to be stable on aninterferometric scale, and therefore a method is provided that lendsitself to applications in noisy environments.