Sensitive measurements require a vibration isolation system to safeguard against detrimental tremble. Two types of vibration isolation systems -passive and active -are currently implemented. The spring-based passive designs usually accompany with ineffective low-frequency response. Therefore, the active designs, consisting of sensors, feedback control systems, and actuators, are consolidated to improve the total effectiveness of the cancellation performance. In this work, we focus on developing the actuator founded on electromagnetic spring to be incorporated into our compact quantum gravimeter. Each spring-actuated part comprises two repelling Nd magnets positioned face to face inside a solenoid. With this configuration, the spring can also work in the passive mode via repulsive magnetic force. In the active mode, the exerted force is a result of magnetic fields formed by the magnets and the current-controlled solenoid coils. By changing the coil current, the stiffness of the spring can be modified, and thus the displacement can be controlled. Different sizes of magnets are explored, and their force behaviors in passive and active modes are characterized. The implementation scheme of the actuator in the quantum gravimeter is also discussed.

Imbalanced water management in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell significantly reduces the cell performance and durability. Visualization of water distribution and transport can provide greater comprehension toward optimization of the PEM fuel cell. In this work, we are interested in water flooding issues that occurred in flow channels on cathode side of the PEM fuel cell. The sample cell was fabricated with addition of a transparent acrylic window allowing light access and observed the process of flooding formation (in situ) via a CCD camera. We then explore potential use of terahertz (THz) imaging, consisting of femtoelectron-based THz source and off-angle reflective-mode imaging, to identify water presence in the sample cell. We present simulations of two hydration states (water and nonwater area), which are in agreement with the THz image results. A line-scan plot is utilized for quantitative analysis and for defining spatial resolution of the image. Implementing metal mesh filtering can improve spatial resolution of our THz imaging system.

A microwave remote Plasma Enhanced-Atomic Layer Deposition system with multicusp confinement chamber is established at the Plasma and Beam Physics research facilities, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The system produces highly-reactive plasma species in order to enhance the deposition process of thin films. The addition of the multicusp magnetic fields further improves the plasma density and uniformity in the reaction chamber. Thus, the system is more favorable to temperature-sensitive substrates when heating becomes unwanted. Furthermore, the remote-plasma feature, which is generated via microwave power source, offers tunability of the plasma properties separately from the process. As a result, the system provides high flexibility in choice of materials and design experiments, particularly for low-temperature applications. Performance evaluations of the system were carried on coating experiments of Al2O3 layers onto a silicon wafer. The plasma characteristics in the chamber will be described. The resulted Al2O3 films—analyzed by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry in channeling mode and by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy techniques—will be discussed.

This work reports an application of reflective terahertz (THz) imaging for identification of water distribution in the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The THz radiation generated from relativistic femtosecond electron bunches is employed as a high intensity source. The PEM fuel cell is designed specifically for the measurement allowing THz radiation to access the flow field region. The THz image is constructed from reflected radiation revealing absorptive area of water presence. The technique is proved to be a promising tool for studying water management in the PEM fuel cell. Detailed experimental setup and results will be described.

Coherent transition radiation in a THz regime generated from a femtosecond electron bunch is explored for its potential use in imaging applications. Due to water sensitivity, the THz imaging experiment is performed on a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) to assess the ability to quantify water in the flow field of the cell. In this investigation, the PEMFC design and the experimental setup for the THz imaging is described. The results of the THz images in the flow field are also discussed.

The Plasma and Beam Physics Research Facility at Chiang Mai University has established a THz facility to focus on the study of ultra-short electron pulses. Short electron bunches can be generated from a system that consists of a radio-frequency (RF) gun with a thermionic cathode, an alpha magnet as a magnetic bunch compressor, and a linear accelerator as a post-acceleration section. The alpha magnet is a conventional and simple instrument for low-energy electron bunch compression. With the alpha magnet constructed in-house, several hundred femtosecond electron bunches for THz radiation production can be generated from the thermionic RF gun. The construction and performance of the alpha magnet, as well as some experimental results, are presented in this paper.

The THz radiation from femtosecond electron bunches is focused on a sample which will be scanned using an xy-translation stage. The transmission intensity at different points of the sample are detected to construct a THz image. THz images of some samples were demonstrated using the THz imaging system.

We have investigated the microscopic origins of the induced χ(2) in two phosphate glasses: a self-prepared lanthanum phosphate glass with molar composition 0.2La2O3 0.8P2O5 and a commercial sodium alumino phosphate glass (IOG-1, Schott Glass Technologies, Inc.) with molar composition 0.6P2O5 0.24Na2O 0.13Al2O3 0.03Ce2O3. The drastic difference in alkali content in these two phosphate glass systems results in different origins of their induced χ(2). For the poled lanthanum phosphate glass, the origin of the induced χ(2), which is directly proportional to the dc field established inside the glass, is the result of charge migration. A model that uses a single-positive-charge carrier with a nonblocking cathode describes the anodic surface χ(2) of 30μm thickness. For the poled sodium alumino phosphate glass, two mechanisms—dipole reorientation via the applied field and charge migration—are responsible for the origin of the bulk and the surface χ(2). Dipole reorientation via the applied field is suggested for the bulk contribution, while a charge migration model that involves multiple-charge carriers with nonblocking electrodes is appropriate for the surface χ(2).

The ability to induce a χ(2) – via thermal poling – in glasses has opened up the possibility for exploring all optical integrated waveguide devices in which a waveguide laser or amplifier is combined with a nonlinear optical element. For the purpose of lasing or amplification glass substrates that can incorporate large amounts of rare-earth ions are favorable. Hence we have chosen phosphate glasses as the host material integrated waveguide devices. While thermal poling studies of the induced χ (2) have been widely reported for silica glasses, there is little known for phosphate glasses. Furthermore, because the microscopic mechanism of the induced χ(2) has still not been completely understood, it would be premature to assume that a χ(2) could be induced in phosphate glasses; or that the induced χ(2) would be the same as in the case of silica glasses. Therefore, a thorough investigation of the induced χ(2) via thermal poling in phosphate glasses is necessary.

Second-order optical nonlinearities (χ(2)) were induced in commercial phosphate glasses (Schott, IOG-1) by the thermal poling technique. Maker fringe experiments were used to characterize the induced nonlinear regions. The results show that a near-anodic surface and a bulk χ(2) are formed that are opposite in sign. The strength of the near-anodic surface χ(2) is greater than that of the bulk. The overall magnitude of the induced χ(2), as well as the surface to bulk ratio, increases as the applied voltage and poling temperature increase. A single-charge-carrier model and a nonblocking cathode describe the main features of the induced χ(2) profile.

Second order optical nonlinearities were induced in commercial phosphate glasses (Schott, IOG-1) by the thermal poling technique. The induced χ(2) was measured via second harmonic generation using a fundamental beam from a 1064 nm mode-locked Nd:YAG laser. The nonlinear regions were characterized using the Maker-Fringe technique, in which the second harmonic signals were observed as a function of incident angle of the fundamental beam. The results show that the χ(2) profile has contributions from two distinct regions: a near-anodic surface region and a bulk. We have modeled the induced profile to fit our experimental results. The dependence of the induced nonlinearity on applied poling fields, temperatures and poling time is discussed.