Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus to perform frequency comb spectroscopy. The method includes: —Arranging a waveguide optical cavity (3) having a plurality of cavity mode frequencies with a cavity mode frequency spacing (FSR), said waveguide optical cavity being dispersive so that the frequency spacing of the cavity modes is wavelength dependent; —Arranging a sample (S) with respect to the waveguide optical cavity (3) so that the sample is capable of absorbing light travelling into the waveguide optical cavity; —Coupling pulsed light coming from a light source (1) into the waveguide optical cavity (3), the source light including source comb frequencies (OCF) with a source frequency spacing (RR), the coupled light including an interval of frequencies centered on a main frequency of said comb frequencies due to cavity dispersion; —Locking the waveguide optical cavity to the frequency comb at said main optical frequency; —Detecting transmitted cavity frequencies; —Determining absorption by said sample (S) of said main optical frequency from the detected transmitted frequencies, —Changing the cavity mode frequency (FSR) spacing or the source frequency spacing (RR); —Coupling the pulse light to the waveguide optical cavity (3), the coupled light including an interval of frequencies centered on a second main frequency of said comb frequencies due to cavity dispersion; —Locking the waveguide optical cavity to the frequency comb at said second main optical frequency; —Detecting transmitted cavity frequencies; —Determining absorption by said sample of said second main optical frequency from the detected transmitted frequencies.
Abstract:
A method for measuring an alternating electric field is disclosed. The method includes realizing a first diffraction grating in a first location, in a core of a silica-based optical fiber, and measuring a peak reflection wavelength of the first diffraction grating. The method also includes positioning the optical fiber along a direction having a non-zero component of an electrical field generated by an alternating voltage to be measured, and coupling a substantially monochromatic light to said optical fiber surrounded by the electric field. The method further includes measuring a parameter dependent on a shift of the peak reflection wavelength due to intrinsic mechanical deformation or refractive index change of the material in which the optical fiber and the diffracting grating are realized due to the alternating electric field, and calculating a value of the electric field causing such a measured deformation or refractive index change.
Abstract:
A method for measuring an alternating electric field is disclosed. The method includes realizing a first diffraction grating in a first location, in a core of a silica-based optical fiber, and measuring a peak reflection wavelength of the first diffraction grating. The method also includes positioning the optical fiber along a direction having a non-zero component of an electrical field generated by an alternating voltage to be measured, and coupling a substantially monochromatic light to said optical fiber surrounded by the electric field. The method further includes measuring a parameter dependent on a shift of the peak reflection wavelength due to intrinsic mechanical deformation or refractive index change of the material in which the optical fiber and the diffracting grating are realized due to the alternating electric field, and calculating a value of the electric field causing such a measured deformation or refractive index change.
Abstract:
A video-confocal microscopy method for creating an image of an optical section (π) of a sample (99), provides, in one aspect of the invention, illuminating the sample (99) with illumination beams (19) concentrated on spots (x,y) arranged in an illumination pattern (18) in an illumination plane (α0) at the optical section (π); translationally parallel moving the pattern (18) of spots (x,y) to a plurality of positions in the illumination plane; it also provides for each position (u,v) of the illumination pattern (18), receiving light (21) returned by the sample (99) by reflection and/or transmission and/or phosphorescence, and detecting raw images (52), each having a light intensity distribution Iu,v(x,y) on said image detector.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a zinc oxide-based piezoelectric device, utilisable both as a sensor and as an actuator.More in particular, the present invention relates to a piezoelectric device (1, 101) comprising at least two carbon fibre crossed yarns (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b), at the intersection of which a zinc oxide layer (3, 103) in nanorod form is arranged, wherein an end (4a, 4b) of each of said yarns (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b) is connected to an operative unit (5).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus to perform frequency comb spectroscopy. The method includes: —Arranging a waveguide optical cavity (3) having a plurality of cavity mode frequencies with a cavity mode frequency spacing (FSR), said waveguide optical cavity being dispersive so that the frequency spacing of the cavity modes is wavelength dependent; —Arranging a sample (S) with respect to the waveguide optical cavity (3) so that the sample is capable of absorbing light travelling into the waveguide optical cavity; —Coupling pulsed light coming from a light source (1) into the waveguide optical cavity (3), the source light including source comb frequencies (OCF) with a source frequency spacing (RR), the coupled light including an interval of frequencies centered on a main frequency of said comb frequencies due to cavity dispersion; —Locking the waveguide optical cavity to the frequency comb at said main optical frequency; —Detecting transmitted cavity frequencies; —Determining absorption by said sample (S) of said main optical frequency from the detected transmitted frequencies, —Changing the cavity mode frequency (FSR) spacing or the source frequency spacing (RR); —Coupling the pulse light to the waveguide optical cavity (3), the coupled light including an interval of frequencies centered on a second main frequency of said comb frequencies due to cavity dispersion; —Locking the waveguide optical cavity to the frequency comb at said second main optical frequency; —Detecting transmitted cavity frequencies; —Determining absorption by said sample of said second main optical frequency from the detected transmitted frequencies.
Abstract:
A liquid crystal elastomer actuator to move in a fluid is described herein. The actuator includes a body with dimensions between 100 nm and 800 μm having a low Reynolds number. The body includes a first and a second spatially separated volume, each comprising a liquid crystal elastomer. The first volume is doped with a first photoactive doping substance to absorb electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength and the second volume is doped with a second photoactive doping substance to absorb electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength. The first and second volumes change shape as a consequence of light absorption at the first or second wavelength, defining a first and a second joint. A first absorbance of the first volume at a given wavelength is different than a second absorbance of the second volume at a given wavelength, the first and second absorbance are measured in the same time interval.
Abstract:
A video-confocal microscopy method for creating an image of an optical section (π) of a sample (99), provides, in one aspect of the invention, illuminating the sample (99) with illumination beams (19) concentrated on spots (x,y) arranged in an illumination pattern (18) in an illumination plane (α0) at the optical section (π); translationally parallel moving the pattern (18) of spots (x,y) to a plurality of positions in the illumination plane; it also provides for each position (u,v) of the illumination pattern (18), receiving light (21) returned by the sample (99) by reflection and/or transmission and/or phosphorescence, and detecting raw images (52), each having a light intensity distribution Iu,v(x,y) on said image detector.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a zinc oxide-based piezoelectric device, utilizable both as a sensor and as an actuator. More in particular, the present invention relates to a piezoelectric device (1, 101) comprising at least two carbon fibre crossed yarns (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b), at the intersection of which a zinc oxide layer (3, 103) in nanorod form is arranged, wherein an end (4a, 4b) of each of said yarns (2a, 2b; 102a, 102b) is connected to an operative unit (5).
Abstract:
A photochemical reactor (1) having a hollow container body (10) having a side wall (11) made of a material arranged to contain an excited luminous plasma with electromagnetic fields and defining a closed excitation chamber (12) in which, in use, an excitable material (15) is present in such a way to obtain a discharge of the excited luminous plasma by microwave irradiation. The hollow container body (10) is provided with at least a hollow (20) that protrudes into the excitation chamber (12) and at least a microwave radiation source positioned, in use, in the hollow (20), and arranged to emit radiations in such a way to excite the excitable material (15) producing a luminous plasma.