摘要:
In accordance with the invention, there are thermal switches, method of operating thermal switches and methods of forming thermal switches. A thermal switch can include a thin layer of liquid crystal disposed between a first surface of a first insulating substrate and a second surface of a second insulating substrate, wherein the liquid crystals are aligned at one or more of the first surface and the second surface due to surface preparation.
摘要:
Optical refrigerator using reflectivity-tuned dielectric mirrors. Selected working materials can be optically pumped using monochromatic radiation such that the resulting fluorescence has an average photon energy higher than that of the pumping radiation; that is, net anti-Stokes fluorescence. If the quantum efficiency is sufficiently high, the working material will cool and optical refrigeration can be achieved. Parallel mirrored faces are employed to increase the optical path of the incident pumping radiation within the working material by multiple reflections. Reflectivity-tuned dielectric mirrors which allow higher-energy fluorescence photons to readily escape from the working material while inhibiting the escape of the lower-energy photons which are consequently partially trapped in the working material and ultimately reabsorbed and refluoresced at higher energies are employed. This increases the optical refrigerator efficiency. An efficient geometry for the cooling material is a disk having a large diameter and a small height, since the fluorescence can predominantly escape through the tuned mirror on one end face of the working material. An alternative cooling element could be approximately cubic with tuned mirrors on the sides as well as on one end. In another embodiment of the invention, photocells are used to convert escaping fluorescence energy into electricity, thereby reducing the power requirements of the optical refrigerator and reducing the amount of waste that must be removed from the vicinity of the working material.
摘要:
Provided is a method and system for stabilizing a property of a first laser beam from a first laser in a vibration-free and cryogen free-manner. The method can include optically cooling a ytterbium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride (Yb:YLF) crystal using a second laser beam; coupling the crystal to a thermal coupling, wherein the thermal coupling is further coupled to a reference cavity to maintain a temperate of the reference cavity; directing a portion of the first laser beam through the reference cavity onto a photodetector to measure the property of the first laser beam; and stabilizing the first laser beam using a feedback control mechanism using the photodetector.
摘要:
Fluorescent refrigeration is based on selective radiative pumping, using substantially monochromatic radiation, of quantum excitations which are then endothermically redistributed to higher energies. Ultimately, the populated energy levels radiatively deexcite emitting, on the average, more radiant energy than was initially absorbed. The material utilized to accomplish the cooling must have dimensions such that the exciting radiation is strongly absorbed, but the fluorescence may exit the material through a significantly smaller optical pathlength. Optical fibers and mirrored glasses and crystals provide this requirement.
摘要:
In accordance with the invention, there are electrocaloric devices, pyroelectric devices and methods of forming them. A device which can be a pyroelectric energy generator or an electrocaloric cooling device, can include a first reservoir at a first temperature and a second reservoir at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature. The device can also include a plurality of liquid crystal thermal switches disposed between the first reservoir and the second reservoir and one or more active layers disposed between the first reservoir and the second reservoir, such that each of the one or more active layers is sandwiched between two liquid crystal thermal switches. The device can further include one or more power supplies to apply voltage to the plurality of liquid crystal thermal switches and the one or more the active layers.
摘要:
Provided are electrocaloric devices, pyroelectric devices and methods of forming them. A device which can be a pyroelectric energy generator or an electrocaloric cooling device, can include a first single-layer heat engine having a first side configured to be in contact with a first reservoir and a second side configured to be in contact with a second reservoir, wherein the first reservoir comprises a fluid. The device can also include a second single-layer heat engine having a first side in contact with the first reservoir and a second side in contact with a third reservoir and a channel disposed between the first single-layer heat engine and the second single-layer heat engine, the channel configured to transport the fluid from a first end to a second end. The device can further include one or more power supplies configured to apply voltages to the first and the second single-layer heat engine.
摘要:
In accordance with the invention, there are electrocaloric devices, pyroelectric devices and methods of forming them. A device which can be a pyroelectric energy generator or an electrocaloric cooling device, can include a first reservoir at a first temperature and a second reservoir at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature. The device can also include a plurality of liquid crystal thermal switches disposed between the first reservoir and the second reservoir and one or more active layers disposed between the first reservoir and the second reservoir, such that each of the one or more active layers is sandwiched between two liquid crystal thermal switches. The device can further include one or more power supplies to apply voltage to the plurality of liquid crystal thermal switches and the one or more the active layers.
摘要:
Optical refrigerators using semiconductor material as a cooling medium, with layers of material in close proximity to the cooling medium that carries away heat from the cooling material and preventing radiation trapping. In addition to the use of semiconducting material, the invention can be used with ytterbium-doped glass optical refrigerators.