Conference Agenda

Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) are well known for providing a combination of single-photon sensitivity, low jitter, and high efficiency. Their dynamic range is generally limited to detecting one photon per event, causing dynamic range issues. To mitigate this problem,we present time-gated SNSPD detectors. We showcase our work from simple schemes giving switch-off switch-on transition times of about from 100 ns and improving those to the sub-nanosecond range.

Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) are well known for providing a combination of single-photon sensitivity, low jitter, and high efficiency.

We present our recent developments on fast-recovery and arrays of SNSPDs specifically tailored for optical communication applications. We perform a full characterization of the detectors and we show their performance on a table-top optical communication setup, emulating a deep space optical communication (DSOC) experiment. We measured data rates exceeding several hundred Megabits per second (Mbits) depending on the communication protocol conditions. These results demonstrate the suitability of this technology for optical communications.

The ITER Upper port Wide Angle Viewing System (UWAVS) is designed to use wall and plasma luminance detected by visible and MWIR cameras at high spatial resolution and frame rates to provide information on the divertor wall temperature and related operational parameters. The modular UWAVS optical system is divided into four subsystems: Front-End Optical Module looks directly at the divertor. Following, light traverses the Interspace Optics Tube and the Bio-shield Optical Labyrinth to the Back-End Optics and Cameras in the port cell. Here light is split in four different channels and imaged. Design is defined by environmental conditions and accessibility and has a strong influence in the alignment and tolerance methodology. The in-vessel subsystem must endure extreme environmental conditions, requiring tight manufacturing and alignment tolerances, while module position and tolerances are somewhat more relaxed. Analysis on alignment tolerances sensitivity and STOP (Structural-Thermal-Optical-Performance) was performed for each of the four UWAVS subsystems. Individual module tolerances and STOP analyses were integrated to obtain an evaluation on the full system performance. Results of the simulations suggest it is possible to build a complex optical system to transport light over the required distance of 21 meters in ITER , while maintaining imaging performance.

We introduce a tabletop high harmonic generation scatterometry technique to extract structural and material characteristics of periodic nanostructures. Grazing incidence reflection scatterometry enables fast and robust measurements of linewidth and groove height with 20 nm and 2 nm precision respectively, paving the way for ultrafast spectroscopy on layered heterostructures.

The study of cultural heritage (CH) objects benefits greatly from non-invasive techniques like hyperspectral imaging (HSI), which enables material identification and spatial mapping. Due to the heterogeneous composition of CH artifacts, combining complementary techniques is essential for comprehensive analysis. However, handling such high-dimensional datasets remains a challenge. We present a computational protocol that combines spatial and spectral dimensionality reduction to enable early-stage fusion and efficient analysis of fused data, through multivariate methods, with a focus on Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP). We introduce an open-source plugin for Napari viewer, which allows for UMAP-based exploration of fused multimodal datasets. Our approach is demonstrated in case studies involving reflectance and photoluminescence data fusion, showcasing its effectiveness in detecting degradation phenomena and revealing material complexity in both plastic artifacts and historical paintings.

In line with the energy transition it is desirable to replace fossil fuels in the curing process of industrial powder coating. Infrared curing is an approved method for flat steel strip surfaces in the steel industry. However, powder coatings are often applied to complex geometries with cavities, where shading reduces the efficiency of infrared curing. IR-emitter arrangement in the reflective heating chamber, their geometry and the dwell time of the components are therefore crucial for a successful and efficient process. In addition, process optimization has to consider the optical parameter variation of the powder coating during the procedure to adjust the radiant power for different coatings and components. For that matter, measurements in the NAPUBEST prototype system are compared with optical simulations of the setup to get the simulation parameters in agreement with reality and thus provide a foundation for the design layout of industrial processes. For fast heating, in this investigating we chose short wave emitters.