Compact and sensitive spectrometers are of high utility in biological and environmental sensing applications. Over the past half century, enormous research resources are dedicated in making the spectrometers more compact and sensitive. However, since all works are based on the same structure of the conventional spectrometers, the improvement on the performance is limited. Therefore, this ancient research filed still deserves further investigation, and a revolutionary idea is required to take the spectrometers to a whole new level. The research work presented in this thesis focuses on developing a new class of spectrometers that work based on diffractive properties of volume holograms. The hologram in these spectrometers acts as a spectral diversity filter, which maps different input wavelengths into different locations in the output plane. The experimental results show that properly designed volume holograms have excellent capability for separating different wavelength channels of a collimated incident beam. By adding a Fourier transforming lens behind the hologram, a slitless Fourier-transform volume holographic spectrometer is demonstrated, and it works well under diffuse light without using any spatial filter (i.e., slit) in the input. By further design of the hologram, a very compact slitless and lensless spectrometer is implemented for diffuse source spectroscopy by using only a volume hologram and a CCD camera. More sophisticated output patterns are also demonstrated using specially designed holograms to improve the performance of the holographic spectrometers. Finally, the performance of the holographic spectrometers is evaluated and the building of the holographic spectrometer prototype is also discussed.

Excited states in the transitional nucleus 160Yb have been studied using gamma-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy following the beta+/EC decay of 160Lu. Excited states in the nuclei 160Tm and 160Er have been studied following the beta+/EC decay of 160Yb and 160Tm, respectively. The data for the present study were obtained at TRIUMF in Vancouver, Canada at the ISAC-1 facility through radioactive sources moved into the combination of the 8pi gamma-ray spectrometer array and the Pentagonal Array for Conversion Electron Spectroscopy (PACES). Analysis of gamma-ray gated gamma-ray, gamma-ray gated conversion electron and conversion electron gated gamma-ray spectra resulted in the discovery of a new first excited state and the establishment of a level scheme for 160Tm which differs from the one adopted; as well as a test of the rotational characteristics of 160Er with intensity comparisons to both the spin-5 beta-decaying isomer study of by Singh et al. and the spin-parity 1- beta decay study of by Strusny et al. and Bykov et al.

A novel broad spectrum neutron spectrometer has been created to extend the useful energy range of existing neutron Bonner Sphere Spectrometers (BSS). Both an active LiI(Eu) scintillator probe and passive gold foil detector were utilized to extend the energy response of the existing BSS. Above 20 MeV the energy structure for the standard polyethylene BSS are poor because the response functions are not unique. MCNPX was used to investigate several modifications to the BSS system which resulted in the Bonner Sphere Extension (BSE). This cost effective extension uses several concentric spheres of copper, lead, and tungsten heavy metal downscatter materials to extend the useful range of the current BSS from 20 MeV to above 1 GeV. Using both a 3" and 5" inner polyethylene spheres, aluminum shell sets were made with a 1" cavity and filled with the high Z materials for six total sets of spheres. a 12" and 8" polyethylene sphere were also milled to accept the heavy metal spheres. The system was validated at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) neutron beam. The system was calibrated at LANSCE for neutrons up to 800 MeV on target 4's 15 degree right flightpath (4FP15R) at 90 meters. Detailed models in MCNPX were made of the BSS, BSE and LANSCE facilities. Fine group responses were made and compared to the unfolded data from LANSCE. A vast improvement over the BSS system alone was seen with reasonable agreement with time of flight data measured at LANSCE and MCNPX calculated neutron spectra.

No description available.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The coincident measurement of gamma-rays originating from nuclei excited in light-ion reactions and scattered alpha-particles presents interesting opportunities to characterize the decay path for low multi-polarity nuclear excitations. This coincident measurement at θlab = 0◦ was shown to be a powerful tool for the spectroscopy of isoscalar E1 transitions, being selective to distinct modes of bulk nuclear motions. Aided with the high resolution capabilities provided by the HPGe Clover detectors as well as the K600 magnetic spectrometer for both γ and charged particle detection, these experiments are motivated by the need to investigate E1 strength in stable nuclei around the particle emission threshold, more commonly referred to as the Pygmy Dipole Resonance (PDR). However, due to our detector configuration we find that higher effi- ciency detectors offer a better overall functionality in these α − γ coincidence measurements which specifically suffer from low statistics. The feasibility of the (α, α 0γ) reaction using high resolution Clover detectors and the high efficiency HAGAR detector is characterized through their effi- ciency to detect γ rays in coincidence with the K600 magnetic spectrometer at θlab = 0◦ . Through the construction of Eγ − EX coincidence matrices, decay transitions of closely lying nuclear excitations can be studied on a stateby-state basis. The result is a quantified representation of γ yield, of which optimization is the key focus in order to extract meaningful nuclear structure information. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die samevallende meting van gammastrale van kerne opgewek in die lig-ion reaksies en verspreide alfa-deeljties, bied interessante geleenthede aan om die verval pad vir lae multi-polariteit kern opwekkings te karakteriseer. Hierdie samevallende meting by θlab = 0◦ was getoon om ‘n kragtige instrument vir die spektroskopie van isoscalar E1 oorgange te wees, as gevolg van die vermoë om selektief te onderskei tussen modes van kollektiewe kern ossillasies. Aangehelp met die hoë resolusie moontlikhede wat deur die HPGe Clover detektors asook die K600 magnetiese spektrometer vir beide γ en gelaaide deeltjie opsporing, hierdie eksperimente is gemotiveer deur die behoefte om E1 krag te ondersoek in stabiele kerne rondom die deeltjie emissie drumpel, meer algemeen na verwys as die Pygmy Dipool Resonansie (PDR). Maar as gevolg van die detektor opset, vind ons dat ’n hoër doeltreffendheid detector ’n beter algehele funksionaliteit aanbied wat in hierdie samevallende metings veral belangrik is weens lae statistiek. Die haalbaarheid van die reaksie wat gebruik maak van hoë resolusie Clover detektors en die hoë doeltreffendheid HAGAR detektor word gekenmerk deur hul doeltreffendheid om gammastrale optespoor in toeval met die K600 magnetiese spektrometer by θlab = 0◦ . Deur die konstruksie van toeval Eγ − EX matrikse, verval oorgange van kern opwekkings kan op ’n staat-by-staat basis bestudeer word. Die resultaat is ’n gekwantifiseerde verteenwoordiging van γ opbrengs, waarvan optimalisering die sleutel fokus is om betekenisvolle kernstruktuur inligting te kan onttrek

published_or_final_version / abstract / Physics / Master / Master of Philosophy

This work presents the design, development, and testing of a field portable imaging spectropolarimeter that operates over the short-wavelength and middle-wavelength portion of the infrared spectrum. The sensor includes a pair of sapphire Wollaston prisms and several high order retarders to produce the first infrared implementation of an imaging Fourier transform spectropolarimeter, providing for the measurement of the complete spectropolarimetric datacube over the passband. The Wollaston prisms serve as a birefringent interferometer with reduced sensitivity to vibration when compared to an unequal path interferometer, such as a Michelson. Polarimetric data are acquired through the use of channeled spectropolarimetry to modulate the spectrum with the Stokes parameter information. The collected interferogram is Fourier filtered and reconstructed to recover the spatially and spectrally varying Stokes vector data across the image.The intent of this dissertation is to provide the reader with a detailed understanding of the steps involved in the development of this infrared hyperspectral imaging polarimeter (IHIP) instrument. First, Chapter 1 provides an overview of the fundamental concepts relevant to this research. These include imaging spectrometers, polarimeters, and spectropolarimeters. A detailed discussion of channeled spectropolarimetry, including a historical study of previous implementations, is also presented. Next a few of the design alternatives that are possible for this work are outlined and discussed in Chapter 2. The configuration that was selected for the IHIP is then presented in detail, including the optical layout, design, and operation. Chapter 3 then presents an artifact reduction technique (ART) that was developed to improve the IHIP's spectropolarimetric reconstructions by reducing errors associated with non-band-limited spectral features. ART is experimentally verified in the infrared using a commercial Fourier transform spectrometer in combination with Yttrium Vanadate as well as Cadmium Sulfide retarders.The remainder of this dissertation then details the testing and analysis of the IHIP instrument. Implementation of ART with the IHIP as well as the employed calibration techniques are described in Chapter 4. Complete calibration of the IHIP includes three distinct processes to provide radiometric, spectral, and polarimetric calibration. With the instrument assembled and calibrated, results and error analyses are presented in Chapter 5. Spectropolarimetric results are obtained in the laboratory as well as outdoors to test the IHIP's real world functionality. The performance of the instrument is also assessed, including experimental measurement of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and an analysis of the potential sources of systematic error (such as retarder misalignment and finite polarizer extinction ratio). Chapter 6 presents the design and experimental results for a variable Wollaston prism that can be added to the IHIP to vary the fringe contrast across the field of view. Finally, Chapter 7 includes brief closing remarks summarizing this work and a few observations which may be useful for future infrared imaging Fourier transform channeled spectropolarimeter instruments.

The focus of this dissertation is the introduction of surface-induced dissociation (SID) into a commercially available quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer as an alternative ion fragmentation method. The performance of the SID device was characterized and its applications were demonstrated by dissociating peptides, proteins, inorganic salt clusters and non-covalent protein complexes. The SID setup allowed direct comparison of SID with conventional collision-induced dissociation (CID) on the same instrument, taking advantage of the characteristics of Q-TOF instrumentation, including extended mass range, high sensitivity and resolution. With the SID setup installed, no significant reduction of the ion transmission was evident. SID fragmentation patterns of peptides are, in general, similar to CID, with slight differences in the relative intensities of immonium ions, backbone cleavage b- versus y- type ions, and y- versus y-NH3 ions. This suggests enhanced accessibility to high energy/secondary fragmentation channels with SID. SID studies on cesium iodide clusters (CsI) also revealed that SID deposits more internal energy.The utility of mass spectrometric methods to probe the gas phase cyclization process was studied with [D-Ala2]-Leucine Enkephalin amide. This peptide showed prominent formation of the [M-NH3]+ ion which is believed to be the linear b5 ion with a C-terminal oxazolone structure. Other fragments in the spectra indicate that the linear b5 ion undergoes cyclization, subsequent ring opening and further dissociation to rearranged fragments that cannot be explained by the initial sequence. The similarities between the cyclic and b5-ion from the linear peptide indicated the formation of a heterogeneous ion population and this is further supported by gas-phase H/D exchange experiments. An ion funnel interface to improve ion transmission at high pressures was tested in a custom built quadrupole-surface-quadrupole instrument. The ion transmission efficiency for selected bio-molecules such as YGGFLR, insulin chain-B, ubiquitin and cytochrome c showed to approach almost 90%, with the funnel interface installed. The ion transmission efficiency was effected by several factors including: the size of the analyte, the DC gradient, the RF frequency, and the RF amplitude. The higher fragmentation efficiencies for SID in the presence of the funnel interface indicated higher internal energy deposition for the funnel interface.

A fiber filter spectrometer (FFS) is a novel imaging spectrometer design concept which uses the proximity filter method to create small, lightweight, and cost effective instruments with no detectable spectral crosstalk. An FFS sensor is created by coating the ends of a fiber optic image guide (FIG) with a spectral filter, the FIG is then coupled to a detector array. Using the FIG as the spectral filter substrate reduces the optical crosstalk to the point that it is inconsequential. This work describes the modeling, fabrication, and calibration of a hyperspectral FFS sensor. The image and spectral quality performance metrics are successfully predicted by the FFS model. The laboratory calibration of the instrument validates that the FIG has no substantial impact on the instrument image quality and spectral performance. The FFS concept eliminates the potential for spectral crosstalk and provides the advantages of a less complex imaging spectrometer instrument design with low mass and volume.

In the temporal study of faint, extended sources at high resolving power, Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer (SHS) can offer significant advantages about conventional dispersive grating spectrometers. We describe here a four-year continuous progress in Mt. Hamilton, Lick Observatory, toward development of a prototype reflective Spacial Heterodyne Spectrometer, Khayyam, instrument-telescope configuration to combine all of the capabilities necessary to obtain high resolving power visible band spectra of diffuse targets from small aperture on-axis telescopes where significant observing time can be obtained. We will discuss the design considerations going into this new system, installation, testing of the interferometer-telescope combination, the technical challenges and procedures moving forward.