Lenox Laser Scholarship- "Evaluation of UV LEDs for detection of atmospheric NO2 by photolysis- chemiluminescence"

Lockheed WP-3D Orion. From NOAA website

 
"Evaluation of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes for detection of atmospheric NO2 by photolysis- chemiluminescence"
 by Ilana B Pollack, Brian M Lerner, and Thomas B Ryerson

This article was accepted to Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry in February of this year, and it details an atmospheric study done in May and June of 2010. Lenox Laser made a total of 3 parts for their studies of different LED detections systems of NO2. For some key background information if one is not familiar, I highly recommend reading this article first:
Flourescence detection of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide using a blue light-emitting diode as an excitation source by Yutaka Matsumi et al. It is much more readable and understandable.

Basically, detection of NO2 in the atmosphere relates to the ozone levels in the atmosphere. Thus, scientists of the field are interested in better, more accurate, and cheaper ways to measure NO2. One of the most recent trends to do so is to use commercially available UV-LEDs in their systems. The systems already often use a UV light source of some kind because in the chemistry of NO2 and related molecules, they will emit light in the process. Atmospheric scientists use this property, called chemiluminescence, to measure the NO2 molecules. Chemiluminescence detection is called P-CL.

In this article, the authors tested 3 UV-LEDs against each other in the P-CL system as shown in the diagram below:

Fig 1 from the paper- schematic of instrumental configuration

I recommend reading the article itself to fully understand the diagram and the process. However, this is where Lenox Laser and our calibrated orifices come in. The red section where it says 700um orifice is where our first orifice was used. This is the bypass inlet, and was used to set the sample flow rate and cell pressure for the entire system. They found that the Nichia LEDs were the best overall.


So for the second part of the test, they took the Nichia LEDs on board the NOAA WP-3D aircraft with the P-CL for "on the job" training in the CalNex study. They replaced the more expensive and complicated mass flow controllers were replaced with our critical orifices and mass flow meters. In the diagram above the two places are indicated by arrows in the blue and black section. Replacing the parts in the system did improve the quality, and, as stated in the conclusion, they "eliminate mechanical components with complex flow paths that degrade time response. Replacing mass flow controllers with critical orifices and mass flow meters further simplifies the sample flow path in these laboratory test."

The NOAA WP-3D aircraft is the plane that flies into hurricanes to monitor and gather information. It took part in CalNex - a study by several universities and institutions of air quality and climate change on the west coast. Our parts were used on board and tested with the UV-LED systems during the study. They even went with the plane as it was briefly diverted from the study to the Gulf of Mexico during the oil spill.


So in conclusion, this research paper incorporates optics, chemistry, and biology with flow technologies, atmospheric studies, and research planes all together, with Lenox Laser parts in the middle of it all!

As always, check out our main website www.lenoxlaser.com to see more of what we do, as well as the rest of this blog. If you have any questions or input, email me at archives@lenoxlaser.com

Harlem Globetrotter Coming to Lenox Laser

The CBMC Family Cookout with Choo Smith, former Harlem Globetrotter and Bill Alexson, President of SportsPower International will be held at Lenox Laser on July 30th, 2011. Go to the Events page linked below to look up more information.

CBMC Cookout flier
CBMC Events Page

Spectrum of Industrial and Scientific Lasers

The first laser ever made used a synthetic ruby crystal- a solid-state laser with an emission wavelength of 694 nanometers. 

Now, over 50 years later, lasers can be from solids, liquids, or gases. They span the electromagnetic spectrum from far-infrared to the edge of ultraviolet, and emit wavelengths from 3 micron to 157 nanometers.

The full diagram of commercial lasers here at Wikimedia Commons.

We made a new and revised chart from the data showing more specifically the industrial and scientific lasers used in micro-drilling applications.

click here to enlarge

From the description:

"Laser types with distinct laser lines are shown above 

the wavelength bar, while below are shown lasers 

that can emit in a wavelength range... the height of 

the line gives an indication of the maximal power/pulse 

energy commercially available. For the Ar+-Kr+ laser 

only the most important lines are labeled...

Currently most of the data is taken from Weber's book 

"Handbook of laser wavelengths", with newer data in 

particular for semiconductor lasers."

From the original, we switched the bar around to go from longer to shorter wavelengths, instead of the other way around. Otherwise, it's the same data. It gives a nice visual overview of the laser spectrum and their myriad types.

Next week I'll be writing about an exciting research paper from NOAA for which we made 3 key parts. It connects atmospheric research, WWII planes, Hurricane Katrina, UV-LEDs, and Lenox Laser orifices all together! So be sure to check back.

And as always, check out past posts and our company website for even more information.

www.lenoxlaser.com

Developing a Hybrid Neuroprosthesis for Epilepsy Treatment

http://faces.med.nyu.edu/research/research-articles/neuroprosthesis

Laser-Drilling Applications Google Scholar Results

We are doing a lot this year in anticipation of our 2nd International Light Seminar in October as well as in commemoration of this our 30th anniversary. 

We decided that we wanted to get a better handle on where our parts have gone and how they are being used. I have already gone through Lenox Laser in space with NASA here. Now I want to take it back down to Earth.

In order see where our parts have been used and cited, I went to Google Scholar
and searched for "Lenox Laser." Here is the link to the results: Google Scholar. What I found was fascinating.


While not all of the results are accessible, those that are provide key insights into laser-drilling applications. The three broad categories are articles, patents, and theses and dissertations. In my research, I have broken them down accordingly and ordered them chronologically by publication year. The following graph illustrates the results:

click on the picture to enlarge

Here one can see a snapshot of Lenox Laser and how we are increasingly in demand. This also illustrates how laser-drilling and nano technologies have been growing.

I, and a few others, will be going through all of the articles we can and blog about them. We will give a summary of the article and the field that it relates to. However the key will be what part or parts we made and the applications.

We are working on improving our Newsroom on our company website. It will have a page where all the articles in which we are cited will be listed, as well as direct links. That will be up and running very soon.

So for now, please peruse through the Google Scholar results. You can even add keywords to specify your search, such as aperture or orifice. And, as always, please visit our website for more about Lenox Laser's products and services.

Use of SiC in a High Power Spatial Filter for Stray Light Reduction

     Thomson scattering measurement of the electron temperature and density profiles in high temperature plasmas is a well established experimental technique.  The existence of high levels of laser-line radiation (“stray laser light”) in the detected scattered light signal can lead to difficulty in system calibration.

     Spatial filtering is a standard technique for improving the spatial profile of low-power laser beams.  Focusing a beam through a pinhole aperture allows removal of spatial irregularities caused by nonlinear effects of amplification, dust or imperfect optics.

     Silicon carbide is often used as an aperture material due to its high damage threshold. 
Lenox Laser, Inc. of Glen Arm, Maryland, has laser drilled 210 micron apertures in SiC disks for such applications as stated above.  Experiments have shown that SiC apertures perform better than copper apertures.  It was found that the steady state stray light level for SiC was significantly less than for Cu.  Thus a silicon carbide aperture performed better than copper for irradiance at the spatial filter focus. 

    

A High Power Spatial Filter for Thomson Scattering Stray Light Reduction

http://serverapam.ap.columbia.edu/HBT-EP/wiki/lib/exe/fetch.php/papers:levesque_rsi_2011.pdf

Lenox Laser and NASA- Pioneering in Space

 

For 30 years, Lenox Laser has been involved in numerous NASA missions, providing quality parts and expertise. 

Exoplanet conceptualization. Credit: NASA

So in anticipation of our 30th anniversary, we have put together those missions which we have been involved in. It is truly amazing that we have some of our parts out in distant space providing critical data about our universe.

Only a few years after its invention, the LASER was used in NASA's pre-Moon landing missions in 1967. The founder of our company, Joseph d'Entremont, was involved in the laser testing and laser measuring of the distance of the Moon from Earth. He provided the backup system, which was successfully used after the primary contractor's system failed. He recalls that the power of the return signal he received was somewhere between a giga or terawatt.

Hubble Space Telescope:
We have had several parts on Hubble over the years. Starting in 1981, Lenox Laser provided precision crosshair fiducials and slits for the Hubble Instruments. We then twice provided custom stainless steel discs with crosses- in 1989 and 1991.

Galileo spacecraft. Credit: NASA

Galileo Mission:

In 1985, Lenox Laser drilled precision holes in Hasteloy discs for the Galileo Mission to Jupiter. They were for the Helium Leak Detector on the spacecraft. Galileo spent 14 years in space- 

7 to travel to Jupiter, and then 7 orbiting Jupiter and its moons. 

Galileo was then intentionally crashed onto Jupiter at the end of its mission to prevent contamination.

Kepler Mission:
1999 brought us the unique and monumental task of making a custom Starfield Plate for the Kepler Mission. This then led to the design and production of another "starfield" in 2000 for NASA's "Starfield" Project. The project is part of a system that can find orbiting bodies around distant astronomical bodies by detecting miniscule changes in light intensity. 


Messenger Mission:
We then made High Power Ceramic Apertures for the Messenger Mission which were for spatial filtering. The Messenger, and our apertures, orbited Venus on the way to its goal Mercury, where it is currently gathering information about the planet. The parts were hand delivered to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Light echo from a star. Credit: NASA Hubble

 
Mercury Laser Altimeter Project:
In 2003, Lenox Laser provided flight quality Alumina and Macor apertures for NASA's Mercury Laser Altimeter Project and the Space Lidar Technology Center.

STEREO Mission:
Most recently, we provided custom parts and consulting services for NASA's STEREO project which is providing revolutionary views of the Sun. The consulting was in support of testing the focus setting of one of the instruments during satellite integration at the Goddard Space Flight Center. As a result, Lenox Laser was awarded NASA's Instrument and Technology Division 2006 Contractor Team Spirit Award.

To read more about our pioneering with NASA and their missions, click through the following links:

General information

Lenox Laser Newsroom

Hubble Space Telescope

NASA site

Galileo Mission

NASA site

 Lenox Laser summary

Kepler Mission

 NASA site

 Lenox Laser summary

Messenger Mission

JHU-APL site

 Lenox Laser summary

STEREO Mission

NASA site

 Lenox Laser summary

LENOX LASER HOSTS "SUPERBOWL WITH AN NFL STAR"

Lenox Laser, Inc.  on Feb. 6, 2011,  hosted "Superbowl with an NFL Star" sponsored by SportsPower International.  The "star"? Ray Sydnor!
Ray Sydnor was born in Baltimore and grew up in Baltimore City with his four sisters and parents.  A graduate of Northwestern High School, Ray lettered for three years in football and two years in basketball.  He graduated as a High School All-American football and basketball player and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received a full scholarship to play football.  During his senior year, he was selected as All-Big Ten Tight End and was subsequently drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He later was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles and was a member of their Super Bowl team in 1980.
The former All-American football and basketball player and NFL pro was living his dream until life took a turn for the worst when drugs and alcohol ended his prof football career.  In 1998, after watching his life leave a trail of destruction and hurt, Sydnor began his recovery and new life.  He is now a father of six and a national speaker for many sport's, men's and youth organizations.
The main event consisted of watching this year's Super Bowl between the Steelers and the Packers on a huge wide screen TV.  Speeches were then presented by both Sydnor and Bill Alexson, president of SportsPower International and former Chaplain of the Boston Celtics.

NEW SERVICE PROVIDED BY LENOX LASER

     In order to meet the high quality standards expected from our customers, Lenox Laser now offers a vacuum packing service to further ensure the integrity of manufactured parts from our facility to their intended destination.

     Vacuum packing offers a wide range of advantages especially for those parts that require certain controlled conditions, such as, moisture-free or dust-free environments.  Vacuum packing also reduces part movement in transit.  Part movement or improperly packaged parts compromise a part’s integrity.  This service may be of interest to our international customers whose parts must travel great distances. 

     Whether it is a single part or several, this vacuum packing service is highly recommended for our customers in the pharmaceutical, semiconductor and optical industries.

     Call 1-800-49HOLES (4-6537) or email sales@lenoxlaser.com for more information.  Be sure to visit our website at www.lenoxlaser.com to view our  extensive line of parts and services.