This paper describes a reconstruction method for atom probe tomography based on a bottom-up approach accounting for (i) the final tip morphology (which is frequently induced by inhomogeneous evaporation probabilities across the tip surface due to laser absorption, heat diffusion effects, and inhomogeneous material properties), (ii) the limited (and changing) field of view, and (iii) the detector efficiency. The reconstruction starts from the final tip morphology and reverses the evaporation sequence through the pseudo-deposition of defined small reconstruction volumes, which are then stacked together to create the full three-dimensional (3D) tip. The subdivision in small reconstruction volumes allows the scheme to account for the changing tip shape and field of view as evaporation proceeds. Atoms within the same small reconstruction volume are reconstructed at once by placing atoms back onto their possible lattice sites through a trajectory-matching process involving simulated and experimental hit maps. As the ejected ion trajectories are simulated using detailed electrostatic modeling inside the chamber, no simplifications have been imposed on the shape of the trajectories, projection laws, or tip surface. We demonstrate the superior performance of our approach over the conventional reconstruction method (Bas) for an asymmetrical tip shape.

We present a diode-pumped, electro-optically Q-switched Tm:YAG laser with a cryogenically cooled laser crystal at 120 K. Output pulses of up to 2.55 mJ and 650 ns duration were demonstrated in an actively Q-switched configuration with a repetition rate of 1 Hz. By using cavity dumping the pulse duration was shortened to 18 ns with only a slightly lower output energy of 2.22 mJ. Furthermore, using a simplified rate equation model, we discuss design constraints on the pump fluence in a pulse pump approach for Tm:YAG to maximize the energy storage capability at a given pump power.

Realizing packaged state-of-the-art performance of monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) operating at millimeter wavelengths presents significant challenges in terms of electrical interface circuitry and physical construction. For instance, even with the aid of modern electromagnetic simulation tools, modeling the interaction between the MMIC and its package embedding circuit can lack the necessary precision to achieve optimum device performance. Physical implementation also introduces inaccuracies and requires iterative interface component substitution that can produce variable results, is invasive and risks damaging the MMIC. This paper describes a novel method for in situ optimization of packaged millimeter-wave devices using a pulsed ultraviolet laser to remove pre-selected areas of interface circuit metallization. The method was successfully demonstrated through the optimization of a 183 GHz low noise amplifier destined for use on the MetOp-SG meteorological satellite series. An improvement in amplifier output return loss from an average of 12.9 dB to 22.7 dB was achieved across an operational frequency range of 175–191 GHz and the improved circuit reproduced. We believe that our in situ tuning technique can be applied more widely to planar millimeter-wave interface circuits that are critical in achieving optimum device performance.

Additive manufacturing (AM) has made long strides in the recent past and rapidly evolved into a promising alternative in specific applications. The aircraft industry is not an exception to this. The true just-intime production possibility is critical for the aircraft maintenance industries, though the lack of material freedom is a major hurdle. Several fire-retardant materials were investigated for AM in the aerospace context, but mainly for fused deposition modeling (FDM). The material consolidation constraints in FDM led to the expansion to the use of selective laser sintering (SLS) to some extent. Nevertheless, the material options are still limited, proprietary, and lack scientific insights into the material consolidation mechanics. Attempts are made in this paper to fill this gap, evaluating a new fire-retardant material for processing by SLS. Experiments conducted to ascertain the material, process, structure, and consolidation relationships indicated energy density levels 0.062–0.070 J/mm2 with laser power 13 W and scan speed varied slightly around 390 mm/s to give the best laser sintering and mechanical property results in polyetherimide powders.

Nickel-coated carbon nanotubes (Ni-CNTs) were achieved by electroless plating. Laser cladded IN718 and IN718 with 10, 30, and 50 wt% additions of Ni-CNTs were fabricated. The structural evolution of CNTs in the laser-deposited layers was studied; the microstructure, tensile, and wear properties of the laser-cladded alloys were characterized. The results show that CNTs in the laser-deposited layers are mostly transformed to carbon nanoproducts (CNPs) in the forms of graphene nanosheets, graphene fragments, carbon nanoribbons, and diamond-like nanoparticles by unzipping, interbonding, collapsing, and curvature of CNTs. The interdendritic Laves phase formation is dramatically depressed due to the addition of Ni-CNTs, but the excess addition of the Ni-CNTs can undesirably increase the formation of NbC. The addition of Ni-CNTs effectively improves the tensile and wear properties. The most superior tensile and wear properties are achieved in the layers with 30 and 50 wt% additions of Ni-CNTs, respectively. The generation of intermetallic phase and CNPs are revealed to be two dominant effects both on the tensile and wear properties of the laser-cladded alloys.

Additively manufactured parts produced via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) have limitations in their applications due to post-processing requirements caused by high surface roughness. The characteristics of side-skin surfaces are generally assumed to be dominated by adhered powder particles. This work aims to analyze and interpret the effects of LPBF processing parameters on side-skin surfaces. As such, this work has two sections to investigate the effect of (i) core and (ii) border LPBF parameters on side-skin surface roughness for Ti–6Al–4V. The findings show that there is a robust correlation between both core and border LPBF parameters on side-skin surface morphologies. In terms of core LPBF parameters, an interaction between laser power and beam velocity is shown to influence side-skin surface roughness, resulting in Sa values in the range of 11–26 μm. Additionally, a preliminary investigation into the effect of melting mode phenomena at the border leads to a possibility of obtaining Sa values of <10 μm, with reduced effects of adhered and partially fused powder.

We observe experimentally periodic proton beam filamentation in laser-produced dense plasma using multilayered (CH–Al–CH) sandwich targets. The accelerated MeV proton beams from these targets exhibit periodic frozen filaments up to 5–10 µm as a result of resistive Weibel instabilities in the expanding plasma. The evolution of strong self-generated resistive magnetic fields at the targets interface is attributed to such plasma effects, which are supported, by our theory and simulations. We suggest that the resistive Weibel instability could be effectively employed to understand the evolution of magnetic fields in laser-generated plasma in the astrophysics scenario or the advanced fast igniter approach of the inertial confinement fusion.

In this research, a novel titanium metallic composite, Ti6Al4V powder mixed with 5 at.% Nb powder, was fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). The effect of Nb addition on their phase transformation, microstructure evolution, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior were studied. Interestingly, the novel alloy shows a combination of superior plastic deformation (εp= 18.9 ± 1.8%) and high compressive strength (σc= 1593 ± 38 MPa), which is 60.2 and 3.2% higher than that of the SLM-processed Ti6Al4V alloy under optimum printing parameters, respectively. However, the yield strength of Ti6Al4V + 5Nb (973 ± 45 MPa) is lower than that of the Ti6Al4V alloy (1066 ± 12 MPa). The solidification mechanism changes from planar to cellular mode with Nb addition. The ultrafine microstructure β grains are observed, which show a columnar shape and cellular shape. More importantly, the volume fraction of the β phase is significantly increased from 3.7% to 20.4% because of the Nb addition. In addition, the Ti6Al4V + 5Nb alloy possesses better corrosion resistance than the Ti6Al4V alloy. The research highlights that the addition of Nb powder in Ti6Al4V processed by SLM can improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the material.

Laser surface treatment is widely used as an engineering technique due to its special characteristics and several advantages over other surface modification techniques. In the present study, elemental mechanically pre-alloyed powder consisting of Niobium, Titanium and Nickel was deposited onto a grade 5 Titanium alloy substrates to form a high wear resistance coating. This was such that the surface mechanical properties of the base metal can be improved. The fabricated samples were characterised using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), micro hardness tester and wear machine. The deposited coatings were well bonded and consisted of various phases. Hardness was seen decrease with increase in Nb content while wear resistance increasing with increase in niobium content.

Pairs of conjugate donor-acceptor fluorescent probes have proven themselves useful in stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy in recent years. For instance, it has been shown that the lifetime of said probes directly correlates to the resolution of the microscope. However, once the lifetimes of the probes have been optimized, it is desirable to control their fluorescence in order to improve the resolution further. Here, we propose combining model-free control with sliding mode control to track nanosecond pulses of red-shifted acceptor fluorescence in order to inhibit visible light emitted from the image plane, shrink the point spread function, and subsequently improve the resolution of the microscope. This is achieved by automatic adjustment of the STED laser beam pump power. This controller is numerically simulated against a generic model created from Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) theory. However, since it is data-driven, it can be easily applied to various physical systems with drastically different dynamics. This work provides a reliable theoretic control solution to modern super resolution microscopy for biological imaging.

A hollow γ-TNB turbine blade was 3D printed in this studying using the –R Optomec LENS machine from the elemental powders of aluminium, niobium and titanium making use of the laser “in situ” alloying approaching. The printed blade was characterised of a nearly lamellar β microstructure in the As-built state. The microstructure of the blade post heat treated was characterised of grain growth and coarsening and the formation of the γ phase which was of the result of the transformation of β. This transformation was also observed in the As-built state and is reported here for the first time. A massive crack that was observed half-way through in the built was attributed to the thermal shocks that are experienced by the almost immediately after manufacturing. The EDS and Map taken on the As-built and heat treated samples conclude that there was no segregation in the alloying element during manufacturing and that the blade was of the dual phase. Hardness results indicated the heat treated sample was 91 HV0.5 lower in hardness when compared to the As-built component. The successful print of this hollow blade indicate that γ-TNB and other Ti-Al alloys can be printed with the LENS but if a crack free sample was to be achieved the set-up had to be manipulated or addition resources must be added to adapt the set-up. Meanwhile the successes of this study show that LENS is going to be considered as a cost-effective manufacturing tool in the future for 3D printing Ti-Al and other metallic structure that would have improved properties when compared to traditional manufacturing technique such as casting and the powder bed systems.

Ignition with the help of a shock wave is performed by the interaction of accelerated plasma block by a petawatt-picosecond (PW-ps) laser, with a solid-state density fuel that it is a new possibility for achieving controlled fusion by inertial confinement. The unexpected production of plasma blocks provides new access to the ignition of solid-state density fuel according to the Chu hydrodynamic model. When the produced plasma block by the PW-ps laser hits the main fuel due to the density differences between the plasma block and the main fuel of the shock wave, this progressive wave increases the density of solidified fuels and reduces the energy of the ignition threshold and increases the flammability. In this study, a new discovery of shock waves has been observed leading to the resonance phenomenon. Nuclear heat shock waves resonance in the side-on ignition of fuel in the internal layer of fuel at x ≠ 0 appears from the exact solution of the hydrodynamic equations with respect to the density profile. This important finding achieves the required ignition temperature for solid-state fuel deuterium–tritium (D–T) in certain energies, with a significant increase due to the resonance of thermonuclear waves. This discovery will facilitate practical experiments on the ignition of advanced solid-state fuels with the accelerated plasma blocks by a PW-ps laser at certain energies.

Advances in technology have seen mobile robots becoming a viable solution to many global challenges. A key limitation for tetherless operation, however, is the energy density of batteries. Whilst significant research is being undertaken into new battery technologies, wireless power transfer may be an alternative solution. The majority of the available technologies are not targeted toward the medium power requirements of mobile robots; they are either for low powers (a few Watts) or very large powers (kW). This paper reviews existing wireless power transfer technologies and their applications on mobile robots. The challenges of using these technologies on mobile robots include delivering the power required, system efficiency, human safety, transmission medium, and distance, all of which are analyzed for robots operating in a hazardous environment. The limitations of current wireless power technologies to meet the challenges for mobile robots are discussed and scenarios which current wireless power technologies can be used on mobile robots are presented.

A comparative study of properties of the films based on polyimide powders synthesized by chemical or thermal imidization is presented. It is shown that the imidization method affects the shape, size, bulk density, and size distribution of the synthesized polyimide powder particles, which influences the properties of the films obtained. The method of chemical modification allows to obtain denser powders comparing to the thermally imidized powder. The films were obtained with the help of selective laser sintering (SLS) for the first time. It is shown that the films produced by SLS from chemically imidized polyimide powder are more dense and monolithic as compared to those made from thermally imidized polyimide, which provides, obviously, higher mechanical characteristics of the former. They have the strength higher in 2.5 times and the elastic modulus twice as high than latter one. The optimal laser power is 65 W.

Considering that traditional visual navigation cannot be utilised in low illumination and sparse feature environments, a novel visual-inertial integrated navigation method using a Structured Light Visual (SLV) sensor for Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) is proposed in this paper. First, the measurement model based on an SLV sensor is studied and built. Then, using the state model based on error equations of an Inertial Navigation System (INS), the measurement model based on the error of the relative motion measured by INS and SLV is built. Considering that the measurements in this paper are mainly related to the position and attitude information of the present moment, the state error accumulation in traditional visual-inertial navigation can be avoided. An Adaptive Sage-Husa Kalman Filter (ASHKF) based on multiple weighting factors is proposed and designed to make full use of the SLV measurements. The results of the simulation and the experiment based on real flight data indicate that high accuracy position and attitude estimations can be obtained with the help of the algorithm proposed in this paper.