Development of a new generation of diamond-coated thermometers to extend small-scale oceanic measurements of temperature

私人投资机构提议开发一种钻石涂层多晶硅热敏电阻，其空间分辨率为0.1毫米，时间分辨率为0.1ms，并具有在全海洋深处部署所需的强度。传感器将使用半导体制造工艺制造，使用0.5微米的多晶硅作为传感器，并使用一层薄薄的钻石涂层将多晶硅与海水绝缘。测量非常小的空间和时间尺度的海洋温度对于确定混合率和了解湍流和海气交换过程是必要的。然而，当前的温度计技术既不具备从现有平台进行必要测量的空间或时间分辨率，也不够健壮。这些特性的结合将提供一种具有前所未有的分辨率的坚固的温度计，并将允许在迄今为止无法实现的规模上进行海洋研究。两个应用领域提供了动力：研究海-气界面的边界层，以及研究海洋内部的湍流和混合。海洋混合的量化是通过直接测量温度波动的扩散平滑速率来实现的。在海-气相互作用剖面仪和高分辨率剖面仪上安装拟议的传感器将分别实现对界面边界层的常规探测，并加强对所有深度的海洋耗散的测量能力。此外，PI还预期在更高速度的拖曳和自主仪器中的其他应用，这将使各种混合和海气交换研究的测量能力得以扩展。更广泛的影响如果成功，一种快速、坚固、相当和相对便宜的传感器将是相对于目前可用的传感器的重大进步，并可能在海洋混合、海气相互作用和气候研究中得到广泛应用。许多研究人员希望测量和了解海面附近的海洋温度分布。PI表示将致力于找到一家公司，使该传感器在商业上可供社区使用。

The PIs are proposing the development of a diamond-coated polysilicon thermistor with a spatial resolution of 0.1 mm, temporal resolution of 0.1 ms, and the strength required for deployment at full ocean depths. The sensor will be constructed using a semiconductor fabrication process, using a 0.5 micrometer layer of polysilicon as the sensor, and a thin layer of diamond coating to insulate the polysilicon from seawater. Measurement of ocean temperature to very small space and time scales is necessary to determine mixing rates, and to understand turbulence and air-sea exchange processes. However, current thermometer technology possesses neither the spatial nor the temporal resolution to make the necessary measurements from existing platforms, nor is it sufficiently robust. The combination of these properties will provide a robust thermometer that has unprecedented resolution and will allow ocean studies at scales that have been heretofore unachievable. Two areas of application provide motivation: studies of the boundary layer at the air-sea interface, and studies of turbulence and mixing in the ocean interior. Quantification of ocean mixing is carried out by direct measurements of, the rate of diffusive smoothing of temperature fluctuations. Implementation of the proposed sensor on the Air-Sea Interaction Profiler and the High Resolution Profiler will respectively allow routine detection of the interfacial boundary layer, and enhance measurement abilities for oceanic dissipation at all depths. In addition, the PIs anticipate other applications in higher speed towed and autonomous instruments that will enable expanded measurement capabilities for a variety of mixing and air-sea exchange studies. Broader ImpactsIf successful, a fast, robust, quite and relatively inexpensive sensor would be a significant advancement over currently-available sensors, and could see broad usage in studies of ocean mixing, air-sea interaction, climate. Many investigators want to measure and understand the ocean temperature profile near the sea surface. The PI's express a commitment to finding a company that will make the sensor commercially available to the community.