MRI Devlopment: Development of an Optical NanoKelvin Calorimeter

该奖项支持纳米开尔文分辨率光学量热计的开发，预计将把当前激光量热计的灵敏度提高三个数量级以上，这将推动最先进的光学吸收测量，从0.1到1ppm（百万分之一）到ppb（十亿分之一）区域。这将使光学元件的特性具有前所未有的灵敏度。光谱分辨率和3 K的测量与空间分辨率相结合，将产生关于天然和激光诱导材料缺陷的物理和化学性质的独特信息，这对于制定减缓战略是必要的。新仪器将能够精确研究低温探测器中使用的材料的光学/红外吸光度，具有光谱、功率和空间分辨率，包括吸附表面污染的影响。这将提供顺磁伽玛射线/粒子探测器的位置相关响应信息，从而降低工作温度以提高性能。

This award supports the development of an optical calorimeter with nanoKelvin resolution which is estimated to improve upon the sensitivity of current laser calorimeters by more than three orders of magnitude, which will push the state-of-the-art in optical absorption measurements of 0.1 to 1 ppm (parts per million) to the ppb (parts per billion)region. This will allow the characterization of optical components with unprecedented sensitivity. Spectral resolution and measurements at 3 K combined with spatial resolution will yield unique information about the physical and chemical nature of native and laser induced material defects, which is necessary for the development of mitigation strategies. The new instrument will enable precision studies of optical/IR absorbance of materials used in low-temperature detectors with spectral, power, and spatial resolution, including the impact of adsorbed surface contamination. This will provide information on the position-dependent response of paramagnetic gamma-ray/particle detectors, which will result in lower operating temperatures for improved performance.