arXiv subjects

Apostolos Apostolakis

Publications and source records attributed to Apostolos Apostolakis.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Photo-acoustic spectroscopy using a quantum cascade laser (QCL) for analysis of ammonia in water solutions

Ammonia (NH$_3$) toxicity, stemming from nitrification, can adversely affect aquatic life and influence the taste and odor of drinking water. This underscores the necessity for highly responsive and accurate sensors to continuously monitor NH$_3$ levels in water, especially in complex environments where reliable sensors have been lacking until this point. Herein, we detail the development of a sensor comprising a compact and selective analyzer with low gas consumption and a timely response, based on photoacoustic spectroscopy. This, combined with an automated liquid sampling system, enables the precise detection of ammonia traces in water. The sensor system incorporates a state-of-the art quantum cascade laser as the excitation source emitting at 9 \textmu m in resonance with the absorption line of NH$_3$ located at 1103.46 cm$^{-1}$. Our instrument demonstrated detection sensitivity at low ppm level for total ammonia nitrogen with response times less than 60 seconds. For the sampling system, an ammonia stripping solution was designed resulting in a prompt full measurement cycle (6.35 mins). A further evaluation of the sensor within a pilot study showed good reliability and agreement with the reference method for real water samples, confirming the potential of our NH$_3$ analyzer for water-quality monitoring applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Recent advances in superlattice frequency multipliers

Semiconductor superlattice multipliers have emerged as a nonlinear medium capable to generate radiation in a wide frequency range. This property facilitates the potential of sources suitable for sensing and spectroscopy applications. In this study, we further investigate the consequences on harmonic generation in a superlattice multiplier after excitation by an input signal oscillating at different frequencies. Here we provide a rigorous description of our theoretical model including a semiclassical Boltzmann approach to nonlinear miniband transport and non-equilibrium Greens functions calculations treating scattering processes under forward and reverse bias. To fully exploit the features of this radiation source, we focus on the effects of elastic scattering and systemat-ic imperfections in the superlattice structure which lead to asymmetric current flow.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Superlattice nonlinearities for Gigahertz-Terahertz generation in harmonic multipliers

Semiconductor superlattices are strongly nonlinear media offering several technological challenges associated with the generation of high-frequency Gigahertz radiation and very effective frequency multiplication up to several Terahertz. However, charge accumulation, traps and interface defects lead to pronounced asymmetries in the nonlinear current flow, from which high harmonic generation stems. This problem requires a full non-perturbative solution of asymmetric current flow under irradiation, which we deliver in this paper within the Boltzmann-Bloch approach. We investigate the nonlinear output on both frequency and time domains and demonstrate a significant enhancement of even harmonics by tuning the interface quality. Moreover, we find that increasing arbitrarily the input power is not a solution for high nonlinear output, in contrast with materials described by conventional susceptibilities. There is a complex combination of asymmetry and power values leading to maximum high harmonic generation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Controlling the harmonic conversion efficiency in semiconductor superlattices by interface roughness design

In semiconductor superlattices, when Bragg oscillating electrons interact with an input electromagnetic field, frequency multiplication is possible. An ideal superlattice has a purely antisymmetric voltage current response and can thus produce only odd harmonics. However, real world superlattices can also have even harmonic response and that increases the range of possible output frequencies. These effects have been recently explained with a predictive model that combines an Ansatz solution for the Boltzmann Equation with a Nonequilibrium Green's Functions approach. This predictive tool, coupled with recent progress on GHz input sources, support the growing interest in developing compact room temperature devices that can operate from the GHz to the THz range. The natural question to ask is what efficiencies can be expected. This paper addresses this issue by investigating power-conversion efficiency in irradiated semiconductor superlattices. Interface imperfections are consistently included in the theory and they strongly influence the power output of both odd and even harmonics. Good agreement is obtained for predicted odd harmonic outputs with experimental data for a wide frequency range. The intrinsic conversion efficiency used is based on the estimated amplitude of the input field inside the sample and thus independent of geometrical factors that characterize different setups. The method opens the possibility of designing even harmonic output power by controlling the interface quality.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗