Patent Application
20200371269
The present invention relates, generally, to the field of information exchange and in particular, to the field of communication.
Particularly, the present invention relates to a communication system using gravitational radiation such as gravitational waves and a TADF (thermally activated delayed fluorescence) material based radiation detection arrangement therefore.
The generation of gravitational waves has been widely discussed in science. However, there is still a lack of detection devices and methods that are able to accurately detect gravitational waves.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device and method for detection of gravitational waves and to provide a system and method for information exchange, e.g. a communication system, on its basis.
To solve the above object, the present invention provides apparatus and method subject-matter according to the accompanying independent claims, wherein variations, embodiments and examples thereof are defined in accompanying dependent claims.
More particularly, the present invention provides a radiation detection arrangement for detection of a gravitational signal, wherein the arrangement comprises:
The gravitational signal may be referred to as gravitational radiation or gravitational waves.
The detection layer may be at least one of
The radiation detector device may comprise at least one of
The radiation detection arrangement may comprise at least two radiation detector devices wherein the detection layer is arranged between the at least two radiation detector devices.
The radiation detection arrangement may comprise a control device for controlling the operation of the excitation radiation source device, wherein the control devices is adapted to operate the excitation radiation source device in a constant emission mode and/or a variable/modifiable emission mode, comprising pulsed and/or periodical emission mode.
The computing device may be able to compute detection data from the radiation detector device during and/or following radiation emission from the excitation radiation source device.
The radiation detection arrangement may comprise an optical system being arranged between the detection layer and the radiation detector device.
The radiation detection arrangement may comprise a housing accommodating the components of the radiation detection arrangement.
The housing may have shielding properties for shielding of at least one of:
The radiation detection arrangement may comprise at least one temperature sensing device for sensing temperature of at least one of
The radiation detection arrangement or one or more parts thereof (particularly, the parts listed above) may be placed in a temperature controlled environment.
For example, it is envisaged to use a passive temperature controlled environment, where the radiation detection arrangement or one or more parts thereof is arranged in a box, container, housing and the like having thermal characteristics (e.g. walls with high thermal resistance) that maintain a temperature in its interior at least for some period of time. Examples for a passive temperature controlled environment include a Dewar flask/container.
Further, it is also envisaged to use an active temperature controlled environment, where the radiation detection arrangement or one or more parts thereof is arranged in a box, container, housing and the like for which the inner temperature may be actively controlled by using heating and/or cooling of the interior and at least one temperature sensor for temperature control.
Also, combinations of active and passive temperature controlled environments may be used, wherein, for example, some parts of the radiation detection arrangement are in an active temperature controlled environment and other parts of the radiation detection arrangement are in a passive temperature controlled environment.
Further, the present invention provides a method of detecting a gravitational signal using a radiation detection arrangement, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
The method may further comprise the steps of:
According to the method of the present invention, in an excitation phase, excitation radiation is emitted onto the detection layer in order to excite the TADF material and, in a detection phase subsequent to the excitation phase, TADF emission from the detection layer is detected.
In some examples, the excitation phase and the detection phase may, at least partially, overlap. For example:
In further examples, there may a transition phase between the excitation phase and the detection phase, during which transition phase neither excitation nor detection takes place.
The method may further comprise the step of arranging an optical system between the detection layer and the radiation detector device for adjusting the TADF emission onto the radiation detector device.
The method may further comprise the steps of:
The method may further comprise at least one of the steps of:
The present invention further provides a radiation generation arrangement for generating a modulated gravitational signal, wherein the radiation generation arrangement may be constructed in accordance with Gertsenshtein effect and comprise:
The gravitational signal comprises gravitational radiation, particularly, gravitational waves, wherein the wavelength of the gravitational waves substantially corresponds to the first wavelength of the first electromagnetic (EM) radiation.
The source device of the radiation generation arrangement may be a laser emitting electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength which is substantially constant.
The magnetic devices of the radiation generation arrangement may be two rear-earth permanent magnets that are arranged opposite one another, thereby defining the signal-generation region and comprising an allow of neodymium, iron and boron.
The leading device of the radiation generation arrangement may be an optical waveguide that guides electromagnetic waves in the optical spectrum, wherein the leading device may be a light tube that guides the incident signal provided by the source device.
The radiation generation arrangement may further comprise modulating device that may be a signal generator controlling emission of the incident signal of the source device to generate a modulated gravitational signal.
The modulated signal may comprise a first modulated gravitational signal generated by using a first modulation frequency f1 at a first time and a second modulated gravitational signal generated by using a second modulation frequency f2 at a second time, wherein
Thus, the same modulation schemes and multiplex methods generally used for telecommunications like TDMA, FDMA and the like may be applicable for the gravitational signal as well.
The present invention provides a method for generating a modulated gravitational signal using a radiation generation arrangement, wherein the method may comprise:
The modulated signal may be a be a frequency modulated signal generated by using a first modulation frequency f1 at a first time and a second modulation frequency f2 at a second time, wherein
The present invention provides a radiation detection arrangement for detection of modulated gravitational signals may comprise:
The modulated gravitational signals comprising a first modulated gravitational signal modulated by a first modulation frequency f1 at a first time and a second modulated gravitational signal modulated by a second modulation frequency f2 at a second time.
The radiation detection arrangement may further comprise
The radiation detection arrangement may further comprise
The radiation detection arrangement may further comprise
The present invention provides a method for detecting modulated gravitational signals using a radiation detection arrangement, wherein the radiation detection arrangement comprises
wherein the method may comprise:
The modulated gravitational signals comprising a first modulated gravitational signal modulated by a first modulation frequency f1 at a first time and a second modulated gravitational signal modulated by a second modulation frequency f2 at a second time.
The radiation detection method may further comprise
The radiation detection method may further comprise
The present invention further provides a system for information exchange, such as a communication system, which system may comprise:
The present invention further provides a communication method, which may comprise:
In the description of embodiment further below, it is referred to the following drawings, which show:
Generally, features and functions referred to with respect to specific drawings and embodiments may also apply to other drawings and embodiments, unless explicitly noted otherwise.
Known conventional components, which are necessary for operation, (e.g. energy supply, cables, controlling devices, processing devices, storage devices, etc.) are neither shown nor described, but are nevertheless considered to be disclosed for the skilled person.
In the drawings, just a radiation beam along one direction (like from a single source) is illustrated. However, this is just for simplification. Rather, the gravitational signal 4 may include more than one radiation beam, namely a plurality thereof, and/or radiation fronts. Also, the gravitational signal 4 may impinge from more than one direction, e.g. a plurality of different directions even opposing ones.
The radiation detection arrangement 2 comprises a housing 6. The housing 6 acts as shield against external radiation 6 that shall not be detected by the radiation detection arrangement 2. Such radiation is referred to as shieldable radiation 8. Examples for shieldable radiation 8 include one or more of the following: visible light, neutrons, electrons, protons, myons, cosmic radiation, electro-magnetic radiation, X-ray radiation, ultraviolet radiation, Gamma radiation, corpuscular radiation, alpha radiation, beta radiation, thermal radiation, thermal disturbances.
Shieldable radiation 8 is blocked by the housing 6 so that no part of shieldable radiation 8 can enter the space defined the housing 6. This is illustrated in the drawings by arrows 10 indicting reflected shieldable radiation. However, shielding effected by the housing 6 may be (additionally or alternatively) provided by absorption or any other way ensuring that no shieldable radiation reaches the inner of the housing.
Contrary thereto, the housing 6 does not block, shield off or prohibit in any other way the gravitational signal 10 that may be measured. As mentioned before, the gravitational signal may be gravitational radiation or, particularly, gravitational waves.
The housing 6 may be adapted to act as at least one of the following:
The material of the housing 6 may comprise, for example, at least one of the following:
UV/gamma/corpuscular/X-rays/ alpha/beta shield:
An exemplary housing may have walls comprising an Aluminum sheet/layer with a thickness of at least about 10 mm; one, two or three glass layers each having a thickness of at least about 2 mm; a textolite layer with a thickness of about 1 mm with an optional cooper foil at least at one side of the textolite layer.
The distance between the inner surface of the housing 6 and the detection layer 12 may be 0 mm (i.e. no distance) or, for example, in the range of at least about 30 mm.
Further shielding can be achieved by providing a housing that—in addition to at least one of the examples mentioned above or as option thereto—is made of concrete and completely surrounds the radiation detection arrangement. This can be accomplished by, for example, positioning the radiation detection arrangement in a hollow concrete cube having 6 concrete walls with a thickness of, e.g., about 3 meters and more.
Inside the housing 6, the radiation detection arrangement 2 comprises a detection layer 12, which comprises at least a TADF material, i.e. material exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence. The TADF material of the detection layer 12 has a plurality of excitation frequencies, where the TADF material, if being excited by radiation having at least one of the excitation frequencies, exhibits a thermally activated delayed fluorescence.
Also inside the housing 6, the radiation detection arrangement to comprises a excitation radiation source 14 and a radiation detector device 16.
The excitation radiation source device 14 is capable of providing radiation (at least) in the excitation frequency range (i.e. having at least one of the plurality of excitation frequencies) of the TADF material. Such radiation is referred to as excitation radiation 18. The excitation radiation source device 14 can be controlled to provide continuous excitation radiation 18, i.e. to be operated in a constant emission mode. The excitation radiation source device 14 can be controlled to provide non-continuous excitation radiation 18, i.e. to be operated in a variable emission mode, to provide, for example, pulsed and/or periodical excitation radiation.
The excitation radiation source device 18 can comprise one or more excitation radiation sources, for example, one or more LEDs. The drawings show a single excitation radiation source device 18. However, two and more excitation radiation source devices arranged adjacent to each other or spaced from each other can be employed.
The radiation detector device 16 is capable of detecting (at least) radiation provided by the detection layer 12, particularly thermally activated delayed fluorescence from the TADF material in response to excitation by excitation radiation from the excitation radiation source device 18.
The radiation detector device 16 can comprise one or more radiation detectors, for example photo detectors being sensitive to a least fluorescence that the TADF material can emit.
As illustrated in
The radiation detector device 16 can have a planar detection surface 20, as illustrated in the drawing. However, radiation detector devices having a, for example, curved detection surface as indicated by the dashed curved detection surface 22 in
The size and form of the detection surface can be designed such that it conforms the size and form of a detection layer's emission surface 24 from where detection layer radiation and, particularly, TADF fluorescence can be emitted. This allows capturing and detecting as much radiation from the detection layer as possible.
According to the illustrations of
The radiation detector device 16 is capable of outputting detection data indicating radiation detected by the radiation detector device 16.
In addition or as alternative, an optical system can be arranged between the detection layer 12 and a radiation detector device 16, as explained further below with reference to
The radiation detection arrangement 2 further includes computing device 26. The computing device 26 is communicatively coupled with the radiation detector device 16 to, at least, obtain detection data outputted from the radiation detector device 16. Further, the computing device 26 may be arranged to control the radiation detector device 16 and its operation, respectively.
The computing device 26 may be also communicatively coupled with the excitation radiation source device 14 to control the operation thereof.
A communicative coupling between the computing device 26 and another part of the radiation detection arrangement (e.g. the radiation detection device 16 and excitation radiation source device 14) may be wired and/or wireless.
The computing device 26 is adapted, e.g. in the form of respectively designed hardware and/or software, to compute detection data from the radiation detector device 26 in a manner to determine one or more emission patterns resulting from radiation emitted by the detection layer and, particularly, from thermally activated delayed fluorescence from the TADF material.
If applicable, the computing device 26 may control the operation of the excitation radiation source device 14. For example, the excitation radiation source device 14 may be controlled such that it emits excitation radiation 18 synchronized with detection operation of the radiation detector device 26. In some examples, the following procedure may be used: The excitation radiation source device 14 may be operated to emit excitation radiation for a predefined first period of time (e.g. a phase of 1 ms).
Then, during a second predefined period of time (e.g. a phase of 1 ms) no excitation radiation is emitted and the radiation detector device 26 is not activated/operated to detect radiation from the detection layer 12 and, particularly thermally activated delayed fluorescence from the TADF material. This period of time and phase, respectively, allows transition processes to take place in, e.g., the TADF material and/or the hardware components of the arrangement.
After that, during a third predefined period of time (e.g. a phase of 3 ms) the radiation detector device 26 is activated/operated to detect radiation from the detection layer 12 and, particularly thermally activated delayed fluorescence from the TADF material.
This procedure can be referred to as radiation detection based on pre-excited TADF material, because in a first phase (also referred to a excitation phase) TADF material is excited by excitation radiation and in a second phase (also referred to a detection phase) TADF emission is detected/sensed on the basis of which measurable radiation can be detected. Preferably, as indicated above, there is an intermediate phase (also referred to as transition phase) between the excitation phase and the detection phase
In other examples, the excitation radiation source device 14 may be operated to emit excitation radiation as pulses of the same or different level and/or with predefined time intervals of the same or varying length in between. Also, the excitation radiation source device 14 may be operated to emit constant excitation radiation (without periods without excitation radiation) of the same level or of at least two different levels (e.g. like a waveform or stepwise).
Generally, any type of one or more TADF material and combinations thereof may employed. An exemplary TADF material used in experiments included an organic luminofor comprising a mixture of fluorescein Natrium and boric acid.
A possible mass ration of the components can be in the range of 1:100,000-1:500.
The components can be mixed and heated to manufacture the exemplary TADF material, for example according to a heating profile. The mixed materials are heated up a maximal temperature in the range between 200° C. and 260° C. for at least 20 minutes under a pressure below 0.8 bar.
The heating may be performed in pre-molded forms to obtain TAFD material having a predefined shape. Also, after heating the material can be grounded and mixed with a carrier material (e.g. epoxy), after which the resulting material can be formed to get any desired shape (e.g. by applying onto a support surface).
The radiation detection device of
In general, this is also the case with the radiation detection devices of
However, in the radiation detection device of
For example, two and more radiation detector devices 16 can be used for a correlated detection of measurable radiation 10, wherein, e.g., only synchronized detection data from different radiation detector devices 16. Synchronization may include to operate the radiation detection devices 16 such that their respective detection data are provided at the same time or processed such that detection data generated at the same time and/or in the same time period are processed together. In addition or as alternative, synchronization may include to use together detection data being generated at/in corresponding areas of the respective detection surfaces of the radiation detection devices 16. In addition or as alternative, synchronization may include using detection data being indicative of TADF emission coming from different parts/surfaces of the detection layer 12 and TADF material, respectively, in order to, for example, detect TADF emission from opposing detection layer's surfaces as illustrated in
As further example, two and more radiation detector devices 16 can be used to distinguish different types of measurable radiation 10, wherein, e.g., differences between detection data from different radiation detector devices 16 are calculated. More detailed observations in this respect can be find further below with reference to
In the radiation detection device of
In any case, the pattern in which thermally activated delayed fluorescence is emitted from the TADF material depends on the gravitational signal reaching the TADF material. As illustrated in
This is further illustrated in
As shown in
As known, in response to excitation radiation, generally TADF material exhibits two effects, namely TAFD emission and phosphorensce emission. While phosphorensce emission results from an inter system crossing (ISC) transition, i.e. a transition from the S1 state to the T1 state, TADF emission results from a reverser ISC transition, i.e. a transition from the T1 state to the S1 state.
However, experiments have demonstrated that phosphorensce emission does not show a reaction to the gravitational signal, respectively; at least the reaction has not impact on the radiation detection based on TAFD emission. Particularly, the gravitational signal does not affect phosphorensce emission of TADF material such shifted emission pattern as shown in
Data outputted by the radiation detection device 16 in response to received phosphorensce emission can be compared with background noise and treated in the same way. For example, overall data output from the radiation detection device 16 may be filtered to remove phosphorensce emission related data in order to obtain, as effective radiation detection device output, detection data being indicative of TADF emission.
In general, TADF material is temperature sensitive and, as a result, has temperature dependent TADF emission. Therefore, a thermal calibration method may be used to compensate temperature related effect.
For example, the whole radiation detection arrangement 2 may be set up in a thermally controlled thermal chamber, in which the temperature is controlled to change from a low/minimum level to a high/maximum level, preferably with constant speed. The temperature may be changed so slow that, inside the thermal chamber, a quasi thermal equilibrium is achieved. For example, the temperature change may be such that the time constant(s) of the thermal calibration method is(are) smaller than dynamics of the thermal chamber of the thermal calibration setting. For example, in some cases the time constant of the thermal calibration method can be in the range of about two seconds and measuring time constant of the thermal calibration setting can be in the range of about two minutes. As further example, the thermal dynamics of the thermal calibration setting can be a thermal change in the range of about 20° C. in about one hour.
The above temperature change process may carried out once or may be repeated for two or more different temperature change profiles (e.g. different constant speeds, stepwise including using different step sizes). Experiments have shown that one or more temperature change processes lasting about five to seven hours provide a good basis for thermal calibration.
During thermal calibration, the radiation detection arrangement 2 may be operated normally, for example, so that the TADF material is excited by excitation radiation and TADF emission is detected by the radiation detector device 16.
During the temperature change process(es), temperature and changes thereof of at least one of the detection layer 12, the TADF material, the excitation radiation source device 14 (and/or components thereof), the radiation detection device 16, the detection surface (e.g. detection surface 20 or 22), the detection layer's surface, the optical system 30, the housing 6 and electrical and/or electronic components (e.g. cables, amplifiers, signal conditioners, ADCs etc.) in the housing and/or in the thermal chamber are measured. This may be accomplished by one or more temperature sensors respectively arranged in/on the housing and/or the thermal chamber.
The thusly measured temperatures and changes thereof (e.g. in form of respective time series) and, particularly, information on the TADF material temperature and changes thereof, can be used to determine information (e.g. in form of regression curves) indicative of the temperature dependency of the radiation detection arrangement 2 and parts thereof, for example data output by the radiation detector device 16 and/or data received by the computing device 26.
Such information may be used to compensate temperature dependent effects in radiation detection by the radiation detection device 2.
The radiation generation arrangement 1 comprises a housing 6, in which a source device 3, a leading device 5 and magnetic devices 7 are arranged.
The housing 6 has shielding properties for shielding at least a second electromagnetic (EM) radiation having a second wavelength.
The source device 3 is adapted to provide an incident signal and provided in form of a laser. The incident signal comprises first electromagnetic (EM) radiation having a first substantially constant wavelength.
The leading device 5 is coupled to the source device 3, particularly in such manner to lead the incident signal emitted by the source device 3 along a leading direction through a signal-generation region 9 of the radiation generation arrangement 1.
The magnetic devices 7 are adapted to generate a magnetic field B in the signal-generation region 9 of the radiation generation arrangement 1. Preferably, the magnetic field B in the signal-generation region 9 is perpendicular to the leading direction. The magnetic devices 7 may be two rear-earth permanent magnets that are arranged opposite one another, thereby defining the signal-generation region and comprising an allow of neodymium, iron and boron.
The first electromagnetic radiation of the incident signal generates/provides the gravitational signal upon exposure to the magnetic field B when reaching the signal-generation region 9.
A modulation device is operatively coupled to the source device 3 and adapted to generate a modulated gravitational signal 11 by modifying the incident signal emitted by the source device 3. Particularly, the modulation device is adapted to modulate the gravitational signal generated in the signal-generation portion in order to generate a modulated gravitational signal 11. The modulation is carried out such that information to be transmitted is included in the signal output 11.
Particularly, the modulation device uses (at least) two different frequencies to modulate the incident signal emitted by the source device 3 in order to generate one or more modulated gravitational signal 11 including (at least) a first modulated gravitational signal having a first modulation frequency and a second modulated gravitational signal having a second modulation frequency.
In general, the radiation detection arrangement 2 of
The radiation detection arrangement 2 receives a modulated gravitational signal 11 from the radiation generation arrangement 1.
The radiation detection arrangement 2 comprises a detection layer 12 comprising thermally activated delayed fluorescence TADF material, the thermally activated delayed fluorescence TADF material having a plurality of excitation frequencies.
The TADF material exhibiting upon excitation with excitation radiation a thermally activated delayed fluorescence TADF emission. Particularly, the TADF material has a TADF emission pattern with exposure to a modulated gravitational signal having a first modulation frequency and exhibiting a different TADF emission pattern with exposure to a modulated gravitational signal having a second modulation frequency.
One or more radiation detector devices 16 are communicatively coupled with a computing device and are adapted to detect TADF emission from the detection layer and provide respective detection data to the computing device.
The computing device computes detection data from the radiation detector device 16 to determine a TADF emission pattern with exposure to the modulated gravitational signal 11 having a first modulation frequency and a different TADF emission pattern with exposure to the modulated gravitational signal having the second modulation frequency.
Then, the determined TADF emission patterns are compared to determine, on the basis of the comparison, information comprised in the gravitational signal.
For example, the different modulation frequencies may be used to include information bit-wise.
Above, the present invention has been described with reference to detection of radiation space born and from outer space, respectively, as well as of radiation from radioactive material. However, the present invention is not limited to such applications, but can be used to detect any radiation of (very) low intensity and application using such information.
