Surface excitation using deep ultra-violet (DUV) laser light has been applied to diamond which reveals growth structures, as well as photoluminescence originating from crystallographic defects features. This valuable information can aid in distinguishing natural diamonds from their lab-grown counterparts and non-diamond gemstone materials. In this research, we presented a dual photoluminescence imaging and spectroscopy setup using a 193nm argon fluoride (ArF) excimer laser, chosen for its above diamond bandgap (5.5eV) photon energy and high average power. This setup enables the detection of diamond’s characteristic photoluminescence emission features and growth patterns under room temperature conditions. Various types of diamonds, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD) as-grown, CVD grownhigh pressure high temperature (HPHT) treated, HPHT-grown, natural diamond and diamond simulant samples were characterized under this setup.
Photochromic gemstones exhibit optically controllable coloration at ambient temperatures, strongly affecting their visual appearance and potential market value. As a result, a comprehensive study of characteristic photochromic properties is required to estimate the potential influence on gemstone evaluation. A UV-Visible absorption spectrometer integrating a tunable light source for external excitation has been developed to investigate the wavelength- and time-dependence of photochromism for colored gemstones, focusing on natural, laboratory-grown, and color-treated pink diamonds. The results can be used to develop a color stabilization protocol to improve the reliability of color grading for valuable gemstones.
Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy has been widely exploited by the gemstone industry, as it can be used to identify natural and synthetic gemstones, type of gemstone, and the origin of their color, all using a non-destructive method. Current spectrometers for gemstone identification capture required spectral information, however, they have a few noticeable disadvantages: it is difficult to customize the setup (adding fluorescence/LED illumination, implementing new software functions to capture time series data etc.), they can have long measurement times, and high maintenance cost. Due to these reasons, we have designed a UV-Vis absorption spectrometer that can capture spectra from 220 nm to 990 nm, with a measurement time up to 10 seconds. The device can be used to measure both loose/mounted gemstones, with almost no sample size limitation. They have been installed globally for diamonds, colored stones and pearl production. Several new options are currently being developed for the current unit: new software functions such as time series spectra measurements and hardware updates specifically for diamond treatments and coating detection. Besides the UV-Vis wavelength range, a new approach is to further extend the current wavelength range (up to 990 nm) to the Near-Infrared (NIR) – Mid-Infrared (MIR) range (up to 5μm). Spectrometers based on up-conversion phenomenon of non-linear crystal have been utilized for this research. The target for this development is towards quick and easy operated gemstone screening.
Being lightweight materials with good mechanical and thermal properties, hollow glass micro-particles (HGMPs) have been widely studied for multiple applications. In this study, it is shown that by using reduced binder fraction diluted in solvent, enables minimal contacts among the HGMPs assisted by a natural capillary trend, as confirmed by optical and electron microscope imaging. Such material architecture fabricated in a composite level proves to have enhanced thermal insulation performance through quantitative thermal conductivity measurement. Mechanical strength has also been evaluated in terms of particle-binder bonding by tensile test via in-situ microscope inspection. Effect of laser treatment was examined for further improvement of thermal and mechanical properties by selective binder removal and efficient redistribution of remaining binder components.
The fabricated composite materials have potential applications to building insulation materials for their scalable manufacturing nature, improved thermal insulation performance and reasonable mechanical strength. Further studies are needed to understand mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting composites, and key fabrication mechanisms involved with laser treatment of complex multi-component and multi-phase systems.
Conference Committee Involvement (2)
Novel Optical Systems, Methods, and Applications XXVII
19 August 2024 | San Diego, California, United States
Novel Optical Systems, Methods, and Applications XXVI
22 August 2023 | San Diego, California, United States
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