Hi everyone! This week at LASP was both challenging and rewarding, since my supervisor was away at a conference and most of the undergraduates were absent. With fewer hands on deck, CJ and I stepped up and actually ran several iterations of our ongoing cut-back experiment almost entirely on our own.
Over the course of the week, we performed multiple cut-back measurements, shortening the fiber length bit by bit to quantify how transmission improves as the fiber gets shorter. The data showed that shorter fibers transmit UV light more effectively, especially at certain wave lengths. However, there were a few inconsistencies in the data where a few underperformed compared to our expectations which we will look into next week.
We started each run by carefully cleaving the fibers with a precision ruby cleaving knife(image below)—an exacting process that requires a steady hand to get a clean break and avoid damaging the fiber endfaces. Once we had perfectly cleaved ends (image attached), we aligned the UV fiber between the deuterium lamp and the entrance slit of the monochromator. It was satisfying to see that alignment beam hit the core of the fiber just right, ensuring maximum coupling of UV light. After sealing everything up, we pumped down the vacuum chamber to about 3 × 10⁻⁶ torr, monitoring the pressure gauge until it stabilized. Then, with the system under this “high vacuum”, we executed a series of spectral scans where we step the monochromator through UV wavelengths and recording transmitted intensity. In the next weeks I’m excited to vary other parameters—like bend radius and fiber type, to see how they influence our transmission curves.
Outside of the lab, CJ and I made good use of our free time too. We hit the CU Rec Center, explored Boulder, and capped off the weekend with a beautiful hike in the Flatirons (image below). It was the perfect blend of focused lab work and Colorado adventure. I can’t wait to see what next week brings!
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