Characterizing light engine uniformity and its influence on liquid crystal display based vat photopolymerization printing.

Vat photopolymerization (VP) is a rapidly growing category of additive manufacturing. As VP methods mature the expectation is that the quality of printed parts will be highly reproducible. At present, detailed characterization of the light engines used in liquid crystal display (LCD)-based VP systems is lacking and so it is unclear if they are built to sufficiently tight tolerances to meet the current and/or future needs of additive manufacturing. Herein, we map the irradiance, spectral characteristics, and optical divergence of a nominally 405 nm LCD-based VP light engine. We find that there is notable variation in all of these properties as a function of position on the light engine that cause changes in extent of polymerization and surface texture. We further demonstrate through a derived photon absorption figure of merit and through printed test parts that the spatial heterogeneity observed in the light engine is significant enough to affect part fidelity. These findings help to explain several possible causes of variable part quality and also highlight the need for improved optical performance on LCD-based VP printers.

SARS-CoV-2 inactivation by ultraviolet radiation and visible light is dependent on wavelength and sample matrix.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can be inactivated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, there are few data available on the relative efficacy of different wavelengths of UV radiation and visible light, which complicates assessments of UV decontamination interventions. The present study evaluated the effects of monochromatic radiation at 16 wavelengths from 222 nm through 488 nm on SARS-CoV-2 in liquid aliquots and dried droplets of water and simulated saliva. The data were used to generate a set of action spectra which quantify the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 to genome damage and inactivation across the tested wavelengths. UVC wavelengths (≤280 nm) were most effective for inactivating SARS-CoV-2, although inactivation rates were dependent on sample type. Results from this study suggest that UV radiation can effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in liquids and dried droplets, and provide a foundation for understanding the factors which affect the efficacy of different wavelengths in real-world settings.

Bidirectional reflectance capabilities of the NIST Robotic Optical Scattering Instrument.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Robotic Optical Scattering Instrument (ROSI) serves as the national reference instrument for specular and diffuse bidirectional reflectance measurements in the ultraviolet to short-wave infrared wavelength regions. This paper gives a comprehensive overview of the design, operation, and capabilities of ROSI. We describe measurement methods for diffuse and specular reflectance, identify and quantify the elements of the uncertainty budget, and validate the reflectance scale through comparison with NIST's previous reference instrument, the Spectral Tri-function Automated Reference Reflectometer. Examples of the range of ROSI's capabilities, including the limits for low-reflectance measurements and a research application using out-of-plane measurements of bidirectional reflectance for remote sensing reference reflectors, are also covered.

Optical reflectance of pyrheliometer absorption cavities: progress toward SI-traceable measurements of solar irradiance.

We have accurately determined the absorptance of three pyrheliometer cavities at 532 nm by measuring the residual reflectance using an angle-resolved bidirectional reflectometer. Measurements were performed at a normal incidence as a function of the viewing angle and position on the cavity cone. By numerically integrating the measured angle-resolved scatter over both the direction and position and accounting for an obstructed view of the cavity, we determined that the effective cavity reflectance was between 8×10-4 and 9×10-4. Thus, the absorptance of the three cavities ranged from 0.99909±0.00014 to 0.99922±0.00012 (k=2 combined expanded uncertainties). These measurements, when extended over the spectral range of operation of the pyrheliometer, are required to establish SI traceability for absolute solar irradiance measurements.