1. A true time delay system for optical signals, comprising:
a hollow core optical fiber;
a droplet of reflective liquid metal disposed in the hollow core; and
a pressure actuator coupled to a first end of the hollow core optical fiber configured to change a position of the droplet within the hollow core;
a single mode fiber optically coupled to a second end of the hollow core optical fiber; the second end of the hollow core optical fiber configured to receive optical energy, to transmit the optical energy through the hollow core toward the reflective droplet, and to return the reflected optical energy toward the second end of the hollow core optical fiber.
2. The true time delay system according to claim 1, wherein the hollow core optical fiber is a hollow core photonic bandgap fiber.
3. The true time delay system according to claim 2, wherein holes in the hollow core photonic bandgap fiber cladding surrounding the hollow core are substantially free of the reflective liquid.
4. The true time delay system according to claim 1, wherein the droplet is mercury.
5. The true time delay according to claim 1, further comprising an optical circulator optically coupled to an end of the hollow core optical fiber for separating input optical signals and output time-delayed optical signals.
6. The true time delay system according to claim 1, wherein the droplet has a length along the core of the hollow core optical fiber of between about two core diameters and three core diameters.
7. The true time delay system according to claim 1, wherein the droplet has a length along the core of the hollow core optical fiber of between one core diameter and about ten core diameters.
8. A true time delay system for optical signals, comprising:
a hollow core photonic bandgap optical fiber;
a droplet of reflective liquid metal disposed in a hollow core of the hollow core optical fiber;
an actuator coupled to at least a first end of the hollow core optical fiber to introduce gas into or remove gas from the hollow core at a near side of the droplet, thereby increasing or decreasing a gas pressure at the near side of the droplet and changing a position of the droplet within the hollow core;
a single mode fiber optically coupled to a second end of the hollow core photonic bandgap optical fiber, the second end of the hollow core photonic bandgap optical fiber configured to receive optical energy from outside the hollow core photonic bandgap optical fiber, to transmit the received optical energy through the hollow core toward the reflective droplet, and to return the reflected optical energy toward the second end of the hollow core optical fiber.
9. The true time delay according to claim 8, further comprising an optical circulator optically coupled to an end of the hollow core photonic bandgap optical fiber for separating input optical signals and output time-delayed optical signals.
10. The true time delay system according to claim 8, wherein holes in the hollow core photonic bandgap fiber cladding surrounding the hollow core are substantially free of the reflective liquid.
11. The true time delay system according to claim 8, wherein the droplet has a length along the core of the hollow core optical fiber of between about two core diameters and three core diameters.
12. The true time delay system according to claim 8, wherein the droplet has a length along the core of the hollow core optical fiber of between one core diameter and about ten core diameters.
13. The true time delay system according to claim 8, wherein the pressure actuator is in contact only with the first end of the hollow core photonic bandgap optical fiber.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A washing device of a substrate for a magnetic recording medium that holds a plurality of substrates for a magnetic recording medium in an immersion tank and washes the substrates for a magnetic recording medium by a wet process using a washing liquid that is contained in the immersion tank,
the washing device comprising a plurality of screw conveyors that hold the substrates for a magnetic recording medium in the immersion tank, wherein
both ends of main shafts of the screw conveyors are provided outside of the immersion tank and supported via a rotation mechanism that causes synchronous rotation of the plurality of screw conveyors, with the main shafts of these screw conveyors penetrating the tank walls of the immersion tank in a non-contact manner.
2. The washing device of a substrate for a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising an oscillating mechanism outside of the immersion tank that imparts oscillation from outside of the immersion tank to the washing liquid.
3. The washing device of a substrate for a magnetic recording medium according to claim 2, wherein the screw conveyors are provided at positions that do not block the oscillation imparted from outside of the immersion tank to the substrates for a magnetic recording medium.
4. A washing method of a substrate for a magnetic recording medium, comprising a step of washing a plurality of the substrates for a magnetic recording medium by a wet process using the washing device for a substrate for a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein
during washing of the substrates for a magnetic recording medium, a washing liquid is supplied from outside the immersion tank to inside the immersion tank, and
the washing liquid in the immersion tank is discharged from penetration positions of the screw conveyor main shafts in the tank walls of the immersion tank.
5. The washing method of a substrate for a magnetic recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the washing liquid in the immersion tank is moreover discharged from the upper portion of the immersion tank.
6. The washing method of a substrate for a magnetic recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the washing liquid in the immersion tank is supplied from the bottom portion of the immersion tank.
7. The washing device of a substrate for a magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein flanges are formed on the main shafts of the screw conveyors.
8. The washing device of a substrate for a magnetic recording medium according to claim 7, further comprises an outer tank which is provided outside of the immersion tank and covers the flanges and the bottom portion of the immersion tank.