1. An optical microsphere probe for performing surface microscopy of an optical device, the probe comprising
an optical fiber taper including a microsphere formed at a first endpoint thereof;
an optical signal path for supporting the transmission of an optical test signal, the optical signal path disposed with respect to the optical fiber taper so as to be in contact with the microsphere to evanescently couple the optical test signal into said microsphere and create whispering gallery mode resonances and an associated evanescent electromagnetic field therein; and
means for measuring transmitted power exiting the optical signal path as the microsphere probe is translated over the surface of the optical device, with the electromagnetic field overlapping the optical device surface such that the transmitted power is a function of the surface morphology of said optical device.
2. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 1 wherein the optical signal path comprises an optical fiber disposed to contact the microsphere at a single, tangential point.
3. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 2 wherein the optical fiber comprises a tapered portion in the vicinity of the microsphere.
4. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 3 wherein the tapered optical fiber comprises a biconically tapered optical fiber.
5. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 4 wherein the biconically tapered optical fiber exhibits a beam waist on the order of approximately one micron.
6. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for measuring transmitted power comprises an optical spectrum analyzer.
7. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 6 wherein the optical spectrum analyzer functions to record transmitted power as the optical microsphere probe is translated along the surface of the optical device, with surface irregularities recognized as aperiodic features in the recorded power signal.
8. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 1 wherein the microsphere is formed to include a singular, nanometer-order defect to enhance the strength of the electromagnetic field and increase the resolution of the transmitted power measurement.
9. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 8 wherein the singular, nanometer-order defect comprises a nanometer-order metallic tip disposed at one point along the surface of said microsphere.
10. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 8 wherein the singular, nanometer-order defect comprises a metallic film disposed over a portion of the microsphere surface, the metallic film include a nanometer-order opening.
11. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 8 wherein the singular, nanometer-order defect comprises a nanometer-order aperture formed at a single location on the microsphere surface.
12. An optical microsphere probe as defined in claim 8 wherein the singular, nanometer-order defect comprises a metallic nanoparticle embedded within a surface portion of the microsphere.
13. A method of performing optical surface microscopy using a microsphere probe, the method comprising the steps of:
a) illuminating a microsphere with an optical test signal to create whispering gallery modes (WGM) resonances therein, the resonances creating an electromagnetic field radiating outward therefrom;
b) selecting a specific WGM resonant wavelength for performing microscopy and illuminating the microsphere with the selected WGM resonant wavelength;
c) translating the microsphere across a surface of an optical device being analyzed in a manner such that the radiated electromagnetic field overlaps the device surface; and
d) recording transmitted optical power, at the selected WGM resonant wavelength, as a function of distance along the surface, wherein the transmitted optical power is a function of the surface morphology of said optical device.
14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the method further comprises the step of:
e) evaluating the recorded optical measurements for aperiodic features, aperiodic features associated with irregularities in the surface morphology of the optical device.
15. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein in performing step a), an optical fiber is used to support the transmission of the optical test signal.
16. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein in performing step a), a microsphere including a nanometer-sized defect is used, the defect resulting in increasing the strength of the radiated electromagnetic field and improving the resolution of the optical power measurement recorded in step d).
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method of removing sulfur dioxide from a gaseous stream in a wet scrubbing unit where an aqueous scrubbing slurry of magnesium and calcium scrubbing components are provided to convert the sulfur dioxide to sulfites and sulfates and producing calcium sulfate dihydrate from an aqueous effluent from the wet scrubbing unit, which aqueous effluent contains the sulfites and sulfates comprising:
providing said aqueous scrubbing slurry by blending lime and magnesium hydroxide in a ratio to provide a molar ratio of Ca:Mg of between about 1.0 to 2.0, so as to provide a solids content in said aqueous scrubbing slurry in the wet scrubbing unit of between about 12 to 20%, which solids content includes about 10 to 15% suspended solids and about 2 to 5% dissolved solids, a dissolved sulfite content of about 13,000 to 20,000, ppm, and a pH of between about 5.8-6.0;
discharging aqueous effluent from the wet scrubbing unit containing said solids content, dissolved sulfites and pH and passing the same to an oxidizing unit;
contacting said aqueous effluent in said oxidizing unit with an oxidizing gas to convert sulfites therein to sulfates and produce an oxidized aqueous effluent containing dissolved magnesium sulfate, precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate, and residual calcium sulfate dihydrate;
separating said precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate from said oxidized aqueous effluent;
passing said oxidized aqueous containing dissolved magnesium sulfate and residual calcium sulfate dihydrate to a regeneration tank;
contacting said oxidized aqueous effluent in said regeneration tank with lime slurry, from a lime slaker, to produce magnesium hydroxide and further precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate in an aqueous medium;
separating said further precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate from said aqueous medium to provide an aqueous medium containing magnesium hydroxide; and
returning at least a portion of said aqueous medium containing magnesium hydroxide to said wet scrubbing unit.
2. The method of removing sulfur dioxide from a gaseous stream in a wet scrubbing unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the solids content in the aqueous scrubbing slurry in the wet scrubbing unit is about 15%.
3. The method of removing sulfur dioxide from a gaseous stream in a wet scrubbing unit as defined in claim 2 wherein the solids content includes about 11% suspended solids.
4. The method of removing sulfur dioxide from a gaseous stream in a wet scrubbing unit as defined in claim 2 wherein the solids content includes about 4% dissolved solids.
5. A method of removing sulfur dioxide from a gaseous stream in a wet scrubbing unit where an aqueous scrubbing slurry of magnesium and calcium scrubbing components are provided to convert the sulfur dioxide to sulfites and sulfates and producing calcium sulfate dihydrate from an aqueous effluent from the wet scrubbing unit, which aqueous effluent contains the sulfites and sulfates comprising:
providing said aqueous scrubbing slurry by blending lime and magnesium hydroxide in a ratio to provide a molar ratio of Ca:Mg of between about 1.0 to 2.0, so as to provide a solids content in said aqueous scrubbing slurry in the wet scrubbing unit of about 15%, which solids content includes about 11% suspended solids and about 4% dissolved solids, a dissolved sulfite content of about 13,000 to 20,000, ppm, and a pH of between about 5.8-6.0;
discharging aqueous effluent from the wet scrubbing unit containing said solids content, dissolved sulfites and pH and passing the same to an oxidizing unit;
contacting said aqueous effluent in said oxidizing unit with an oxidizing gas to convert sulfites therein to sulfates and produce an oxidized aqueous effluent containing dissolved magnesium sulfate, precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate, and residual calcium sulfate dihydrate;
separating said precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate from said oxidized aqueous effluent;
passing said oxidized aqueous containing dissolved magnesium sulfate and residual calcium sulfate dihydrate to a regeneration tank;
contacting said oxidized aqueous effluent in said regeneration tank with lime slurry, from a lime slaker, to produce magnesium hydroxide and further precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate in an aqueous medium;
separating said further precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate from said aqueous medium to provide an aqueous medium containing magnesium hydroxide; and
returning at least a portion of said aqueous medium containing magnesium hydroxide to said wet scrubbing unit.