Low-noise and low-drift closed-loop cryogenic microscope system

Active

Contract Opportunity

NIST-SS25-13

6695 / 334516

Title:  Low-noise and low-drift closed-loop cryogenic microscope system, including nanopositioners and cryogenic high-NA optical objective

BACKGROUND

The mission of the Quantum Optics Group of the Quantum Measurement Division is to develop and characterize measurement methods that take advantage of the quantum nature of light to achieve better performance and uncertainties or to enable new applications that are not possible with classical methods and light sources. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of Quantum Measurement Division’s research is to demonstrate a prototype of a high-efficiency deterministic single-photon source in a telecom band. This source is an essential component for quantum communications and for future scalable quantum computer networks. Operation of the source requires a Low-noise and low-drift closed-loop cryogenic microscope system, including nanopositioners and cryogenic high-NA optical objective.

NIST will use the system to accommodate a high-efficiency deterministic single-photon source in telecom C-band, for applications ranging from classical and quantum telecommunication networks, in-situ source recognition and classification, and quantum effects in biological systems. This device shall be optimized for high-efficiency coupling of C-band telecom photons produced by quantum dots. This device will be an integral component in NIST’s Physical Measurement Laboratory’s Quantum Measurement Division’s laboratory. It will be used to study single-photon and entangled light state generation for quantum networks and quantum information science. Light emitted from the quantum dots will be coupled into the fiber for experiments and characterization.

NIST has a need for a low-noise and low-drift closed-loop cryogenic microscope system, including nanopositioners and cryogenic high-NA optical objective that meet or exceed the following draft minimum specifications:

Contract Line-Item Number (CLIN) 0001: The Contractor shall provide a closed-loop helium cryostat with compressor and vacuum pump to include free-space experimental chamber with XYZ nanopositioning stages and high numerical aperture (NA) objective that meet the following minimum specifications:

• Operating Ambient Temperature: between 295 K or less and 305 K or more


• Experimental chamber:
  
  
  
  • Cold stage base temperature ≤ 3.8 K.
  
  
  • Temperature Range: 3.8K to 320K (cold plate with no additional stages)
  
  
  • Temperature stability
    
  • Cooling Power ≥ 170 mW at 5 K or ≥ 130 mW at 4.2 K
  
  
  • Cooldown time to 5 K ≤ 4.5 hours.
  
  
  • Cold plate vibration stability
    
  • DC Electrical access: ≥ 16 available DC feed-throughs for future ues (i.e. not counting feed-throughs already in use e.g. for nanopositioning stage, temperature monitoring, etc.).
  
  
  • RF electrical access: ≥ 2 x RF connections (50 Ohm coaxial, 18 GHz).
  
  
  • Nanopositioning stage (see description below) installed.
  
  
  • The system includes two fiber optic feedthroughs compatible with SMF-28.
  
  
  • At least 5 optical access ports, with two windows (one cold and one warm) on each port. Ports must be reconfigurable to easily replace windows.
  
  
  • Free-space optical access: ≥ 5 windows (≥ 25 mm diameter) with
    
  • The system should be deployable to an optical lab with optical tables.
  
  
  • Internally housed and vertically mounted microscope objective holder. The holder must be temperature-regulated with a heater and thermometer, allowing the user to select and hold the objective between 250 K – and 310 K throughout the entire duration of the cooldown cycle.
  
  
  • The system to include at least two interchangeable sample holders: one with 16 DC wires, and one flat sample holder.
  
  
  • The top optical access window must have threaded holes (or set screw holes) that allow for an external fiber coupler mount via Thorlabs 30 mm cage system.
  
  
  
  


• Objective:
  
  
  
  • ≥0.8 NA objective.
  
  
  • Working distance:
    
  • Optical loss
    
  • Temperature and pressure compatible with the experimental chamber.
  
  
  • Mounted in the experimental chamber using a user-removable mount.
  
  
  • Vertical mount compatible.
  
  
  
  


• Nanopositioning stage:
  
  
  
  • Installed in the experimental chamber – thermally coupled to cold plate.
  
  
  • System needs to include integrated cryogenic closed-loop X, Y, and Z Nanopositioners and controller. Each axis equipped with a travel range of at least 4.8mm or more.
  
  
  • Sensor resolution per direction:
    
  • Ability to operate the nanopositioner in an open loop mode with fine (sub-nm) positioning via adjusting a DC voltage.
  
  
  • Non-magnetic.
  
  
  • Unidirectional repeatability:
    
  • Operating temperature:
    
  • Operating pressure:
    
  • Closed loop control for all nanopositioners; PC control with applicable software.
  
  
  • Vibrations on the sample holder (peak-to-peak):
    
    
    
    • XY: 100 nm or smaller
    
    
    • Z: 50 nm or smaller
    
    
    • Bandwidth: up to at least 100 Hz or more
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Relative drift between a sample and objective focal point at the base(fixed) temperature, without a thermal load:
    
  
  


• Compressor:
  
  
  
  • Type: Air-cooled.
  
  
  • Helium connection: appropriate ≥ 30 ft flexible tubing(hoses)
  
  
  • Electrical connection: 208 V @60 Hz 1 phase or 110 V @60Hz 1 phase as appropriate to provide and maintain the above performance.
  
  
  • Continuous operation cryostat without the use of extra-instrument liquid cryogens
  
  
  • Fully automated pump, cooldown, temperature stabilization, and warmup. The system should include all necessary pumps, controllers, and compressors.
  
  
  
  


• Vacuum:
  
  
  
  • The cryostat system shall have the vacuuming capability that results in the above-required system features and performance capacities.
  
  
  
  


• Software
  
  
  
  • The cryostat system shall include automated operational and temperature control software and motion control software.
  
  
  • Control software that is capable of running automated program scripts from MATLAB, LabVIEW, and Python
  
  
  
  


• Additional requirements:
  
  
  
  • The cryostat temperature should be held for at least 24 hours with no thermal load
  
  
  • System shall be air-cooled
  
  
  • Target temperature at the sample of 3.8 K or lower
  
  
  • 110V or 208V @60Hz/1-Phase compressor
  
  
  • The system must support the modification to a different wavelength range by the user e.g. to support replacement of installed optical elements with the elements with different antireflection coating
  
  
  
  

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE

In responding to this notice, please DO NOT PROVIDE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Please include only the following information, readable in either Microsoft Word 365, Microsoft Excel 365, or .pdf format, in the response. Submit the response by email to the Primary Point of Contact and, if specified, to the Secondary Point of Contact listed at the bottom of this notice as soon as possible, and preferably before the closing date and time of this notice.

• Provide the complete name of your company, address, name of contact for follow-up questions, their email, their phone number and, if your company has an active registration in https://sam.gov, your company’s Unique Entity ID (UEI).


• Details about what your company is capable of providing that meets or exceeds NIST’s minimum requirements.


• Whether your company is an authorized reseller of the product or service being cited and evidence of such authorization.


• Identify any aspects of the description of the requirements in the BACKGROUND section above that could be viewed as unduly restrictive or create unnecessary barriers that adversely affect your firm’s ability to fully participate in a procurement for such services and explain why. Please offer suggestions for how the requirements could be organized or structured to encourage the participation of small businesses.


• For the NAICS code

• Indicate whether your company is (a) a small business or (b) other than small business. See the Table of Small Business Size Standards and the associated .pdf download file for small business size standards and additional information.


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• If your firm has existing Federal Supply Schedule contract(s) or other contracts for products or services against which the Department may be able to place orders, identify the contract number(s) and other relevant information.

• Describe your firm’s experience (as a prime, subcontractor, or consultant) providing the products or services described in Background section.


• Provide any other information that you believe would be valuable for the Government to know as part of its market research for this requirement.


• Please let us know if you would like to engage to get a better understanding of the requirement or need additional information about the Government’s requirement for the products or services described in the Background section.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 23, 2025. Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future.

This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the NIST to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.

This notice is not a request for a quotation. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotations.

No award will be made as a result of this notice.

NIST is not responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.

NIST reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and appropriate.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request.

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