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Investigating the effects of hypoxic culture and macromolecular crowding on engineered scaffold-free tendon fiber development
No full textDecember 2023Though functional tendon engineering has made great advances in the last several decades, many tendon engineering approaches are limited by prolonged culture times required for construct maturation. This thesis investigated the application of developmentally-inspired stimuli (i.e., macromolecular crowding, hypoxia) to enhance biomechanical maturation of engineered tendon, using our lab’s established scaffold-free tendon fiber engineering platform. Culture in low oxygen (5%) or media crowded with a polydisperse Ficoll cocktail improved biomechanical properties of fibers after only 1 day in culture. Interestingly, biomechanical properties diverged beyond this point, with hypoxic fibers strengthening linearly with time while more delayed biomechanical improvements were seen with crowding. Notably, as with cyclic tensile strain, no differences in extensibility or low-load behavior (i.e., toe-in strain) were seen with stimulation or time in culture. When assessing underlying changes in gene expression, hypoxic culture and crowding each upregulated gene expression of Collagen types 1 and 3 (Col-1 and Col-3), the major components of developing tendon, with further increases observed when combined. Hypoxia also upregulated lysyl oxidase (LOX) expression, an indicator of collagen crosslinking. Though prior work in our lab observed an upregulation of tenogenic markers Scleraxis (Scx) and Tenomodulin (Tnmd) with cyclic tensile stain, crowding and hypoxia appeared to downregulate Tnmd, while crowding upregulated Scx after 7 days. Additionally, H&E staining revealed that cell density decreased from 3 to 7 days of culture for fibers subjected to macromolecular crowding or hypoxia, though no change in cell density was observed with their combined stimulation. Col-1 and Col-3 immunostaining, and fractal analyses, were used to assess matrix content and alignment of hypoxic fibers, compared to normoxic controls, and showed that Col-3 increased by 3 days, while Col-1 content decreased, and Col-1 alignment increased after 7 days. These findings suggest that hypoxia may improve engineered tendon biomechanical properties by promoting early fibrillogenesis, and improved collagen alignment through matrix remodeling. Together, this work provides novel insight into applications of macromolecular crowding and hypoxia to enhance biomechanical maturation of engineered tendon, which could also inform other tendon engineering approaches.Ph
Dynamic switching of interfacial phenomena for heat transfer and water management
No full textMay 2024School of EngineeringChemical composition and physical texturing are two key aspects that determine the wetting characteristics of materials. Understanding the interaction between materials and fluids is critical in various applications, including self-cleaning surfaces, microfluidic devices, oil-water separation, water collection, and thermal management. Smart materials possess advanced interfacial super-wettable properties capable of reversibly switching between non-wetting and superwetting states. This dissertation centers on the interaction between interfacial behavior and switchable wettability, with a specific emphasis on heat transfer and water management.In the first part, a novel coating is introduced, demonstrating the reversible switching between wetting states through the application of pH as an external stimulus. This coating selectively separates water, oil, and water-in-oil emulsions, offering potential advancements in oil-water separation processes and oil spill clean-up. Additionally, a single-step sintering process is explored for optimizing the separation flow rate and efficiency of a tailorable membrane.
The second part focuses on utilizing a switchable surface for thermal management. Unlike previous studies concentrating on the evaporation kinetics of either hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces, this research investigates the evaporation of liquids on a surface capable of possessing both wetting properties. A theoretical model is developed to calculate evaporation kinetics using calorimetry, particularly beneficial when resolving droplet boundaries becomes challenging with conventional goniometer profiler methods. Also focusing on thermal management, this work developed a dynamic window that can switch fluid-fluid wetting properties with a temperature stimulus, regulating light transmittance for indoor self-cooling applications.
The final part of the dissertation introduces meshes and harps developed through an electrospinning technique, creating switchable fibers for fog water harvesting. These electrospun fibers, incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO2), switch wetting states in response to UV light stimuli. The modified wetting properties enhance fog capture capabilities, particularly in adverse fog conditions where conventional mesh collectors may underperform. The investigation also reveals promising results in improving fog water collection through the manipulation of the collector's macrostructure. This dissertation contributes valuable insights into the interfacial dynamics of smart materials, offering a comprehensive exploration of switchable surfaces and their potential applications in heat transfer and water management. The findings pave the way for advancements in diverse fields, ranging from environmental remediation to energy-efficient building technologies to sustainable water sources.Ph
The development of a dissolved radon calibration source for nexo, updating the electronic recoil model in nest, and recommendations for the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion work into physics
No full textDecember 2023This dissertation presents three main projects - the development of a radon injection chamberfor nEXO, the implementation of an updated yields and recombination model for the
Noble Element Simulation Technique (NEST), and recommendations for the integration of
diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work into physics.
nEXO is a next generation tonne-scale liquid xenon time projection chamber that is
designed to observe neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ). If observed, this would confirm
that the neutrino is Majorana in nature (meaning it is its own antiparticle), lead to a
plethora of beyond standard model physics, and provide insight into the matter-antimatter
asymmetry of the universe. To observe such a rare event, nEXO must achieve an energy
resolution of < 1% at the Q-value of 0νββ decay. This can only be done if the light response
is known throughout the detector via the creation of a lightmap using calibration
sources. However, as detectors reach the tonne-scale and beyond this task is no longer trivial
as typical calibration sources such as external gammas are no longer able to penetrate
the detector center. To resolve this issue, this work presents the development of a radon
injection chamber that uses radon-220 as an internal calibration source. The setup detailed
in Chapter 3 allows for the study of radon-220 and its daughters as they flow through xenon
and based on the results produced from the test stand recommendations will be made to
nEXO to inform the calibration scheme. The work presented in this chapter demonstrates
the capability of the RPI test stand infrastructure to run a variety of scintillation detection
experiments. Presented is the completion and characterization of a liquid noble cryogenic
system, demonstrated temperature and pressure control consistent with the needs of high
purity liquid noble experiments, measurements of the cooling power capacity of the system,
and argon liquifaction as a proxy for the safe handling of xenon in the system. Additionally,
a successful small-scale method was developed for coating materials with TPB and shifting wavelengths from 128nm to 450nm. An external argon gas chamber was also built to detect
light signals from alpha events and validate the effectiveness of the TPB coatings in an actual
detector. Combining the resulting components of these two tests will now allow for a full
scale radon injection run to be done with argon and then eventually with xenon.
Complementary to the experimental work presented, Chapter 4 details simulation work
via the implementation of an updated yields and recombination model for NEST. NEST
is a C++ package with optional GEANT4 integration and a Python equivalent (nestpy)
that accurately simulates the scintillation, ionization, and electroluminescence processes in
xenon and argon. Using a combination of empirical and first principle methods, NEST
models the intrinsic physics of noble detectors such as LUX and XENON1T. While NEST
has an impressive track record for successfully simulating most experiments, it saw a 25%
disagreement in the yields when compared to the results of nEXO’s predecessor EXO-200.
This disagreement stems from EXO-200 measuring a W-value of 11.5 eV which is significantly
lower than the standard value in the model of 13.7 eV. For the purpose of this work, the Wvalue
is defined as the average amount of energy required to produce a quantum of charge or
light and therefore has a direct impact on the yields. To correct this discrepancy, the modified
Thomas Imel Box (TIB) Model has been implemented into NEST and parameters were
constrained using a variety of real world data. The resulting model shows good agreement
with a wide range of data for both low and high energies and fields, making the new modified
TIB model a promising path forward for NEST.
In the final chapter, recommendations for the integration of diversity, equity, and
inclusion work into physics are presented. Specifically assessed is the current status of DEI
in the field, case studies of ongoing DEI efforts at the local (department) level and large-scale
(international scientific collaboration) level, and finally best practices and recommendations
for integrating DEI into physics is discussed. This work mainly focuses on DEI committees
and their impact and role in physics organizations, however additional work such as the
creation of a community of practice is laid out.Ph
Home 1.0: framework for affordable housing
No full textDecember 2023The right to well-designed, safe, affordable, and healthy housing is a fundamental human right, yet addressing the growing global demand for adequate housing is a complex challenge characteristic of wicked problems with diverse interconnected factors and dynamic conditions that reveal no singular solutions. This thesis addresses this issue by developing HOME 1.0, an innovative framework approach designed to assist development teams by facilitating informed design decisions for energy-efficient affordable housing projects in the pre-development phase. Frameworks are hierarchical structures used to develop applications. Energy efficient buildings are a non-optional required component of the affordable housing framework due to the correlation between energy use and affordability.The research methodology begins by assessing existing approaches, NYC building regulations, and key parameters involved in affordable housing development. HOME 1.0 consolidates building, site, cost, income, and other development factors into a centralized database, providing users with a comprehensive overview of project feasibility. The framework incorporates site selection, parametric massing generation, and energy analysis, allowing for quick evaluation of design and budget parameters, democratizing the affordable housing development process.
Results of the study demonstrate the effectiveness of the HOME 1.0 framework in streamlining the pre-development phase. The framework simplifies site selection by identifying city-owned vacant land meeting project requirements, parametric massing generation based on zoning regulations, and conducting energy analyses to optimize energy use and cost. The research suggests that the implementation of HOME 1.0 can reduce the timeline for pre-development phases among other benefits.
The HOME 1.0 framework offers a comprehensive approach to address the wicked problem of affordable housing. By emphasizing energy efficiency in design decisions, it benefits developers, operators, residents, and the environment by promoting health, comfort, and cost reductions over the life cycle of affordable housing projects. The implications of this research extend to the development of energy-efficient affordable housing, ecological benefits through reduced emissions, economic sustainability, and improved well-being. However, limitations exist in the framework’s accuracy, as it relies on the assumptions driving its parameters and requires user testing for external validation.M
Wideband phase locked loop (pll) for sub-mmwave applications
No full textAugust 2024School of EngineeringFrequency generation is pivotal for the implementation of high-frequency electronic systems. Such circuits must deliver signals with precise frequency locations. The signal source mustalso be tunable over a wide bandwidth. Phase Locked Loops (PLLs) ensure this precision by providing feedback. PLLs are evaluated based on their phase noise, tuning range, output power, and
overall DC power consumption. For communication applications, low phase noise is critical due
to its impact on signal integrity, frequency stability, and interference mitigation. Enhancing the
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of communication transceivers necessitates high output power from
the local oscillator (LO) to drive mixers into saturation, thereby reducing conversion loss or increasing conversion gain. In sub-mmWave/THz applications, the PLL must offer a broad tuning
range to exploit the available bandwidth.
This research focuses on the design, implementation, and testing of PLLs operating above
100 GHz using Fully Depleted Silicon on Insulator (FDSOI) technology, targeting future 6G applications in the D-band. These PLLs, when coupled with frequency multipliers, extend into the
THz frequency bands, facilitating applications in THz wave sensing and spectroscopy. GlobalFoundries’ 22nm fully depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) technology is utilized, offering ultralow power DC consumption and a compact form factor. The technology features thin oxide devices
with nominal core voltages as low as 0.4V and provides forward/reverse back gate bias options for
threshold voltage control. Additionally, the transistors support different gate pitches and have
multiple metal layers to meet electro-migration rules, ensuring reliable long-term operation. This
technology’s stack includes ten metal layers, with two thick copper layers and a 2.8µm top aluminum layer, providing high performance for mmWave designs.
The thesis objective is to design sub-mmWave PLLs that balance wide tuning range, low
phase noise, and relatively high output power while minimizing energy consumption. This challenge is heightened by the limitations of standard silicon technology with low-quality passives at such high frequencies. Research on PLLs above 100 GHz is still in its early stages due to the
complexities of designing efficient and robust integrated circuits (ICs) at these frequencies, compounded by device limitations, process variations, and imprecise measurements and device models.
Traditional PLL architectures, involving a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), frequency divider,
phase/frequency detectors, charge pump, and loop filter, must be reconsidered for D-band and
higher frequencies due to the limited tuning range of sub-mmWave VCOs and the high power consumption of high-frequency dividers. Therefore, a harmonic PLL is designed that utilizes a dual
resonant VCO that generate both 1st and 3rd harmonic signals. Furthermore, a W-band Fundamental PLL is proposed that utilizes a magnetically tuned VCO along with Dynamic latch divider.
Both designs are fabricated in 22nm FDSOI technology and tested to validate the performance
metrics. The fundamental dual band PLL achieves frequency range of 87 GHz to 104 GHz, delivering a peak output power of -7 dBm while consuming 53.1 mW of DC power. Key components,
including the varactorless VCO, a dynamic latch frequency divider, and an implicit reset phasefrequency detector, collectively ensure minimal phase noise at -105 dBc/Hz at a 10 MHz offset and
an integrated RMS jitter between 108 and 110 fs. Finally a comparison between two architectures
of PLL is presented to summarize performance metrics for the research community.Ph
Kinesin regulation in the proximal axon is essential for dendrite-selective transport
No full textAugust 2024School of ScienceTo maintain polarity, vesicles carrying dendritic proteins are arrested upon entering the axon. Previous models of dendrite-selective transport mainly involve the capture of vesicles, and cannot explain the actual arrest of anterograde transport at the proximal axon. Additionally, these models do not account for the kinesins that transport these vesicles. To determine if kinesin regulation is required for terminating anterograde axonal transport, I overexpressed the dendrite-selective kinesin KIF13A. This caused mistargeting of dendrite-selective vesicles to the axon and a loss of dendritic polarity. Polarity was not disrupted if the kinase MARK2/Par1b was coexpressed. MARK2/Par1b is concentrated in the proximal axon, where it maintains dendritic polarity—likely by phosphorylating S1371 of KIF13A, which lies in a canonical 14-3-3 binding motif. I probed for interactions of KIF13A with 14-3-3 isoforms and found that 14-3-3β and 14-3-3ζ bound KIF13A. Disruption of MARK2 or 14-3-3 activity by small molecule inhibitors caused a loss of dendritic polarity. These data show that kinesin regulation is integral for dendrite-selective transport. I propose a new model in which KIF13A that moves dendrite-selective vesicles in the proximal axon is phosphorylated by MARK2. Phosphorylated KIF13A is then recognized by 14-3-3, which causes dissociation of KIF13A from the vesicle and termination of transport. These findings define a new paradigm for the regulation of vesicle transport by localized kinesin tail phosphorylation, to restrict dendrite-selective vesicles from entering the axon.Ph
Neutron evaluation and validation of lead isotopes for fast spectrum systems
No full textDecember 2023Lead-cooled fast reactors are being developed to address the current shortcomings of the conventionallight water reactor fleet, mainly passive safety elements and improved plant economics.
Lead is an ideal coolant for fast reactors as it has a high thermal mass and boiling point which
enable higher operating temperatures at atmospheric pressure than water. In addition, natural lead
isotopes have very low neutron capture cross sections and are heavy nuclei causing little moderation
of the neutron spectrum. However, when looking at neutron transport benchmark experiments
that contain lead, there is no agreement between experimental and simulated values for various
evaluated nuclear data libraries. The work detailed here are DOE-NEUP sponsored efforts to study
benchmarks, find the discrepant nuclear data, and address them in evaluation efforts to improve
simulations of lead-cooled fast spectrum systems. To this end, the three major isotopes of natural
lead: 206Pb, 207Pb, and 208Pb were evaluated from thermal energies up to 20 MeV. The resolved
resonance region (RRR) evaluations of the lead isotopes acted as the starting point for the evaluation
as this energy region contains the lower energy limit for fast spectrum systems. Evaluating the
RRR meant employing the Bayesian R-matrix code SAMMY for fitting experimental data. The
outcomes of the RRR evaluations are updated thermal cross sections and capture cross sections.
For the first time, quasi-differential scattering data was used in the RRR evaluation procedure to
reinforce spin assignments for 208Pb and derive the uncertainties of elastic scattering angular distributions.
After the RRR, fast region evaluations were performed on the same isotopes using
both CoH3 and EMPIRE. The goal of these was to fit new inelastic gamma production data to
constrain the inelastic channel. The Hauser-Feshbach theoretical cross sections were fit against
total, double-differential scattering, and gamma-ray(from inelastic and 2n reactions) production
cross sections. Uncertainty on the nuclear data is provided by both SAMMY and Kalman filtering.
The outcome of these evaluation efforts is an improved scattering kernel which is seen in quasidifferential
scattering data. Better scattering physics in turn addresses the poor predictions of fast
critical assemblies and meets the goals of the DOE-NEUP sponsor.Ph
Breaking bad habits: uncertainty and behavior change
No full textMay 2024School of Humanities, Arts, and Social SciencesSeveral types of chronic disease management require consistent self-management of health behaviors such as nutrition and physical activity, but existing behavior change interventions fall short of providing the required support. I argue that the overlooked component in many of these interventions is past behavior. The habit formation model is an existing behavior model that focuses on the effects of past behavior on future behavior, but proponents of the habit formation model contend that habit-breaking is also required for long-term behavior change. The habit discontinuity hypothesis theorizes that disrupting the context cue linked to a habitual behavior leads to breaking of the habit. The existing literature looks at this hypothesis from the standpoint of habitual behaviors changed by large-scale environment disruptions, such as moving homes or, in a particularly extreme example, the COVID-19 pandemic. I argue that such large, difficult, and costly context changes are not necessary to create habit discontinuity. Instead, epistemic uncertainty can be added to a decision choice to shift perception of the environment instead of actual environment disruption. I hypothesize that the introduction of perceived uncertainty onto a physical activity choice will cause participants to shift behavior to the more certain option. I conducted two behavioral experimental studies using a sitting desk/standing desk paradigm to observe the effects of uncertainty on behavior. The first experiment shows that the paradigm can be used to test habitual behavior and a follow-up pilot showed that participants did indeed change behavior when given uncertainty information was located directly on the context cue. The second experiment sought to validate this result and test the effect of background uncertainty on the intervention. The results showed that epistemic uncertainty did cause participants to hesitate and consider their decision on which desk to use, and that interventions occurring in the low background uncertainty condition showed a higher change in behavior. Overall, I found that epistemic uncertainty can be used for a low-cost, targeted intervention to break the automaticity of bad habits and potentially support long-term behavior change.Ph
Monolithic electronic-photonic integrated circuits for free-space sensors and receivers
No full textMay 2024School of EngineeringOver the past decade, commercial semiconductor foundries have driven continual advance-ment in the chip-scale miniaturization of optical devices co-integrated alongside CMOS elec-
tronics on a single piece of silicon. Such monolithic electronic-photonic integrated circuit
(EPIC) platforms have become the foundation of state-of-the-art high-speed fiber optic links,
driving bandwidths towards 200 Gbit/s/λ while simultaneously reducing energy-per-bit. Be-
yond data communications, the devices and features offered by these processes can readily
be applied to a range of alternative applications, such as spectroscopy, imaging, quantum
photonics, LiDAR, free-space communications, and biomedical sensing. The availability of
low-loss, wide-optical-bandwidth silicon nitride layers exposes a range of applications beyond
the commercial near-infrared (NIR) bands, ranging from visible to NIR+ wavelengths, while
monolithic integration of CMOS electronics enables leading-edge integration density, power
efficiency, bandwidth, and noise performance.
A common challenge among many EPIC applications is coupling free-space light into
the chip. This dissertation presents the design and optimization of a free-space EPIC re-
ceiver targeting high sensitivity, scalability, and low power consumption. The receiver entails
a novel inverse-designed passive coupling scheme, optimized photodetectors, and a low-noise
analog front-end (AFE) for conversion of the incident light to voltage. While various free-
space coupling techniques have previously been demonstrated, existing approaches tend to
suffer from either high power consumption, large area requirements, poor scalability, packag-
ing complexity, or fabrication incompatibility. A new photonic antenna technique, consisting
of distributed arrays of grating couplers, is developed in this work to address the limitations
of the prior art. By aggregating the outputs of multiple collectors through photonic power
combining networks, the photonic antenna collection area scales independently of the pho-
todetector noise floor, facilitating the creation of high-sensitivity receivers. Inverse design,
a robust photonic device optimization methodology, is employed to realize low-loss, highly
compact components exceeding the performance of traditional manual designs. A composite
topological inverse design technique is developed to further improve power combining perfor-
mance by enabling the realization of complex, multi-objective device transformations using
scattering matrix decomposition.
In tandem with improvements in photonic coupling, the readout electronics are noise-
minimized to achieve high signal-to-noise ratio. The photodetector noise current and ca-
pacitance are reduced through empirical study while the transimpedance amplifier utilizes
capacitive-matching and equalization to reduce the white noise contribution. To demonstrate
the efficacy of this monolithic electronic-photonic receiver/sensor architecture, a 16-pixel di-
rect time-of-flight (ToF) LiDAR receiver is designed and fabricated in a commercial EPIC
platform. The receiver pixels operate on the integrated plenoptic sensor principle, wherein
gratings tuned to different coupling angles provide angular discrimination of reflected light
from a pulsed flood-illumination source. Using the grating array antenna and the low-noise
AFE scheme, the fabricated receiver demonstrates an 8× improvement in receiver sensitiv-
ity over a prior plenoptic sensor using ∼1/10 of the area. The LiDAR sensor captures
short-range, privacy-preserving indoor ToF measurements, demonstrating >5 m range with
excellent ambient light rejection. While the device functions well as a LiDAR sensor, the
co-optimized EPIC architecture presented here applies to broad free-space coupling appli-
cations. The discussion concludes by proposing modifications to the receiver design for
alternative applications along with areas for further improvements in sensitivity and noise
performance.Ph
Primary objective grating telescopy & the dicer space telescope: an exploration of novel technologies and applications
No full textMay 2024School of ScienceThis thesis focuses on using large area Primary Objective Gratings (POGs) as an alternativeto the conventional lens/mirror telescope primary. Building on prior work by Thomas Ditto,
we investigate the feasibility of POG designs as compared to conventional telescope optics.
The work of this thesis is distinct from previous applications utilizing dispersive/holographic
primaries, as we attempt to utilize the high degree of chromatic distortion incurred by the
primary as a ‘feature,’ rather than a ‘bug’ in need of chromatic correction.
We begin by laying a theoretical groundwork for POG telescopy from first principles.
In doing so, we find that gratings in grazing exodus configuration (light collected from
the grating at a high exodus angle) exhibit angular resolution in the dispersion direction
that is equivalent to the grating length under the Rayleigh criterion. We define a new
figure of merit for comparison of POG architectures to conventional telescopes, termed the
‘spectral ´etendue’. We find that POG telescopes exhibit a wide array of potential benefits
including enhanced field of view, high resolution multi-object spectroscopy, and the potential
for lightweight optics deployed in space. However, these potential advantages are complicated
by difficulties of disambiguating objects in the focal plane, as well as the number of required
pixels in the focal plane to achieve the full spectral/angular resolution of the POG.
With a knowledge of these potential advantages in hand, we endeavor to find a suitable
science case for this technology. We explore the applications of Near Earth Object (NEO)
detection, as well as direct detection of Earth-like exoplanets in the local stellar neighbor-
hood. We have not yet found a ground based NEO observatory that is competitive with
conventional telescope technology. We also ruled out the use of extremely long gratings (in
isolation) as a means of detecting Earth-like exoplanets. While working on these notional
applications, a novel device for generating spatially coherent light fields is developed and
tested in the lab.
Following our failed attempts at using an extremely long grating to resolve an Earth
analogue planet, we subsequently develop an interferometric nulling coronagraph in order
to suppress the bright host star Point Spread Function (PSF). This novel coronagraph is
termed the Dispersion Leverage Coronagraph (DLC). Standard coronagraph metrics of stellar
leakage, residual optical path difference tolerance, the ‘transmission map,’ and host star PSF
leakage due to telescope pointing error/jitter are subsequently derived from first principles.
With the novel DLC technology in hand, as well as the previously developed theory for
POG telescopy, we design the POG-equipped Diffractive Interfero Coronagraph Exoplanet
Resolver (DICER), a space observatory capable of detecting Earth-like exoplanets within
a distance of 10 parsecs (pc). Our final benchmark design is shown to exhibit an angular
resolution approaching ∼ 0.1 arcseconds (the angular separation of 1AU at 10pc distance),
while plausibly being able to fit inside of a Falcon Heavy Rocket. The benchmark design
is shown to exhibit stellar leakage residuals of ∼ 10−5 for the Sun at 10pc, and a pointing
jitter limited null depth of ∼ 10−4 under the assumption of JWST fine guidance tolerances.
Ultimately, we find that thermal dust emission, both within the Solar System and
orbiting the host star, could limit the ability of DICER to detect exo-Earth candidates.
However, we find that DICER could plausibly detect up to ∼ 4 − 9 rocky planets in the
habitable zone within 10pc assuming an idealized model of dust brightness. The limitations
imposed by dust are primarily due to difficulties of overlapping background/signal spectra
in the focal plane, coupled with insufficient secondary spectroscopy to remove background
emission from exozodiacal dust.
While our benchmark DICER design ultimately fails to detect the majority of simu-
lated Earth analogue planets, it still represents a stark departure from conventional telescope
designs seeking to solve this extremely difficult science case. It may be the case that future
developments solve the current background reduction issues that put DICER at a disadvan-
tage, and the novel DLC technology may have applicability for other science cases beyond
near-Earth exoplanet detection.Ph