Phase Grating Translation System

: NB682030-26-01621 Title: Phase Grating Translation System Department of Commerce Advanced Acquisition Planning Entry Number: NA PURPOSE The purpose of this sources sought notice is to conduct market research and identify potential sources of commercial products/services that satisfy the Government’s anticipated needs.

BACKGROUND The NIST neutron imaging team, in the Radiation Physics Division of the Physical Measurement Laboratory, is developing a far-field grating neutron interferometer to measure the projection of the pair correlation function, G(Z), of a sample of interest. This interferometer geometry requires precision translation of 2 gratings in three orthogonal directions, though with different travel, minimum incremental movement

requirements and load carry capacity. The gratings are lines etched into silicon wafers, where the period of the lines is of order 1 micrometer. To quantify the interferometer pattern, the gratings must be translated with step size less than 100 nm, with a range at least twice the period in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The period of the interference pattern is varied by changing the spacing along the optical axis of the two gratings and must repeatably position a single grating to with 2 micrometers. This procurement is to obtain to a quantity of two of a 3-axis translation system. Two of the axes will be used in “phase stepping” and require fine step size (less than 50 nm) with a travel range at least 3 mm, while the third axis (longitudinal axis) requires a long travel of 200 mm with a coarser resolution requirement (better than 10 micrometers). The vertical phase step stage will support the phase grating and its holder, and this will be mounted directly to the horizontal phase step stage. The longitudinal axis will support the phase stepping stages as well as other alignment stages, and thus must be capable of moving a somewhat large mass (at least 25 kg). A motor controller with at least 6 inputs that can natively control all axes is also sought. NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a Phase Grating Translation System that will achieve the

objectives identified in this notice. The NAICS code is 334516-Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,000 employees. ANTICIPATED

REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall Phase Grating Translation System to the NIST Gaithersburg campus. All are inclusive of FOB Destination delivery. The Contractor shall provide a system that meets all technical specifications identified below: TASK 1: Vertical Translation (phase stepping) stage (quantity

2) The vertical translation stage shall have a load capacity of at least 40 N to enable lifting the phase grating and the grating holder (capacity larger than 40 N is better). The vertical translation stage shall have a range of motion at least 4 mm to enable fine tuning of alignment (range greater than 4 mm is better) The vertical translation stage shall have a mass less than 3 kg (less than 3 kg is better). The vertical translation stage shall have minimum incremental motion of less than 100 nm (smaller is better). Compliance in pitch, roll and yaw of the vertical translation stage shall be less than 60 microradians / Nm. The vertical translation stage shall be controlled and position monitored by the motor control specified in task 4. Cable(s) to control the stage shall be at least 1 m long (option for 10 m long cables is sought) TASK 2: Transverse Horizontal Translation (phase stepping) stage (quantity