Conceptual design of the collection optics for the edge Thomson scattering system in ITER

Neutron and gamma-ray irradiation complicates the design of the edge Thomson scattering (TS) system in ITER. The TS light is relayed through the relaying optics with labyrinth and fiber coupling optics. Electron density of 2×10(19)?m(-3) is sufficient to measure T(e) and n(e) within a 10% and 5% margin of error, respectively, with a spatial resolution of 5 mm. This system can cover from 0.85 to 1 of the normalized minor radius. The time resolution is 10 ms, which is determined by the repetition rate of the laser device. A super-Gaussian is the ideal laser profile for the laser injection optics to avoid a breakdown of the filling gas used in density calibration through Raman scattering.     

A high-pressure cell for kinetic studies on gas hydrates by powder x-ray diffraction

A new high-pressure-low-temperature cell was developed for in situ observations of gas hydrates by powder x-ray diffraction. The experimental setup allows investigating hydrate formation and dissociation as well as transformation processes between different hydrate crystal structures as a function of pressure, temperature, and feed gas composition. Due to a continuous gas flow, the composition of the gas phase is kept constant during the whole experiment. This is crucial for the formation of mixed hydrates formed from feed gas mixtures that contain one or more components in low concentrations. The pressure cell can be used in a pressure range between 0.1 and 4.0 MPa and a temperature range between 248 and 298 K. First results of time-resolved measurements of a mixed structure II CH(4) + iso-C(4)H(10) hydrate and a structure I CO(2) hydrate are presented.     

Development of a high pressure automated lag time apparatus for experimental studies and statistical analyses of nucleation and growth of gas hydrates

Nucleation in a supercooled or a supersaturated medium is a stochastic event, and hence statistical analyses are required for the understanding and prediction of such events. The development of reliable statistical methods for quantifying nucleation probability is highly desirable for applications where control of nucleation is required. The nucleation of gas hydrates in supercooled conditions is one such application. We describe the design and development of a high pressure automated lag time apparatus (HP-ALTA) for the statistical study of gas hydrate nucleation and growth at elevated gas pressures. The apparatus allows a small volume (≈150 μl) of water to be cooled at a controlled rate in a pressurized gas atmosphere, and the temperature of gas hydrate nucleation, T(f), to be detected. The instrument then raises the sample temperature under controlled conditions to facilitate dissociation of the gas hydrate before repeating the cooling-nucleation cycle again. This process of forming and dissociating gas hydrates can be automatically repeated for a statistically significant (>100) number of nucleation events. The HP-ALTA can be operated in two modes, one for the detection of hydrate in the bulk of the sample, under a stirring action, and the other for the detection of the formation of hydrate films across the water-gas interface of a quiescent sample. The technique can be applied to the study of several parameters, such as gas pressure, cooling rate and gas composition, on the gas hydrate nucleation probability distribution for supercooled water samples.     

New Thomson scattering diagnostic on RFX-mod

This article describes the completely renovated Thomson scattering (TS) diagnostic employed in the modified Reversed Field eXperiment (RFX-mod) since it restarted operation in 2005. The system measures plasma electron temperature and density profiles along an equatorial diameter, measuring in 84 positions with 7 mm spatial resolution. The custom built Nd:YLF laser produces a burst of 10 pulses at 50 Hz with energy of 3 J, providing ten profile measurements in a plasma discharge of about 300 ms duration. An optical delay system accommodates three scattering volumes in each of the 28 interference filter spectrometers. Avalanche photodiodes detect the Thomson scattering signals and allow them to be recorded by means of waveform digitizers. Electron temperature is obtained using an alternative relative calibration method, based on the use of a supercontinuum light source. Rotational Raman scattering in nitrogen has supplied the absolute calibration for the electron density measurements. During RFX-mod experimental campaigns in 2005, the TS diagnostic has demonstrated its performance, routinely providing reliable high resolution profiles.     

Femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy with a vacuum-ultraviolet photon source based on laser high-order harmonic generation

A laser-based tabletop approach to femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy with photons in the vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) energy range is described. The femtosecond VUV pulses are produced by high-order harmonic generation (HHG) of an amplified femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser system. Two generations of the same setup and results from photoelectron spectroscopy in the gas phase are discussed. In both generations, a toroidal grating monochromator was used to select one harmonic in the photon energy range of 20-30 eV. The first generation of the setup was used to perform photoelectron spectroscopy in the gas phase to determine the bandwidth of the source. We find that our HHG source has a bandwidth of 140 ± 40 meV. The second and current generation is optimized for femtosecond pump-probe photoelectron spectroscopy with high flux and a small spot size at the sample of the femtosecond probe pulses. The VUV radiation is focused into the interaction region with a toroidal mirror to a spot smaller than 100 × 100 μm(2) and the flux amounts to 10(10) photons/s at the sample at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. The duration of the monochromatized VUV pulses is determined to be 120 fs resulting in an overall pump-probe time resolution of 135 ± 5 fs. We show how this setup can be used to map the transient valence electronic structure in molecular dissociation.     

A tabletop femtosecond time-resolved soft x-ray transient absorption spectrometer

A laser-based, tabletop instrument is constructed to perform femtosecond soft x-ray transient absorption spectroscopy. Ultrashort soft x-ray pulses produced via high-order harmonic generation of the amplified output of a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser system are used to probe atomic core-level transient absorptions in atoms and molecules. The results provide chemically specific, time-resolved dynamics with sub-50-fs time resolution. In this setup, high-order harmonics generated in a Ne-filled capillary waveguide are refocused by a gold-coated toroidal mirror into the sample gas cell, where the soft x-ray light intersects with an optical pump pulse. The transmitted high-order harmonics are spectrally dispersed with a homebuilt soft x-ray spectrometer, which consists of a gold-coated toroidal mirror, a uniform-line spaced plane grating, and a soft x-ray charge coupled device camera. The optical layout of the instrument, design of the soft x-ray spectrometer, and spatial and temporal characterizations of the high-order harmonics are described. Examples of static and time-resolved photoabsorption spectra collected on this apparatus are presented.     

30km分布光纤温度传感器的空间分辨率研究

分布光纤温度传感器是一种比较新型的传感器系统，它可以实时测量空间温度场的分布。空间分辨率是分布光纤温度传感器的一个重要参数。在30km分布光纤温度传感器系统的研制过程中，对系统的空间分辨率进行了优化设计。入射激光脉冲的宽度决定了系统空间分辨率的上限。光电接收系统和电系统的带宽也会影响系统的空间分辨率。电系统的带宽必须和激光脉冲的宽度相匹配。系统的空间分辨率既可以直接测量，也可以通过测量光纤末端菲涅尔反射的半宽度来间接测量。经过优化设计，在30km的系统中，空间分辨率达到了3m。     

Study on gas hydrates for the solid transportation of natural gas

Natural gas hydrate typically contains 85 wt.% water and 15 wt.% natural gas, and commonly belongs to cubic structure I and II. When referred to standard conditions, 1 m³ solid hydrate contains up to 200 m³ of natural gas depending on pressure and temperature. Such the large volume of natural gas hydrate can be utilized to store and transport a large quantity of natural gas in a stable condition. In the present investigation, experiments were carried out for the formation of natural gas hydrate governed by pressure, temperature, gas compositions, etc. The results show that the equilibrium pressure of structure II is approximately 65% lower and the solubility is approximately 3 times higher than structure I. It is also found that for the sub-cooling of structure I and II of more than 9 and 11 K respectively, the hydrates are rapidly being formed. It is noted that utilizing nozzles for spraying water in the form of droplets into the natural gas dramatically reduces the hydrate formation time and increases its solubility at the same time.     

Pulsed time-of-flight radar for fiber-optic strain sensing

This article describes a fiber-optic interrogation device based on the pulsed time-of-flight technique. The apparatus is capable of measuring time delays between wideband reflectors, such as connectors, along a fiber path with a precision of about 280 fs (rms value) and a spatial resolution of about 3 ns (0.30 m) in a measurement time of 25 ms. Potential application areas include measuring integral strain and its derivatives such as cracks, deflections, and displacements, particularly in large civil engineering and composite structures. The operation and basic blocks of the measurement system are presented in detail together with measurement results obtained in laboratory and field conditions. It is shown that by using a fiber loop sensor with a reference fiber, it is possible to achieve a strain precision below 1 microstrain and a measurement frequency of 4 Hz. System performance proved adequate for the study of both static and dynamic phenomena in a bridge deck.     

Three-dimensional refractive index reconstruction with quantitative phase tomography

Optical tomography based on quantitative phase microscopy is used to determine nondestructively and with high spatial resolution the three-dimensional (3D) refractive index distributions within optical fiber devices. After obtaining a series of phase images of the fiber as it is rotated around its longitudinal axis at regularly-spaced angular positions, filtered backprojection is used to reconstruct a 3D map of the refractive index. The 3D refractive index distribution of the join region between two fusion spliced optical fibers is reconstructed with accuracy better than 10(-3).     

深海摄像系统及其在天然气水合物调查中的应用

海底摄像系统可以直观地观测海底地形地貌和地物特征,对于海底地形地貌调查、海底沉积物类型调查以及生物群落多样性调查等具有重要作用。文中介绍了海底摄像系统的工作原理与资料处理方法,并对其在南海天然气水合物调查中的应用效果进行了探讨。最后对海底摄像系统的应用前景进行了展望。     

NOVEL FIBER GRATING SENSOR DEMODULATION TECHNIQUE BASED ON OPTICAL WAVELET FILTERING

The optical wavelet filter is designed. It can filter and choose frequency swiftly. It can realize demodulation of distributed fiber Bragg grating(FBG) measurement system. Its scanning resolution and scanning period depend on wavelet function. Wavelet function is controlled by computer. Compared to conventional scan filter, optical wavelet filtering has some advantages such as simple structure, high scan frequency, high resolution and good linearity. At last, the error of optical wavelet filter scanning procedure is analyzed. Scanning step length refers to the shifting of optical wavelet window's central frequency. It affects system precision directly. If scanning step length is different, the measured signal is different. The methods of reducing step length guarantee scanning periodic time are presented.     

Edge and core Thomson scattering systems and their calibration on the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak

A new 10 channel Thomson scattering (TS) system was installed on the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak to measure radial profiles of electron density and temperature at the plasma edge with high radial resolution. Together with the already existing TS system, which is now used for the core plasma, electron density and temperature profiles extending from the edge to the core are now obtained in a single discharge. The TS systems are relatively calibrated by an optical parametric oscillator.     

高空间分辨率分布式光纤测温系统的设计及应用

分布式光纤测温系统是一种新型的线型感温探测器,以光纤作为传感器,可实现沿光纤分布的温度实时测量。理论分析了分布式光纤测温系统的原理以及影响空间分辨率指标的因素,并给出了0.5m高空间分辨率分布式光纤测温系统的设计以及测试情况。将高空间分辨率分布式光纤测温系统应用于电缆温度测量,测量结果表明0.5m空间分辨率下对小区域电缆过热点的探测更为显著,可及时发现潜在的火灾隐患。     

The measurement of blood flow waveforms from X-ray angiography. Part 2: Application to video recordings of digital subtraction angiography.

A method of measuring blood flow from X-ray angiograms recorded on cine film, by obtaining contrast mass values at numerous positions along individual vessels and at multiple instants of time, has been previously reported. In the present work it was hypothesized that the signal-to-noise limitations of recordings on video tape could be overcome by recording already-subtracted angiograms from a digital subtraction angiographic (DSA) system and that the spatial resolution of video was adequate to use a similar measurement method. Validation experiments were recorded, in which flows measured using a calibrated electromagnetic flowmeter passed through tubes of 4-7 mm diameter, during injections of 2-5 ml contrast medium. The video sequences were computer analysed and produced angiographic flow measurements agreeing with the electromagnetic flows to within 5 per cent. A case study of a clinical carotid artery DSA in a patient with secondary carcinoma metastases in the brain is described. It is concluded that accurate flow measurements can be made from DSA video recordings.     

Enhanced scanning control in a confocal scanning laser microscope

A fast and flexible scanning unit, allowing scanning rates of more than 1 kHz over regions identified in a specimen, has been developed and evaluated. This scanning unit replaces the original scanning unit in the Phoibos confocal scanning laser microscope and features full backward compatibility, while at the same time allowing fast and flexible scanning modes, such as point scanning, line scanning, and scanning along user-selected closed curves. The scanning unit uses two galvanometer-mounted mirrors for scanning. A standard procedure for recordings with this scanning unit would be to scan an overview image with conventional raster scanning to identify a region of interest, mark a point, a line, or a closed curve over this region, and to start the scanner. An iterating algorithm then calculates the waveforms needed by the scanner to follow the identified curves with pixel precision. With this scanning unit and its controlling software, experiments demanding time-resolved recordings within the millisecond range can be performed. Repetition rates up to >1 kHz for line scanning and curve scanning, and >100 kHz for point scanning are obtainable. This allows time-resolved studies of fast reactions in living tissue to be performed with the spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio obtainable with a point scanning confocal microscope.     

HCFC-141b水合物静态生成促进技术的试验研究

制冷剂水合物是一种理想的蓄冷工质,但存在诱导时间长、生长速度缓慢、随机性大的问题。为实现静态条件下水合物的快速稳定生成,试验研究了铜丝、表面活性剂T80、Span80和助表面活性剂正丁醇(n-BA)对HCFC-141b制冷剂水合物的生成促进作用。T80、Span80、n-BA和铜丝共同作用促进了HCFC-141b水合物在静态系统中快速形成,水合物形成平均诱导时间约为8.6min,克服水合物形成随机性大的问题。水合物形成重复性好,生成的水合物密实。     

Enhanced scanning control in a confocal scanning laser microscope

A fast and flexible scanning unit, allowing scanning rates of more than 1 kHz over regions identified in a specimen, has been developed and evaluated. This scanning unit replaces the original scanning unit in the Phoibos confocal scanning laser microscope and features full backward compatibility, while at the same time allowing fast and flexible scanning modes, such as point scanning, line scanning, and scanning along user-selected closed curves. The scanning unit uses two galvanometer-mounted mirrors for scanning. A standard procedure for recordings with this scanning unit would be to scan an overview image with conventional raster scanning to identify a region of interest, mark a point, a line, or a closed curve over this region, and to start the scanner. An iterating algorithm then calculates the waveforms needed by the scanner to follow the identified curves with pixel precision. With this scanning unit and its controlling software, experiments demanding time-resolved recordings within the millisecond range can be performed. Repetition rates up to > 1 kHz for line scanning and curve scanning, and > 100 kHz for point scanning are obtainable. This allows time-resolved studies of fast reactions in living tissue to be performed with the spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio obtainable with a point scanning confocal microscope.     

Picosecond Fluorescence Spectroscopy By Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting

Abstract:

We describe the recent progress made in our laboratory on the time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy by the combination of stable short-duration pulses from a CW mode-locked laser and a time-correlated single-photon counting method. Particular emphasis is placed on the achievement of high time resolution with side-on and microchannel-plate photomultipliers. We also discuss the limitation of using this method in the picosecond time range. Several applications of this spectroscopy such as the measurements of fluorescence decay characteristics and time behavior of fluorescence depolarization are reported. It is also shown that the high sensitivity of this method with pico-second time resolution is very suitable for the temporal rejection of cumbersome background-fluorescence in Raman spectroscopy. Finally, we present a novel method of photon time-of-flight fluorescence spectroscopy, in which an optical fiber is employed as a dispersive element.