Retinal contrast losses and visual resolution with obliquely incident light.

To determine whether vision with obliquely incident light is degraded by contrast losses originating in the retina, laser interference fringe patterns were produced on the retina for various directions of incidence of the two interfering beams. Contrast-modulation flicker [Vision Res. 38, 985 (1998)] was used as a psychophysical measure of contrast at the level of the photoreceptors. Fringe contrast was shown to be maximal when the interfering beams were equal in perceived brightness, not in physical intensity. The effective fringe contrast was slightly reduced with oblique incidence for high spatial frequencies, but the reduction was too slight to be an important factor in visual resolution. The loss was similar whether the incident beams were displaced from the pupil center in a direction parallel or perpendicular to the grating bars.     

Stochastic independence of color-vision mechanisms confirmed by a subthreshold summation paradigm

We have used a subthreshold summation protocol to analyze spatial color-color interaction. By means of a CRT color monitor, we measured the threshold contours for a spatial frequency of 0.5 cycles/degree. Heterochromatic flicker photometry was used to obtain isoluminance. The results suggest that the blue-yellow (b-y) and red-green (r-g) contrast thresholds remained unchanged by the addition of fixed r-g and b-y subthreshold pedestals. Our subthreshold summation data then support the stochastic independence of colorvision mechanisms derived from Mullen and Sankeralli's work [Vision Res. 39, 733 (1999)] despite the differences that exist between the two experimental methods.     

Revisiting spatial vision: toward a unifying model

We report contrast detection, contrast increment, contrast masking, orientation discrimination, and spatial frequency discrimination thresholds for spatially localized stimuli at 4 degrees of eccentricity. Our stimulus geometry emphasizes interactions among overlapping visual filters and differs from that used in previous threshold measurements, which also admits interactions among distant filters. We quantitatively account for all measurements by simulating a small population of overlapping visual filters interacting through divisive inhibition. We depart from previous models of this kind in the parameters of divisive inhibition and in using a statistically efficient decision stage based on Fisher information. The success of this unified account suggests that, contrary to Bowne [Vision Res. 30, 449 (1990)], spatial vision thresholds reflect a single level of processing, perhaps as early as primary visual cortex.     

Integration of local motion is normal in amblyopia

We investigate the global integration of local motion direction signals in amblyopia, in a task where performance is equated between normal and amblyopic eyes at the single element level. We use an equivalent noise model to derive the parameters of internal noise and number of samples, both of which we show are normal in amblyopia for this task. This result is in apparent conflict with a previous study in amblyopes showing that global motion processing is defective in global coherence tasks [Vision Res. 43, 729 (2003)]. A similar discrepancy between the normalcy of signal integration [Vision Res. 44, 2955 (2004)] and anomalous global coherence form processing has also been reported [Vision Res. 45, 449 (2005)]. We suggest that these discrepancies for form and motion processing in amblyopia point to a selective problem in separating signal from noise in the typical global coherence task.     

Artifacts in spatiochromatic stimuli due to variations in preretinal absorption and axial chromatic aberration: implications for color physiology

The spatiochromatic receptive-field structure of neurons in the macaque visual system has been studied almost exclusively with stimuli based on the human foveal cone fundamentals of Smith and Pokorny [Vision Res. 15, 161 (1975)] and generated on cathode ray tube displays. In the current study the artifacts evoked by cone-isolating, spatially structured stimuli due to variations in the eye's preretinal absorption characteristics and axial chromatic aberration are quantified. In addition, the luminance artifacts evoked by nominally isoluminant sinusoidal grating stimuli due to the same factors are quantified. The results indicate that the spatiochromatic stimuli commonly employed to map receptive fields of neurons at eccentricities > 10 deg are especially prone to artifacts and that these artifacts are maximal for the high-contrast S-cone-isolating stimuli that are often used. On the basis of these simulations, a method is introduced that improves spatiochromatic receptive-field estimates by compensating for response contributions from the incompletely silenced cone mosaics during cone-isolating stimulation.     

Three-systems theory of human visual motion perception: review and update

Lu and Sperling [Vision Res. 35, 2697 (1995)] proposed that human visual motion perception is served by three separate motion systems: a first-order system that responds to moving luminance patterns, a second-order system that responds to moving modulations of feature types-stimuli in which the expected luminance is the same everywhere but an area of higher contrast or of flicker moves, and a third-order system that computes the motion of marked locations in a "salience map," that is, a neural representation of visual space in which the locations of important visual features ("figure") are marked and "ground" is unmarked. Subsequently, there have been some strongly confirmatory reports: different gain-control mechanisms for first- and second-order motion, selective impairment of first- versus second- and/or third-order motion by different brain injuries, and the classification of new third-order motions, e.g., isoluminant chromatic motion. Various procedures have successfully discriminated between second- and third-order motion (when first-order motion is excluded): dual tasks, second-order reversed phi, motion competition, and selective adaptation. Meanwhile, eight apparent contradictions to the three-systems theory have been proposed. A review and reanalysis here of the new evidence, pro and con, resolves the challenges and yields a more clearly defined and significantly strengthened theory.     

Chromatic contrast sensitivity: the role of absolute threshold and gain constant in differences between the fovea and the periphery

A model of foveal achromatic and chromatic sensitivity [Vision Res. 36, 1597 (1996)] was extended to the peripheral visual field. Threshold-versus-illuminance functions were analyzed to determine effects of eccentricity on absolute thresholds and gain constants of chromatic and luminance mechanisms. The resulting peripheral model successfully predicted peripheral contrast sensitivity as a function of wavelength, for both white and 500-nm backgrounds. We conclude that the short-wavelength-sensitive cone opponent mechanism may mediate thresholds in Sloan's notch in the normal periphery and that interpretation of reduced chromatic sensitivity in the periphery requires an explicit model of how eccentricity affects both the gain constant and the absolute threshold.     

Effects of Unparallel Grating Planes in Talbot Interferometry. II

The properties of the moiré fringes in Talbot interferometry are analyzed for a small inclined angle beta between the two grating planes, which is produced by rotation of the beam splitter grating about the axis perpendicular to the lines of the grating. Theoretical analyses indicate that the tilt angle of the resultant moiré fringes is less sensitive to beta than when the small inclined angle is formed by rotation of the beam splitter grating about the axis parallel to the lines direction of the grating as described earlier [Appl. Opt. 38, 4111 (1999)] and that contrast of the moiré fringes decreases with an increase in beta or in the spatial frequency of the grating and may result in impaired measurement accuracy. The validity of the theoretical analyses is illustrated by experiments.     

Tonic-phasic-channel dichotomy and Crozier's law

The constancy of the dynamic range in a luminance-discrimination task is known as Crozier's law; an old rule says that about half of a log unit spans the range from a low to a high frequency of seeing. For our conditions the slope of the psychometric function is steeper for short than for long test flashes; Crozier's law requires a different constant when temporal parameters change. This result is substantiated by an analysis of Massof's data [Vision Res. 21,995 (1981)] on the variation of the slope of psychometric curves for different wavelengths. The change in Crozier's constant between conditions may reflect the presence of more than one detection channel. If short test flashes are detected by phasic channels and long test flashes by both phasic and tonic channels, then our result implies a shorter dynamic range for phasic (Y-cell) than for tonic (X-cell) channels.     

Influence of intraocular scattered light on lightness-scaling experiments

Following Munsell's bisection procedure [J. Opt. Soc. Am. 23, 394 (1933)], we established a nine-step gray scale in which each step is an equal increment in lightness. We calculated retinal illuminances after intraocular scatter by using the point-spread function of Vos et al. [Vision Res. 16, 215-219 (1976)]. After this correction for intraocular scatter, we find a logarithmic relationship between retinal illuminance and achromatic lightness scales that are determined by the bisection method. Additional bisection experiments with a series of different backgrounds corroborate this result. We find that lightness depends linearly on the logarithm of scatter-corrected retinal illuminance, with different slopes for backgrounds of different lightness. This study also highlights the importance of using scatter-corrected illuminance in any quantitative model of lightness.     

Coherence properties of a source array derived from a Gaussian Schell-model beam

The spatial coherence properties of a source array derived from a quasi-monochromatic Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beam are analyzed. The method for realizing the source array by use of a GSM source and a Gaussian amplitude grating was originally proposed in our preceding paper [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 11, 2112 (1994)], in which the intensity distribution was analyzed. One result that we obtain is that the degree of spatial coherence of each element in the source array is the same as that at the other elements. In particular, each element becomes equivalent to the GSM source and has a high degree of spatial coherence with the other elements if three conditions are satisfied simultaneously: (1) the spatial-coherence length of the GSM source is larger than the GSM source size, (2) the GSM source size normalized by a period of the grating is 0.3 to 0.5, and (3) each aperture size of the grating normalized by the period is 0.05 or less.     

Adaptive semianalytical inversion of ocean color radiometry in optically complex waters

To address the challenges of the parameterization of ocean color inversion algorithms in optically complex waters, we present an adaptive implementation of the linear matrix inversion method (LMI) [J. Geophys. Res.101, 16631 (1996)], which iterates over a limited number of model parameter sets to account for naturally occurring spatial or temporal variability in inherent optical properties (IOPs) and concentration specific IOPs (SIOPs). LMI was applied to a simulated reflectance dataset for spectral bands representing measured water properties of a macrotidal embayment characterized by a large variability in the shape and amplitude factors controlling the IOP spectra. We compare the inversion results for the single-model parameter implementation to the adaptive parameterization of LMI for the retrieval of bulk IOPs, the IOPs apportioned to the optically active constituents, and the concentrations of the optically active constituents. We found that ocean color inversion with LMI is significantly sensitive to the a priori selection of the empirical parameters g0 and g1 of the equations relating the above-surface remote-sensing reflectance to the IOPs in the water column [J. Geophys. Res.93, 10909 (1988)]. When assuming the values proposed for open-ocean applications for g0 and g1 [J. Geophys. Res.93, 10909 (1988)], the accuracy of the retrieved IOPs, and concentrations was substantially lower than that retrieved with the parameterization developed for coastal waters [Appl. Opt.38, 3831 (1999)] because the optically complex waters analyzed in this study were dominated by particulate and dissolved matter. The adaptive parameterization of LMI yielded consistently more accurate inversion results than the single fixed SIOP model parameterizations of LMI. The adaptive implementation of LMI led to an improvement in the accuracy of apportioned IOPs and concentrations, particularly for the phytoplankton-related quantities. The adaptive parameterization encompassing wider IOP ranges were more accurate for the retrieval of bulk IOPs, apportioned IOPs, and concentration of optically active constituents.     

Improvement in the measurement of index modulation along an optical fiber grating by movement of the probe spot perpendicularly to the fiber axis

We demonstrate a large improvement in the efficiency of the method proposed by Krug et al. [Opt. Lett. 20, 1767 (1995)] to measure the amplitude of the refractive-index modulation along a fiber Bragg grating. The basic idea consists of using what to our knowledge is a new modulation scheme for the probe beam that not only allows the user to get a better discrimination of the probe light incoherently scattered by the fiber from that scattered by the grating but also facilitates alignment of the setup.     

Third-harmonic generation microscopy in highly scattering media: reply to comment.

In response to the comment of Schins and Müller [Appl. Opt. 41, 1995 (2002)] on a recent paper by Blanca and Saloma [Appl. Opt. 39, 5187 (2000)], I discuss briefly the conditions in which the potential benefits of third-harmonic generation imaging are achieved in a highly scattering medium. The approximations that were adapted in Blanca and Saloma's Monte Carlo simulation are also explained.     

Temporal detection in human vision: dependence on spatial frequency.

In the study of perception of temporal changes in luminance, it is customary to model perceptual performance as based on one or more linear filters. The task is then to estimate the temporal impulse responses or the representation of the impulse response in the frequency domain. Previously, temporal masking data have been used to estimate the properties and numbers of these temporal mechanisms (filters) in central vision for 1-cycle-per-degree (cpd) targets [Vision Res. 38, 1023 (1998)]. The same methods have been used to explore how properties of the estimated filters change with stimulus contrast energy [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 14, 2557 (1997)]. We present estimated properties for temporal mechanisms that detect low spatial-frequency patterns. The results indicate that two filters provide the best model for performance when mask contrast is significant. There are also differences between properties for mechanisms that detect signal spatial frequencies of 1 cpd and 1/3 cpd. The sensitivity of the low-pass mechanism relative to the bandpass mechanism is reduced at 1/3 cpd, consistent with previous findings.     

Temperature-dependent optical constants of water ice in the near infrared: new results and critical review of the available measurements

The optical constants of water ice have been determined in the near infrared from 4000 to 7000 cm(-1). Polycrystalline ice films with thickness as great as ~1164 mum were formed by condensation of water vapor on a cold silicon substrate at temperatures of 166, 176, 186, and 196 K. The transmission of light through the ice films was measured during their growth from 0 to 1164 mum over the frequency range of approximately 500-7000 cm(-1). The optical constants were extracted by means of simultaneously fitting the calculated transmission spectra of films of varying thickness to their respective measured transmission spectra with an iterative Kramers-Kronig technique. Equations are presented to account for reflection losses at the interfaces when the sample is held in a cell. These equations are used to reanalyze the transmission spectrum of water ice (358-mum sample at 247 K) recorded by Ockman in 1957 [Philos. Mag. Suppl. 7, 199 (1958)]. Our imaginary indices for water ice are compared with those of Gosse et al. [Appl. Opt. 34, 6582 (1995)], Kou et al. [Appl. Opt. 32, 3531 (1993)], Grundy and Schmitt [J. Geophys. Res. 103, 25809 (1998)], and Warren [Appl. Opt. 23, 1206 (1984)], and with the new indices from Ockman's spectrum. The temperature dependence in the imaginary index of refraction observed by us between 166 and 196 K and that between our data at 196 K and the data of Gosse et al. at 250 K are compared with that predicted by the model of Grundy and Schmitt. On the basis of this comparison a linear interpolation of the imaginary indices of refraction between 196 and 250 K is proposed. We believe that the accuracy of this interpolation is better than 20%.     

Structural modeling of contrast sensitivity in adulthood.

Structural equation modeling was used to assess the utility of the sensorineural model of contrast sensitivity proposed by Sekuler et al. [Vision Res. 24, 689 (1984)] to account for spatial vision in adulthood. In Study 1, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity (1.5-18 c/deg) were measured in 84 people between the ages of 19 and 81 yr. No three-filter model fitted the data well. Although a two-filter model was associated with good fit indices, parameter estimates for both filters were inconsistent with physiological and behavioral data. In Study 2, acuity and contrast sensitivity (1.5-18 c/deg) were assessed in 95 observers between the ages of 23 and 73 yr. All measures were gathered once per month over a three-month period. The Sekuler et al. three-filter model did not fit the data from any time of measure, but a two-filter, bandpass model provided a consistent and excellent fit for all three waves. The model suggests that age-related change in the neural mechanisms underlying contrast sensitivity is minimal once acuity is controlled. Discrepancies between this conclusion and that reported by Sekuler et al. may be related to test type, psychophysical method, reliability, and sample selection.     

Boride coatings on non-ferrous materials in a fluidized bed reactor and their properties

Fluidized bed technology has been successfully used in the formation of different types of coatings, e.g. aluminizing [Surf. Coat. Technol. 120 (1999) 151; Steel Res. 66 (1995) 318; J. Mater. Sci. 35 (2000) 5493], chromizing [Surf. Coat. Technol. 120 (1999) 151; Steel Res. 66 (1995) 318; J. Mater. Sci. 35 (2000) 5493], nitriding [Heat treatment in fluidized bed furnaces, 1993], carburizing [Heat treatment in fluidized bed furnaces, 1993], carbonitriding [Heat treatment in fluidized bed furnaces, 1993]. Recently, this technology has been used for the deposition of hard boride layers onto ferrous substrates [Mater. Lett. 51 (2001) 156; Fifth International Conference on Heat Treatment Materials, Budapest, Hungary, vol. 3, 1986]. In the present paper, we used fluidized bed technology to deposit boride coatings onto non-ferrous metals and alloys. The coatings were examined by means of optical microscopy, Vickers microhardness and X-ray diffraction, to determine thickness and morphology, phase formation and properties. The properties of dry wear and thermal cycling oxidation of the coatings were evaluated. The as-produced coatings were characterized by adequate thickness and improved wear and oxidation resistance.     

Boride coatings on non-ferrous materials in a fluidized bed reactor and their properties

Fluidized bed technology has been successfully used in the formation of different types of coatings, e.g. aluminizing [Surf. Coat. Technol. 120 (1999) 151; Steel Res. 66 (1995) 318; J. Mater. Sci. 35 (2000) 5493], chromizing [Surf. Coat. Technol. 120 (1999) 151; Steel Res. 66 (1995) 318; J. Mater. Sci. 35 (2000) 5493], nitriding [Heat treatment in fluidized bed furnaces, 1993], carburizing [Heat treatment in fluidized bed furnaces, 1993], carbonitriding [Heat treatment in fluidized bed furnaces, 1993]. Recently, this technology has been used for the deposition of hard boride layers onto ferrous substrates [Mater. Lett. 51 (2001) 156; Fifth International Conference on Heat Treatment Materials, Budapest, Hungary, vol. 3, 1986]. In the present paper, we used fluidized bed technology to deposit boride coatings onto non-ferrous metals and alloys. The coatings were examined by means of optical microscopy, Vickers microhardness and X-ray diffraction, to determine thickness and morphology, phase formation and properties. The properties of dry wear and thermal cycling oxidation of the coatings were evaluated. The as-produced coatings were characterized by adequate thickness and improved wear and oxidation resistance.     

Model of phytoplankton absorption based on three size classes

Using the phytoplankton size-class model of Brewin et al. [Ecol. Model.221, 1472 (2010)], the two-population absorption model of Sathyendranath et al. [Int. J. Remote. Sens.22, 249 (2001)] and Devred et al. [J. Geophys. Res.111, C03011 (2006)] is extended to three populations of phytoplankton, namely, picophytoplankton, nanophytoplankton, and microphytoplankton. The new model infers total and size-dependent phytoplankton absorption as a function of the total chlorophyll-a concentration. A main characteristic of the model is that all the parameters that describe it have biological or optical interpretation. The three-population model performs better than the two-population model at retrieving total phytoplankton absorption. Accounting for the contributions of picophytoplankton and nanophytoplankton, rather than the combination of both as in the two-population model, improved significantly the retrieval of phytoplankton absorption at low chlorophyll-a concentrations. Class-dependent specific absorption of phytoplankton derived using the model compares well with previously published models. However, the model presented in this paper provides the specific absorption of three size classes and is applicable to a continuum of chlorophyll-a concentrations. Absorption obtained from remotely sensed chlorophyll-a using our model compares well with in situ absorption measurements.