Characterizing biological tissue using scanning laser acousticmicroscopy

The scanning laser acoustic microscopy (SLAM) technique offers high resolution for determining the properties of individual layers. To introduce the SLAM technique as a method for measuring the speed of sound in tubular layered organs, and possibly distinguish between the layers by this measure, the authors chose the guinea-pig urethra, due to its relatively simple layered structure. To obtain more data of the acoustic properties of tissue, the attenuation coefficient was determined for the wall in toto     

Feasibility of glioblastoma tissue response mapping with physiologic BOLD imaging using precise oxygen and carbon dioxide challenge

Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine - Innovative physiologic MRI development focuses on depiction of heterogenous vascular and metabolic features in glioblastoma. For this...     

230 mW of blue light from a thulium-doped upconversion fiber laser

We demonstrate a powerful diode-pumped blue laser source, consisting of a 7-W diode at 807 nm that pumps a Nd:YAG laser giving 1.6 W with good beam quality at 1123 nm, and a thulium-doped upconversion fiber laser. The maximum output power achieved at 481 nm is 230 mW. We also describe the behavior of a reversible loss which is generated in the fluoride fiber during high power operation     

Improved parallelism measurement using a laser interferometer

The authors discuss an improved method for obtaining parallelism measurements of two straight bars in a plane, considering the specific problem of making two vertical surfaces parallel to each other to within 0.00005 of an inch over a 50 inch length. The authors compare the existing method of using dial indicators and a slider with that of using a laser interferometer, cable and pulley system, and a microcomputer. Possible errors this system may generate and solutions to help minimize them are presented. The procedure presented will help to minimize errors due to the operator such as `reading between the lines' on an indicator and hand applied pressure. These methods allow improved parallelism resolution over that obtainable with the indicator     

基于智能终端特征信号的配电网台区拓扑识别方法

针对低压配电网台区拓扑结构混乱、更新不及时的问题,提出了一种基于智能终端特征信号的配电网台区拓扑识别方法.首先利用低压智能终端(LTU)的通信地址关联各级开关子节点,并注入高辨识度的无功补偿特征信号,改变各开关处的无功功率值.配变智能终端(TTU)根据台区拓扑识别策略,对各开关处的无功功率检测结果进行边缘计算,得出台区...     

A monolithically integrated smart pixel using an MSM-PD, MESFET's,and a VCSEL

We have developed a smart pixel that monolithically integrates a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetector, metal-semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFET's), and a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). This device can perform both NOR- and OR-types of operation with a thresholding function. Optimal device parameters are obtained by using a SPICE simulation. Calculations show that the switching time is mainly limited by the CR time constant of the input stage, which consists of the MSM photodetector, the load-resistor, and the MESFET connected to the MSM photodetector. The fabricated device attained a contrast ratio of more than 30 dB with optical gain. The 3-dB bandwidth was 220 MHz and the switching energy was 700 fJ at an operation frequency of 100 MHz. We also discuss the power consumption and the packing density of the smart pixel including the VCSEL as a function of operation frequency. A MESFET that has high f_T with low bias voltage and a VCSEL that has a low threshold current while maintaining the wall-plug efficiency are necessary to obtain a higher performance device     

Performance analysis of a time-division-multiplexed fiber Bragggrating sensor array by use of a tunable laser source

The results of an investigation of the performance of a time-division-multiplexed (TDM) fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor array using a tunable laser source are reported. The system performance is found limited by the extinction ratio of the optical pulse modulator used for pulse amplitude modulation. Formulas that relate the crosstalk to the extinction ratio of the optical pulse modulator, the modulation parameters of the tunable laser, and the optical path differences among sensing channels are derived. Computer simulation shows that an array of 20 FBG sensors with 3 με resolution can be realized with a commercially available single Mach-Zehnder type optical pulse modulator of -35-dB extinction ratio     

Imaging of tissue microstructures using a multimodal microscope design

We investigate a microscope design that offers high signal sensitivity and hyperspectral imaging capabilities and allows for implementation of various optical imaging approaches while its operational complexity is minimized. This system uses long working distance microscope objectives that enable for off-axis illumination of the tissue, thereby allowing for excitation at any optical wavelength and nearly eliminating spectral noise from the optical elements. Preliminary studies using human and animal tissues demonstrate the feasibility of this approach for real-time imaging of intact tissue microstructures using autofluorescence and light scattering imaging methods.     

An optical field-induced ionization X-ray laser using a preformedplasma scheme

Soft X-ray amplification by optical field-induced ionization (OFI) of a preformed plasma is investigated. A small-signal gain of 20 cm^-1 and a gain-length product of 4 at 13.5 nm on the Lyman-α transition in hydrogen-like lithium have been obtained using the modified OFI scheme. Experimental and numerical results ensure that we have produced a plasma with a significantly lower electron temperature than what is expected by an above-threshold ionization model. To explain the results, a two component plasma model in which relatively high temperature electrons are produced by OFI in a cold electron bath of the preformed plasma is presented. The model indicates that the average electron temperature of the OFI plasma rapidly decreases since a high-temperature part of the electrons escapes from the focal volume without interaction. The initial electrons produced prior to the field ionization, which survive after the OEI, also significantly contribute to the rapid three-body recombination. Based on the ionization-induced refractive index change, the pulse propagation of a high-intensity pump laser during the OFI is also discussed     

Bidirectional coordinating dispatch of large-scale V2G in a future smart grid using complementarity optimization

This paper proposes a nonlinear complementarity optimization model for bidirectional coordinating dispatch of large-scale plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in a future power grid based on a hierarchically coordinated operation framework. The proposed model focuses on the top-level Independent System Operator’s operation module of the framework, in which the PEV fleets are considered as a type of dispatchable demand response and energy storage resource. Using a relaxation method for the complementarity constraints, a complementarity modern interior point algorithm is developed for solving the proposed model. Computer simulations are performed for a power grid with 10 generators and three PEV fleets. Results show that the proposed model is better than the traditional quadratic programing models and the proposed algorithm has good convergence. Optimally coordinating the dispatch of charge and discharge of PEVs are beneficial to reducing the generation cost and CO₂ emission while satisfying the transportation requirement of the PEVs.     

Experimental model identification and vibration control of a smart cantilever beam using piezoelectric actuators and sensors

Mechanical lightweight structures often tend to unwanted vibrations due to disturbances. Passive methods for increasing the structural damping are often inadequate for the vibration suppression, since they include additional mass in the form of damping materials, additional stiffening designs or mass damper. In this paper the concept of an active vibration control for piezoelectric light weight structures is introduced and presented through several subsequent steps: model identification, controller design, simulation, experimental verification and implementation on a particular object??piezoelectric smart cantilever beam. Special attention is paid to experimental testing and verification of the results obtained through simulations. The efficiency of the modeling procedure through the subspace-based system identification along with the efficiency of the designed optimal controller are proven based on the experimental verification, which results in vibration suppression to a very high extent not only in comparison with the uncontrolled case, but also in comparison with previously achieved results. The experimental work demonstrates a very good agreement between simulations and experimental results.     

Wide area stabilization of a magnetic bearing using exact linearization

An active magnetic bearing (AMB) is a bearing used to suspend a rotor by magnetic forces without any contact. Feedback control is indispensable for a magnetic bearing, because it is essentially an unstable system. To design a feedback control system, a linear mathematical model of the plant is convenient; however, the force of the electromagnet is highly nonlinear. Thus, usually a linear approximation around the operating point is employed, but the obtained linearized model cannot express the exact behavior of the system at any other operating points. In this paper, we discuss the wide area stabilization of magnetic bearings using the exact linearization approach. First, we derive a nonlinear mathematical model for a magnetic bearing, then we show that this nonlinear system belongs to a class of exactly linearizable nonlinear systems. Next, by using the exact linearization method, we transfer the nonlinear model of a magnetic bearing to a linear time‐invariant state model in spite of change of the operating point and the rotational speed of the rotor. Then we construct the state feedback control system by the conventional LQ method. Finally, we evaluate the validity of our proposed method by experiments. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 128(2): 53–62, 1999     

Waveguide shaping and writing in fused silica using a femtosecond laser

Fused silica waveguides were written and reshaped with an 800-mn amplified femtosecond laser in a lateral writing configuration. The asymmetry of the waveguide shape and the index profile was partially corrected through multiple scans shifted by 1 or 2 /spl mu/m. Following the careful adjustment of both laser pulse energy and writing speed, the resulting waveguides exhibited substantial reduction in propagation and coupling losses by more than 50% in the C-band.     

Tunable optical narrowband filter using a gain-coupled phase-shift-controlled distributed feedback laser

In this paper, we have proposed and analyzed a new tunable optical narrowband filter using gain-coupled phase-shift-controlled distributed feedback (GC-PSC-DFB) laser diode. Coupled-mode equations are solved by using the transfer matrix method (TMM). The GC-PSC-DFB filters offer a stable single-mode bandpass output, similar to that obtained with phase-shifted index-coupled structures. However, GC structures do not suffer from the severe longitudinal spatial hole burning (SHB) that occurs in high-coupling quarter-wave-shifted DFB filters. This SHB can cause multimoded behavior for high-input signal power. Various filter parameters such as wavelength tuning range, side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR), and channel gain deviation have been investigated and discussed. Our results show that the GC DFB structures offer a wider tuning range of 23.3 /spl Aring/ compared with the similar index-coupled DFB structures with nearly steady bandwidth of 12 GHz, while maintaining 41.8-dB constant gain.     

Diffusion simulation-based fiber tracking using time-of-arrival maps: a comparison with standard methods

Object

We propose a new tracking method based on time-of-arrival (TOA) maps derived from simulated diffusion processes.

Materials and methods

The proposed diffusion simulation-based tracking consists of three steps that are successively evaluated on small overlapping sub-regions in a diffusion tensor field. First, the diffusion process is simulated for several time steps. Second, a TOA map is created to store simulation results for the individual time steps that are required for the tract reconstruction. Third, the fiber pathway is reconstructed on the TOA map and concatenated between neighboring sub-regions. This new approach is compared with probabilistic and streamline tracking. All methods are applied to synthetic phantom data for an easier evaluation of their fiber reconstruction quality.

Results

The comparison of the tracking results did show severe problems for the streamline approach in the reconstruction of crossing fibers, for example. The probabilistic method was able to resolve the crossing, but could not handle strong curvature. The new diffusion simulation-based tracking could reconstruct all problematic fiber constellations.

Conclusion

The proposed diffusion simulation-based tracking method used the whole tensor information of a neighborhood of voxels and is, therefore, able to handle problematic tracking situations better than established methods.     

Tuning range extension by active mode-locking of external cavity laser including a linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating

We demonstrate electrical wavelength tuning by mode locking of an external cavity laser (ECL) with linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating (LCFBG). The configuration consists of a laser chip providing the gain coupled to an LCFBG with a large chip rate of 10 or 55 nm/cm providing the counter-reaction for laser oscillation. The laser chirp is electrically modulated by a sinusoidal signal in such a way that the ECL is mode locked. By changing the modulation frequency, a wavelength tuning range of 27 nm is achieved with the 10 nm/cm LCFBG, and a partial tuning range over 41 nm is demonstrated with the 55-nm/cm LCFBG. The output pulse stream at a specific mode-locking frequency and a corresponding wavelength is obtained for both positively and negatively chirped grating. A time bandwidth product reduction is measured in the case of negatively chirp grating when compared with positively chirp grating. A simple general law between the laser parameters is given (locking frequency, tuning range, and FBG chirp value). The parameters for a 40-nm tunable source modulated at 10 GHz are given. This simple tuning mechanism is very well adapted for a structure that requires accurate wavelength monitoring.     

Multimodal nonlinear endomicroscopic imaging probe using a double-core double-clad fiber and focus-combining micro-optical concept

Multimodal non-linear microscopy combining coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, second harmonic generation, and two-photon excited fluorescence has proved to ...     

How to launch 1 W into single-mode fiber from a single 1.48-μmflared resonator

The operation of 1.48-μm flared resonators is thoroughly studied, both experimentally and theoretically: the accurate determination of threshold condition as a function of geometrical and material parameters, the study of emission spectra and astigmatism variations as a function of optical power level allow us to better understand the may these devices operate. The origin of modal distortion is then analyzed, and an original solution is proposed to increase the single-transverse-mode power at high injection level: it is shown that implanting the multiple-quantum-well active layer with protons efficiently enhances the filtering capability of the overall structure, and particularly that of the ridge waveguide, by bringing additional lateral absorption losses. The explanation of the filtering mechanism is successfully confirmed by simulations using the beam-propagation method. This technique finally allowed more than 1.3 W of continuous wave (CW) diffraction-limited power at 6 A. Low-modal-gain structures were then realized to reduce modal optical absorption in the implanted structures with a view to maintaining a high external efficiency and a reduced vertical divergence. Finally, a three-lens coupling system was designed and the effects of optical feedback minimized so as to obtain a very high coupling efficiency: with an improved laser design, 1.12 W of CW power were then coupled into single-mode fiber at 6.6 A, which represents 65% of the power emitted by the laser chip     

Hybrid integration of smart pixels by using polyimide bonding:demonstration of a GaAs p-i-n photodiode/CMOS receiver

The fabrication procedure of smart pixels based on a hybrid integration of compound semiconductor photonic devices with silicon CMOS circuits is described. According to the 0.8-μm design rule, CMOS receiver/transmitter circuits are designed for use in vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)-based smart pixels, and 16×16 and 2×2 Banyan-switch smart-pixel chips are also designed. By using our polyimide bonding technique, we integrated GaAs pin-photodiodes hybridly on the CMOS circuits. The photodetector (PD)/CMOS hybrid receiver operated error free at up to 800 Mb/s. Successful optical/optical (O/O) operation (a bit rate up to 311 Mbit/s) of the 2×2 Banyan-switch smart-pixel chip implemented with another VCSEL chip is also demonstrated