Dynamic optical coupled system employing even-numbered dammann gratings

Dammann gratings are well known for their ability to generate arrays of uniform-intensity beams from an incoming monochromatic beam. We apply the even-numbered Dammann grating to achieve dynamic optical coupled technology. A 1 x N dynamic optical coupled system is developed by employing two complementary even-numbered Dammann gratings. With this system we can achieve a beam splitter and combiner as a switch between them according to the relative shift between the gratings. Also, this system is a preferable approach in integral packaging. More importantly, this device has the potential to be applied to the splitting of a large array, e.g., 8 x 16 array and 64 x 64 array, which is difficult to be realized with conventional splitting methods. We experimentally demonstrated a 1 x 8 coupler at the wavelength of 1550 nm. Furthermore we analyze the effects of the alignment errors between gratings and the wavelength-dependent error on efficiency and uniformity. The experimental results and the influence of alignment error and wavelength-dependent error are analyzed in detail.     

Linear systems modeling of adaptive optics in the spatial-frequency domain

Spatial-frequency domain techniques have traditionally been applied to obtain estimates for the independent effects of a variety of individual error sources in adaptive optics (AO). Overall system performance is sometimes estimated by introducing the approximation that these individual error terms are statistically independent, so that their magnitudes may be summed in quadrature. More accurate evaluation methods that account for the correlations between the individual error sources have required Monte Carlo simulations or large matrix calculations that can take much longer to compute, particularly as the order of the AO system increases beyond a few hundred degrees of freedom. We describe an approach to evaluating AO system performance in the spatial-frequency domain that is relatively computationally efficient but still accounts for many of the interactions between the fundamental error sources in AO. We exploit the fact that (in the limits of an infinite aperture and geometrical optics) all the basic wave-front propagation, sensing, and correction processes that describe the behavior of an AO system are spatial-filtering operations in the Fourier domain. Essentially all classical wave-front control algorithms and evaluation formulas are expressed in terms of these filters and may therefore be evaluated one spatial-frequency component at a time. Performance estimates for very-high-order AO systems may be obtained in 1 to 2 orders of magnitude less time than needed when detailed simulations or analytical models in the spatial domain are used, with a relative discrepancy of 5% to 10% for typical sample problems.     

Aberration evaluation of alignment optics in lithographic tools by use of a step-height structure highly sensitive to the asymmetry of an optical image

To satisfy the increasing demand for extremely tight overlay accuracy in semiconductor manufacturing processes, all the measurement error factors in alignment systems and overlay measurement tools need be identified and eliminated. The principle of most alignment systems is based on image processing of target marks on the wafer under bright-field illumination. Although the phenomenon that the sensitivity to the alignment error varies with the step height (SH) of the mark has been known and used for evaluating the performance of the alignment optics, no investigation has been made into the origin and the physical mechanism of the phenomenon. We propose a simplified optical model that can account for the origin of the asymmetric image and clarify its relation to the SHs. The model is validated with simulation and experimental results. The improved performance of an alignment system using marks with optimally designed SHs is demonstrated.     

Dynamic calibration of the relative pose and error analysis in a structured light system

We investigate the problem of dynamic calibration for our structured light system. First, a method is presented to estimate the rotation matrix and translation vector between the camera and the projector using plane-based homography. Then an approach is introduced to analyze theoretically the error sensitivity in the estimated pose parameters with respect to noise in the projection points. This algorithm is simple and easy to implement. Finally, some numerical simulations and real data experiments are carried out to validate our method.     

卡塞格林红外光学系统装调技术研究

介绍了一种卡塞格林红外光学系统的装调方法.利用中心偏测量仪完成主次镜的装调,利用定心车的工艺完成红外目镜组的定心车削,然后在中心偏测量仪上完成主次镜和目镜组的组合装调.由于该系统采用的是线列探测器,因此采用一个外置摆镜,使摆镜以固定频率摆动,使目标源在探测器上形成了一幅完整的图像,从而可以很方便的完成探测器的装调.采用...     

Optical wireless communication through fog in the presence of pointing errors

Terrestrial optical wireless communication (OWC) is emerging as a promising technology, which makes connectivity possible between high-rise buildings and metropolitan and intercity communication infrastructures. A light beam carries the information, which facilitates extremely high data rates. However, strict alignment between the transmitter and the receiver must be maintained at all times, and a pointing error can result in a total severance of the communication link. In addition, the presence of fog and haze in the propagation channel hampers OWC as the small water droplets scatter the propagating light. This causes attenuation due to the resultant spatial, angular, and temporal spread of the light signal. Furthermore, the ensuing low visibility may impede the operation of the tracking and pointing system so that pointing errors occur. We develop a model of light transmission through fogs of different optical densities and types using Monte Carlo simulations. Based on this model, the performance of OWC in fogs is evaluated at different wavelengths. The handicap of a transceiver pointing error is added to the model, and the paradoxically advantageous aspects of the transmission medium are exposed. The concept of a variable field of view receiver for narrow-beam OWC is studied, and the possibility of thus enhancing communication system performance through fog in an inexpensive and simple way is indicated.     

At the limit of polychromatic microdiffraction

With a high-energy 3rd generation source like the Advanced Photon Source (APS), it is possible to push the performance of polychromatic microdiffraction far beyond current levels and to approach the intrinsic limit of the technique based on sample damage and the diffraction limit of X-rays. We describe ongoing efforts to improve the spatial, temporal and momentum transfer resolution of polychromatic microdiffraction on beamline 34-ID-E at the APS. The goal of this effort is to provide high-resolution images of 3D crystal structures over sufficient volumes and with sufficient detail to clarify the underlying physics of inhomogeneous structure and evolution on mesoscopic length scales. The performance of a high-speed amorphous Si area detector system and the ongoing development of advanced focusing optics will be described and discussed in light of the ultimate limits set by the physics of X-rays and materials, and in light of opportunities to field specialized insertion devices and optics for polychromatic microdiffraction.     

Reconstruction of operating loads in wind turbines with inertial measurement units

Wind turbines are a major source of renewable energy. Load monitoring is considered to improve reliability of the systems and to reduce the cost of operation. We propose a load monitoring system which consists of inertial measurement units. These track the movement of rotor blade, hub and tower top. In addition, wind turbine states, e.g. yaw angle, pitch angle and rotation speed, are recorded. By solving a navigation algorithm with a Kalman Filter approach, the raw sensor data is combined with an error model to reduce the tracking error. In total, five inertial measurement units are installed on the research wind energy converter AD 8–180 on the test site in Bremerhaven. Results show that tracking the blade movement in full operation is possible and that loads can be estimated with a model-based approach. In comparison to simulations, the blade deflections can be approximated by an aeroelastic model. The presented approach can be used as basis for comprehensive load monitoring and observer system with additional increase of system robustness by measurement redundancy.

     

Laser linear encoder with both high fabrication and head-to-scale tolerances

We introduce a new configuration for the optical head of a newly developed diffractive laser encoder system. This configuration has a high manufacturing tolerance and a high head-to-scale alignment tolerance, both of which can enhance the wider potential applicability of this newly designed laser encoder. The measurement principles of the encoder are discussed and detailed. We optimized the grating shape and analyzed the impact of the optical components and their arrangement on the measurement error. The head-to-scale alignment tolerance and the arrangement of components in the encoder were also determined. Finally, the measurement performance was evaluated and analyzed. Under nonenvironmentally controlled conditions, the measurement accuracy was found to be 37.3 nm with a standard deviation of 25.4 nm.     

Automatic alignment of a displacement-measuring heterodyne interferometer

A technique to align automatically the beams of displacement-measuring interferometric gauges is described. The pointing of the launched beam is modulated in a circular pattern, and the resulting displacement signal is demodulated synchronously to determine the alignment error. This error signal is used in a control system that maintains the alignment for maximum path between a pair of fiducial hollow-cube corner retroreflectors, which minimizes sensitivity to alignment drift. The technique is tested on a developmental gauge of the type intended for the Space Interferometry Mission. The displacement signal for the gauge is generated in digital form; and the lock-in amplifier functions of modulation, demodulation, and filtering are all implemented digitally.     

Permanent bending and alignment of ZnO nanowires

Ion beams can be used to permanently bend and re-align nanowires after growth. We have irradiated ZnO nanowires with energetic ions, achieving bending and alignment in different directions. Not only the bending of single nanowires is studied in detail, but also the simultaneous alignment of large ensembles of ZnO nanowires. Computer simulations reveal how the bending is initiated by ion beam induced damage. Detailed structural characterization identifies dislocations to relax stresses and make the bending and alignment permanent, even surviving annealing procedures.     

A novel beamformer design method for medical ultrasound. Part II: Simulation results

For pt.I see ibid., vol.50, no.1, p.15 (2003). In the first part of this work, we introduced the minimum sum squared error (MSSE) technique of ultrasound beamformer design. This technique enables the optimal design of apertures to achieve arbitrary system responses. In the MSSE technique, aperture weights are calculated and applied to minimize the sum squared error (SSE) between the desired and actual system responses. In this paper, we present the results of simulations performed to illustrate the implementation and validity of the MSSE technique. Continuous wave (CW) and broadband simulations are presented to demonstrate the application of the MSSE method to obtain arbitrary system responses (within fundamental physical limitations of the system). We also describe CW and broadband simulations that implement the MSSE method for improved conventional depth of field (DOF) and for improved correlation DOF in translated aperture geometries. Using the MSSE technique, we improved the conventional DOF by more than 200% in CW simulations and more than 100% in broadband simulations. The correlation DOF in translated aperture geometries was improved by more than 700% in both CW and broadband simulations.     

Nonlinear equalization for holographic data storage systems

Despite the fact that the channel in a holographic data-storage system is nonlinear, most of the existing approaches use linear equalization for data recovery. We present a novel and simple to implement nonlinear equalization approach based on a minimum mean-square-error criterion. We use a quadratic equalizer whose complexity is comparable to that of a linear equalizer. We also explore the effectiveness of a nonlinear equalization target as compared with the conventional linear target. Bit-error-rate (BER) performance is studied for channels having electronics noise, optical noise, and a different span of intersymbol interference. With a linear target, whereas the linear equalizer exhibits an error floor in the BER performance, the quadratic equalizer significantly improves the performance with no sign of error floor even up to 10(-7). With a nonlinear target, whereas the quadratic equalizer provides an additional performance gain of 1-2 dB, the error-floor problem of the linear equalizer has been considerably alleviated, thereby significantly improving the latter's performance. A theoretical performance analysis of the nonlinear receiver with non-Gaussian noise is also presented. A simplified approach is developed to compute the underlying probability density functions, optimum detector threshold, and BER using the theoretical analysis. Numerical results show that the theoretical predictions agree well with simulations.     

惯导系统传递对准精度实验的半物理仿真方案

提出了一种惯导系统传递对准精度试验的半物理仿真方案,该方案可用于评估空空导弹捷联惯导系统的传递对准精度.该半物理仿真系统模拟空中传递对准的"真实过程",评估出导弹惯导系统相对于基准系统的失准角,搭建了给予该方案的半物理仿真试验系统.经在某型惯导产品的传递对准精度试验中的实际应用,表明该方案是可行的和实用的.     

Generalized polynomial chaos and random oscillators

We present a new approach to obtain solutions for general random oscillators using a broad class of polynomial chaos expansions, which are more efficient than the classical Wiener–Hermite expansions. The approach is general but here we present results for linear oscillators only with random forcing or random coefficients. In this context, we are able to obtain relatively sharp error estimates in the representation of the stochastic input as well as the solution. We have also performed computational comparisons with Monte Carlo simulations which show that the new approach can be orders of magnitude faster, especially for compact distributions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of a scanning pentaprism system for measurements of large flat mirrors

The optical surface of a large optical flat can be measured using an autocollimator and scanning pentaprism system. The autocollimator measures the slope difference between a point on the mirror and a reference point. Such a system was built and previously operated at the University of Arizona. We discuss refinements that were made to the hardware, the alignment procedure, and the error analysis. The improved system was demonstrated with a 1.6 m flat mirror, which was measured to be flat to 12 nm rms. The uncertainty in the measurement is only 9 nm rms.     

用于微球球度测量的双SPM测头对准系统

压电微音叉与钨探针结合,构成SPM(扫描探针显微镜)的扫描测头。将双测头对称置于微球的赤道圆截面处,构成微球球度差动测量系统。通过视觉引导系统对双测头进行粗对准,用视频显微镜对微球和测头分别聚焦,拍摄多组照片,然后对对准图像进行小波分析边缘检测及多图像融合处理,再将图像处理结果反馈到系统进行精确对准。在实际实验中,获得了该对准方法下微球赤道圆截面的测量结果,并分析了对准误差对系统测量结果带来的影响。     

Effect of the differential geometric form factor on differential absorption lidar measurements with topographical targets

When the integrated differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique is used to perform concentration measurements over long distances, the alignment between on and off laser beams becomes important. Here, through analysis of alignment error and of the corresponding differential geometric form factor, the effect of misalignment between off and on lines on performance of integrated concentration measurements by a coaxial DIAL system is considered.     

Surface-directed spinodal decomposition in a stressed, two-dimensional, thin film

Two-dimensional simulations of the spinodal decomposition of self-stressed, binary thin films using a Cahn-Hilliard model are presented. Two different sets of mechanical boundary conditions are considered, and compositional strains for a cubic-anisotropic system under plane strain are treated. A composition-dependent interaction energy is assumed at the free surface. Numerical solution of the coupled Cahn-Hilliard and elastic equilibrium equations are obtained using an efficient nonlinear multigrid method. Results of simulations show that, for large enough compositional strain, surface-directed decomposition occurs at the traction-free surface, even when there is negligible surface interaction energy initially attracting one of the components. This decomposition is controlled by elasticity, and results in a local alignment of phases perpendicular to the free surface, in contrast to the parallel alignment produced by surface energy in stress-free systems.     

激光直写系统中的对准技术应用研究

基于ＩＳＩ－２８０２型激光直写系统原有基片的多图形对准方法，针对衍射光学元件（ＤＯＥ）图形的特点，通过设计合理的对准标记、修改对准识别文件和实验，产生了一套适于ＤＯＥ图形套刻的对准方案。其对准误差小，达到了系统规定指标。并实验研制出了１６位相台阶的ＤＯＥ，取得了良好的效果。