Enhanced sensitivity cross-correlation method for voltage noise measurements

Ultralow noise measurements often require the application of signal processing and correction techniques to go beyond the noise performances of front-end amplifiers. In this paper, a new method for the voltage noise measurement is proposed, which allows, at least in principle, the complete elimination of the noise introduced by the amplifiers used for the measurements. This is obtained by resorting to the conventional cross-correlation technique for the elimination of the contribution of the equivalent input voltage noise of the amplifiers and by using a new three-step-measurement procedure that exploits different amplifier-configuration measurements in order to subtract the contribution of the equivalent input current noise of the amplifiers.     

Scanning holographic microscopy with transverse resolution exceeding the Rayleigh limit and extended depth of focus

We demonstrate experimentally that the method of scanning holographic microscopy is capable of producing images reconstructed numerically from holograms recorded digitally in the time domain by scanning, with transverse and axial resolutions comparable to those of wide-field or scanning microscopy with the same objective. Furthermore, we show that it is possible to synthesize the point-spread function of scanning holographic microscopy to obtain, with the same objective, holographic reconstructions with a transverse resolution exceeding the Rayleigh limit of the objective up to a factor of 2 in the limit of low numerical aperture. These holographic reconstructions also exhibit an extended depth of focus, the extent of which is adjustable without compromising the transverse resolution.     

Scanning holographic microscopy with resolution exceeding the Rayleigh limit of the objective by superposition of off-axis holograms

We present what we believe to be a new application of scanning holographic microscopy to superresolution. Spatial resolution exceeding the Rayleigh limit of the objective is obtained by digital coherent addition of the reconstructions of several off-axis Fresnel holograms. Superresolution by holographic superposition and synthetic aperture has a long history, which is briefly reviewed. The method is demonstrated experimentally by combining three off-axis holograms of fluorescent beads showing a transverse resolution gain of nearly a factor of 2.     

High sensitivity noise measurement with a correlation spectrumanalyzer

A spectrum analyzer with enhanced sensitivity has been built and used in noise measurements. It is based on the processing of the input signal by two independent channels in parallel and takes advantage of the incoherent property of the noise in each of the two input stages. The instrument has demonstrated an improvement in sensitivity of at least 50 dB with respect to a traditional system, and therefore can measure low input signals down to the hundred pV/√Hz range     

Strategies for low detection limit measurements with cyclic voltammetry.

Cyclic voltammetry of Nafion-coated, carbon-fiber electrodes is used to detect trace concentrations of dopamine, both in a flow injection apparatus and in the brain of an anaesthetized rat. To improve signal-to-noise ratios, the sources of noise during cyclic voltammetry have been determined and strategies have been developed to decrease the noise. With the potentiostat employed, the measured noise is comparable to that expected for Johnson noise from the feedback resistor of the current transducer. Additional noise arises from the waveform generator employed and, in some cases, line noise. Line noise is discriminated against by starting each cyclic voltammogram either in phase or 180 degrees out of phase with the line frequency. When used in vivo, additional noise also arises from the physiological activity of the animal. Detection limits are found to closely correspond to those predicted on the basis of simulation of the voltammetric shape and the measured noise. Detection limits are improved by the use of appropriate analog and digital filtering, ensemble averaging, and appropriate timing of repetitive cyclic voltammograms. The combined use of these techniques enables the in vivo detection of approximately 100 nM of dopamine with a signal-to-noise ratio of 25.     

Use of fused quartz as a reference standard in comparative methods of thermal conductivity measurements

A method has been developed for taking into account radiation when the thermal flux through a quartz-standard specimen is calculated.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 669–672, October, 1972.     

Higher sensitivity dopamine measurements with faster-scan cyclic voltammetry

Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) with carbon-fiber microelectrodes has been successfully used to detect catecholamine release in vivo. Generally, waveforms with anodic voltage limits of 1.0 or 1.3 V (vs Ag/AgCl) are used for detection. The 1.0 V excursion provides good temporal resolution but suffers from a lack of sensitivity. The 1.3 V excursion increases sensitivity but also increases response time, which can blur the detection of neurochemical events. Here, the scan rate was increased to improve the sensitivity of the 1.0 V excursion while maintaining the rapid temporal response. However, increasing scan rate increases both the desired faradaic current response and the already large charging current associated with the voltage sweep. Analog background subtraction was used to prevent the analog-to-digital converter from saturating from the high currents generated with increasing scan rate by neutralizing some of the charging current. In vitro results with the 1.0 V waveform showed approximately a 4-fold increase in signal-to-noise ratio with maintenance of the desired faster response time by increasing scan rate up to 2400 V/s. In vivo, stable stimulated release was detected with an approximate 4-fold increase in peak current. The scan rate of the 1.3 V waveform was also increased, but the signal was unstable with time in vitro and in vivo. Adapting the 1.3 V triangular wave into a sawhorse design prevented signal decay and increased the faradaic response. The use of the 1.3 V sawhorse waveform decreased the detection limit of dopamine with FSCV to 0.96 ± 0.08 nM in vitro and showed improved performance in vivo without affecting the neuronal environment. Electron microscopy showed dopamine sensitivity is in a quasi-steady state with carbon-fiber microelectrodes scanned to potentials above 1.0 V.     

一种采用扫描振镜的背景实时扣除方法

针对目标辐射测量中通常采用的事后背景扣除的方法会造成目标辐射测量的不准确的缺陷,采用一种基于振动反射镜的目标辐射测量背景实时扣除的方法。振动反射镜以一定周期调制目标信号,使之成为时间域上的周期信号,再采用双路探测器差分方法,实时扣除背景辐射的影响。实验结果表明,该方法可以实时扣除强于目标信号208倍的背景辐射,将湮没在强背景辐射中的微弱的目标信号提取出来,相对测量误差在±1%之内。Realtimebackgrounddeduction     

Discussion of the standard processing time

The input-weighted average standard processing time for a multi-item machine is discussed in this paper. For practical purposes it is important to have a short average processing time. It is shown that the input-weighted average processing time does not depend on the scheduling, sequencing and lot-sizing; it is only influenced by the total input and by the individual standard processing times. Furthermore, the relationship between the individual standard processing time and the average standard processing time is investigated. It is proven that the input-weighted average standard processing time is a convex function of the standard processing time of one certain item. An interesting consequence of the convexity is the fact that a decrease of the standard processing time of an item with a standard processing time less than half of the input-weighted average standard processing time causes an increase of the input-weighted average processing time.     

Uncertainty of ADC random noise estimates obtained with the IEEE 1057 standard test

In this paper, the uncertainty of the estimated standard deviation of the random noise present in analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), using the test suggested in the IEEE 1057-94 Standard, is thoroughly analyzed. Expressions for the test result uncertainty and for determination of the test parameters are derived.     

Subtle changes in magnetic Barkhausen noise before the macroscopic elastic limit

A mild steel specimen was loaded in tension up to 0.4% strain, with Magnetic Barkhausen Noise (MBN) measurements made at increasing strain levels. In addition, an MBN investigation was performed on a mild steel specimen bent progressively to 0.2% longitudinal surface strain. Overall, the parameter termed MBN_energy increased significantly in the elastic, yet remained basically unchanged in the plastic range of deformation. While still in the elastic range, particular strain levels displayed abrupt changes in the MBN_energy. Variations in scatter about the average MBN_energy value, as well as distinct modifications in pulse height distributions, occurred simultaneously with the abrupt changes in MBN_energy. The non-uniform stress distribution among grains in the polycrystalline samples initiated dislocation formation in some grains before extending to other grains. Dislocation strain fields contributed to redistribution of strain within a grain leading to non-uniform changes in magnetic texture. Results indicate that the magnetic Barkhausen noise technique can detect microyielding.     

Using quantum interferometers to make measurements at the Heisenberg limit

In recent work we proposed a quantum interferometer and showed how it could be used to significantly enhance the resolution that could be achieved in measurement schemes. In this paper, we outline a detailed scheme on how these quantum interferometers could be implemented. We also analyze the effects of dissipation and of imperfect detectors and show that this scheme is remarkably robust to both. This suggests that quantum interferometers may provide a promising route for implementing sub-shot-noise limited measurements in the laboratory.     

室内挥发性有害有机物限量标准研究

室内挥发性有害有机物的种类繁多，我国现有室内空气质量标准中有机物的限量指标只有甲醛、苯、甲苯、二甲苯、TVOC5种。我们通过研究发现室内空气中17种有机挥发性有害物质出现的频率较高，浓度较大，且对人体健康有很大的危害，世界各国和各地区的空气质量标准分别对这17种物质中的部分组分给出了安全限量。通过科学分析我们建议了涵盖甲醛、烷烃类、卤代烃类、苯系物等的室内挥发性有害有机物限量标准，使我国的室内空气质量控制指标更具有效性和针对性。     

Solution of the exit time problem for mechanical systems with fast noise

In a number of applications, an admissible domain of motion is associated with the domain of attraction of an asymptotically stable point. If noise effect is weak, escape from this domain is a rare event associated with large deviations in the system. This paper employs large deviations theory to derive the estimate of the mean time until escape from a reference domain for an mdf Lagrangian system with linear dissipation and fast additive noise. The logarithmic asymptotic of the mean exit time is found as a sum of two terms dependent on the kinetic and potential energy of the system, respectively. An exit problem in the plane is discussed as an example.     

一种用于经纬仪的实时检焦系统

为了使经纬仪进行实时自动检调焦,提出了一种双分离透镜法检焦系统,该方法利用目标自身的反射光,经双分离透镜将通过镜头后的光路分割成两束,通过检测目标在CCD上成像光斑位置的偏移量进行调焦,对具有一定亮度的目标能理想的自动对焦,自身不需发射系统,耗能少,结构紧凑;利用相关法进行数据处理和拟合,提高了检焦系统的分辨率。实验结果表明,此方法的检焦分辨率在0．1～0．15mm范围之内,检焦精度基本满足经纬仪第一像面焦深范围之内的要求,并具有调整方便以及实时性等优点。     

Approaching the fundamental noise limit in Mo/Au TES bolometers with transverse normal metal bars

Recent efforts in the Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometer/calorimeter community have focused on developing detectors whose noise properties are near the fundamental limits. These include the in-band phonon noise, the out-of-band Johnson noise, and the 1/f noise. We have investigated the noise performance of Mo/Au-bilayer TES bolometers designed for infrared detectors. These detectors use normal metal regions for the suppression of excess noise, which are oriented either parallel to (“bars”) or transverse to (“stripes”) the direction of current flow. Two nearly identical detectors, one with stripes and one with bars, were fabricated at the NASA/GSFC detector development facility. Significantly lower noise is found with the normal metal regions oriented transversely. We compare the detailed noise measurement and quantitative analysis of the noise level in each device as a function of the detector resistance. Our preliminary result is that the best detector features only moderate excess noise in both the in-band region and in the out-of-band region. This noise performance is suitable for instruments with multiplexed TES arrays, such as GSFC's FIBRE and SAFIRE.     

Synchronized measurements of low optical losses with ultimately high sensitivity

Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 2, pp. 28–30, February, 1990.