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At least 91 records · Page 5

High-resolution 3D microwave imaging of a moving target using optical motion capture

Three-dimensional microwave or millimeter-wave imaging is usually performed using a fixed two-dimensional planar or cylindrical aperture that is defined using a 2D array or precise mechanical scanning of a transceiver or linear antenna array. For some applications, it is more convenient to manually pass a linear array over the scene of interest, or equivalently, move the target in front of the linear array to scan an effective aperture. This paper explores high-resolution 3D microwave imaging of a moving target by using optical motion capture to track the moving target, and developing image reconstruction techniques that account for the irregular motion.

Millimeter-wave imaging, microwave imaging, Concea↗

A new method of relative radiometric calibration for hyperspectral imaging based on skylight monitor

A new method of relative radiometric calibration based on the skylight monitor is presented for airborne hyperspectral remote sensing to eliminate the negative effect on data resulting from the time-varying skylight during a long flight. In terms of large area operation of mapping or spectral imaging, a static radiation model hardly reveals actual cases as external environment keeps changing. Compared with common considerable factors, fluctuation of skylight is the primary one that may observably affect spectral imaging continuously leading to radiation changes upon flight lines. To get rid of the influence of skylight on spectral imagery and monitoring the variation during the flight, we assemble a set of skylight monitor fixed to the aircraft cabin for the sake of recording the semi-spherical skylight keeping synchronization with hyperspectral imaging system and the position and orientation system. The skylight monitor consists of a cosine corrector on the top receiving the skylight, a stable optical fiber and a visible and near-infrared linear array modular spectrometer. The corresponding matched data of skylight with each frame of images is used to correct related digital number after stripe non-uniformity correction, achieving mean relative standard deviation (coefficient of variation or CV) of under 6% for all 256 bands. The final result shows a satisfactory calibrated image of an appropriate evaluation criteria with contrast of the original image.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Isotopic evidence for a young lunar magma ocean

Herein, mare basalt sources and ferroan anorthosite suite cumulates define a linear array on a 146 Sm/ 144 Nd versus 142 Nd/ 144 Nd isochron plot demonstrating these materials were derived from a common reservoir at 4336 +31 / –32 Ma. The minimum proportion of the Moon that was in isotopic equilibrium at this time is estimated to be 1-3% of its entire volume based on the geographic extent from which the analyzed samples were collected and the calculated depths from which the samples were derived. Scenarios in which large portions of the Moon were molten to depths of many hundreds of kilometers are required to produce the observed Sm-Nd isotopic equilibrium between the mantle and crustal rocks at 4.34 Ga. This is a consequence of the fact that limited heating of a solid Moon above the blocking temperature of the Sm-Nd isotopic system is insufficient to diffusively homogenize radiogenic Nd throughout the mantle and crust. There are three scenarios that might account for global-scale isotopic equilibrium on the Moon relatively late in Solar System history including: (1) Sm-Nd re-equilibration of a solid Moon resulting from widespread melting in response to mantle overturn or a very large impact, (2) early accretion of the Moon followed by delayed cooling due to the presence of an additional heat source that kept a large portion of the Moon molten until 4.34 Ga, or (3) late accretion of the Moon followed by rapid cooling of the magma ocean late in Solar System history. Neither density-driven overturn of the mantle, nor a large impact, are likely to homogenize the mantle and crust to the extent required by the Sm-Nd isochron. Likewise, secondary heating mechanisms, such as tidal heating or radioactive decay, are not efficient enough to keep the Moon molten to the depth of the mare basalt source regions for many tens to hundreds of millions of years. Instead, the age of equilibrium between such a compositionally diverse set of rocks, produced on a global scale, likely records the time of primordial solidification of the Moon from a magma ocean. This scenario accounts for both the petrogenetic characteristics of lunar rock suites, as well as their Sm-Nd isotopic systematics. It is supported by the preponderance of ~4.35 Ga ages obtained for other hypothetical magma ocean crystallization products, such as ferroan anorthosite suite rocks and K, REE, and P enriched cumulates that are thought to represent flotation cumulates of the magma ocean and the last vestiges of magma ocean solidification, respectively.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Staging of RF-accelerating Units in a MEMS-based Ion Accelerator

Multiple Electrostatic Quadrupole Array Linear Accelerators (MEQALACs) provide an opportunity to realize compact radio- frequency (RF) accelerator structures that can deliver very high beam currents. MEQALACs have been previously realized with acceleration gap distances and beam aperture sizes of the order of centimeters. Through advances in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication, MEQALACs can now be scaled down to the sub-millimeter regime and batch processed on wafer substrates. In this paper we show first results from using three RF stages in a compact MEMS-based ion accelerator. The results presented show proof-of-concept with accelerator structures formed from printed circuit boards using a 3 × 3 beamlet arrangement and noble gas ions at 10 keV. We present a simple model to describe the measured results. We also discuss some of the scaling behaviour of a compact MEQALAC. The MEMS-based approach enables a low-cost, highly versatile accelerator covering a wide range of currents (10 μA to 100 mA) and beam energies (100 keV to several MeV). Applications include ion-beam analysis, mass spectrometry, materials processing, and at very high beam powers, plasma heating.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Morphological Control of Chromophore Spin State in Zinc Porphyrin–Peptide Assemblies

Self-assembled peptide micelles and fibers demonstrate unique control over the photophysical properties of the bound, light-activated chromophore, zinc protoporphyrin IX, (PPIX)Zn. Micelles encapsulate either a mixture of uncoordinated and coordinated (PPIX)Zn or all coordinated depending on the ratio of peptide/porphyrin. As the ratio increases toward a 1:1 micelle/porphyrin ratio, providing the chromophore with a discrete coordination environment reminiscent of unstructured proteins, the micelles favor triplet formation. Fibers, however, promote a linear array of porphyrin molecules that dictates exciton hopping and excimer formation at ratios as high as 60:1, peptide/porphyrin. However, even in fibers, the formation of the triplet species increases with increasing peptide/porphyrin ratio due to increased spatial separation between neighboring chromophores facilitating intersystem crossing. Full characterization of the micelles structures and comparison to the fibers lead to the comparison with natural systems and the ability to control the excited populations that have utility in photocatalytic processes. In addition, the incorporation of a second chromophore, heme, yields an electron transfer pathway in both micelles and fibers that highlights the utility of the peptide assemblies when engineering multichromophore arrays as inspired by natural, photosynthetic proteins.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Random access quantum information processors using multimode circuit quantum electrodynamics

Qubit connectivity is an important property of a quantum processor, with an ideal processor having random access—the ability of arbitrary qubit pairs to interact directly. This a challenge with superconducting circuits, as state-of-the-art architectures rely on only nearest-neighbor coupling. Here, we implement a random access superconducting quantum information processor, demonstrating universal operations on a nine-qubit memory, with a Josephson junction transmon circuit serving as the central processor. The quantum memory uses the eigenmodes of a linear array of coupled superconducting resonators. We selectively stimulate vacuum Rabi oscillations between the transmon and individual eigenmodes through parametric flux modulation of the transmon frequency. Utilizing these oscillations, we perform a universal set of quantum gates on 38 arbitrary pairs of modes and prepare multimode entangled states, all using only two control lines. We thus achieve hardware-efficient random access multi-qubit control in an architecture compatible with long-lived microwave cavity-based quantum memories.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

ATM signaling modulates cohesin behavior in meiotic prophase and proliferating cells

Cohesins are ancient and ubiquitous regulators of chromosome architecture and function, but their diverse roles and regulation remain poorly understood. During meiosis, chromosomes are reorganized as linear arrays of chromatin loops around a cohesin axis. This unique organization underlies homolog pairing, synapsis, double-stranded break induction, and recombination. We report that axis assembly in Caenorhabditis elegans is promoted by DNA-damage response (DDR) kinases that are activated at meiotic entry, even in the absence of DNA breaks. Downregulation of the cohesin-destabilizing factor WAPL-1 by ATM-1 promotes axis association of cohesins containing the meiotic kleisins COH-3 and COH-4. ECO-1 and PDS-5 also contribute to stabilizing axis-associated meiotic cohesins. Further, our data suggest that cohesin-enriched domains that promote DNA repair in mammalian cells also depend on WAPL inhibition by ATM. Thus, DDR and Wapl seem to play conserved roles in cohesin regulation in meiotic prophase and proliferating cells.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

A pepper-pot emittance meter for low-energy heavy-ion beams

A novel emittance meter has been developed to measure the four-dimensional, transverse phase-space distribution of a low-energy ion beam using the pepper-pot technique. A characteristic feature of this instrument is that the pepper-pot plate, which has a linear array of holes in the vertical direction, is scanned horizontally through the ion beam. This has the advantage that the emittance can also be measured at locations along the beam line where the beam has a large horizontal divergence. A set of multi-channel plates, scintillation screen, and ccd camera is used as a position-sensitive ion detector allowing a large range of beam intensities that can be handled. This paper describes the design, construction, and operation of the instrument as well as the data analysis used to reconstruct the four-dimensional phase-space distribution of an ion beam. Measurements on a 15 keV He{sup +} beam are used as an example.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

An air flow sensor for neonatal mechanical ventilation applications based on a novel fiber-optic sensing technique

In this work, a simple and low-cost air flow sensor, based on a novel fiber-optic sensing technique has been developed for monitoring air flows rates supplied by a neonatal ventilator to support infants in intensive care units. The device is based on a fiber optic sensing technique allowing (a) the immunity to light intensity variations independent by measurand and (b) the reduction of typical shortcomings affecting all biomedical fields (electromagnetic interference and patient electrical safety). The sensing principle is based on the measurement of transversal displacement of an emitting fiber-optic cantilever due to action of air flow acting on it; the fiber tip displacement is measured by means of a photodiode linear array, placed in front of the entrance face of the emitting optical fiber in order to detect its light intensity profile. As the measurement system is based on a detection of the illumination pattern, and not on an intensity modulation technique, it results less sensitive to light intensity fluctuation independent by measurand than intensity-based sensors. The considered technique is here adopted in order to develop two different configurations for an air flow sensor suitable for the measurement of air flow rates typically occurring during mechanical ventilation of newborns: a mono-directional and a bi-directional transducer have been proposed. A mathematical model for the air flow sensor is here proposed and a static calibration of two different arrangements has been performed: a measurement range up to 3.00 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -4} m{sup 3}/s (18.0 l/min) for the mono-directional sensor and a measurement range of {+-}3.00 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -4} m{sup 3}/s ({+-}18.0 l/min) for the bi-directional sensor are experimentally evaluated, according to the air flow rates normally encountered during tidal breathing of infants with a mass lower than 10 kg. Experimental data of static calibration result in accordance with the proposed theoretical model: for the mono-directional configuration, the coefficient of determination r{sup 2} is equal to 0.997; for the bi-directional configuration, the coefficient of determination r{sup 2} is equal to 0.990 for positive flows (inspiration) and 0.988 for negative flows (expiration). Measurement uncertainty {delta}Q of air flow rate has been evaluated by means of the propagation of distributions and the percentage error in the arrangement of bi-directional sensor ranges from a minimum of about 0.5% at -18.0 l/min to a maximum of about 9% at -12.0 l/min.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A first generation compact microbeam radiation therapy system based on carbon nanotube X-ray technology

We have developed a compact microbeam radiation therapy device using carbon nanotube cathodes to create a linear array of narrow focal line segments on a tungsten anode and a custom collimator assembly to select a slice of the resulting wedge-shaped radiation pattern. Effective focal line width was measured to be 131 μm, resulting in a microbeam width of ∼300 μm. The instantaneous dose rate was projected to be 2 Gy/s at full-power. Peak to valley dose ratio was measured to be >17 when a 1.4 mm microbeam separation was employed. Finally, multiple microbeams were delivered to a mouse with beam paths verified through histology.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Three-dimensional flow contrast imaging of deep tissue using noncontact diffuse correlation tomography

This study extended our recently developed noncontact diffuse correlation spectroscopy flowmetry system into noncontact diffuse correlation tomography (ncDCT) for three-dimensional (3-D) flow imaging of deep tissue. A linear array of 15 photodetectors and two laser sources connected to a mobile lens-focusing system enabled automatic and noncontact scanning of flow in a region of interest. These boundary measurements were combined with a finite element framework for DCT image reconstruction implemented into an existing software package. This technique was tested in computer simulations and using a tissue-like phantom with anomaly flow contrast design. The cylindrical tube-shaped anomaly was clearly reconstructed in both simulation and phantom. Recovered and assigned flow contrast changes in anomaly were found to be highly correlated: regression slope = 1.00, R{sup 2} = 1.00, and p < 10{sup −5} in simulation and regression slope ≥ 0.97, R{sup 2} ≥ 0.96, and p < 10{sup −3} in phantom. These results exhibit promise of our ncDCT technique for 3-D imaging of deep tissue blood flow heterogeneities.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Effective imaging systems based on periodic lattices

A crucial question in imaging problems from diffracted wavefields is the evaluation of the information content of data and the related reconstruction performance in terms of spatial resolution. It is well-known that full-view tomographic reconstructions are characterized by resolution limits of the order of one half propagated wavelength. These limits are further deteriorated when a truncated measurement domain is exploited for the imaging. In this Letter, we show that when the imaging system comprises a periodic layer located between a linear array of probes and the investigated domain, the resolution limits are substantially improved compared to the case of a homogenous scenario. This intriguing result is a consequence of the multiscattering effects arising from the periodicity of the structure. The study provides physical insight supported by mathematical arguments paving the way to the development of effective imaging systems requiring few radiating elements.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Extraordinary acoustic transmission mediated by Helmholtz resonators

We demonstrate perfect transmission of sound through a rigid barrier embedded with Helmholtz resonators. The resonators are confined within a waveguide and they are oriented such that one neck protrudes onto each side of the barrier. Perfect sound transmission occurs even though the open area of the necks is less than 3% of the barrier area. Maximum transmission occurs at the resonant frequency of the Helmholtz resonator. Because the dimensions of the Helmholtz resonators are much smaller than the resonant wavelength, the transmission is independent of the direction of sound on the barrier and of the relative placement of the necks. Further, we show that the transmitted sound experiences a continuous phase transition of π radians as a function of frequency through resonance. In simulations of adjacent resonators with slightly offset resonance frequencies, the phase difference leads to destructive interference. By expanding the simulation to a linear array of tuned Helmholtz resonators we show that it is possible to create an acoustic lens. The ability of Helmholtz resonator arrays to manipulate the phase of a plane acoustic wave enables a new class of sonic beam-forming devices analogous to diffractive optics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Hall probe measurements of the poloidal magnetic field in Compact Toroidal Hybrid plasmas

A linear array of 16 Hall effect sensors has been developed to directly measure the poloidal magnetic field inside the boundary of a non-axisymmetric hybrid torsatron/tokamak plasma. The array consists of miniature gallium arsenide Hall sensor elements mounted 8 mm apart on a narrow, rotatable printed circuit board inserted into a re-entrant stainless steel tube sheathed in boron nitride. The sensors are calibrated on the bench and in situ to provide accurate local measurements of the magnetic field to aid in reconstructing the equilibrium plasma current density profiles in fully three-dimensional plasmas. Calibrations show that the sensor sensitivities agree with the nominal manufacturers specifications of 1.46 V/T. Poloidal fields measured with the Hall sensor array are found to be within 5% of poloidal fields modeled with a Biot-Savart code.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

The benefits of using time-frequency analysis with synthetic aperture focusing technique

Improvements in detection and resolution are always desired and needed. There are various instruments available for the inspection of concrete structures that can be used with confidence for detecting different defects. However, more often than not that confidence is heavily dependent on the experience of the operator rather than the clear, objective discernibility of the output of the instrument. The challenge of objective discernment is amplified when the concrete structures contain multiple layers of reinforcement, are of significant thickness, or both, such as concrete structures in nuclear power plants. We seek to improve and extend the usefulness of results produced using the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) on data collected from thick, complex concrete structures. A secondary goal is to improve existing SAFT results, with regards to repeatedly and objectively identifying defects and/or internal structure of concrete structures. Towards these goals, we are applying the time-frequency technique of wavelet packet decomposition and reconstruction using a mother wavelet that possesses the exact reconstruction property. However, instead of analyzing the coefficients of each decomposition node, we select and reconstruct specific nodes based on the frequency band it contains to produce a frequency band specific time-series representation. SAFT is then applied to these frequency specific reconstructions allowing SAFT to be used to visualize the reflectivity of a frequency band and that band's interaction with the contents of the concrete structure. We apply our technique to data sets collected using a commercial, ultrasonic linear array (MIRA) from two 1.5m × 2m × 25cm concrete test specimens. One specimen contains multiple layers of rebar. The other contains honeycomb, crack, and rebar bonding defect analogs. This approach opens up a multitude of possibilities for improved detection, readability, and overall improved objectivity. We will focus on improved defect/reinforcement isolation in thick and multilayered reinforcement environments. Additionally, the ability to empirically explore the possibility of a frequency-band-defect-type relationship or sensitivity becomes available.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High-temperature fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors

A photonic crystal fiber (PCF) based high-temperature fiber-optic sensor is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor head is a Fabry-Perot cavity manufactured with a short section of endless single-mode photonic crystal fiber (ESM PCF). The interferometric spectrum of the Fabry-Perot interferometer is collected by a charge coupled device linear array based micro spectrometer. A high-resolution demodulation algorithm is used to interrogate the peak wavelengths. Experimental results show that the temperature range of 1200 °C and the temperature resolution of 1 °C are achieved.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Cumulative phase delay imaging - A new contrast enhanced ultrasound modality

Recently, a new acoustic marker for ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) has been introduced. A cumulative phase delay (CPD) between the second harmonic and fundamental pressure wave field components is in fact observable for ultrasound propagating through UCAs. This phenomenon is absent in the case of tissue nonlinearity and is dependent on insonating pressure and frequency, UCA concentration, and propagation path length through UCAs. In this paper, ultrasound images based on this marker are presented. The ULA-OP research platform, in combination with a LA332 linear array probe (Esaote, Firenze Italy), were used to image a gelatin phantom containing a PVC plate (used as a reflector) and a cylindrical cavity measuring 7 mm in diameter (placed in between the observation point and the PVC plate). The cavity contained a 240 µL/L SonoVueO{sup ®} UCA concentration. Two insonating frequencies (3 MHz and 2.5 MHz) were used to scan the gelatine phantom. A mechanical index MI = 0.07, measured in water at the cavity location with a HGL-0400 hydrophone (Onda, Sunnyvale, CA), was utilized. Processing the ultrasound signals backscattered from the plate, ultrasound images were generated in a tomographic fashion using the filtered back-projection method. As already observed in previous studies, significantly higher CPD values are measured when imaging at a frequency of 2.5 MHz, as compared to imaging at 3 MHz. In conclusion, these results confirm the applicability of the discussed CPD as a marker for contrast imaging. Comparison with standard contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging modalities will be the focus of future work.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Multi-channel lock-in amplifier assisted femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence non-collinear optical parametric amplification spectroscopy with efficient rejection of superfluorescence background

Superfluorescence appears as an intense background in femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence noncollinear optical parametric amplification spectroscopy, which severely interferes the reliable acquisition of the time-resolved fluorescence spectra especially for an optically dilute sample. Superfluorescence originates from the optical amplification of the vacuum quantum noise, which would be inevitably concomitant with the amplified fluorescence photons during the optical parametric amplification process. Here, we report the development of a femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence non-collinear optical parametric amplification spectrometer assisted with a 32-channel lock-in amplifier for efficient rejection of the superfluorescence background. With this spectrometer, the superfluorescence background signal can be significantly reduced to 1/300–1/100 when the seeding fluorescence is modulated. An integrated 32-bundle optical fiber is used as a linear array light receiver connected to 32 photodiodes in one-to-one mode, and the photodiodes are further coupled to a home-built 32-channel synchronous digital lock-in amplifier. As an implementation, time-resolved fluorescence spectra for rhodamine 6G dye in ethanol solution at an optically dilute concentration of 10{sup −5}M excited at 510 nm with an excitation intensity of 70 nJ/pulse have been successfully recorded, and the detection limit at a pump intensity of 60 μJ/pulse was determined as about 13 photons/pulse. Concentration dependent redshift starting at 30 ps after the excitation in time-resolved fluorescence spectra of this dye has also been observed, which can be attributed to the formation of the excimer at a higher concentration, while the blueshift in the earlier time within 10 ps is attributed to the solvation process.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗