SU-E-T-178: Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) Dosimetry: A Study of A-Al2O3:C Assessed by PENELOPE Monte Carlo Simulation.

PubMed

Nicolucci, P; Schuch, F

2012-06-01

To use the Monte Carlo code PENELOPE to study attenuation and tissue equivalence properties of a-Al2O3:C for OSL dosimetry. Mass attenuation coefficients of α-Al2O3 and α-Al2O3:C with carbon percent weight concentrations from 1% to 150% were simulated with PENELOPE Monte Carlo code and compared to mass attenuation coefficients from soft tissue for photon beams ranging from 50kV to 10MV. Also, the attenuation of primary photon beams of 6MV and 10MV and the generation of secondary electrons by α-Al2O3 :C dosimeters positioned on the entrance surface of a water phantom were studied. A difference of up to 90% was found in the mass attenuation coefficient between the pure \\agr;-A12O3 and the material with 150% weight concentration of dopant at 1.5 keV, corresponding to the K-edge photoelectric absorption of aluminum. However for energies above 80 keV the concentration of carbon does not affect the mass attenuation coefficient and the material presents tissue equivalence for the beams studied. The ratio between the mass attenuation coefficients for \\agr-A12O3:C and for soft tissue are less than unit due to the higher density of the \\agr-A12O3 (2.12 g/cm s ) and its tissue equivalence diminishes to lower concentrations of carbon and for lower energies due to the relation of the radiation interaction effects with atomic number. The larger attenuation of the primary photon beams by the dosimeter was 16% at 250 keV and the maximum increase in secondary electrons fluence to the entrance surface of the phantom was found as 91% at 2MeV. The use of the OSL dosimeters in radiation therapy can be optimized by use of PENELOPE Monte Carlo simulation to provide a study of the attenuation and response characteristics of the material. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Investigation of photon attenuation coefficient of some building materials used in Turkey

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dogan, B.; Altinsoy, N.

In this study, some building materials regularly used in Turkey, such as concrete, gas concrete, pumice and brick have been investigated in terms of mass attenuation coefficient at different gamma-ray energies. Measurements were carried out by gamma spectrometry containing NaI(Tl) detector. Narrow beam gamma-ray transmission geometry was used for the attenuation measurements. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical calculation of XCOM code.

Photon Interaction Parameters for Some Borate Glasses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mann, Nisha; Kaur, Updesh; Singh, Tejbir

2010-11-06

Some photon interaction parameters of dosimetric interest such as mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic number, electron density and KERMA relative to air have been computed in the wide energy range from 1 keV to 100 GeV for some borate glasses viz. barium-lead borate, bismuth-borate, calcium-strontium borate, lead borate and zinc-borate glass. It has been observed that lead borate glass and barium-lead borate glass have maximum values of mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number and KERMA relative to air. Hence, these borate glasses are suitable as gamma ray shielding material, packing of radioactive sources etc.

XCOM: Photon Cross Sections Database

National Institute of Standards and Technology Data Gateway

SRD 8 XCOM: Photon Cross Sections Database (Web, free access)   A web database is provided which can be used to calculate photon cross sections for scattering, photoelectric absorption and pair production, as well as total attenuation coefficients, for any element, compound or mixture (Z <= 100) at energies from 1 keV to 100 GeV.

Measurements of mass attenuation coefficients and determination of photoionization cross sections at energies across the Li (i=1-3) edges of 66Dy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Rajnish; Kumar, Anil; Osan, Janos; Czyzycki, M.; Karydas, A. G.; Puri, Sanjiv

2017-07-01

The absolute values of the mass attenuation coefficients have been measured at sixty two photon energies across the Li (i=1-3) sub-shell absorption edges of 66Dy covering the region 7.6-14.0 keV in order to investigate the influence of near-edge processes on the attenuation coefficients. The present measured attenuation coefficients are found to be higher by up to 10% than the theoretical values evaluated from the computer code XCOM (Berger et al., 2010) and the self-consistent Dirac-Hartree-Slater (DHS) model based values tabulated by Chantler (1995) over the energy region 7.6-14.0 keV, except at energies in vicinity (few eV) of the Li (i=1-3) sub-shell absorption edge energies where the measured values are significantly higher (up to 37%) than both the sets of theoretical values. Further, the Li (i=1-3) sub-shell photoionization cross sections, (σLiP)exp, deduced from the present measured mass attenuation coefficients are compared with the non-relativistic Hartree-Fock-Slater (HFS) model based values tabulated by Scofield (1973) and those evaluated from the theoretical total photoionization attenuation coefficients tabulated by Chantler (1995). The deduced (σLiP)exp(i=1-3) values are found to be in better agreement with those evaluated from the tabulations given by Chantler (1995) than the values given by Scofield (1973) over the energy region 7.8 - 14.0 keV included in this study. However, at photon energies up to few eV above the Li edges, the deduced (σLiP)exp(i=1-3) values are found to be significantly higher (up to 32%) than both the sets of theoretical values.

The calculation of mass attenuation coefficients of well-known thermoluminescent dosimetric compounds at wide energy range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ermis, Elif Ebru

2017-02-01

The photon mass attenuation coefficients of LiF, BaSO4, CaCO3 and CaSO4 thermoluminescent dosimetric compounds at 100; 300; 500; 600; 800; 1,000; 1,500; 2,000; 3,000 and 5,000 keV gamma-ray energies were calculated. For this purpose, FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) program which is one of the well-known MC codes was used in this study. Furthermore, obtained results were analyzed by means of ROOT program. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) values were also used to compare the obtained theoretical values because the mass attenuation values of the used compounds could not found in the literature. Calculated mass attenuation coefficients were highly in accordance with the NIST values. As a consequence, FLUKA was successful in calculating the mass attenuation coefficients of the most used thermoluminescent compound.

Parameters and computer software for the evaluation of mass attenuation and mass energy-absorption coefficients for body tissues and substitutes.

PubMed

Okunade, Akintunde A

2007-07-01

The mass attenuation and energy-absorption coefficients (radiation interaction data), which are widely used in the shielding and dosimetry of X-rays used for medical diagnostic and orthovoltage therapeutic procedures, are strongly dependent on the energy of photons, elements and percentage by weight of elements in body tissues and substitutes. Significant disparities exist in the values of percentage by weight of elements reported in literature for body tissues and substitutes for individuals of different ages, genders and states of health. Often, interested parties are in need of these radiation interaction data for body tissues or substitutes with percentage by weight of elements and intermediate energies that are not tabulated in literature. To provide for the use of more precise values of these radiation interaction data, parameters and computer programs, MUA_T and MUEN_T are presented for the computation of mass attenuation and energy-absorption coefficients for body tissues and substitutes of arbitrary percentage-by-weight elemental composition and photon energy ranging between 1 keV (or k-edge) and 400 keV. Results are presented, which show that the values of mass attenuation and energy-absorption coefficients obtained from computer programs are in good agreement with those reported in literature.

Effect of an external magnetic field on the mass attenuation coefficients of p-Si and n-Si

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yılmaz, D.; Önder, P.

2018-05-01

In this study, the mass attenuation coefficients of p-Si and n-Si semiconductor samples have been determined in an external magnetic field. The semiconductor samples were located to the external magnetic field of intensities 0.2 T, 0.4 T, 0.6 T and 0.8 T. The samples were bombarded by 59.5 keV, 80.1 keV, 121.8 keV and 244.7 keV gamma-rays emitted from Am241, Ba133 and Eu152 radioactive sources. The transmitted photons were detected by a CdTe detector. It was observed that the mass attenuation coefficients of p-Si and n-Si semiconductor samples decrease with increasing gamma-ray energy. Also, the mass attenuation coefficients of the samples increase with applying magnetic field intensity.

SU-F-T-551: Beam Hardening and Attenuation of Photon Beams Using Integral Quality Monitor in Radiotherapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Casar, B; Carot, I Mendez; Peterlin, P

2016-06-15

Purpose: Aim of the multi-centre study was to analyse beam hardening effect of the Integral Quality Monitor (IQM) for high energy photon beams used in radiotherapy with linear accelerators. Generic values for attenuation coefficient k(IQM) of IQM system were additionally investigated. Methods: Beam hardening effect of the IQM system was studied for a set of standard nominal photon energies (6 MV–18 MV) and two flattening filter free (FFF) energies (6 MV FFF and 10 MV FFF). PDD curves were measured and analysed for various square radiation fields, with and without IQM in place. Differences between PDD curves were statistically analysedmore » through comparison of respective PDD-20,10 values. Attenuation coefficients k(IQM) were determined for the same range of photon energies. Results: Statistically significant differences in beam qualities for all evaluated high energy photon beams were found, comparing PDD-20,10 values derived from PDD curves with and without IQM in place. Significance of beam hardening effect was statistically proven with high confidence (p < 0,01) for all analysed photon beams except for 15 MV (p = 0,078), although relative differences in beam qualities were minimal, ranging from 0,1 % to 0,5 %. Attenuation of the IQM system showed negligible dependence on radiation field size. However, clinically important dependence of kIQM versus TPRs20,10 was found: 0,941 for 6 MV photon beams, to 0,959 for 18 MV photon beams, with highest uncertainty below 0,006. k(IQM) versus TPRs were tabulated and polynomial equation for the determination of k(IQM) is suggested for clinical use. Conclusion: There was no clinically relevant beam hardening, when IQM system was on linear accelerators. Consequently, no additional commissioning is needed for the IQM system regarding the determination of beam qualities. Generic values for k(IQM) are proposed and can be used as tray factors for complete range of examined photon beam energies.« less

Microwave photonic filters using low-cost sources featuring tunability, reconfigurability and negative coefficients.

PubMed

Capmany, José; Mora, José; Ortega, Beatriz; Pastor, Daniel

2005-03-07

We propose and experimentally demonstrate two configurations of photonic filters for the processing of microwave signals featuring tunability, reconfigurability and negative coefficients based on the use of low cost optical sources. The first option is a low power configuration based on spectral slicing of a broadband source. The second is a high power configuration based on fixed lasers. Tunability, reconfigurability and negative coefficients are achieved by means of a MEMS cross-connect, a variable optical attenuator array and simple 2x2 switches respectively.

Material separation in x-ray CT with energy resolved photon-counting detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang Xiaolan; Meier, Dirk; Taguchi, Katsuyuki

Purpose: The objective of the study was to demonstrate that, in x-ray computed tomography (CT), more than two types of materials can be effectively separated with the use of an energy resolved photon-counting detector and classification methodology. Specifically, this applies to the case when contrast agents that contain K-absorption edges in the energy range of interest are present in the object. This separation is enabled via the use of recently developed energy resolved photon-counting detectors with multiple thresholds, which allow simultaneous measurements of the x-ray attenuation at multiple energies. Methods: To demonstrate this capability, we performed simulations and physical experimentsmore » using a six-threshold energy resolved photon-counting detector. We imaged mouse-sized cylindrical phantoms filled with several soft-tissue-like and bone-like materials and with iodine-based and gadolinium-based contrast agents. The linear attenuation coefficients were reconstructed for each material in each energy window and were visualized as scatter plots between pairs of energy windows. For comparison, a dual-kVp CT was also simulated using the same phantom materials. In this case, the linear attenuation coefficients at the lower kVp were plotted against those at the higher kVp. Results: In both the simulations and the physical experiments, the contrast agents were easily separable from other soft-tissue-like and bone-like materials, thanks to the availability of the attenuation coefficient measurements at more than two energies provided by the energy resolved photon-counting detector. In the simulations, the amount of separation was observed to be proportional to the concentration of the contrast agents; however, this was not observed in the physical experiments due to limitations of the real detector system. We used the angle between pairs of attenuation coefficient vectors in either the 5-D space (for non-contrast-agent materials using energy resolved photon-counting acquisition) or a 2-D space (for contrast agents using energy resolved photon-counting acquisition and all materials using dual-kVp acquisition) as a measure of the degree of separation. Compared to dual-kVp techniques, an energy resolved detector provided a larger separation and the ability to separate different target materials using measurements acquired in different energy window pairs with a single x-ray exposure. Conclusions: We concluded that x-ray CT with an energy resolved photon-counting detector with more than two energy windows allows the separation of more than two types of materials, e.g., soft-tissue-like, bone-like, and one or more materials with K-edges in the energy range of interest. Separating material types using energy resolved photon-counting detectors has a number of advantages over dual-kVp CT in terms of the degree of separation and the number of materials that can be separated simultaneously.« less

Perturbed effects at radiation physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Külahcı, Fatih; Şen, Zekâi

2013-09-01

Perturbation methodology is applied in order to assess the linear attenuation coefficient, mass attenuation coefficient and cross-section behavior with random components in the basic variables such as the radiation amounts frequently used in the radiation physics and chemistry. Additionally, layer attenuation coefficient (LAC) and perturbed LAC (PLAC) are proposed for different contact materials. Perturbation methodology provides opportunity to obtain results with random deviations from the average behavior of each variable that enters the whole mathematical expression. The basic photon intensity variation expression as the inverse exponential power law (as Beer-Lambert's law) is adopted for perturbation method exposition. Perturbed results are presented not only in terms of the mean but additionally the standard deviation and the correlation coefficients. Such perturbation expressions provide one to assess small random variability in basic variables.

A study of photon interaction in some building materials: High-volume admixture of blast furnace slag into Portland cement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurudirek, Murat; Türkmen, İbrahim; Özdemir, Yüksel

2009-09-01

Total mass attenuation coefficients, mean free paths (MFP), half-value (HVT) and tenth-value (TVT) thicknesses of Portland cement and three mixtures have been calculated in function of the energy from 1 keV to 100 GeV. Both in the low- and high-energy region there were significant variations in those parameters where photoelectric process and pair production partially dominates, respectively. In general, the attenuation parameters were found to vary with chemical composition, density of given material and photon energy.

Fabrication and characterisation of phantom material made of Tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards for photon and electron beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusof, M. F. Mohd; Hamid, P. N. K. Abd; Tajuddin, A. A.; Hashim, R.; Bauk, S.; Isa, N. Mohd; Isa, M. J. Md

2017-05-01

Particleboards made of Rhizophora spp. with addition of tannin adhesive were fabricated at target density of 1.0 g/cm3. The physical and mechanical properties of the particleboards including internal bond strength (IB) and modulus of rupture (MOR) were measured based on Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS A-5908). The characterisation of the particleboards including the effective atomic number, CT number and relative electron density were determined and compared to water. The mass attenuation coefficient of the particleboards were measured and compared to the calculated value of water using photon cross-section database (XCOM). The results showed that the physical and mechanical properties of the particleboards complied with Type 13 and 18 of JIS A-5908. The values of effective atomic number, CT number and relative electron density were also close to the value of water. The value of mass attenuation coefficients of the particleboards showed good agreement with water (XCOM) at low and high energy photon indicated by the χ2 values.

Effective atomic numbers of blue topaz at different gamma-rays energies obtained from Compton scattering technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tuschareon, S., E-mail: tuscharoen@hotmail.com; Limkitjaroenporn, P., E-mail: tuscharoen@hotmail.com; Kaewkhao, J., E-mail: tuscharoen@hotmail.com

2014-03-24

Topaz occurs in a wide range of colors, including yellow, orange, brown, pink-to-violet and blue. All of these color differences are due to color centers. In order to improve the color of natural colorless topaz, the most commonly used is irradiated with x- or gamma-rays, indicated that attenuation parameters is important to enhancements by irradiation. In this work, the mass attenuation coefficients of blue topaz were measured at the different energy of γ-rays using the Compton scattering technique. The results show that, the experimental values of mass attenuation coefficient are in good agreement with the theoretical values. The mass attenuationmore » coefficients increase with the decrease in gamma rays energies. This may be attributed to the higher photon interaction probability of blue topaz at lower energy. This result is a first report of mass attenuation coefficient of blue topaz at different gamma rays energies.« less

Photon interaction studies using 241Am g-rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramachandran, N.; Karunakaran Nair, K.; Abdullah, K. K.; Varier, K. M.

2006-09-01

We have carried out some photon interaction measurements using 59.54 keV γ-rays from a ^{241}Am source. These include γ attenuation studies as well as photoelectric absorption studies in various samples. The attenuation studies have been made using leaf and wood samples, samples like sand, sugar etc., which contain particles of varying sizes as well as pellets and aqueous solutions of rare earth compounds. In the case of the leaf and wood samples, we have used the γ-ray attenuation technique for the determination of the water content in fresh and dried samples. The variation of the attenuation coefficient with particle size has been investigated for sand and sugar samples. The attenuation studies as well as the photoelectric studies in the case of rare earth elements have been carried out on samples containing such elements whose K-absorption edge energies lie below and close to the γ-energy used. Suitable compounds of the rare earth elements have been chosen as mixture absorbers in these investigations. A narrow beam good geometry set-up was used for the attenuation measurements. A well-shielded scattering geometry was used for the photoelectric measurements. The mixture rule was invoked to extract the values of the mass attenuation coefficients for the elements from those of the corresponding compounds. The results are consistent with theoretical values derived from the XCOM package.

Investigation of radiological properties of some shielding materials on charged and uncharged radiation interaction for neutron generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Büyükyıldız, Mehmet

2017-04-01

Radiation interaction parameters such as total stopping power, projected range (longitudinal and lateral) straggling, mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number (Zeff) and electron density (Neff) of some shielding materials were investigated for photon and heavy charged particle interactions. The ranges, stragglings and mass attenuation coefficients were calculated for the high-density polyethylene(HDPE), borated polyethylene (BPE), brick (common silica), concrete (regular), wood, water, stainless steel (304), aluminum (alloy 6061-O), lead and bismuth using SRIM Monte Carlo software and WinXCom program. In addition, effective atomic numbers (Zeff) and electron densities (Neff) of HDPE, BPE, brick (common silica), concrete (regular), wood, water, stainless steel (304) and aluminum (alloy 6061-O) were calculated in the energy region 10 keV-100 MeV using mass stopping powers and mass attenuation coefficients. Two different methods namely direct and interpolation procedures were used to calculate Zeff for comparison and significant differences were determined between the methods. Variations of the ranges, longitudinal and lateral stragglings of water, concrete and stainless steel (304) were compared with each other in the continuous kinetic energy region and discussed with respect to their Zeffs. Moreover, energy absorption buildup factors (EABF) and exposure buildup factors (EBF) of the materials were determined for gamma rays as well and were compared with each other for different photon energies and different mfps in the photon energy region 0.015-15 MeV.

Studies on mass energy-absorption coefficients and effective atomic energy-absorption cross sections for carbohydrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ladhaf, Bibifatima M.; Pawar, Pravina P.

2015-04-01

We measured here the mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) of carbohydrates, Esculine (C15H16O9), Sucrose (C12H22O11), Sorbitol (C6H14O6), D-Galactose (C6H12O6), Inositol (C6H12O6), D-Xylose (C5H10O5) covering the energy range from 122 keV up to 1330 keV photon energies by using gamma ray transmission method in a narrow beam good geometry set-up. The gamma-rays were detected using NaI(Tl) scintillation detection system with a resolution of 8.2% at 662 keV. The attenuation coefficient data were then used to obtain the total attenuation cross-section (σtot), molar extinction coefficients (ε), mass-energy absorption coefficients (μen/ρ) and effective (average) atomic energy-absorption cross section (σa,en) of the compounds. These values are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical values calculated based on XCOM data.

Effective atomic number and electron density of amino acids within the energy range of 0.122-1.330 MeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

More, Chaitali V.; Lokhande, Rajkumar M.; Pawar, Pravina P.

2016-08-01

Photon attenuation coefficient calculation methods have been widely used to accurately study the properties of amino acids such as n-acetyl-L-tryptophan, n-acetyl-L-tyrosine, D-tryptophan, n-acetyl-L-glutamic acid, D-phenylalanine, and D-threonine. In this study, mass attenuation coefficients (μm) of these amino acids for 0.122-, 0.356-, 0.511-, 0.662-, 0.884-, 1.170, 1.275-, 1.330-MeV photons are determined using the radio-nuclides Co57, Ba133, Cs137, Na22, Mn54, and Co60. NaI (Tl) scintillation detection system was used to detect gamma rays with a resolution of 8.2% at 0.662 MeV. The calculated attenuation coefficient values were then used to determine total atomic cross sections (σt), molar extinction coefficients (ε), electronic cross sections (σe), effective atomic numbers (Zeff), and effective electron densities (Neff) of the amino acids. Theoretical values were calculated based on the XCOM data. Theoretical and experimental values are found to be in a good agreement (error<5%). The variations of μm, σt, ε, σe, Zeff, and Neff with energy are shown graphically. The values of μm, σt, ε, σe are higher at lower energies, and they decrease sharply as energy increases; by contrast, Zeff and Neff were found to be almost constant.

Effect of antimony-oxide on the shielding properties of some sodium-boro-silicate glasses.

PubMed

Zoulfakar, A M; Abdel-Ghany, A M; Abou-Elnasr, T Z; Mostafa, A G; Salem, S M; El-Bahnaswy, H H

2017-09-01

Some sodium-silicate-boro-antimonate glasses having the molecular composition [(20) Na 2 O - (20) SiO 2 - (60-x) B 2 O 3 - (x) Sb 2 O 3 (where x takes the values 0, 5 … or 20)] have been prepared by the melt quenching method. The melting and annealing temperatures were 1500 and 650K respectively. The amorphous nature of the prepared samples was confirmed by using X-ray diffraction analysis. Both the experimental and empirical density and molar volume values showed gradual increase with increasing Sb 2 O 3 content. The empirical densities showed higher values than those obtained experimentally, while the empirical molar volume values appeared lower than those obtained experimentally, which confirm the amorphous nature and randomness character of the studied samples. The experimentally obtained shielding parameters were approximately coincident with those obtained theoretically by applying WinXCom program. At low gamma-ray energies (0.356 and 0.662MeV) Sb 2 O 3 has approximately no effect on the total Mass Attenuation Coefficient, while at high energies it acts to increase the total Mass Attenuation Coefficient gradually. The obtained Half Value Layer and Mean Free Path values showed gradual decrease as Sb 2 O 3 was gradually increased. Also, the Total Mass Attenuation Coefficient values obtained between about 0.8 and 3.0MeV gamma-ray energy showed a slight decrease, as gamma-ray photon energy increased. This may be due to the differences between the Attenuation Coefficients of both antimony and boron oxides at various gamma-ray photon energies. However, it can be stated that the addition of Sb 2 O 3 into sodium-boro-silicate glasses increases the gamma-ray Attenuation Coefficient and the best sample is that contains 20 mol% of Sb 2 O 3 , which is operating well at 0.356 and 0.662MeV gamma-ray. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization and attenuation study on tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboard at high energy photon and electron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusof, Mohd Fahmi Mohd; Hamid, Puteri Nor Khatijah Abd; Tajuddin, Abd Aziz; Abdullah, Reduan; Hashim, Rokiah; Bauk, Sabar; Isa, Norriza Mohd; Isa, Muhammad Jamal Md

2017-01-01

The effective atomic number of tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards was determined based on elemental composition using Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDXA). The value of mass attenuation coefficients were measured using 137Cs and 60Co gamma energies. The attenuation properties of PDD curves and beam profile of tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards were investigated using Gafchromic EBT2 film at 6 MV photon and 6 MeV electrons and compared to the value in water and solid water phantoms. The results showed that tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards having effective atomic number close to the value of water. The mass attenuation coefficients were near to the value of water with χ2 values of 0.018 and 0.357 to 137Cs and 60Co gamma energies respectively. The PDD of tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards at 6 MV photons showed good agreement within 3.21 and 5.91% to that in solid water phantoms and water respectively. The PDD at 6 MeV electrons showed a good agreement within 3.32 and 3.12% to that in solid water phantoms and water respectively. The depth of R50 and R90 in tannin-added Rhizophora spp. also showed a good agreement to that in water and solid water pahtoms. Lower surface dose was observed in tannin-added Rhizophora spp. particleboards at electron beams in comparison to solid water phantoms and water.

Comparison of Monte Carlo simulation of gamma ray attenuation coefficients of amino acids with XCOM program and experimental data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elbashir, B. O.; Dong, M. G.; Sayyed, M. I.; Issa, Shams A. M.; Matori, K. A.; Zaid, M. H. M.

2018-06-01

The mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ), effective atomic numbers (Zeff) and electron densities (Ne) of some amino acids obtained experimentally by the other researchers have been calculated using MCNP5 simulations in the energy range 0.122-1.330 MeV. The simulated values of μ/ρ, Zeff, and Ne were compared with the previous experimental work for the amino acids samples and a good agreement was noticed. Moreover, the values of mean free path (MFP) for the samples were calculated using MCNP5 program and compared with the theoretical results obtained by XCOM. The investigation of μ/ρ, Zeff, Ne and MFP values of amino acids using MCNP5 simulations at various photon energies when compared with the XCOM values and previous experimental data for the amino acids samples revealed that MCNP5 code provides accurate photon interaction parameters for amino acids.

Dysprosium-159 for transmission imaging and bone mineral analysis.

PubMed

Rao, D V; Govelitz, G F; Sastry, K S

1977-01-01

The suitability of the intense Kalpha x rays of terbium emitted in the electron-capture decay of 159Dy for use in transmission imaging and bone mineral analysis is investigated. It is found that this radionuclide offers all the advantages of radiations from 210 Pb and none of the disadvantages inherent in the use of the latter. Yields of the Kalpha and Kbeta x rays of terbium and the 58-keV gamma rays emitted in 159 Dy decay are determined using a high-resolution Si(Li) photon spectrometer. Attenuation coefficients for these photons in gadolinium (critical) absorber are measured in a narrow-beam geometry. For Tb Kbeta x rays, whose average energy is only about 0.4 keV above the K edge or Gd, our experimental attenuation coefficient is about 10% less than the theoretical value given by Storm and Israel. Transmission images of regular and irregular bones obtained using 159Dy are presented.

Study of silicon strip waveguides with diffraction gratings and photonic crystals tuned to a wavelength of 1.5 µm

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barabanenkov, M. Yu., E-mail: barab@iptm.ru; Vyatkin, A. F.; Volkov, V. T.

2015-12-15

Single-mode submicrometer-thick strip waveguides on silicon-on-insulator substrates, fabricated by silicon-planar-technology methods are considered. To solve the problem of 1.5-µm wavelength radiation input-output and its frequency filtering, strip diffraction gratings and two-dimensional photonic crystals are integrated into waveguides. The reflection and transmission spectra of gratings and photonic crystals are calculated. The waveguide-mode-attenuation coefficient for a polycrystalline silicon waveguide is experimentally estimated.

Gamma-ray energy buildup factor calculations and shielding effects of some Jordanian building structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharaf, J. M.; Saleh, H.

2015-05-01

The shielding properties of three different construction styles, and building materials, commonly used in Jordan, were evaluated using parameters such as attenuation coefficients, equivalent atomic number, penetration depth and energy buildup factor. Geometric progression (GP) method was used to calculate gamma-ray energy buildup factors of limestone, concrete, bricks, cement plaster and air for the energy range 0.05-3 MeV, and penetration depths up to 40 mfp. It has been observed that among the examined building materials, limestone offers highest value for equivalent atomic number and linear attenuation coefficient and the lowest values for penetration depth and energy buildup factor. The obtained buildup factors were used as basic data to establish the total equivalent energy buildup factors for three different multilayer construction styles using an iterative method. The three styles were then compared in terms of fractional transmission of photons at different incident photon energies. It is concluded that, in case of any nuclear accident, large multistory buildings with five layers exterior walls, style A, could effectively attenuate radiation more than small dwellings of any construction style.

Evaluation Of Shielding Efficacy Of A Ferrite Containing Ceramic Material

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Verst, C.

2015-10-12

The shielding evaluation of the ferrite based Mitsuishi ceramic material has produced for several radiation sources and possible shielding sizes comparative dose attenuation measurements and simulated projections. High resolution gamma spectroscopy provided uncollided and scattered photon spectra at three energies, confirming theoretical estimates of the ceramic’s mass attenuation coefficient, μ/ρ. High level irradiation experiments were performed using Co-60, Cs-137, and Cf-252 sources to measure penetrating dose rates through steel, lead, concrete, and the provided ceramic slabs. The results were used to validate the radiation transport code MCNP6 which was then used to generate dose rate attenuation curves as a functionmore » of shielding material, thickness, and mass for photons and neutrons ranging in energy from 200 keV to 2 MeV.« less

Energy transfer and energy absorption in photon interactions with matter revisited: A step-by-step illustrated approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdel-Rahman, W.; Podgorsak, E. B.

2010-05-01

A clear understanding of energy transfer and energy absorption in photon interactions with matter is essential for the understanding of radiation dosimetry and development of new dosimetry techniques. The concepts behind the two quantities have been enunciated many years ago and described in many scientific papers, review articles, and textbooks. Data dealing with energy transfer and energy absorption as well as the associated mass energy transfer coefficient and the mass energy absorption coefficient are readily available in web-based tabular forms. However, tables, even when available in detailed and easy to access form, do not lend themselves to serve as visual aid to promote better understanding of the dosimetric quantities related to energy transfer and energy absorption as well as their relationship to the photon energy and absorber atomic number. This paper uses graphs and illustrations, in addition to well-known mathematical relationships, to guide the reader in a systematic manner through the various stages involved in the derivation of energy absorbed in medium and its associated quantity, the mass energy absorption coefficient, from the mass attenuation coefficient.

Towards a quantitative, measurement-based estimate of the uncertainty in photon mass attenuation coefficients at radiation therapy energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, E. S. M.; Spencer, B.; McEwen, M. R.; Rogers, D. W. O.

2015-02-01

In this study, a quantitative estimate is derived for the uncertainty in the XCOM photon mass attenuation coefficients in the energy range of interest to external beam radiation therapy—i.e. 100 keV (orthovoltage) to 25 MeV—using direct comparisons of experimental data against Monte Carlo models and theoretical XCOM data. Two independent datasets are used. The first dataset is from our recent transmission measurements and the corresponding EGSnrc calculations (Ali et al 2012 Med. Phys. 39 5990-6003) for 10-30 MV photon beams from the research linac at the National Research Council Canada. The attenuators are graphite and lead, with a total of 140 data points and an experimental uncertainty of ˜0.5% (k = 1). An optimum energy-independent cross section scaling factor that minimizes the discrepancies between measurements and calculations is used to deduce cross section uncertainty. The second dataset is from the aggregate of cross section measurements in the literature for graphite and lead (49 experiments, 288 data points). The dataset is compared to the sum of the XCOM data plus the IAEA photonuclear data. Again, an optimum energy-independent cross section scaling factor is used to deduce the cross section uncertainty. Using the average result from the two datasets, the energy-independent cross section uncertainty estimate is 0.5% (68% confidence) and 0.7% (95% confidence). The potential for energy-dependent errors is discussed. Photon cross section uncertainty is shown to be smaller than the current qualitative ‘envelope of uncertainty’ of the order of 1-2%, as given by Hubbell (1999 Phys. Med. Biol 44 R1-22).

Measurement of the mass attenuation coefficient from 81 keV to 1333 keV for elemental materials Al, Cu and Pb

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gjorgieva, Slavica, E-mail: slavicagjorgieva89@gmail.com; Institute of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, POB 162, 1000 Skopje; Barandovski, Lambe, E-mail: lambe@pmf.ukim.mk

The mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) for 3 high purity elemental materials Al, Cu and Pb were measured in the γ-ray energy range from 81 keV up to 1333 keV using {sup 22}Na, {sup 60}Co {sup 133}Ba and {sup 133}Cs as sources of gamma radiation. Well shielded detector (NaI (Tl) semiconductor detector) was used to measure the intensity of the transmitted beam. The measurements were made under condition of good geometry, assuring that any photon absorbed or deflected appreciably does not reach the detector. The measured values are compared with the theoretical ones obtained by Seltzer (1993).

An analysis of MCNP cross-sections and tally methods for low-energy photon emitters.

PubMed

Demarco, John J; Wallace, Robert E; Boedeker, Kirsten

2002-04-21

Monte Carlo calculations are frequently used to analyse a variety of radiological science applications using low-energy (10-1000 keV) photon sources. This study seeks to create a low-energy benchmark for the MCNP Monte Carlo code by simulating the absolute dose rate in water and the air-kerma rate for monoenergetic point sources with energies between 10 keV and 1 MeV. The analysis compares four cross-section datasets as well as the tally method for collision kerma versus absorbed dose. The total photon attenuation coefficient cross-section for low atomic number elements has changed significantly as cross-section data have changed between 1967 and 1989. Differences of up to 10% are observed in the photoelectric cross-section for water at 30 keV between the standard MCNP cross-section dataset (DLC-200) and the most recent XCOM/NIST tabulation. At 30 keV, the absolute dose rate in water at 1.0 cm from the source increases by 7.8% after replacing the DLC-200 photoelectric cross-sections for water with those from the XCOM/NIST tabulation. The differences in the absolute dose rate are analysed when calculated with either the MCNP absorbed dose tally or the collision kerma tally. Significant differences between the collision kerma tally and the absorbed dose tally can occur when using the DLC-200 attenuation coefficients in conjunction with a modern tabulation of mass energy-absorption coefficients.

Attenuation coefficients and exposure buildup factor of some rocks for gamma ray shielding applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Obaid, Shamsan S.; Sayyed, M. I.; Gaikwad, D. K.; Pawar, Pravina. P.

2018-07-01

In the present work, the mass attenuation coefficient μ/ρ is investigated experimentally and theoretically for seven rocks (olivine basalt, green marble, jet black granite, telphone black granite, cuddapah limestone, white marble and pink marble). The rock samples were collected from different places of India. The mass attenuation coefficients of the samples were measured experimentally at photon energies of radioisotopes Co57 (122 keV), Ba133 (356 keV), 22Na (511 and 1275 keV), Cs137 (662 keV), Mn54 (840 keV), and Co60 (1330 keV). Theoretically, the simulation results of μ/ρ using both XCOM and MCNP5 codes were compared with experimental results and a satisfactory agreement was observed. Total atomic cross sections (σt,a) electronic cross sections (σt,e), effective atomic number (Zeff), electron density (Ne) and half value layer (HVL) were evaluated using the obtained μ/ρ values for investigated rocks. The HVL values for the selected rocks were compared with some common shielding concretes. Moreover, by Geometric Progression method (G-P) exposure buildup factor (EBF) and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) values were calculated for incident photon energy 0.015-15 MeV up to penetration depths of 40 mean free paths. The results show that among the studied rocks pink marble possesses superior shielding properties for γ-ray. This work was carried out to explore the advantage of utilizing the selected rocks in engineering structures and building construction to shield gamma-rays.

The Effect of Various Waste Materials' Contents on the Attenuation Level of Anti-Radiation Shielding Concrete.

PubMed

Azeez, Ali Basheer; Mohammed, Kahtan S; Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri; Hussin, Kamarudin; Sandu, Andrei Victor; Razak, Rafiza Abdul

2013-10-23

Samples of concrete contain various waste materials, such as iron particulates, steel balls of used ball bearings and slags from steel industry were assessed for their anti-radiation attenuation coefficient properties. The attenuation measurements were performed using gamma spectrometer of NaI (Tl) detector. The utilized radiation sources comprised 137 Cs and ⁶⁰Co radioactive elements with photon energies of 0.662 MeV for 137 Cs and two energy levels of 1.17 and 1.33 MeV for the ⁶⁰Co. Likewise the mean free paths for the tested samples were obtained. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of the waste loading rates and the particulate dispersive manner within the concrete matrix on the attenuation coefficients. The maximum linear attenuation coefficient (μ) was attained for concrete incorporates iron filling wastes of 30 wt %. They were of 1.12 ± 1.31×10 -3 for 137 Cs and 0.92 ± 1.57 × 10 -3 for ⁶⁰Co. Substantial improvement in attenuation performance by 20%-25% was achieved for concrete samples incorporate iron fillings as opposed to that of steel ball samples at different (5%-30%) loading rates. The steel balls and the steel slags gave much inferior values. The microstructure, concrete-metal composite density, the homogeneity and particulate dispersion were examined and evaluated using different metallographic, microscopic and measurement facilities.

Measurement of exposure buildup factors: The influence of scattered photons on gamma-ray attenuation coefficients

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mann, Kulwinder Singh

2018-01-01

Scattered photon's influence on measured values of attenuation coefficients (μm, cm2g-1) for six low-Z (effective atomic number) building materials, at three photon energies has been estimated. Narrow-beam transmission geometry has been used for the measurements. Samples of commonly used engineering materials (Cements, Clay, Lime-Stone, Plaster of Paris) have been selected for the present study. Standard radioactive sources Cs137 and Co60 have been used for obtaining γ-ray energies 661.66, 1173.24 and 1332.50 keV. The optical thickness (OT) of 0.5 mfp (mean free path) has been found the optimum optical thickness (OOT) for μm-measurement in the selected energy range (661.66-1332.50 keV). The aim of this investigation is to provide neglected information regarding subsistence of scattered photons in narrow beam geometry measurements for low-Z materials. The measurements have been performed for a wide range of sample-thickness (2-26 cm) such that their OT varies between 0.2-3.5 mfp in selected energy range. A computer program (GRIC2-toolkit) has been used for various theoretical computations required in this investigation. It has been concluded that in selected energy-range, good accuracy in μm-measurement of low-Z materials can be achieved by keeping their sample's OT below 0.5 mfp. The exposure buildup factors have been measured with the help of mathematical-model developed in this investigation.

Abiotic control of underwater light in a drinking water reservoir: Photon budget analysis and implications for water quality monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Shohei; Laurion, Isabelle; Markager, Stiig; Vincent, Warwick F.

2015-08-01

In optically complex inland waters, the underwater attenuation of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is controlled by a variable combination of absorption and scattering components of the lake or river water. Here we applied a photon budget approach to identify the main optical components affecting PAR attenuation in Lake St. Charles, a drinking water reservoir for Québec City, Canada. This analysis showed the dominant role of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption (average of 44% of total absorption during the sampling period), but with large changes over depth in the absolute and relative contribution of the individual absorption components (water, nonalgal particulates, phytoplankton and CDOM) to PAR attenuation. This pronounced vertical variation occurred because of the large spectral changes in the light field with depth, and it strongly affected the average in situ diffuse absorption coefficients in the water column. For example, the diffuse absorption coefficient for pure-water in the ambient light field was 10-fold higher than the value previously measured in the blue open ocean and erroneously applied to lakes and coastal waters. Photon absorption budget calculations for a range of limnological conditions confirmed that phytoplankton had little direct influence on underwater light, even at chlorophyll a values above those observed during harmful algal blooms in the lake. These results imply that traditional measures of water quality such as Secchi depth and radiometric transparency do not provide a meaningful estimate of the biological state of the water column in CDOM-colored lakes and reservoirs.

X-ray dual energy spectral parameter optimization for bone Calcium/Phosphorus mass ratio estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sotiropoulou, P. I.; Fountos, G. P.; Martini, N. D.; Koukou, V. N.; Michail, C. M.; Valais, I. G.; Kandarakis, I. S.; Nikiforidis, G. C.

2015-09-01

Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) bone mass ratio has been identified as an important, yet underutilized, risk factor in osteoporosis diagnosis. The purpose of this simulation study is to investigate the use of effective or mean mass attenuation coefficient in Ca/P mass ratio estimation with the use of a dual-energy method. The investigation was based on the minimization of the accuracy of Ca/P ratio, with respect to the Coefficient of Variation of the ratio. Different set-ups were examined, based on the K-edge filtering technique and single X-ray exposure. The modified X-ray output was attenuated by various Ca/P mass ratios resulting in nine calibration points, while keeping constant the total bone thickness. The simulated data were obtained considering a photon counting energy discriminating detector. The standard deviation of the residuals was used to compare and evaluate the accuracy between the different dual energy set-ups. The optimum mass attenuation coefficient for the Ca/P mass ratio estimation was the effective coefficient in all the examined set-ups. The variation of the residuals between the different set-ups was not significant.

Gamma ray interaction studies of organic nonlinear optical materials in the energy range 122 keV-1330 keV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Awasarmol, V. V.; Gaikwad, D. K.; Raut, S. D.; Pawar, P. P.

The mass attenuation coefficients (μm) for organic nonlinear optical materials measured at 122-1330 keV photon energies were investigated on the basis of mixture rule and compared with obtained values of WinXCOM program. It is observed that there is a good agreement between theoretical and experimental values of the samples. All samples were irradiated with six radioactive sources such as 57Co, 133Ba, 22Na, 137Cs, 54Mn and 60Co using transmission arrangement. Effective atomic and electron numbers or electron densities (Zeff and Neff), molar extinction coefficient (ε), mass energy absorption coefficient (μen/ρ) and effective atomic energy absorption cross section (σa,en) were determined experimentally and theoretically using the obtained μm values for investigated samples and graphs have been plotted. The graph shows that the variation of all samples decreases with increasing photon energy.

Studies on mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number and electron density of some thermoluminescent dosimetric compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Önder, P.; Turşucu, A.; Demir, D.; Gürol, A.

2012-12-01

Mass attenuation coefficient, μm , effective atomic number, Zeff, and effective electron density, Nel, were determined experimentally and theoretically for some thermoluminescent dosimetric (TLD) compounds such as MgSO4, CdSO4, Al2O3, Mg2SiO4, ZnSO4, CaSO4, CaF2, NaSO4, Na4P2O7, Ca5F(PO4)3, SiO2, CaCO3 and BaSO4 at 8.04, 8.91, 13.37, 14.97, 17.44, 19.63, 22.10, 24.90, 30.82, 32.06, 35.40, 36.39, 37.26, 43.74, 44.48, 50.38, 51.70, 53.16, 80.99, 276.40, 302.85, 356.01, 383.85 and 661.66 keV photon energies by using an HPGe detector with a resolution of 182 eV at 5.9 keV. The theoretical mass attenuation coefficients were estimated using mixture rule. The calculated values were compared with the experimental values for all compounds. Good agreement has been observed between experimental and theoretical values within experimental uncertainties.

Robust x-ray based material identification using multi-energy sinogram decomposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Yaoshen; Tracey, Brian; Miller, Eric

2016-05-01

There is growing interest in developing X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging systems with improved ability to discriminate material types, going beyond the attenuation imaging provided by most current systems. Dual- energy CT (DECT) systems can partially address this problem by estimating Compton and photoelectric (PE) coefficients of the materials being imaged, but DECT is greatly degraded by the presence of metal or other materials with high attenuation. Here we explore the advantages of multi-energy CT (MECT) systems based on photon-counting detectors. The utility of MECT has been demonstrated in medical applications where photon- counting detectors allow for the resolution of absorption K-edges. Our primary concern is aviation security applications where K-edges are rare. We simulate phantoms with differing amounts of metal (high, medium and low attenuation), both for switched-source DECT and for MECT systems, and include a realistic model of detector energy 0 resolution. We extend the DECT sinogram decomposition method of Ying et al. to MECT, allowing estimation of separate Compton and photoelectric sinograms. We furthermore introduce a weighting based on a quadratic approximation to the Poisson likelihood function that deemphasizes energy bins with low signal. Simulation results show that the proposed approach succeeds in estimating material properties even in high-attenuation scenarios where the DECT method fails, improving the signal to noise ratio of reconstructions by over 20 dB for the high-attenuation phantom. Our work demonstrates the potential of using photon counting detectors for stably recovering material properties even when high attenuation is present, thus enabling the development of improved scanning systems.

Radiological properties of plastics and TLD materials its application in radiation dosimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jabaseelan Samuel, E. James; Srinivasan, K.; Poopathi, V.

2017-05-01

In the current study, we evaluated the tissue equivalency of nine different commonly used thermoluminescence compounds and six plastic materials over the photon energy range of 15 KeV to 20 MeV. Our result confirmed that the ratio of number of electrons per gram, electron density of the entire TLD compounds and plastic materials to ICRU-44 soft tissue was lesser than unity, except in the case of polypropylene plastics. The effective atomic number ratio of all the plastic materials was also <1 excluding Poly-vinyl-chloride, and for TLD lithium borate material, it was <1 others which showed the deviation with respect to photon energy. Mass attenuation coefficient (µ/ϼ), mass absorption coefficient (µen/ρ) was calculated and the results are discussed in this paper.

The Effect of Various Waste Materials’ Contents on the Attenuation Level of Anti-Radiation Shielding Concrete

PubMed Central

Azeez, Ali Basheer; Mohammed, Kahtan S.; Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri; Hussin, Kamarudin; Sandu, Andrei Victor; Razak, Rafiza Abdul

2013-01-01

Samples of concrete contain various waste materials, such as iron particulates, steel balls of used ball bearings and slags from steel industry were assessed for their anti-radiation attenuation coefficient properties. The attenuation measurements were performed using gamma spectrometer of NaI (Tl) detector. The utilized radiation sources comprised 137Cs and 60Co radioactive elements with photon energies of 0.662 MeV for 137Cs and two energy levels of 1.17 and 1.33 MeV for the 60Co. Likewise the mean free paths for the tested samples were obtained. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of the waste loading rates and the particulate dispersive manner within the concrete matrix on the attenuation coefficients. The maximum linear attenuation coefficient (μ) was attained for concrete incorporates iron filling wastes of 30 wt %. They were of 1.12 ± 1.31×10−3 for 137Cs and 0.92 ± 1.57 × 10−3 for 60Co. Substantial improvement in attenuation performance by 20%–25% was achieved for concrete samples incorporate iron fillings as opposed to that of steel ball samples at different (5%–30%) loading rates. The steel balls and the steel slags gave much inferior values. The microstructure, concrete-metal composite density, the homogeneity and particulate dispersion were examined and evaluated using different metallographic, microscopic and measurement facilities. PMID:28788363

Distillation of mixed-state continuous-variable entanglement by photon subtraction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang Shengli; Loock, Peter van

2010-12-15

We present a detailed theoretical analysis for the distillation of one copy of a mixed two-mode continuous-variable entangled state using beam splitters and coherent photon-detection techniques, including conventional on-off detectors and photon-number-resolving detectors. The initial Gaussian mixed-entangled states are generated by transmitting a two-mode squeezed state through a lossy bosonic channel, corresponding to the primary source of errors in current approaches to optical quantum communication. We provide explicit formulas to calculate the entanglement in terms of logarithmic negativity before and after distillation, including losses in the channel and the photon detection, and show that one-copy distillation is still possible evenmore » for losses near the typical fiber channel attenuation length. A lower bound for the transmission coefficient of the photon-subtraction beam splitter is derived, representing the minimal value that still allows to enhance the entanglement.« less

Measurements of mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number and electron density of some amino acids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kore, Prashant S.; Pawar, Pravina P.

2014-05-01

The mass attenuation coefficients of some amino acids, such as DL-aspartic acid-LR(C4H7NO4), L-glutamine (C4H10N2O3), creatine monohydrate LR(C4H9N3O2H2O), creatinine hydrochloride (C4H7N3O·HCl) L-asparagine monohydrate(C4H9N3O2H2O), L-methionine LR(C5H11NO2S), were measured at 122, 356, 511, 662, 1170, 1275 and 1330 keV photon energies using a well-collimated narrow beam good geometry set-up. The gamma-rays were detected using NaI (Tl) scintillation detection system with a resolution of 0.101785 at 662 keV. The attenuation coefficient data were then used to obtain the effective atomic numbers (Zeff), and effective electron densities (Neff) of amino acids. It was observed that the effective atomic number (Zeff) and effective electron densities (Neff) initially decrease and tend to be almost constant as a function of gamma-ray energy. Zeff and Neff experimental values showed good agreement with the theoretical values with less than 1% error for amino acids.

Design and characterization of a dead-time regime enhanced early photon projection imaging system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinha, L.; Fogarty, M.; Zhou, W.; Giudice, A.; Brankov, J. G.; Tichauer, K. M.

2018-04-01

Scattering of visible and near-infrared light in biological tissue reduces spatial resolution for imaging of tissues thicker than 100 μm. In this study, an optical projection imaging system is presented and characterized that exploits the dead-time characteristics typical of photon counting modules based on single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). With this system, it is possible to attenuate the detection of more scattered late-arriving photons, such that detection of less scattered early-arriving photons can be enhanced with increased light intensity, without being impeded by the maximum count rate of the SPADs. The system has the potential to provide transmittance-based anatomical information or fluorescence-based functional information (with slight modification in the instrumentation) of biological samples with improved resolution in the mesoscopic domain (0.1-2 cm). The system design, calibration, stability, and performance were evaluated using simulation and experimental phantom studies. The proposed system allows for the detection of very-rare early-photons at a higher frequency and with a better signal-to-noise ratio. The experimental results demonstrated over a 3.4-fold improvement in the spatial resolution using early photon detection vs. conventional detection, and a 1000-fold improvement in imaging time using enhanced early detection vs. conventional early photon detection in a 4-mm thick phantom with a tissue-equivalent absorption coefficient of μa = 0.05 mm-1 and a reduced scattering coefficient of μs' = 5 mm-1.

WE-E-18A-05: Bremsstrahlung of Laser-Plasma Interaction at KeV Temperature: Forward Dose and Attenuation Factors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saez-Beltran, M; Fernandez Gonzalez, F

2014-06-15

Purpose: To obtain an analytical empirical formula for the photon dose source term in forward direction from bremsstrahlung generated from laser-plasma accelerated electron beams in aluminum solid targets, with electron-plasma temperatures in the 10–100 keV energy range, and to calculate transmission factors for iron, aluminum, methacrylate, lead and concrete and air, materials most commonly found in vacuum chamber labs. Methods: Bremsstrahlung fluence is calculated from the convolution of thin-target bremsstrahlung spectrum for monoenergetic electrons and the relativistic Maxwell-Juettner energy distribution for the electron-plasma. Unattenuatted dose in tissue is calculated by integrating the photon spectrum with the mass-energy absorption coefficient. Formore » the attenuated dose, energy dependent absorption coefficient, build-up factors and finite shielding correction factors were also taken into account. For the source term we use a modified formula from Hayashi et al., and we fitted the proportionality constant from experiments with the aid of the previously calculated transmission factors. Results: The forward dose has a quadratic dependence on electron-plasma temperature: 1 joule of effective laser energy transferred to the electrons at 1 m in vacuum yields 0,72 Sv per MeV squared of electron-plasma temperature. Air strongly filters the softer part of the photon spectrum and reduce the dose to one tenth in the first centimeter. Exponential higher energy tail of maxwellian spectrum contributes mainly to the transmitted dose. Conclusion: A simple formula for forward photon dose from keV range temperature plasma is obtained, similar to those found in kilovoltage x-rays but with higher dose per dissipated electron energy, due to thin target and absence of filtration.« less

Energy dependence of radiation interaction parameters of some organic compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Mohinder; Tondon, Akash; Sandhu, B. S.; Singh, Bhajan

2018-04-01

Gamma rays interact with a material through photoelectric absorption, Compton scattering, Rayleigh scattering and Pair production in the intermediate energy range. The probability of occurrence of a particular type of process depends on the energy of incident gamma rays, atomic number of the material, scattering angle and geometrical conditions. Various radiological parameters for organic compounds, namely ethylene glycol (C2H6O2), propylene glycol (C3H8O2), glycerin (C3H8O3), isoamyl alcohol (C5H12O), butanone (C4H8O), acetophenone (C8H8O2), cyclohexanone (C6H10O), furfural (C5H4O2), benzaldehyde (C7H6O), cinnamaldehyde (C9H8O), glutaraldehyde (C5H8O2), aniline (C6H7N), benzyl amine (C6H7N), nitrobenzene (C6H5NO2), ethyl benzene (C8H10), ethyl formate (C3H6O2) and water (H2O) are presented at 81, 122, 356 and 511 keV energies employing NaI(Tl) scintillation detector in narrow-beam transmission geometry. The radiation interaction parameters such as mass attenuation, molar extinction and mass energy absorption coefficients, half value layer, total atomic and effective electronic cross-sections and CT number have been evaluated for these organic compounds. The general trend of values of mass attenuation coefficients, half value layer, molar extinction coefficients, total atomic and effective electronic cross-sections and mass energy absorption coefficients shows a decrease with increase in incident gamma photon energy. The values of CT number are found to increases linearly with increase of effective atomic number (Zeff). The variation in CT number around Zeff ≈ 3.3 shows the peak like structure with respect to water and the correlation between CT number and linear attenuation coefficient is about 0.99. Appropriate equations are fitted to these experimentally determined parameters for the organic compounds at incident photon energy ranging from 81 keV to 511 keV used in the present study. Experimental values are compared with the theoretical data obtained using WinXcom software package, and are found in good agreement.

A brachytherapy photon radiation quality index Q(BT) for probe-type dosimetry.

PubMed

Quast, Ulrich; Kaulich, Theodor W; Álvarez-Romero, José T; Carlsson Tedgren, Sa; Enger, Shirin A; Medich, David C; Mourtada, Firas; Perez-Calatayud, Jose; Rivard, Mark J; Zakaria, G Abu

2016-06-01

In photon brachytherapy (BT), experimental dosimetry is needed to verify treatment plans if planning algorithms neglect varying attenuation, absorption or scattering conditions. The detector's response is energy dependent, including the detector material to water dose ratio and the intrinsic mechanisms. The local mean photon energy E¯(r) must be known or another equivalent energy quality parameter used. We propose the brachytherapy photon radiation quality indexQ(BT)(E¯), to characterize the photon radiation quality in view of measurements of distributions of the absorbed dose to water, Dw, around BT sources. While the external photon beam radiotherapy (EBRT) radiation quality index Q(EBRT)(E¯)=TPR10(20)(E¯) is not applicable to BT, the authors have applied a novel energy dependent parameter, called brachytherapy photon radiation quality index, defined as Q(BT)(E¯)=Dprim(r=2cm,θ0=90°)/Dprim(r0=1cm,θ0=90°), utilizing precise primary absorbed dose data, Dprim, from source reference databases, without additional MC-calculations. For BT photon sources used clinically, Q(BT)(E¯) enables to determine the effective mean linear attenuation coefficient μ¯(E) and thus the effective energy of the primary photons Eprim(eff)(r0,θ0) at the TG-43 reference position Pref(r0=1cm,θ0=90°), being close to the mean total photon energy E¯tot(r0,θ0). If one has calibrated detectors, published E¯tot(r) and the BT radiation quality correction factor [Formula: see text] for different BT radiation qualities Q and Q0, the detector's response can be determined and Dw(r,θ) measured in the vicinity of BT photon sources. This novel brachytherapy photon radiation quality indexQ(BT) characterizes sufficiently accurate and precise the primary photon's penetration probability and scattering potential. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Element analysis and calculation of the attenuation coefficients for gold, bronze and water matrixes using MCNP, WinXCom and experimental data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esfandiari, M.; Shirmardi, S. P.; Medhat, M. E.

2014-06-01

In this study, element analysis and the mass attenuation coefficient for matrixes of gold, bronze and water with various impurities and the concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn) are evaluated and calculated by the MCNP simulation code for photons emitted from Barium-133, Americium-241 and sources with energies between 1 and 100 keV. The MCNP data are compared with the experimental data and WinXCom code simulated results by Medhat. The results showed that the obtained results of bronze and gold matrix are in good agreement with the other methods for energies above 40 and 60 keV, respectively. However for water matrixes with various impurities, there is a good agreement between the three methods MCNP, WinXCom and the experimental one in low and high energies.

Studies on effective atomic numbers, electron densities from mass attenuation coefficients near the K edge in some samarium compounds.

PubMed

Akman, F; Durak, R; Turhan, M F; Kaçal, M R

2015-07-01

The effective atomic numbers and electron densities of some samarium compounds were determined using the experimental total mass attenuation coefficient values near the K edge in the X-ray energy range from 36.847 up to 57.142 keV. The measurements, in the region from 36.847 to 57.142 keV, were done in a transmission geometry utilizing the Kα2, Kα1, Kβ1 and Kβ2 X-rays from different secondary source targets excited by the 59.54 keV gamma-photons from an Am-241 annular source. This paper presents the first measurement of the effective atomic numbers and electron densities for some samarium compounds near the K edge. The results of the study showed that the measured values were in good agreement with the theoretically calculated ones. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Investigation of ionizing radiation shielding effectiveness of decorative building materials used in Bangladeshi dwellings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yesmin, Sabina; Sonker Barua, Bijoy; Uddin Khandaker, Mayeen; Tareque Chowdhury, Mohammed; Kamal, Masud; Rashid, M. A.; Miah, M. M. H.; Bradley, D. A.

2017-11-01

Following the rapid growing per capita income, a major portion of Bangladeshi dwellers is upgrading their non-brick houses by rod-cement-concrete materials and simultaneously curious to decorate the houses using luxurious marble stones. Present study was undertaken to investigate the gamma-ray attenuation co-efficient of decorative marble materials leading to their suitability as shielding of ionizing radiation. A number of commercial grades decorative marble stones were collected from home and abroad following their large-scale uses. A well-shielded HPGe γ-ray spectrometer combined with associated electronics was used to evaluate the mass attenuation coefficients of the studied materials for high energy photons. Some allied parameters such as half-value layer and radiation protection efficacy of the investigated marbles were calculated. The results showed that among the studied samples, the marble 'Carrara' imported from Italy is suitable to be used as radiation shielding material.

Estimating the Underwater Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient with a Low-Cost Instrument: The KdUINO DIY Buoy.

PubMed

Bardaji, Raul; Sánchez, Albert-Miquel; Simon, Carine; Wernand, Marcel R; Piera, Jaume

2016-03-15

A critical parameter to assess the environmental status of water bodies is the transparency of the water, as it is strongly affected by different water quality related components (such as the presence of phytoplankton, organic matter and sediment concentrations). One parameter to assess the water transparency is the diffuse attenuation coefficient. However, the number of subsurface irradiance measurements obtained with conventional instrumentation is relatively low, due to instrument costs and the logistic requirements to provide regular and autonomous observations. In recent years, the citizen science concept has increased the number of environmental observations, both in time and space. The recent technological advances in embedded systems and sensors also enable volunteers (citizens) to create their own devices (known as Do-It-Yourself or DIY technologies). In this paper, a DIY instrument to measure irradiance at different depths and automatically calculate the diffuse attenuation Kd coefficient is presented. The instrument, named KdUINO, is based on an encapsulated low-cost photonic sensor and Arduino (an open-hardware platform for the data acquisition). The whole instrument has been successfully operated and the data validated comparing the KdUINO measurements with the commercial instruments. Workshops have been organized with high school students to validate its feasibility.

Estimating the Underwater Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient with a Low-Cost Instrument: The KdUINO DIY Buoy

PubMed Central

Bardaji, Raul; Sánchez, Albert-Miquel; Simon, Carine; Wernand, Marcel R.; Piera, Jaume

2016-01-01

A critical parameter to assess the environmental status of water bodies is the transparency of the water, as it is strongly affected by different water quality related components (such as the presence of phytoplankton, organic matter and sediment concentrations). One parameter to assess the water transparency is the diffuse attenuation coefficient. However, the number of subsurface irradiance measurements obtained with conventional instrumentation is relatively low, due to instrument costs and the logistic requirements to provide regular and autonomous observations. In recent years, the citizen science concept has increased the number of environmental observations, both in time and space. The recent technological advances in embedded systems and sensors also enable volunteers (citizens) to create their own devices (known as Do-It-Yourself or DIY technologies). In this paper, a DIY instrument to measure irradiance at different depths and automatically calculate the diffuse attenuation Kd coefficient is presented. The instrument, named KdUINO, is based on an encapsulated low-cost photonic sensor and Arduino (an open-hardware platform for the data acquisition). The whole instrument has been successfully operated and the data validated comparing the KdUINO measurements with the commercial instruments. Workshops have been organized with high school students to validate its feasibility. PMID:26999132

Technical Note: Relation between dual-energy subtraction of CT images for electron density calibration and virtual monochromatic imaging.

PubMed

Saito, Masatoshi

2015-07-01

For accurate tissue inhomogeneity correction in radiotherapy treatment planning, the author previously proposed a simple conversion of the energy-subtracted computed tomography (CT) number to an electron density (ΔHU-ρe conversion), which provides a single linear relationship between ΔHU and ρe over a wide ρe range. The purpose of the present study was to reveal the relation between the ΔHU image for ρe calibration and a virtually monochromatic CT image by performing numerical analyses based on the basis material decomposition in dual-energy CT. The author determined the weighting factor, α0, of the ΔHU-ρe conversion through numerical analyses of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements Report-46 human body tissues using their attenuation coefficients and given ρe values. Another weighting factor, α(E), for synthesizing a virtual monochromatic CT image from high- and low-kV CT images, was also calculated in the energy range of 0.03 < E < 5 MeV, assuming that cortical bone and water were the basis materials. The mass attenuation coefficients for these materials were obtained using the xcom photon cross sections database. The effective x-ray energies used to calculate the attenuation were chosen to imitate a dual-source CT scanner operated at 80-140 and 100-140 kV/Sn. The determined α0 values were 0.455 for 80-140 kV/Sn and 0.743 for 100-140 kV/Sn. These values coincided almost perfectly with the respective maximal points of the calculated α(E) curves located at approximately 1 MeV, in which the photon-matter interaction in human body tissues is exclusively the incoherent (Compton) scattering. The ΔHU image could be regarded substantially as a CT image acquired with monoenergetic 1-MeV photons, which provides a linear relationship between CT numbers and electron densities.

Radiological properties of normoxic polymer gel dosimeters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Venning, A.J.; Nitschke, K.N.; Keall, P.J.

2005-04-01

The radiological properties of the normoxic polymer gel dosimeters MAGIC, MAGAS, and MAGAT [methacrylic and ascorbic acid in gelatin initiated by copper; methacrylic acid gelatine gel with ascorbic acid; and methacrylic acid gelatine and tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride, respectively] have been investigated. The radiological water equivalence was determined by comparing the polymer gel macroscopic photon and electron interaction cross sections over the energy range from 10 keV to 20 MeV and by Monte Carlo modeling of depth doses. Normoxic polymer gel dosimeters have a high gelatine and monomer concentration and therefore mass density (kg m{sup -3}) up to 3.8% highermore » than water. This results in differences between the cross-section ratios of the normoxic polymer gels and water of up to 3% for the attenuation, energy absorption, and collision stopping power coefficient ratios through the Compton dominant energy range. The mass cross-section ratios were within 2% of water except for the mass attenuation and energy absorption coefficients ratios, which showed differences with water of up to 6% for energies less than 100 keV. Monte Carlo modeling was undertaken for the polymer gel dosimeters to model the electron and photon transport resulting from a 6 MV photon beam. The absolute percentage differences between gel and water were within 1% and the relative percentage differences were within 3.5%. The results show that the MAGAT gel formulation is the most radiological water equivalent of the normoxic polymer gel dosimeters investigated due to its lower mass density measurement compared with MAGAS and MAGIC gels.« less

Intrinsic light yield and light loss coefficient of Bi4Ge3O12 single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yawai, Nattasuda; Chewpraditkul, Weerapong; Wanarak, Chalerm; Nikl, Martin; Ratanatongchai, Wichian

2014-10-01

In this paper we present the scintillation properties of polished Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) crystals grown by the Bridgman method. The light yield (LY) and energy resolution were measured using XP5200B photomultiplier. At 662 keV γ-rays, high LY of 9680 photons/MeV and good energy resolution of 8.6% were obtained for a 5 × 5 × 1 mm3 BGO sample. The intrinsic LY and light loss coefficient were evaluated. The photofraction in pulse height spectrum of 662 keV γ-rays and the mass attenuation coefficient at 59.5 and 662 keV γ-rays were also determined and compared with the theoretical ones calculated using the WinXCom program.

Linear attenuation coefficients of tissues from 1 keV to 150 keV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Böke, Aysun

2014-09-01

The linear attenuation coefficients and three interaction processes have been computed for liver, kidney, muscle, fat and for a range of x-ray energies from 1 keV to 150 keV. Molecular photoelectric absorption cross sections were calculated from atomic cross section data. Total coherent (Rayleigh) and incoherent (Compton) scattering cross sections were obtained by numerical integration over combinations of F2m(x) with the Thomson formula and Sm(x) with the Klein-Nishina formula, respectively. For the coherent (Rayleigh) scattering cross section calculations, molecular form factors were obtained from recent experimental data in the literature for values of x<1 Å-1 and from the relativistic modified atomic form factors for values of x≥1 Å-1. With the inclusion of molecular interference effects in the coherent (Rayleigh) scattering, more accurate knowledge of the scatter from these tissues will be provided. The number of elements involved in tissue composition is 5 for liver, 47 for kidney, 44 for muscle and 3 for fat. The results are compared with previously published experimental and theoretical linear attenuation coefficients. In general, good agreement is obtained. The molecular form factors and scattering functions and cross sections are incorporated into a Monte Carlo program. The energy distributions of x-ray photons scattered from tissues have been simulated and the results are presented.

SU-E-T-264: New Concrete Designed and Evaluation for Megavoltage X Radiotherapy Facilities (CONTEK-RFH2).

PubMed

Mera, M; Pereira, L; Mera, M; Pereira, L; Meilán, E; Moral, F Del; Teijeiro, A; Salgado, M; Andrade, B; Gomez, F; Fuentes-Vázquez, V; Caruncho, J; Medina, A

2012-06-01

The most common material for shielding is concrete, which can be made using various materials of different densities as aggregates. New techniques in radiotherapy, as IMRT and VMAT, require more monitor units and it is important to develop specifically designed shielding materials. Arraela S.L. has developed new concrete (CONTEK®-RFH2), which is made from an arid with a high percentage in iron (> 60%), and using the suitable sieve size, enables optimum compaction of the material and a high mass density, about 4.1-4.2 g/cm 3 . Moreover, aluminate cement, used as base, gives high resistance to high temperatures what makes this product be structurally resistant to temperatures up to 1200 ° C. The measurements were made in a LINAC Elekta SL18 to energies 6MV and 15 MV with a field size of 10×10 cm 2 for concrete samples in the form of tile 25cm×25cm with variable thickness. The linear attenuation coefficient, μm, was determined for each energy by fitting the data to Eq. 1, where Xxm is the exposure in air behind a thickness xm of the material, and X0 is the exposure in the absence of shielding. These results are compared with the ordinary concrete (2.35 g cm-3) for 6MV and 15MV energies (Ref. NCRP Report No.151). Results are tabulated in Table1. Results of attenuation are compared with ordinary concrete in Fig. 1. The new concrete CONTEK®-RFH2 increases photon attenuation and reduces the size of a shielded wall. A very high percentage in iron and a suitablesieve size approximately double the density of ordinary concrete. High mass attenuation coefficient makes this concrete an extremely desirable material for use in radiation facilities as shielding material for photon beam, and for upgrading facilities designed for less energy or less workload. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Spectral performance of a whole-body research photon counting detector CT: quantitative accuracy in derived image sets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leng, Shuai; Zhou, Wei; Yu, Zhicong; Halaweish, Ahmed; Krauss, Bernhard; Schmidt, Bernhard; Yu, Lifeng; Kappler, Steffen; McCollough, Cynthia

2017-09-01

Photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) uses a photon counting detector to count individual photons and allocate them to specific energy bins by comparing photon energy to preset thresholds. This enables simultaneous multi-energy CT with a single source and detector. Phantom studies were performed to assess the spectral performance of a research PCCT scanner by assessing the accuracy of derived images sets. Specifically, we assessed the accuracy of iodine quantification in iodine map images and of CT number accuracy in virtual monoenergetic images (VMI). Vials containing iodine with five known concentrations were scanned on the PCCT scanner after being placed in phantoms representing the attenuation of different size patients. For comparison, the same vials and phantoms were also scanned on 2nd and 3rd generation dual-source, dual-energy scanners. After material decomposition, iodine maps were generated, from which iodine concentration was measured for each vial and phantom size and compared with the known concentration. Additionally, VMIs were generated and CT number accuracy was compared to the reference standard, which was calculated based on known iodine concentration and attenuation coefficients at each keV obtained from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Results showed accurate iodine quantification (root mean square error of 0.5 mgI/cc) and accurate CT number of VMIs (percentage error of 8.9%) using the PCCT scanner. The overall performance of the PCCT scanner, in terms of iodine quantification and VMI CT number accuracy, was comparable to that of EID-based dual-source, dual-energy scanners.

Finite element Compton tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jannson, Tomasz; Amouzou, Pauline; Menon, Naresh; Gertsenshteyn, Michael

2007-09-01

In this paper a new approach to 3D Compton imaging is presented, based on a kind of finite element (FE) analysis. A window for X-ray incoherent scattering (or Compton scattering) attenuation coefficients is identified for breast cancer diagnosis, for hard X-ray photon energy of 100-300 keV. The point-by-point power/energy budget is computed, based on a 2D array of X-ray pencil beams, scanned vertically. The acceptable medical doses are also computed. The proposed finite element tomography (FET) can be an alternative to X-ray mammography, tomography, and tomosynthesis. In experiments, 100 keV (on average) X-ray photons are applied, and a new type of pencil beam collimation, based on a Lobster-Eye Lens (LEL), is proposed.

Entangled γ-photons—classical laboratory exercise with modern detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hetfleiš, Jakub; Lněnička, Jindřich; Šlégr, Jan

2018-03-01

This paper describes the application of modern semiconductor detectors of γ and β radiation, which can be used in undergraduate laboratory experiments and lecture demonstrations as a replacement for Geiger-Müller (GM) tubes. Unlike GM tubes, semiconductor detectors do not require a high voltage power source or shaping circuits. The principle of operation of semiconductor detectors is discussed briefly, and classical experiments from nuclear physics are described, ranging from the measurements of linear and mass attenuation coefficient to a demonstration of entangled γ-photons.

Image reconstruction for x-ray K-edge imaging with a photon counting detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Bo; Cong, Wenxiang; Xi, Yan; Wang, Ge

2014-09-01

Contrast agents with high-Z elements have K-absorption edges which significantly change X-ray attenuation coefficients. The K-edge characteristics is different for various kinds of contrast agents, which offers opportunities for material decomposition in biomedical applications. In this paper, we propose a new K-edge imaging method, which not only quantifies a distribution of a contrast agent but also provides an optimized contrast ratio. Our numerical simulation tests demonstrate the feasibility and merits of the proposed methodology.

X-ray attenuation coefficients of high-atomic-number, hexanuclear transition metal cluster compounds: a new paradigm for radiographic contrast agents.

PubMed

Mullan, B F; Madsen, M T; Messerle, L; Kolesnichenko, V; Kruger, J

2000-04-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the radiologic attenuation properties of the parent cluster compounds, particularly attenuation as a function of discrete photon energy, before investigating ligand substitutions, which are necessary to improve cluster biocompatibility and to impart desirable physicochemical properties. The linear attenuation coefficients for solutions of the cluster compounds Ta6Br14, K8Ta6O19, and (H3O)2W6Cl14 were determined at 60, 80, 103, 122, and 140 keV from gamma-ray transmission measurements with americium-241, xenon-133, gadolinium-153, cobalt-57, and technetium-99m radioactive sources. Transmission measurements were obtained for a fixed time interval that ensured a statistically accurate count distribution exceeding 20,000 counts through the sample for each trial. On a strictly mole per liter basis, a 0.075 mol/L aqueous solution of K8Ta6O19 showed 1.08 times the attenuation of 0.063 mol/L aqueous iohexol at 60 keV and 3.30 times the attenuation at 80 keV. Similarly, a 0.05 mol/L methanolic solution of (H3O)2W6Cl4 showed 0.96 times (96%) the attenuation of 0.063 mol/L aqueous iohexol at 60 keV but 3.09 times the attenuation of the iohexol solution at 80 keV. Attenuations of 0.063 mol/L aqueous iohexol and 0.0125 mol/L Ta6Br14 (ie, at approximately one-fifth the iohexol concentration) were comparable at greater than 60 keV. These results confirm the theoretic potential for use of early transition metal cluster compounds as radiographic contrast agents. At higher x-ray energies, cluster compounds demonstrate multiplied x-ray attenuation relative to iodinated contrast agents.

A new Monte Carlo code for light transport in biological tissue.

PubMed

Torres-García, Eugenio; Oros-Pantoja, Rigoberto; Aranda-Lara, Liliana; Vieyra-Reyes, Patricia

2018-04-01

The aim of this work was to develop an event-by-event Monte Carlo code for light transport (called MCLTmx) to identify and quantify ballistic, diffuse, and absorbed photons, as well as their interaction coordinates inside the biological tissue. The mean free path length was computed between two interactions for scattering or absorption processes, and if necessary scatter angles were calculated, until the photon disappeared or went out of region of interest. A three-layer array (air-tissue-air) was used, forming a semi-infinite sandwich. The light source was placed at (0,0,0), emitting towards (0,0,1). The input data were: refractive indices, target thickness (0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 cm), number of particle histories, and λ from which the code calculated: anisotropy, scattering, and absorption coefficients. Validation presents differences less than 0.1% compared with that reported in the literature. The MCLTmx code discriminates between ballistic and diffuse photons, and inside of biological tissue, it calculates: specular reflection, diffuse reflection, ballistics transmission, diffuse transmission and absorption, and all parameters dependent on wavelength and thickness. The MCLTmx code can be useful for light transport inside any medium by changing the parameters that describe the new medium: anisotropy, dispersion and attenuation coefficients, and refractive indices for specific wavelength.

Fast GPU-based Monte Carlo code for SPECT/CT reconstructions generates improved 177Lu images.

PubMed

Rydén, T; Heydorn Lagerlöf, J; Hemmingsson, J; Marin, I; Svensson, J; Båth, M; Gjertsson, P; Bernhardt, P

2018-01-04

Full Monte Carlo (MC)-based SPECT reconstructions have a strong potential for correcting for image degrading factors, but the reconstruction times are long. The objective of this study was to develop a highly parallel Monte Carlo code for fast, ordered subset expectation maximum (OSEM) reconstructions of SPECT/CT images. The MC code was written in the Compute Unified Device Architecture language for a computer with four graphics processing units (GPUs) (GeForce GTX Titan X, Nvidia, USA). This enabled simulations of parallel photon emissions from the voxels matrix (128 3 or 256 3 ). Each computed tomography (CT) number was converted to attenuation coefficients for photo absorption, coherent scattering, and incoherent scattering. For photon scattering, the deflection angle was determined by the differential scattering cross sections. An angular response function was developed and used to model the accepted angles for photon interaction with the crystal, and a detector scattering kernel was used for modeling the photon scattering in the detector. Predefined energy and spatial resolution kernels for the crystal were used. The MC code was implemented in the OSEM reconstruction of clinical and phantom 177 Lu SPECT/CT images. The Jaszczak image quality phantom was used to evaluate the performance of the MC reconstruction in comparison with attenuated corrected (AC) OSEM reconstructions and attenuated corrected OSEM reconstructions with resolution recovery corrections (RRC). The performance of the MC code was 3200 million photons/s. The required number of photons emitted per voxel to obtain a sufficiently low noise level in the simulated image was 200 for a 128 3 voxel matrix. With this number of emitted photons/voxel, the MC-based OSEM reconstruction with ten subsets was performed within 20 s/iteration. The images converged after around six iterations. Therefore, the reconstruction time was around 3 min. The activity recovery for the spheres in the Jaszczak phantom was clearly improved with MC-based OSEM reconstruction, e.g., the activity recovery was 88% for the largest sphere, while it was 66% for AC-OSEM and 79% for RRC-OSEM. The GPU-based MC code generated an MC-based SPECT/CT reconstruction within a few minutes, and reconstructed patient images of 177 Lu-DOTATATE treatments revealed clearly improved resolution and contrast.

Determining photon energy absorption parameters for different soil samples

PubMed Central

Kucuk, Nil; Tumsavas, Zeynal; Cakir, Merve

2013-01-01

The mass attenuation coefficients (μs) for five different soil samples were measured at 661.6, 1173.2 and 1332.5 keV photon energies. The soil samples were separately irradiated with 137Cs and 60Co (370 kBq) radioactive point gamma sources. The measurements were made by performing transmission experiments with a 2″ × 2″ NaI(Tl) scintillation detector, which had an energy resolution of 7% at 0.662 MeV for the gamma-rays from the decay of 137Cs. The effective atomic numbers (Zeff) and the effective electron densities (Neff) were determined experimentally and theoretically using the obtained μs values for the soil samples. Furthermore, the Zeff and Neff values of the soil samples were computed for the total photon interaction cross-sections using theoretical data over a wide energy region ranging from 1 keV to 15 MeV. The experimental values of the soils were found to be in good agreement with the theoretical values. Sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils demonstrated poor photon energy absorption characteristics. However, clay loam and clay soils had good photon energy absorption characteristics. PMID:23179375

Effect of age-dependent bone electron density on the calculated dose distribution from kilovoltage and megavoltage photon and electron radiotherapy in paediatric MRI-only treatment planning.

PubMed

Zeinali-Rafsanjani, B; Faghihi, R; Mosleh-Shirazi, M A; Saeedi-Moghadam, M; Jalli, R; Sina, S

2018-01-01

MRI-only treatment planning (TP) can be advantageous in paediatric radiotherapy. However, electron density extraction is necessary for dose calculation. Normally, after bone segmentation, a bulk density is assigned. However, the variation of bone bulk density in patients makes the creation of pseudo CTs challenging. This study aims to assess the effects of bone density variations in children on radiation attenuation and dose calculation for MRI-only TP. Bone contents of <15-year-old children were calculated, and substituted in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory paediatric phantoms. The percentage depth dose and beam profile of 150 kVp and 6 MV photon and 6 MeV electron beams were then calculated using Xcom, MCNPX (Monte Carlo N-particle version X) and ORLN phantoms. Using 150 kVp X-rays, the difference in attenuation coefficient was almost 5% between an 11-year-old child and a newborn, and ~8% between an adult and a newborn. With megavoltage radiation, the differences were smaller but still important. For an 18 MV photon beam, the difference of radiation attenuation between an 11-year-old child and a newborn was 4% and ~7.4% between an adult and a newborn. For 6 MeV electrons, dose differences were observed up to the 2 cm depth. The percentage depth dose difference between 1 and 10-year-olds was 18.5%, and between 10 and 15-year-olds was 24%. The results suggest that for MRI-only TP of photon- or electron-beam radiotherapy, the bone densities of each age group should be defined separately for accurate dose calculation. Advances in knowledge: This study highlights the need for more age-specific determination of bone electron density for accurate dose calculations in paediatric MRI-only radiotherapy TP.

Mass attenuation coefficients and effective atomic numbers of biological compounds for gamma ray interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaikwad, Dhammajyot Kundlik; Pawar, Pravina P.; Selvam, T. Palani

2017-09-01

The mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) for some enzymes, proteins, amino acids and fatty acids were measured at 122, 356, 511, 662, 1170, 1275 and 1330 keV photon energies, by performing transmission experiments using 57Co, 133Ba, 137Cs, 60Co and 22Na sources collimated to produce 0.52 cm diameter beams. A NaI (Tl) scintillation detector with energy resolution 8.2% at 663 keV was used for detection. The experimental values of (μ/ρ) were then used to determine the atomic cross section (σa), electronic cross section (σe), effective atomic number (Zeff) and electron density (Neff). It was observed that (μ/ρ), σa and σe decrease initially and then tends to be almost constant at higher energies. Values of Zeff and Neff were observed roughly constant with energy. The deviations in experimental results of radiological parameters were believed to be affected by physical and chemical environments. Experimental results of radiological parameters were observed in good agreement with WinXCom values.

Gamma rays shielding parameters for white metal alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Taranjot; Sharma, Jeewan; Singh, Tejbir

2018-05-01

In the present study, an attempt has been made to check the feasibility of white metal alloys as gamma rays shielding materials. Different combinations of cadmium, lead, tin and zinc were used to prepare quaternary alloys Pb60Sn20ZnxCd20-x (where x = 5, 10, 15) using melt quench technique. These alloys were also known as white metal alloys because of its shining appearance. The density of prepared alloys has been measured using Archimedes Principle. Gamma rays shielding parameters viz. mass attenuation coefficient (µm), effective atomic number (Zeff), electron density (Nel), Mean free path (mfp), Half value layer (HVL) and Tenth value layer (TVL) has been evaluated for these alloys in the wide energy range from 1 keV to 100 GeV. The WinXCom software has been used for obtaining mass attenuation coefficient values for the prepared alloys in the given energy range. The effective atomic number (Zeff) has been assigned to prepared alloys using atomic to electronic cross section ratio method. Further, the variation of various shielding parameters with photon energy has been investigated for the prepared white metal alloys.

K-shell absorption jump factors and jump ratios in elements between Tm ( Z = 69) and Os ( Z = 76) derived from new mass attenuation coefficient measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaya, Necati; Tıraşoğlu, Engin; Apaydın, Gökhan; Aylıkcı, Volkan; Cengiz, Erhan

2007-08-01

The K-shell absorption jump factors and jump ratios were derived from new mass attenuation coefficients measured using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer for Tm, Yb elements being Tm 2O 3, Yb 2O 3 compounds and pure Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Re and Os. The measurements, in the region 56-77 keV, were done in a transmission geometry utilizing the K α1 , K α2 , K β1 and K β2 X- rays from different secondary source targets (Yb, Ta, Os, W, Re and Ir, etc.) excited by the 123.6 keV γ-photons from an 57Co annular source and detected by an Ultra-LEGe solid state detector with a resolution of 150 eV at 5.9 keV. Experimental results have been compared with theoretically calculated values. The measured values of Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Re and Os are reported here for the first time.

Measurement of the mass attenuation coefficients and electron densities for BiPbSrCaCuO superconductor at different energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Çevik, U.; Baltaş, H.

2007-03-01

The mass attenuation coefficients for Bi, Pb, Sr, Ca, Cu metals, Bi2O3, PbO, SrCO3, CaO, CuO compounds and solid-state forms of Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 superconductor were determined at 57.5, 65.2, 77.1, 87.3, 94.6, 122 and 136 keV energies. The samples were irradiated using a 57Co point source emitted 122 and 136 keV γ-ray energies. The X-ray energies were obtained using secondary targets such as Ta, Bi2O3 and (CH3COO)2UO22H2O. The γ- and X-rays were counted by a Si(Li) detector with a resolution of 0.16 keV at 5.9 keV. The effect of absorption edges on electron density, effective atomic numbers and their variation with photon energy in composite superconductor samples was discussed. Obtained values were compared with theoretical values.

Calculation of absorption parameters for selected narcotic drugs in the energy range from 1 keV to 100 GeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akman, Ferdi; Kaçal, Mustafa Recep; Akdemir, Fatma; Araz, Aslı; Turhan, Mehmet Fatih; Durak, Rıdvan

2017-04-01

The total mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ), total molecular (σt,m), atomic (σt,a) and electronic (σt,e) cross sections, effective atomic numbers (Zeff) and electron density (NE) were computed in the wide energy region from 1 keV to 100 GeV for the selected narcotic drugs such as morphine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis. The changes of μ/ρ, σt,m, σt,a, σt,e, Zeff and NE with photon energy for total photon interaction shows the dominance of different interaction process in different energy regions. The variations of μ/ρ, σt,m, σt,a, σt,e, Zeff and NE depend on the atom number, photon energy and chemical composition of narcotic drugs. Also, these parameters change with number of elements, the range of atomic numbers in narcotic drugs and total molecular weight. These data can be useful in the field of forensic sciences and medical diagnostic.

Evaluation of dental enamel caries assessment using Quantitative Light Induced Fluorescence and Optical Coherence Tomography.

PubMed

Maia, Ana Marly Araújo; de Freitas, Anderson Zanardi; de L Campello, Sergio; Gomes, Anderson Stevens Leônidas; Karlsson, Lena

2016-06-01

An in vitro study of morphological alterations between sound dental structure and artificially induced white spot lesions in human teeth, was performed through the loss of fluorescence by Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence (QLF) and the alterations of the light attenuation coefficient by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). To analyze the OCT images using a commercially available system, a special algorithm was applied, whereas the QLF images were analyzed using the software available in the commercial system employed. When analyzing the sound region against white spot lesions region by QLF, a reduction in the fluorescence intensity was observed, whilst an increase of light attenuation by the OCT system occurred. Comparison of the percentage of alteration between optical properties of sound and artificial enamel caries regions showed that OCT processed images through the attenuation of light enhanced the tooth optical alterations more than fluorescence detected by QLF System. QLF versus OCT imaging of enamel caries: a photonics assessment. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Mixture model based joint-MAP reconstruction of attenuation and activity maps in TOF-PET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemmati, H.; Kamali-Asl, A.; Ghafarian, P.; Ay, M. R.

2018-06-01

A challenge to have quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) images is to provide an accurate and patient-specific photon attenuation correction. In PET/MR scanners, the nature of MR signals and hardware limitations have led to a real challenge on the attenuation map extraction. Except for a constant factor, the activity and attenuation maps from emission data on TOF-PET system can be determined by the maximum likelihood reconstruction of attenuation and activity approach (MLAA) from emission data. The aim of the present study is to constrain the joint estimations of activity and attenuation approach for PET system using a mixture model prior based on the attenuation map histogram. This novel prior enforces non-negativity and its hyperparameters can be estimated using a mixture decomposition step from the current estimation of the attenuation map. The proposed method can also be helpful on the solving of scaling problem and is capable to assign the predefined regional attenuation coefficients with some degree of confidence to the attenuation map similar to segmentation-based attenuation correction approaches. The performance of the algorithm is studied with numerical and Monte Carlo simulations and a phantom experiment and was compared with MLAA algorithm with and without the smoothing prior. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is capable of producing the cross-talk free activity and attenuation images from emission data. The proposed approach has potential to be a practical and competitive method for joint reconstruction of activity and attenuation maps from emission data on PET/MR and can be integrated on the other methods.

Evaluation of Radiation Shielding Properties of the Polyvinyl Alcohol/Iron Oxide Polymer Composite

PubMed Central

Srinivasan, K.; Samuel, E. James Jabaseelan

2017-01-01

Context: Lead is the conventional shielding material against gamma/X-rays. It has some limitations such as toxic, high density, nonflexibility, and also bremsstrahlung production during electron interaction. It may affect the accuracy of radiotherapy outcome. Aims: To theoretically analyze the radiation shielding properties of flexible polyvinyl alcohol/iron oxide polymer composite with five different concentrations of magnetite over the energy range of 15 KeV–20 MeV. Subjects and Methods: Radiological properties were calculated based on the published literature. Attenuation coefficients of pure elements are generated with the help of WinXCOM database. Results: Effective atomic numbers and electron density are increased with the concentration of magnetite. On the other hand, the number of electrons per gram decreased. Mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ϼ) and linear attenuation coefficients (μ) are higher in the lower energy <100 KeV, and their values decreased when the energy increased. Computed tomography numbers (CT) show the significant variation between the concentrations in <60 KeV. Half-value layer and tenth-value layers are directly proportional to the energy and indirectly proportional to the concentration of magnetite. Transmission curve, relaxation length (ƛ), kinetic energy released in the matter, and elemental weight fraction are also calculated and the results are discussed. Conclusions: 0.5% of the magnetite gives superior shielding properties compared with other concentrations. It may be due to the presence of 0.3617% of Fe. Elemental weight fraction, atomic number, photon energy, and mass densities are the important parameters to understand the shielding behavior of any material. PMID:29296043

Dosimetric properties of new formulation of PRESAGE® with tin organometal catalyst: Development of sensitivity and stability to megavoltage energy.

PubMed

Khezerloo, Davood; Nedaie, Hassan Ali; Takavar, Abbas; Zirak, Alireza; Farhood, Bagher; Banaee, Nooshin; Alidokht, Eisa

2018-01-01

Tin-base catalyst is one of the widely used organometallic catalysts in polyurethane technology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tin organometallic catalyst in the radiation response and radiological properties of a new formula of PRESAGE ® . In the study, two types of PRESAGE were fabricated. A very little amount of dibutyltindillaurate (DBTDL) (0.07% weight) was used as a catalyst in the fabrication of new PRESAGE (i.e., PRESAGE with catalyst), which components were: 93.93% weight polyurethane, 5% weight tetrachloride, and 1% weight leucomalachite green (LMG). For PRESAGE without catalyst, 94% weight polyurethane, 4% weight tetrachloride, and 2% weight LMG were used. Radiochromic response and postirradiation stability of PRESAGEs were determined. Also, radiological characteristics of PRESAGEs, such as mass density, electron density, mass attenuation coefficient, and mass stopping power in different photon energies were assessed and compared with water. The absorption peak of new PRESAGE compared to PRESAGE without catalyst was observed without change. Sensitivity of new PRESAGE was higher than PRESAGE without catalyst and its stability after the first 1 h was relatively constant. Also, Mass attenuation coefficient of new PRESAGE in energy ranges <0.1 MeV was 10% more than water, whereas the maximum difference of mass stopping power was only 3%. Tin organometallic catalyst in very low concentration can be used in fabrication of radiochromic polymer gel to achieve high sensitivity and stability as well as good radiological properties in the megavoltage photon beam.

Dual-energy X-ray analysis using synchrotron computed tomography at 35 and 60 keV for the estimation of photon interaction coefficients describing attenuation and energy absorption.

PubMed

Midgley, Stewart; Schleich, Nanette

2015-05-01

A novel method for dual-energy X-ray analysis (DEXA) is tested using measurements of the X-ray linear attenuation coefficient μ. The key is a mathematical model that describes elemental cross sections using a polynomial in atomic number. The model is combined with the mixture rule to describe μ for materials, using the same polynomial coefficients. Materials are characterized by their electron density Ne and statistical moments Rk describing their distribution of elements, analogous to the concept of effective atomic number. In an experiment with materials of known density and composition, measurements of μ are written as a system of linear simultaneous equations, which is solved for the polynomial coefficients. DEXA itself involves computed tomography (CT) scans at two energies to provide a system of non-linear simultaneous equations that are solved for Ne and the fourth statistical moment R4. Results are presented for phantoms containing dilute salt solutions and for a biological specimen. The experiment identifies 1% systematic errors in the CT measurements, arising from third-harmonic radiation, and 20-30% noise, which is reduced to 3-5% by pre-processing with the median filter and careful choice of reconstruction parameters. DEXA accuracy is quantified for the phantom as the mean absolute differences for Ne and R4: 0.8% and 1.0% for soft tissue and 1.2% and 0.8% for bone-like samples, respectively. The DEXA results for the biological specimen are combined with model coefficients obtained from the tabulations to predict μ and the mass energy absorption coefficient at energies of 10 keV to 20 MeV.

Mammographic x-ray unit kilovoltage test tool based on k-edge absorption effect.

PubMed

Napolitano, Mary E; Trueblood, Jon H; Hertel, Nolan E; David, George

2002-09-01

A simple tool to determine the peak kilovoltage (kVp) of a mammographic x-ray unit has been designed. Tool design is based on comparing the effect of k-edge discontinuity of the attenuation coefficient for a series of element filters. Compatibility with the mammography accreditation phantom (MAP) to obtain a single quality control film is a second design objective. When the attenuation of a series of sequential elements is studied simultaneously, differences in the absorption characteristics due to the k-edge discontinuities are more evident. Specifically, when the incident photon energy is higher than the k-edge energy of a number of the elements and lower than the remainder, an inflection may be seen in the resulting attenuation data. The maximum energy of the incident photon spectra may be determined based on this inflection point for a series of element filters. Monte Carlo photon transport analysis was used to estimate the photon transmission probabilities for each of the sequential k-edge filter elements. The photon transmission corresponds directly to optical density recorded on mammographic x-ray film. To observe the inflection, the element filters chosen must have k-edge energies that span a range greater than the expected range of the end point energies to be determined. For the design, incident x-ray spectra ranging from 25 to 40 kVp were assumed to be from a molybdenum target. Over this range, the k-edge energy changes by approximately 1.5 keV between sequential elements. For this design 21 elements spanning an energy range from 20 to 50 keV were chosen. Optimum filter element thicknesses were calculated to maximize attenuation differences at the k-edge while maintaining optical densities between 0.10 and 3.00. Calculated relative transmission data show that the kVp could be determined to within +/-1 kV. To obtain experimental data, a phantom was constructed containing 21 different elements placed in an acrylic holder. MAP images were used to determine appropriate exposure techniques for a series of end point energies from 25 to 35 kVp. The average difference between the kVp determination and the calibrated dial setting was 0.8 and 1.0 kV for a Senographe 600 T and a Senographe DMR, respectively. Since the k-edge absorption energies of the filter materials are well known, independent calibration or a series of calibration curves is not required.

Measuring partial fluorescence yield using filtered detectors.

PubMed

Boyko, T D; Green, R J; Moewes, A; Regier, T Z

2014-07-01

Typically, X-ray absorption near-edge structure measurements aim to probe the linear attenuation coefficient. These measurements are often carried out using partial fluorescence yield techniques that rely on detectors having photon energy discrimination improving the sensitivity and the signal-to-background ratio of the measured spectra. However, measuring the partial fluorescence yield in the soft X-ray regime with reasonable efficiency requires solid-state detectors, which have limitations due to the inherent dead-time while measuring. Alternatively, many of the available detectors that are not energy dispersive do not suffer from photon count rate limitations. A filter placed in front of one of these detectors will make the energy-dependent efficiency non-linear, thereby changing the responsivity of the detector. It is shown that using an array of filtered X-ray detectors is a viable method for measuring soft X-ray partial fluorescence yield spectra without dead-time. The feasibility of this technique is further demonstrated using α-Fe2O3 as an example and it is shown that this detector technology could vastly improve the photon collection efficiency at synchrotrons and that these detectors will allow experiments to be completed with a much lower photon flux reducing X-ray-induced damage.

Comparison of photon attenuation coefficients (2-150 KeV) for diagnostic imaging simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dodge, Charles W., III; Flynn, Michael J.

2004-05-01

The Radiology Research Laboratory at the Henry Ford Hospital has been involved in modeling x-ray units in order to predict image quality. A critical part of that modeling process is the accurate choice of interaction coefficients. This paper serves as a review and comparison of existing interaction models. Our objective was to obtain accurate and easily calculated interaction coefficients, at diagnostically relevant energies. We obtained data from: McMaster, Lawrence Berkeley Lab data (LBL), XCOM and FFAST Data from NIST, and the EPDL-97 database via LLNL. Our studies involve low energy photons; therefore, comparisons were limited to Coherent (Rayleigh), Incoherent (Compton) and Photoelectric effects, which were summed to determine a total interaction cross section. Without measured data, it becomes difficult to definitively choose the most accurate method. However, known limitations in the McMaster data and smoothing of photo-edge transitions can be used as a guide to establish more valid approaches. Each method was compared to one another graphically and at individual points. We found that agreement between all methods was excellent when away from photo-edges. Near photo-edges and at low energies, most methods were less accurate. Only the Chanter (FFAST) data seems to have consistently and accurately predicted the placement of edges (through M-shell), while minimizing smoothing errors. The EPDL-97 data by LLNL was the best over method in predicting coherent and incoherent cross sections.

Water and tissue equivalence properties of biological materials for photons, electrons, protons and alpha particles in the energy region 10 keV-1 GeV: a comparative study.

PubMed

Kurudirek, Murat

2016-09-01

To compare some biological materials in respect to the water and tissue equivalence properties for photon, electron, proton and alpha particle interactions as means of the effective atomic number (Zeff) and electron density (Ne). A Z-wise interpolation procedure has been adopted for calculation of Zeff using the mass attenuation coefficients for photons and the mass stopping powers for charged particles. At relatively low energies (100 keV-3 MeV), Zeff and Ne for photons and electrons were found to be constant while they vary much more for protons and alpha particles. In contrast, Zeff and Ne for protons and alpha particles were found to be constant after 3 MeV whereas for photons and electrons they were found to increase with the increasing energy. Also, muscle eq. liquid (with sucrose) have Zeff and Ne values close to the Muscle Skeletal (ICRP) and Muscle Striated (ICRU) within low relative differences below 9%. Muscle eq. liquid (without sucrose) have Zeff and Ne values close to the Muscle Skeletal (ICRP) and Muscle Striated (ICRU) with difference below 10%. The reported data should be useful in determining best water as well as tissue equivalent materials for photon, electron, proton and alpha particle interactions.

Effect of morphology and solvent on two-photon absorption of nano zinc oxide

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kavitha, M.K.; Haripadmam, P.C.; Gopinath, Pramod

Highlights: ► ZnO nanospheres and triangular structures synthesis by novel precipitation technique. ► The effect of precursor concentration on the size and shape of nano ZnO. ► Open aperture Z-scan measurements of the ZnO nanoparticle dispersions. ► Nanospheres exhibit higher two photon absorption coefficient than triangular nanostructures. ► Nanospheres dispersed in water exhibit higher two photon absorption coefficient than its dispersion in 2-propanol. - Abstract: In this paper, we report the effect of morphology and solvent on the two-photon absorption of nano zinc oxide. Zinc oxide nanoparticles in two different morphologies like nanospheres and triangular nanostructures are synthesized by novelmore » precipitation technique and their two-photon absorption coefficient is measured using open aperture Z-scan technique. Experimental results show that the zinc oxide nanospheres exhibit higher two-photon absorption coefficient than the zinc oxide triangular nanostructures. The zinc oxide nanospheres dispersed in water exhibit higher two-photon absorption coefficient than that of its dispersion in 2-propanol. The zinc oxide nanospheres dispersed in water shows a decrease in two-photon absorption coefficient with an increase in on-axis irradiance. The result confirms the dependence of shape and solvent on the two-photon absorption of nano zinc oxide.« less

Comparison of RNFL thickness and RPE-normalized RNFL attenuation coefficient for glaucoma diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vermeer, K. A.; van der Schoot, J.; Lemij, H. G.; de Boer, J. F.

2013-03-01

Recently, a method to determine the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) attenuation coefficient, based on normalization on the retinal pigment epithelium, was introduced. In contrast to conventional RNFL thickness measures, this novel measure represents a scattering property of the RNFL tissue. In this paper, we compare the RNFL thickness and the RNFL attenuation coefficient on 10 normal and 8 glaucomatous eyes by analyzing the correlation coefficient and the receiver operator curves (ROCs). The thickness and attenuation coefficient showed moderate correlation (r=0.82). Smaller correlation coefficients were found within normal (r=0.55) and glaucomatous (r=0.48) eyes. The full separation between normal and glaucomatous eyes based on the RNFL attenuation coefficient yielded an area under the ROC (AROC) of 1.0. The AROC for the RNFL thickness was 0.9875. No statistically significant difference between the two measures was found by comparing the AROC. RNFL attenuation coefficients may thus replace current RNFL thickness measurements or be combined with it to improve glaucoma diagnosis.

Extension of depth-resolved reconstruction of attenuation coefficients in optical coherence tomography for slim samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hohmann, Martin; Lengenfelder, B.; Kanawade, R.; Klämpfl, F.; Schmidt, Michael

2015-12-01

Coherent light propagating through turbid media is attenuated due to scattering and absorption. The decrease of the intensity of the coherent light is described by the attenuation coefficient. The measured decay of the coherent light through turbid media with optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to reconstruct the attenuation coefficient. Since most of the OCT systems work in the near-infrared region, they are the optical window from 800-1400 nm in tissue. Hence, the most part of the attenuation coefficient is caused due to the scattering. Therefore, deriving the attenuation coefficient is one way to get an approximation of the scattering coefficient which is difficult to access even up to day. Moreover, OCT measurements are one of the few possibilities to derive physical properties with micrometre resolution of the media under investigation.

White matter segmentation by estimating tissue optical attenuation from volumetric OCT massive histology of whole rodent brains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lefebvre, Joël.; Castonguay, Alexandre; Lesage, Frédéric

2017-02-01

A whole rodent brain was imaged using an automated massive histology setup and an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) microscope. Thousands of OCT volumetric tiles were acquired, each covering a size of about 2.5x2.5x0.8 mm3 with a sampling resolution of 4.9x4.9x6.5 microns. This paper shows the techniques for reconstruction, attenuation compensation and segmentation of the sliced brains. The tile positions within the mosaic were evaluated using a displacement model of the motorized stage and pairwise coregistration. Volume blending was then performed by solving the 3D Laplace equation, and consecutive slices were assembled using the cross-correlation of their 2D image gradient. This reconstruction algorithm resulted in a 3D map of optical reflectivity for the whole brain at micrometric resolution. OCT tissue slices were then used to estimate the local attenuation coefficient based on a single scattering photon model. The attenuation map obtained exhibits a high contrast for all white matter fibres, regardless of their orientation. The tissue optical attenuation from the intrinsic OCT reflectivity contributes to better white matter tissue segmentation. The combined 3D maps of reflectivity and attenuation is a step toward the study of white matter at a microscopic scale for the whole brain in small animals.

Dopant-Engineered Wide-Band Gap Semiconductors for Deep Tissue Bioimaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghavendra, Achyut; Gregory, Wren; Slonecki, Tyler; Bruce, Terri; Podila, Ramakrishna

Optical spectroscopy promises improved lateral resolution for in vivo imaging but is limited by background fluorescence and photon attenuation. There is clearly an unmet clinical need for new hybrid approaches that use fluorescence to identify cancer margins intraoperatively during the initial operation. An efficient strategy to increase the imaging depth and diagnostic capability, beyond what two-photon absorption (2PA) offers, is to use longer excitation wavelengths outside the water absorption window through three-photon absorption (3PA). Although a variety of existing fluorescent dyes, fluorescent proteins, and calcium indicators could be used in 3PA, they have low or moderate 3PA cross-sections and suffer from photobleaching. The non-linear 3PA coefficient of such fluorescent probes is often low necessitating high excitation powers, which could cause overheating, photodamage, and photo-induced toxicity. To address this demand we have designed dopant-engineered ZnO nanoparticles (d-ZnO NPs) for enabling 3PA with higher penetration depth, lower background noise, and improved spatial resolution (<1 um) at powers below 5 mW.

Injection and waveguiding properties in SU8 nanotubes for sub-wavelength regime propagation and nanophotonics integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bigeon, John; Huby, Nolwenn; Duvail, Jean-Luc; Bêche, Bruno

2014-04-01

We report photonic concepts related to injection and sub-wavelength propagation in nanotubes, an unusual but promising geometry for highly integrated photonic devices. Theoretical simulation by the finite domain time-dependent (FDTD) method was first used to determine the features of the direct light injection and sub-wavelength propagation regime within nanotubes. Then, the injection into nanotubes of SU8, a photoresist used for integrated photonics, was successfully achieved by using polymer microlensed fibers with a sub-micronic radius of curvature, as theoretically expected from FDTD simulations. The propagation losses in a single SU8 nanotube were determined by using a comprehensive set-up and a protocol for optical characterization. The attenuation coefficient has been evaluated at 1.25 dB mm-1 by a cut-back method transposed to such nanostructures. The mechanisms responsible for losses in nanotubes were identified with FDTD theoretical support. Both injection and cut-back methods developed here are compatible with any sub-micronic structures. This work on SU8 nanotubes suggests broader perspectives for future nanophotonics.

Injection and waveguiding properties in SU8 nanotubes for sub-wavelength regime propagation and nanophotonics integration.

PubMed

Bigeon, John; Huby, Nolwenn; Duvail, Jean-Luc; Bêche, Bruno

2014-05-21

We report photonic concepts related to injection and sub-wavelength propagation in nanotubes, an unusual but promising geometry for highly integrated photonic devices. Theoretical simulation by the finite domain time-dependent (FDTD) method was first used to determine the features of the direct light injection and sub-wavelength propagation regime within nanotubes. Then, the injection into nanotubes of SU8, a photoresist used for integrated photonics, was successfully achieved by using polymer microlensed fibers with a sub-micronic radius of curvature, as theoretically expected from FDTD simulations. The propagation losses in a single SU8 nanotube were determined by using a comprehensive set-up and a protocol for optical characterization. The attenuation coefficient has been evaluated at 1.25 dB mm(-1) by a cut-back method transposed to such nanostructures. The mechanisms responsible for losses in nanotubes were identified with FDTD theoretical support. Both injection and cut-back methods developed here are compatible with any sub-micronic structures. This work on SU8 nanotubes suggests broader perspectives for future nanophotonics.

Measurement of attenuation coefficients of the fundamental and second harmonic waves in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shuzeng; Jeong, Hyunjo; Cho, Sungjong; Li, Xiongbing

2016-02-01

Attenuation corrections in nonlinear acoustics play an important role in the study of nonlinear fluids, biomedical imaging, or solid material characterization. The measurement of attenuation coefficients in a nonlinear regime is not easy because they depend on the source pressure and requires accurate diffraction corrections. In this work, the attenuation coefficients of the fundamental and second harmonic waves which come from the absorption of water are measured in nonlinear ultrasonic experiments. Based on the quasilinear theory of the KZK equation, the nonlinear sound field equations are derived and the diffraction correction terms are extracted. The measured sound pressure amplitudes are adjusted first for diffraction corrections in order to reduce the impact on the measurement of attenuation coefficients from diffractions. The attenuation coefficients of the fundamental and second harmonics are calculated precisely from a nonlinear least squares curve-fitting process of the experiment data. The results show that attenuation coefficients in a nonlinear condition depend on both frequency and source pressure, which are much different from a linear regime. In a relatively lower drive pressure, the attenuation coefficients increase linearly with frequency. However, they present the characteristic of nonlinear growth in a high drive pressure. As the diffraction corrections are obtained based on the quasilinear theory, it is important to use an appropriate source pressure for accurate attenuation measurements.

Vision 20/20: Magnetic resonance imaging-guided attenuation correction in PET/MRI: Challenges, solutions, and opportunities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mehranian, Abolfazl; Arabi, Hossein; Zaidi, Habib, E-mail: habib.zaidi@hcuge.ch

Attenuation correction is an essential component of the long chain of data correction techniques required to achieve the full potential of quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The development of combined PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems mandated the widespread interest in developing novel strategies for deriving accurate attenuation maps with the aim to improve the quantitative accuracy of these emerging hybrid imaging systems. The attenuation map in PET/MRI should ideally be derived from anatomical MR images; however, MRI intensities reflect proton density and relaxation time properties of biological tissues rather than their electron density and photon attenuation properties. Therefore, inmore » contrast to PET/computed tomography, there is a lack of standardized global mapping between the intensities of MRI signal and linear attenuation coefficients at 511 keV. Moreover, in standard MRI sequences, bones and lung tissues do not produce measurable signals owing to their low proton density and short transverse relaxation times. MR images are also inevitably subject to artifacts that degrade their quality, thus compromising their applicability for the task of attenuation correction in PET/MRI. MRI-guided attenuation correction strategies can be classified in three broad categories: (i) segmentation-based approaches, (ii) atlas-registration and machine learning methods, and (iii) emission/transmission-based approaches. This paper summarizes past and current state-of-the-art developments and latest advances in PET/MRI attenuation correction. The advantages and drawbacks of each approach for addressing the challenges of MR-based attenuation correction are comprehensively described. The opportunities brought by both MRI and PET imaging modalities for deriving accurate attenuation maps and improving PET quantification will be elaborated. Future prospects and potential clinical applications of these techniques and their integration in commercial systems will also be discussed.« less

Vision 20/20: Magnetic resonance imaging-guided attenuation correction in PET/MRI: Challenges, solutions, and opportunities.

PubMed

Mehranian, Abolfazl; Arabi, Hossein; Zaidi, Habib

2016-03-01

Attenuation correction is an essential component of the long chain of data correction techniques required to achieve the full potential of quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The development of combined PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems mandated the widespread interest in developing novel strategies for deriving accurate attenuation maps with the aim to improve the quantitative accuracy of these emerging hybrid imaging systems. The attenuation map in PET/MRI should ideally be derived from anatomical MR images; however, MRI intensities reflect proton density and relaxation time properties of biological tissues rather than their electron density and photon attenuation properties. Therefore, in contrast to PET/computed tomography, there is a lack of standardized global mapping between the intensities of MRI signal and linear attenuation coefficients at 511 keV. Moreover, in standard MRI sequences, bones and lung tissues do not produce measurable signals owing to their low proton density and short transverse relaxation times. MR images are also inevitably subject to artifacts that degrade their quality, thus compromising their applicability for the task of attenuation correction in PET/MRI. MRI-guided attenuation correction strategies can be classified in three broad categories: (i) segmentation-based approaches, (ii) atlas-registration and machine learning methods, and (iii) emission/transmission-based approaches. This paper summarizes past and current state-of-the-art developments and latest advances in PET/MRI attenuation correction. The advantages and drawbacks of each approach for addressing the challenges of MR-based attenuation correction are comprehensively described. The opportunities brought by both MRI and PET imaging modalities for deriving accurate attenuation maps and improving PET quantification will be elaborated. Future prospects and potential clinical applications of these techniques and their integration in commercial systems will also be discussed.

WE-E-18A-06: To Remove Or Not to Remove: Comfort Pads From Beneath Neonates for Radiography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, X; Baad, M; Reiser, I

2014-06-15

Purpose: To obtain an analytical empirical formula for the photon dose source term in forward direction from bremsstrahlung generated from laser-plasma accelerated electron beams in aluminum solid targets, with electron-plasma temperatures in the 10–100 keV energy range, and to calculate transmission factors for iron, aluminum, methacrylate, lead and concrete and air, materials most commonly found in vacuum chamber labs. Methods: Bremsstrahlung fluence is calculated from the convolution of thin-target bremsstrahlung spectrum for monoenergetic electrons and the relativistic Maxwell-Juettner energy distribution for the electron-plasma. Unattenuatted dose in tissue is calculated by integrating the photon spectrum with the mass-energy absorption coefficient. Formore » the attenuated dose, energy dependent absorption coefficient, build-up factors and finite shielding correction factors were also taken into account. For the source term we use a modified formula from Hayashi et al., and we fitted the proportionality constant from experiments with the aid of the previously calculated transmission factors. Results: The forward dose has a quadratic dependence on electron-plasma temperature: 1 joule of effective laser energy transferred to the electrons at 1 m in vacuum yields 0,72 Sv per MeV squared of electron-plasma temperature. Air strongly filters the softer part of the photon spectrum and reduce the dose to one tenth in the first centimeter. Exponential higher energy tail of maxwellian spectrum contributes mainly to the transmitted dose. Conclusion: A simple formula for forward photon dose from keV range temperature plasma is obtained, similar to those found in kilovoltage x-rays but with higher dose per dissipated electron energy, due to thin target and absence of filtration.« less

The Study of Rain Specific Attenuation for the Prediction of Satellite Propagation in Malaysia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandeep, J. S.; Ng, Y. Y.; Abdullah, H.; Abdullah, M.

2010-06-01

Specific attenuation is the fundamental quantity in the calculation of rain attenuation for terrestrial path and slant paths representing as rain attenuation per unit distance (dB/km). Specific attenuation is an important element in developing the predicted rain attenuation model. This paper deals with the empirical determination of the power law coefficients which allow calculating the specific attenuation in dB/km from the knowledge of the rain rate in mm/h. The main purpose of the paper is to obtain the coefficients of k and α of power law relationship between specific attenuation. Three years (from 1st January 2006 until 31st December 2008) rain gauge and beacon data taken from USM, Nibong Tebal have been used to do the empirical procedure analysis of rain specific attenuation. The data presented are semi-empirical in nature. A year-to-year variation of the coefficients has been indicated and the empirical measured data was compared with ITU-R provided regression coefficient. The result indicated that the USM empirical measured data was significantly vary from ITU-R predicted value. Hence, ITU-R recommendation for regression coefficients of rain specific attenuation is not suitable for predicting rain attenuation at Malaysia.

Laser Doppler Radar System Calibration and Rainfall Attenuation Measurements

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-10-01

The atmospheric attenuation and backscatter coefficients have been measured at the 10.6-micrometers wavelength of the CO2 laser in rainstorms. Data are presented to show the increase in attenuation coefficient with rainfall rate. Backscatter coeffici...

Methodological accuracy of image-based electron density assessment using dual-energy computed tomography.

PubMed

Möhler, Christian; Wohlfahrt, Patrick; Richter, Christian; Greilich, Steffen

2017-06-01

Electron density is the most important tissue property influencing photon and ion dose distributions in radiotherapy patients. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) enables the determination of electron density by combining the information on photon attenuation obtained at two different effective x-ray energy spectra. Most algorithms suggested so far use the CT numbers provided after image reconstruction as input parameters, i.e., are imaged-based. To explore the accuracy that can be achieved with these approaches, we quantify the intrinsic methodological and calibration uncertainty of the seemingly simplest approach. In the studied approach, electron density is calculated with a one-parametric linear superposition ('alpha blending') of the two DECT images, which is shown to be equivalent to an affine relation between the photon attenuation cross sections of the two x-ray energy spectra. We propose to use the latter relation for empirical calibration of the spectrum-dependent blending parameter. For a conclusive assessment of the electron density uncertainty, we chose to isolate the purely methodological uncertainty component from CT-related effects such as noise and beam hardening. Analyzing calculated spectrally weighted attenuation coefficients, we find universal applicability of the investigated approach to arbitrary mixtures of human tissue with an upper limit of the methodological uncertainty component of 0.2%, excluding high-Z elements such as iodine. The proposed calibration procedure is bias-free and straightforward to perform using standard equipment. Testing the calibration on five published data sets, we obtain very small differences in the calibration result in spite of different experimental setups and CT protocols used. Employing a general calibration per scanner type and voltage combination is thus conceivable. Given the high suitability for clinical application of the alpha-blending approach in combination with a very small methodological uncertainty, we conclude that further refinement of image-based DECT-algorithms for electron density assessment is not advisable. © 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Evaluation of the Energy Distribution of Unknown Photon Radiation Fields by Interpreting the Responses of Tld's and Modification of Burlin Cavity Theory.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulhay, Ibrahim Shakib

1995-01-01

The thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) response (integrated light output per unit exposure) of a high Z material increases more rapidly with decreasing photon energy and with energy above the pair production threshold than that of lower Z materials. The ratio of the responses obtained when two thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) materials are simultaneously exposed to gamma or x-rays could be used to obtain information about the incident photon energies. In addition, the responses are affected by the presence of the material surrounding the dosimeters. Two TLD's, LiF and CaSO_4, with respective effective atomic number of 8.2 and 15.3, have been chosen to be sandwiched between different absorber materials (Al, Cu, and Pb) and irradiated at selected distances from gamma radiation sources. The photon energies used in this investigation were 60 keV, 142 keV, 662 keV, 1.25 MeV, and 6.129 MeV. Fit equations of the responses of the dosimeters to different energies have been obtained and used to evaluate the energy distributions of unknown ionizing radiation fields. In addition, the electron mass attenuation coefficient beta used in Burlin and Burlin-Horowitz Cavity Theory has been modified to produce better agreement with experimental data at low photon energies and at high energies.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Akkurt, Iskender; Guenoglu, Kadir

The radiation is an essential phenomenon in daily life. There are various amounts of radioactivite substances in the underground and the earth was irradiated by this substances. Humans are exposed to various kind of radiation from these sources. The travertines are usually used as a coating material in buildings. In this study, the photon attenuation coefficients of some travertines have been measured using a gamma spectroscopy with NaI(Tl) detector. The measurements have been performed using {sup 60}Co source which gives 1173 and 1332 keV energies gamma rays and {sup 137}Cs source which gives 662 keV energy gamma rays and themore » results will be discussed.« less

Attenuation Coefficient Estimation of the Healthy Human Thyroid In Vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rouyer, J.; Cueva, T.; Portal, A.; Yamamoto, T.; Lavarello, R.

Previous studies have demonstrated that attenuation coefficients can be useful towards characterizing thyroid tissues. In this work, ultrasonic attenuation coefficients were estimated from healthy human thyroids in vivo using a clinical scanner. The selected subjects were five young, healthy volunteers (age: 26 ± 6 years old, gender: three females, two males) with no reported history of thyroid diseases, no palpable thyroid nodules, no smoking habits, and body mass index less than 30 kg/m2. Echographic examinations were conducted by a trained sonographer using a SonixTouch system (Ultrasonix Medical Corporation, Richmond, BC) equipped with an L14-5 linear transducer array (nominal center frequency of 10 MHz, transducer footprint of 3.8 cm). Radiofrequency data corresponding to the collected echographic images in both transverse and longitudinal views were digitized at a sampling rate of 40 MHz and processed with Matlab codes (MathWorks, Natick, MA) to estimate attenuation coefficients using the spectral log difference method. The estimation was performed using an analysis bandwidth spanning from 4.0 to 9.0 MHz. The average value of the estimated ultrasonic attenuation coefficients was equal to 1.34 ± 0.15 dB/(cm.MHz). The standard deviation of the estimated average attenuation coefficient across different volunteers suggests a non-negligible inter-subject variability in the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient of the human thyroid.

A Pilot Comparative Study of Quantitative Ultrasound, Conventional Ultrasound, and MRI for Predicting Histology-Determined Steatosis Grade in Adult Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

PubMed Central

Paige, Jeremy S.; Bernstein, Gregory S.; Heba, Elhamy; Costa, Eduardo A. C.; Fereirra, Marilia; Wolfson, Tanya; Gamst, Anthony C.; Valasek, Mark A.; Lin, Grace Y.; Han, Aiguo; Erdman, John W.; O’Brien, William D.; Andre, Michael P.; Loomba, Rohit; Sirlin, Claude B.

2017-01-01

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to explore the diagnostic performance of two investigational quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters, attenuation coefficient and backscatter coefficient, in comparison with conventional ultrasound (CUS) and MRI-estimated proton density fat fraction (PDFF) for predicting histology-confirmed steatosis grade in adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS In this prospectively designed pilot study, 61 adults with histology-confirmed NAFLD were enrolled from September 2012 to February 2014. Subjects underwent QUS, CUS, and MRI examinations within 100 days of clinical-care liver biopsy. QUS parameters (attenuation coefficient and backscatter coefficient) were estimated using a reference phantom technique by two analysts independently. Three-point ordinal CUS scores intended to predict steatosis grade (1, 2, or 3) were generated independently by two radiologists on the basis of QUS features. PDFF was estimated using an advanced chemical shift–based MRI technique. Using histologic examination as the reference standard, ROC analysis was performed. Optimal attenuation coefficient, backscatter coefficient, and PDFF cutoff thresholds were identified, and the accuracy of attenuation coefficient, backscatter coefficient, PDFF, and CUS to predict steatosis grade was determined. Interobserver agreement for attenuation coefficient, backscatter coefficient, and CUS was analyzed. RESULTS CUS had 51.7% grading accuracy. The raw and cross-validated steatosis grading accuracies were 61.7% and 55.0%, respectively, for attenuation coefficient, 68.3% and 68.3% for backscatter coefficient, and 76.7% and 71.3% for MRI-estimated PDFF. Interobserver agreements were 53.3% for CUS (κ = 0.61), 90.0% for attenuation coefficient (κ = 0.87), and 71.7% for backscatter coefficient (κ = 0.82) (p < 0.0001 for all). CONCLUSION Preliminary observations suggest that QUS parameters may be more accurate and provide higher interobserver agreement than CUS for predicting hepatic steatosis grade in patients with NAFLD. PMID:28267360

A Pilot Comparative Study of Quantitative Ultrasound, Conventional Ultrasound, and MRI for Predicting Histology-Determined Steatosis Grade in Adult Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

PubMed

Paige, Jeremy S; Bernstein, Gregory S; Heba, Elhamy; Costa, Eduardo A C; Fereirra, Marilia; Wolfson, Tanya; Gamst, Anthony C; Valasek, Mark A; Lin, Grace Y; Han, Aiguo; Erdman, John W; O'Brien, William D; Andre, Michael P; Loomba, Rohit; Sirlin, Claude B

2017-05-01

The purpose of this study is to explore the diagnostic performance of two investigational quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters, attenuation coefficient and backscatter coefficient, in comparison with conventional ultrasound (CUS) and MRI-estimated proton density fat fraction (PDFF) for predicting histology-confirmed steatosis grade in adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this prospectively designed pilot study, 61 adults with histology-confirmed NAFLD were enrolled from September 2012 to February 2014. Subjects underwent QUS, CUS, and MRI examinations within 100 days of clinical-care liver biopsy. QUS parameters (attenuation coefficient and backscatter coefficient) were estimated using a reference phantom technique by two analysts independently. Three-point ordinal CUS scores intended to predict steatosis grade (1, 2, or 3) were generated independently by two radiologists on the basis of QUS features. PDFF was estimated using an advanced chemical shift-based MRI technique. Using histologic examination as the reference standard, ROC analysis was performed. Optimal attenuation coefficient, backscatter coefficient, and PDFF cutoff thresholds were identified, and the accuracy of attenuation coefficient, backscatter coefficient, PDFF, and CUS to predict steatosis grade was determined. Interobserver agreement for attenuation coefficient, backscatter coefficient, and CUS was analyzed. CUS had 51.7% grading accuracy. The raw and cross-validated steatosis grading accuracies were 61.7% and 55.0%, respectively, for attenuation coefficient, 68.3% and 68.3% for backscatter coefficient, and 76.7% and 71.3% for MRI-estimated PDFF. Interobserver agreements were 53.3% for CUS (κ = 0.61), 90.0% for attenuation coefficient (κ = 0.87), and 71.7% for backscatter coefficient (κ = 0.82) (p < 0.0001 for all). Preliminary observations suggest that QUS parameters may be more accurate and provide higher interobserver agreement than CUS for predicting hepatic steatosis grade in patients with NAFLD.

Frequency domain photothermoacoustic signal amplitude dependence on the optical properties of water: turbid polyvinyl chloride-plastisol system.

PubMed

Spirou, Gloria M; Mandelis, Andreas; Vitkin, I Alex; Whelan, William M

2008-05-10

Photoacoustic (more precisely, photothermoacoustic) signals generated by the absorption of photons can be related to the incident laser fluence rate. The dependence of frequency domain photoacoustic (FD-PA) signals on the optical absorption coefficient (micro(a)) and the effective attenuation coefficient (micro(eff)) of a turbid medium [polyvinyl chloride-plastisol (PVCP)] with tissuelike optical properties was measured, and empirical relationships between these optical properties and the photoacoustic (PA) signal amplitude and the laser fluence rate were derived for the water (PVCP system with and without optical scatterers). The measured relationships between these sample optical properties and the PA signal amplitude were found to be linear, consistent with FD-PA theory: micro(a)=a(A/Phi)-b and micro(eff)=c(A/Phi)+d, where Phi is the laser fluence, A is the FD-PA amplitude, and a, ...,d are empirical coefficients determined from the experiment using linear frequency-swept modulation and a lock-in heterodyne detection technique. This quantitative technique can easily be used to measure the optical properties of general turbid media using FD-PAs.

Monitoring changes of optical attenuation coefficients of acupuncture points during laser acupuncture by optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yimei; Yang, Hongqin; Wang, Yuhua; Zheng, Liqin; Xie, Shusen

2010-11-01

The physical properties of acupuncture point were important to discover the mechanism of acupuncture meridian. In this paper, we used an optical coherence tomography to monitor in vivo the changes of optical attenuation coefficients of Hegu acupuncture point and non-acupuncture point during laser irradiation on Yangxi acupuncture point. The optical attenuation coefficients of Hegu acupuncture point and non-acupuncture point were obtained by fitting the raw data according to the Beer-Lambert's law. The experimental results showed that the optical attenuation coefficient of Hegu acupuncture point decreased during the laser acupuncture, in contrast to a barely changed result in that of non-acupuncture point. The significant change of optical attenuation coefficient of Hegu acupuncture point indicated that there was a correlation between Hegu and Yangxi acupuncture points to some extent.

Effective atomic numbers and electron densities of bioactive glasses for photon interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shantappa, Anil; Hanagodimath, S. M.

2015-08-01

This work was carried out to study the nature of mass attenuation coefficient of bioactive glasses for gamma rays. Bioactive glasses are a group of synthetic silica-based bioactive materials with unique bone bonding properties. In the present study, we have calculated the effective atomic number, electron density for photon interaction of some selected bioactive glasses viz., SiO2-Na2O, SiO2-Na2O-CaO and SiO2-Na2O-P2O5 in the energy range 1 keV to 100 MeV. We have also computed the single valued effective atomic number by using XMuDat program. It is observed that variation in effective atomic number (ZPI, eff) depends also upon the weight fractions of selected bioactive glasses and range of atomic numbers of the elements. The results shown here on effective atomic number, electron density will be more useful in the medical dosimetry for the calculation of absorbed dose and dose rate.

Attenuation correction strategies for multi-energy photon emitters using SPECT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pretorius, P. H.; King, M. A.; Pan, T.-S.; Hutton, B. F.

1997-06-01

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the photopeak window projections from different energy photons can be combined into a single window for reconstruction or if it is better to not combine the projections due to differences in the attenuation maps required for each photon energy. The mathematical cardiac torso (MCAT) phantom was modified to simulate the uptake of Ga-67 in the human body. Four spherical hot tumors were placed in locations which challenged attenuation correction. An analytical 3D projector with attenuation and detector response included was used to generate projection sets. Data were reconstructed using filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstruction with Butterworth filtering in conjunction with one iteration of Chang attenuation correction, and with 5 and 10 iterations of ordered-subset maximum-likelihood expectation maximization (ML-OS) reconstruction. To serve as a standard for comparison, the projection sets obtained from the two energies were first reconstructed separately using their own attenuation maps. The emission data obtained from both energies were added and reconstructed using the following attenuation strategies: 1) the 93 keV attenuation map for attenuation correction, 2) the 185 keV attenuation map for attenuation correction, 3) using a weighted mean obtained from combining the 93 keV and 185 keV maps, and 4) an ordered subset approach which combines both energies. The central count ratio (CCR) and total count ratio (TCR) were used to compare the performance of the different strategies. Compared to the standard method, results indicate an over-estimation with strategy 1, an under-estimation with strategy 2 and comparable results with strategies 3 and 4. In all strategies, the CCRs of sphere 4 (in proximity to the liver, spleen and backbone) were under-estimated, although TCRs were comparable to that of the other locations. The weighted mean and ordered subset strategies for attenuation correction were of comparable accuracy to reconstruction of the windows separately. They are recommended for multi-energy photon SPECT imaging quantitation when there is a need to combine the acquisitions of multiple windows.

Gamma ray shielding and structural properties of PbO-P2O5-Na2WO4 glass system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dogra, Mridula; Singh, K. J.; Kaur, Kulwinder; Anand, Vikas; Kaur, Parminder

2017-05-01

The present work has been undertaken to study the gamma ray shielding properties of PbO-P2O5-Na2WO4 glass system. The values of mass attenuation coefficient and half value layer parameter at photon energies 511, 662 and 1173 KeV have been determined using XCOM computer software developed by National Institute of Standards and Technology. The density, molar volume, XRD, UV-VIS and Raman studies have been performed to study the structural properties of the prepared glass system to check the possibility of the use of prepared samples as an alternate to conventional concrete for gamma ray shielding applications.

Effect of different thickness of material filter on Tc-99m spectra and performance parameters of gamma camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nazifah, A.; Norhanna, S.; Shah, S. I.; Zakaria, A.

2014-11-01

This study aimed to investigate the effects of material filter technique on Tc-99m spectra and performance parameters of Philip ADAC forte dual head gamma camera. Thickness of material filter was selected on the basis of percentage attenuation of various gamma ray energies by different thicknesses of zinc material. A cylindrical source tank of NEMA single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) Triple Line Source Phantom filled with water and Tc-99m radionuclide injected was used for spectra, uniformity and sensitivity measurements. Vinyl plastic tube was used as a line source for spatial resolution. Images for uniformity were reconstructed by filtered back projection method. Butterworth filter of order 5 and cut off frequency 0.35 cycles/cm was selected. Chang's attenuation correction method was applied by selecting 0.13/cm linear attenuation coefficient. Count rate was decreased with material filter from the compton region of Tc-99m energy spectrum, also from the photopeak region. Spatial resolution was improved. However, uniformity of tomographic image was equivocal, and system volume sensitivity was reduced by material filter. Material filter improved system's spatial resolution. Therefore, the technique may be used for phantom studies to improve the image quality.

Image-based spectral distortion correction for photon-counting x-ray detectors

PubMed Central

Ding, Huanjun; Molloi, Sabee

2012-01-01

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of using an image-based method to correct for distortions induced by various artifacts in the x-ray spectrum recorded with photon-counting detectors for their application in breast computed tomography (CT). Methods: The polyenergetic incident spectrum was simulated with the tungsten anode spectral model using the interpolating polynomials (TASMIP) code and carefully calibrated to match the x-ray tube in this study. Experiments were performed on a Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZT) photon-counting detector with five energy thresholds. Energy bins were adjusted to evenly distribute the recorded counts above the noise floor. BR12 phantoms of various thicknesses were used for calibration. A nonlinear function was selected to fit the count correlation between the simulated and the measured spectra in the calibration process. To evaluate the proposed spectral distortion correction method, an empirical fitting derived from the calibration process was applied on the raw images recorded for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantoms of 8.7, 48.8, and 100.0 mm. Both the corrected counts and the effective attenuation coefficient were compared to the simulated values for each of the five energy bins. The feasibility of applying the proposed method to quantitative material decomposition was tested using a dual-energy imaging technique with a three-material phantom that consisted of water, lipid, and protein. The performance of the spectral distortion correction method was quantified using the relative root-mean-square (RMS) error with respect to the expected values from simulations or areal analysis of the decomposition phantom. Results: The implementation of the proposed method reduced the relative RMS error of the output counts in the five energy bins with respect to the simulated incident counts from 23.0%, 33.0%, and 54.0% to 1.2%, 1.8%, and 7.7% for 8.7, 48.8, and 100.0 mm PMMA phantoms, respectively. The accuracy of the effective attenuation coefficient of PMMA estimate was also improved with the proposed spectral distortion correction. Finally, the relative RMS error of water, lipid, and protein decompositions in dual-energy imaging was significantly reduced from 53.4% to 6.8% after correction was applied. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that dramatic distortions in the recorded raw image yielded from a photon-counting detector could be expected, which presents great challenges for applying the quantitative material decomposition method in spectral CT. The proposed semi-empirical correction method can effectively reduce these errors caused by various artifacts, including pulse pileup and charge sharing effects. Furthermore, rather than detector-specific simulation packages, the method requires a relatively simple calibration process and knowledge about the incident spectrum. Therefore, it may be used as a generalized procedure for the spectral distortion correction of different photon-counting detectors in clinical breast CT systems. PMID:22482608

Sci—Fri PM: Topics — 01: A monte carlo model of a miniature low-energy x-ray tube using EGSnrc

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Watson, P; Seuntjens, J

The INTRABEAM system (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany) is a miniature x-ray generator for use in intraoperative radiotherapy and brachytherapy. The device accelerates electrons to up to 50 keV, which are then steered down an evacuated needle probe to strike a thin gold target. For accurate dosimetry of the INTRABEAM system, it is important that the photon spectrum be well understood. Measurements based on air-kerma are heavily impacted by photon spectra, particularly for low photon energies due to the large photoelectric contribution in air mass energy absorption coefficient. While low energy photons have little clinical significance at treatment depths, they maymore » have a large effect on air-kerma measurements. In this work, we have developed an EGSnrc-based monte carlo (MC) model of the Zeiss INTRABEAM system to study the source photon spectra and half-value layers (HVLs) of the bare probe and with various spherical applicators. HVLs were calculated using the analytical attenuation of air-kerma spectra. The calculated bare probe spectrum was compared with simulated and measured results taken from literature. Differences in the L-line energies of gold were found between the spectra predicted by EGSnrc and Geant4. This is due to M and N shell averaging during atomic transitions in EGSnrc. The calculated HVLs of the bare probe and spherical applicators are consistent with literature reported measured values.« less

Variable photonic crystal fiber optical attenuator combining air hole reduction induced radiation and bending loss

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokota, Hirohisa; Sano, Tomohiko; Imai, Yoh

2018-06-01

Recently, an optical attenuator has been important in fiber optic communication systems, because a transmission power in fiber has become higher due to a channel increment in wavelength division multiplexing transmission. A photonic crystal fiber (PCF) optical attenuator is fabricated by air hole diameter reduction in a part of PCF in which radiations are caused in the air hole diameter reduced part of PCF. A PCF optical attenuator has a high power resistance feature due to its radiation-induced operation of optical attenuation. In this paper, we proposed a variable PCF optical attenuator in which a bend was applied to the air hole diameter reduced part in PCF optical attenuator that was fabricated by CO2 laser irradiation. In PCF optical attenuator fabrication, the attenuation was adjusted by the reduced air hole diameter with laser irradiation time control. It was demonstrated that 10.6-13.5 dB of variable attenuation was obtained at 1550 nm-wavelength with 0°-90° bending angle applied to the air hole diameter reduced part in PCF optical attenuator.

Variable photonic crystal fiber optical attenuator combining air hole reduction induced radiation and bending loss

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokota, Hirohisa; Sano, Tomohiko; Imai, Yoh

2018-02-01

Recently, an optical attenuator has been important in fiber optic communication systems, because a transmission power in fiber has become higher due to a channel increment in wavelength division multiplexing transmission. A photonic crystal fiber (PCF) optical attenuator is fabricated by air hole diameter reduction in a part of PCF in which radiations are caused in the air hole diameter reduced part of PCF. A PCF optical attenuator has a high power resistance feature due to its radiation-induced operation of optical attenuation. In this paper, we proposed a variable PCF optical attenuator in which a bend was applied to the air hole diameter reduced part in PCF optical attenuator that was fabricated by CO2 laser irradiation. In PCF optical attenuator fabrication, the attenuation was adjusted by the reduced air hole diameter with laser irradiation time control. It was demonstrated that 10.6-13.5 dB of variable attenuation was obtained at 1550 nm-wavelength with 0°-90° bending angle applied to the air hole diameter reduced part in PCF optical attenuator.

Sensitivity of photon-counting based K-edge imaging in X-ray computed tomography.

PubMed

Roessl, Ewald; Brendel, Bernhard; Engel, Klaus-Jürgen; Schlomka, Jens-Peter; Thran, Axel; Proksa, Roland

2011-09-01

The feasibility of K-edge imaging using energy-resolved, photon-counting transmission measurements in X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been demonstrated by simulations and experiments. The method is based on probing the discontinuities of the attenuation coefficient of heavy elements above and below the K-edge energy by using energy-sensitive, photon counting X-ray detectors. In this paper, we investigate the dependence of the sensitivity of K-edge imaging on the atomic number Z of the contrast material, on the object diameter D , on the spectral response of the X-ray detector and on the X-ray tube voltage. We assume a photon-counting detector equipped with six adjustable energy thresholds. Physical effects leading to a degradation of the energy resolution of the detector are taken into account using the concept of a spectral response function R(E,U) for which we assume four different models. As a validation of our analytical considerations and in order to investigate the influence of elliptically shaped phantoms, we provide CT simulations of an anthropomorphic Forbild-Abdomen phantom containing a gold-contrast agent. The dependence on the values of the energy thresholds is taken into account by optimizing the achievable signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) with respect to the threshold values. We find that for a given X-ray spectrum and object size the SNR in the heavy element's basis material image peaks for a certain atomic number Z. The dependence of the SNR in the high- Z basis-material image on the object diameter is the natural, exponential decrease with particularly deteriorating effects in the case where the attenuation from the object itself causes a total signal loss below the K-edge. The influence of the energy-response of the detector is very important. We observed that the optimal SNR values obtained with an ideal detector and with a CdTe pixel detector whose response, showing significant tailing, has been determined at a synchrotron differ by factors of about two to three. The potentially very important impact of scattered X-ray radiation and pulse pile-up occurring at high photon rates on the sensitivity of the technique is qualitatively discussed.

Theoretical estimation of Photons flow rate Production in quark gluon interaction at high energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Agealy, Hadi J. M.; Hamza Hussein, Hyder; Mustafa Hussein, Saba

2018-05-01

photons emitted from higher energetic collisions in quark-gluon system have been theoretical studied depending on color quantum theory. A simple model for photons emission at quark-gluon system have been investigated. In this model, we use a quantum consideration which enhances to describing the quark system. The photons current rate are estimation for two system at different fugacity coefficient. We discussion the behavior of photons rate and quark gluon system properties in different photons energies with Boltzmann model. The photons rate depending on anisotropic coefficient : strong constant, photons energy, color number, fugacity parameter, thermal energy and critical energy of system are also discussed.

Measurement of X-ray mass attenuation coefficients in biological and geological samples in the energy range of 7-12keV.

PubMed

Trunova, Valentina; Sidorina, Anna; Kriventsov, Vladimir

2015-01-01

Information about X-ray mass attenuation coefficients in different materials is necessary for accurate X-ray fluorescent analysis. The X-ray mass attenuation coefficients for energy of 7-12keV were measured in biological (Mussel and Oyster tissues, blood, hair, liver, and Cabbage leaves) and geological (Baikal sludge, soil, and Alaskite granite) samples. The measurements were carried out at the EXAFS Station of Siberian Synchrotron Radiation Center (VEPP-3). Obtained experimental mass attenuation coefficients were compared with theoretical values calculated for some samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Monte carlo simulation of innovative neutron and photon shielding material composing of high density concrete, waste rubber, lead and boron carbide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aim-O, P.; Wongsawaeng, D.; Phruksarojanakun, P.; Tancharakorn, S.

2017-06-01

High-density concrete exhibits high strength and can perform an important role of gamma ray attenuation. In order to upgrade this material’s radiation-shielding performance, hydrogen-rich material can be incorporated. Waste rubber from vehicles has high hydrogen content which is the prominent characteristic to attenuate neutron. The objective of this work was to evaluate the radiation-shielding properties of this composite material against neutron and photon radiations. Monte Carlo transport simulation was conducted to simulate radiation through the composite material. Am-241/Be was utilized for neutron source and Co-60 for photon source. Parameters of the study included volume percentages of waste rubber, lead and boron carbide and thickness of the shielding material. These designs were also fabricated and the radiation shielding properties were experimentally evaluated. The best neutron and gamma ray shielding material was determined to be high-density concrete mixed with 5 vol% crumb rubber and 5 vol% lead powder. This shielding material increased the neutron attenuation by 64% and photon attenuation by 68% compared to ordinary concrete. Also, increasing the waste rubber content to greater than 5% resulted in a decrease in the radiation attenuation. This innovative composite radiation shielding material not only benefits nuclear science and engineering applications, but also helps solve the environmental issue of waste rubber.

Conversion coefficients for H'(3;Ω) for photons.

PubMed

Behrens, Rolf

2017-06-26

In this work, conversion coefficients for the operational quantity H'(3;Ω) have been calculated for both mono-energetic photons from 2 keV to 50 MeV for angles of incidence from 0° up to 180° in steps of 15° (to complement ICRU 57) as well as for photon reference radiation qualities (to complement ISO 4037). Finally, parameters necessary to determine the influence of the air density on the conversion coefficients have been determined.

The role of the reflection coefficient in precision measurement of ultrasonic attenuation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Generazio, E. R.

1984-01-01

Ultrasonic attenuation measurements using contact, pulse-echo techniques are sensitive to surface roughness and couplant thickness variations. This can reduce considerable inaccuracies in the measurement of the attenuation coefficient for broadband pulses. Inaccuracies arise from variations in the reflection coefficient at the buffer-couplant-sample interface. The reflection coefficient is examined as a function of the surface roughness and corresponding couplant thickness variations. Interrelations with ultrasonic frequency are illustrated. Reliable attenuation measurements are obtained only when the frequency dependence of the reflection coefficient is incorporated in signal analysis. Data are given for nickel 200 samples and a silicon nitride ceramic bar having surface roughness variations in the 0.3 to 3.0 microns range for signal bandwidths in the 50 to 100 MHz range.

Radiological properties of MAGIC normoxic polymer gel dosimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aljamal, M.; Zakaria, A.; Shamsuddin, S.

2013-04-01

For a polymer gel dosimeter to be of use in radiation dosimetry, it should display water-equivalent radiological properties. In this study, the radiological properties of the MAGIC (Methacrylic and Ascorbic acid in Gelatin Initiated by Copper) normoxic polymer gels were investigated. The mass density (ρ) was determined based on Archimedes' principle. The weight fraction of elemental composition and the effective atomic number (Zeff) were calculated. The electron density was also measured with 90° scattering angle at room temperature. The linear attenuation coefficient (μ) of unirradiated gel, irradiated gel, and water were determined using Am-241 based on narrow beam geometry. Monte Carlo simulation was used to calculate the depth doses response of MAGIC gel and water for 6MV photon beam. The weight fractions of elements composition of MAGIC gel were close to that for water. The mass density was found to be 1027 ± 2 kg m-3, which is also very close to mass density of muscle tissue (1030 kg m-3) and 2.7% higher than that of water. The electron density (ρe) and atomic number (Zeff) were found to be 3.43 × 1029 e m-3 and 7.105, respectively. The electron density measured was 2.6% greater than that for water. The atomic number was very close to that for water. The prepared MAGIC gel was found to be water equivalent based on the study of element composition, mass density, electron density and atomic number. The linear attenuation coefficient of unirradiated gel was very close to that of water. The μ of irradiated gel was found to be linear with dose 2-40 Gy. The depth dose response for MAGIC gel from a 6 MV photon beam had a percentage dose difference to water of less than 1%. Therefore it satisfies the criteria to be a good polymer gel dosimeter for radiotherapy.

Continuous-variable teleportation of a negative Wigner function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mišta, Ladislav, Jr.; Filip, Radim; Furusawa, Akira

2010-07-01

Teleportation is a basic primitive for quantum communication and quantum computing. We address the problem of continuous-variable (unconditional and conditional) teleportation of a pure single-photon state and a mixed attenuated single-photon state generally in a nonunity-gain regime. Our figure of merit is the maximum negativity of the Wigner function, which demonstrates a highly nonclassical feature of the teleported state. We find that the negativity of the Wigner function of the single-photon state can be unconditionally teleported for an arbitrarily weak squeezed state used to create the entangled state shared in teleportation. In contrast, for the attenuated single-photon state there is a strict threshold squeezing one has to surpass to successfully teleport the negativity of its Wigner function. The conditional teleportation allows one to approach perfect transmission of the single photon for an arbitrarily low squeezing at a cost of decrease of the success rate. In contrast, for the attenuated single photon state, conditional teleportation cannot overcome the squeezing threshold of the unconditional teleportation and it approaches negativity of the input state only if the squeezing increases simultaneously. However, as soon as the threshold squeezing is surpassed, conditional teleportation still pronouncedly outperforms the unconditional one. The main consequences for quantum communication and quantum computing with continuous variables are discussed.

Continuous-variable teleportation of a negative Wigner function

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mista, Ladislav Jr.; Filip, Radim; Furusawa, Akira

2010-07-15

Teleportation is a basic primitive for quantum communication and quantum computing. We address the problem of continuous-variable (unconditional and conditional) teleportation of a pure single-photon state and a mixed attenuated single-photon state generally in a nonunity-gain regime. Our figure of merit is the maximum negativity of the Wigner function, which demonstrates a highly nonclassical feature of the teleported state. We find that the negativity of the Wigner function of the single-photon state can be unconditionally teleported for an arbitrarily weak squeezed state used to create the entangled state shared in teleportation. In contrast, for the attenuated single-photon state there ismore » a strict threshold squeezing one has to surpass to successfully teleport the negativity of its Wigner function. The conditional teleportation allows one to approach perfect transmission of the single photon for an arbitrarily low squeezing at a cost of decrease of the success rate. In contrast, for the attenuated single photon state, conditional teleportation cannot overcome the squeezing threshold of the unconditional teleportation and it approaches negativity of the input state only if the squeezing increases simultaneously. However, as soon as the threshold squeezing is surpassed, conditional teleportation still pronouncedly outperforms the unconditional one. The main consequences for quantum communication and quantum computing with continuous variables are discussed.« less

Towards 3D printed multifunctional immobilization for proton therapy: Initial materials characterization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Michiels, Steven, E-mail: michiels.steven@kuleuven

Purpose: 3D printing technology is investigated for the purpose of patient immobilization during proton therapy. It potentially enables a merge of patient immobilization, bolus range shifting, and other functions into one single patient-specific structure. In this first step, a set of 3D printed materials is characterized in detail, in terms of structural and radiological properties, elemental composition, directional dependence, and structural changes induced by radiation damage. These data will serve as inputs for the design of 3D printed immobilization structure prototypes. Methods: Using four different 3D printing techniques, in total eight materials were subjected to testing. Samples with a nominalmore » dimension of 20 × 20 × 80 mm{sup 3} were 3D printed. The geometrical printing accuracy of each test sample was measured with a dial gage. To assess the mechanical response of the samples, standardized compression tests were performed to determine the Young’s modulus. To investigate the effect of radiation on the mechanical response, the mechanical tests were performed both prior and after the administration of clinically relevant dose levels (70 Gy), multiplied with a safety factor of 1.4. Dual energy computed tomography (DECT) methods were used to calculate the relative electron density to water ρ{sub e}, the effective atomic number Z{sub eff}, and the proton stopping power ratio (SPR) to water SPR. In order to validate the DECT based calculation of radiological properties, beam measurements were performed on the 3D printed samples as well. Photon irradiations were performed to measure the photon linear attenuation coefficients, while proton irradiations were performed to measure the proton range shift of the samples. The directional dependence of these properties was investigated by performing the irradiations for different orientations of the samples. Results: The printed test objects showed reduced geometric printing accuracy for 2 materials (deviation > 0.25 mm). Compression tests yielded Young’s moduli ranging from 0.6 to 2940 MPa. No deterioration in the mechanical response was observed after exposure of the samples to 100 Gy in a therapeutic MV photon beam. The DECT-based characterization yielded Z{sub eff} ranging from 5.91 to 10.43. The SPR and ρ{sub e} both ranged from 0.6 to 1.22. The measured photon attenuation coefficients at clinical energies scaled linearly with ρ{sub e}. Good agreement was seen between the DECT estimated SPR and the measured range shift, except for the higher Z{sub eff}. As opposed to the photon attenuation, the proton range shifting appeared to be printing orientation dependent for certain materials. Conclusions: In this study, the first step toward 3D printed, multifunctional immobilization was performed, by going through a candidate clinical workflow for the first time: from the material printing to DECT characterization with a verification through beam measurements. Besides a proof of concept for beam modification, the mechanical response of printed materials was also investigated to assess their capabilities for positioning functionality. For the studied set of printing techniques and materials, a wide variety of mechanical and radiological properties can be selected from for the intended purpose. Moreover the elaborated hybrid DECT methods aid in performing in-house quality assurance of 3D printed components, as these methods enable the estimation of the radiological properties relevant for use in radiation therapy.« less

Effect of interstitial low level laser therapy on tibial defect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sangyeob; Ha, Myungjin; Hwang, Donghyun; Yu, Sungkon; Jang, Seulki; Park, Jihoon; Radfar, Edalat; Kim, Hansung; Jung, Byungjo

2016-03-01

Tibial defect is very common musculoskeletal disorder which makes patient painful and uncomfortable. Many studies about bone regeneration tried to figure out fast bone healing on early phase. It is already known that low level laser therapy (LLLT) is very convenient and good for beginning of bone disorder. However, light scattering and absorption obstruct musculoskeletal therapy which need optimal photon energy delivery. This study has used an interstitial laser probe (ILP) to overcome the limitations of light penetration depth and scattering. Animals (mouse, C57BL/6) were divided into three groups: laser treated test group 1 (660 nm; power 10 mW; total energy 5 J) and test group 2 (660 nm; power 20 mW; total energy 10 J); and untreated control group. All animals were taken surgical operation to make tibial defect on right crest of tibia. The test groups were treated every 48 hours with ILP. Bone volume and X-ray attenuation coefficient were measured on 0, 14th and 28th day with u-CT after treatment and were used to evaluate effect of LLLT. Results show that bone volume of test groups has been improved more than control group. X-ray attenuation coefficients of each groups have slightly different. The results suggest that LLLT combined with ILP may affect on early phase of bone regeneration and may be used in various musculoskeletal disease in deep tissue layer.

Effects of integration time on in-water radiometric profiles.

PubMed

D'Alimonte, Davide; Zibordi, Giuseppe; Kajiyama, Tamito

2018-03-05

This work investigates the effects of integration time on in-water downward irradiance E d , upward irradiance E u and upwelling radiance L u profile data acquired with free-fall hyperspectral systems. Analyzed quantities are the subsurface value and the diffuse attenuation coefficient derived by applying linear and non-linear regression schemes. Case studies include oligotrophic waters (Case-1), as well as waters dominated by Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) and Non-Algal Particles (NAP). Assuming a 24-bit digitization, measurements resulting from the accumulation of photons over integration times varying between 8 and 2048ms are evaluated at depths corresponding to: 1) the beginning of each integration interval (Fst); 2) the end of each integration interval (Lst); 3) the averages of Fst and Lst values (Avg); and finally 4) the values weighted accounting for the diffuse attenuation coefficient of water (Wgt). Statistical figures show that the effects of integration time can bias results well above 5% as a function of the depth definition. Results indicate the validity of the Wgt depth definition and the fair applicability of the Avg one. Instead, both the Fst and Lst depths should not be adopted since they may introduce pronounced biases in E u and L u regression products for highly absorbing waters. Finally, the study reconfirms the relevance of combining multiple radiometric casts into a single profile to increase precision of regression products.

Determining the Viscosity Coefficient for Viscoelastic Wave Propagation in Rock Bars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Leilei; Zhu, Wancheng; Li, Shaohua; Guan, Kai

2018-05-01

Rocks with microdefects exhibit viscoelastic behavior during stress wave propagation. The viscosity coefficient of the wave can be used to characterize the attenuation as the wave propagates in rock. In this study, a long artificial bar with a readily adjustable viscosity coefficient was fabricated to investigate stress wave attenuation. The viscoelastic behavior of the artificial bar under dynamic loading was investigated, and the initial viscoelastic coefficient was obtained based on the amplitude attenuation of the incident harmonic wave. A one-dimensional wave propagation program was compiled to reproduce the time history of the stress wave measured during the experiments, and the program was well fitted to the Kelvin-Voigt model. The attenuation and dispersion of the stress wave in long artificial viscoelastic bars were quantified to accurately determine the viscoelastic coefficient. Finally, the method used to determine the viscoelastic coefficient of a long artificial bar based on the experiments and numerical simulations was extended to determine the viscoelastic coefficient of a short rock bar. This study provides a new method of determining the viscosity coefficient of rock.

Simultaneous reconstruction of emission activity and attenuation coefficient distribution from TOF data, acquired with external transmission source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panin, V. Y.; Aykac, M.; Casey, M. E.

2013-06-01

The simultaneous PET data reconstruction of emission activity and attenuation coefficient distribution is presented, where the attenuation image is constrained by exploiting an external transmission source. Data are acquired in time-of-flight (TOF) mode, allowing in principle for separation of emission and transmission data. Nevertheless, here all data are reconstructed at once, eliminating the need to trace the position of the transmission source in sinogram space. Contamination of emission data by the transmission source and vice versa is naturally modeled. Attenuated emission activity data also provide additional information about object attenuation coefficient values. The algorithm alternates between attenuation and emission activity image updates. We also proposed a method of estimation of spatial scatter distribution from the transmission source by incorporating knowledge about the expected range of attenuation map values. The reconstruction of experimental data from the Siemens mCT scanner suggests that simultaneous reconstruction improves attenuation map image quality, as compared to when data are separated. In the presented example, the attenuation map image noise was reduced and non-uniformity artifacts that occurred due to scatter estimation were suppressed. On the other hand, the use of transmission data stabilizes attenuation coefficient distribution reconstruction from TOF emission data alone. The example of improving emission images by refining a CT-based patient attenuation map is presented, revealing potential benefits of simultaneous CT and PET data reconstruction.

Experimental wave attenuation study over flexible plants on a submerged slope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Zegao; Yang, Xiaoyu; Xu, Yuanzhao; Ding, Meiling; Lu, Haixiang

2017-12-01

Using plants is a kind of environmentally-friendly coastal protection to attenuate wave energy. In this paper, a set of experiments were conducted to investigate the wave attenuation performance using flexible grasses on a submerged slope, and the wave attenuation coefficient for these experiments was calculated for different still water depths, slope and grass configurations. It was found that the slope plays a significant role in wave attenuation. The wave attenuation coefficient increases with increasing relative row number and relative density. For a small relative row number, the two configurations from the slope top to its toe and from the slope toe to its top performed equally to a large extent. For a medium relative row number, the configuration from the slope toe to its top performed more poorly than that from the slope top to its toe; however, it performed better than that from the slope top to its toe for a high relative row number. With a single row of grasses close to the slope top from the slope toe, the wave attenuation coefficient shows double peaks. With increasing grass rows or still water depth, the grass location corresponding to the maximum wave attenuation coefficient is close to the slope top. The dimensional analysis and the least square method were used to derive an empirical equation of the wave attenuation coefficient considering the effect of relative density, the slope, the relative row number and the relative location of the middle row, and the equation was validated to experimental data.

Light attenuation characteristics of glacially-fed lakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rose, Kevin C.; Hamilton, David P.; Williamson, Craig E.; McBride, Chris G.; Fischer, Janet M.; Olson, Mark H.; Saros, Jasmine E.; Allan, Mathew G.; Cabrol, Nathalie

2014-07-01

Transparency is a fundamental characteristic of aquatic ecosystems and is highly responsive to changes in climate and land use. The transparency of glacially-fed lakes may be a particularly sensitive sentinel characteristic of these changes. However, little is known about the relative contributions of glacial flour versus other factors affecting light attenuation in these lakes. We sampled 18 glacially-fed lakes in Chile, New Zealand, and the U.S. and Canadian Rocky Mountains to characterize how dissolved absorption, algal biomass (approximated by chlorophyll a), water, and glacial flour contributed to attenuation of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400-700 nm). Variation in attenuation across lakes was related to turbidity, which we used as a proxy for the concentration of glacial flour. Turbidity-specific diffuse attenuation coefficients increased with decreasing wavelength and distance from glaciers. Regional differences in turbidity-specific diffuse attenuation coefficients were observed in short UVR wavelengths (305 and 320 nm) but not at longer UVR wavelengths (380 nm) or PAR. Dissolved absorption coefficients, which are closely correlated with diffuse attenuation coefficients in most non-glacially-fed lakes, represented only about one quarter of diffuse attenuation coefficients in study lakes here, whereas glacial flour contributed about two thirds across UVR and PAR. Understanding the optical characteristics of substances that regulate light attenuation in glacially-fed lakes will help elucidate the signals that these systems provide of broader environmental changes and forecast the effects of climate change on these aquatic ecosystems.

Measurement of the ultrasound attenuation and dispersion in whole human blood and its components from 0-70 MHz.

PubMed

Treeby, Bradley E; Zhang, Edward Z; Thomas, Alison S; Cox, Ben T

2011-02-01

The ultrasound attenuation coefficient and dispersion from 0-70 MHz in whole human blood and its components (red blood cells and plasma) at 37°C is reported. The measurements are made using a fixed path substitution technique that exploits optical mechanisms for the generation and detection of ultrasound. This allows the measurements to cover a broad frequency range with a single source and receiver. The measured attenuation coefficient and dispersion in solutions of red blood cells and physiological saline for total haemoglobin concentrations of 10, 15 and 20 g/dL are presented. The attenuation coefficient and dispersion in whole human blood taken from four healthy volunteers by venipuncture is also reported. The power law dependence of the attenuation coefficient is shown to vary across the measured frequency range. This is due to the varying frequency dependence of the different mechanisms responsible for the attenuation. The attenuation coefficient measured at high frequencies is found to be significantly higher than that predicted by historical power law parameters. A review of the attenuation mechanisms in blood along with previously reported experimental measurements is given. Values for the sound speed and density in the tested samples are also presented. Copyright © 2011 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ocean Lidar Measurements of Beam Attenuation and a Roadmap to Accurate Phytoplankton Biomass Estimates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Yongxiang; Behrenfeld, Mike; Hostetler, Chris; Pelon, Jacques; Trepte, Charles; Hair, John; Slade, Wayne; Cetinic, Ivona; Vaughan, Mark; Lu, Xiaomei; Zhai, Pengwang; Weimer, Carl; Winker, David; Verhappen, Carolus C.; Butler, Carolyn; Liu, Zhaoyan; Hunt, Bill; Omar, Ali; Rodier, Sharon; Lifermann, Anne; Josset, Damien; Hou, Weilin; MacDonnell, David; Rhew, Ray

2016-06-01

Beam attenuation coefficient, c, provides an important optical index of plankton standing stocks, such as phytoplankton biomass and total particulate carbon concentration. Unfortunately, c has proven difficult to quantify through remote sensing. Here, we introduce an innovative approach for estimating c using lidar depolarization measurements and diffuse attenuation coefficients from ocean color products or lidar measurements of Brillouin scattering. The new approach is based on a theoretical formula established from Monte Carlo simulations that links the depolarization ratio of sea water to the ratio of diffuse attenuation Kd and beam attenuation C (i.e., a multiple scattering factor). On July 17, 2014, the CALIPSO satellite was tilted 30° off-nadir for one nighttime orbit in order to minimize ocean surface backscatter and demonstrate the lidar ocean subsurface measurement concept from space. Depolarization ratios of ocean subsurface backscatter are measured accurately. Beam attenuation coefficients computed from the depolarization ratio measurements compare well with empirical estimates from ocean color measurements. We further verify the beam attenuation coefficient retrievals using aircraft-based high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) data that are collocated with in-water optical measurements.

Patient-specific estimation of spatially variant image noise for a pinhole cardiac SPECT camera.

PubMed

Cuddy-Walsh, Sarah G; Wells, R Glenn

2018-05-01

New single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) cameras using fixed pinhole collimation are increasingly popular. Pinhole collimators are known to have variable sensitivity with distance and angle from the pinhole aperture. It follows that pinhole SPECT systems will also have spatially variant sensitivity and hence spatially variant image noise. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a rapid method for analytically estimating a map of the noise magnitude in a reconstructed image using data from a single clinical acquisition. The projected voxel (PV) noise estimation method uses a modified forward projector with attenuation effects to estimate the number of photons detected from each voxel in the field-of-view. We approximate the noise for each voxel as the standard deviation of a Poisson distribution with a mean equal to the number of detected photons. An empirical formula is used to address scaling discrepancies caused by image reconstruction. Calibration coefficients are determined for the PV method by comparing it with noise measured from a nonparametrically bootstrapped set of images of a spherical uniformly filled Tc-99m water phantom. Validation studies compare PV noise estimates with bootstrapped measured noise for 31 patient images (5 min, 340 MBq, 99m Tc-tetrofosmin rest study). Bland-Altman analysis shows R 2 correlations ≥70% between the PV-estimated and -measured image noise. For the 31 patient cardiac images, the PV noise estimate has an average bias of 0.1% compared to bootstrapped noise and have a coefficient of variation (CV) ≤ 17%. The bootstrap approach to noise measurement requires 5 h of computation for each image, whereas the PV noise estimate requires only 64 s. In cardiac images, image noise due to attenuation and camera sensitivity varies on average from 4% at the apex to 9% in the basal posterior region of the heart. The standard deviation between 15 healthy patient study images (including physiological variability in the population) ranges from 6% to 16.5% over the length of the heart. The PV method provides a rapid estimate for spatially variant patient-specific image noise magnitude in a pinhole-collimated dedicated cardiac SPECT camera with a bias of -0.3% and better than 83% precision. © 2018 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Determination of 210Pb concentration in NORM waste - An application of the transmission method for self-attenuation corrections for gamma-ray spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonczyk, Michal

2018-07-01

This article deals with the problem of the self-attenuation of low-energy gamma-rays from the isotope of lead 210Pb (46.5 keV) in industrial waste. The 167 samples of industrial waste, belonging to nine categories, were tested by means of gamma spectrometry in order to determine 210Pb activity concentration. The experimental method for self-attenuation corrections for gamma rays emitted by lead isotope was applied. Mass attenuation coefficients were determined for energy of 46.5 keV. Correction factors were calculated based on mass attenuation coefficients, sample density and thickness. A mathematical formula for correction calculation was evaluated. The 210Pb activity concentration obtained varied in the range from several Bq·kg-1 up to 19,810 Bq kg-1. The mass attenuation coefficients varied across the range of 0.19-4.42 cm2·g-1. However, the variation of mass attenuation coefficient within some categories of waste was relatively small. The calculated corrections for self-attenuation were 0.98 - 6.97. The high value of correction factors must not be neglect in radiation risk assessment.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paudel, M; currently at University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, ON; MacKenzie, M

Purpose: High density/high atomic number metallic objects create shading and streaking metal artifacts in the CT image that can cause inaccurate delineation of anatomical structures or inaccurate radiation dose calculation. A modified iterative maximum-likelihood polychromatic algorithm for CT (mIMPACT) that models the energy response of detectors, photon interaction processes and beam polychromaticity has successfully reduced metal artifacts in MVCT. Our extension of mIMPACT in kVCT did not significantly reduce metal artifacts for high density metal like steel. We hypothesize that photon starvation may result in the measured data in a commercial kVCT imaging beam. Methods: We measured attenuation of amore » range of steel plate thicknesses, sandwiched between two 12cm thick solid water blocks, using a Phillips Big Bore CTTM scanner in scout acquisition mode with 120kVp and 200mAs. The transmitted signal (y) was normalized to the air scan signal (y{sub 0}) to get attenuation [i.e., ln(y/y{sub 0})] data for a detector. Results: Below steel plate thickness of 13.4mm, the variations in measured attenuation as a function of view number are characterized by a quantum noise and show increased attenuation with metal thickness. On or above this thickness the attenuation shows discrete levels in addition to the quantum noise. Some views have saturated attenuation value. The histograms of the measured attenuation for up to 36.7mm of steel show this trend. The detector signal is so small that the quantization levels in the analog to digital (A-to-D) converter are visible, a clear indication of photon starvation. Conclusion: Photons reaching the kVCT detector after passing through a thick metal plate are either so low in number that the signal measured has large quantum noise, or are completely absorbed inside the plate creating photon starvation. This is un-interpretable by the mIMPACT algorithm and cannot reduce metal artifacts in kVCT for certain realistic thicknesses of steel hip implants. Moti Raj Paudel is supported by the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, the Endowed Graduate Scholarship in Oncology and the Dissertation Fellowship at the University of Alberta. The authors acknowledge the CIHR operating grant number MOP 53254.« less

Calculation of conversion coefficients for clinical photon spectra using the MCNP code.

PubMed

Lima, M A F; Silva, A X; Crispim, V R

2004-01-01

In this work, the MCNP4B code has been employed to calculate conversion coefficients from air kerma to the ambient dose equivalent, H*(10)/Ka, for monoenergetic photon energies from 10 keV to 50 MeV, assuming the kerma approximation. Also estimated are the H*(10)/Ka for photon beams produced by linear accelerators, such as Clinac-4 and Clinac-2500, after transmission through primary barriers of radiotherapy treatment rooms. The results for the conversion coefficients for monoenergetic photon energies, with statistical uncertainty <2%, are compared with those in ICRP publication 74 and good agreements were obtained. The conversion coefficients calculated for real clinic spectra transmitted through walls of concrete of 1, 1.5 and 2 m thick, are in the range of 1.06-1.12 Sv Gy(-1).

The integral line-beam method for gamma skyshine analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shultis, J.K.; Faw, R.E.; Bassett, M.S.

1991-03-01

This paper presents a refinement of a simplified method, based on line-beam response functions, for performing skyshine calculations for shielded and collimated gamma-ray sources. New coefficients for an empirical fit to the line-beam response function are provided and a prescription for making the response function continuous in energy and emission direction is introduced. For a shielded source, exponential attenuation and a buildup factor correction for scattered photons in the shield are used. Results of the new integral line-beam method of calculation are compared to a variety of benchmark experimental data and calculations and are found to give generally excellent agreementmore » at a small fraction of the computational expense required by other skyshine methods.« less

Effective dose rate coefficients for exposure to contaminated soil

DOE PAGES

Veinot, Kenneth G.; Eckerman, Keith F.; Bellamy, Michael B.; ...

2017-05-10

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Radiation Protection Knowledge has undertaken calculations related to various environmental exposure scenarios. A previous paper reported the results for submersion in radioactive air and immersion in water using age-specific mathematical phantoms. This paper presents age-specific effective dose rate coefficients derived using stylized mathematical phantoms for exposure to contaminated soils. Dose rate coefficients for photon, electron, and positrons of discrete energies were calculated and folded with emissions of 1252 radionuclides addressed in ICRP Publication 107 to determine equivalent and effective dose rate coefficients. The MCNP6 radiation transport code was used for organ dose ratemore » calculations for photons and the contribution of electrons to skin dose rate was derived using point-kernels. Bremsstrahlung and annihilation photons of positron emission were evaluated as discrete photons. As a result, the coefficients calculated in this work compare favorably to those reported in the US Federal Guidance Report 12 as well as by other authors who employed voxel phantoms for similar exposure scenarios.« less

Effective dose rate coefficients for exposure to contaminated soil

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Veinot, Kenneth G.; Eckerman, Keith F.; Bellamy, Michael B.

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Radiation Protection Knowledge has undertaken calculations related to various environmental exposure scenarios. A previous paper reported the results for submersion in radioactive air and immersion in water using age-specific mathematical phantoms. This paper presents age-specific effective dose rate coefficients derived using stylized mathematical phantoms for exposure to contaminated soils. Dose rate coefficients for photon, electron, and positrons of discrete energies were calculated and folded with emissions of 1252 radionuclides addressed in ICRP Publication 107 to determine equivalent and effective dose rate coefficients. The MCNP6 radiation transport code was used for organ dose ratemore » calculations for photons and the contribution of electrons to skin dose rate was derived using point-kernels. Bremsstrahlung and annihilation photons of positron emission were evaluated as discrete photons. As a result, the coefficients calculated in this work compare favorably to those reported in the US Federal Guidance Report 12 as well as by other authors who employed voxel phantoms for similar exposure scenarios.« less

Attenuation correction strategies for multi-energy photon emitters using SPECT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pretorius, P.H.; King, M.A.; Pan, T.S.

1996-12-31

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the photopeak window projections from different energy photons can be combined into a single window for reconstruction or if it is better to not combine the projections due to differences in the attenuation maps required for each photon energy. The mathematical cardiac torso (MCAT) phantom was modified to simulate the uptake of Ga-67 in the human body. Four spherical hot tumors were placed in locations which challenged attenuation correction. An analytical 3D projector with attenuation and detector response included was used to generate projection sets. Data were reconstructed using filtered backprojectionmore » (FBP) reconstruction with Butterworth filtering in conjunction with one iteration of Chang attenuation correction, and with 5 and 10 iterations of ordered-subset maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization reconstruction. To serve as a standard for comparison, the projection sets obtained from the two energies were first reconstructed separately using their own attenuation maps. The emission data obtained from both energies were added and reconstructed using the following attenuation strategies: (1) the 93 keV attenuation map for attenuation correction, (2) the 185 keV attenuation map for attenuation correction, (3) using a weighted mean obtained from combining the 93 keV and 185 keV maps, and (4) an ordered subset approach which combines both energies. The central count ratio (CCR) and total count ratio (TCR) were used to compare the performance of the different strategies. Compared to the standard method, results indicate an over-estimation with strategy 1, an under-estimation with strategy 2 and comparable results with strategies 3 and 4. In all strategies, the CCR`s of sphere 4 were under-estimated, although TCR`s were comparable to that of the other locations. The weighted mean and ordered subset strategies for attenuation correction were of comparable accuracy to reconstruction of the windows separately.« less

Effective atomic numbers and electron density of dosimetric material

PubMed Central

Kaginelli, S. B.; Rajeshwari, T.; Sharanabasappa; Kerur, B. R.; Kumar, Anil S.

2009-01-01

A novel method for determination of mass attenuation coefficient of x-rays employing NaI (Tl) detector system and radioactive sources is described.in this paper. A rigid geometry arrangement and gating of the spectrometer at FWHM position and selection of absorber foils are all done following detailed investigation, to minimize the effect of small angle scattering and multiple scattering on the mass attenuation coefficient, μ/ρ, value. Firstly, for standardization purposes the mass attenuation coefficients of elemental foils such as Aluminum, Copper, Molybdenum, Tantalum and Lead are measured and then, this method is utilized for dosimetric interested material (sulfates). The experimental mass attenuation coefficient values are compared with the theoretical values to find good agreement between the theory and experiment within one to two per cent. The effective atomic numbers of the biological substitute material are calculated by sum rule and from the graph. The electron density of dosimetric material is calculated using the effective atomic number. The study has discussed in detail the attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number and electron density of dosimetric material/biological substitutes. PMID:20098566

Impact of errors in short wave radiation and its attenuation on modeled upper ocean heat content

DTIC Science & Technology

Photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) and its attenuation with the depth represent a forcing (source) term in the governing equation for the...and vertical attenuation of PAR have on the upper ocean model heat content. In the Monterey Bay area, we show that with a decrease in water clarity...attenuation coefficient. For Jerlov’s type IA water (attenuation coefficient is 0.049 m1), the relative error in surface PAR introduces an error

Structural and optical properties of Bi2O3-B2O3-CdO-Na2O glass system for gamma ray shielding applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dogra, Mridula; Singh, K. J.; Kaur, Kulwinder

2018-05-01

Quaternary system of the composition (0.15+x) Bi2O3-(0.55-x) B2O3-0.15CdO-0.15Na2O (where x=0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mole fraction) has been synthesized using melt-quenching technique. Gamma ray shielding properties are measured in terms of mass attenuation coefficient and half value layer at photon energies 662, 1173 and 1332 keV. These parameters are compared with standard nuclear radiation shielding `barite and ferrite' concretes. The results reflect better radiation shielding properties as compared to barite and ferrite concretes. Effective atomic number is calculated at photon energies 662 and 1173 keV. Density, molar volume and XRD studies are analyzed to know physical and structural properties of the glass system. Optical band gap, refractive index and molar refraction are calculated from UV-Visible measurements. Decrease in optical band gap and increase in molar refraction have been observed indicating the increase of non-bridging oxygens in the structure.

Optical coherence microscopy for deep tissue imaging of the cerebral cortex with intrinsic contrast

PubMed Central

Srinivasan, Vivek J.; Radhakrishnan, Harsha; Jiang, James Y.; Barry, Scott; Cable, Alex E.

2012-01-01

In vivo optical microscopic imaging techniques have recently emerged as important tools for the study of neurobiological development and pathophysiology. In particular, two-photon microscopy has proved to be a robust and highly flexible method for in vivo imaging in highly scattering tissue. However, two-photon imaging typically requires extrinsic dyes or contrast agents, and imaging depths are limited to a few hundred microns. Here we demonstrate Optical Coherence Microscopy (OCM) for in vivo imaging of neuronal cell bodies and cortical myelination up to depths of ~1.3 mm in the rat neocortex. Imaging does not require the administration of exogenous dyes or contrast agents, and is achieved through intrinsic scattering contrast and image processing alone. Furthermore, using OCM we demonstrate in vivo, quantitative measurements of optical properties (index of refraction and attenuation coefficient) in the cortex, and correlate these properties with laminar cellular architecture determined from the images. Lastly, we show that OCM enables direct visualization of cellular changes during cell depolarization and may therefore provide novel optical markers of cell viability. PMID:22330462

Effective atomic numbers and electron densities of bioactive glasses for photon interaction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shantappa, Anil, E-mail: anilmalipatil@yahoo.co.in; Hanagodimath, S. M., E-mail: smhmath@rediffmail.com

2015-08-28

This work was carried out to study the nature of mass attenuation coefficient of bioactive glasses for gamma rays. Bioactive glasses are a group of synthetic silica-based bioactive materials with unique bone bonding properties. In the present study, we have calculated the effective atomic number, electron density for photon interaction of some selected bioactive glasses viz., SiO{sub 2}-Na{sub 2}O, SiO{sub 2}-Na{sub 2}O-CaO and SiO{sub 2}-Na{sub 2}O-P{sub 2}O{sub 5} in the energy range 1 keV to 100 MeV. We have also computed the single valued effective atomic number by using XMuDat program. It is observed that variation in effective atomic number (Z{submore » PI,} {sub eff}) depends also upon the weight fractions of selected bioactive glasses and range of atomic numbers of the elements. The results shown here on effective atomic number, electron density will be more useful in the medical dosimetry for the calculation of absorbed dose and dose rate.« less

Measurement of gas viscosity using photonic crystal fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, R.-K.; Sheehe, S. L.; Kurtz, J.; O'Byrne, S.

2016-11-01

A new measurement technique for gas viscosity coefficient is designed and demonstrated using the technique of tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS). Gas flow is driven by a pressure gradient between two gas cells, through a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) surrounded by a furnace for temperature adjustment. PCF with 20-micron diameter affords physical space for gas-light interaction and provides a basis for gas viscosity measurement by determining the time for flow to exit a capillary tube under the influence of a pressure gradient. Infrared radiation from a diode laser is coupled into the fiber to be guided through the gas, and the light attenuation due to absorption from the molecular absorbing species is measured by a photo detector placed at the exit of the fiber. A numerical model from Sharipov and Graur describing local number density distribution in a unsteady state is applied for the determination of gas viscosity, based on the number density of gas measured by the absorption of the laser light, using the Beer-Lambert law. The measurement system is confirmed by measuring the viscosity of CO2 as a reference gas.

Study on the propagation properties of laser in aerosol based on Monte Carlo simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leng, Kun; Wu, Wenyuan; Zhang, Xi; Gong, Yanchun; Yang, Yuntao

2018-02-01

When laser propagate in the atmosphere, due to aerosol scattering and absorption, laser energy will continue to decline, affecting the effectiveness of the laser effect. Based on the Monte Carlo method, the relationship between the photon spatial energy distributions of the laser wavelengths of 10.6μm in marine, sand-type, water-soluble and soot aerosols ,and the propagation distance, visibility and the divergence angle were studied. The results show that for 10.6μm laser, the maximum number of attenuation of photons arriving at the receiving plane is sand-type aerosol, the minimal attenuation is water soluble aerosol; as the propagation distance increases, the number of photons arriving at the receiving plane decreases; as the visibility increases, the number of photons arriving at the receiving plane increases rapidly and then stabilizes; in the above cases, the photon energy distribution does not deviated from the Gaussian distribution; as the divergence angle increases, the number of photons arriving at the receiving plane is almost unchanged, but the photon energy distribution gradually deviates from the Gaussian distribution.

Multiplicity of transmission coefficients in photonic crystal and split ring resonator waveguides with Kerr nonlinear impurities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rai, Buddhi; McGurn, Arthur R.

2015-02-01

Photonic crystal and split ring resonator (SRR) metamaterial waveguides with Kerr nonlinear dielectric impurities are studied. The transmission coefficients for two guided modes of different frequencies scattering from the Kerr impurities are computed. The systems are shown to exhibit multiple transmission coefficient solutions arising from the Kerr nonlinearity. Multiple transmission coefficients occur when different input intensities into a waveguide result in the same transmitted output intensities past its nonlinear impurities. (In the case of a single incident guided mode the multiplicity of transmission coefficients is known as optical bistability.) The analytical conditions under which the transmission coefficients are single and multiple valued are determined, and specific examples of both single and multiple valued transmission coefficient scattering are presented. Both photonic crystal and split ring resonator systems are studied as the Kerr nonlinearity enters the photonic crystal and SRR systems in different ways. This allows for an interesting comparison of the differences in behaviors of these two types of system which are described by distinctly different mathematical structures. Both the photonic crystal and SRR models used in the calculations are based on a difference equation approach to the system dynamics. The difference equation approach has been extensively employed in previous papers to model the basic properties of these systems. The paper is a continuation of work on the optical bistability of single guided modes interacting with Kerr impurities in photonic crystals originally considered by McGurn [Chaos 13, 754 (2003), 10.1063/1.1568691] and work on the resonant scattering from Kerr impurities in photonic crystal waveguides considered by McGurn [J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 16, S5243 (2004), 10.1088/0953-8984/16/44/021]. It generalizes this work making the extension to the more complex interaction of two guided modes at different frequencies. It extends the two guided mode treatment by McGurn [Organ. Electron. 8, 227 (2007), 10.1016/j.orgel.2006.06.008] which was limited to a special case of one of the photonic crystal systems considered here.

An Innovative Concept for Spacebased Lidar Measurement of Ocean Carbon Biomass

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hu, Yongxiang; Behrenfeld, Michael; Hostetler, Chris; Pelon, Jacques; Trepte, Charles; Hair, John; Slade, Wayne; Cetinic, Ivona; Vaughan, Mark; Lu, Xiaomei;

Bilayered Hybrid Perovskite Ferroelectric with Giant Two-Photon Absorption.

PubMed

Li, Lina; Shang, Xiaoying; Wang, Sasa; Dong, Ningning; Ji, Chengmin; Chen, Xueyuan; Zhao, Sangen; Wang, Jun; Sun, Zhihua; Hong, Maochun; Luo, Junhua

2018-06-06

Perovskite ferroelectrics with prominent nonlinear optical absorption have attracted great attention in the field of photonics. However, they are traditionally dominated by inorganic oxides and exhibit relatively small nonlinear optical absorption coefficients, which hinder their further applications. Herein, we report a new organic-inorganic hybrid bilayered perovskite ferroelectric, (C 4 H 9 NH 3 ) 2 (NH 2 CHNH 2 )Pb 2 Br 7 (1), showing an above-room-temperature Curie temperature (∼322 K) and notable spontaneous polarization (∼3.8 μC cm -2 ). Significantly, the unique quantum-well structure of 1 results in intriguing two-photon absorption properties with a giant nonlinear optical absorption coefficient as high as 5.76 × 10 3 cm GW -1 , which is almost two-orders of magnitude larger than those of mostly traditional all-inorganic perovskite ferroelectrics. To our best knowledge, 1 is the first example of hybrid ferroelectrics with giant two-photon absorption coefficient. The mechanisms for ferroelectric and two-photon absorption are revealed. This work will shed light on the design of new ferroelectrics with two-photon absorption and promote their potentials in the photonic application.

Cross talk in the Lambert-Beer calculation for near-infrared wavelengths estimated by Monte Carlo simulations.

PubMed

Uludag, K; Kohl, M; Steinbrink, J; Obrig, H; Villringer, A

2002-01-01

Using the modified Lambert-Beer law to analyze attenuation changes measured noninvasively during functional activation of the brain might result in an insufficient separation of chromophore changes ("cross talk") due to the wavelength dependence of the partial path length of photons in the activated volume of the head. The partial path length was estimated by performing Monte Carlo simulations on layered head models. When assuming cortical activation (e.g., in the depth of 8-12 mm), we determine negligible cross talk when considering changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. But additionally taking changes in the redox state of cytochrome-c-oxidase into account, this analysis results in significant artifacts. An analysis developed for changes in mean time of flight--instead of changes in attenuation--reduces the cross talk for the layers of cortical activation. These results were validated for different oxygen saturations, wavelength combinations and scattering coefficients. For the analysis of changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin only, low cross talk was also found when the activated volume was assumed to be a 4-mm-diam sphere.

Measurements of the thermal coefficient of optical attenuation at different depth regions of in vivo human skins using optical coherence tomography: a pilot study

PubMed Central

Su, Ya; Yao, X. Steve; Li, Zhihong; Meng, Zhuo; Liu, Tiegen; Wang, Longzhi

2015-01-01

We present detailed measurement results of optical attenuation’s thermal coefficients (referenced to the temperature of the skin surface) in different depth regions of in vivo human forearm skins using optical coherence tomography (OCT). We first design a temperature control module with an integrated optical probe to precisely control the surface temperature of a section of human skin. We propose a method of using the correlation map to identify regions in the skin having strong correlations with the surface temperature of the skin and find that the attenuation coefficient in these regions closely follows the variation of the surface temperature without any hysteresis. We observe a negative thermal coefficient of attenuation in the epidermis. While in dermis, the slope signs of the thermal coefficient of attenuation are different at different depth regions for a particular subject, however, the depth regions with a positive (or negative) slope are different in different subjects. We further find that the magnitude of the thermal coefficient of attenuation coefficient is greater in epidermis than in dermis. We believe the knowledge of such thermal properties of skins is important for several noninvasive diagnostic applications, such as OCT glucose monitoring, and the method demonstrated in this paper is effective in studying the optical and biological properties in different regions of skin. PMID:25780740

Attenuation of the Squared Canonical Correlation Coefficient under Varying Estimates of Score Reliability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Celia M.

2010-01-01

Research pertaining to the distortion of the squared canonical correlation coefficient has traditionally been limited to the effects of sampling error and associated correction formulas. The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of attenuation of the squared canonical correlation coefficient under varying conditions of score reliability.…

Determination of Dimensionless Attenuation Coefficient in Shaped Resonators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daniels, C.; Steinetz, B.; Finkbeiner, J.; Raman, G.; Li, X.

2003-01-01

The value of dimensionless attenuation coefficient is an important factor when numerically predicting high-amplitude acoustic waves in shaped resonators. Both the magnitude of the pressure waveform and the quality factor rely heavily on this dimensionless parameter. Previous authors have stated the values used, but have not completely explained their methods. This work fully describes the methodology used to determine this important parameter. Over a range of frequencies encompassing the fundamental resonance, the pressure waves were experimentally measured at each end of the shaped resonators. At the corresponding dimensionless acceleration, the numerical code modeled the acoustic waveforms generated in the resonator using various dimensionless attenuation coefficients. The dimensionless attenuation coefficient that most closely matched the pressure amplitudes and quality factors of the experimental and numerical results was determined to be the value to be used in subsequent studies.

Gamma dosimetric parameters in some skeletal muscle relaxants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manjunatha, H. C.

2017-09-01

We have studied the attenuation of gamma radiation of energy ranging from 84 keV to 1330 keV (^{170}Tm, ^{22}Na,^{137}Cs, and ^{60}Co) in some commonly used skeletal muscle relaxants such as tubocurarine chloride, gallamine triethiodide, pancuronium bromide, suxamethonium bromide and mephenesin. The mass attenuation coefficient is measured from the attenuation experiment. In the present work, we have also proposed the direct relation between mass attenuation coefficient (μ /ρ ) and mass energy absorption coefficient (μ _{en}/ρ ) based on the nonlinear fitting procedure. The gamma dosimetric parameters such as mass energy absorption coefficient (μ _{en}/ρ ), effective atomic number (Z_{eff}), effective electron density (N_{el}), specific γ-ray constant, air kerma strength and dose rate are evaluated from the measured mass attentuation coefficient. These measured gamma dosimetric parameters are compared with the theoretical values. The measured values agree with the theoretical values. The studied gamma dosimetric values for the relaxants are useful in medical physics and radiation medicine.

Correction of quantification errors in pelvic and spinal lesions caused by ignoring higher photon attenuation of bone in [{sup 18}F]NaF PET/MR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schramm, Georg, E-mail: georg.schramm@kuleuven.be; Maus, Jens; Hofheinz, Frank

Purpose: MR-based attenuation correction (MRAC) in routine clinical whole-body positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) is based on tissue type segmentation. Due to lack of MR signal in cortical bone and the varying signal of spongeous bone, standard whole-body segmentation-based MRAC ignores the higher attenuation of bone compared to the one of soft tissue (MRAC{sub nobone}). The authors aim to quantify and reduce the bias introduced by MRAC{sub nobone} in the standard uptake value (SUV) of spinal and pelvic lesions in 20 PET/MRI examinations with [{sup 18}F]NaF. Methods: The authors reconstructed 20 PET/MR [{sup 18}F]NaF patient data setsmore » acquired with a Philips Ingenuity TF PET/MRI. The PET raw data were reconstructed with two different attenuation images. First, the authors used the vendor-provided MRAC algorithm that ignores the higher attenuation of bone to reconstruct PET{sub nobone}. Second, the authors used a threshold-based algorithm developed in their group to automatically segment bone structures in the [{sup 18}F]NaF PET images. Subsequently, an attenuation coefficient of 0.11 cm{sup −1} was assigned to the segmented bone regions in the MRI-based attenuation image (MRAC{sub bone}) which was used to reconstruct PET{sub bone}. The automatic bone segmentation algorithm was validated in six PET/CT [{sup 18}F]NaF examinations. Relative SUV{sub mean} and SUV{sub max} differences between PET{sub bone} and PET{sub nobone} of 8 pelvic and 41 spinal lesions, and of other regions such as lung, liver, and bladder, were calculated. By varying the assigned bone attenuation coefficient from 0.11 to 0.13 cm{sup −1}, the authors investigated its influence on the reconstructed SUVs of the lesions. Results: The comparison of [{sup 18}F]NaF-based and CT-based bone segmentation in the six PET/CT patients showed a Dice similarity of 0.7 with a true positive rate of 0.72 and a false discovery rate of 0.33. The [{sup 18}F]NaF-based bone segmentation worked well in the pelvis and spine. However, it showed artifacts in the skull and in the extremities. The analysis of the 20 [{sup 18}F]NaF PET/MRI examinations revealed relative SUV{sub max} differences between PET{sub nobone} and PET{sub bone} of (−8.8% ± 2.7%, p = 0.01) and (−8.1% ± 1.9%, p = 2.4 × 10{sup −8}) in pelvic and spinal lesions, respectively. A maximum SUV{sub max} underestimation of −13.7% was found in lesion in the third cervical spine. The averaged SUV{sub mean} differences in volumes of interests in lung, liver, and bladder were below 3%. The average SUV{sub max} differences in pelvic and spinal lesions increased from −9% to −18% and −8% to −17%, respectively, when increasing the assigned bone attenuation coefficient from 0.11 to 0.13 cm{sup −1}. Conclusions: The developed automatic [{sup 18}F]NaF PET-based bone segmentation allows to include higher bone attenuation in whole-body MRAC and thus improves quantification accuracy for pelvic and spinal lesions in [{sup 18}F]NaF PET/MRI examinations. In nonbone structures (e.g., lung, liver, and bladder), MRAC{sub nobone} yields clinically acceptable accuracy.« less

Shielding properties of 80TeO2-5TiO2-(15-x) WO3-xAnOm glasses using WinXCom and MCNP5 code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, M. G.; El-Mallawany, R.; Sayyed, M. I.; Tekin, H. O.

2017-12-01

Gamma ray shielding properties of 80TeO2-5TiO2-(15-x) WO3-xAnOm glasses, where AnOm is Nb2O5 = 0.01, 5, Nd2O3 = 3, 5 and Er2O3 = 5 mol% have been achieved. Shielding parameters; mass attenuation coefficients, half value layers, and macroscopic effective removal cross section for fast neutrons have been computed by using WinXCom program and MCNP5 Monte Carlo code. In addition, by using Geometric Progression method (G-P), exposure buildup factor values were also calculated. Variations of shielding parameters are discussed for the effect of REO addition into the glasses and photon energy.

Optical absorption and gamma-radiation-shielding parameter studies of Tm3+-doped multicomponent borosilicate glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lakshminarayana, G.; Sayyed, M. I.; Baki, S. O.; Lira, A.; Dong, M. G.; Kaky, Kawa M.; Kityk, I. V.; Mahdi, M. A.

2018-05-01

Different concentrations (0.1‒2.0 mol%) of Tm3+-doped multicomponent borosilicate glasses with 10 mol% Li2O (alkali) or MgO (alkaline) have been synthesized and their optical absorption and radiation shielding features were studied. For both Li2O and MgO series 0.5 mol% Tm3+-doped glass samples, the evaluated Ωλ ( λ = 2, 4, and 6) Judd-Ofelt (JO) intensity parameters from experimental oscillator strengths were used in estimating the radiative transition probabilities ( A R), branching ratios ( β R), and radiative lifetimes ( τ R) for several emission transitions. Using the XCOM software, the mass attenuation coefficients ( µ/ ρ) for all the fabricated glasses were evaluated within the 0.015‒10 MeV energy range. Also, the ( µ/ ρ) values were calculated at 0.356, 0.662, 1.173, and 1.33 MeV photon energies by MCNP5 simulation code and the results were compared with those obtained by XCOM. The ( µ/ ρ) values for Li2O, as well as MgO series glasses, increase with the addition of Tm2O3 and these values for MgO series glasses are slightly higher with respect to Li2O series glasses. From the ( µ/ ρ) values, effective atomic number ( Z eff), half-value layer (HVL), and mean free path (MFP) were calculated and the HVL and MFP results revealed that high-energy photons have more penetration into a glass sample compared to low-energy photons. Further, geometric progression (GP) fitting method was utilized to calculate the exposure buildup factor (EBF) within the 0.015‒15 MeV energy range. The 2.0 mol% Tm2O3-doped glasses show a better ability to attenuate gamma-rays in comparison to other glass samples, so the addition of Tm2O3 content leads to improvement of the shielding efficiency of the prepared glasses.

Development of two-photon fluorescence microscopy for quantitative imaging in turbid tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coleno, Mariah Lee

Two-photon laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (TPM) is a high resolution, non-invasive biological imaging technique that can be used to image turbid tissues both in vitro and in vivo at depths of several hundred microns. Although TPM has been widely used to image tissue structures, no one has focused on using TPM to extract quantitative information from turbid tissues at depth. As a result, this thesis addresses the quantitative characterization of two-photon signals in turbid media. Initially, a two-photon microscope system is constructed, and two-photon images that validate system performance are obtained. Then TPM is established as an imaging technique that can be used to validate theoretical observations already listed in the literature. In particular, TPM is found to validate the exponential dependence of the fluorescence intensity decay with depth in turbid tissue model systems. Results from these studies next prompted experimental investigation into whether TPM could be used to determine tissue optical properties. Comparing the exponential dependence of the decay with a Monte Carlo model involving tissue optical properties, TPM is shown to be useful for determining the optical properties (total attenuation coefficient) of thick, turbid tissues on a small spatial scale. Next, a role for TPM for studying and optimizing wound healing is demonstrated. In particular, TPM is used to study the effects of perturbations (growth factors, PDT) on extracellular matrix remodeling in artificially engineered skin tissues. Results from these studies combined with tissue contraction studies are shown to demonstrate ways to modulate tissues to optimize the wound healing immune response and reduce scarring. In the end, TPM is shown to be an extremely important quantitative biological imaging technique that can be used to optimize wound repair.

MicroCT with energy-resolved photon-counting detectors

PubMed Central

Wang, X; Meier, D; Mikkelsen, S; Maehlum, G E; Wagenaar, D J; Tsui, BMW; Patt, B E; Frey, E C

2011-01-01

The goal of this paper was to investigate the benefits that could be realistically achieved on a microCT imaging system with an energy-resolved photon-counting x-ray detector. To this end, we built and evaluated a prototype microCT system based on such a detector. The detector is based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) radiation sensors and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) readouts. Each detector pixel can simultaneously count x-ray photons above six energy thresholds, providing the capability for energy-selective x-ray imaging. We tested the spectroscopic performance of the system using polychromatic x-ray radiation and various filtering materials with Kabsorption edges. Tomographic images were then acquired of a cylindrical PMMA phantom containing holes filled with various materials. Results were also compared with those acquired using an intensity-integrating x-ray detector and single-energy (i.e. non-energy-selective) CT. This paper describes the functionality and performance of the system, and presents preliminary spectroscopic and tomographic results. The spectroscopic experiments showed that the energy-resolved photon-counting detector was capable of measuring energy spectra from polychromatic sources like a standard x-ray tube, and resolving absorption edges present in the energy range used for imaging. However, the spectral quality was degraded by spectral distortions resulting from degrading factors, including finite energy resolution and charge sharing. We developed a simple charge-sharing model to reproduce these distortions. The tomographic experiments showed that the availability of multiple energy thresholds in the photon-counting detector allowed us to simultaneously measure target-to-background contrasts in different energy ranges. Compared with single-energy CT with an integrating detector, this feature was especially useful to improve differentiation of materials with different attenuation coefficient energy dependences. PMID:21464527

MicroCT with energy-resolved photon-counting detectors.

PubMed

Wang, X; Meier, D; Mikkelsen, S; Maehlum, G E; Wagenaar, D J; Tsui, B M W; Patt, B E; Frey, E C

2011-05-07

The goal of this paper was to investigate the benefits that could be realistically achieved on a microCT imaging system with an energy-resolved photon-counting x-ray detector. To this end, we built and evaluated a prototype microCT system based on such a detector. The detector is based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) radiation sensors and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) readouts. Each detector pixel can simultaneously count x-ray photons above six energy thresholds, providing the capability for energy-selective x-ray imaging. We tested the spectroscopic performance of the system using polychromatic x-ray radiation and various filtering materials with K-absorption edges. Tomographic images were then acquired of a cylindrical PMMA phantom containing holes filled with various materials. Results were also compared with those acquired using an intensity-integrating x-ray detector and single-energy (i.e. non-energy-selective) CT. This paper describes the functionality and performance of the system, and presents preliminary spectroscopic and tomographic results. The spectroscopic experiments showed that the energy-resolved photon-counting detector was capable of measuring energy spectra from polychromatic sources like a standard x-ray tube, and resolving absorption edges present in the energy range used for imaging. However, the spectral quality was degraded by spectral distortions resulting from degrading factors, including finite energy resolution and charge sharing. We developed a simple charge-sharing model to reproduce these distortions. The tomographic experiments showed that the availability of multiple energy thresholds in the photon-counting detector allowed us to simultaneously measure target-to-background contrasts in different energy ranges. Compared with single-energy CT with an integrating detector, this feature was especially useful to improve differentiation of materials with different attenuation coefficient energy dependences.

The origin of blue-green window and the propagation of radiation in ocean waters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reghunath, A. T.; Venkataramanan, V.; Suviseshamuthu, D. Victor; Krishnamohan, R.; Prasad, B. Raghavendra

1991-01-01

A review of the present knowledge about the origin of blue-green window in the attenuation spectrum of ocean waters is presented. The various physical mechanisms which contribute to the formation of the window are dealt separately and discussed. The typical values of attenuation coefficient arising out of the various processes are compiled to obtain the total beam attenuation coefficient. These values are then compared with measured values of attenuation coefficient for ocean waters collected from Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal. The region of minimum attenuation in pure particle-free sea water is found to be at 450 to 500 nm. It is shown that in the presence of suspended particles and chlorophyll, the window shifts to longer wavelength side. Some suggestions for future work in this area are also given in the concluding section.

Extracting rate coefficients from single-molecule photon trajectories and FRET efficiency histograms for a fast-folding protein.

PubMed

Chung, Hoi Sung; Gopich, Irina V; McHale, Kevin; Cellmer, Troy; Louis, John M; Eaton, William A

2011-04-28

Recently developed statistical methods by Gopich and Szabo were used to extract folding and unfolding rate coefficients from single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) data for proteins with kinetics too fast to measure waiting time distributions. Two types of experiments and two different analyses were performed. In one experiment bursts of photons were collected from donor and acceptor fluorophores attached to a 73-residue protein, α(3)D, freely diffusing through the illuminated volume of a confocal microscope system. In the second, the protein was immobilized by linkage to a surface, and photons were collected until one of the fluorophores bleached. Folding and unfolding rate coefficients and mean FRET efficiencies for the folded and unfolded subpopulations were obtained from a photon by photon analysis of the trajectories using a maximum likelihood method. The ability of the method to describe the data in terms of a two-state model was checked by recoloring the photon trajectories with the extracted parameters and comparing the calculated FRET efficiency histograms with the measured histograms. The sum of the rate coefficients for the two-state model agreed to within 30% with the relaxation rate obtained from the decay of the donor-acceptor cross-correlation function, confirming the high accuracy of the method. Interestingly, apparently reliable rate coefficients could be extracted using the maximum likelihood method, even at low (<10%) population of the minor component where the cross-correlation function was too noisy to obtain any useful information. The rate coefficients and mean FRET efficiencies were also obtained in an approximate procedure by simply fitting the FRET efficiency histograms, calculated by binning the donor and acceptor photons, with a sum of three-Gaussian functions. The kinetics are exposed in these histograms by the growth of a FRET efficiency peak at values intermediate between the folded and unfolded peaks as the bin size increases, a phenomenon with similarities to NMR exchange broadening. When comparable populations of folded and unfolded molecules are present, this method yields rate coefficients in very good agreement with those obtained with the maximum likelihood method. As a first step toward characterizing transition paths, the Viterbi algorithm was used to locate the most probable transition points in the photon trajectories.

High resolution micro-CT of low attenuating organic materials using large area photon-counting detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumpová, I.; Vavřík, D.; Fíla, T.; Koudelka, P.; Jandejsek, I.; Jakůbek, J.; Kytýř, D.; Zlámal, P.; Vopálenský, M.; Gantar, A.

2016-02-01

To overcome certain limitations of contemporary materials used for bone tissue engineering, such as inflammatory response after implantation, a whole new class of materials based on polysaccharide compounds is being developed. Here, nanoparticulate bioactive glass reinforced gelan-gum (GG-BAG) has recently been proposed for the production of bone scaffolds. This material offers promising biocompatibility properties, including bioactivity and biodegradability, with the possibility of producing scaffolds with directly controlled microgeometry. However, to utilize such a scaffold with application-optimized properties, large sets of complex numerical simulations using the real microgeometry of the material have to be carried out during the development process. Because the GG-BAG is a material with intrinsically very low attenuation to X-rays, its radiographical imaging, including tomographical scanning and reconstructions, with resolution required by numerical simulations might be a very challenging task. In this paper, we present a study on X-ray imaging of GG-BAG samples. High-resolution volumetric images of investigated specimens were generated on the basis of micro-CT measurements using a large area flat-panel detector and a large area photon-counting detector. The photon-counting detector was composed of a 010× 1 matrix of Timepix edgeless silicon pixelated detectors with tiling based on overlaying rows (i.e. assembled so that no gap is present between individual rows of detectors). We compare the results from both detectors with the scanning electron microscopy on selected slices in transversal plane. It has been shown that the photon counting detector can provide approx. 3× better resolution of the details in low-attenuating materials than the integrating flat panel detectors. We demonstrate that employment of a large area photon counting detector is a good choice for imaging of low attenuating materials with the resolution sufficient for numerical simulations.

Gamma ray shielding properties of PbO-Li2O-B2O3 glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Ashok

2017-07-01

The mass attenuation coefficients have been measured in (0.6-x) PbO-x Li2O-0.40 B2O3 (where 0≤ x≤0.25 mol%) glasses for photon energies of 356, 662, 1173 and 1332 keV in a narrow beam geometry with an overall scatter acceptance angle of 2.31°. The experimental results are found to be within 3% of their theoretical values. These coefficients were then used to obtain the values of mean free path, effective atomic number and electron density. The shielding properties of these glasses have also been compared among themselves in terms of their mean free path and radiation protection efficiency. The shielding properties prepared glasses have also been compared with standard concretes as well as with the standard shielding glasses. It is found that the prepared glasses are the better shielding substitute to the conventional concretes as well as other standard shielding glasses. The Pb3B4O9 has been found to be the most effective shield.

Differentiating functional brain regions using optical coherence tomography (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gil, Daniel A.; Bow, Hansen C.; Shen, Jin-H.; Joos, Karen M.; Skala, Melissa C.

2017-02-01

The human brain is made up of functional regions governing movement, sensation, language, and cognition. Unintentional injury during neurosurgery can result in significant neurological deficits and morbidity. The current standard for localizing function to brain tissue during surgery, intraoperative electrical stimulation or recording, significantly increases the risk, time, and cost of the procedure. There is a need for a fast, cost-effective, and high-resolution intraoperative technique that can avoid damage to functional brain regions. We propose that optical coherence tomography (OCT) can fill this niche by imaging differences in the cellular composition and organization of functional brain areas. We hypothesized this would manifest as differences in the attenuation coefficient measured using OCT. Five functional regions (prefrontal, somatosensory, auditory, visual, and cerebellum) were imaged in ex vivo porcine brains (n=3), a model chosen due to a similar white/gray matter ratio as human brains. The attenuation coefficient was calculated using a depth-resolved model and quantitatively validated with Intralipid phantoms across a physiological range of attenuation coefficients (absolute difference < 0.1cm-1). Image analysis was performed on the attenuation coefficient images to derive quantitative endpoints. We observed a statistically significant difference among the median attenuation coefficients of these five regions (one-way ANOVA, p<0.05). Nissl-stained histology will be used to validate our results and correlate OCT-measured attenuation coefficients to neuronal density. Additional development and validation of OCT algorithms to discriminate brain regions are planned to improve the safety and efficacy of neurosurgical procedures such as biopsy, electrode placement, and tissue resection.

Quantitative determination of radio-opacity: equivalence of digital and film X-ray systems.

PubMed

Nomoto, R; Mishima, A; Kobayashi, K; McCabe, J F; Darvell, B W; Watts, D C; Momoi, Y; Hirano, S

2008-01-01

To evaluate the equivalence of a digital X-ray system (DenOptix) to conventional X-ray film in terms of the measured radio-opacity of known filled-resin materials and the suitability of attenuation coefficient for radio-opacity determination. Discs of five thicknesses (0.5-2.5mm) and step-wedges of each of three composite materials of nominal aluminum-equivalence of 50%, 200% and 450% were used. X-ray images of a set of discs (or step-wedge), an aluminum step-wedge, and a lead block were taken at 65 kV and 10 mA at a focus-film distance of 400 mm for 0.15s and 1.6s using an X-ray film or imaging plate. Radio-opacity was determined as equivalent aluminum thickness and attenuation coefficient. The logarithm of the individual optical density or gray scale value, corrected for background, was plotted against thickness, and the attenuation coefficient determined from the slope. The method of ISO 4049 was used for equivalent aluminum thickness. The equivalent aluminum thickness method is not suitable for materials of low radio-opacity, while the attenuation coefficient method could be used for all without difficulty. The digital system gave attenuation coefficients of greater precision than did film, but the use of automatic gain control (AGC) distorted the outcome unusably. Attenuation coefficient is a more precise and generally applicable approach to the determination of radio-opacity. The digital system was equivalent to film but with less noise. The use of AGC is inappropriate for such determinations.

Organ dose conversion coefficients based on a voxel mouse model and MCNP code for external photon irradiation.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaomin; Xie, Xiangdong; Cheng, Jie; Ning, Jing; Yuan, Yong; Pan, Jie; Yang, Guoshan

2012-01-01

A set of conversion coefficients from kerma free-in-air to the organ absorbed dose for external photon beams from 10 keV to 10 MeV are presented based on a newly developed voxel mouse model, for the purpose of radiation effect evaluation. The voxel mouse model was developed from colour images of successive cryosections of a normal nude male mouse, in which 14 organs or tissues were segmented manually and filled with different colours, while each colour was tagged by a specific ID number for implementation of mouse model in Monte Carlo N-particle code (MCNP). Monte Carlo simulation with MCNP was carried out to obtain organ dose conversion coefficients for 22 external monoenergetic photon beams between 10 keV and 10 MeV under five different irradiation geometries conditions (left lateral, right lateral, dorsal-ventral, ventral-dorsal, and isotropic). Organ dose conversion coefficients were presented in tables and compared with the published data based on a rat model to investigate the effect of body size and weight on the organ dose. The calculated and comparison results show that the organ dose conversion coefficients varying the photon energy exhibits similar trend for most organs except for the bone and skin, and the organ dose is sensitive to body size and weight at a photon energy approximately <0.1 MeV.

Pair Creation Transparency in Gamma-Ray Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Story, Sarah A.

Pulsars are rapidly rotating, highly magnetized neutron stars that produce photon pulses in energies from radio to gamma-rays. The population of known gamma-ray pulsars has been increased nearly twenty-fold in the past six years since the launch of the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope; it now exceeds 145 sources and has defined an important part of Fermi's science legacy. In order to understand the detectability of pulsars in gamma-rays, it is important to consider not only the radiative mechanisms that produce gamma-rays, but the processes that can attenuate photons before they can leave the pulsar magnetosphere. Here I explore two such processes, one-photon magnetic pair creation and two-photon pair creation. Magnetic pair creation has been at the core of radio pulsar paradigms and central to polar cap models of gamma-ray pulsars for over three decades. Among the population characteristics well established for Fermi pulsars is the common occurrence of exponential turnovers in the spectra in the 1-10 GeV range. These turnovers are too gradual to arise from magnetic pair creation in the strong magnetic fields of pulsar inner magnetospheres. By demanding insignificant photon attenuation precipitated by such single-photon pair creation, the energies of these turnovers for Fermi pulsars can be used to compute lower bounds for the typical altitude of GeV band emission. In this thesis, I explore such pair transparency constraints below the turnover energy and update earlier altitude bound determinations that have been deployed in various gamma-ray pulsar papers by the Fermi-LAT collaboration. For low altitude emission locales, general relativistic influences are found to be important, increasing cumulative opacity, shortening the photon attenuation lengths, and also reducing the maximum energy that permits escape of photons from a neutron star magnetosphere. Rotational aberration influences are also explored, and are found to be small at low altitudes, except near the magnetic pole. Our analysis clearly demonstrates that including near-threshold physics in the pair creation rate is essential to deriving accurate attenuation lengths and escape energies. The altitude bounds we compute for Fermi pulsars are typically in the range of 2-7 stellar radii and provide key information on the emission altitude in radio quiet pulsars that do not possess double peaked pulse profiles. The bound for the Crab pulsar is at a much higher altitude, with the detection by the atmospheric Cherenkov telescope MAGIC out to 350-400 GeV implying a lower bound of 310 km to the emission region, i.e., approximately 20% of the light cylinder radius. These results are also extended to the super-critical field domain, where it is found that emission in magnetars originating below around 10 stellar radii will not appear in the Fermi-LAT band. Two-photon pair creation becomes important at high altitudes and for photons produced by curvature radiation from charges flowing downward along magnetic field lines. Because the efficiency of two-photon pair creation does not depend on the local magnetic field strength, it can continue to be active in the weak-field regions far from the neutron star. It is found that two-photon pair creation can strongly attenuate photons emitted from downward-traveling charges except at very high altitudes of emission, but in the absence of rotational aberration, it is unable to produce significant opacity for upward-traveling charges unless unrealistically high neutron star surface temperatures are assumed.

Diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance at 490 nm and its spectral characteristics in the Black Sea upper layer: modeling, in situ measurements and ocean color data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suslin, V. V.; Slabakova, V. K.; Churilova, T. Ya.

2017-11-01

Vertical diffuse attenuation coefficient, Kd(490), is one of the key parameter required for water quality modeling, hydrodynamic and biological processes in the sea. We showed that standard level-2 product of Kd(490) was underestimated in comparison with Kd(490) values simulated by the regional model during the diatom bloom in the Black Sea. Using data of SeaWiFS, MERIS and MODIS color scanners, a regional relationship between the model value of Kd(490) and the ratio of remote sensing reflectances has been obtained. Based on the bulgarian argo-bio-buoy dataset, the relationship between the attenuation coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation and attenuation coefficient at a wavelength of 490 nm is obtained. The simplified model, below as the S-model, of the diffuse attenuation coefficient spectrum for downwelling irradiance in the Black Sea upper layer is described. As a consequence of the S-model, the link between the depth of the euphotic zone and Kd(490) has been obtained. It is shown that the Kd(490) values, retrieved from ocean color data with using the regional link and from argo-bio-buoy measurements at depths between 6-20 m, are close to each other.

SU-E-I-42: Some New Aspects of the Energy Weighting Technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ganezer, K; Krmar, M; Josipovic, I

2015-06-15

Purpose: The development in the last few years of photon-counting pixel detectors creates an important and significant opportunity for x-ray spectroscopy to be applied in diagnostics. The energy weighting technique was originally developed to obtain the maximum benefit from the spectroscopic information. In all previous published papers the concept of an energy weighting function was tested on relatively simple test objects having only two materials with different absorption coefficients. Methods: In this study the shape of the energy weighting function was investigated with a set of ten trabecular bone test objects each with a similar geometry and structure but withmore » different attenuation properties. In previous publications it was determined that the function E-3 was a very good choice for the weighting function (wi). Results: The most important Result from this study was the discovery that a single function of the form E-b was not sufficient to explain the energy dependence of the different types of materials that might be used to describe common bodily tissues such as trabecular bone. It was also determined from the data contained in this paper that the exponent b is often significantly dependent upon the attenuation properties of the materials that were used to make the test objects. Conclusion: Studies of the attenuation properties will be useful in further studies involving energy weighting.« less

A cascaded model of spectral distortions due to spectral response effects and pulse pileup effects in a photon-counting x-ray detector for CT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cammin, Jochen, E-mail: jcammin1@jhmi.edu, E-mail: ktaguchi@jhmi.edu; Taguchi, Katsuyuki, E-mail: jcammin1@jhmi.edu, E-mail: ktaguchi@jhmi.edu; Xu, Jennifer

Purpose: Energy discriminating, photon-counting detectors (PCDs) are an emerging technology for computed tomography (CT) with various potential benefits for clinical CT. The photon energies measured by PCDs can be distorted due to the interactions of a photon with the detector and the interaction of multiple coincident photons. These effects result in distorted recorded x-ray spectra which may lead to artifacts in reconstructed CT images and inaccuracies in tissue identification. Model-based compensation techniques have the potential to account for the distortion effects. This approach requires only a small number of parameters and is applicable to a wide range of spectra andmore » count rates, but it needs an accurate model of the spectral distortions occurring in PCDs. The purpose of this study was to develop a model of those spectral distortions and to evaluate the model using a PCD (model DXMCT-1; DxRay, Inc., Northridge, CA) and various x-ray spectra in a wide range of count rates. Methods: The authors hypothesize that the complex phenomena of spectral distortions can be modeled by: (1) separating them into count-rate independent factors that we call the spectral response effects (SRE), and count-rate dependent factors that we call the pulse pileup effects (PPE), (2) developing separate models for SRE and PPE, and (3) cascading the SRE and PPE models into a combined SRE+PPE model that describes PCD distortions at both low and high count rates. The SRE model describes the probability distribution of the recorded spectrum, with a photo peak and a continuum tail, given the incident photon energy. Model parameters were obtained from calibration measurements with three radioisotopes and then interpolated linearly for other energies. The PPE model used was developed in the authors’ previous work [K. Taguchi et al., “Modeling the performance of a photon counting x-ray detector for CT: Energy response and pulse pileup effects,” Med. Phys. 38(2), 1089–1102 (2011)]. The agreement between the x-ray spectra calculated by the cascaded SRE+PPE model and the measured spectra was evaluated for various levels of deadtime loss ratios (DLR) and incident spectral shapes, realized using different attenuators, in terms of the weighted coefficient of variation (COV{sub W}), i.e., the root mean square difference weighted by the statistical errors of the data and divided by the mean. Results: At low count rates, when DLR < 10%, the distorted spectra measured by the DXMCT-1 were in agreement with those calculated by SRE only, with COV{sub W}'s less than 4%. At higher count rates, the measured spectra were also in agreement with the ones calculated by the cascaded SRE+PPE model; with PMMA as attenuator, COV{sub W} was 5.6% at a DLR of 22% and as small as 6.7% for a DLR as high as 55%. Conclusions: The x-ray spectra calculated by the proposed model agreed with the measured spectra over a wide range of count rates and spectral shapes. The SRE model predicted the distorted, recorded spectra with low count rates over various types and thicknesses of attenuators. The study also validated the hypothesis that the complex spectral distortions in a PCD can be adequately modeled by cascading the count-rate independent SRE and the count-rate dependent PPE.« less

A cascaded model of spectral distortions due to spectral response effects and pulse pileup effects in a photon-counting x-ray detector for CT

PubMed Central

Cammin, Jochen; Xu, Jennifer; Barber, William C.; Iwanczyk, Jan S.; Hartsough, Neal E.; Taguchi, Katsuyuki

2014-01-01

Purpose: Energy discriminating, photon-counting detectors (PCDs) are an emerging technology for computed tomography (CT) with various potential benefits for clinical CT. The photon energies measured by PCDs can be distorted due to the interactions of a photon with the detector and the interaction of multiple coincident photons. These effects result in distorted recorded x-ray spectra which may lead to artifacts in reconstructed CT images and inaccuracies in tissue identification. Model-based compensation techniques have the potential to account for the distortion effects. This approach requires only a small number of parameters and is applicable to a wide range of spectra and count rates, but it needs an accurate model of the spectral distortions occurring in PCDs. The purpose of this study was to develop a model of those spectral distortions and to evaluate the model using a PCD (model DXMCT-1; DxRay, Inc., Northridge, CA) and various x-ray spectra in a wide range of count rates. Methods: The authors hypothesize that the complex phenomena of spectral distortions can be modeled by: (1) separating them into count-rate independent factors that we call the spectral response effects (SRE), and count-rate dependent factors that we call the pulse pileup effects (PPE), (2) developing separate models for SRE and PPE, and (3) cascading the SRE and PPE models into a combined SRE+PPE model that describes PCD distortions at both low and high count rates. The SRE model describes the probability distribution of the recorded spectrum, with a photo peak and a continuum tail, given the incident photon energy. Model parameters were obtained from calibration measurements with three radioisotopes and then interpolated linearly for other energies. The PPE model used was developed in the authors’ previous work [K. Taguchi , “Modeling the performance of a photon counting x-ray detector for CT: Energy response and pulse pileup effects,” Med. Phys. 38(2), 1089–1102 (2011)]. The agreement between the x-ray spectra calculated by the cascaded SRE+PPE model and the measured spectra was evaluated for various levels of deadtime loss ratios (DLR) and incident spectral shapes, realized using different attenuators, in terms of the weighted coefficient of variation (COVW), i.e., the root mean square difference weighted by the statistical errors of the data and divided by the mean. Results: At low count rates, when DLR < 10%, the distorted spectra measured by the DXMCT-1 were in agreement with those calculated by SRE only, with COVW's less than 4%. At higher count rates, the measured spectra were also in agreement with the ones calculated by the cascaded SRE+PPE model; with PMMA as attenuator, COVW was 5.6% at a DLR of 22% and as small as 6.7% for a DLR as high as 55%. Conclusions: The x-ray spectra calculated by the proposed model agreed with the measured spectra over a wide range of count rates and spectral shapes. The SRE model predicted the distorted, recorded spectra with low count rates over various types and thicknesses of attenuators. The study also validated the hypothesis that the complex spectral distortions in a PCD can be adequately modeled by cascading the count-rate independent SRE and the count-rate dependent PPE. PMID:24694136

Determination of the total attenuation coefficient for six contact lens materials using the Beer-Lambert law.

PubMed

Hull, C C; Crofts, N C

1996-03-01

The Beer-Lambert law has been used to determine the total attenuation coefficient, mu t, of three hard and three soft contact lens materials. The three hard contact lens materials were PMMA, Polycon II and Boston IV whereas the 3 soft materials were chosen with differing water contents of 38, 55 and 70%, respectively. The total attenuation coefficients of all six materials were obtained from measurements of the axial transmission at 632.8 nm of a series of plano powered lenses varying in axial thickness from 0.5 to 3.5 mm. The value of the total attenuation coefficient depends on both scattering and absorption and hence PMMA and Boston IV, which both incorporated a handling tint, showed significantly higher values (P < 0.0001) of mu t (0.562 +/- 0.010 mm-1 and 0.820 +/- 0.008 mm-1, respectively) than Polycon II (mu t = 0.025 +/- 0.005 mm-1). A comparison between Polycon II and the three hydrated soft contact lens materials showed a significant increase (P < 0.02) in the total attenuation coefficients for the 38% and 55% water content materials, and a weakly significant increase for the 70% water content soft lens material (P < 0.1). On the assumption that the absorption coefficients of these four materials are approximately constant, then this change would be due to an increase in the scattering coefficient of the material and could contribute to an increase in intraocular scatter. No significant difference (P > 0.5) was found between any of the hydrated soft contact lens materials tested.

Characterization of a spectroscopic detector for application in x-ray computed tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dooraghi, Alex A.; Fix, Brian J.; Smith, Jerel A.; Brown, William D.; Azevedo, Stephen G.; Martz, Harry E.

2017-09-01

Recent advances in cadmium telluride (CdTe) energy-discriminating pixelated detectors have enabled the possibility of Multi-Spectral X-ray Computed Tomography (MSXCT) to incorporate spectroscopic information into CT. MultiX ME 100 V2 is a CdTe-based spectroscopic x-ray detector array capable of recording energies from 20 to 160 keV in 1.1 keV energy bin increments. Hardware and software have been designed to perform radiographic and computed tomography tasks with this spectroscopic detector. Energy calibration is examined using the end-point energy of a bremsstrahlung spectrum and radioisotope spectral lines. When measuring the spectrum from Am-241 across 500 detector elements, the standard deviation of the peak-location and FWHM measurements are +/- 0.4 and +/- 0.6 keV, respectively. As these values are within the energy bin size (1.1 keV), detector elements are consistent with each other. The count rate is characterized, using a nonparalyzable model with a dead time of 64 +/- 5 ns. This is consistent with the manufacturer's quoted per detector-element linear-deviation at 2 Mpps (million photons per sec) of 8.9 % (typical) and 12 % (max). When comparing measured and simulated spectra, a low-energy tail is visible in the measured data due to the spectral response of the detector. If no valid photon detections are expected in the low-energy tail, then a background subtraction may be applied to allow for a possible first-order correction. If photons are expected in the low-energy tail, a detailed model must be implemented. A radiograph of an aluminum step wedge with a maximum height of 20 mm shows an underestimation of attenuation by about 10 % at 60 keV. This error is due to partial energy deposition from higher energy (>60 keV) photons into a lower-energy ( 60 keV) bin, reducing the apparent attenuation. A radiograph of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) cylinder taken using a bremsstrahlung spectrum from an x-ray voltage of 100 kV filtered by 1.3 mm Cu is reconstructed using Abel inversion. As no counts are expected in the low energy tail, a first order background correction is applied to the spectrum. The measured linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) is within 10% of the expected value in the 60 to 100 keV range. Below 60 keV, low counts in the corrected spectrum and partial energy deposition from incident photons of energy greater than 60 keV into energy bins below 60 keV impact the LAC measurements. This report ends with a demonstration of the tomographic capability of the system. The quantitative understanding of the detector developed in this report will enable further study in evaluating the system for characterization of an object's chemical make-up for industrial and security purposes.

Characterization of a spectroscopic detector for application in x-ray computed tomography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dooraghi, A. A.; Fix, B. J.; Smith, J. A.

Recent advances in cadmium telluride (CdTe) energy-discriminating pixelated detectors have enabled the possibility of Multi-Spectral X-ray Computed Tomography (MSXCT) to incorporate spectroscopic information into CT. MultiX ME 100 V2 is a CdTe-based spectroscopic x-ray detector array capable of recording energies from 20 to 160 keV in 1.1 keV energy bin increments. Hardware and software have been designed to perform radiographic and computed tomography tasks with this spectroscopic detector. Energy calibration is examined using the end-point energy of a bremsstrahlung spectrum and radioisotope spectral lines. When measuring the spectrum from Am-241 across 500 detector elements, the standard deviation of the peak-locationmore » and FWHM measurements are ±0.4 and ±0.6 keV, respectively. As these values are within the energy bin size (1.1 keV), detector elements are consistent with each other. The count rate is characterized, using a nonparalyzable model with a dead time of 64 ± 5 ns. This is consistent with the manufacturer’s quoted per detector-element linear-deviation at 2 Mpps (million photons per sec) of 8.9% (typical) and 12% (max). When comparing measured and simulated spectra, a low-energy tail is visible in the measured data due to the spectral response of the detector. If no valid photon detections are expected in the low-energy tail, then a background subtraction may be applied to allow for a possible first-order correction. If photons are expected in the low-energy tail, a detailed model must be implemented. A radiograph of an aluminum step wedge with a maximum height of about 20 mm shows an underestimation of attenuation by about 10% at 60 keV. This error is due to partial energy deposition from higher-energy (> 60 keV) photons into a lower-energy (~60 keV) bin, reducing the apparent attenuation. A radiograph of a PTFE cylinder taken using a bremsstrahlung spectrum from an x-ray voltage of 100 kV filtered by 1.3 mm Cu is reconstructed using Abel inversion. As no counts are expected in the low energy tail, a first order background correction is applied to the spectrum. The measured linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) is within 10% of the expected value in the 60 to 100 keV range. Below 60 keV, low counts in the corrected spectrum and partial energy deposition from incident photons of energy greater than 60 keV into energy bins below 60 keV impact the LAC measurements. This report ends with a demonstration of the tomographic capability of the system. The quantitative understanding of the detector developed in this report will enable further study in evaluating the system for characterization of an object’s chemical make-up for industrial and security purposes.« less

On interaction of P-waves with one-dimensional photonic crystal consisting of weak conducting matter and transparent dielectric layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yushkanov, A. A.; Zverev, N. V.

2018-03-01

An influence of quantum and spatial dispersion properties of the non-degenerate electron plasma on the interaction of electromagnetic P-waves with one-dimensional photonic crystal consisting of conductor with low carrier electron density and transparent dielectric matter, is studied numerically. It is shown that at the frequencies of order of the plasma frequency and at small widths of the conducting and dielectric layers of the photonic crystal, optical coefficients in the quantum non-degenerate plasma approach differ from the coefficients in the classical electron gas approach. And also, at these frequencies one observes a temperature dependence of the optical coefficients.

Compact silicon photonic resonance-assisted variable optical attenuator

DOE PAGES

Wang, Xiaoxi; Aguinaldo, Ryan; Lentine, Anthony; ...

2016-11-17

Here, a two-part silicon photonic variable optical attenuator is demonstrated in a compact footprint which can provide a high extinction ratio at wavelengths between 1520 nm and 1620 nm. The device was made by following the conventional p-i-n waveguide section by a high-extinction-ratio second-order microring filter section. The rings provide additional on-off contrast by utilizing a thermal resonance shift, which harvested the heat dissipated by current injection in the p-i-n junction. Finally, we derive and discuss a simple thermal-resistance model in explanation of these effects.

Compact silicon photonic resonance-sssisted variable optical attenuator.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaoxi; Aguinaldo, Ryan; Lentine, Anthony; DeRose, Christopher; Starbuck, Andrew L; Trotter, Douglas; Pomerene, Andrew; Mookherjea, Shayan

2016-11-28

A two-part silicon photonic variable optical attenuator is demonstrated in a compact footprint which can provide a high extinction ratio at wavelengths between 1520 nm and 1620 nm. The device was made by following the conventional p-i-n waveguide section by a high-extinction-ratio second-order microring filter section. The rings provide additional on-off contrast by utilizing a thermal resonance shift, which harvested the heat dissipated by current injection in the p-i-n junction. We derive and discuss a simple thermal-resistance model in explanation of these effects.

Simple and Efficient Single Photon Filter for a Rb-based Quantum Memory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stack, Daniel; Li, Xiao; Quraishi, Qudsia

2015-05-01

Distribution of entangled quantum states over significant distances is important to the development of future quantum technologies such as long-distance cryptography, networks of atomic clocks, distributed quantum computing, etc. Long-lived quantum memories and single photons are building blocks for systems capable of realizing such applications. The ability to store and retrieve quantum information while filtering unwanted light signals is critical to the operation of quantum memories based on neutral-atom ensembles. We report on an efficient frequency filter which uses a glass cell filled with 85Rb vapor to attenuate noise photons by an order of magnitude with little loss to the single photons associated with the operation of our cold 87Rb quantum memory. An Ar buffer gas is required to differentiate between signal and noise photons or similar statement. Our simple, passive filter requires no optical pumping or external frequency references and provides an additional 18 dB attenuation of our pump laser for every 1 dB loss of the single photon signal. We observe improved non-classical correlations and our data shows that the addition of a frequency filter increases the non-classical correlations and readout efficiency of our quantum memory by ~ 35%.

A new method for photon transport in Monte Carlo simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, T.; Ogawa, K.

1999-12-01

Monte Carlo methods are used to evaluate data methods such as scatter and attenuation compensation in single photon emission CT (SPECT), treatment planning in radiation therapy, and in many industrial applications. In Monte Carlo simulation, photon transport requires calculating the distance from the location of the emitted photon to the nearest boundary of each uniform attenuating medium along its path of travel, and comparing this distance with the length of its path generated at emission. Here, the authors propose a new method that omits the calculation of the location of the exit point of the photon from each voxel and of the distance between the exit point and the original position. The method only checks the medium of each voxel along the photon's path. If the medium differs from that in the voxel from which the photon was emitted, the authors calculate the location of the entry point in the voxel, and the length of the path is compared with the mean free path length generated by a random number. Simulations using the MCAT phantom show that the ratios of the calculation time were 1.0 for the voxel-based method, and 0.51 for the proposed method with a 256/spl times/256/spl times/256 matrix image, thereby confirming the effectiveness of the algorithm.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fontainha, C.C.P.; Nolasco, A.V.; Santos, A.P.

Radiation dosimetry is commonly used to prevent deterministic radiation effects in high dose medical procedures. Radiochromic films find nowadays widely application in radiotherapy, interventional procedures and CT exams for isodose and maximum skin dose measurements. Moreover the size of the irradiated area and its distribution can be performed through the reading of the individual components in the RGB-spectrum. Particularly, radiochromic film has multiple advantages over alternative dosimeters for low-kV X-rays dosimetry. Concerned to spatial resolution it is far superior to that of ionization chambers and thermoluminescent dosimeters. For high energy photon fields (keV to MeV) the most used radiochromic filmmore » commercially available belongs to the EBT Gafchromic{sup R} series. On the other hand, for low energy photon fields in the x-ray range (20 kVp to 200 kVp) the best choice belongs to the XR-QA Gafchromic{sup R} film series. In this work we demonstrate the possibility of generating 2D images of thin polymeric composites films using EBT3 and XR-QA2 Gafchromic{sup R} films exposed to 6 MeV and 40 keV x-ray photons, respectively, using the digital filtering tools of the ImageJ{sup R} free software. In this context, EBT3 films were placed on the surface of a rigid anthropomorphic phantom. Then, they were covered with a thermoplastic mask made of PCL polymer. This setup was then exposed to 2.0 Gy absorbed dose in the Linear Accelerator beam. The EBT3 films were then scanned in the high resolution mode in a commercial scanner and the images subsequently treated with digital filters. It is somehow possible to see the image of the thermoplastic mask in the scanned image. However, in the treated image it is easy to observe the mask arrangement. The unexpected phenomenon here is the EB3 film ability to detect the attenuation of high energy photons by a plastic material, which in turn has a very low mass-energy attenuation coefficient, producing a very clear 2D image. This result is discussed in terms of the high Z halides added to the sensitive layer of EB3 film, once the main components are C (42.3%), H (39.7%) and O (16.0%)1-2. Based on the above results, we have speculated about the abilities of XR-AQ films in the detection of the distribution of nano-sized particles that has high mass-energy attenuation coefficients for low energy x-rays, in polymer composites. In another investigation we tested the ability of XR-QA2 Gafchromic{sup R} films to evaluate the dispersion of ZrO{sub 2} nano-sized grain clusters in protective composites. The P(VDFTrFE)/ ZrO{sub 2} film was sandwiched between two XR-QA2 radiochromic films. In this setup, one radiochromic film is directly exposed to 100 mGy of the x-rays beam and another one measures the attenuated beam. After storage for 24 hours at room temperature under no light conditions, the irradiated radiochromic films were scanned under the same conditions in order to obtain a more reliable result. All films were scanned using the same size ROI in high resolution mode and saved as tagged image file format (TIFF). The untreated scanned image of the XR-AQ2 film directed exposed to the X-ray beam and the correspondent treated image with digital filters are shown. The untreated and treated image of the XR-AQ2 film that was exposed to the attenuated x-ray beam is shown. The image treated with digital filters seems to reproduce the dispersion of ZrO{sub 2} nano-sized grain clusters in the P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer matrix. This result is also discussed in terms of the high Z halides added to the sensitive layer of XR-AQ2 film and compared to the MEV images obtained from the P(VDF-TrFE)/ZrO{sub 2} composites. The results indicate a clear correlation between the 2D radiochromic image and the MEV photography.« less

SPECT reconstruction with nonuniform attenuation from highly under-sampled projection data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Cuifen; Wen, Junhai; Zhang, Kangping; Shi, Donghao; Dong, Haixiang; Li, Wenxiao; Liang, Zhengrong

2012-03-01

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is an important nuclear medicine imaging technique and has been using in clinical diagnoses. The SPECT image can reflect not only organizational structure but also functional activities of human body, therefore diseases can be found much earlier. In SPECT, the reconstruction is based on the measurement of gamma photons emitted by the radiotracer. The number of gamma photons detected is proportional to the dose of radiopharmaceutical, but the dose is limited because of patient safety. There is an upper limit in the number of gamma photons that can be detected per unit time, so it takes a long time to acquire SPECT projection data. Sometimes we just can obtain highly under-sampled projection data because of the limit of the scanning time or imaging hardware. How to reconstruct an image using highly under-sampled projection data is an interesting problem. One method is to minimize the total variation (TV) of the reconstructed image during the iterative reconstruction. In this work, we developed an OSEM-TV SPECT reconstruction algorithm, which could reconstruct the image from highly under-sampled projection data with non-uniform attenuation. Simulation results demonstrate that the OSEM-TV algorithm performs well in SPECT reconstruction with non-uniform attenuation.

Noninvasive monitoring of photodynamic therapy on skin neoplastic lesions using the optical attenuation coefficient measured by optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goulart, Viviane P.; dos Santos, Moisés O.; Latrive, Anne; Freitas, Anderson Z.; Correa, Luciana; Zezell, Denise M.

2015-05-01

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising alternative for treatment of skin lesions such as squamous cell carcinoma. We propose a method to monitor the effects of PDT in a noninvasive way by using the optical attenuation coefficient (OAC) calculated from optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. We conducted a study on mice with chemically induced neoplastic lesions and performed PDT on these lesions using homemade photosensitizers. The response of neoplastic lesions to therapy was monitored using, at the same time, macroscopic clinical visualization, histopathological analysis, OCT imaging, and OCT-based attenuation coefficient measurement. Results with all four modalities demonstrated a positive response to treatment. The attenuation coefficient was found to be 1.4 higher in skin lesions than in healthy tissue and it decreased after therapy. This study shows that the OAC is a potential tool to noninvasively assess the evolution of skin neoplastic lesions with time after treatment.

Optical coherence tomography can assess skeletal muscle tissue from mouse models of muscular dystrophy by parametric imaging of the attenuation coefficient

PubMed Central

Klyen, Blake R.; Scolaro, Loretta; Shavlakadze, Tea; Grounds, Miranda D.; Sampson, David D.

2014-01-01

We present the assessment of ex vivo mouse muscle tissue by quantitative parametric imaging of the near-infrared attenuation coefficient µt using optical coherence tomography. The resulting values of the local total attenuation coefficient µt (mean ± standard error) from necrotic lesions in the dystrophic skeletal muscle tissue of mdx mice are higher (9.6 ± 0.3 mm−1) than regions from the same tissue containing only necrotic myofibers (7.0 ± 0.6 mm−1), and significantly higher than values from intact myofibers, whether from an adjacent region of the same sample (4.8 ± 0.3 mm−1) or from healthy tissue of the wild-type C57 mouse (3.9 ± 0.2 mm−1) used as a control. Our results suggest that the attenuation coefficient could be used as a quantitative means to identify necrotic lesions and assess skeletal muscle tissue in mouse models of human Duchenne muscular dystrophy. PMID:24761302

Optical properties of tissue, experimental results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beek, Johan F.

1993-08-01

The effective attenuation coefficient of piglet lung was measured in vitro at 632.8 nm. Interstial fibres with isotropic tips were used to measure the fluence rate as a function of the distance from an isotropic light source. In vitro measurements at 632.8 nm on a lung that was insufflated with oxygen from 50 to 150 ml showed that the effective attenuation coefficient decreases as a function of the volume of air in the lung (at 50 ml /Jeff = 0.297 + 0.011 mnf1, at 100 ml lice 0.150 ± 0.007 mm-1, and at 150 ml /Jeff= 0.1136 + 0.015 mm-1). A single in vitro measurement at 790 nm at an insufflated lung volume of 100 ml gave a comparable result (ii ie = 0.175 + 0.004 mm-1). A ff decrease in effective attenuation coefficient with an ncrease in lung volume was explained by Mie-theory. The effective attenuation coefficient, calculated with 11, and g from Mie-theory, showed a deviation < 22% from the measured in vitro values.

New consistency tests for high-accuracy measurements of X-ray mass attenuation coefficients by the X-ray extended-range technique.

PubMed

Chantler, C T; Islam, M T; Rae, N A; Tran, C Q; Glover, J L; Barnea, Z

2012-03-01

An extension of the X-ray extended-range technique is described for measuring X-ray mass attenuation coefficients by introducing absolute measurement of a number of foils - the multiple independent foil technique. Illustrating the technique with the results of measurements for gold in the 38-50 keV energy range, it is shown that its use enables selection of the most uniform and well defined of available foils, leading to more accurate measurements; it allows one to test the consistency of independently measured absolute values of the mass attenuation coefficient with those obtained by the thickness transfer method; and it tests the linearity of the response of the counter and counting chain throughout the range of X-ray intensities encountered in a given experiment. In light of the results for gold, the strategy to be ideally employed in measuring absolute X-ray mass attenuation coefficients, X-ray absorption fine structure and related quantities is discussed.

A photonic transistor device based on photons and phonons in a cavity electromechanical system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Cheng; Zhu, Ka-Di

2013-01-01

We present a scheme for photonic transistors based on photons and phonons in a cavity electromechanical system, which is composed of a superconducting microwave cavity coupled to a nanomechanical resonator. Control of the propagation of photons is achieved through the interaction of microwave field (photons) and nanomechanical vibrations (phonons). By calculating the transmission spectrum of the signal field, we show that the signal field can be efficiently attenuated or amplified, depending on the power of a second ‘gating’ (pump) field. This scheme may be a promising candidate for single-photon transistors and pave the way for numerous applications in telecommunication and quantum information technologies.

Water-equivalence of gel dosimeters for radiology medical imaging.

PubMed

Valente, M; Vedelago, J; Chacón, D; Mattea, F; Velásquez, J; Pérez, P

2018-03-08

International dosimetry protocols are based on determinations of absorbed dose to water. Ideally, the phantom material should be water equivalent; that is, it should have the same absorption and scatter properties as water. This study presents theoretical, experimental and Monte Carlo modeling of water-equivalence of Fricke and polymer (NIPAM, PAGAT and itaconic acid ITABIS) gel dosimeters. Mass and electronic densities along with effective atomic number were calculated by means of theoretical approaches. Samples were scanned by standard computed tomography. Photon mass attenuation coefficients and electron stopping powers were examined. Theoretical, Monte Carlo and experimental results confirmed good water-equivalence for all gel dosimeters. Overall variations with respect to water in the low energy radiology range (up to 130 kVp) were found to be less than 3% in average. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A summary of Selected Data: DSDP Legs 20-44,

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-01

water X 100 minerals may be applied in the future density water when the mineralogy and attenuation wt. wate r \\+ wt r ed. + salIt coefficients...in the future when densities of some common minerals are the exact quantitative mineralogy and listed in Harms and Choquette (1965), attenuation...different attenuation coefficient than were used to get a " ball park" answer that of calcite. for a particular sediment type, or for drilling

Robust determination of mass attenuation coefficients of materials with unknown thickness and density

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurudirek, M.; Medhat, M. E.

2014-07-01

An alternative approach is used to measure normalized mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) of materials with unknown thickness and density. The adopted procedure is based on the use of simultaneous emission of Kα and Kβ X-ray lines as well as gamma peaks from radioactive sources in transmission geometry. 109Cd and 60Co radioactive sources were used for the purpose of the investigation. It has been observed that using the simultaneous X- and/or gamma rays of different energy allows accurate determination of relative mass attenuation coefficients by eliminating the dependence of μ/ρ on thickness and density of the material.

Dispersion relation for electromagnetic propagation in stochastic dielectric and magnetic helical photonic crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avendaño, Carlos G.; Reyes, Arturo

2017-03-01

We theoretically study the dispersion relation for axially propagating electromagnetic waves throughout a one-dimensional helical structure whose pitch and dielectric and magnetic properties are spatial random functions with specific statistical characteristics. In the system of coordinates rotating with the helix, by using a matrix formalism, we write the set of differential equations that governs the expected value of the electromagnetic field amplitudes and we obtain the corresponding dispersion relation. We show that the dispersion relation depends strongly on the noise intensity introduced in the system and the autocorrelation length. When the autocorrelation length increases at fixed fluctuation and when the fluctuation augments at fixed autocorrelation length, the band gap widens and the attenuation coefficient of electromagnetic waves propagating in the random medium gets larger. By virtue of the degeneracy in the imaginary part of the eigenvalues associated with the propagating modes, the random medium acts as a filter for circularly polarized electromagnetic waves, in which only the propagating backward circularly polarized wave can propagate with no attenuation. Our results are valid for any kind of dielectric and magnetic structures which possess a helical-like symmetry such as cholesteric and chiral smectic-C liquid crystals, structurally chiral materials, and stressed cholesteric elastomers.

Determination of K shell absorption jump factors and jump ratios in the elements between Tm( Z = 69) and Os( Z = 76) by measuring K shell fluorescence parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaya, N.; Tıraşoğlu, E.; Apaydın, G.

2008-04-01

The K shell absorption jump factors and jump ratios have been measured in the elements between Tm ( Z = 69) and Os( Z = 76) without having any mass attenuation coefficient at the upper and lower energy branch of the K absorption edge. The jump factors and jump ratios for these elements have been determined by measuring K shell fluorescence parameters such as the total atomic absorption cross-sections, the K α X-ray production cross-sections, the intensity ratio of the K β and K α X-rays and the K shell fluorescence yields. We have performed the measurements for the calculations of these values in attenuation and direct excitation experimental geometry. The K X-ray photons are excited in the target using 123.6 keV gamma-rays from a strong 57Co source, and detected with an Ultra-LEGe solid state detector with a resolution 0.15 keV at 5.9 keV. The measured values have been compared with theoretical and others' experimental values. The results have been plotted versus atomic number.

Determination of the temperature of bremsstrahlung photon generated by ultraintense laser using various thickness attenuators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hasegawa, Shuichi; Takashima, Ryuta; Todoriki, Masaru

2011-03-15

We evaluate the simplified method using the Lambert-Beer law to measure the temperature of bremsstrahlung photon generated by an ultraintense laser. Analytical values are compared to the results of the Monte Carlo calculation of GEANT4 and they agreed very well on the condition of the appropriate distance between the attenuator and the detector. We performed the experiment to measure the temperature of bremsstrahlung x-ray emitted from a metal target irradiated by a Ti:sapphire laser with 76 mJ, 72 fs, 2.2 x 10{sup 18} W/cm{sup 2}. For a Cu target of 30 {mu}m thick, the photon temperature was reasonably determined tomore » be 0.18 MeV, which is in good agreement with previous studies.« less

Comparison of monoenergetic photon organ dose rate coefficients for stylized and voxel phantoms submerged in air

DOE PAGES

Bellamy, Michael B.; Hiller, Mauritius M.; Dewji, Shaheen A.; ...

2016-02-01

As part of a broader effort to calculate effective dose rate coefficients for external exposure to photons and electrons emitted by radionuclides distributed in air, soil or water, age-specific stylized phantoms have been employed to determine dose coefficients relating dose rate to organs and tissues in the body. In this article, dose rate coefficients computed using the International Commission on Radiological Protection reference adult male voxel phantom are compared with values computed using the Oak Ridge National Laboratory adult male stylized phantom in an air submersion exposure geometry. Monte Carlo calculations for both phantoms were performed for monoenergetic source photonsmore » in the range of 30 keV to 5 MeV. Furthermore, these calculations largely result in differences under 10 % for photon energies above 50 keV, and it can be expected that both models show comparable results for the environmental sources of radionuclides.« less

Comparison of monoenergetic photon organ dose rate coefficients for stylized and voxel phantoms submerged in air

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bellamy, Michael B.; Hiller, Mauritius M.; Dewji, Shaheen A.

As part of a broader effort to calculate effective dose rate coefficients for external exposure to photons and electrons emitted by radionuclides distributed in air, soil or water, age-specific stylized phantoms have been employed to determine dose coefficients relating dose rate to organs and tissues in the body. In this article, dose rate coefficients computed using the International Commission on Radiological Protection reference adult male voxel phantom are compared with values computed using the Oak Ridge National Laboratory adult male stylized phantom in an air submersion exposure geometry. Monte Carlo calculations for both phantoms were performed for monoenergetic source photonsmore » in the range of 30 keV to 5 MeV. Furthermore, these calculations largely result in differences under 10 % for photon energies above 50 keV, and it can be expected that both models show comparable results for the environmental sources of radionuclides.« less

Quantification of numerical aperture-dependence of the OCT attenuation coefficient (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peinado, Liliana M.; Bloemen, Paul R.; Almasian, Mitra; van Leeuwen, Ton G.; Faber, Dirk J.

2016-03-01

Despite the improvements in early cancer diagnosis, adequate diagnostic tools for early staging of bladder cancer tumors are lacking [1]. MEMS-probes based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) provide cross-sectional imaging with a high-spatial resolution at a high-imaging speed, improving visualization of cancerous tissue [2-3]. Additionally, studies show that the measurement of localized attenuation coefficient allows discrimination between healthy and cancerous tissue [4]. We have designed a new miniaturized MEMS-probe based on OCT that will optimize early diagnosis by improving functional visualization of suspicious lesions in bladder. During the optical design phase of the probe, we have studied the effect of the numerical aperture (NA) on the OCT signal attenuation. For this study, we have employed an InnerVision Santec OCT system with several numerical apertures (25mm, 40mm, 60mm, 100mm, 150mm and 200mm using achromatic lenses). The change in attenuation coefficient was studied using 15 dilutions of intralipid ranging between 6*10-5 volume% and 20 volume%. We obtained the attenuation coefficient from the OCT images at several fixed positions of the focuses using established OCT models (e.g. single scattering with known confocal point spread function (PSF) [5] and multiple scattering using the Extended Huygens Fresnel model [6]). As a result, a non-linear increase of the scattering coefficient as a function of intralipid concentration (due to dependent scattering) was obtained for all numerical apertures. For all intralipid samples, the measured attenuation coefficient decreased with a decrease in NA. Our results suggest a non-negligible influence of the NA on the measured attenuation coefficient. [1] Khochikar MV. Rationale for an early detection program for bladder cancer. Indian J Urol 2011 Apr-Jun; 27(2): 218-225. [2] Sun J and Xie H. Review Article MEMS-Based Endoscopic Optical Coherence Tomography. IJO 2011, Article ID 825629, 12 pages. doi:10.1155/2011/825629. [3] Jung W and Boppart S. Optical coherence tomography for rapid tissue screening and directed histological sectioning. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst). 2012; 35(3): 129-143. [4] R. Wessels et al. Optical coherence tomography in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. J Biomed Opt 2012 Nov; 17(11): 116022. [5] Faber D, van der Meer F, Aalders M, van Leeuwen T. Quantitative measurement of attenuation coefficients of weakly scattering media using optical coherence tomography. OPT EXPRESS 2004; 12 (19): 4353-43. [6] Thrane L, Yura HT, and Andersen PE. Analysis of optical coherence tomography systems based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle. JOSA 2000; 17(3): 484-490.

Quantitative RNFL attenuation coefficient measurements by RPE-normalized OCT data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vermeer, K. A.; van der Schoot, J.; Lemij, H. G.; de Boer, J. F.

2012-03-01

We demonstrate significantly different scattering coefficients of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) between normal and glaucoma subjects. In clinical care, SD-OCT is routinely used to assess the RNFL thickness for glaucoma management. In this way, the full OCT data set is conveniently reduced to an easy to interpret output, matching results from older (non- OCT) instruments. However, OCT provides more data, such as the signal strength itself, which is due to backscattering in the retinal layers. For quantitative analysis, this signal should be normalized to adjust for local differences in the intensity of the beam that reaches the retina. In this paper, we introduce a model that relates the OCT signal to the attenuation coefficient of the tissue. The average RNFL signal (within an A-line) was then normalized based on the observed RPE signal, resulting in normalized RNFL attenuation coefficient maps. These maps showed local defects matching those found in thickness data. The average (normalized) RNFL attenuation coefficient of a fixed band around the optic nerve head was significantly lower in glaucomatous eyes than in normal eyes (3.0mm-1 vs. 4.9mm-1, P<0.01, Mann-Whitney test).

I Vivo Quantitative Ultrasound Imaging and Scatter Assessments.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Zheng Feng

There is evidence that "instrument independent" measurements of ultrasonic scattering properties would provide useful diagnostic information that is not available with conventional ultrasound imaging. This dissertation is a continuing effort to test the above hypothesis and to incorporate quantitative ultrasound methods into clinical examinations for early detection of diffuse liver disease. A well-established reference phantom method was employed to construct quantitative ultrasound images of tissue in vivo. The method was verified by extensive phantom tests. A new method was developed to measure the effective attenuation coefficient of the body wall. The method relates the slope of the difference between the echo signal power spectrum from a uniform region distal to the body wall and the echo signal power spectrum from a reference phantom to the body wall attenuation. The accuracy obtained from phantom tests suggests further studies with animal experiments. Clinically, thirty-five healthy subjects and sixteen patients with diffuse liver disease were studied by these quantitative ultrasound methods. The average attenuation coefficient in normals agreed with previous investigators' results; in vivo backscatter coefficients agreed with the results from normals measured by O'Donnell. Strong discriminating power (p < 0.001) was found for both attenuation and backscatter coefficients between fatty livers and normals; a significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed in the backscatter coefficient but not in the attenuation coefficient between cirrhotic livers and normals. An in vivo animal model of steroid hepatopathy was used to investigate the system sensitivity in detecting early changes in canine liver resulting from corticosteroid administration. The average attenuation coefficient slope increased from 0.7 dB/cm/MHz in controls to 0.82 dB/cm/MHz (at 6 MHz) in treated animals on day 14 into the treatment, and the backscatter coefficient was 26times 10^{ -4}cm^{-1}sr^{-1} in controls compared with 74times 10^{-4}cm^{-1}sr^ {-1} (at 6 MHz) in treated animals. A simplified quantitative approach using video image signals was developed. Results derived both from the r.f. signal analysis and from the video signal analysis are sensitive to the changes in the liver in this animal model.

Polymer Waveguides for Quantum Information

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

a single photon or a very small amount of light plays a critical role in establishing the quantum nature of the process. These materials offer...realizations of Mach-Zehnder interferometers for use in single- photon quantum communication systems. The Scope of the research for this grant: This...to the waveguide we make. We also intend to investigate the transmission of highly attenuated signals mimicking the single photon , which in turn

The impact of absorption coefficient on polarimetric determination of Berry phase based depth resolved characterization of biomedical scattering samples: a polarized Monte Carlo investigation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baba, Justin S; Koju, Vijay; John, Dwayne O

2016-01-01

The modulation of the state of polarization of photons due to scatter generates associated geometric phase that is being investigated as a means for decreasing the degree of uncertainty in back-projecting the paths traversed by photons detected in backscattered geometry. In our previous work, we established that polarimetrically detected Berry phase correlates with the mean photon penetration depth of the backscattered photons collected for image formation. In this work, we report on the impact of state-of-linear-polarization (SOLP) filtering on both the magnitude and population distributions of image forming detected photons as a function of the absorption coefficient of the scatteringmore » sample. The results, based on Berry phase tracking implemented Polarized Monte Carlo Code, indicate that sample absorption plays a significant role in the mean depth attained by the image forming backscattered detected photons.« less

Inferential Procedures for Correlation Coefficients Corrected for Attenuation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hakstian, A. Ralph; And Others

1988-01-01

A model and computation procedure based on classical test score theory are presented for determination of a correlation coefficient corrected for attenuation due to unreliability. Delta and Monte Carlo method applications are discussed. A power analysis revealed no serious loss in efficiency resulting from correction for attentuation. (TJH)

Single photon quantum cryptography.

PubMed

Beveratos, Alexios; Brouri, Rosa; Gacoin, Thierry; Villing, André; Poizat, Jean-Philippe; Grangier, Philippe

2002-10-28

We report the full implementation of a quantum cryptography protocol using a stream of single photon pulses generated by a stable and efficient source operating at room temperature. The single photon pulses are emitted on demand by a single nitrogen-vacancy color center in a diamond nanocrystal. The quantum bit error rate is less that 4.6% and the secure bit rate is 7700 bits/s. The overall performances of our system reaches a domain where single photons have a measurable advantage over an equivalent system based on attenuated light pulses.

Channel analysis for single photon underwater free space quantum key distribution.

PubMed

Shi, Peng; Zhao, Shi-Cheng; Gu, Yong-Jian; Li, Wen-Dong

2015-03-01

We investigate the optical absorption and scattering properties of underwater media pertinent to our underwater free space quantum key distribution (QKD) channel model. With the vector radiative transfer theory and Monte Carlo method, we obtain the attenuation of photons, the fidelity of the scattered photons, the quantum bit error rate, and the sifted key generation rate of underwater quantum communication. It can be observed from our simulations that the most secure single photon underwater free space QKD is feasible in the clearest ocean water.

All-optical switch and transistor gated by one stored photon.

PubMed

Chen, Wenlan; Beck, Kristin M; Bücker, Robert; Gullans, Michael; Lukin, Mikhail D; Tanji-Suzuki, Haruka; Vuletić, Vladan

2013-08-16

The realization of an all-optical transistor, in which one "gate" photon controls a "source" light beam, is a long-standing goal in optics. By stopping a light pulse in an atomic ensemble contained inside an optical resonator, we realized a device in which one stored gate photon controls the resonator transmission of subsequently applied source photons. A weak gate pulse induces bimodal transmission distribution, corresponding to zero and one gate photons. One stored gate photon produces fivefold source attenuation and can be retrieved from the atomic ensemble after switching more than one source photon. Without retrieval, one stored gate photon can switch several hundred source photons. With improved storage and retrieval efficiency, our work may enable various new applications, including photonic quantum gates and deterministic multiphoton entanglement.

Modeling of Thermal Phase Noise in a Solid Core Photonic Crystal Fiber-Optic Gyroscope.

PubMed

Song, Ningfang; Ma, Kun; Jin, Jing; Teng, Fei; Cai, Wei

2017-10-26

A theoretical model of the thermal phase noise in a square-wave modulated solid core photonic crystal fiber-optic gyroscope has been established, and then verified by measurements. The results demonstrate a good agreement between theory and experiment. The contribution of the thermal phase noise to the random walk coefficient of the gyroscope is derived. A fiber coil with 2.8 km length is used in the experimental solid core photonic crystal fiber-optic gyroscope, showing a random walk coefficient of 9.25 × 10 -5 deg/√h.

Comb-based radiofrequency photonic filters with rapid tunability and high selectivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Supradeepa, V. R.; Long, Christopher M.; Wu, Rui; Ferdous, Fahmida; Hamidi, Ehsan; Leaird, Daniel E.; Weiner, Andrew M.

2012-03-01

Photonic technologies have received considerable attention regarding the enhancement of radiofrequency electrical systems, including high-frequency analogue signal transmission, control of phased arrays, analog-to-digital conversion and signal processing. Although the potential of radiofrequency photonics for the implementation of tunable electrical filters over broad radiofrequency bandwidths has been much discussed, the realization of programmable filters with highly selective filter lineshapes and rapid reconfigurability has faced significant challenges. A new approach for radiofrequency photonic filters based on frequency combs offers a potential route to simultaneous high stopband attenuation, fast tunability and bandwidth reconfiguration. In one configuration, tuning of the radiofrequency passband frequency is demonstrated with unprecedented (~40 ns) speed by controlling the optical delay between combs. In a second, fixed filter configuration, cascaded four-wave mixing simultaneously broadens and smoothes the comb spectra, resulting in Gaussian radiofrequency filter lineshapes exhibiting an extremely high (>60 dB) main lobe to sidelobe suppression ratio and (>70 dB) stopband attenuation.

A correlation between hard gamma-ray sources and cosmic voids along the line of sight

DOE PAGES

Furniss, A.; Sutter, P. M.; Primack, J. R.; ...

2014-11-25

We estimate the galaxy density along lines of sight to hard extragalactic gamma-ray sources by correlating source positions on the sky with a void catalog based on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Extragalactic gamma-ray sources that are detected at very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) or have been highlighted as VHE-emitting candidates in the Fermi Large Area Telescope hard source catalog (together referred to as “VHE-like” sources) are distributed along underdense lines of sight at the 2.4σ level. There is a less suggestive correlation for the Fermi hard source population (1.7σ). A correlation between 10-500 GeV fluxmore » and underdense fraction along the line of sight for VHE-like and Fermi hard sources is found at 2.4σ and 2.6σ, calculated from the Pearson correlation coefficients of r = 0.57 and 0.47, respectively. The preference for underdense sight lines is not displayed by gamma-ray emitting galaxies within the second Fermi catalog, containing sources detected above 100 MeV, or the SDSS DR7 quasar catalog. We investigate whether this marginal correlation might be a result of lower extragalactic background light (EBL) photon density within the underdense regions and find that, even in the most extreme case of a entirely underdense sight line, the EBL photon density is only 2% less than the nominal EBL density. Translating this into gamma-ray attenuation along the line of sight for a highly attenuated source with opacity τ(E, z) ~ 5, we estimate that the attentuation of gamma-rays decreases no more than 10%. This decrease, although non-neglible, is unable to account for the apparent hard source correlation with underdense lines of sight.« less

Beam hardening and partial beam hardening of the bowtie filter: Effects on dosimetric applications in CT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez-Rendon, X.; Zhang, G.; Bosmans, H.; Oyen, R.; Zanca, F.

2014-03-01

Purpose: To estimate the consequences on dosimetric applications when a CT bowtie filter is modeled by means of full beam hardening versus partial beam hardening. Method: A model of source and filtration for a CT scanner as developed by Turner et. al. [1] was implemented. Specific exposures were measured with the stationary CT X-ray tube in order to assess the equivalent thickness of Al of the bowtie filter as a function of the fan angle. Using these thicknesses, the primary beam attenuation factors were calculated from the energy dependent photon mass attenuation coefficients and used to include beam hardening in the spectrum. This was compared to a potentially less computationally intensive approach, which accounts only partially for beam hardening, by giving the photon spectrum a global (energy independent) fan angle specific weighting factor. Percentage differences between the two methods were quantified by calculating the dose in air after passing several water equivalent thicknesses representative for patients having different BMI. Specifically, the maximum water equivalent thickness of the lateral and anterior-posterior dimension and of the corresponding (half) effective diameter were assessed. Results: The largest percentage differences were found for the thickest part of the bowtie filter and they increased with patient size. For a normal size patient they ranged from 5.5% at half effective diameter to 16.1% for the lateral dimension; for the most obese patient they ranged from 7.7% to 19.3%, respectively. For a complete simulation of one rotation of the x-ray tube, the proposed method was 12% faster than the complete simulation of the bowtie filter. Conclusion: The need for simulating the beam hardening of the bow tie filter in Monte Carlo platforms for CT dosimetry will depend on the required accuracy.

Photo-Seebeck effect in tetragonal PbO single crystals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mondal, P. S.; Okazaki, R.; Taniguchi, H.

2013-11-07

We report the observation of photo-Seebeck effect in tetragonal PbO crystals. The photo-induced carriers contribute to the transport phenomena, and consequently the electrical conductivity increases and the Seebeck coefficient decreases with increasing photon flux density. A parallel-circuit model is used to evaluate the actual contributions of photo-excited carriers from the measured transport data. The photo-induced carrier concentration estimated from the Seebeck coefficient increases almost linearly with increasing photon flux density, indicating a successful photo-doping effect on the thermoelectric property. The mobility decreases by illumination but the reduction rate strongly depends on the illuminated photon energy. Possible mechanisms of such photon-energy-dependentmore » mobility are discussed.« less

Empirical algorithms for ocean optics parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smart, Jeffrey H.

2007-06-01

As part of the Worldwide Ocean Optics Database (WOOD) Project, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has developed and evaluated a variety of empirical models that can predict ocean optical properties, such as profiles of the beam attenuation coefficient computed from profiles of the diffuse attenuation coefficient. In this paper, we briefly summarize published empirical optical algorithms and assess their accuracy for estimating derived profiles. We also provide new algorithms and discuss their applicability for deriving optical profiles based on data collected from a variety of locations, including the Yellow Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the North Atlantic Ocean. We show that the scattering coefficient (b) can be computed from the beam attenuation coefficient (c) to about 10% accuracy. The availability of such relatively accurate predictions is important in the many situations where the set of data is incomplete.

Nanocomposite Interphases for Improved Transparent Polymer Composite Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-08-01

intensity of the incident light, A is the attenuation coefficient , and t is the part thickness. The intensity attenuation coefficient is a function of...index that is fairly close to that of fused silica. Most importantly, it has a high thermo- optic coefficient , dn/dt, which results in a large change in...35765K164, McMaster -Carr, Robbinsville, NJ) were attached on the outer side of both aluminum plates as shown, and the temperature was controlled

Deriving Hounsfield units using grey levels in cone beam computed tomography

PubMed Central

Mah, P; Reeves, T E; McDavid, W D

2010-01-01

Objectives An in vitro study was performed to investigate the relationship between grey levels in dental cone beam CT (CBCT) and Hounsfield units (HU) in CBCT scanners. Methods A phantom containing 8 different materials of known composition and density was imaged with 11 different dental CBCT scanners and 2 medical CT scanners. The phantom was scanned under three conditions: phantom alone and phantom in a small and large water container. The reconstructed data were exported as Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) and analysed with On Demand 3D® by Cybermed, Seoul, Korea. The relationship between grey levels and linear attenuation coefficients was investigated. Results It was demonstrated that a linear relationship between the grey levels and the attenuation coefficients of each of the materials exists at some “effective” energy. From the linear regression equation of the reference materials, attenuation coefficients were obtained for each of the materials and CT numbers in HU were derived using the standard equation. Conclusions HU can be derived from the grey levels in dental CBCT scanners using linear attenuation coefficients as an intermediate step. PMID:20729181

Fractal ladder models and power law wave equations

PubMed Central

Kelly, James F.; McGough, Robert J.

2009-01-01

The ultrasonic attenuation coefficient in mammalian tissue is approximated by a frequency-dependent power law for frequencies less than 100 MHz. To describe this power law behavior in soft tissue, a hierarchical fractal network model is proposed. The viscoelastic and self-similar properties of tissue are captured by a constitutive equation based on a lumped parameter infinite-ladder topology involving alternating springs and dashpots. In the low-frequency limit, this ladder network yields a stress-strain constitutive equation with a time-fractional derivative. By combining this constitutive equation with linearized conservation principles and an adiabatic equation of state, a fractional partial differential equation that describes power law attenuation is derived. The resulting attenuation coefficient is a power law with exponent ranging between 1 and 2, while the phase velocity is in agreement with the Kramers–Kronig relations. The fractal ladder model is compared to published attenuation coefficient data, thus providing equivalent lumped parameters. PMID:19813816

Modeling of the attenuation of stress waves in concrete based on the Rayleigh damping model using time-reversal and PZT transducers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Zhen; Huo, Linsheng; Gao, Weihang; Li, Hongnan; Song, Gangbing

2017-10-01

Wave-based concrete structural health monitoring has attracted much attention. A stress wave experiences significant attenuation in concrete, however there is a lack of a unified method for predicting the attenuation coefficient of the stress wave. In this paper, a simple and effective absorption attenuation model of stress waves in concrete is developed based on the Rayleigh damping model, which indicates that the absorption attenuation coefficient of stress waves in concrete is directly proportional to the square of the stress wave frequency when the damping ratio is small. In order to verify the theoretical model, related experiments were carried out. During the experiments, a concrete beam was designed in which the d33-model piezoelectric smart aggregates were embedded to detect the propagation of stress waves. It is difficult to distinguish direct stress waves due to the complex propagation paths and the reflection and scattering of stress waves in concrete. Hence, as another innovation of this paper, a new method for computing the absorption attenuation coefficient based on the time-reversal method is developed. Due to the self-adaptive focusing properties of the time-reversal method, the time-reversed stress wave focuses and generates a peak value. The time-reversal method eliminates the adverse effects of multipaths, reflection, and scattering. The absorption attenuation coefficient is computed by analyzing the peak value changes of the time-reversal focused signal. Finally, the experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical model.

Attenuation coefficient of the light in skin of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, C. R.; Camargo, C. F. M.; Aureliano, D. P.; De Pretto, L. R.; Freitas, A. Z.; Ribeiro, M. S.

2015-06-01

Optical properties of the biological tissue play an important role to a correct use of optical techniques for therapy and diagnosis. The mice skin presents morphological differences due to characteristics such as gender, body mass and age. Murine models are frequently used in pre-clinical trials in optical therapy and diagnosis. Therefore, the assessment of the skin tissue in animal models is needed for a proper understanding of how light interacts with skin. Noninvasive techniques such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been used to obtain optical information of the tissue, as the attenuation coefficient, with the advantage of obtaining sectional images in real time. In this study, eight female BALB/c albino mice (twenty-four weeks old) and eight male C57BL/6 black mice (eight weeks old) were used to measure the attenuation coefficient of the light in the skin, utilizing the OCT technique, aiming to check for influence of the aging process. Two moments were assessed twenty-two weeks apart from each other. Our data show that the aging process significantly affects the light attenuation coefficient in mice skin. Twenty-two weeks after, statistical significant differences were observed between groups within a same strain. We conclude that light attenuation coefficient of mice skin may be influenced by factors such as disorganization of the dermis. Morphological aspects of skin should be taken into account in studies that involve optical strategies in murine models.

Viscothermal Coupling Effects on Sound Attenuation in Concentrated Colloidal Dispersions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Wei

1995-11-01

This thesis describes a Unified Coupled Phase Continuum (UCPC) model to analyze sound propagation through aerosols, emulsions and suspensions in terms of frequency dependent attenuation coefficient and sound speed. Expressions for the viscous and thermal coupling coefficients explicitly account for the effects of particle size, shape factor, orientation as well as concentration and the sound frequency. The UCPC model also takes into account the intrinsic acoustic absorption within the fluid medium due to its viscosity and heat conductivity. The effective complex wave number as a function of frequency is derived. A frequency- and concentration-dependent complex Nusselt number for the interfacial thermal coupling coefficient is derived using an approximate similarity between the 'viscous skin drag' and 'heat conduction flux' associated with the discontinuous suspended phase, on the basis of a cell model. The theoretical predictions of attenuation spectra provide satisfactory agreement with reported experimental data on two concentrated suspensions (polystyrene latex and kaolin pigment), two concentrated emulsions (toluene -in-water, n-hexadecane-in-water), and two aerosols (oleic acid droplets-in-nitrogen, alumina-in-air), covering a wide range of relative magnitudes (from 10^ {-3} to 10^{3}) of thermal versus viscous contributions, for dispersed phase volume fractions as high as 50%. The relative differences between the additive result of separate viscous and thermal loss estimates and combined viscothermal absorption results are also presented. Effects of particle shape on viscous attenuation of sound in concentrated suspensions of non-spherical clay particles are studied. Attenuation spectra for 18 frequencies from 3 to 100 MHz are measured and analyzed for eleven kaolin clay slurries with solid concentrations ranging from 0.6% to 35% (w/w). A modified viscous drag coefficient that considers frequency, concentration, particle size, shape and orientation of spheroids, is developed and applied to estimate the viscous attenuation coefficients. With incorporation of particle size and shape distributions (PSSD), predictions agree quantitatively with observed attenuation coefficients. The effects of particle aspect ratio and orientation become more evident as particle concentrations and frequencies are increased. The UCPC model combined with the ultrasonic spectroscopy techniques can provide for theoretical and experimental frameworks in characterization of concentrated colloidal dispersions.

C-band attenuation by tropical rainfall in Darwin, Australia, using climatologically tuned Z(e)-R relations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atlas, David; Rosenfeld, Daniel; Wolff, David B.

1993-01-01

The probability matching method (PMM) is used as a basis for estimating attenuation in tropical rains near Darwin, Australia. PMM provides a climatological relationship between measured radar reflectivity and rain rate, which includes the effects of rain and cloud attenuation. When the radar sample is representative, PMM estimates the rainfall without bias. When the data are stratified for greater than average rates, the method no longer compensates for the higher attenuation and the radar rainfall estimates are biased low. The uncompensated attenuation is used to estimate the climatological attenuation coefficient. The two-way attenuation coefficient was found to be 0.0085 dB/km ( mm/h) exp -1.08 for the tropical rains and associated clouds in Darwin for the first two months of the year for horizontally polarized radiation at 5.63 GHz. This unusually large value is discussed. The risks of making real-time corrections for attenuation are also treated.

Nonlocal hyperconcentration on entangled photons using photonic module system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cao, Cong; Wang, Tie-Jun; Mi, Si-Chen

Entanglement distribution will inevitably be affected by the channel and environment noise. Thus distillation of maximal entanglement nonlocally becomes a crucial goal in quantum information. Here we illustrate that maximal hyperentanglement on nonlocal photons could be distilled using the photonic module and cavity quantum electrodynamics, where the photons are simultaneously entangled in polarization and spatial-mode degrees of freedom. The construction of the photonic module in a photonic band-gap structure is presented, and the operation of the module is utilized to implement the photonic nondestructive parity checks on the two degrees of freedom. We first propose a hyperconcentration protocol using twomore » identical partially hyperentangled initial states with unknown coefficients to distill a maximally hyperentangled state probabilistically, and further propose a protocol by the assistance of an ancillary single photon prepared according to the known coefficients of the initial state. In the two protocols, the total success probability can be improved greatly by introducing the iteration mechanism, and only one of the remote parties is required to perform the parity checks in each round of iteration. Estimates on the system requirements and recent experimental results indicate that our proposal is realizable with existing or near-further technologies.« less

Quantitative Mapping of Pore Fraction Variations in Silicon Nitride Using an Ultrasonic Contact Scan Technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, Don J.; Kiser, James D.; Swickard, Suzanne M.; Szatmary, Steven A.; Kerwin, David P.

1993-01-01

An ultrasonic scan procedure using the pulse-echo contact configuration was employed to obtain maps of pore fraction variations in sintered silicon nitride samples in terms of ultrasonic material properties. Ultrasonic velocity, attenuation coefficient, and reflection coefficient images were obtained simultaneously over a broad band of frequencies (e.g., 30 to 110 MHz) by using spectroscopic analysis. Liquid and membrane (dry) coupling techniques and longitudinal and shear-wave energies were used. The major results include the following: Ultrasonic velocity (longitudinal and shear wave) images revealed and correlated with the extent of average through-thickness pore fraction variations in the silicon nitride disks. Attenuation coefficient images revealed pore fraction nonuniformity due to the scattering that occurred at boundaries between regions of high and low pore fraction. Velocity and attenuation coefficient images were each nearly identical for machined and polished disks, making the method readily applicable to machined materials. Velocity images were similar for wet and membrane coupling. Maps of apparent Poisson's ratio constructed from longitudinal and shear-wave velocities quantified Poisson's ratio variations across a silicon nitride disk. Thermal wave images of a disk indicated transient thermal behavior variations that correlated with observed variations in pore fraction and velocity and attenuation coefficients.

Sensitivity study on durability variables of marine concrete structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xin'gang; Li, Kefei

2013-06-01

In order to study the influence of parameters on durability of marine concrete structures, the parameter's sensitivity analysis was studied in this paper. With the Fick's 2nd law of diffusion and the deterministic sensitivity analysis method (DSA), the sensitivity factors of apparent surface chloride content, apparent chloride diffusion coefficient and its time dependent attenuation factor were analyzed. The results of the analysis show that the impact of design variables on concrete durability was different. The values of sensitivity factor of chloride diffusion coefficient and its time dependent attenuation factor were higher than others. Relative less error in chloride diffusion coefficient and its time dependent attenuation coefficient induces a bigger error in concrete durability design and life prediction. According to probability sensitivity analysis (PSA), the influence of mean value and variance of concrete durability design variables on the durability failure probability was studied. The results of the study provide quantitative measures of the importance of concrete durability design and life prediction variables. It was concluded that the chloride diffusion coefficient and its time dependent attenuation factor have more influence on the reliability of marine concrete structural durability. In durability design and life prediction of marine concrete structures, it was very important to reduce the measure and statistic error of durability design variables.

Acoustic characterization of Thiel liver for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound treatment.

PubMed

Karakitsios, Ioannis; Joy, Joyce; Mihcin, Senay; Melzer, Andreas

2017-04-01

The purpose of this work was to measure the essential acoustic parameters, i.e., acoustic impedance, reflection coefficient, attenuation coefficient, of Thiel embalmed human and animal liver. The Thiel embalmed tissue can be a promising, pre-clinical model to study liver treatment with Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS). Using a single-element transducer and the contact pulse-echo method, the acoustic parameters, i.e., acoustic impedance, reflection coefficient and attenuation coefficient of Thiel embalmed human and animal liver were measured. The Thiel embalmed livers had higher impedance, similar reflection and lower attenuation compared to the fresh tissue. Embalming liver with Thiel fluid affects its acoustic properties. During MRgFUS sonication of a Thiel organ, more focused ultrasound (FUS) will be backscattered by the organ, and higher acoustic powers are required to reach coagulation levels (temperatures >56 °C).

Modeling of Thermal Phase Noise in a Solid Core Photonic Crystal Fiber-Optic Gyroscope

PubMed Central

Song, Ningfang; Ma, Kun; Jin, Jing; Teng, Fei; Cai, Wei

2017-01-01

A theoretical model of the thermal phase noise in a square-wave modulated solid core photonic crystal fiber-optic gyroscope has been established, and then verified by measurements. The results demonstrate a good agreement between theory and experiment. The contribution of the thermal phase noise to the random walk coefficient of the gyroscope is derived. A fiber coil with 2.8 km length is used in the experimental solid core photonic crystal fiber-optic gyroscope, showing a random walk coefficient of 9.25 × 10−5 deg/h. PMID:29072605

Evaluation of the gamma radiation shielding parameters of bismuth modified quaternary glass system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Parminder; Singh, K. J.; Thakur, Sonika

2018-05-01

Glasses modified with heavy metal oxides (HMO) are an interesting area of research in the field of gamma-ray shielding. Bismuth modified lithium-zinc-borate glasses have been studied whereby bismuth oxide is added from 0 to 50 mol%. The gamma ray shielding properties of the glasses were evaluated at photon energy 662 keV with the help of XMuDat computer program by using the Hubbell and Seltzer database. Various gamma ray shielding parameters such as attenuation coefficient, shield thickness in terms of half and tenth value layer, effective atomic number have been studied in this work. A useful comparison of this glass system has been made with standard radiation shielding concretes viz. ordinary, barite and iron concrete. The glass samples containing 20 to 50 mol% bismuth oxide have shown better gamma ray shielding properties and hence have the potential to become good radiation absorbers.

Sci—Thur AM: YIS - 08: Constructing an Attenuation map for a PET/MR Breast coil

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Patrick, John C.; Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, Knoxville, TN; London Regional Cancer Program, Knoxville, TN

2014-08-15

In 2013, around 23000 Canadian women and 200 Canadian men were diagnosed with breast cancer. An estimated 5100 women and 55 men died from the disease. Using the sensitivity of MRI with the selectivity of PET, PET/MRI combines anatomical and functional information within the same scan and could help with early detection in high-risk patients. MRI requires radiofrequency coils for transmitting energy and receiving signal but the breast coil attenuates PET signal. To correct for this PET attenuation, a 3-dimensional map of linear attenuation coefficients (μ-map) of the breast coil must be created and incorporated into the PET reconstruction process.more » Several approaches have been proposed for building hardware μ-maps, some of which include the use of conventional kVCT and Dual energy CT. These methods can produce high resolution images based on the electron densities of materials that can be converted into μ-maps. However, imaging hardware containing metal components with photons in the kV range is susceptible to metal artifacts. These artifacts can compromise the accuracy of the resulting μ-map and PET reconstruction; therefore high-Z components should be removed. We propose a method for calculating μ-maps without removing coil components, based on megavoltage (MV) imaging with a linear accelerator that has been detuned for imaging at 1.0MeV. Containers of known geometry with F18 were placed in the breast coil for imaging. A comparison between reconstructions based on the different μ-map construction methods was made. PET reconstructions with our method show a maximum of 6% difference over the existing kVCT-based reconstructions.« less

Modifying Spearman's Attenuation Equation to Yield Partial Corrections for Measurement Error--With Application to Sample Size Calculations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nicewander, W. Alan

2018-01-01

Spearman's correction for attenuation (measurement error) corrects a correlation coefficient for measurement errors in either-or-both of two variables, and follows from the assumptions of classical test theory. Spearman's equation removes all measurement error from a correlation coefficient which translates into "increasing the reliability of…

Technical Note: exploring the limit for the conversion of energy-subtracted CT number to electron density for high-atomic-number materials.

PubMed

Saito, Masatoshi; Tsukihara, Masayoshi

2014-07-01

For accurate tissue inhomogeneity correction in radiotherapy treatment planning, the authors had previously proposed a novel conversion of the energy-subtracted CT number to an electron density (ΔHU-ρe conversion), which provides a single linear relationship between ΔHU and ρe over a wide ρe range. The purpose of this study is to address the limitations of the conversion method with respect to atomic number (Z) by elucidating the role of partial photon interactions in the ΔHU-ρe conversion process. The authors performed numerical analyses of the ΔHU-ρe conversion for 105 human body tissues, as listed in ICRU Report 46, and elementary substances with Z = 1-40. Total and partial attenuation coefficients for these materials were calculated using the XCOM photon cross section database. The effective x-ray energies used to calculate the attenuation were chosen to imitate a dual-source CT scanner operated at 80-140 kV/Sn under well-calibrated and poorly calibrated conditions. The accuracy of the resultant calibrated electron density,[Formula: see text], for the ICRU-46 body tissues fully satisfied the IPEM-81 tolerance levels in radiotherapy treatment planning. If a criterion of [Formula: see text]ρe - 1 is assumed to be within ± 2%, the predicted upper limit of Z applicable for the ΔHU-ρe conversion under the well-calibrated condition is Z = 27. In the case of the poorly calibrated condition, the upper limit of Z is approximately 16. The deviation from the ΔHU-ρe linearity for higher Z substances is mainly caused by the anomalous variation in the photoelectric-absorption component. Compensation among the three partial components of the photon interactions provides for sufficient linearity of the ΔHU-ρe conversion to be applicable for most human tissues even for poorly conditioned scans in which there exists a large variation of effective x-ray energies owing to beam-hardening effects arising from the mismatch between the sizes of the object and the calibration phantom.

Improvement of photon correlation spectroscopy method for measuring nanoparticle size by using attenuated total reflectance.

PubMed

Krishtop, Victor; Doronin, Ivan; Okishev, Konstantin

2012-11-05

Photon correlation spectroscopy is an effective method for measuring nanoparticle sizes and has several advantages over alternative methods. However, this method suffers from a disadvantage in that its measuring accuracy reduces in the presence of convective flows of fluid containing nanoparticles. In this paper, we propose a scheme based on attenuated total reflectance in order to reduce the influence of convection currents. The autocorrelation function for the light-scattering intensity was found for this case, and it was shown that this method afforded a significant decrease in the time required to measure the particle sizes and an increase in the measuring accuracy.

[Shielding design and detection of neutrons from medical and industrial electron accelerators--simple method of design calculation for neutron shielding].

PubMed

Nakamura, T; Uwamino, Y

1986-02-01

The neutron leakage from medical and industrial electron accelerators has become an important problem and its detection and shielding is being performed in their facilities. This study provides a new simple method of design calculation for neutron shielding of those electron accelerator facilities by dividing into the following five categories; neutron dose distribution in the accelerator room, neutron attenuation through the wall and the door in the accelerator room, neutron and secondary photon dose distributions in the maze, neutron and secondary photon attenuation through the door at the end of the maze, neutron leakage outside the facility-skyshine.

Photon diffusion coefficient in scattering and absorbing media.

PubMed

Pierrat, Romain; Greffet, Jean-Jacques; Carminati, Rémi

2006-05-01

We present a unified derivation of the photon diffusion coefficient for both steady-state and time-dependent transport in disordered absorbing media. The derivation is based on a modal analysis of the time-dependent radiative transfer equation. This approach confirms that the dynamic diffusion coefficient is given by the random-walk result D = cl(*)/3, where l(*) is the transport mean free path and c is the energy velocity, independent of the level of absorption. It also shows that the diffusion coefficient for steady-state transport, often used in biomedical optics, depends on absorption, in agreement with recent theoretical and experimental works. These two results resolve a recurrent controversy in light propagation and imaging in scattering media.

A comparative study of gamma-ray interaction and absorption in some building materials using Zeff-toolkit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mann, Kulwinder Singh; Heer, Manmohan Singh; Rani, Asha

2016-07-01

The gamma-ray shielding behaviour of a material can be investigated by determining its various interaction and energy-absorption parameters (such as mass attenuation coefficients, mass energy absorption coefficients, and corresponding effective atomic numbers and electron densities). Literature review indicates that the effective atomic number (Zeff) has been used as extensive parameters for evaluating the effects and defect in the chosen materials caused by ionising radiations (X-rays and gamma-rays). A computer program (Zeff-toolkit) has been designed for obtaining the mean value of effective atomic number calculated by three different methods. A good agreement between the results obtained with Zeff-toolkit, Auto_Zeff software and experimentally measured values of Zeff has been observed. Although the Zeff-toolkit is capable of computing effective atomic numbers for both photon interaction (Zeff,PI) and energy absorption (Zeff,En) using three methods in each. No similar computer program is available in the literature which simultaneously computes these parameters simultaneously. The computed parameters have been compared and correlated in the wide energy range (0.001-20 MeV) for 10 commonly used building materials. The prominent variations in these parameters with gamma-ray photon energy have been observed due to the dominance of various absorption and scattering phenomena. The mean values of two effective atomic numbers (Zeff,PI and Zeff,En) are equivalent at energies below 0.002 MeV and above 0.3 MeV, indicating the dominance of gamma-ray absorption (photoelectric and pair production) over scattering (Compton) at these energies. Conversely in the energy range 0.002-0.3 MeV, the Compton scattering of gamma-rays dominates the absorption. From the 10 chosen samples of building materials, 2 soils showed better shielding behaviour than did other 8 materials.

Morphology supporting function: attenuation correction for SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and PET/MR imaging

PubMed Central

Lee, Tzu C.; Alessio, Adam M.; Miyaoka, Robert M.; Kinahan, Paul E.

2017-01-01

Both SPECT, and in particular PET, are unique in medical imaging for their high sensitivity and direct link to a physical quantity, i.e. radiotracer concentration. This gives PET and SPECT imaging unique capabilities for accurately monitoring disease activity for the purposes of clinical management or therapy development. However, to achieve a direct quantitative connection between the underlying radiotracer concentration and the reconstructed image values several confounding physical effects have to be estimated, notably photon attenuation and scatter. With the advent of dual-modality SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and PET/MR scanners, the complementary CT or MR image data can enable these corrections, although there are unique challenges for each combination. This review covers the basic physics underlying photon attenuation and scatter and summarizes technical considerations for multimodal imaging with regard to PET and SPECT quantification and methods to address the challenges for each multimodal combination. PMID:26576737

Energy-Discriminative Performance of a Spectral Micro-CT System

PubMed Central

He, Peng; Yu, Hengyong; Bennett, James; Ronaldson, Paul; Zainon, Rafidah; Butler, Anthony; Butler, Phil; Wei, Biao; Wang, Ge

2013-01-01

Experiments were performed to evaluate the energy-discriminative performance of a spectral (multi-energy) micro-CT system. The system, designed by MARS (Medipix All Resolution System) Bio-Imaging Ltd. (Christchurch, New Zealand), employs a photon-counting energy-discriminative detector technology developed by CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research). We used the K-edge attenuation characteristic of some known materials to calibrate the detector’s photon energy discrimination. For tomographic analysis, we used the compressed sensing (CS) based ordered-subset simultaneous algebraic reconstruction techniques (OS-SART) to reconstruct sample images, which is effective to reduce noise and suppress artifacts. Unlike conventional CT, the principal component analysis (PCA) method can be applied to extract and quantify additional attenuation information from a spectral CT dataset. Our results show that the spectral CT has a good energy-discriminative performance and provides more attenuation information than the conventional CT. PMID:24004864

Sound Propagation in Gas-Vapor-Droplet Suspensions with Evaporation and Nonlinear Particle Relaxation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kandula, Max

2012-01-01

The Sound attenuation and dispersion in saturated gas-vapor-droplet mixture in the presence of evaporation has been investigated theoretically. The theory is based on an extension of the work of Davidson to accommodate the effects of nonlinear particle relaxation processes of mass, momentum and energy transfer on sound attenuation and dispersion. The results indicate the existence of a spectral broadening effect in the attenuation coefficient (scaled with respect to the peak value) with a decrease in droplet mass concentration. It is further shown that for large values of the droplet concentration the scaled attenuation coefficient is characterized by a universal spectrum independent of droplet mass concentration.

Photon parameters for gamma-rays sensing properties of some oxide of lanthanides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Issa, Shams A. M.; Sayyed, M. I.; Zaid, M. H. M.; Matori, K. A.

2018-06-01

In the present research work, the mass attenuation coefficients (μm) representing the interaction of gamma photons with some oxide of lanthanides (Lu2O3Yb2O3, Er2O3, Sm2O3, Dy2O3, Eu2O3, Nd2O3, Pr6O11, La2O3 and Ce2O3) were investigated using WinXCom software in the wide energy range of 1 keV-100 GeV. The calculated values of μm afterwards were used to evaluate some gamma rays sensing properties as effective atomic effective atomic numbers (Zeff), effective electron densities (Nel), half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP). The computed data observes that, the Lu2O3 shown excellent γ-rays sensing response in the broad energy range. At the absorption edges of the high elements present in the lanthanide compounds, more than a single value of Zeff were found due to the non-uniform variation of μm. Comparisons with experiments wherever possible have been achieved for the calculated μm and Zeff values. The calculated properties are beneficial expanded use of designing in radiation shielding, gas sensors, glass coloring agent and in electronic sensing devices.

MCNP6 simulation of radiographs generated from megaelectron volt X-rays for characterizing a computed tomography system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dooraghi, Alex A.; Tringe, Joseph W.

2018-04-01

To evaluate conventional munition, we simulated an x-ray computed tomography (CT) system for generating radiographs from nominal x-ray energies of 6 or 9 megaelectron volts (MeV). CT simulations, informed by measured data, allow for optimization of both system design and acquisition techniques necessary to enhance image quality. MCNP6 radiographic simulation tools were used to model ideal detector responses (DR) that assume either (1) a detector response proportional to photon flux (N) or (2) a detector response proportional to energy flux (E). As scatter may become significant with MeV x-ray systems, simulations were performed with and without the inclusion of object scatter. Simulations were compared against measurements of a cylindrical munition component principally composed of HMX, tungsten and aluminum encased in carbon fiber. Simulations and measurements used a 6 MeV peak energy x-ray spectrum filtered with 3.175 mm of tantalum. A detector response proportional to energy which includes object scatter agrees to within 0.6 % of the measured line integral of the linear attenuation coefficient. Exclusion of scatter increases the difference between measurement and simulation to 5 %. A detector response proportional to photon flux agrees to within 20 % when object scatter is included in the simulation and 27 % when object scatter is excluded.

X-Ray Form Factor, Attenuation and Scattering Tables

National Institute of Standards and Technology Data Gateway

SRD 66 X-Ray Form Factor, Attenuation and Scattering Tables (Web, free access)   This database collects tables and graphs of the form factors, the photoabsorption cross section, and the total attenuation coefficient for any element (Z <= 92).

On the accuracy and reproducibility of a novel probabilistic atlas-based generation for calculation of head attenuation maps on integrated PET/MR scanners.

PubMed

Chen, Kevin T; Izquierdo-Garcia, David; Poynton, Clare B; Chonde, Daniel B; Catana, Ciprian

2017-03-01

To propose an MR-based method for generating continuous-valued head attenuation maps and to assess its accuracy and reproducibility. Demonstrating that novel MR-based photon attenuation correction methods are both accurate and reproducible is essential prior to using them routinely in research and clinical studies on integrated PET/MR scanners. Continuous-valued linear attenuation coefficient maps ("μ-maps") were generated by combining atlases that provided the prior probability of voxel positions belonging to a certain tissue class (air, soft tissue, or bone) and an MR intensity-based likelihood classifier to produce posterior probability maps of tissue classes. These probabilities were used as weights to generate the μ-maps. The accuracy of this probabilistic atlas-based continuous-valued μ-map ("PAC-map") generation method was assessed by calculating the voxel-wise absolute relative change (RC) between the MR-based and scaled CT-based attenuation-corrected PET images. To assess reproducibility, we performed pair-wise comparisons of the RC values obtained from the PET images reconstructed using the μ-maps generated from the data acquired at three time points. The proposed method produced continuous-valued μ-maps that qualitatively reflected the variable anatomy in patients with brain tumor and agreed well with the scaled CT-based μ-maps. The absolute RC comparing the resulting PET volumes was 1.76 ± 2.33 %, quantitatively demonstrating that the method is accurate. Additionally, we also showed that the method is highly reproducible, the mean RC value for the PET images reconstructed using the μ-maps obtained at the three visits being 0.65 ± 0.95 %. Accurate and highly reproducible continuous-valued head μ-maps can be generated from MR data using a probabilistic atlas-based approach.

A quantitative three-dimensional dose attenuation analysis around Fletcher-Suit-Delclos due to stainless steel tube for high-dose-rate brachytherapy by Monte Carlo calculations.

PubMed

Parsai, E Ishmael; Zhang, Zhengdong; Feldmeier, John J

2009-01-01

The commercially available brachytherapy treatment-planning systems today, usually neglects the attenuation effect from stainless steel (SS) tube when Fletcher-Suit-Delclos (FSD) is used in treatment of cervical and endometrial cancers. This could lead to potential inaccuracies in computing dwell times and dose distribution. A more accurate analysis quantifying the level of attenuation for high-dose-rate (HDR) iridium 192 radionuclide ((192)Ir) source is presented through Monte Carlo simulation verified by measurement. In this investigation a general Monte Carlo N-Particles (MCNP) transport code was used to construct a typical geometry of FSD through simulation and compare the doses delivered to point A in Manchester System with and without the SS tubing. A quantitative assessment of inaccuracies in delivered dose vs. the computed dose is presented. In addition, this investigation expanded to examine the attenuation-corrected radial and anisotropy dose functions in a form parallel to the updated AAPM Task Group No. 43 Report (AAPM TG-43) formalism. This will delineate quantitatively the inaccuracies in dose distributions in three-dimensional space. The changes in dose deposition and distribution caused by increased attenuation coefficient resulted from presence of SS are quantified using MCNP Monte Carlo simulations in coupled photon/electron transport. The source geometry was that of the Vari Source wire model VS2000. The FSD was that of the Varian medical system. In this model, the bending angles of tandem and colpostats are 15 degrees and 120 degrees , respectively. We assigned 10 dwell positions to the tandem and 4 dwell positions to right and left colpostats or ovoids to represent a typical treatment case. Typical dose delivered to point A was determined according to Manchester dosimetry system. Based on our computations, the reduction of dose to point A was shown to be at least 3%. So this effect presented by SS-FSD systems on patient dose is of concern.

Evaluation of various energy windows at different radionuclides for scatter and attenuation correction in nuclear medicine.

PubMed

Asgari, Afrouz; Ashoor, Mansour; Sohrabpour, Mostafa; Shokrani, Parvaneh; Rezaei, Ali

2015-05-01

Improving signal to noise ratio (SNR) and qualified images by the various methods is very important for detecting the abnormalities at the body organs. Scatter and attenuation of photons by the organs lead to errors in radiopharmaceutical estimation as well as degradation of images. The choice of suitable energy window and the radionuclide have a key role in nuclear medicine which appearing the lowest scatter fraction as well as having a nearly constant linear attenuation coefficient as a function of phantom thickness. The energy windows of symmetrical window (SW), asymmetric window (ASW), high window (WH) and low window (WL) using Tc-99m and Sm-153 radionuclide with solid water slab phantom (RW3) and Teflon bone phantoms have been compared, and Matlab software and Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP4C) code were modified to simulate these methods and obtaining the amounts of FWHM and full width at tenth maximum (FWTM) using line spread functions (LSFs). The experimental data were obtained from the Orbiter Scintron gamma camera. Based on the results of the simulation as well as experimental work, the performance of WH and ASW display of the results, lowest scatter fraction as well as constant linear attenuation coefficient as a function of phantom thickness. WH and ASW were optimal windows in nuclear medicine imaging for Tc-99m in RW3 phantom and Sm-153 in Teflon bone phantom. Attenuation correction was done for WH and ASW optimal windows and for these radionuclides using filtered back projection algorithm. Results of simulation and experimental show that very good agreement between the set of experimental with simulation as well as theoretical values with simulation data were obtained which was nominally less than 7.07 % for Tc-99m and less than 8.00 % for Sm-153. Corrected counts were not affected by the thickness of scattering material. The Simulated results of Line Spread Function (LSF) for Sm-153 and Tc-99m in phantom based on four windows and TEW method were indicated that the FWHM and FWTM values were approximately the same in TEW method and WH and ASW, but the sensitivity at the optimal window was more than that of the other one. The suitable determination of energy window width on the energy spectra can be useful in optimal design to improve efficiency and contrast. It is found that the WH is preferred to the ASW and the ASW is preferred to the SW.

Element-specific spectral imaging of multiple contrast agents: a phantom study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panta, R. K.; Bell, S. T.; Healy, J. L.; Aamir, R.; Bateman, C. J.; Moghiseh, M.; Butler, A. P. H.; Anderson, N. G.

2018-02-01

This work demonstrates the feasibility of simultaneous discrimination of multiple contrast agents based on their element-specific and energy-dependent X-ray attenuation properties using a pre-clinical photon-counting spectral CT. We used a photon-counting based pre-clinical spectral CT scanner with four energy thresholds to measure the X-ray attenuation properties of various concentrations of iodine (9, 18 and 36 mg/ml), gadolinium (2, 4 and 8 mg/ml) and gold (2, 4 and 8 mg/ml) based contrast agents, calcium chloride (140 and 280 mg/ml) and water. We evaluated the spectral imaging performances of different energy threshold schemes between 25 to 82 keV at 118 kVp, based on K-factor and signal-to-noise ratio and ranked them. K-factor was defined as the X-ray attenuation in the K-edge containing energy range divided by the X-ray attenuation in the preceding energy range, expressed as a percentage. We evaluated the effectiveness of the optimised energy selection to discriminate all three contrast agents in a phantom of 33 mm diameter. A photon-counting spectral CT using four energy thresholds of 27, 33, 49 and 81 keV at 118 kVp simultaneously discriminated three contrast agents based on iodine, gadolinium and gold at various concentrations using their K-edge and energy-dependent X-ray attenuation features in a single scan. A ranking method to evaluate spectral imaging performance enabled energy thresholds to be optimised to discriminate iodine, gadolinium and gold contrast agents in a single spectral CT scan. Simultaneous discrimination of multiple contrast agents in a single scan is likely to open up new possibilities of improving the accuracy of disease diagnosis by simultaneously imaging multiple bio-markers each labelled with a nano-contrast agent.

An assessment of optical and biogeochemical multi-decadal trends in the Sargasso Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allen, J. G.; Siegel, D.; Nelson, N. B.

2016-02-01

Observations of optical and biogeochemical data, made as part of the Bermuda Bio-Optics Project (BBOP) at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site in the Sargasso Sea, allow for the examination of temporal trends in vertical light attenuation and their potential controls. Trends in both the magnitude and spectral slope of the diffuse attenuation coefficient should reflect changes in chlorophyll and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) concentrations in the Sargasso Sea. The length and methodological consistency of this time series provides an excellent opportunity to extend analyses of seasonal cycles of apparent optical properties to interannual and multi-year time scales. Here, we characterize changes in the size and shape of diffuse attenuation coefficient spectra and compare them to temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, and to discrete measurements of phytoplankton and CDOM absorption. The time series analyses reveal up to a 1.2% annual increase of the magnitude of the diffuse attenuation coefficient over the upper 70 m of the water column while showing no significant change in the spectral slope of diffuse attenuation over the course of the study. These observations indicate that increases in phytoplankton pigment concentration rather than changes in CDOM are the primary driver for the attenuation trends on multi-year timescales for this region.

Two-photon absorption in arsenic sulfide glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chunaev, D. S.; Snopatin, G. E.; Plotnichenko, V. G.; Karasik, A. Ya.

2016-10-01

The two-photon absorption coefficient of 1047-{\\text{nm}} light in {\\text{As}}35{\\text{S}}65 chalcogenide glass has been measured. CW probe radiation has been used to observe the linear absorption in glass induced by two-photon excitation. The induced absorption lifetime was found to be ∼ 2 {\\text{ms}}.

Backscatter and attenuation properties of mammalian brain tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijekularatne, Pushpani Vihara

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a common category of brain injuries, which contributes to a substantial number of deaths and permanent disability all over the world. Ultrasound technology plays a major role in tissue characterization due to its low cost and portability that could be used to bridge a wide gap in the TBI diagnostic process. This research addresses the ultrasonic properties of mammalian brain tissues focusing on backscatter and attenuation. Orientation dependence and spatial averaging of data were analyzed using the same method resulting from insertion of tissue sample between a transducer and a reference reflector. Apparent backscatter transfer function (ABTF) at 1 to 10 MHz, attenuation coefficient and backscatter coefficient (BSC) at 1 to 5 MHz frequency ranges were measured on ovine brain tissue samples. The resulting ABTF was a monotonically decreasing function of frequency and the attenuation coefficient and BSC generally were increasing functions of frequency, results consistent with other soft tissues such as liver, blood and heart.

Two-photon absorption in SiO{sub 2}- and (SiO{sub 2} + GeO{sub 2})-based fibres at a wavelength of 349 nm

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chunaev, D S; Karasik, A Ya

2014-06-30

The nonlinear two-photon light absorption coefficients have been measured in an optical fibre with a quartz glass (SiO{sub 2}) core and in a fibre with a germanosilicate glass (SiO{sub 2} + GeO{sub 2}) core. The two-photon absorption coefficient β measured at a wavelength of 349 nm in the (SiO{sub 2} + GeO{sub 2})-based fibre (13.7 cm TW{sup -1}) multiply exceeds that for the pure quartz glass optical fibre (0.54 cm TW{sup -1}). (nonlinear optical phenomena)

Controlling resonant photonic transport along optical waveguides by two-level atoms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yan Conghua; College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068; Wei Lianfu

2011-10-15

Recent works [Shen et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 213001 (2005); Zhou et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 100501 (2008)] showed that the incident photons cannot transmit along an optical waveguide containing a resonant two-level atom (TLA). Here we propose an approach to overcome such a difficulty by using asymmetric couplings between the photons and a TLA. Our numerical results show that the transmission spectrum of the photon depends on both the frequency of the incident photons and the photon-TLA couplings. Consequently, this system can serve as a controllable photon attenuator, by which the transmission probability of the resonantly incidentmore » photons can be changed from 0% to 100%. A possible application to explain the recent experimental observations [Astafiev et al., Science 327, 840 (2010)] is also discussed.« less

Calculation extinction cross sections and molar attenuation coefficient of small gold nanoparticles and experimental observation of their UV-vis spectral properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Junqi; Gao, Kunpeng; Ou, Quanhong; Fu, Xuewen; Man, Shi-Qing; Guo, Jie; Liu, Yingkai

2018-02-01

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been researched extensively, such as applied in various biosensors, biomedical imaging and diagnosis, catalysis and physico-chemical analysis. These applications usually required to know the nanoparticle size or concentration. Researchers have been studying a simply and quick way to estimate the concentration or size of nanoparticles from their optical spectra and SPR feature for several years. The extinction cross-sections and the molar attenuation coefficient were one of the key parameters. In this study, we calculated the extinction cross-sections and molar attenuation coefficient (decadic molar extinction coefficient) of small gold nanoparticles by dipole approximation method and modified Beer-Lambert law. The theoretical result showed that the surface plasmon resonance peak of small gold nanoparticles was blueshift with an increase size. Moreover, small AuNPs (sub-10 nm) were prepared by using of dextran or trisodium citrate as reducing agent and capping agent. The experimental synthesized AuNPs was also shows a blueshift as increasing particle size in a certain range. And the concentration of AuNPs was calculated based on the obtained molar attenuation coefficient. For small nanoparticles, the size of nanoparticles and surface plasmon resonance property was not showed a positive correlation compared to larger nanoparticles. These results suggested that SPR peak depended not only on the nanoparticle size and shape but also on the nanoparticles environment.

Determination of the Mass Absorption Coefficient in Two-Layer Ti/V and V/Ti Thin Film Systems by the X-Ray Fluorescence Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mashin, N. I.; Chernyaeva, E. A.; Tumanova, A. N.; Gafarova, L. M.

2016-03-01

A new XRF procedure for the determination of the mass absorption coefficient in thin film Ti/V and V/Ti two-layer systems has been proposed. The procedure uses easy-to-make thin-film layers of sputtered titanium and vanadium on a polymer film substrate. Correction coefficients have been calculated that take into account attenuation of primary radiation of the X-ray tube, as well as attenuation of the spectral line of the bottom layer element in the top layer.

Two-photon interband absorption coefficients in tungstate and molybdate crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukanin, V. I.; Karasik, A. Ya.

2015-02-01

Two-photon absorption (TPA) coefficients were measured in tungstate and molybdate crystals - BaWO4, KGW, CaMoO4, BaMoO4, CaWO4, PbWO4 and ZnWO4 upon different orientations of excitation polarization with respect to the crystallographic axes. Trains of 25 ps pulses with variable radiation intensities of third (349 nm) harmonics of passively mode-locked 1047 nm Nd:YLF laser were used for interband two-photon excitation of the crystals. It was suggested that in the case, when 349 nm radiation pumping energy exceeds the bandgap width (hν>Eg), the nonlinear excitation process can be considered as two-step absorption. The interband two-photon absorption in all the studied crystals induces the following one-photon absorption from the exited states, which affects the nonlinear process dynamics and leads to a hysteresis in the dependence of the transmission on the excitation intensity. This fact was taken into account under analysis of the experimental dependences of the reciprocal transmission on the excitation intensity. Laser excitation in the transparency region of the crystals caused stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) not for all the crystals studied. The measured nonlinear coefficients allowed us to explain the suppression of SRS in crystals as a result of competition between the SRS and TPA.

A photon source model based on particle transport in a parameterized accelerator structure for Monte Carlo dose calculations.

PubMed

Ishizawa, Yoshiki; Dobashi, Suguru; Kadoya, Noriyuki; Ito, Kengo; Chiba, Takahito; Takayama, Yoshiki; Sato, Kiyokazu; Takeda, Ken

2018-05-17

An accurate source model of a medical linear accelerator is essential for Monte Carlo (MC) dose calculations. This study aims to propose an analytical photon source model based on particle transport in parameterized accelerator structures, focusing on a more realistic determination of linac photon spectra compared to existing approaches. We designed the primary and secondary photon sources based on the photons attenuated and scattered by a parameterized flattening filter. The primary photons were derived by attenuating bremsstrahlung photons based on the path length in the filter. Conversely, the secondary photons were derived from the decrement of the primary photons in the attenuation process. This design facilitates these sources to share the free parameters of the filter shape and be related to each other through the photon interaction in the filter. We introduced two other parameters of the primary photon source to describe the particle fluence in penumbral regions. All the parameters are optimized based on calculated dose curves in water using the pencil-beam-based algorithm. To verify the modeling accuracy, we compared the proposed model with the phase space data (PSD) of the Varian TrueBeam 6 and 15 MV accelerators in terms of the beam characteristics and the dose distributions. The EGS5 Monte Carlo code was used to calculate the dose distributions associated with the optimized model and reference PSD in a homogeneous water phantom and a heterogeneous lung phantom. We calculated the percentage of points passing 1D and 2D gamma analysis with 1%/1 mm criteria for the dose curves and lateral dose distributions, respectively. The optimized model accurately reproduced the spectral curves of the reference PSD both on- and off-axis. The depth dose and lateral dose profiles of the optimized model also showed good agreement with those of the reference PSD. The passing rates of the 1D gamma analysis with 1%/1 mm criteria between the model and PSD were 100% for 4 × 4, 10 × 10, and 20 × 20 cm 2 fields at multiple depths. For the 2D dose distributions calculated in the heterogeneous lung phantom, the 2D gamma pass rate was 100% for 6 and 15 MV beams. The model optimization time was less than 4 min. The proposed source model optimization process accurately produces photon fluence spectra from a linac using valid physical properties, without detailed knowledge of the geometry of the linac head, and with minimal optimization time. © 2018 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Comparison of x-ray cross sections for diagnostic and therapeutic medical physics.

PubMed

Boone, J M; Chavez, A E

1996-12-01

The purpose of this technical report is to make available an up-to-date source of attenuation coefficient data to the medical physics community, and to compare these data with other more familiar sources. Data files from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (in Livermore, CA) were truncated to match the needs of the medical physics community, and an interpolation routine was written to calculate a continuous set of cross sections spanning energies from 1 keV to 50 MeV. Coefficient data are available for elements Z = 1 through Z = 100. Values for mass attenuation coefficients, mass-energy-transfer coefficients, and mass-energy absorption coefficients are produced by a single computer subroutine. In addition to total interaction cross sections, the cross sections for photoelectric, Rayleigh, Compton, pair, and some triplet interactions are also produced by this single program. The coefficients were compared to the 1970 data of Storm and Israel over the energy interval from 1 to 1000 keV; for elements 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80, the average positive difference between the Storm and Israel coefficients and the coefficients reported here are 1.4%, 2.7%, and 2.6%, for the mass attenuation, mass energy-transfer, and mass-energy absorption coefficients, respectively. The 1969 data compilation of mass attenuation coefficients from McMaster et al. were also compared with the newer LLNL data. Over the energy region from 10 keV to 1000 keV, and from elements Z = 1 to Z = 82 (inclusive), the overall average difference was 1.53% (sigma = 0.85%). While the overall average difference was small, there was larger variation (> 5%) between cross sections for some elements. In addition to coefficient data, other useful data such as the density, atomic weight, K, L1, L2, L3, M, and N edges, and numerous characteristic emission energies are output by the program, depending on a single input variable. The computer source code, written in C, can be accessed and downloaded from the World Wide Web at: http:@www.aip.org/epaps/epaps.html [E-MPHSA-23-1977].

Patient size and x-ray transmission in body CT.

PubMed

Ogden, Kent; Huda, Walter; Scalzetti, Ernest M; Roskopf, Marsha L

2004-04-01

Physical characteristics were obtained for 196 patients undergoing chest and abdomen computed tomography (CT) examinations. Computed tomography sections for these patients having no evident pathology were analyzed to determine patient dimensions (AP and lateral), together with the average attenuation coefficient. Patient weights ranged from approximately 3 kg to about 120 kg. For chest CT, the mean Hounsfield unit (HU) fell from about -120 HU for newborns to about -300 HU for adults. For abdominal CT, the mean HU for children and normal-sized adults was about 20 HU, but decreased to below -50 HU for adults weighing more than 100 kg. The effective photon energy and percent energy fluence transmitted through a given patient size and composition was calculated for representative x-ray spectra at 80, 100, 120, and 140 kV tube potentials. A 70-kg adult scanned at 120 kVp transmits 2.6% of the energy fluence for chest and 0.7% for abdomen CT examinations. Reducing the patient size to 10 kg increases transmission by an order of magnitude. For 70 kg patients, effective energies in body CT range from approximately 50 keV at 80 kVp to approximately 67 keV at 140 kVp; increasing patient size from 10 to 120 kg resulted in an increase in effective photon energy of approximately 4 keV. The x-ray transmission data and effective photon energy data can be used to determine CT image noise and image contrast, respectively, and information on patient size and composition can be used to determine patient doses.

Single-photon interference experiment for high schools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bondani, Maria

2014-07-01

We follow the reductio ad absurdum reasoning described in the book "Sneaking a Look at God's Cards" by Giancarlo Ghirardi to demonstrate the wave-particle duality of light in a Mach-Zehnder interferometric setup analog to the conventional Young double-slit experiment. We aim at showing the double nature of light by measuring the existence of interference fringes down to the single-photon level. The setup includes a strongly attenuated laser, polarizing beam splitters, half-waveplates, polarizers and single-photon detectors.

Bragg-scattering conversion at telecom wavelengths towards the photon counting regime.

PubMed

Krupa, Katarzyna; Tonello, Alessandro; Kozlov, Victor V; Couderc, Vincent; Di Bin, Philippe; Wabnitz, Stefan; Barthélémy, Alain; Labonté, Laurent; Tanzilli, Sébastien

2012-11-19

We experimentally study Bragg-scattering four-wave mixing in a highly nonlinear fiber at telecom wavelengths using photon counters. We explore the polarization dependence of this process with a continuous wave signal in the macroscopic and attenuated regime, with a wavelength shift of 23 nm. Our measurements of mean photon numbers per second under various pump polarization configurations agree well with the theoretical and numerical predictions based on classical models. We discuss the impact of noise under these different polarization configurations.

Ultralow crosstalk nanosecond-scale nested 2 × 2 Mach-Zehnder silicon photonic switch.

PubMed

Dupuis, Nicolas; Rylyakov, Alexander V; Schow, Clint L; Kuchta, Daniel M; Baks, Christian W; Orcutt, Jason S; Gill, Douglas M; Green, William M J; Lee, Benjamin G

2016-07-01

We present the design and characterization of a novel electro-optic silicon photonic 2×2 nested Mach-Zehnder switch monolithically integrated with a CMOS driver and interface logic. The photonic device uses a variable optical attenuator in order to balance the power inside the Mach-Zehnder interferometer leading to ultralow crosstalk performance. We measured a crosstalk as low as -34.5  dB, while achieving ∼2  dB insertion loss and 4 ns transient response.

Quantitative Evaluation of Segmentation- and Atlas-Based Attenuation Correction for PET/MR on Pediatric Patients.

PubMed

Bezrukov, Ilja; Schmidt, Holger; Gatidis, Sergios; Mantlik, Frédéric; Schäfer, Jürgen F; Schwenzer, Nina; Pichler, Bernd J

2015-07-01

Pediatric imaging is regarded as a key application for combined PET/MR imaging systems. Because existing MR-based attenuation-correction methods were not designed specifically for pediatric patients, we assessed the impact of 2 potentially influential factors: inter- and intrapatient variability of attenuation coefficients and anatomic variability. Furthermore, we evaluated the quantification accuracy of 3 methods for MR-based attenuation correction without (SEGbase) and with bone prediction using an adult and a pediatric atlas (SEGwBONEad and SEGwBONEpe, respectively) on PET data of pediatric patients. The variability of attenuation coefficients between and within pediatric (5-17 y, n = 17) and adult (27-66 y, n = 16) patient collectives was assessed on volumes of interest (VOIs) in CT datasets for different tissue types. Anatomic variability was assessed on SEGwBONEad/pe attenuation maps by computing mean differences to CT-based attenuation maps for regions of bone tissue, lungs, and soft tissue. PET quantification was evaluated on VOIs with physiologic uptake and on 80% isocontour VOIs with elevated uptake in the thorax and abdomen/pelvis. Inter- and intrapatient variability of the bias was assessed for each VOI group and method. Statistically significant differences in mean VOI Hounsfield unit values and linear attenuation coefficients between adult and pediatric collectives were found in the lungs and femur. The prediction of attenuation maps using the pediatric atlas showed a reduced error in bone tissue and better delineation of bone structure. Evaluation of PET quantification accuracy showed statistically significant mean errors in mean standardized uptake values of -14% ± 5% and -23% ± 6% in bone marrow and femur-adjacent VOIs with physiologic uptake for SEGbase, which could be reduced to 0% ± 4% and -1% ± 5% using SEGwBONEpe attenuation maps. Bias in soft-tissue VOIs was less than 5% for all methods. Lung VOIs showed high SDs in the range of 15% for all methods. For VOIs with elevated uptake, mean and SD were less than 5% except in the thorax. The use of a dedicated atlas for the pediatric patient collective resulted in improved attenuation map prediction in osseous regions and reduced interpatient bias variation in femur-adjacent VOIs. For the lungs, in which intrapatient variation was higher for the pediatric collective, a patient- or group-specific attenuation coefficient might improve attenuation map accuracy. Mean errors of -14% and -23% in bone marrow and femur-adjacent VOIs can affect PET quantification in these regions when bone tissue is ignored. © 2015 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.

Air kerma to Hp(3) conversion coefficients for a new cylinder phantom for photon reference radiation qualities.

PubMed

Behrens, R

2012-09-01

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued a standard series on photon reference radiation qualities (ISO 4037). In this series, no conversion coefficients are contained for the quantity personal dose equivalent at a 3 mm depth, H(p)(3). In the past, for this quantity, a slab phantom was recommended as a calibration phantom; however, a cylinder phantom much better approximates the shape of a human head than a slab phantom. Therefore, in this work, the conversion coefficients from air kerma to H(p)(3) for the cylinder phantom are supplied for X- and gamma radiation qualities defined in ISO 4037.

Controlling resonant photonic transport along optical waveguides by two-level atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Cong-Hua; Wei, Lian-Fu; Jia, Wen-Zhi; Shen, Jung-Tsung

2011-10-01

Recent works [Shen , Phys. Rev. Lett.PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.95.213001 95, 213001 (2005); Zhou , Phys. Rev. Lett.PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.101.100501 101, 100501 (2008)] showed that the incident photons cannot transmit along an optical waveguide containing a resonant two-level atom (TLA). Here we propose an approach to overcome such a difficulty by using asymmetric couplings between the photons and a TLA. Our numerical results show that the transmission spectrum of the photon depends on both the frequency of the incident photons and the photon-TLA couplings. Consequently, this system can serve as a controllable photon attenuator, by which the transmission probability of the resonantly incident photons can be changed from 0% to 100%. A possible application to explain the recent experimental observations [Astafiev , ScienceSCIEAS0036-807510.1126/science.1181918 327, 840 (2010)] is also discussed.

SU-F-T-261: Reconstruction of Initial Photon Fluence Based On EPID Images

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Seliger, T; Engenhart-Cabillic, R; Czarnecki, D

2016-06-15

Purpose: Verifying an algorithm to reconstruct relative initial photon fluence for clinical use. Clinical EPID and CT images were acquired to reconstruct an external photon radiation treatment field. The reconstructed initial photon fluence could be used to verify the treatment or calculate the applied dose to the patient. Methods: The acquired EPID images were corrected for scatter caused by the patient and the EPID with an iterative reconstruction algorithm. The transmitted photon fluence behind the patient was calculated subsequently. Based on the transmitted fluence the initial photon fluence was calculated using a back-projection algorithm which takes the patient geometry andmore » its energy dependent linear attenuation into account. This attenuation was gained from the acquired cone-beam CT or the planning CT by calculating a water-equivalent radiological thickness for each irradiation direction. To verify the algorithm an inhomogeneous phantom consisting of three inhomogeneities was irradiated by a static 6 MV photon field and compared to a reference flood field image. Results: The mean deviation between the reconstructed relative photon fluence for the inhomogeneous phantom and the flood field EPID image was 3% rising up to 7% for off-axis fluence. This was probably caused by the used clinical EPID calibration, which flattens the inhomogeneous fluence profile of the beam. Conclusion: In this clinical experiment the algorithm achieved good results in the center of the field while it showed high deviation of the lateral fluence. This could be reduced by optimizing the EPID calibration, considering the off-axis differential energy response. In further progress this and other aspects of the EPID, eg. field size dependency, CT and dose calibration have to be studied to realize a clinical acceptable accuracy of 2%.« less

Broadband sensitive pump-probe setup for ultrafast optical switching of photonic nanostructures and semiconductors.

PubMed

Euser, Tijmen G; Harding, Philip J; Vos, Willem L

2009-07-01

We describe an ultrafast time resolved pump-probe spectroscopy setup aimed at studying the switching of nanophotonic structures. Both femtosecond pump and probe pulses can be independently tuned over broad frequency range between 3850 and 21,050 cm(-1). A broad pump scan range allows a large optical penetration depth, while a broad probe scan range is crucial to study strongly photonic crystals. A new data acquisition method allows for sensitive pump-probe measurements, and corrects for fluctuations in probe intensity and pump stray light. We observe a tenfold improvement of the precision of the setup compared to laser fluctuations, allowing a measurement accuracy of better than DeltaR=0.07% in a 1 s measurement time. Demonstrations of the improved technique are presented for a bulk Si wafer, a three-dimensional Si inverse opal photonic bandgap crystal, and z-scan measurements of the two-photon absorption coefficient of Si, GaAs, and the three-photon absorption coefficient of GaP in the infrared wavelength range.

Accuracy of CT-based attenuation correction in PET/CT bone imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abella, Monica; Alessio, Adam M.; Mankoff, David A.; MacDonald, Lawrence R.; Vaquero, Juan Jose; Desco, Manuel; Kinahan, Paul E.

2012-05-01

We evaluate the accuracy of scaling CT images for attenuation correction of PET data measured for bone. While the standard tri-linear approach has been well tested for soft tissues, the impact of CT-based attenuation correction on the accuracy of tracer uptake in bone has not been reported in detail. We measured the accuracy of attenuation coefficients of bovine femur segments and patient data using a tri-linear method applied to CT images obtained at different kVp settings. Attenuation values at 511 keV obtained with a 68Ga/68Ge transmission scan were used as a reference standard. The impact of inaccurate attenuation images on PET standardized uptake values (SUVs) was then evaluated using simulated emission images and emission images from five patients with elevated levels of FDG uptake in bone at disease sites. The CT-based linear attenuation images of the bovine femur segments underestimated the true values by 2.9 ± 0.3% for cancellous bone regardless of kVp. For compact bone the underestimation ranged from 1.3% at 140 kVp to 14.1% at 80 kVp. In the patient scans at 140 kVp the underestimation was approximately 2% averaged over all bony regions. The sensitivity analysis indicated that errors in PET SUVs in bone are approximately proportional to errors in the estimated attenuation coefficients for the same regions. The variability in SUV bias also increased approximately linearly with the error in linear attenuation coefficients. These results suggest that bias in bone uptake SUVs of PET tracers ranges from 2.4% to 5.9% when using CT scans at 140 and 120 kVp for attenuation correction. Lower kVp scans have the potential for considerably more error in dense bone. This bias is present in any PET tracer with bone uptake but may be clinically insignificant for many imaging tasks. However, errors from CT-based attenuation correction methods should be carefully evaluated if quantitation of tracer uptake in bone is important.

Airborne Polarized Lidar Detection of Scattering Layers in the Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasilkov, Alexander P.; Goldin, Yury A.; Gureev, Boris A.; Hoge, Frank E.; Swift, Robert N.; Wright, C. Wayne

2001-08-01

A polarized lidar technique based on measurements of waveforms of the two orthogonal-polarized components of the backscattered light pulse is proposed to retrieve vertical profiles of the seawater scattering coefficient. The physical rationale for the polarized technique is that depolarization of backscattered light originating from a linearly polarized laser beam is caused largely by multiple small-angle scattering from particulate matter in seawater. The magnitude of the small-angle scattering is determined by the scattering coefficient. Therefore information on the vertical distribution of the scattering coefficient can be derived potentially from measurements of the timedepth dependence of depolarization in the backscattered laser pulse. The polarized technique was verified by field measurements conducted in the Middle Atlantic Bight of the western North Atlantic Ocean that were supported by in situ measurements of the beam attenuation coefficient. The airborne polarized lidar measured the timedepth dependence of the backscattered laser pulse in two orthogonal-polarized components. Vertical profiles of the scattering coefficient retrieved from the timedepth depolarization of the backscattered laser pulse were compared with measured profiles of the beam attenuation coefficient. The comparison showed that retrieved profiles of the scattering coefficient clearly reproduce the main features of the measured profiles of the beam attenuation coefficient. Underwater scattering layers were detected at depths of 2025 m in turbid coastal waters. The improvement in dynamic range afforded by the polarized lidar technique offers a strong potential benefit for airborne lidar bathymetric applications.

Critical Current Statistics of a Graphene-Based Josephson Junction Infrared Single Photon Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walsh, Evan D.; Lee, Gil-Ho; Efetov, Dmitri K.; Heuck, Mikkel; Crossno, Jesse; Taniguchi, Takashi; Watanabe, Kenji; Ohki, Thomas A.; Kim, Philip; Englund, Dirk; Fong, Kin Chung

Graphene is a promising material for single photon detection due to its broadband absorption and exceptionally low specific heat. We present a photon detector using a graphene sheet as the weak link in a Josephson junction (JJ) to form a threshold detector for single infrared photons. Calculations show that such a device could experience temperature changes of a few hundred percent leading to sub-Hz dark count rates and internal efficiencies approaching unity. We have fabricated the graphene-based JJ (gJJ) detector and measure switching events that are consistent with single photon detection under illumination by an attenuated laser. We study the physical mechanism for these events through the critical current behavior of the gJJ as a function of incident photon flux.

Tissue characterization with ballistic photons: counting scattering and/or absorption centres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corral, F.; Strojnik, M.; Paez, G.

2015-03-01

We describe a new method to separate ballistic from the scattered photons for optical tissue characterization. It is based on the hypothesis that the scattered photons acquire a phase delay. The photons passing through the sample without scattering or absorption preserve their coherence so they may participate in interference. We implement a Mach-Zehnder experimental setup where the ballistic photons pass through the sample with the delay caused uniquely by the sample indices of refraction. We incorporate a movable mirror on the piezoelectric actuator in the sample arm to detect the amplitude of the modulation term. We present the theory that predicts the path-integrated (or total) concentration of the scattering and absorption centres. The proposed technique may characterize samples with transmission attenuation of ballistic photons by a factor of 10-14.

Corneal permeability for cement dust: prognosis for occupational safety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalmykov, R. V.; Popova, D. V.; Kamenskikh, T. G.; Genina, E. A.; Tuchin, V. V.; Bashkatov, A. N.

2018-02-01

The high dust content in air of a working zone causes prevalence of pathologies of the anterior segment of the eye of workers of cement production. Therefore, studying of features of cement dust impact on structure of a cornea and development of ways of eye protection from this influence is relevant. In this work experimental studies were carried out with twenty eyes of ten rabbits. OCTtomography was used to monitor the light attenuation coefficient of the cornea in vitro during the permeability of cement dust and/or keratoprotector (Systein Ultra). The permeability coefficients of the cornea for water, cement dust and keratoprotector were measured. A computer model allowing one to analyze the diffusion of these substances in the eye cornea was developed. It was shown that 1) the cement dust falling on the eye cornea caused pronounced dehydration of the tissue (thickness decreasing) and led to the increase of the attenuation coefficient, which could affect the deterioration of the eyesight of workers in the conditions of cement production; 2) the application of the keratoprotector to the eye cornea when exposed by cement dust, slowed significantly the dehydration process and did not cause the increase of the attenuation coefficient that characterized the stabilization of visual functions. At this, the keratoprotector itself did not cause dehydration and led to the decrease of the attenuation coefficient, which could allow it to be used for a long time in the order to protect the organ of vision from the negative effects of cement dust.

Calculation extinction cross sections and molar attenuation coefficient of small gold nanoparticles and experimental observation of their UV-vis spectral properties.

PubMed

Tang, Junqi; Gao, Kunpeng; Ou, Quanhong; Fu, Xuewen; Man, Shi-Qing; Guo, Jie; Liu, Yingkai

2018-02-15

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been researched extensively, such as applied in various biosensors, biomedical imaging and diagnosis, catalysis and physico-chemical analysis. These applications usually required to know the nanoparticle size or concentration. Researchers have been studying a simply and quick way to estimate the concentration or size of nanoparticles from their optical spectra and SPR feature for several years. The extinction cross-sections and the molar attenuation coefficient were one of the key parameters. In this study, we calculated the extinction cross-sections and molar attenuation coefficient (decadic molar extinction coefficient) of small gold nanoparticles by dipole approximation method and modified Beer-Lambert law. The theoretical result showed that the surface plasmon resonance peak of small gold nanoparticles was blueshift with an increase size. Moreover, small AuNPs (sub-10nm) were prepared by using of dextran or trisodium citrate as reducing agent and capping agent. The experimental synthesized AuNPs was also shows a blueshift as increasing particle size in a certain range. And the concentration of AuNPs was calculated based on the obtained molar attenuation coefficient. For small nanoparticles, the size of nanoparticles and surface plasmon resonance property was not showed a positive correlation compared to larger nanoparticles. These results suggested that SPR peak depended not only on the nanoparticle size and shape but also on the nanoparticles environment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Speckle noise attenuation in optical coherence tomography by compounding images acquired at different positions of the sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popescu, Dan P.; Hewko, Mark D.; Sowa, Michael G.

2007-01-01

This study demonstrates a simple method for attenuating the speckle noise generated by coherent multiple-scattered photons in optical-coherence tomography images. The method could be included among the space-diversity techniques used for speckle reduction. It relies on displacing the sample along a weakly focused beam in the sample arm of the interferometer, acquiring a coherent image for each sample position and adding the individual images to form a compounded image. It is proven that the compounded image displays a reduction in the speckle noise generated by multiple scattered photons and an enhancement in the intensity signal caused by single-backscattered photons. To evaluate its potential biomedical applications, the method is used to investigate in vitro a caries lesion affecting the enamel layer of a wisdom tooth. Because of the uncorrelated nature of the speckle noise the compounded image provides a better mapping of the lesion compared to a single (coherent) image.

A parameterization scheme for the x-ray linear attenuation coefficient and energy absorption coefficient.

PubMed

Midgley, S M

2004-01-21

A novel parameterization of x-ray interaction cross-sections is developed, and employed to describe the x-ray linear attenuation coefficient and mass energy absorption coefficient for both elements and mixtures. The new parameterization scheme addresses the Z-dependence of elemental cross-sections (per electron) using a simple function of atomic number, Z. This obviates the need for a complicated mathematical formalism. Energy dependent coefficients describe the Z-direction curvature of the cross-sections. The composition dependent quantities are the electron density and statistical moments describing the elemental distribution. We show that it is possible to describe elemental cross-sections for the entire periodic table and at energies above the K-edge (from 6 keV to 125 MeV), with an accuracy of better than 2% using a parameterization containing not more than five coefficients. For the biologically important elements 1 < or = Z < or = 20, and the energy range 30-150 keV, the parameterization utilizes four coefficients. At higher energies, the parameterization uses fewer coefficients with only two coefficients needed at megavoltage energies.

A simplified analytical dose calculation algorithm accounting for tissue heterogeneity for low-energy brachytherapy sources.

PubMed

Mashouf, Shahram; Lechtman, Eli; Beaulieu, Luc; Verhaegen, Frank; Keller, Brian M; Ravi, Ananth; Pignol, Jean-Philippe

2013-09-21

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group No. 43 (AAPM TG-43) formalism is the standard for seeds brachytherapy dose calculation. But for breast seed implants, Monte Carlo simulations reveal large errors due to tissue heterogeneity. Since TG-43 includes several factors to account for source geometry, anisotropy and strength, we propose an additional correction factor, called the inhomogeneity correction factor (ICF), accounting for tissue heterogeneity for Pd-103 brachytherapy. This correction factor is calculated as a function of the media linear attenuation coefficient and mass energy absorption coefficient, and it is independent of the source internal structure. Ultimately the dose in heterogeneous media can be calculated as a product of dose in water as calculated by TG-43 protocol times the ICF. To validate the ICF methodology, dose absorbed in spherical phantoms with large tissue heterogeneities was compared using the TG-43 formalism corrected for heterogeneity versus Monte Carlo simulations. The agreement between Monte Carlo simulations and the ICF method remained within 5% in soft tissues up to several centimeters from a Pd-103 source. Compared to Monte Carlo, the ICF methods can easily be integrated into a clinical treatment planning system and it does not require the detailed internal structure of the source or the photon phase-space.

Evaluation and automatic correction of metal-implant-induced artifacts in MR-based attenuation correction in whole-body PET/MR imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schramm, G.; Maus, J.; Hofheinz, F.; Petr, J.; Lougovski, A.; Beuthien-Baumann, B.; Platzek, I.; van den Hoff, J.

2014-06-01

The aim of this paper is to describe a new automatic method for compensation of metal-implant-induced segmentation errors in MR-based attenuation maps (MRMaps) and to evaluate the quantitative influence of those artifacts on the reconstructed PET activity concentration. The developed method uses a PET-based delineation of the patient contour to compensate metal-implant-caused signal voids in the MR scan that is segmented for PET attenuation correction. PET emission data of 13 patients with metal implants examined in a Philips Ingenuity PET/MR were reconstructed with the vendor-provided method for attenuation correction (MRMaporig, PETorig) and additionally with a method for attenuation correction (MRMapcor, PETcor) developed by our group. MRMaps produced by both methods were visually inspected for segmentation errors. The segmentation errors in MRMaporig were classified into four classes (L1 and L2 artifacts inside the lung and B1 and B2 artifacts inside the remaining body depending on the assigned attenuation coefficients). The average relative SUV differences (\\varepsilon _{rel}^{av}) between PETorig and PETcor of all regions showing wrong attenuation coefficients in MRMaporig were calculated. Additionally, relative SUVmean differences (ɛrel) of tracer accumulations in hot focal structures inside or in the vicinity of these regions were evaluated. MRMaporig showed erroneous attenuation coefficients inside the regions affected by metal artifacts and inside the patients' lung in all 13 cases. In MRMapcor, all regions with metal artifacts, except for the sternum, were filled with the soft-tissue attenuation coefficient and the lung was correctly segmented in all patients. MRMapcor only showed small residual segmentation errors in eight patients. \\varepsilon _{rel}^{av} (mean ± standard deviation) were: ( - 56 ± 3)% for B1, ( - 43 ± 4)% for B2, (21 ± 18)% for L1, (120 ± 47)% for L2 regions. ɛrel (mean ± standard deviation) of hot focal structures were: ( - 52 ± 12)% in B1, ( - 45 ± 13)% in B2, (19 ± 19)% in L1, (51 ± 31)% in L2 regions. Consequently, metal-implant-induced artifacts severely disturb MR-based attenuation correction and SUV quantification in PET/MR. The developed algorithm is able to compensate for these artifacts and improves SUV quantification accuracy distinctly.

PET/MRI in the Presence of Metal Implants: Completion of the Attenuation Map from PET Emission Data.

PubMed

Fuin, Niccolo; Pedemonte, Stefano; Catalano, Onofrio A; Izquierdo-Garcia, David; Soricelli, Andrea; Salvatore, Marco; Heberlein, Keith; Hooker, Jacob M; Van Leemput, Koen; Catana, Ciprian

2017-05-01

We present a novel technique for accurate whole-body attenuation correction in the presence of metallic endoprosthesis, on integrated non-time-of-flight (non-TOF) PET/MRI scanners. The proposed implant PET-based attenuation map completion (IPAC) method performs a joint reconstruction of radioactivity and attenuation from the emission data to determine the position, shape, and linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) of metallic implants. Methods: The initial estimate of the attenuation map was obtained using the MR Dixon method currently available on the Siemens Biograph mMR scanner. The attenuation coefficients in the area of the MR image subjected to metal susceptibility artifacts are then reconstructed from the PET emission data using the IPAC algorithm. The method was tested on 11 subjects presenting 13 different metallic implants, who underwent CT and PET/MR scans. Relative mean LACs and Dice similarity coefficients were calculated to determine the accuracy of the reconstructed attenuation values and the shape of the metal implant, respectively. The reconstructed PET images were compared with those obtained using the reference CT-based approach and the Dixon-based method. Absolute relative change (aRC) images were generated in each case, and voxel-based analyses were performed. Results: The error in implant LAC estimation, using the proposed IPAC algorithm, was 15.7% ± 7.8%, which was significantly smaller than the Dixon- (100%) and CT- (39%) derived values. A mean Dice similarity coefficient of 73% ± 9% was obtained when comparing the IPAC- with the CT-derived implant shape. The voxel-based analysis of the reconstructed PET images revealed quantification errors (aRC) of 13.2% ± 22.1% for the IPAC- with respect to CT-corrected images. The Dixon-based method performed substantially worse, with a mean aRC of 23.1% ± 38.4%. Conclusion: We have presented a non-TOF emission-based approach for estimating the attenuation map in the presence of metallic implants, to be used for whole-body attenuation correction in integrated PET/MR scanners. The Graphics Processing Unit implementation of the algorithm will be included in the open-source reconstruction toolbox Occiput.io. © 2017 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

The Attenuation of Correlation Coefficients: A Statistical Literacy Issue

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trafimow, David

2016-01-01

Much of the science reported in the media depends on correlation coefficients. But the size of correlation coefficients depends, in part, on the reliability with which the correlated variables are measured. Understanding this is a statistical literacy issue.

Overview of Photonic Materials for Application in Space Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, E. W.; Osinski, M.; Svimonishvili, Tengiz; Watson, M.; Bunton, P.; Pearson, S. D.; Bilbro, J.

1999-01-01

Future space systems will he based on components evolving from the development and refinement of new and existing photonic materials. Optically based sensors, inertial guidance, tracking systems, communications, diagnostics, imaging and high speed optical processing are but a few of the applications expected to widely utilize photonic materials. The response of these materials to space environment effects (SEE) such as spacecraft charging, orbital debris, atomic oxygen, ultraviolet irradiation, temperature and ionizing radiation will be paramount to ensuring successful space applications. The intent of this paper is to, address the latter two environments via a succinct comparison of the known sensitivities of selected photonic materials to the temperature and ionizing radiation conditions found in space and enhanced space environments Delineation of the known temperature and radiation induced responses in LiNbO3, AlGaN, AlGsAs,TeO2, Si:Ge, and several organic polymers are presented. Photonic materials are realizing rapid transition into applications for many proposed space components and systems including: optical interconnects, optical gyros, waveguide and spatial light modulators, light emitting diodes, lasers, optical fibers and fiber optic amplifiers. Changes to material parameters such as electrooptic coefficients, absorption coefficients, polarization, conductivity, coupling coefficients, diffraction efficiencies, and other pertinent material properties examined for thermo-optic and radiation induced effect. Conclusions and recommendations provide the reader with an understanding of the limitations or attributes of material choices for specific applications.

Gamma-rays attenuation of zircons from Cambodia and South Africa at different energies: A new technique for identifying the origin of gemstone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Limkitjaroenporn, P.; Kaewkhao, J.

2014-10-01

In this work, the gamma-rays interaction properties of zircons from Cambodia and South Africa have been studied. The densities of Cambodian and South African's zircons are 4.6716±0.0040 g/cm3 and 4.5505±0.0018 g/cm3, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficient and the effective atomic number of gemstones were measured with the gamma-ray in energies range 223-662 keV using the Compton scattering technique. The mass attenuation coefficients of both zircons decreased with the increasing of gamma-rays energies. The different mass attenuation coefficients between the two zircons observed at gamma-ray energies below 400 keV are attributed to the differences in the photoelectric interaction. The effective atomic number of zircons was decreased with the increasing of gamma-ray energies and showed totally different values between the Cambodia and South Africa sources. The origins of the two zircons could be successfully identified by the method based on gamma-rays interaction with matter with advantage of being a non-destructive testing.

Microwave photonic filters with negative coefficients based on phase inversion in an electro-optic modulator.

PubMed

Capmany, José; Pastor, Daniel; Martinez, Alfonso; Ortega, Beatriz; Sales, Salvador

2003-08-15

We report on a novel technical approach to the implementation of photonic rf filters that is based on the pi phase inversion that a rf modulating signal suffers in an electro-optic Mach-Zehnder modulator, which depends on whether the positive or the negative linear slope of the signal's modulation transfer function is employed. Experimental evidence is provided of the implementation of filters with negative coefficients that shows excellent agreement with results predicted by the theory.

Photonic sensing in highly concentrated biotechnical processes by photon density wave spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hass, Roland; Sandmann, Michael; Reich, Oliver

2017-04-01

Photon Density Wave (PDW) spectroscopy is introduced as a new approach for photonic sensing in highly concentrated biotechnical processes. It independently quantifies the absorption and reduced scattering coefficient calibration-free and as a function of time, thus describing the optical properties in the vis/NIR range of the biomaterial during their processing. As examples of industrial relevance, enzymatic milk coagulation, beer mashing, and algae cultivation in photo bioreactors are discussed.

Photoionization of environmentally polluting aromatic chlorides and nitrides on the water surface by laser and synchrotron radiations.

PubMed

Sato, Miki; Maeda, Yuki; Ishioka, Toshio; Harata, Akira

2017-11-20

The detection limits and photoionization thresholds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their chlorides and nitrides on the water surface are examined using laser two-photon ionization and single-photon ionization, respectively. The laser two-photon ionization methods are highly surface-selective, with a high sensitivity for aromatic hydrocarbons tending to accumulate on the water surface in the natural environment due to their highly hydrophobic nature. The dependence of the detection limits of target aromatic molecules on their physicochemical properties (photoionization thresholds relating to excess energy, molar absorptivity, and the octanol-water partition coefficient) is discussed. The detection limit clearly depends on the product of the octanol-water partition coefficient and molar absorptivity, and no clear dependence was found on excess energy. The detection limits of laser two-photon ionization for these types of molecules on the water surface are formulated.

Two and four photon absorption and nonlinear refraction in undoped, chromium doped and copper doped ZnS quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Dimple; Malik, B. P.; Gaur, Arun

2015-12-01

The ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with Cr and Cu doping were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. The nanostructures of the prepared undoped and doped ZnS QDs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The sizes of QDs were found to be within 3-5 nm range. The nonlinear parameters viz. Two photon absorption coefficient (β2), nonlinear refractive index (n2), third order nonlinear susceptibility (χ3) at wavelength 532 nm and Four photon absorption coefficient (β4) at wavelength 1064 nm have been calculated by Z-scan technique using nanosecond Nd:YAG laser in undoped, Cr doped and Cu doped ZnS QDs. Higher values of nonlinear parameters for doped ZnS infer that they are potential material for the development of photonics devices and sensor protection applications.

Mass energy-absorption coefficients and average atomic energy-absorption cross-sections for amino acids in the energy range 0.122-1.330 MeV

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

More, Chaitali V., E-mail: chaitalimore89@gmail.com; Lokhande, Rajkumar M.; Pawar, Pravina P., E-mail: pravinapawar4@gmail.com

Mass attenuation coefficients of amino acids such as n-acetyl-l-tryptophan, n-acetyl-l-tyrosine and d-tryptophan were measured in the energy range 0.122-1.330 MeV. NaI (Tl) scintillation detection system was used to detect gamma rays with a resolution of 8.2% at 0.662 MeV. The measured attenuation coefficient values were then used to determine the mass energy-absorption coefficients (σ{sub a,en}) and average atomic energy-absorption cross sections (μ{sub en}/ρ) of the amino acids. Theoretical values were calculated based on XCOM data. Theoretical and experimental values are found to be in good agreement.

A highly attenuating and frequency tailorable annular hole phononic crystal for surface acoustic waves.

PubMed

Ash, B J; Worsfold, S R; Vukusic, P; Nash, G R

2017-08-02

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices are widely used for signal processing, sensing and increasingly for lab-on-a-chip applications. Phononic crystals can control the propagation of SAW, analogous to photonic crystals, enabling components such as waveguides and cavities. Here we present an approach for the realisation of robust, tailorable SAW phononic crystals, based on annular holes patterned in a SAW substrate. Using simulations and experiments, we show that this geometry supports local resonances which create highly attenuating phononic bandgaps at frequencies with negligible coupling of SAWs into other modes, even for relatively shallow features. The enormous bandgap attenuation is up to an order-of-magnitude larger than that achieved with a pillar phononic crystal of the same size, enabling effective phononic crystals to be made up of smaller numbers of elements. This work transforms the ability to exploit phononic crystals for developing novel SAW device concepts, mirroring contemporary progress in photonic crystals.The control and manipulation of propagating sound waves on a surface has applications in on-chip signal processing and sensing. Here, Ash et al. deviate from standard designs and fabricate frequency tailorable phononic crystals with an order-of-magnitude increase in attenuation.

Effect of the qubit relaxation on transport properties of microwave photons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sultanov, A. N.; Greenberg, Ya. S.

2017-11-01

In this work, using the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian method, the transmission of a single photon in a one-dimensional waveguide interacting with the cavity containing an arbitrary number of photons and the two-level artificial atom is studied with allowance for the relaxation of the latter. For transport factors, analytical expressions which explicitly take into account the qubit relaxation parameter have been obtained. The form of the transmission (reflection) coefficient when there is more than one photon in the cavity qualitatively differs from the single-photon cavity and contains the manifestation of the photon blockade effect. The qubit lifetime depends on the number of photons in the cavity.

A Summary of Selected Data: DSDP Legs 1-19,

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-01

100 minerals may be applied in the future (densi ty water when the mineralogy and attenuation wt. water + wt. dry sed. + salt coefficients become...may be applied in the future when densities of some common minerals are the exact quantitative mineralogy and listed in Harms and Choquette (1965...calculation. These measurements different attenuation coefficient than were used to get a " ball park" answer that of calcite. for a particular sediment type

Water column attenuation coefficient estimations in Alqueva reservoir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Potes, Miguel; João Costa, Maria; Salgado, Rui; Rodrigues, Gonçalo; Bortoli, Daniele

2017-04-01

The vertical structure of the underwater radiative absorption plays an important role in the thermal dynamics of the water surface layer and consequently on the energy budget at the water-lake interface. Thus, a better estimation of the irradiance at different levels is relevant to understand the lake-air interactions. The main purpose of this dataset of measurements is to estimate the spectral attenuation coefficient of the water column. The apparatus exploited in this work are composed of an optical cable linked to a portable FieldSpec UV/VNIR (ASD). This version has hemispherical field-of-view (FOV) of 180° allowing for measurements under all range of solar zenith. In situ water spectral reflectances were also obtained to help in the validation of satellite water leaving reflectances obtained from satellite spectroradiometers. It is intention of the team to develop an algorithm to derive the attenuation coefficient from satellite data in this reservoir.

Calibration of a turbidity meter for making estimates of total suspended solids concentrations and beam attenuation coefficients in field experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Usry, J. W.; Whitlock, C. H.

1981-01-01

Management of water resources such as a reservoir requires using analytical models which describe such parameters as the suspended sediment field. To select or develop an appropriate model requires making many measurements to describe the distribution of this parameter in the water column. One potential method for making those measurements expeditiously is to measure light transmission or turbidity and relate that parameter to total suspended solids concentrations. An instrument which may be used for this purpose was calibrated by generating curves of transmission measurements plotted against measured values of total suspended solids concentrations and beam attenuation coefficients. Results of these experiments indicate that field measurements made with this instrument using curves generated in this study should correlate with total suspended solids concentrations and beam attenuation coefficients in the water column within 20 percent.

Comparison of W-VC-C composites against Co-60, Se-75 and Sb-125 for gamma radioisotope sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demir, Ertugrul; Tugrul, A. Beril; Buyuk, Bulent; Yilmaz, Ozan; Ovecoglu, Lutfi

2018-02-01

Tungsten based materials are considered to be the promising materials for nuclear applications due to the good properties. The tungsten composite materials have so many advantages in nuclear technological applications especially fusion reactor systems. In this paper, Tungsten-Vanadium carbide-Graphite (W-VC-C) which include 93% tungsten (W), 6% vanadium carbide (VC) and 1% graphite (C) also which has three different alloying time (6-12-24 hours) were produced by mechanical alloying method. Co-60, Se-75 and Sb-125 gamma radioisotopeswere used as a gamma sources in order to determine behavior of gamma attenuation properties of the composite materials. The experimental results were compared with each other to clarify effects of varying gamma energies on the tungsten based composite materials. The mass attenuation coefficients of the samples were obtained by using XCOM computer code and compared with experimental data. The gamma linear attenuation, the mass attenuation coefficients and half value thickness (HVL) of the samples were evaluated and compared with Co-60, Se-75 and Sb-125 for gamma radioisotopes. Results showed that gamma attenuation coefficients of the samples depend on gamma energies and mechanical alloying time has negatively effect on the gamma shielding properties for the all studied W-VC-C.

Star formation in the local Universe from the CALIFA sample. I. Calibrating the SFR using integral field spectroscopy data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catalán-Torrecilla, C.; Gil de Paz, A.; Castillo-Morales, A.; Iglesias-Páramo, J.; Sánchez, S. F.; Kennicutt, R. C.; Pérez-González, P. G.; Marino, R. A.; Walcher, C. J.; Husemann, B.; García-Benito, R.; Mast, D.; González Delgado, R. M.; Muñoz-Mateos, J. C.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Bomans, D. J.; Del Olmo, A.; Galbany, L.; Gomes, J. M.; Kehrig, C.; López-Sánchez, Á. R.; Mendoza, M. A.; Monreal-Ibero, A.; Pérez-Torres, M.; Sánchez-Blázquez, P.; Vilchez, J. M.; Califa Collaboration

2015-12-01

Context. The star formation rate (SFR) is one of the main parameters used to analyze the evolution of galaxies through time. The need for recovering the light reprocessed by dust commonly requires the use of low spatial resolution far-infrared data. Recombination line luminosities provide an alternative, although uncertain dust-extinction corrections based on narrowband imaging or long-slit spectroscopy have traditionally posed a limit to their applicability. Integral field spectroscopy (IFS) is clearly the way to overcome this kind of limitation. Aims: We obtain integrated Hα, ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR)-based SFR measurements for 272 galaxies from the CALIFA survey at 0.005

Carbonate fuel cell matrix

DOEpatents

Farooque, Mohammad; Yuh, Chao-Yi

1996-01-01

A carbonate fuel cell matrix comprising support particles and crack attenuator particles which are made platelet in shape to increase the resistance of the matrix to through cracking. Also disclosed is a matrix having porous crack attenuator particles and a matrix whose crack attenuator particles have a thermal coefficient of expansion which is significantly different from that of the support particles, and a method of making platelet-shaped crack attenuator particles.

Optical changes in cortical tissue during seizure activity using optical coherence tomography (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ornelas, Danielle; Hasan, Md.; Gonzalez, Oscar; Krishnan, Giri; Szu, Jenny I.; Myers, Timothy; Hirota, Koji; Bazhenov, Maxim; Binder, Devin K.; Park, Boris H.

2017-02-01

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent and unpredictable seizures. Electrophysiology has remained the gold standard of neural activity detection but its resolution and high susceptibility to noise and motion artifact limit its efficiency. Optical imaging techniques, including fMRI, intrinsic optical imaging, and diffuse optical imaging, have also been used to detect neural activity yet these techniques rely on the indirect measurement of changes in blood flow. A more direct optical imaging technique is optical coherence tomography (OCT), a label-free, high resolution, and minimally invasive imaging technique that can produce depth-resolved cross-sectional and 3D images. In this study, OCT was used to detect non-vascular depth-dependent optical changes in cortical tissue during 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) induced seizure onset. Calculations of localized optical attenuation coefficient (µ) allow for the assessment of depth-resolved volumetric optical changes in seizure induced cortical tissue. By utilizing the depth-dependency of the attenuation coefficient, we demonstrate the ability to locate and remove the optical effects of vasculature within the upper regions of the cortex on the attenuation calculations of cortical tissue in vivo. The results of this study reveal a significant depth-dependent decrease in attenuation coefficient of nonvascular cortical tissue both ex vivo and in vivo. Regions exhibiting decreased attenuation coefficient show significant temporal correlation to regions of increased electrical activity during seizure onset and progression. This study allows for a more thorough and biologically relevant analysis of the optical signature of seizure activity in vivo using OCT.

A Maximum Likelihood Approach to Determine Sensor Radiometric Response Coefficients for NPP VIIRS Reflective Solar Bands

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lei, Ning; Chiang, Kwo-Fu; Oudrari, Hassan; Xiong, Xiaoxiong

2011-01-01

Optical sensors aboard Earth orbiting satellites such as the next generation Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) assume that the sensors radiometric response in the Reflective Solar Bands (RSB) is described by a quadratic polynomial, in relating the aperture spectral radiance to the sensor Digital Number (DN) readout. For VIIRS Flight Unit 1, the coefficients are to be determined before launch by an attenuation method, although the linear coefficient will be further determined on-orbit through observing the Solar Diffuser. In determining the quadratic polynomial coefficients by the attenuation method, a Maximum Likelihood approach is applied in carrying out the least-squares procedure. Crucial to the Maximum Likelihood least-squares procedure is the computation of the weight. The weight not only has a contribution from the noise of the sensor s digital count, with an important contribution from digitization error, but also is affected heavily by the mathematical expression used to predict the value of the dependent variable, because both the independent and the dependent variables contain random noise. In addition, model errors have a major impact on the uncertainties of the coefficients. The Maximum Likelihood approach demonstrates the inadequacy of the attenuation method model with a quadratic polynomial for the retrieved spectral radiance. We show that using the inadequate model dramatically increases the uncertainties of the coefficients. We compute the coefficient values and their uncertainties, considering both measurement and model errors.

Review and history of photon cross section calculations.

PubMed

Hubbell, J H

2006-07-07

Photon (x-ray, gamma-ray, bremsstrahlung) mass attenuation coefficients, mu/rho, are among the most widely used physical parameters employed in medical diagnostic and therapy computations, as well as in diverse applications in other fields such as nuclear power plant shielding, health physics and industrial irradiation and monitoring, and in x-ray crystallography. This review traces the evolution of this data base from its empirical beginnings totally derived from measurements beginning in 1907 by Barkla and Sadler and continuing up through the 1935 Allen compilation (published virtually unchanged in all editions up through 1971-1972 of the Chemical Rubber Handbook), to the 1949 semi-empirical compilation of Victoreen, as our theoretical understanding of the constituent Compton scattering, photoabsorption and pair production interactions of photons with atoms became more quantitative. The 1950s saw the advent of completely theoretical (guided by available measured data) systematic compilations such as in the works of Davisson and Evans, and by White-Grodstein under the direction of Fano, using mostly theory developed in the 1930s (pre-World War II) by Sauter, Bethe, Heitler and others. Post-World War II new theoretical activity, and the introduction of the electronic automatic computer, led to the more extensive and more accurate compilations in the 1960s and 1970s by Storm and Israel, and by Berger and Hubbell. Today's mu/rho compilations by Cullen et al, by Seltzer, Berger and Hubbell, and by others, collectively spanning the ten decades of photon energy from 10 eV to 100 GeV, for all elements Z= 1 to 100, draw heavily on the 1970s shell-by-shell photoabsorption computations of Scofield, the 1960s coherent and incoherent scattering computations of Cromer et al, and the 1980 computations of electron-positron pair and triplet computations of Hubbell, Gimm and Øverbø, these names being representative of the vast legions of other researchers whose work fed into these computations.

REVIEW: Review and history of photon cross section calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hubbell, J. H.

2006-07-01

Photon (x-ray, gamma-ray, bremsstrahlung) mass attenuation coefficients, μ/ρ, are among the most widely used physical parameters employed in medical diagnostic and therapy computations, as well as in diverse applications in other fields such as nuclear power plant shielding, health physics and industrial irradiation and monitoring, and in x-ray crystallography. This review traces the evolution of this data base from its empirical beginnings totally derived from measurements beginning in 1907 by Barkla and Sadler and continuing up through the 1935 Allen compilation (published virtually unchanged in all editions up through 1971-1972 of the Chemical Rubber Handbook), to the 1949 semi-empirical compilation of Victoreen, as our theoretical understanding of the constituent Compton scattering, photoabsorption and pair production interactions of photons with atoms became more quantitative. The 1950s saw the advent of completely theoretical (guided by available measured data) systematic compilations such as in the works of Davisson and Evans, and by White-Grodstein under the direction of Fano, using mostly theory developed in the 1930s (pre-World War II) by Sauter, Bethe, Heitler and others. Post-World War II new theoretical activity, and the introduction of the electronic automatic computer, led to the more extensive and more accurate compilations in the 1960s and 1970s by Storm and Israel, and by Berger and Hubbell. Today's μ/ρ compilations by Cullen et al, by Seltzer, Berger and Hubbell, and by others, collectively spanning the ten decades of photon energy from 10 eV to 100 GeV, for all elements Z= 1 to 100, draw heavily on the 1970s shell-by-shell photoabsorption computations of Scofield, the 1960s coherent and incoherent scattering computations of Cromer et al, and the 1980 computations of electron-positron pair and triplet computations of Hubbell, Gimm and Øverbø, these names being representative of the vast legions of other researchers whose work fed into these computations. Work supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

High-frequency attenuation and backscatter measurements of rat blood between 30 and 60 MHz.

PubMed

Huang, Chih-Chung

2010-10-07

There has recently been a great deal of interest in noninvasive high-frequency ultrasound imaging of small animals such as rats due to their being the preferred animal model for gene therapy and cancer research. Improving the interpretation of the obtained images and furthering the development of the imaging devices require a detailed knowledge of the ultrasound attenuation and backscattering of biological tissue (e.g. blood) at high frequencies. In the present study, the attenuation and backscattering coefficients of the rat red blood cell (RBC) suspensions and whole blood with hematocrits ranging from 6% to 40% were measured between 30 and 60 MHz using a modified substitution approach. The acoustic parameters of porcine blood under the same conditions were also measured in order to compare differences in the blood properties between these two animals. For porcine blood, both whole blood and RBC suspension were stirred at a rotation speed of 200 rpm. Three different rotation speeds of 100, 200 and 300 rpm were carried out for rat blood experiments. The attenuation coefficients of both rat and porcine blood were found to increase linearly with frequency and hematocrit (the values of coefficients of determination (r(2)) are around 0.82-0.97 for all cases). The average attenuation coefficient of rat whole blood with a hematocrit of 40% increased from 0.26 Nepers mm(-1) at 30 MHz to 0.47 Nepers mm(-1) at 60 MHz. The maximum backscattering coefficients of both rat and porcine RBC suspensions were between 10% and 15% hematocrits at all frequencies. The fourth-power dependence of backscatter on frequency was approximately valid for rat RBC suspensions with hematocrits between 6% and 40%. However, the frequency dependence of the backscatter estimate deviates from a fourth-power law for porcine RBC suspension with hematocrit higher than 20%. The backscattering coefficient plateaued for hematocrits higher than 15% in porcine blood, but for rat blood it was maximal around a hematocrit of 20% at the same rotation speed, and shifted to a hematocrit of 10% at a higher speed. The backscattering properties of rat RBCs in plasma are similar to those of RBCs in saline at a higher rotation speed. The differences in attenuation and backscattering between rat and porcine blood may be attributed to RBCs' being smaller and the RBC aggregation level being lower for rat blood than for porcine blood.

New cardiac cameras: single-photon emission CT and PET.

PubMed

Slomka, Piotr J; Berman, Daniel S; Germano, Guido

2014-07-01

Nuclear cardiology instrumentation has evolved significantly in the recent years. Concerns about radiation dose and long acquisition times have propelled developments of dedicated high-efficiency cardiac SPECT scanners. Novel collimator designs, such as multipinhole or locally focusing collimators arranged in geometries that are optimized for cardiac imaging, have been implemented to enhance photon-detection sensitivity. Some of these new SPECT scanners use solid-state photon detectors instead of photomultipliers to improve image quality and to reduce the scanner footprint. These new SPECT devices allow dramatic up to 7-fold reduction in acquisition times or similar reduction in radiation dose. In addition, new hardware for photon attenuation correction allowing ultralow radiation doses has been offered by some vendors. To mitigate photon attenuation artifacts for the new SPECT scanners not equipped with attenuation correction hardware, 2-position (upright-supine or prone-supine) imaging has been proposed. PET hardware developments have been primarily driven by the requirements of oncologic imaging, but cardiac imaging can benefit from improved PET image quality and improved sensitivity of 3D systems. The time-of-flight reconstruction combined with resolution recovery techniques is now implemented by all major PET vendors. These new methods improve image contrast and image resolution and reduce image noise. High-sensitivity 3D PET without interplane septa allows reduced radiation dose for cardiac perfusion imaging. Simultaneous PET/MR hybrid system has been developed. Solid-state PET detectors with avalanche photodiodes or digital silicon photomultipliers have been introduced, and they offer improved imaging characteristics and reduced sensitivity to electromagnetic MR fields. Higher maximum count rate of the new PET detectors allows routine first-pass Rb-82 imaging, with 3D PET acquisition enabling clinical utilization of dynamic imaging with myocardial flow measurements for this tracer. The availability of high-end CT component in most PET/CT configurations enables hybrid multimodality cardiac imaging protocols with calcium scoring or CT angiography or both. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Quantitative multi-pinhole small-animal SPECT: uniform versus non-uniform Chang attenuation correction.

PubMed

Wu, C; de Jong, J R; Gratama van Andel, H A; van der Have, F; Vastenhouw, B; Laverman, P; Boerman, O C; Dierckx, R A J O; Beekman, F J

2011-09-21

Attenuation of photon flux on trajectories between the source and pinhole apertures affects the quantitative accuracy of reconstructed single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. We propose a Chang-based non-uniform attenuation correction (NUA-CT) for small-animal SPECT/CT with focusing pinhole collimation, and compare the quantitative accuracy with uniform Chang correction based on (i) body outlines extracted from x-ray CT (UA-CT) and (ii) on hand drawn body contours on the images obtained with three integrated optical cameras (UA-BC). Measurements in phantoms and rats containing known activities of isotopes were conducted for evaluation. In (125)I, (201)Tl, (99m)Tc and (111)In phantom experiments, average relative errors comparing to the gold standards measured in a dose calibrator were reduced to 5.5%, 6.8%, 4.9% and 2.8%, respectively, with NUA-CT. In animal studies, these errors were 2.1%, 3.3%, 2.0% and 2.0%, respectively. Differences in accuracy on average between results of NUA-CT, UA-CT and UA-BC were less than 2.3% in phantom studies and 3.1% in animal studies except for (125)I (3.6% and 5.1%, respectively). All methods tested provide reasonable attenuation correction and result in high quantitative accuracy. NUA-CT shows superior accuracy except for (125)I, where other factors may have more impact on the quantitative accuracy than the selected attenuation correction.

Single-Shot X-Ray Phase-Contrast Computed Tomography with Nonmicrofocal Laboratory Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diemoz, P. C.; Hagen, C. K.; Endrizzi, M.; Minuti, M.; Bellazzini, R.; Urbani, L.; De Coppi, P.; Olivo, A.

2017-04-01

We present a method that enables performing x-ray phase-contrast imaging (XPCI) computed tomography with a laboratory setup using a single image per projection angle, eliminating the need to move optical elements during acquisition. Theoretical derivation of the method is presented, and its validity conditions are provided. The object is assumed to be quasihomogeneous, i.e., to feature a ratio between the refractive index and the linear attenuation coefficient that is approximately constant across the field of view. The method is experimentally demonstrated on a plastics phantom and on biological samples using a continuous rotation acquisition scheme achieving scan times of a few minutes. Moreover, we show that such acquisition times can be further reduced with the use of a high-efficiency photon-counting detector. Thanks to its ability to substantially simplify the image-acquisition procedure and greatly reduce collection times, we believe this method represents a very important step towards the application of XPCI to real-world problems.

Diel Variations in Optical Properties of Micromonas pusilla, a Prasinophyte

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DuRand, Michele D.; Green, Rebecca E.; Sosik, Heidi M.; Olson, Robert J.

2001-01-01

A laboratory experiment was conducted on cultures of Micromonas pusilla, a marine prasinophyte, to investigate how cell growth and division affect the optical properties over the light:dark cycle. Measurements were made of cell size and concentration, attenuation and absorption coefficients, flow cytometric light scattering (in forward and side directions), chlorophyll and carbon content. Refractive index was calculated using the anomalous diffraction approximation Cells were about 1.5 micrometers in diameter and exhibited phased division, with the major division burst occurring during the night. Typical diel variations were observed, with cells increasing in size and light scattering during the day as they photosynthesize and decreasing at night upon division. The cells were in ultradian growth, with more than one division per day, at a light level of 120 Mu-mol photons m/sq/sec. Since these cells are similar in size to small phytoplankton that are typically abundant in field samples, these results can be used in the interpretation of diel variations in light scattering in natural populations of phytoplankton.

Thermo-optic devices on polymer platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ziyang; Keil, Norbert

2016-03-01

Optical polymers possess in general relatively high thermo-optic coefficients and at the same time low thermal conductivity, both of which make them attractive material candidates for realizing highly efficient thermally tunable devices. Over the years, various thermo-optic components have been demonstrated on polymer platform, covering (1) tunable reflectors and filters as part of a laser cavity, (2) variable optical attenuators (VOAs) as light amplitude regulators in e.g. a coherent receiver, and (3) thermo-optic switches (TOSs) allowing multi-flow control in the photonic integrated circuits (PICs). This work attempts to review the recent progress on the above mentioned three component branches, including linearly and differentially tunable filters, VOAs based on 1×1 multimode interference structure (MMI) and Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), and 1×2 TOS based on waveguide Y-branch, driven by a pair of sidelong placed heater electrodes. These thermo-optic components can well be integrated into larger PICs: the dual-polarization switchable tunable laser and the colorless optical 90° hybrid are presented in the end as examples.

Optical and scintillation characteristics of Gd2YAl2Ga3O12:Ce and Lu2YAl2Ga3O12:Ce single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chewpraditkul, Warut; Sakthong, Ongsa; Pattanaboonmee, Nakarin; Chewpraditkul, Weerapong; Szczesniak, Tomasz; Swiderski, Lukasz; Moszynski, Marek; Kamada, Kei; Yoshikawa, Akira; Nikl, Martin

2017-06-01

The optical and scintillation characteristics of Gd2YAl2Ga3O12:Ce and Lu2YAl2Ga3O12:Ce single crystals are investigated. At 662 keV γ-rays, light yield (LY) of 37,900 ph/MeV and energy resolution of 7.0% obtained for Gd2YAl2Ga3O12:Ce are superior to those of 18,900 ph/MeV and 11.5% obtained for Lu2YAl2Ga3O12:Ce. Scintillation decays are measured using the time-correlated single photon counting technique. A fast component decay time of 45 ns with relative intensity of 88% obtained for Lu2YAl2Ga3O12:Ce is superior to that of 50 ns (65%) for Gd2YAl2Ga3O12:Ce. The linear attenuation coefficient at 662 keV γ-rays is also determined and discussed.

Spectral CT Reconstruction with Image Sparsity and Spectral Mean

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yi; Xi, Yan; Yang, Qingsong; Cong, Wenxiang; Zhou, Jiliu

2017-01-01

Photon-counting detectors can acquire x-ray intensity data in different energy bins. The signal to noise ratio of resultant raw data in each energy bin is generally low due to the narrow bin width and quantum noise. To address this problem, here we propose an image reconstruction approach for spectral CT to simultaneously reconstructs x-ray attenuation coefficients in all the energy bins. Because the measured spectral data are highly correlated among the x-ray energy bins, the intra-image sparsity and inter-image similarity are important prior acknowledge for image reconstruction. Inspired by this observation, the total variation (TV) and spectral mean (SM) measures are combined to improve the quality of reconstructed images. For this purpose, a linear mapping function is used to minimalize image differences between energy bins. The split Bregman technique is applied to perform image reconstruction. Our numerical and experimental results show that the proposed algorithms outperform competing iterative algorithms in this context. PMID:29034267

Impact of fluorescence emission from gold atoms on surrounding biological tissue-implications for nanoparticle radio-enhancement.

PubMed

Byrne, H L; Gholami, Y; Kuncic, Z

2017-04-21

The addition of gold nanoparticles within target tissue (i.e. a tumour) to enhance the delivered radiation dose is a well studied radiotherapy treatment strategy, despite not yet having been translated into standard clinical practice. While several studies have used Monte Carlo simulations to investigate radiation dose enhancement by Auger electrons emitted from irradiated gold nanoparticles, none have yet considered the effects due to escaping fluorescence photons. Geant4 was used to simulate a water phantom containing 10 mg ml -1 uniformly dispersed gold (1% by mass) at 5 cm depth. Incident monoenergetic photons with energies either side of the gold K-edge at 73 keV and 139.5 keV were chosen to give the same attenuation contrast against water, where water is used as a surrogate for biological tissue. For 73 keV incident photons, adding 1% gold into the water phantom enhances the energy deposited in the phantom by a factor of  ≈1.9 while 139.5 keV incident photons give a lower enhancement ratio of  ≈1.5. This difference in enhancement ratio, despite the equivalent attenuation ratios, can be attributed to energy carried from the target into the surrounding volume by fluorescence photons for the higher incident photon energy. The energy de-localisation is maximal just above the K-edge with 36% of the initial energy deposit in the phantom lost to escaping fluorescence photons. Conversely we find that the absorption of more photons by gold in the phantom reduces the number of scattered photons and hence energy deposited in the surrounding volume by up to 6% for incident photons below the K-edge. For incident photons above the K-edge this is somewhat offset by fluorescence. Our results give new insight into the previously unstudied centimetre scale energy deposition outside a target, which will be valuable for the future development of treatment plans using gold nanoparticles. From these results, we can conclude that gold nanoparticles delivered to a target tumour are capable of increasing dose to the tumour whilst simultaneously decreasing scatter dose to surrounding healthy tissue.

Measurement of Attenuation with Airborne and Ground-Based Radar in Convective Storms Over Land Its Microphysical Implications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tian, Lin; Heymsfield, G. M.; Srivastava, R. C.; O'C.Starr, D. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Observations by the airborne X-band Doppler radar (EDOP) and the NCAR S-band polarimetric (S-Pol) radar from two field experiments are used to evaluate the surface reference technique (SRT) for measuring the path integrated attenuation (PIA) and to study attenuation in deep convective storms. The EDOP, flying at an altitude of 20 km, uses a nadir beam and a forward pointing beam. It is found that over land, the surface scattering cross-section is highly variable at nadir incidence but relatively stable at forward incidence. It is concluded that measurement by the forward beam provides a viable technique for measuring PIA using the SRT. Vertical profiles of peak attenuation coefficient are derived in two deep convective storms by the dual-wavelength method. Using the measured Doppler velocity, the reflectivities at the two wavelengths, the differential reflectivity and the estimated attenuation coefficients, it is shown that: supercooled drops and (dry) ice particles probably co-existed above the melting level in regions of updraft, that water-coated partially melted ice particles probably contributed to high attenuation below the melting level.

Magnetic measurements of the injector synchrotron magnets for the advanced photon source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, S. H.; Carnegie, D. W.; Doose, C. L.; Hogrefe, R.; Kim, K.; Merl, R.; Turner, L. R.

1994-07-01

The magnetic measurement data of the dipole, quadrupole, and sextupole magnets for the Advanced Photon Source injector synchrotron are summarized. Magnet design and magnetic measurements of the field strength, field shape, and multipole coefficients are described.

Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis of a Decoy State Enabled Quantum Key Distribution System

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-26

through the fiber , we assume Alice and Bob have correct basis alignment and timing control for reference frame correction and precise photon detection...optical components ( laser , polarization modulator, electronic variable optical attenuator, fixed optical attenuator, fiber channel, beamsplitter...generated by the laser in the CPG propagate through multiple optical components, each with a unique propagation delay before reaching the OPM. Timing

MR-Consistent Simultaneous Reconstruction of Attenuation and Activity for Non-TOF PET/MR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heußer, Thorsten; Rank, Christopher M.; Freitag, Martin T.; Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss, Antonia; Schlemmer, Heinz-Peter; Beyer, Thomas; Kachelrieß, Marc

2016-10-01

Attenuation correction (AC) is required for accurate quantification of the reconstructed activity distribution in positron emission tomography (PET). For simultaneous PET/magnetic resonance (MR), however, AC is challenging, since the MR images do not provide direct information on the attenuating properties of the underlying tissue. Standard MR-based AC does not account for the presence of bone and thus leads to an underestimation of the activity distribution. To improve quantification for non-time-of-flight PET/MR, we propose an algorithm which simultaneously reconstructs activity and attenuation distribution from the PET emission data using available MR images as anatomical prior information. The MR information is used to derive voxel-dependent expectations on the attenuation coefficients. The expectations are modeled using Gaussian-like probability functions. An iterative reconstruction scheme incorporating the prior information on the attenuation coefficients is used to update attenuation and activity distribution in an alternating manner. We tested and evaluated the proposed algorithm for simulated 3D PET data of the head and the pelvis region. Activity deviations were below 5% in soft tissue and lesions compared to the ground truth whereas standard MR-based AC resulted in activity underestimation values of up to 12%.

Wave-induced fluid flow in random porous media: Attenuation and dispersion of elastic waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, Tobias M.; Gurevich, Boris

2005-05-01

A detailed analysis of the relationship between elastic waves in inhomogeneous, porous media and the effect of wave-induced fluid flow is presented. Based on the results of the poroelastic first-order statistical smoothing approximation applied to Biot's equations of poroelasticity, a model for elastic wave attenuation and dispersion due to wave-induced fluid flow in 3-D randomly inhomogeneous poroelastic media is developed. Attenuation and dispersion depend on linear combinations of the spatial correlations of the fluctuating poroelastic parameters. The observed frequency dependence is typical for a relaxation phenomenon. Further, the analytic properties of attenuation and dispersion are analyzed. It is shown that the low-frequency asymptote of the attenuation coefficient of a plane compressional wave is proportional to the square of frequency. At high frequencies the attenuation coefficient becomes proportional to the square root of frequency. A comparison with the 1-D theory shows that attenuation is of the same order but slightly larger in 3-D random media. Several modeling choices of the approach including the effect of cross correlations between fluid and solid phase properties are demonstrated. The potential application of the results to real porous materials is discussed. .

Security of quantum key distribution with multiphoton components

PubMed Central

Yin, Hua-Lei; Fu, Yao; Mao, Yingqiu; Chen, Zeng-Bing

2016-01-01

Most qubit-based quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols extract the secure key merely from single-photon component of the attenuated lasers. However, with the Scarani-Acin-Ribordy-Gisin 2004 (SARG04) QKD protocol, the unconditionally secure key can be extracted from the two-photon component by modifying the classical post-processing procedure in the BB84 protocol. Employing the merits of SARG04 QKD protocol and six-state preparation, one can extract secure key from the components of single photon up to four photons. In this paper, we provide the exact relations between the secure key rate and the bit error rate in a six-state SARG04 protocol with single-photon, two-photon, three-photon, and four-photon sources. By restricting the mutual information between the phase error and bit error, we obtain a higher secure bit error rate threshold of the multiphoton components than previous works. Besides, we compare the performances of the six-state SARG04 with other prepare-and-measure QKD protocols using decoy states. PMID:27383014

Continuous light absorption photometer for long-term studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogren, John A.; Wendell, Jim; Andrews, Elisabeth; Sheridan, Patrick J.

2017-12-01

A new photometer is described for continuous determination of the aerosol light absorption coefficient, optimized for long-term studies of the climate-forcing properties of aerosols. Measurements of the light attenuation coefficient are made at blue, green, and red wavelengths, with a detection limit of 0.02 Mm-1 and a precision of 4 % for hourly averages. The uncertainty of the light absorption coefficient is primarily determined by the uncertainty of the correction scheme commonly used to convert the measured light attenuation to light absorption coefficient and ranges from about 20 % at sites with high loadings of strongly absorbing aerosols up to 100 % or more at sites with low loadings of weakly absorbing aerosols. Much lower uncertainties (ca. 40 %) for the latter case can be achieved with an advanced correction scheme.

Commercial glass beads as TLDs in radiotherapy produced by different manufacturers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jafari, S. M.; Bates, N. M.; Jupp, T.; Abdul Sani, S. F.; Nisbet, A.; Bradley, D. A.

2017-08-01

While commercial jewellery glass beads offer the basis of novel radiotherapy TL dosimetry (Jafari et al. 2014a,b,c, 2015a,b), detailed study of TL variation is required for the products from various manufacturers. Investigation is made for glass beads from four manufacturers from four countries: China (Rocaille), Japan (Mill Hill), Indonesia (TOHO™) and Czech Republic (Czech). Sample composition was determined using an energy-dispersive X-ray unit coupled to a scanning electron microscope. Values of mass attenuation coefficient, μ/ρ, as a function of photon energy were then calculated for photons of energy 1 keV to 10 MeV, using the National Institute of Standards and Technology XCOM program. Radiation and energy response were determined using X-rays generated at accelerating potentials from 80 kVp to 6 MV (TPR20/10=0.670). All bead types showed TL to be linear with dose (R2>0.999). Glow curve dosimetric peaks reached a maximum value at 300 °C for the Toho and 290 °C for the Czech and Mill Hill products but was between 200-250 °C for the Rocaille product. Radiation sensitivity following mass normalisation varied within an order of magnitude; Toho samples showed the greatest and Rocaille the least sensitivity. For the Toho, Czech, Rocaille and Mill Hill samples the energy responses at 80 kVp were 5.0, 4.0, 3.6 and 3.3 times that obtained at 6 MV. All four glass bead types offer potential use as TL dosimeters over doses commonly applied in radiotherapy. Energy response variation was <1% at 6 MV but significant variation was found for photon beam energies covering the kV range; careful characterisation is required if use at this range is intended.

Polymer gel water equivalence and relative energy response with emphasis on low photon energy dosimetry in brachytherapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pantelis, E.; Karlis, A. K.; Kozicki, M.; Papagiannis, P.; Sakelliou, L.; Rosiak, J. M.

2004-08-01

The water equivalence and stable relative energy response of polymer gel dosimeters are usually taken for granted in the relatively high x-ray energy range of external beam radiotherapy based on qualitative indices such as mass and electron density and effective atomic number. However, these favourable dosimetric characteristics are questionable in the energy range of interest to brachytherapy especially in the case of lower energy photon sources such as 103Pd and 125I that are currently utilized. In this work, six representative polymer gel formulations as well as the most commonly used experimental set-up of a LiF TLD detector-solid water phantom are discussed on the basis of mass attenuation and energy absorption coefficients calculated in the energy range of 10 keV-10 MeV with regard to their water equivalence as a phantom and detector material. The discussion is also supported by Monte Carlo simulation results. It is found that water equivalence of polymer gel dosimeters is sustained for photon energies down to about 60 keV and no corrections are needed for polymer gel dosimetry of 169Yb or 192Ir sources. For 125I and 103Pd sources, however, a correction that is source-distance dependent is required. Appropriate Monte Carlo results show that at the dosimetric reference distance of 1 cm from a source, these corrections are of the order of 3% for 125I and 2% for 103Pd. These have to be compared with corresponding corrections of up to 35% for 125I and 103Pd and up to 15% even for the 169Yb energies for the experimental set-up of the LiF TLD detector-solid water phantom.

Polymer gel water equivalence and relative energy response with emphasis on low photon energy dosimetry in brachytherapy.

PubMed

Pantelis, E; Karlis, A K; Kozicki, M; Papagiannis, P; Sakelliou, L; Rosiak, J M

2004-08-07

The water equivalence and stable relative energy response of polymer gel dosimeters are usually taken for granted in the relatively high x-ray energy range of external beam radiotherapy based on qualitative indices such as mass and electron density and effective atomic number. However, these favourable dosimetric characteristics are questionable in the energy range of interest to brachytherapy especially in the case of lower energy photon sources such as 103Pd and 125I that are currently utilized. In this work, six representative polymer gel formulations as well as the most commonly used experimental set-up of a LiF TLD detector-solid water phantom are discussed on the basis of mass attenuation and energy absorption coefficients calculated in the energy range of 10 keV-10 MeV with regard to their water equivalence as a phantom and detector material. The discussion is also supported by Monte Carlo simulation results. It is found that water equivalence of polymer gel dosimeters is sustained for photon energies down to about 60 keV and no corrections are needed for polymer gel dosimetry of 169Yb or 192Ir sources. For 125I and 103Pd sources, however, a correction that is source-distance dependent is required. Appropriate Monte Carlo results show that at the dosimetric reference distance of 1 cm from a source, these corrections are of the order of 3% for 125I and 2% for 103Pd. These have to be compared with corresponding corrections of up to 35% for 125I and 103Pd and up to 15% even for the 169Yb energies for the experimental set-up of the LiF TLD detector-solid water phantom.

A study on scattering correction for γ-photon 3D imaging test method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Hui; Zhao, Min; Liu, Jiantang; Chen, Hao

2018-03-01

A pair of 511KeV γ-photons is generated during a positron annihilation. Their directions differ by 180°. The moving path and energy information can be utilized to form the 3D imaging test method in industrial domain. However, the scattered γ-photons are the major factors influencing the imaging precision of the test method. This study proposes a γ-photon single scattering correction method from the perspective of spatial geometry. The method first determines possible scattering points when the scattered γ-photon pair hits the detector pair. The range of scattering angle can then be calculated according to the energy window. Finally, the number of scattered γ-photons denotes the attenuation of the total scattered γ-photons along its moving path. The corrected γ-photons are obtained by deducting the scattered γ-photons from the original ones. Two experiments are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scattering correction method. The results concluded that the proposed scattering correction method can efficiently correct scattered γ-photons and improve the test accuracy.

Three-wave mixing in conjugated polymer solutions: Two-photon absorption in polydiacetylenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chance, R. R.; Shand, M. L.; Hogg, C.; Silbey, R.

1980-10-01

Three-wave-mixing spectroscopy is used to determine the dispersive and absorptive parts of a strongly allowed two-photon transition in a series of polydiacetylene solutions. The data analysis yields the energy, width, symmetry assignment, and oscillator strength for the two-photon transition. The data conclusively demonstrate that strong two-photon absorption is a fundamental property of the polydiacetylene backbone. The remarkably large two-photon absorption coefficients are explained by large oscillator strengths for both transitions involved in the two-photon absorption combined with strong one-photon resonance effects. The experimental results are shown to be consistent with a simple theoretical model for the energies and oscillator strengths of the one- and two-photon-allowed transitions.

Light extinction method for diagnostics of particles sizes formed in magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myshkin, Vyacheslav; Izhoykin, Dmitry; Grigoriev, Alexander; Gamov, Denis; Leonteva, Daria

2018-03-01

The results of laser diagnostics of dispersed particles formed upon cooling of Zn vapor are presented. The radiation attenuation in the wavelength range 420-630 nm with a step of 0.3 nm was registered. The attenuation coefficients spectral dependence was processed using known algorithms for integral equation solving. The 10 groups of 8 attenuation coefficients were formed. Each group was processed taking with considering of previous decisions. After processing of the 10th group of data, calculations were repeated from the first one. Data of the particles sizes formed in a magnetic field of 0, 44 and 76 mT are given. A model of physical processes in a magnetic field is discussed.

Carbonate fuel cell matrix

DOEpatents

Farooque, M.; Yuh, C.Y.

1996-12-03

A carbonate fuel cell matrix is described comprising support particles and crack attenuator particles which are made platelet in shape to increase the resistance of the matrix to through cracking. Also disclosed is a matrix having porous crack attenuator particles and a matrix whose crack attenuator particles have a thermal coefficient of expansion which is significantly different from that of the support particles, and a method of making platelet-shaped crack attenuator particles. 8 figs.

Is non-attenuation-corrected PET inferior to body attenuation-corrected PET or PET/CT in lung cancer?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maintas, Dimitris; Houzard, Claire; Ksyar, Rachid; Mognetti, Thomas; Maintas, Catherine; Scheiber, Christian; Itti, Roland

2006-12-01

It is considered that one of the great strengths of PET imaging is the ability to correct for body attenuation. This enables better lesion uptake quantification and quality of PET images. The aim of this work is to compare the sensitivity of non-attenuation-corrected (NAC) PET images, the gamma photons (GPAC) and CT attenuation-corrected (CTAC) images in detecting and staging of lung cancer. We have studied 66 patients undergoing PET/CT examinations for detecting and staging NSC lung cancer. The patients were injected with 18-FDG; 5 MBq/kg under fasting conditions and examination was started 60 min later. Transmission data were acquired by a spiral CT X-ray tube and by gamma photons emitting Cs-137l source and were used for the patient body attenuation correction without correction for respiratory motion. In 55 of 66 patients we performed both attenuation correction procedures and in 11 patients only CT attenuation correction. In seven patients with solitary nodules PET was negative and in 59 patients with lung cancer PET/CT was positive for pulmonary or other localization. In the group of 55 patients we found 165 areas of focal increased 18-FDG uptake in NAC, 165 in CTAC and 164 in GPAC PET images.In the patients with only CTAC we found 58 areas of increased 18-FDG uptake on NAC and 58 areas lesions on CTAC. In the patients with positive PET we found 223 areas of focal increased uptake in NAC and 223 areas in CTAC images. The sensitivity of NAC was equal to the sensitivity of CTAC and GPAC images. The visualization of peripheral lesions was better in NAC images and the lesions were better localized in attenuation-corrected images. In three lesions of the thorax the localization was better in GPAC and fused images than in CTAC images.

Measurement of the Two-photon Absorption Coefficient of Gallium Phosphide (GaP) Using a Dispersion-minimized Sub-10 Femtosecond Z-scan Measurement System

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

bandwidth of the pulse. Using the standard laboratory and analysis methods of Sheik- Bahae et al., we obtain a two-photon absorption coefficient, β, of...organic thin-film materials deposited on various substrates. 15 6. References 1. Sheik- Bahae , M.; Said, A. A.; Van Stryland, E. W. High...sensitivity, Single-beam n2 Measurements. Optics Letters 1989, 14 (17). 2. Sheik- Bahae , M.; Said, A. A.; Van Stryland, E. W.; Wei, T-H; Hagan, D. J

Evaluation of attenuation and scatter correction requirements in small animal PET and SPECT imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konik, Arda Bekir

Positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission tomography (SPECT) are two nuclear emission-imaging modalities that rely on the detection of high-energy photons emitted from radiotracers administered to the subject. The majority of these photons are attenuated (absorbed or scattered) in the body, resulting in count losses or deviations from true detection, which in turn degrades the accuracy of images. In clinical emission tomography, sophisticated correction methods are often required employing additional x-ray CT or radionuclide transmission scans. Having proven their potential in both clinical and research areas, both PET and SPECT are being adapted for small animal imaging. However, despite the growing interest in small animal emission tomography, little scientific information exists about the accuracy of these correction methods on smaller size objects, and what level of correction is required. The purpose of this work is to determine the role of attenuation and scatter corrections as a function of object size through simulations. The simulations were performed using Interactive Data Language (IDL) and a Monte Carlo based package, Geant4 application for emission tomography (GATE). In IDL simulations, PET and SPECT data acquisition were modeled in the presence of attenuation. A mathematical emission and attenuation phantom approximating a thorax slice and slices from real PET/CT data were scaled to 5 different sizes (i.e., human, dog, rabbit, rat and mouse). The simulated emission data collected from these objects were reconstructed. The reconstructed images, with and without attenuation correction, were compared to the ideal (i.e., non-attenuated) reconstruction. Next, using GATE, scatter fraction values (the ratio of the scatter counts to the total counts) of PET and SPECT scanners were measured for various sizes of NEMA (cylindrical phantoms representing small animals and human), MOBY (realistic mouse/rat model) and XCAT (realistic human model) digital phantoms. In addition, PET projection files for different sizes of MOBY phantoms were reconstructed in 6 different conditions including attenuation and scatter corrections. Selected regions were analyzed for these different reconstruction conditions and object sizes. Finally, real mouse data from the real version of the same small animal PET scanner we modeled in our simulations were analyzed for similar reconstruction conditions. Both our IDL and GATE simulations showed that, for small animal PET and SPECT, even the smallest size objects (˜2 cm diameter) showed ˜15% error when both attenuation and scatter were not corrected. However, a simple attenuation correction using a uniform attenuation map and object boundary obtained from emission data significantly reduces this error in non-lung regions (˜1% for smallest size and ˜6% for largest size). In lungs, emissions values were overestimated when only attenuation correction was performed. In addition, we did not observe any significant improvement between the uses of uniform or actual attenuation map (e.g., only ˜0.5% for largest size in PET studies). The scatter correction was not significant for smaller size objects, but became increasingly important for larger sizes objects. These results suggest that for all mouse sizes and most rat sizes, uniform attenuation correction can be performed using emission data only. For smaller sizes up to ˜ 4 cm, scatter correction is not required even in lung regions. For larger sizes if accurate quantization needed, additional transmission scan may be required to estimate an accurate attenuation map for both attenuation and scatter corrections.

Calculation of conversion coefficients using Chinese adult reference phantoms for air submersion and ground contamination.

PubMed

Lu, Wei; Qiu, Rui; Wu, Zhen; Li, Chunyan; Yang, Bo; Liu, Huan; Ren, Li; Li, Junli

2017-03-21

The effective and organ equivalent dose coefficients have been widely used to provide assessment of doses received by adult members of the public and by workers exposed to environmental radiation from nuclear facilities under normal or accidental situations. Advancements in phantom types, weighting factors, decay data, etc, have led to the publication of newer results in this regard. This paper presents a new set of conversion coefficients for air submersion and ground contamination (with the use of Geant4) for photons from 15 keV to 10 MeV using the Chinese and International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) adult reference male and female phantoms. The radiation fields, except for energy spectrum at low energies, were validated by the data obtained from the Monte Carlo code YURI. The effective dose coefficients of monoenergetic photons, obtained for the ICRP adult reference phantoms, agree well with recently published data for air submersion and ground contamination with a plane source at a depth of 0.5 g cm -2 in soil, but an average difference of 36.5% is observed for ground surface contamination with the abovementioned radiation field. The average differences in organ equivalent dose coefficients between the Chinese and the ICRP adult reference phantoms are within 6% for most organs, but noticeable differences of up to 70% or even higher are found at photon energies below 30 keV under air submersion. The effective dose coefficients obtained with the Chinese adult reference phantoms are greater than those of the ICRP adult reference phantoms above 30 keV and 0.5 MeV for ground contamination and air submersion, respectively; the average differences from the Chinese adult reference phantoms are about 3.6% and 0.4% in the whole energy range with maximum differences of 31.8% and 27.6% at 15 keV for air submersion and ground contamination respectively. These differences are attributed to anatomical discrepancies in overlying tissue mass of an individual organ and the body mass between the Chinese and the ICRP adult reference phantoms. These monoenergetic photon conversion coefficients are subsequently used to evaluate radionuclides with decay data from ICRP publication 107.

Calculation of conversion coefficients using Chinese adult reference phantoms for air submersion and ground contamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Wei; Qiu, Rui; Wu, Zhen; Li, Chunyan; Yang, Bo; Liu, Huan; Ren, Li; Li, Junli

2017-03-01

The effective and organ equivalent dose coefficients have been widely used to provide assessment of doses received by adult members of the public and by workers exposed to environmental radiation from nuclear facilities under normal or accidental situations. Advancements in phantom types, weighting factors, decay data, etc, have led to the publication of newer results in this regard. This paper presents a new set of conversion coefficients for air submersion and ground contamination (with the use of Geant4) for photons from 15 keV to 10 MeV using the Chinese and International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) adult reference male and female phantoms. The radiation fields, except for energy spectrum at low energies, were validated by the data obtained from the Monte Carlo code YURI. The effective dose coefficients of monoenergetic photons, obtained for the ICRP adult reference phantoms, agree well with recently published data for air submersion and ground contamination with a plane source at a depth of 0.5 g cm-2 in soil, but an average difference of 36.5% is observed for ground surface contamination with the abovementioned radiation field. The average differences in organ equivalent dose coefficients between the Chinese and the ICRP adult reference phantoms are within 6% for most organs, but noticeable differences of up to 70% or even higher are found at photon energies below 30 keV under air submersion. The effective dose coefficients obtained with the Chinese adult reference phantoms are greater than those of the ICRP adult reference phantoms above 30 keV and 0.5 MeV for ground contamination and air submersion, respectively; the average differences from the Chinese adult reference phantoms are about 3.6% and 0.4% in the whole energy range with maximum differences of 31.8% and 27.6% at 15 keV for air submersion and ground contamination respectively. These differences are attributed to anatomical discrepancies in overlying tissue mass of an individual organ and the body mass between the Chinese and the ICRP adult reference phantoms. These monoenergetic photon conversion coefficients are subsequently used to evaluate radionuclides with decay data from ICRP publication 107.

Interaction between photons and leaf canopies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knyazikhin, Yuri V.; Marshak, Alexander L.; Myneni, Ranga B.

1991-01-01

The physics of neutral particle interaction for photons traveling in media consisting of finite-dimensional scattering centers that cross-shade mutually is investigated. A leaf canopy is a typical example of such media. The leaf canopy is idealized as a binary medium consisting of randomly distributed gaps (voids) and regions with phytoelements (turbid phytomedium). In this approach, the leaf canopy is represented by a combination of all possible open oriented spheres. The mathematical approach for characterizing the structure of the host medium is considered. The extinction coefficient at any phase-space location in a leaf canopy is the product of the extinction coefficient in the turbid phytomedium and the probability of absence gaps at that location. Using a similar approach, an expression for the differential scattering coefficient is derived.

Mode-independent attenuation in evanescent-field sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gnewuch, Harald; Renner, Hagen

1995-03-01

Generally, the total power attenuation in multimode evanescent-field sensor waveguides is nonproportional to the bulk absorbance because the modal attenuation constants differ. Hence a direct measurement is difficult and is additionally aggravated because the waveguide absorbance is highly sensitive to the specific launching conditions at the waveguide input. A general asymptotic formula for the modal power attenuation in strongly asymmetric inhomogeneous planar waveguides with arbitrarily distributed weak absorption in the low-index superstrate is derived. Explicit expressions for typical refractive-index profiles are given. Except when very close to the cutoff, the predicted asymptotic attenuation behavior agrees well with exact calculations. The ratio of TM versus TE absorption has been derived to be (2 - n0 2/nf2 ) for arbitrary profiles. Waveguides with a linear refractive-index profile show mode-independent attenuation coefficients within each polarization. Further, the asymptotic sensitivity is independent of the wavelength, so that it should be possible to directly measure the spectral variation of the bulk absorption. The mode independence of the attenuation has been verified experimentally for a second-order polynomial profile, which is close to a linear refractive-index distribution. In contrast, the attenuation in the step-profile waveguide has been found to depend strongly on the mode number, as predicted by theory. A strong spread of the modal attenuation coefficients is also predicted for the parabolic-profile waveguide sensor.

DIFF--A 7090 Fortran Program to Determine Neutron Diffusion Constants Relating to a Six-Group Calculation; DIFF--UN PROGRAMME FOR TRAN 7090 POUR DETERMINER LES CONSTANTES DE DIFFUSION NEUTRONIQUE RELATIVES A UN CALCUL A SIX GROUPES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Plelnevaux, C.

The computer program DIFF, in Fortran for the IBM 7090, for calculating the neutron diffusion coefficients and attenuation areas (L/sup 2/) necessary for multigroup diffusion calculations for reactor shielding is described. Diffusion coefficients and values of the inverse attenuation length are given for a six group calculation for several interesting shielding materials. (D.C.W.)

X-Ray Attenuation Coefficients from 10 Kev to 100 Mev,

DTIC Science & Technology

1957-04-30

is u&Ung"w APR n 4 1994 94-10025 0 Z1UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS 94 .4 1 096 Data on Radiation Physics Graphs...OF COMMERCE • Sinclair Weeks, Secretary NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS , A. V. Astin, Dirvcew X-ray Attenuation Coefficients From 10 key to 100 Mev...Dit. ibtion I Availabiilty Codes Avai# and/or Dist Special National Bureau of Standards Circular 583 Issuw1 April 30, 1957 Fo e teSpr dt

Coastal Zone Color Scanner data of rich coastal waters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wrigley, R. C.; Klooster, S. A.

1983-01-01

Comparisons of chlorophyll concentrations and diffuse attenuation coefficients measured from ships off the central California coast were made with satellite derived estimates of the same parameters using data from the Coastal Zone Color Scanner. Very high chlorophyll concentrations were encountered in Monterey Bay. Although lower chlorophyll values acquired off Pt. Sur agreed satisfactorily with the satellite data, the high chlorophyll values departed markedly from agreement. Two possible causes for the disagreement are suggested. Comparison of diffuse attenuation coefficients from the same data sets showed closer agreement.

Transverse effects in nonlinear optics: Toward the photon superfluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCormick, Colin Fraser

Nonlinear optics displays a wealth of transverse effects. These effects are particularly rich in the presence of an optical cavity. Many considerations suggest that in a Kerr nonlinear cavity a new state of light known as a "photon superfluid" can form, with strong analogies to atomic superfluids. The conditions for the formation of the photon superfluid include requirements on the cavity, input light fields and the nonlinear medium as well as various timescales. The most favorable candidate nonlinear medium for observing the photon super-fluid is an atomic vapor. With a strong and fast Kerr effect, atomic vapors also have the advantage of a Kerr coefficient that is tunable in both magnitude and sign. A series of z-scan experiments in far-detuned atomic rubidium vapor is reported, measuring the Kerr coefficient and determining its functional dependence on detuning to be that of a Doppler-broadened two-level model with adiabatic following of the electric field by the atom pseudomoment. Saturation effects are found to be important. Z-scan measurements for detunings within the Doppler profile are shown to agree well with numerical simulations based on the Doppler-broadened model. Agreement between absorptive and refractive non-linear coefficients is evidence of the Kramers-Kronig relations at work, even in this nonlinear system. The formation of the photon superfluid is discussed and the calculation of a new process, nearly collinear four-wave mixing, is presented. This process is essentially an inverse beam filamentation that is likely to be the underlying physical mechanism for transverse cooling and condensation of photons in a nonlinear optical cavity. Nearly collinear four-wave mixing may also be related to phenomena in general nonlinear physics, including modulation instability and Fermi-Pasta-Ulam recurrence.

Disposable photonic integrated circuits for evanescent wave sensors by ultra-high volume roll-to-roll method.

PubMed

Aikio, Sanna; Hiltunen, Jussi; Hiitola-Keinänen, Johanna; Hiltunen, Marianne; Kontturi, Ville; Siitonen, Samuli; Puustinen, Jarkko; Karioja, Pentti

2016-02-08

Flexible photonic integrated circuit technology is an emerging field expanding the usage possibilities of photonics, particularly in sensor applications, by enabling the realization of conformable devices and introduction of new alternative production methods. Here, we demonstrate that disposable polymeric photonic integrated circuit devices can be produced in lengths of hundreds of meters by ultra-high volume roll-to-roll methods on a flexible carrier. Attenuation properties of hundreds of individual devices were measured confirming that waveguides with good and repeatable performance were fabricated. We also demonstrate the applicability of the devices for the evanescent wave sensing of ambient refractive index. The production of integrated photonic devices using ultra-high volume fabrication, in a similar manner as paper is produced, may inherently expand methods of manufacturing low-cost disposable photonic integrated circuits for a wide range of sensor applications.

Two-photon coincident emission from thick targets for 70-keV incident electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, J.; Kahler, D. L.; Quarles, C. A.

1993-04-01

Two-photon coincidence yields have been measured in thick targets of C, Al, Ag, and Ta for 70 keV incident electrons and photons radiated at +/-45° to the incident beam. A theoretical model, which is more rigorous, has been developed to simulate the two-photon processes of coherent thick-target double bremsstrahlung (TTDB) and the incoherent emission of two single-bremsstrahlung (SBSB) photons in a thick-target environment. The model is based on an integration of the thin-target cross sections over the target thickness taking into account electron energy loss, electron backscattering, and photon attenuation. It predicts a yield that is much lower than that of the previous model. The prediction of the model fits the present experimental data well by adjusting the relative weight of the two competing processes, and we find that TTDB dominates at low Z and incoherent SBSB dominates at higher Z.

First evidence for high anelastic attenuation beneath the Red Sea from Love wave analysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hadiouche, Ouiza

Attenuation coefficients of Love waves are determined for two seismic paths along the Red Sea. The attenuation coefficients are obtained using the multiple filter method for periods from 25 to 130 s along one path and from 40 to 130 s along the second one. The two sets of observations are in good agreement with anomalously high attenuation coefficients similar to those reported across a young part of the Pacific Ocean. Indeed, the values lie on average between 3.3 {plus minus} 0.6 and 1.1 {plus minus} 0.3 (10{sup {minus}4}km{sup {minus}1}) higher values being observed at shorter periods. In a secondmore » part of the paper, these apparent attenuation observations are interpreted in terms of a distribution of intrinsic absorption in the upper mantle. A frequency independent Q{sub {beta}} model is obtained using a trial-and-error method. The best fit to the data required a large and very low Q{sub {beta}} (30-50) zone below a depth of 50 km, underlying a thin and high Q{sub {beta}} (200-300) lid. These results are consistent with high heat flows and low velocities which characterize this tectonically active area, and corroborate the inference of anomalously high temperatures and low viscosity in the upper mantle beneath the Red Sea from recent seismological results.« less

Bismuth-Silicon and Bismuth-Polyurethane Composite Shields for Breast Protection in Chest Computed Tomography Examinations

PubMed Central

Mehnati, Parinaz; Arash, Mehran; Akhlaghi, Parisa

2018-01-01

The article aims at constructing protective composite shields for breasts in chest computed tomography and investigating the effects of applying these new bismuth composites on dose and image quality. Polyurethane and silicon with 5% of bismuth were fabricated as a protective shield. At first, their efficiency in attenuating the X-ray beam was investigated by calculating the total attenuation coefficients at diagnostic energy range. Then, a physical chest phantom was scanned without and with these shields at tube voltage of 120 kVp, and image parameters together with dose values were studied. The results showed that these two shields have great effects on attenuating the X-ray beam, especially for lower energies (<40 kV), and in average, the attenuation coefficients of bismuth-polyurethane composite are higher in this energy range. The maximum relative differences between the average Hounsfield units (HUs) and noises of images without and with shield for both composites in 13 regions of interest were 4.5% and 15.7%, respectively. Moreover, primary investigation confirmed the ability of both shields (especially polyurethane-bismuth composite) in dose reduction. Comparing these two composites regarding the amount of dose reduction, the changes in HU and noise, and attenuation coefficients in diagnostic energy range, it seems that polyurethane composite is more useful for dose reduction, especially for higher tube voltages. PMID:29628636

First photon detection in time-resolved transillumination imaging: a theoretical evaluation.

PubMed

Behin-Ain, S; van Doorn, T; Patterson, J R

2004-09-07

First photon detection, as a special case of time-resolved transillumination imaging, is studied through the derivation of the temporal probability density function (pdf) for the first arriving photon. The pdf for different laser intensities, media and second and later arriving photons were generated. The arrival time of the first detected photon reduced as the laser power increased and also when the scattering and absorption coefficients decreased. The pdf for an imbedded totally absorbing 3 mm inhomogeneity may be distinguished from the pdf of a homogeneous turbid medium similar to that of human breast in dimensions and optical properties.

Water equivalence of NIPAM based polymer gel dosimeters with enhanced sensitivity for x-ray CT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorjiara, Tina; Hill, Robin; Bosi, Stephen; Kuncic, Zdenka; Baldock, Clive

2013-10-01

Two new formulations of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) based three dimensional (3D) gel dosimeters have recently been developed with improved sensitivity to x-ray CT readout, one without any co-solvent and the other one with isopropanol co-solvent. The water equivalence of the NIPAM gel dosimeters was investigated using different methods to calculate their radiological properties including: density, electron density, number of electrons per grams, effective atomic number, photon interaction probabilities, mass attenuation and energy absorption coefficients, electron collisional, radiative and total mass stopping powers and electron mass scattering power. Monte Carlo modelling was also used to compare the dose response of these gel dosimeters with water for kilovoltage and megavoltage x-ray beams and for megavoltage electron beams. We found that the density and electron density of the co-solvent free gel dosimeter are more water equivalent with less than a 2.6% difference compared to a 5.7% difference for the isopropanol gel dosimeter. Both the co-solvent free and isopropanol solvent gel dosimeters have lower effective atomic numbers than water, differing by 2.2% and 6.5%, respectively. As a result, their photoelectric absorption interaction probabilities are up to 6% and 19% different from water, respectively. Compton scattering and pair production interaction probabilities of NIPAM gel with isopropanol differ by up to 10% from water while for the co-solvent free gel, the differences are 3%. Mass attenuation and energy absorption coefficients of the co-solvent free gel dosimeter and the isopropanol gel dosimeter are up to 7% and 19% lower than water, respectively. Collisional and total mass stopping powers of both gel dosimeters differ by less than 2% from those of water. The dose response of the co-solvent free gel dosimeter is water equivalent (with <1% discrepancy) for dosimetry of x-rays with energies <100 keV while the discrepancy increases (up to 5%) for the isopropanol gel dosimeter over the same energy range. For x-ray beams over the energy range 180 keV-18 MV, both gel dosimeters have less than 2% discrepancy with water. For megavoltage electron beams, the dose differences with water reach 7% and 14% for the co-solvent free gel dosimeter and the isopropanol gel dosimeter, respectively. Our results demonstrate that for x-ray beam dosimetry with photon energies higher than 100 keV and megavoltage electron beams, correction factors are needed for both NIPAM gels to be used as water equivalent dosimeters.

A comparison of methods using optical coherence tomography to detect demineralized regions in teeth

PubMed Central

Sowa, Michael G.; Popescu, Dan P.; Friesen, Jeri R.; Hewko, Mark D.; Choo-Smith, Lin-P’ing

2013-01-01

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a three- dimensional optical imaging technique that can be used to identify areas of early caries formation in dental enamel. The OCT signal at 850 nm back-reflected from sound enamel is attenuated stronger than the signal back-reflected from demineralized regions. To quantify this observation, the OCT signal as a function of depth into the enamel (also known as the A-scan intensity), the histogram of the A-scan intensities and three summary parameters derived from the A-scan are defined and their diagnostic potential compared. A total of 754 OCT A-scans were analyzed. The three summary parameters derived from the A-scans, the OCT attenuation coefficient as well as the mean and standard deviation of the lognormal fit to the histogram of the A-scan ensemble show statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) when comparing parameters from sound enamel and caries. Furthermore, these parameters only show a modest correlation. Based on the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) plot, the OCT attenuation coefficient shows higher discriminatory capacity (AUC=0.98) compared to the parameters derived from the lognormal fit to the histogram of the A-scan. However, direct analysis of the A-scans or the histogram of A-scan intensities using linear support vector machine classification shows diagnostic discrimination (AUC = 0.96) comparable to that achieved using the attenuation coefficient. These findings suggest that either direct analysis of the A-scan, its intensity histogram or the attenuation coefficient derived from the descending slope of the OCT A-scan have high capacity to discriminate between regions of caries and sound enamel. PMID:22052833

Bio-Optical Properties of the Arabian Sea as Determined by In Situ and Sea WiFS Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trees, Charles C.

1997-01-01

The overall objective of this work was to characterize optical and fluorescence properties in the euphotic zone during two British Ocean Flux Study (BOFS) Arabian Sea cruises. This was later expanded in 1995 to include three U.S. JGOFS Arabian Sea Cruises. The region was to be divided into one or more "bio-optical provinces," within each of which a single set of regression models was to be developed to relate the vertical distribution of irradiance attenuation and normalized fluorescence (SF and NF) to remote sensing reflectance and diffuse attenuation coefficient. The working hypothesis was that over relatively large spatial and temporal scales, the vertical profiles of bio-optical properties were predictable. The specific technical objectives were: (1) To characterize the vertical distribution of the inherent and apparent optical properties by measuring downwelling and upwelling irradiances, upwelling radiances, scalar irradiance of PAR, and beam transmissions at each station - from these data, spectral diffuse attenuation coefficients, irradiance reflectances, remote sensing reflectances, surface-leaving radiances and beam attenuation coefficients were determined; (2) To characterize the spectral absorption of total particulate, detrital, and dissolved organic material at each station from discrete water samples; (3) To describe the vertical distribution of photoadaptive properties in the water column by measuring profiles of stimulated (SF) and natural (NF) fluorescence and examining relationships between SF and NF as a function of diffuse optical depth, pigment biomass and primary productivity; and (4) To establish locally derived, in-water algorithms relating remote sensing reflectance spectra to diffuse attenuation coefficients, phytoplankton pigment concentrations and primary productivity, through intercomparisons with in situ measurements, for application to SeaWiFS data.

Attenuation characteristics of the leaky \\text{T}(0,1) mode guided wave propagating in piping coated with anticorrosion grease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishino, Hideo; Tateishi, Kohei; Ishikawa, Masashi; Furukawa, Takashi; Goka, Motoki

2018-07-01

Guided wave inspection is expected especially for buried piping because it can be applied easily to such piping requiring only its partial digging from the ground. However, in buried piping, the attenuation coefficient is extremely large compared with that in above-ground piping because the leaky \\text{T}(0,1) mode guided wave (LTGW) propagates in buried piping and its energy leaks into the adjacent surrounding material as a bulk shear wave. Petrolatum anticorrosion grease (PAG) is the most widely used as the coating material on the pipe surface before burying piping in sand or soil, which is a viscous material with a temperature-dependent shear wave velocity. In this paper, attenuation characteristics of the LTGW are shown theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical calculations explain very well the experimental results measured. The temperature dependence of the attenuation coefficient is discussed with the theoretical outcomes.

SU-C-201-06: Utility of Quantitative 3D SPECT/CT Imaging in Patient Specific Internal Dosimetry of 153-Samarium with GATE Monte Carlo Package

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fallahpoor, M; Abbasi, M; Sen, A

Purpose: Patient-specific 3-dimensional (3D) internal dosimetry in targeted radionuclide therapy is essential for efficient treatment. Two major steps to achieve reliable results are: 1) generating quantitative 3D images of radionuclide distribution and attenuation coefficients and 2) using a reliable method for dose calculation based on activity and attenuation map. In this research, internal dosimetry for 153-Samarium (153-Sm) was done by SPECT-CT images coupled GATE Monte Carlo package for internal dosimetry. Methods: A 50 years old woman with bone metastases from breast cancer was prescribed 153-Sm treatment (Gamma: 103keV and beta: 0.81MeV). A SPECT/CT scan was performed with the Siemens Simbia-Tmore » scanner. SPECT and CT images were registered using default registration software. SPECT quantification was achieved by compensating for all image degrading factors including body attenuation, Compton scattering and collimator-detector response (CDR). Triple energy window method was used to estimate and eliminate the scattered photons. Iterative ordered-subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) with correction for attenuation and distance-dependent CDR was used for image reconstruction. Bilinear energy mapping is used to convert Hounsfield units in CT image to attenuation map. Organ borders were defined by the itk-SNAP toolkit segmentation on CT image. GATE was then used for internal dose calculation. The Specific Absorbed Fractions (SAFs) and S-values were reported as MIRD schema. Results: The results showed that the largest SAFs and S-values are in osseous organs as expected. S-value for lung is the highest after spine that can be important in 153-Sm therapy. Conclusion: We presented the utility of SPECT-CT images and Monte Carlo for patient-specific dosimetry as a reliable and accurate method. It has several advantages over template-based methods or simplified dose estimation methods. With advent of high speed computers, Monte Carlo can be used for treatment planning on a day to day basis.« less

A new material platform of Si photonics for implementing architecture of dense wavelength division multiplexing on Si bulk wafer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ziyi; Yako, Motoki; Ju, Kan; Kawai, Naoyuki; Chaisakul, Papichaya; Tsuchizawa, Tai; Hikita, Makoto; Yamada, Koji; Ishikawa, Yasuhiko; Wada, Kazumi

2017-12-01

A new materials group to implement dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) in Si photonics is proposed. A large thermo-optic (TO) coefficient of Si malfunctions multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) on a chip under thermal fluctuation, and thus DWDM implementation, has been one of the most challenging targets in Si photonics. The present study specifies an optical materials group for DWDM by a systematic survey of their TO coefficients and refractive indices. The group is classified as mid-index contrast optics (MiDex) materials, and non-stoichiometric silicon nitride (SiNx) is chosen to demonstrate its significant thermal stability. The TO coefficient of non-stoichiometric SiNx is precisely measured in the temperature range 24-76 °C using the SiNx rings prepared by two methods: chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and physical vapor deposition (PVD). The CVD-SiNx ring reveals nearly the same TO coefficient reported for stoichiometric CVD-Si3N4, while the value for the PVD-SiNx ring is slightly higher. Both SiNx rings lock their resonance frequencies within 100 GHz in this temperature range. Since CVD-SiNx needs a high temperature annealing to reduce N-H bond absorption, it is concluded that PVD-SiNx is suited as a MiDex material introduced in the CMOS back-end-of-line. Further stabilization is required, considering the crosstalk between two channels; a 'silicone' polymer is employed to compensate for the temperature fluctuation using its negative TO coefficient, called athermalization. This demonstrates that the resonance of these SiNx rings is locked within 50 GHz at the same temperature range in the wavelength range 1460-1620 nm (the so-called S, C, and L bands in optical fiber communication networks). A further survey on the MiDex materials strongly suggests that Al2O3, Ga2O3 Ta2O5, HfO2 and their alloys should provide even more stable platforms for DWDM implementation in MiDex photonics. It is discussed that the MiDex photonics will find various applications such as medical and environmental sensing and in-vehicle data-communication.

Reduction of the Buildup Contribution in Gamma Ray Attenuation Measurements and a New Way to Study This Experiment in a Student Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adamides, E.; Kavadjiklis, A.; Koutroubas, S.K.; Moshonas, N.; Tzedakis, A.; Yiasemides, K.

2014-01-01

In continuation of our investigation into the buildup phenomenon appearing in gamma ray attenuation measurements in laboratory experiments we study the dependence of the buildup factor on the area of the absorber in an effort to reduce the buildup of photons. Detailed measurements are performed for up to two mean free paths of [superscript 60]Co…

High-energy x-ray grating-based phase-contrast radiography of human anatomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horn, Florian; Hauke, Christian; Lachner, Sebastian; Ludwig, Veronika; Pelzer, Georg; Rieger, Jens; Schuster, Max; Seifert, Maria; Wandner, Johannes; Wolf, Andreas; Michel, Thilo; Anton, Gisela

2016-03-01

X-ray grating-based phase-contrast Talbot-Lau interferometry is a promising imaging technology that has the potential to raise soft tissue contrast in comparison to conventional attenuation-based imaging. Additionally, it is sensitive to attenuation, refraction and scattering of the radiation and thus provides complementary and otherwise inaccessible information due to the dark-field image, which shows the sub-pixel size granularity of the measured object. Until recent progress the method has been mainly limited to photon energies below 40 keV. Scaling the method to photon energies that are sufficient to pass large and spacious objects represents a challenging task. This is caused by increasing demands regarding the fabrication process of the gratings and the broad spectra that come along with the use of polychromatic X-ray sources operated at high acceleration voltages. We designed a setup that is capable to reach high visibilities in the range from 50 to 120 kV. Therefore, spacious and dense parts of the human body with high attenuation can be measured, such as a human knee. The authors will show investigations on the resulting attenuation, differential phase-contrast and dark-field images. The images experimentally show that X-ray grating-based phase-contrast radiography is feasible with highly absorbing parts of the human body containing massive bones.

Field-quadrature and photon-number correlations produced by parametric processes.

PubMed

McKinstrie, C J; Karlsson, M; Tong, Z

2010-09-13

In a previous paper [Opt. Express 13, 4986 (2005)], formulas were derived for the field-quadrature and photon-number variances produced by multiple-mode parametric processes. In this paper, formulas are derived for the quadrature and number correlations. The number formulas are used to analyze the properties of basic devices, such as two-mode amplifiers, attenuators and frequency convertors, and composite systems made from these devices, such as cascaded parametric amplifiers and communication links. Amplifiers generate idlers that are correlated with the amplified signals, or correlate pre-existing pairs of modes, whereas attenuators decorrelate pre-existing modes. Both types of device modify the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the modes on which they act. Amplifiers decrease or increase the mode SNRs, depending on whether they are operated in phase-insensitive (PI) or phase-sensitive (PS) manners, respectively, whereas attenuators always decrease these SNRs. Two-mode PS links are sequences of transmission fibers (attenuators) followed by two-mode PS amplifiers. Not only do these PS links have noise figures that are 6-dB lower than those of the corresponding PI links, they also produce idlers that are (almost) completely correlated with the signals. By detecting the signals and idlers, one can eliminate the effects of electronic noise in the detectors.

Dose conversion coefficients for photon exposure of the human eye lens.

PubMed

Behrens, R; Dietze, G

2011-01-21

In recent years, several papers dealing with the eye lens dose have been published, because epidemiological studies implied that the induction of cataracts occurs even at eye lens doses of less than 500 mGy. Different questions were addressed: Which personal dose equivalent quantity is appropriate for monitoring the dose to the eye lens? Is a new definition of the dose quantity H(p)(3) based on a cylinder phantom to represent the human head necessary? Are current conversion coefficients from fluence to equivalent dose to the lens sufficiently accurate? To investigate the latter question, a realistic model of the eye including the inner structure of the lens was developed. Using this eye model, conversion coefficients for electrons have already been presented. In this paper, the same eye model-with the addition of the whole body-was used to calculate conversion coefficients from fluence (and air kerma) to equivalent dose to the lens for photon radiation from 5 keV to 10 MeV. Compared to the values adopted in 1996 by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the new values are similar between 40 keV and 1 MeV and lower by up to a factor of 5 and 7 for photon energies at about 10 keV and 10 MeV, respectively. Above 1 MeV, the new values (calculated without kerma approximation) should be applied in pure photon radiation fields, while the values adopted by the ICRP in 1996 (calculated with kerma approximation) should be applied in case a significant contribution from secondary electrons originating outside the body is present.

Dose conversion coefficients for photon exposure of the human eye lens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behrens, R.; Dietze, G.

2011-01-01

In recent years, several papers dealing with the eye lens dose have been published, because epidemiological studies implied that the induction of cataracts occurs even at eye lens doses of less than 500 mGy. Different questions were addressed: Which personal dose equivalent quantity is appropriate for monitoring the dose to the eye lens? Is a new definition of the dose quantity Hp(3) based on a cylinder phantom to represent the human head necessary? Are current conversion coefficients from fluence to equivalent dose to the lens sufficiently accurate? To investigate the latter question, a realistic model of the eye including the inner structure of the lens was developed. Using this eye model, conversion coefficients for electrons have already been presented. In this paper, the same eye model—with the addition of the whole body—was used to calculate conversion coefficients from fluence (and air kerma) to equivalent dose to the lens for photon radiation from 5 keV to 10 MeV. Compared to the values adopted in 1996 by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the new values are similar between 40 keV and 1 MeV and lower by up to a factor of 5 and 7 for photon energies at about 10 keV and 10 MeV, respectively. Above 1 MeV, the new values (calculated without kerma approximation) should be applied in pure photon radiation fields, while the values adopted by the ICRP in 1996 (calculated with kerma approximation) should be applied in case a significant contribution from secondary electrons originating outside the body is present.

Generalized local emission tomography

DOEpatents

Katsevich, Alexander J.

1998-01-01

Emission tomography enables locations and values of internal isotope density distributions to be determined from radiation emitted from the whole object. In the method for locating the values of discontinuities, the intensities of radiation emitted from either the whole object or a region of the object containing the discontinuities are inputted to a local tomography function .function..sub..LAMBDA..sup.(.PHI.) to define the location S of the isotope density discontinuity. The asymptotic behavior of .function..sub..LAMBDA..sup.(.PHI.) is determined in a neighborhood of S, and the value for the discontinuity is estimated from the asymptotic behavior of .function..sub..LAMBDA..sup.(.PHI.) knowing pointwise values of the attenuation coefficient within the object. In the method for determining the location of the discontinuity, the intensities of radiation emitted from an object are inputted to a local tomography function .function..sub..LAMBDA..sup.(.PHI.) to define the location S of the density discontinuity and the location .GAMMA. of the attenuation coefficient discontinuity. Pointwise values of the attenuation coefficient within the object need not be known in this case.

Active microwave measurement of soil water content

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ulaby, F. T.; Cihlar, J.; Moore, R. K.

1974-01-01

Measurements of radar backscatter from bare soil at 4.7, 5.9, and 7.1 GHz for incident angles of 0-70 deg have been analyzed to determine sensitivity to soil moisture. Because the effective depth of penetration of the radar signal is only about one skin depth, the observed signals were correlated with the moisture in a skin depth as characterized by the attenuation coefficient (reciprocal of skin depth). Since the attenuation coefficient is a monotonically increasing function of moisture density, it may also be used as a measure of moisture content over the distance involved, which varies with frequency and moisture content. The measurements show an approximately linear increase in scattering with attenuation coefficient of the soil at angles within 10 deg of vertical and all frequencies. At 4.7 GHz this increase continues relatively large out to 70 deg incidence, but by 7.1 GHz the sensitivity is much less even at 20 deg and practically gone at 50 deg.

Evaluation of coastal zone color scanner diffuse attenuation coefficient algorithms for application to coastal waters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, James L.; Trees, Charles C.; Arnone, Robert A.

1990-09-01

The Coastal Zone Color Scannez (ZCS) and associated atmospheric and in-water algorithms have allowed synoptic analyses of regional and large scale variability of bio-optical properties [phytoplankton pigments and diffuse auenuation coefficient K(490)}. Austin and Petzold (1981) developed a robust in-water K(490) algorithm which related the diffuse attenuation coefficient at one optical depth [1/K(490)] to the ratio of the water-leaving radiances at 443 and 550 nm. Their regression analysis included diffuse attenuation coefficients K(490) up to 0.40 nm, but excluded data from estuarine areas, and other Case II waters, where the optical properties are not predominantly determined by phytoplankton. In these areas, errors are induced in the retrieval of remote sensing K(490) by extremely low water-leaving radiance at 443 nm [Lw(443) as viewed at the sensor may only be 1 or 2 digital counts], and improved cury can be realized using algorithms based on wavelengths where Lw(λ) is larger. Using ocean optical profiles quired by the Visibility Laboratory, algorithms are developed to predict K(490) from ratios of water leaving radiances at 520 and 670, as well as 443 and 550 nm.

Fermi Large Area Telescope Constraints On The Gamma-Ray Opacity Of The Universe

DOE PAGES

Abdo, A. A.

2010-10-19

The extragalactic background light (EBL) includes photons with wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared, which are effective at attenuating gamma rays with energy above ~10 GeV during propagation from sources at cosmological distances. This results in a redshift- and energy-dependent attenuation of the γ-ray flux of extragalactic sources such as blazars and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The Large Area Telescope on board Fermi detects a sample of γ-ray blazars with redshift up to z ~ 3, and GRBs with redshift up to z ~ 4.3. Using photons above 10 GeV collected by Fermi over more than one year of observations for thesemore » sources, we investigate the effect of γ-ray flux attenuation by the EBL. We place upper limits on the γ-ray opacity of the universe at various energies and redshifts and compare this with predictions from well-known EBL models. We find that an EBL intensity in the optical-ultraviolet wavelengths as great as predicted by the "baseline" model of Stecker et al. can be ruled out with high confidence.« less

Photon-Fluence-Weighted let for Radiation Fields Subjected to Epidemiological Studies.

PubMed

Sasaki, Michiya

2017-08-01

In order to estimate the uncertainty of the radiation risk associated with the photon energy in epidemiological studies, photon-fluence-weighted LET values were quantified for photon radiation fields with the target organs and irradiation conditions taken into consideration. The photon fluences giving a unit absorbed dose to the target organ were estimated by using photon energy spectra together with the dose conversion coefficients given in ICRP Publication 116 for the target organs of the colon, bone marrow, stomach, lung, skin and breast with three irradiation geometries. As a result, it was demonstrated that the weighted LET values did not show a clear difference among the photon radiation fields subjected to epidemiological studies, regardless of the target organ and the irradiation geometry.

Production of photons in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

DOE PAGES

Jean -Francois Paquet; Denicol, Gabriel S.; Shen, Chun; ...

2016-04-18

In this work it is shown that the use of a hydrodynamical model of heavy-ion collisions which incorporates recent developments, together with updated photon emission rates, greatly improves agreement with both ALICE and PHENIX measurements of direct photons, supporting the idea that thermal photons are the dominant source of direct photon momentum anisotropy. The event-by-event hydrodynamical model uses the impact parameter dependent Glasma model (IP-Glasma) initial states and includes, for the first time, both shear and bulk viscosities, along with second-order couplings between the two viscosities. Furthermore, the effect of both shear and bulk viscosities on the photon rates ismore » studied, and those transport coefficients are shown to have measurable consequences on the photon momentum anisotropy.« less

On-chip interference of single photons from an embedded quantum dot and an external laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prtljaga, N., E-mail: n.prtljaga@sheffield.ac.uk; Bentham, C.; O'Hara, J.

2016-06-20

In this work, we demonstrate the on-chip two-photon interference between single photons emitted by a single self-assembled InGaAs quantum dot and an external laser. The quantum dot is embedded within one arm of an air-clad directional coupler which acts as a beam-splitter for incoming light. Photons originating from an attenuated external laser are coupled to the second arm of the beam-splitter and then combined with the quantum dot photons, giving rise to two-photon quantum interference between dissimilar sources. We verify the occurrence of on-chip Hong-Ou-Mandel interference by cross-correlating the optical signal from the separate output ports of the directional coupler.more » This experimental approach allows us to use a classical light source (laser) to assess in a single step the overall device performance in the quantum regime and probe quantum dot photon indistinguishability on application realistic time scales.« less

Measurements of attenuation coefficient for evaluating the hardness of a cataract lens by a high-frequency ultrasonic needle transducer.

PubMed

Huang, Chih-Chung; Chen, Ruimin; Tsui, Po-Hsiang; Zhou, Qifa; Humayun, Mark S; Shung, K Kirk

2009-10-07

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Phacoemulsification is the mostly common surgical method for treating cataracts, and determining that the optimal phacoemulsification energy is dependent on measuring the hardness of the lens. This study explored the use of an ultrasound needle transducer for invasive measurements of ultrasound attenuation coefficient to evaluate the hardness of the cataract lens. A 47 MHz high-frequency needle transducer with a diameter of 0.9 mm was fabricated by a polarized PMN-33%PT single crystal in the present study. The attenuation coefficients at different stages of an artificial porcine cataract lens were measured using the spectral shift approach. The hardness of the cataract lens was also evaluated by mechanical measurement of its elastic properties. The results demonstrated that the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient was increased from 0.048 +/- 0.02 to 0.520 +/- 0.06 dB mm(-1) MHz(-1) corresponding to an increase in Young's modulus from 6 +/- 0.4 to 96 +/- 6.2 kPa as the cataract further developed. In order to evaluate the feasibility of combining needle transducer and phacoemulsification probe for real-time measurement during cataract surgery, the needle transducer was mounted on the phacoemulsification probe for a vibration test. The results indicated that there was no apparent damage to the tip of the needle transducer and the pulse-echo test showed that a good performance in sensitivity was maintained after the vibration test.

Extracting near-surface QL between 1-4 Hz from higher-order noise correlations in the Euroseistest area, Greece

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haendel, A.; Ohrnberger, M.; Krüger, F.

2016-11-01

Knowledge of the quality factor of near-surface materials is of fundamental interest in various applications. Attenuation can be very strong close to the surface and thus needs to be properly assessed. In recent years, several researchers have studied the retrieval of attenuation coefficients from the cross correlation of ambient seismic noise. Yet, the determination of exact amplitude information from noise-correlation functions is, in contrast to the extraction of traveltimes, not trivial. Most of the studies estimated attenuation coefficients on the regional scale and within the microseism band. In this paper, we investigate the possibility to derive attenuation coefficients from seismic noise at much shallower depths and higher frequencies (>1 Hz). The Euroseistest area in northern Greece offers ideal conditions to study quality factor retrieval from ambient noise for different rock types. Correlations are computed between the stations of a small scale array experiment (station spacings <2 km) that was carried out in the Euroseistest area in 2011. We employ the correlation of the coda of the correlation (C3) method instead of simple cross correlations to mitigate the effect of uneven noise source distributions on the correlation amplitude. Transient removal and temporal flattening are applied instead of 1-bit normalization in order to retain relative amplitudes. The C3 method leads to improved correlation results (higher signal-to-noise ratio and improved time symmetry) compared to simple cross correlations. The C3 functions are rotated from the ZNE to the ZRT system and we focus on Love wave arrivals on the transverse component and on Love wave quality factors QL. The analysis is performed for selected stations being either situated on soft soil or on weathered rock. Phase slowness is extracted using a slant-stack method. Attenuation parameters are inferred by inspecting the relative amplitude decay of Love waves with increasing interstation distance. We observe that the attenuation coefficient γ and QL can be reliably extracted for stations situated on soft soil whereas the derivation of attenuation parameters is more problematic for stations that are located on weathered rock. The results are in acceptable conformance with theoretical Love wave attenuation curves that were computed using 1-D shear wave velocity and quality factor profiles from the Euroseistest area.

High-Fidelity Down-Conversion Source for Secure Communications Using On-Demand Single Photons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, Tony

2015-01-01

AdvR, Inc., has built an efficient, fully integrated, waveguide-based source of spectrally uncorrelated photon pairs that will accelerate research and development (R&D) in the emerging field of quantum information science. Key to the innovation is the use of submicron periodically poled waveguides to produce counter propagating photon pairs, which is enabled by AdvR's patented segmented microelectrode poling technique. This novel device will provide a high brightness source of down-conversion pairs with enhanced spectral properties and low attenuation, and it will operate in the visible to the mid-infrared spectral region. A waveguide-based source of spectrally and spatially pure heralded photons will contribute to a wide range of NASA's advanced technology development efforts, including on-demand single photon sources for high-rate spaced-based secure communications.

Attenuation of X and Gamma Rays in Personal Radiation Shielding Protective Clothing.

PubMed

Kozlovska, Michaela; Cerny, Radek; Otahal, Petr

2015-11-01

A collection of personal radiation shielding protective clothing, suitable for use in case of accidents in nuclear facilities or radiological emergency situations involving radioactive agents, was gathered and tested at the Nuclear Protection Department of the National Institute for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection, Czech Republic. Attenuating qualities of shielding layers in individual protective clothing were tested via spectra measurement of x and gamma rays, penetrating them. The rays originated from different radionuclide point sources, the gamma ray energies of which cover a broad energy range. The spectra were measured by handheld spectrometers, both scintillation and High Purity Germanium. Different narrow beam geometries were adjusted using a special testing bench and a set of various collimators. The main experimentally determined quantity for individual samples of personal radiation shielding protective clothing was x and gamma rays attenuation for significant energies of the spectra. The attenuation was assessed comparing net peak areas (after background subtraction) in spectra, where a tested sample was placed between the source and the detector, and corresponding net peak areas in spectra, measured without the sample. Mass attenuation coefficients, which describe attenuating qualities of shielding layers materials in individual samples, together with corresponding lead equivalents, were determined as well. Experimentally assessed mass attenuation coefficients of the samples were compared to the referred ones for individual heavy metals.

Advanced Digital Signal Processing for Hybrid Lidar

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-31

usable range of hybrid lidar-radar in a turbid underwater environment. In a highly scattering enviromnent, many photons reaching the detector will...have scattered off particulates in the water, while relatively few photons reaching the detector will have made the round-trip to and from the object...Received power is attenuated according to where P is the power received by the detector , PQIS the power transmitted by the source, c is the beam

Image reconstruction from cone-beam projections with attenuation correction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weng, Yi

1997-07-01

In single photon emission computered tomography (SPECT) imaging, photon attenuation within the body is a major factor contributing to the quantitative inaccuracy in measuring the distribution of radioactivity. Cone-beam SPECT provides improved sensitivity for imaging small organs. This thesis extends the results for 2D parallel- beam and fan-beam geometry to 3D parallel-beam and cone- beam geometries in order to derive filtered backprojection reconstruction algorithms for the 3D exponential parallel-beam transform and for the exponential cone-beam transform with sampling on a sphere. An exact inversion formula for the 3D exponential parallel-beam transform is obtained and is extended to the 3D exponential cone-beam transform. Sampling on a sphere is not useful clinically and current cone-beam tomography, with the focal point traversing a planar orbit, does not acquire sufficient data to give an accurate reconstruction. Thus a data acquisition method that obtains complete data for cone-beam SPECT by simultaneously rotating the gamma camera and translating the patient bed, so that cone-beam projections can be obtained with the focal point traversing a helix that surrounds the patient was developed. First, an implementation of Grangeat's algorithm for helical cone- beam projections was developed without attenuation correction. A fast new rebinning scheme was developed that uses all of the detected data to reconstruct the image and properly normalizes any multiply scanned data. In the case of attenuation no theorem analogous to Tuy's has been proven. We hypothesized that an artifact-free reconstruction could be obtained even if the cone-beam data are attenuated, provided the imaging orbit satisfies Tuy's condition and the exact attenuation map is known. Cone-beam emission data were acquired by using a circle- and-line and a helix orbit on a clinical SPECT system. An iterative conjugate gradient reconstruction algorithm was used to reconstruct projection data with a known attenuation map. The quantitative accuracy of the attenuation-corrected emission reconstruction was significantly improved.

The Nonlinear Jaynes-Cummings Model for the Multiphoton Transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiao-Jing; Lu, Jing-Bin; Zhang, Si-Qi; Liu, Ji-Ping; Li, Hong; Liang, Yu; Ma, Ji; Weng, Yi-Jiao; Zhang, Qi-Rui; Liu, Han; Zhang, Xiao-Ru; Wu, Xiang-Yao

2018-01-01

With the nonlinear Jaynes-Cummings model, we have studied the atom and light field quantum entanglement of multiphoton transition in nonlinear medium, and researched the effect of the transition photon number N and the nonlinear coefficient χ on the quantum entanglement degrees. We have given the quantum entanglement degrees curves with time evolution, we find when the transition photon number N increases, the entanglement degrees oscillation get faster. When the nonlinear coefficient α > 0, the entanglement degrees oscillation get quickly, the nonlinear term is disadvantage of the atom and light field entanglement, and when the nonlinear coefficient α < 0, the entanglement degrees oscillation get slow, the nonlinear term is advantage of the atom and light field entanglement. These results will have been used in the quantum communication and quantum information.

Reduced Variance using ADVANTG in Monte Carlo Calculations of Dose Coefficients to Stylized Phantoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hiller, Mauritius; Bellamy, Michael; Eckerman, Keith; Hertel, Nolan

2017-09-01

The estimation of dose coefficients of external radiation sources to the organs in phantoms becomes increasingly difficult for lower photon source energies. This study focus on the estimation of photon emitters around the phantom. The computer time needed to calculate a result within a certain precision can be lowered by several orders of magnitude using ADVANTG compared to a standard run. Using ADVANTG which employs the DENOVO adjoint calculation package enables the user to create a fully populated set of weight windows and source biasing instructions for an MCNP calculation.

Measurement of polarization dependence of two-photon absorption coefficient in InP using extended Z-scan technique for thick materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oishi, Masaki; Shinozaki, Tomohisa; Hara, Hikaru; Yamamoto, Kazunuki; Matsusue, Toshio; Bando, Hiroyuki

2018-03-01

The two-photon absorption coefficient β in InP has been measured in the wavelength range of 1640 to 1800 nm by the Z-scan technique in relatively thick materials. The values of β have been evaluated from the fit to the equation including the spatial and temporal profiles of the focused Gaussian beam. The polarization dependence of β has also been measured. The dependence has been expressed very well by the expression of β with the imaginary part of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility tensor χ(3).

Quantitative Evaluation of 2 Scatter-Correction Techniques for 18F-FDG Brain PET/MRI in Regard to MR-Based Attenuation Correction.

PubMed

Teuho, Jarmo; Saunavaara, Virva; Tolvanen, Tuula; Tuokkola, Terhi; Karlsson, Antti; Tuisku, Jouni; Teräs, Mika

2017-10-01

In PET, corrections for photon scatter and attenuation are essential for visual and quantitative consistency. MR attenuation correction (MRAC) is generally conducted by image segmentation and assignment of discrete attenuation coefficients, which offer limited accuracy compared with CT attenuation correction. Potential inaccuracies in MRAC may affect scatter correction, because the attenuation image (μ-map) is used in single scatter simulation (SSS) to calculate the scatter estimate. We assessed the impact of MRAC to scatter correction using 2 scatter-correction techniques and 3 μ-maps for MRAC. Methods: The tail-fitted SSS (TF-SSS) and a Monte Carlo-based single scatter simulation (MC-SSS) algorithm implementations on the Philips Ingenuity TF PET/MR were used with 1 CT-based and 2 MR-based μ-maps. Data from 7 subjects were used in the clinical evaluation, and a phantom study using an anatomic brain phantom was conducted. Scatter-correction sinograms were evaluated for each scatter correction method and μ-map. Absolute image quantification was investigated with the phantom data. Quantitative assessment of PET images was performed by volume-of-interest and ratio image analysis. Results: MRAC did not result in large differences in scatter algorithm performance, especially with TF-SSS. Scatter sinograms and scatter fractions did not reveal large differences regardless of the μ-map used. TF-SSS showed slightly higher absolute quantification. The differences in volume-of-interest analysis between TF-SSS and MC-SSS were 3% at maximum in the phantom and 4% in the patient study. Both algorithms showed excellent correlation with each other with no visual differences between PET images. MC-SSS showed a slight dependency on the μ-map used, with a difference of 2% on average and 4% at maximum when a μ-map without bone was used. Conclusion: The effect of different MR-based μ-maps on the performance of scatter correction was minimal in non-time-of-flight 18 F-FDG PET/MR brain imaging. The SSS algorithm was not affected significantly by MRAC. The performance of the MC-SSS algorithm is comparable but not superior to TF-SSS, warranting further investigations of algorithm optimization and performance with different radiotracers and time-of-flight imaging. © 2017 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

Two-photon absorption of KBe2BO3F2 and CsLiB6O10 at 193 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakazato, Tomoharu; Wang, Xiaoyang; Chen, Chuangtian; Watanabe, Shuntaro

2017-12-01

We measured the two-photon absorption coefficients of KBe2BO3F2 (KBBF) and CsLiB6O10 (CLBO) at 193.5 nm using CaF2 as a reference. This is the first report about KBBF measurement at any wavelength. The two-photon absorption coefficients of KBBF, CLBO, and CaF2 were 1.3 × 10-9, 1.0 × 10-9, and 0.8 × 10-9 cm/W, respectively. We also measured the fluorescence spectra of KBBF, CLBO, and CaF2 excited by 193.5 nm light. The observed spectrum of KBBF had a broad peak at 322 nm, similar to that of CaF2. The luminescence intensity showed a quadratic dependence on incident laser intensity for KBBF and CaF2, indicating a two-photon process, but showed a linear dependence for CLBO. Taken together, we conclude that the two-photon fluorescence of KBBF originates, as in the case of CaF2, from the transition of a self-trapped exciton formed by a F2 - ion (self-trapped hole), which captures an electron.

Influence of multiple scattering and absorption on the full scattering profile and the isobaric point in tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duadi, Hamootal; Fixler, Dror

2015-05-01

Light reflectance and transmission from soft tissue has been utilized in noninvasive clinical measurement devices such as the photoplethysmograph (PPG) and reflectance pulse oximeter. Incident light on the skin travels into the underlying layers and is in part reflected back to the surface, in part transferred and in part absorbed. Most methods of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy focus on the volume reflectance from a semi-infinite sample, while very few measure transmission. We have previously shown that examining the full scattering profile (angular distribution of exiting photons) provides more comprehensive information when measuring from a cylindrical tissue. Furthermore, an isobaric point was found which is not dependent on changes in the reduced scattering coefficient. The angle corresponding to this isobaric point depends on the tissue diameter. We investigated the role of multiple scattering and absorption on the full scattering profile of a cylindrical tissue. First, we define the range in which multiple scattering occurs for different tissue diameters. Next, we examine the role of the absorption coefficient in the attenuation of the full scattering profile. We demonstrate that the absorption linearly influences the intensity at each angle of the full scattering profile and, more importantly, the absorption does not change the position of the isobaric point. The findings of this work demonstrate a realistic model for optical tissue measurements such as NIR spectroscopy, PPG, and pulse oximetery.

Clinical Implication of Temporary Hypointense Lesion on Diffusion-Weighted Imaging After Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass Surgery.

PubMed

Kimura, Hidehito; Taniguchi, Masaaki; Mori, Tatsuya; Hosoda, Kohkichi; Kohmura, Eiji

2017-01-01

Postoperative hyperperfusion syndrome after extracranial-to-intracranial bypass causing temporary neurologic deterioration has been reported rarely as isosignal intensity on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with hyperintense lesion on T2-weighted image and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging as an expression of vasogenic edema. We present a rare case of a patient suffering from temporary aphasia after an extracranial-to-intracranial bypass surgery, which was shown as a transient hypointense lesion on DWI with increased apparent diffusion coefficient value, evidence of postoperative hyperperfusion. By the preoperative single-photon emission computed tomography study analyzed retrospectively, preoperative cerebral blood flow (CBF) was compared between the lesions in which the hypointensity emerged and the lesions in which its signal remained unchanged in the hyperperfusion area. We found CBF after an acetazolamide challenge was much smaller and the percentage increase of CBF after an acetazolamide challenge was much less than zero in the temporal hypointense lesion on DWI. An abrupt increase of CBF after bypass installation to the brain with no vascular response and complete disruption of the blood-brain barrier would cause a remarkable increase of extracellular fluid and excessive water molecule diffusion, resulting in excessive vasogenic edema. This was a plausible mechanism for the transient hypointense lesion on DWI with increased apparent diffusion coefficient value. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Compact tunable silicon photonic differential-equation solver for general linear time-invariant systems.

PubMed

Wu, Jiayang; Cao, Pan; Hu, Xiaofeng; Jiang, Xinhong; Pan, Ting; Yang, Yuxing; Qiu, Ciyuan; Tremblay, Christine; Su, Yikai

2014-10-20

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an all-optical temporal differential-equation solver that can be used to solve ordinary differential equations (ODEs) characterizing general linear time-invariant (LTI) systems. The photonic device implemented by an add-drop microring resonator (MRR) with two tunable interferometric couplers is monolithically integrated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer with a compact footprint of ~60 μm × 120 μm. By thermally tuning the phase shifts along the bus arms of the two interferometric couplers, the proposed device is capable of solving first-order ODEs with two variable coefficients. The operation principle is theoretically analyzed, and system testing of solving ODE with tunable coefficients is carried out for 10-Gb/s optical Gaussian-like pulses. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the fabricated device as a tunable photonic ODE solver.

The method of impedance transformation for electromagnetic waves propagating in one-dimension plasma photonic crystal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yao, Jingfeng; Yuan, Chengxun, E-mail: yuancx@hit.edu.cn, E-mail: zhouzx@hit.edu.cn; Gao, Ruilin

2016-08-15

This study focuses on the transmission of normal-incidence electromagnetic waves in one-dimensional plasma photonic crystals. Using the Maxwell's equations in a medium, a method that is based on the concept of impendence is employed to perform the simulation. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by simulating a one-layer plasma and conventional photonic crystal. In frequency-domain, the transmission and reflection coefficients in the unmagnetized plasma photonic crystal were calculated, and the influence factors on plasma photonic crystals including dielectric constants of dielectric, spatial period, filling factor, plasma frequency, and collision frequency were studied.

Factors That Attenuate the Correlation Coefficient and Its Analogs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dolenz, Beverly

The correlation coefficient is an integral part of many other statistical techniques (analysis of variance, t-tests, etc.), since all analytic methods are actually correlational (G. V. Glass and K. D. Hopkins, 1984). The correlation coefficient is a statistical summary that represents the degree and direction of relationship between two variables.…

GPR measurements of attenuation in concrete

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eisenmann, David, E-mail: djeisen@cnde.iastate.edu; Margetan, Frank J., E-mail: djeisen@cnde.iastate.edu; Pavel, Brittney, E-mail: djeisen@cnde.iastate.edu

2015-03-31

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) signals from concrete structures are affected by several phenomenon, including: (1) transmission and reflection coefficients at interfaces; (2) the radiation patterns of the antenna(s) being used; and (3) the material properties of concrete and any embedded objects. In this paper we investigate different schemes for determining the electromagnetic (EM) attenuation of concrete from measured signals obtained using commercially-available GPR equipment. We adapt procedures commonly used in ultrasonic inspections where one compares the relative strengths of two or more signals having different travel paths through the material of interest. After correcting for beam spread (i.e., diffraction), interface phenomena,more » and equipment amplification settings, any remaining signal differences are assumed to be due to attenuation thus allowing the attenuation coefficient (say, in dB of loss per inch of travel) to be estimated. We begin with a brief overview of our approach, and then discuss how diffraction corrections were determined for our two 1.6 GHz GPR antennas. We then present results of attenuation measurements for two types of concrete using both pulse/echo and pitch/catch measurement setups.« less

GPR measurements of attenuation in concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisenmann, David; Margetan, Frank J.; Pavel, Brittney

2015-03-01

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) signals from concrete structures are affected by several phenomenon, including: (1) transmission and reflection coefficients at interfaces; (2) the radiation patterns of the antenna(s) being used; and (3) the material properties of concrete and any embedded objects. In this paper we investigate different schemes for determining the electromagnetic (EM) attenuation of concrete from measured signals obtained using commercially-available GPR equipment. We adapt procedures commonly used in ultrasonic inspections where one compares the relative strengths of two or more signals having different travel paths through the material of interest. After correcting for beam spread (i.e., diffraction), interface phenomena, and equipment amplification settings, any remaining signal differences are assumed to be due to attenuation thus allowing the attenuation coefficient (say, in dB of loss per inch of travel) to be estimated. We begin with a brief overview of our approach, and then discuss how diffraction corrections were determined for our two 1.6 GHz GPR antennas. We then present results of attenuation measurements for two types of concrete using both pulse/echo and pitch/catch measurement setups.

Absolute Two-Photon Absorption Coefficients in UltraViolet Window Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-12-01

fvtt* tld » II ntctHB,-y md Idtnlll’ by block number; The absolute two-photon absorption coefficiehts of u. v. transmitting materials have been...measured using well-calibrated single picosecond pulses, at the third and fourth harmonic of a mode locked Nd:YAG laser systems. Twc photon...30, 1977. Work in the area of laser induced breakdown and multiphoton absorption in ultraviolet and infrared laser window materials was carried

Dispersion and Attenuation Due to Scattering from Heterogeneities of the Frame Bulk Modulus of a Poroelastic Medium

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-02-19

attenuation is a function of the Hurst exponent which characterizes the fractal het- erogeneity. Muller and Gurevich15,16 used statistical smoothing of...modified Bessel function of the third kind, Γ denotes the gamma function, and ν is the Hurst coefficient which is assumed to be 0 < ν ≤ 1. The three...The Hurst coefficient, ν, is ν = 0.1 (long-dashed line), ν = 0.5 (short-dashed line), and ν = 0.9 (long-short dashed line). In (a) the sound speed

Transfer function concept for ultrasonic characterization of material microstructures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vary, A.; Kautz, H. E.

1986-01-01

The approach given depends on treating material microstructures as elastomechanical filters that have analytically definable transfer functions. These transfer functions can be defined in terms of the frequency dependence of the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient. The transfer function concept provides a basis for synthesizing expressions that characterize polycrystalline materials relative to microstructural factors such as mean grain size, grain-size distribution functions, and grain boundary energy transmission. Although the approach is nonrigorous, it leads to a rational basis for combining the previously mentioned diverse and fragmented equations for ultrasonic attenuation coefficients.

Improving the quantitative accuracy of optical-emission computed tomography by incorporating an attenuation correction: application to HIF1 imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, E.; Bowsher, J.; Thomas, A. S.; Sakhalkar, H.; Dewhirst, M.; Oldham, M.

2008-10-01

Optical computed tomography (optical-CT) and optical-emission computed tomography (optical-ECT) are new techniques for imaging the 3D structure and function (including gene expression) of whole unsectioned tissue samples. This work presents a method of improving the quantitative accuracy of optical-ECT by correcting for the 'self'-attenuation of photons emitted within the sample. The correction is analogous to a method commonly applied in single-photon-emission computed tomography reconstruction. The performance of the correction method was investigated by application to a transparent cylindrical gelatin phantom, containing a known distribution of attenuation (a central ink-doped gelatine core) and a known distribution of fluorescing fibres. Attenuation corrected and uncorrected optical-ECT images were reconstructed on the phantom to enable an evaluation of the effectiveness of the correction. Significant attenuation artefacts were observed in the uncorrected images where the central fibre appeared ~24% less intense due to greater attenuation from the surrounding ink-doped gelatin. This artefact was almost completely removed in the attenuation-corrected image, where the central fibre was within ~4% of the others. The successful phantom test enabled application of attenuation correction to optical-ECT images of an unsectioned human breast xenograft tumour grown subcutaneously on the hind leg of a nude mouse. This tumour cell line had been genetically labelled (pre-implantation) with fluorescent reporter genes such that all viable tumour cells expressed constitutive red fluorescent protein and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 transcription-produced green fluorescent protein. In addition to the fluorescent reporter labelling of gene expression, the tumour microvasculature was labelled by a light-absorbing vasculature contrast agent delivered in vivo by tail-vein injection. Optical-CT transmission images yielded high-resolution 3D images of the absorbing contrast agent, and revealed highly inhomogeneous vasculature perfusion within the tumour. Optical-ECT emission images yielded high-resolution 3D images of the fluorescent protein distribution in the tumour. Attenuation-uncorrected optical-ECT images showed clear loss of signal in regions of high attenuation, including regions of high perfusion, where attenuation is increased by increased vascular ink stain. Application of attenuation correction showed significant changes in an apparent expression of fluorescent proteins, confirming the importance of the attenuation correction. In conclusion, this work presents the first development and application of an attenuation correction for optical-ECT imaging. The results suggest that successful attenuation correction for optical-ECT is feasible and is essential for quantitatively accurate optical-ECT imaging.

In vitro study of the effects of ultrasound-mediated glycerol on optical attenuation of human normal and cancerous esophageal tissues with optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y. Q.; Wei, H. J.; Yang, H. Q.; Guo, Z. Y.; Xie, S. S.; Gu, H. M.; Guo, X.; Zhu, Z. G.

2013-06-01

Previous studies from our group have demonstrated that glucose solution can induce optical clearing enhancement of esophageal tissues with optical coherence tomography (OCT). The aims of this study were to evaluate the optical clearing effects of ultrasound-mediated optical clearing agents (OCAs) and to find more effective methods to distinguish human normal esophageal tissues (NE) and cancerous esophageal tissues (CE). Here we used the OCT technique to investigate the optical attenuation of NE and CE in vitro after treatment with 30% glycerol alone and glycerol combined with ultrasound, respectively. Experimental results showed that the averaged attenuation coefficient of CE was significantly larger than that of NE. The maximal decreases of averaged attenuation coefficients of NE and CE were approximately 48.7% and 36.2% after treatment with 30% glycerol alone, and they were significantly lower than those treated with 30% glycerol and ultrasound (57.5% in NE and 44.8% in CE). Moreover, after treatment with 30% glycerol alone, the averaged attenuation coefficients of NE and CE reached their minima in about 80 min and 65 min, respectively. The times were much shorter in NE and CE after treatment with glycerol with ultrasound, being about 62 min and 50 min, respectively. The results suggest that there is a significant difference in the optical properties of NE and CE, and that OCT with an ultrasound-OCAs combination has the ability to distinguish CE from NE.

Hyperspectral absorption and backscattering coefficients of bulk water retrieved from a combination of remote-sensing reflectance and attenuation coefficient.

PubMed

Lin, Junfang; Lee, Zhongping; Ondrusek, Michael; Liu, Xiaohan

2018-01-22

Absorption (a) and backscattering (bb) coefficients play a key role in determining the light field; they also serve as the link between remote sensing and concentrations of optically active water constituents. Here we present an updated scheme to derive hyperspectral a and bb with hyperspectral remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs) and diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd) as the inputs. Results show that the system works very well from clear open oceans to highly turbid inland waters, with an overall difference less than 25% between these retrievals and those from instrument measurements. This updated scheme advocates the measurement and generation of hyperspectral a and bb from hyperspectral Rrs and Kd, as an independent data source for cross-evaluation of in situ measurements of a and bb and for the development and/or evaluation of remote sensing algorithms for such optical properties.

Absorption coefficients of silicon: A theoretical treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Chin-Yi

2018-05-01

A theoretical model with explicit formulas for calculating the optical absorption and gain coefficients of silicon is presented. It incorporates direct and indirect interband transitions and considers the effects of occupied/unoccupied carrier states. The indirect interband transition is calculated from the second-order time-independent perturbation theory of quantum mechanics by incorporating all eight possible routes of absorption or emission of photons and phonons. Absorption coefficients of silicon are calculated from these formulas. The agreements and discrepancies among the calculated results, the Rajkanan-Singh-Shewchun (RSS) formula, and Green's data are investigated and discussed. For example, the RSS formula tends to overestimate the contributions of indirect transitions for cases with high photon energy. The results show that the state occupied/unoccupied effect is almost negligible for silicon absorption coefficients up to the onset of the optical gain condition where the energy separation of Quasi-Femi levels between electrons and holes is larger than the band-gap energy. The usefulness of using the physics-based formulas, rather than semi-empirical fitting ones, for absorption coefficients in theoretical studies of photovoltaic devices is also discussed.

Dose conversion coefficients based on the Chinese mathematical phantom and MCNP code for external photon irradiation.

PubMed

Qiu, Rui; Li, Junli; Zhang, Zhan; Liu, Liye; Bi, Lei; Ren, Li

2009-02-01

A set of conversion coefficients from kerma free-in-air to the organ-absorbed dose are presented for external monoenergetic photon beams from 10 keV to 10 MeV based on the Chinese mathematical phantom, a whole-body mathematical phantom model. The model was developed based on the methods of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory mathematical phantom series and data from the Chinese Reference Man and the Reference Asian Man. This work is carried out to obtain the conversion coefficients based on this model, which represents the characteristics of the Chinese population, as the anatomical parameters of the Chinese are different from those of Caucasians. Monte Carlo simulation with MCNP code is carried out to calculate the organ dose conversion coefficients. Before the calculation, the effects from the physics model and tally type are investigated, considering both the calculation efficiency and precision. In the calculation irradiation conditions include anterior-posterior, posterior-anterior, right lateral, left lateral, rotational and isotropic geometries. Conversion coefficients from this study are compared with those recommended in the Publication 74 of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP74) since both the sets of data are calculated with mathematical phantoms. Overall, consistency between the two sets of data is observed and the difference for more than 60% of the data is below 10%. However, significant deviations are also found, mainly for the superficial organs (up to 65.9%) and bone surface (up to 66%). The big difference of the dose conversion coefficients for the superficial organs at high photon energy could be ascribed to kerma approximation for the data in ICRP74. Both anatomical variations between races and the calculation method contribute to the difference of the data for bone surface.

The Physics Analysis of a Gas Attenuator with Argon as a Working Gas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ryutov,, D.D.

2010-12-07

A gas attenuator is an important element of the LCLS facility. The attenuator must operate in a broad range of x-ray energies, provide attenuation coefficient between 1 and 10{sup 4} with the accuracy of 1% and, at the same time, be reliable and allow for many months of un-interrupted operation. S. Shen has recently carried out a detailed design study of the attenuator based on the use of nitrogen as a working gas. In this note we assess the features of the attenuator based on the use of argon. We concentrate on the physics issues, not the design features.

Self-error-rejecting photonic qubit transmission in polarization-spatial modes with linear optical elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, YuXiao; Guo, PengLiang; Gao, ChengYan; Wang, HaiBo; Alzahrani, Faris; Hobiny, Aatef; Deng, FuGuo

2017-12-01

We present an original self-error-rejecting photonic qubit transmission scheme for both the polarization and spatial states of photon systems transmitted over collective noise channels. In our scheme, we use simple linear-optical elements, including half-wave plates, 50:50 beam splitters, and polarization beam splitters, to convert spatial-polarization modes into different time bins. By using postselection in different time bins, the success probability of obtaining the uncorrupted states approaches 1/4 for single-photon transmission, which is not influenced by the coefficients of noisy channels. Our self-error-rejecting transmission scheme can be generalized to hyperentangled n-photon systems and is useful in practical high-capacity quantum communications with photon systems in two degrees of freedom.

Bidirectional reflection functions from surface bump maps

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cabral, B.; Max, N.; Springmeyer, R.

1987-04-29

The Torrance-Sparrow model for calculating bidirectional reflection functions contains a geometrical attenuation factor to account for shadowing and occlusions in a hypothetical distribution of grooves on a rough surface. Using an efficient table-based method for determining the shadows and occlusions, we calculate the geometric attenuation factor for surfaces defined by a specific table of bump heights. Diffuse and glossy specular reflection of the environment can be handled in a unified manner by using an integral of the bidirectional reflection function times the environmental illumination, over the hemisphere of solid angle above a surface. We present a method of estimating themore » integral, by expanding the bidirectional reflection coefficient in spherical harmonics, and show how the coefficients in this expansion can be determined efficiently by reorganizing our geometric attenuation calculation.« less

Dependence of particle volume fraction on sound velocity and attenuation of EPDM composites.

PubMed

Kim, K S; Lee, K I; Kim, H Y; Yoon, S W; Hong, S H

2007-05-01

The sound velocity and the attenuation coefficient of EPDM (Ethylene-propylene Diene Monomer) composites incorporated with Silicon Carbide particles (SiCp's) of various volume fractions (0-40%) were experimentally and theoretically investigated. For the experiment a through-transmission technique was used. For the theoretical prediction, some mechanical property models such as Reuss model and Coherent Potential Approximation (CPA) model etc. were employed. The experimental results showed that the sound velocity decreased with the increase of the SiCp volume fraction up to 30% and then increased with the 40 vol% specimen. The attenuation coefficient was increased with the increasing SiCp volume fractions. The modified Reuss model with a longitudinal elastic modulus predicted most well the experimental sound velocity and elastic modulus results.

Analytical-Based Partial Volume Recovery in Mouse Heart Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dumouchel, Tyler; deKemp, Robert A.

2011-02-01

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful imaging modality that has the ability to yield quantitative images of tracer activity. Physical phenomena such as photon scatter, photon attenuation, random coincidences and spatial resolution limit quantification potential and must be corrected to preserve the accuracy of reconstructed images. This study focuses on correcting the partial volume effects that arise in mouse heart imaging when resolution is insufficient to resolve the true tracer distribution in the myocardium. The correction algorithm is based on fitting 1D profiles through the myocardium in gated PET images to derive myocardial contours along with blood, background and myocardial activity. This information is interpolated onto a 2D grid and convolved with the tomograph's point spread function to derive regional recovery coefficients enabling partial volume correction. The point spread function was measured by placing a line source inside a small animal PET scanner. PET simulations were created based on noise properties measured from a reconstructed PET image and on the digital MOBY phantom. The algorithm can estimate the myocardial activity to within 5% of the truth when different wall thicknesses, backgrounds and noise properties are encountered that are typical of healthy FDG mouse scans. The method also significantly improves partial volume recovery in simulated infarcted tissue. The algorithm offers a practical solution to the partial volume problem without the need for co-registered anatomic images and offers a basis for improved quantitative 3D heart imaging.

On the geometry dependence of differential pathlength factor for near-infrared spectroscopy. I. Steady-state with homogeneous medium

PubMed Central

Piao, Daqing; Barbour, Randall L.; Graber, Harry L.; Lee, Daniel C.

2015-01-01

Abstract. This work analytically examines some dependences of the differential pathlength factor (DPF) for steady-state photon diffusion in a homogeneous medium on the shape, dimension, and absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of the medium. The medium geometries considered include a semi-infinite geometry, an infinite-length cylinder evaluated along the azimuthal direction, and a sphere. Steady-state photon fluence rate in the cylinder and sphere geometries is represented by a form involving the physical source, its image with respect to the associated extrapolated half-plane, and a radius-dependent term, leading to simplified formula for estimating the DPFs. With the source-detector distance and medium optical properties held fixed across all three geometries, and equal radii for the cylinder and sphere, the DPF is the greatest in the semi-infinite and the smallest in the sphere geometry. When compared to the results from finite-element method, the DPFs analytically estimated for 10 to 25 mm source–detector separations on a sphere of 50 mm radius with μa=0.01  mm−1 and μs′=1.0  mm−1 are on average less than 5% different. The approximation for sphere, generally valid for a diameter ≥20 times of the effective attenuation pathlength, may be useful for rapid estimation of DPFs in near-infrared spectroscopy of an infant head and for short source–detector separation. PMID:26465613

Analysis of dispersion and attenuation of surface waves in poroelastic media in the exploration-seismic frequency band

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zhang, Y.; Xu, Y.; Xia, J.

2011-01-01

We analyse dispersion and attenuation of surface waves at free surfaces of possible vacuum/poroelastic media: permeable-'open pore', impermeable-'closed pore' and partially permeable boundaries, which have not been previously reported in detail by researchers, under different surface-permeable, viscous-damping, elastic and fluid-flowing conditions. Our discussion is focused on their characteristics in the exploration-seismic frequency band (a few through 200 Hz) for near-surface applications. We find two surface-wave modes exist, R1 waves for all conditions, and R2 waves for closed-pore and partially permeable conditions. For R1 waves, velocities disperse most under partially permeable conditions and least under the open-pore condition. High-coupling damping coefficients move the main dispersion frequency range to high frequencies. There is an f1 frequency dependence as a constant-Q model for attenuation at high frequencies. R1 waves for the open pore are most sensitive to elastic modulus variation, but least sensitive to tortuosities variation. R1 waves for partially permeable surface radiate as non-physical waves (Im(k) < 0) at low frequencies. For R2 waves, velocities are slightly lower than the bulk slow P2 waves. At low frequencies, both velocity and attenuation are diffusive of f1/2 frequency dependence, as P2 waves. It is found that for partially permeable surfaces, the attenuation displays -f1 frequency dependence as frequency increasing. High surface permeability, low-coupling damping coefficients, low Poisson's ratios, and low tortuosities increase the slope of the -f1 dependence. When the attenuation coefficients reach 0, R2 waves for partially permeable surface begin to radiate as non-physical waves. ?? 2011 The Authors Geophysical Journal International ?? 2011 RAS.

Relative validity of an FFQ to estimate daily food and nutrient intakes for Chilean adults.

PubMed

Dehghan, Mahshid; Martinez, Solange; Zhang, Xiaohe; Seron, Pamela; Lanas, Fernando; Islam, Shofiqul; Merchant, Anwar T

2013-10-01

FFQ are commonly used to rank individuals by their food and nutrient intakes in large epidemiological studies. The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate an FFQ to rank individuals participating in an ongoing Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study in Chile. An FFQ and four 24 h dietary recalls were completed over 1 year. Pearson correlation coefficients, energy-adjusted and de-attenuated correlations and weighted kappa were computed between the dietary recalls and the FFQ. The level of agreement between the two dietary assessment methods was evaluated by Bland-Altman analysis. Temuco, Chile. Overall, 166 women and men enrolled in the present study. One hundred men and women participated in FFQ development and sixty-six individuals participated in FFQ validation. The FFQ consisted of 109 food items. For nutrients, the crude correlation coefficients between the dietary recalls and FFQ varied from 0.14 (protein) to 0.44 (fat). Energy adjustment and de-attenuation improved correlation coefficients and almost all correlation coefficients exceeded 0.40. Similar correlation coefficients were observed for food groups; the highest de-attenuated energy adjusted correlation coefficient was found for margarine and butter (0.75) and the lowest for potatoes (0.12). The FFQ showed moderate to high agreement for most nutrients and food groups, and can be used to rank individuals based on energy, nutrient and food intakes. The validation study was conducted in a unique setting and indicated that the tool is valid for use by adults in Chile.

Evidence for Secondary Emission as the Origin of Hard Spectra in TeV Blazars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Y. G.; Kang, T.

2013-02-01

We develop a model for the possible origin of hard, very high energy (VHE) spectra from a distant blazar. In the model, both the primary photons produced in the source and secondary photons produced outside it contribute to the observed high-energy γ-ray emission. That is, the primary photons are produced through the synchrotron self-Compton process, and the secondary photons are produced through high-energy proton interactions with background photons along the line of sight. We apply the model to a characteristic case of VHE γ-ray emission in the distant blazar 1ES 1101-232. Assuming suitable electron and proton spectra, we obtain excellent fits to the observed spectra of this blazar. This indicated that the surprisingly low attenuation of the high-energy γ-rays, especially the shape of the VHE γ-ray tail of the observed spectra, can be explained by secondary γ-rays produced in interactions of cosmic-ray protons with background photons in intergalactic space.

Research Studies on Photons and Biphotons

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

harmonic transmit through the crystal . Scattered photons are detected by a YAP:Ce scintillation detector with energy resolution of 30. We choose to phase...counts as a function of photon energy is shown in Fig. 2a at full intensity (no filter before the diamond crystal ) and at the peak of the phase matching...are generated in the crystal or due to elastic scattering from the residual harmonic content in the incident beam. The absorption coefficients for Al

QUANTUM NETWORKS WITH SINGLE ATOMS, PHOTONS AND PHONONS

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-04

methodology, the NSSEFF research required an interdisciplinary ’toolkit’ from atomic physics, quantum optics, and nano-photonics for the control ...achieve a very small non -guided decay rate, i.e. Γ′ ’ 0.5Γ0. Moreover, one can engineer flatter bands, which leads to an increase of the group index...without the need to investigate over a wide range of PCW designs with different photonic band structures. To fully control spin-exchange coefficients

PROPERTIES OF PHANTOM TISSUE-LIKE POLYMETHYLPENTENE IN THE FREQUENCY RANGE 20–70 MHZ

PubMed Central

Madsen, Ernest L; Deaner, Meagan E; Mehi, James

2011-01-01

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) has been employed to characterize soft tissues at ordinary abdominal ultrasound frequencies (2–15 MHz) and is beginning application at high frequencies (20–70 MHz). For example, backscatter and attenuation coefficients can be estimated in vivo using a reference phantom. At high frequencies it is crucial that reverberations do not compromise the measurements. Such reverberations can occur between the phantom's scanning window and transducer components as well as within the scanning window between its surfaces. Transducers are designed to minimize reverberations between the transducer and soft tissue. Thus, the acoustic impedance of a phantom scanning window should be tissue-like; polymethylpentene (TPX) is commonly used because of its tissue-like acoustic impedance. For QUS it is also crucial to correct for the transmission coefficient of the scanning window. Computation of the latter requires knowledge of the ultrasonic properties, viz, density, speed and attenuation coefficients. This work reports values for the ultrasonic properties of two versions of TPX over the high frequency range. One form (TPX film) is used as a scanning window on high frequency phantoms, and at 40 MHz and 22°C was found to have an attenuation coefficient of 120 dB/cm and a propagation speed of 2093 m/s. PMID:21723451

Time-dependent Models for Blazar Emission with the Second-order Fermi Acceleration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asano, Katsuaki; Takahara, Fumio; Kusunose, Masaaki; Toma, Kenji; Kakuwa, Jun

2014-01-01

The second-order Fermi acceleration (Fermi-II) driven by turbulence may be responsible for the electron acceleration in blazar jets. We test this model with time-dependent simulations. The hard electron spectrum predicted by the Fermi-II process agrees with the hard photon spectrum of 1ES 1101-232. For other blazars that show softer spectra, the Fermi-II model requires radial evolution of the electron injection rate and/or diffusion coefficient in the outflow. Such evolutions can yield a curved electron spectrum, which can reproduce the synchrotron spectrum of Mrk 421 from the radio to the X-ray regime. The photon spectrum in the GeV energy range of Mrk 421 is hard to fit with a synchrotron self-Compton model. However, if we introduce an external radio photon field with a luminosity of 4.9 × 1038 erg s-1, GeV photons are successfully produced via inverse Compton scattering. The temporal variability of the diffusion coefficient or injection rate causes flare emission. The observed synchronicity of X-ray and TeV flares implies a decrease of the magnetic field in the flaring source region.

Survey of Beamed Energy Propulsion Concepts by the MSFC Space Environmental Effects Team

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gray, P. A.; Nehls, M. K.; Edwards, D. L.; Carruth, M. R., Jr.; Munafo, Paul M. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This will be a survey paper of work that was performed by the Space Environmental Effects Team at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in the area of laser energy propulsion concepts. Two types of laser energy propulsion techniques were investigated. The first was ablative propulsion, which used a pulsed ruby laser impacting on single layer coatings and films. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the laser power density that produced an optimum coupling coefficient for each type of material tested. A commercial off-the-shelf multi-layer film was also investigated for possible applications in ablative micro-thrusters, and its optimum coupling coefficient was determined. The second type of study measured the purely photonic force provided by a 300W CW YAG laser. In initial studies, the photon force resulting from the momentum of incident photons was measured directly using a vacuum compatible microbalance and these results were compared to theory. Follow-on work used the same CW laser to excite a stable optical cavity for the purpose of amplifying the available force from incident photons.

Validation of the Earth atmosphere models using the EUV solar occultation data from the CORONAS and PROBA 2 instruments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slemzin, Vladimir; Kuzin, Sergey; Berghmans, David; Pertsov, Andrey; Dominique, Marie; Ulyanov, Artyom; Gaikovich, Konstantin

Absorption in the atmosphere below 500 km results in attenuation of the solar EUV flux, variation of its spectra and distortion of solar images acquired by solar EUV instruments operating on LEO satellites even on solar synchronous orbits. Occultation measurements are important for planning of solar observations from these satellites, and can be used for monitoring the upper atmosphere as well as for studying its response to the solar activity. We present the results of the occultation measurements of the solar EUV radiation obtained by the CORONAS-F/SPIRIT telescope at high solar activity (2002), by the CORONAS-Photon/TESIS telescope at low activity (2009), and by the SWAP telescope and LYRA radiometer onboard the PROBA 2 satellite at moderate activity (2010). The measured attenuation profiles and the retrieved linear extinction coefficients at the heights 200-500 km are compared with simulations by the NRLMSIS-00 and DTM2013 atmospheric models. It was shown that the results of simulations by the DTM2013 model are well agreed with the data of measurements at all stages of solar activity and in presence of the geomagnetic storm, whereas the results of the NRLMSISE-00 model significantly diverge from the measurements, in particular, at high and low activity. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration under Grant Agreement “eHeroes” (project No.284461, www.eheroes.eu).

All-optical differential equation solver with constant-coefficient tunable based on a single microring resonator.

PubMed

Yang, Ting; Dong, Jianji; Lu, Liangjun; Zhou, Linjie; Zheng, Aoling; Zhang, Xinliang; Chen, Jianping

2014-07-04

Photonic integrated circuits for photonic computing open up the possibility for the realization of ultrahigh-speed and ultra wide-band signal processing with compact size and low power consumption. Differential equations model and govern fundamental physical phenomena and engineering systems in virtually any field of science and engineering, such as temperature diffusion processes, physical problems of motion subject to acceleration inputs and frictional forces, and the response of different resistor-capacitor circuits, etc. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate a feasible integrated scheme to solve first-order linear ordinary differential equation with constant-coefficient tunable based on a single silicon microring resonator. Besides, we analyze the impact of the chirp and pulse-width of input signals on the computing deviation. This device can be compatible with the electronic technology (typically complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology), which may motivate the development of integrated photonic circuits for optical computing.

All-optical differential equation solver with constant-coefficient tunable based on a single microring resonator

PubMed Central

Yang, Ting; Dong, Jianji; Lu, Liangjun; Zhou, Linjie; Zheng, Aoling; Zhang, Xinliang; Chen, Jianping

2014-01-01

Photonic integrated circuits for photonic computing open up the possibility for the realization of ultrahigh-speed and ultra wide-band signal processing with compact size and low power consumption. Differential equations model and govern fundamental physical phenomena and engineering systems in virtually any field of science and engineering, such as temperature diffusion processes, physical problems of motion subject to acceleration inputs and frictional forces, and the response of different resistor-capacitor circuits, etc. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate a feasible integrated scheme to solve first-order linear ordinary differential equation with constant-coefficient tunable based on a single silicon microring resonator. Besides, we analyze the impact of the chirp and pulse-width of input signals on the computing deviation. This device can be compatible with the electronic technology (typically complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology), which may motivate the development of integrated photonic circuits for optical computing. PMID:24993440

A program for calculating photonic band structures, Green's functions and transmission/reflection coefficients using a non-orthogonal FDTD method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ward, A. J.; Pendry, J. B.

2000-06-01

In this paper we present an updated version of our ONYX program for calculating photonic band structures using a non-orthogonal finite difference time domain method. This new version employs the same transparent formalism as the first version with the same capabilities for calculating photonic band structures or causal Green's functions but also includes extra subroutines for the calculation of transmission and reflection coefficients. Both the electric and magnetic fields are placed onto a discrete lattice by approximating the spacial and temporal derivatives with finite differences. This results in discrete versions of Maxwell's equations which can be used to integrate the fields forwards in time. The time required for a calculation using this method scales linearly with the number of real space points used in the discretization so the technique is ideally suited to handling systems with large and complicated unit cells.

Investigation of third-order nonlinear and optical power limiting properties of terphenyl derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamath, Laxminarayana; Manjunatha, K. B.; Shettigar, Seetharam; Umesh, G.; Narayana, B.; Samshuddin, S.; Sarojini, B. K.

2014-03-01

A series of new chalcones containing terphenyl as a core and with different functional groups has been successfully synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt condensation method in search of new nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Molecular structural characterization for the compounds was achieved by FTIR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The third-order NLO absorption and refraction coefficients were simultaneously determined by Z-scan technique. The measurements were performed at 532 nm with 7 ns laser pulses using a Nd:YAG laser in solution form. The Z-scan experiments reveal that the compounds exhibit strong nonlinear refraction coefficient of the order 10-11 esu and the molecular two photon absorption cross section is 10-46 cm4 s/photon. The results also show that the structures of the compounds have great impact on NLO properties. The compounds show optical power limiting behavior due to two-photon absorption (TPA).

Active zinc-blende III-nitride photonic structures on silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sergent, Sylvain; Kako, Satoshi; Bürger, Matthias; Blumenthal, Sarah; Iwamoto, Satoshi; As, Donat Josef; Arakawa, Yasuhiko

2016-01-01

We use a layer transfer method to fabricate free-standing photonic structures in a zinc-blende AlN epilayer grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on a 3C-SiC pseudosubstrate and containing GaN quantum dots. The method leads to the successful realization of microdisks, nanobeam photonic crystal cavities, and waveguides integrated on silicon (100) and operating at short wavelengths. We assess the quality of such photonic elements by micro-photoluminescence spectroscopy in the visible and ultraviolet ranges, and extract the absorption coefficient of ZB AlN membranes (α ˜ (2-5) × 102 cm-1).

Method for non-intrusively identifying a contained material utilizing uncollided nuclear transmission measurements

DOEpatents

Morrison, John L.; Stephens, Alan G.; Grover, S. Blaine

2001-11-20

An improved nuclear diagnostic method identifies a contained target material by measuring on-axis, mono-energetic uncollided particle radiation transmitted through a target material for two penetrating radiation beam energies, and applying specially developed algorithms to estimate a ratio of macroscopic neutron cross-sections for the uncollided particle radiation at the two energies, where the penetrating radiation is a neutron beam, or a ratio of linear attenuation coefficients for the uncollided particle radiation at the two energies, where the penetrating radiation is a gamma-ray beam. Alternatively, the measurements are used to derive a minimization formula based on the macroscopic neutron cross-sections for the uncollided particle radiation at the two neutron beam energies, or the linear attenuation coefficients for the uncollided particle radiation at the two gamma-ray beam energies. A candidate target material database, including known macroscopic neutron cross-sections or linear attenuation coefficients for target materials at the selected neutron or gamma-ray beam energies, is used to approximate the estimated ratio or to solve the minimization formula, such that the identity of the contained target material is discovered.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vega-Carrillo, Hector Rene; Manzanares-Acuna, Eduardo; Hernandez-Davila, Victor Martin

The use of 131I is widely used in diagnostic and treatment of patients. If the patient is pregnant the 131I presence in the thyroid it becomes a source of constant exposition to other organs and the fetus. In this study the absorbed dose in the uterus of a 3 months pregnant woman with 131I in her thyroid gland has been calculated. The dose was determined using Monte Carlo methods in which a detailed model of the woman has been developed. The dose was also calculated using a simple procedure that was refined including the photons' attenuation in the woman organsmore » and body. To verify these results an experiment was carried out using a neck phantom with 131I. Comparing the results it was found that the simple calculation tend to overestimate the absorbed dose, by doing the corrections due to body and organs photon attenuation the dose is 0.14 times the Monte Carlo estimation.« less

Measurement of infrared optical constants with visible photons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paterova, Anna; Yang, Hongzhi; An, Chengwu; Kalashnikov, Dmitry; Krivitsky, Leonid

2018-04-01

We demonstrate a new scheme for infrared spectroscopy with visible light sources and detectors. The technique relies on the nonlinear interference of correlated photons, produced via spontaneous parametric down conversion in a nonlinear crystal. Visible and infrared photons are split into two paths and the infrared photons interact with the sample under study. The photons are reflected back to the crystal, resembling a conventional Michelson interferometer. Interference of the visible photons is observed and it is dependent on the phases of all three interacting photons: pump, visible and infrared. The transmission coefficient and the refractive index of the sample in the infrared range can be inferred from the interference pattern of visible photons. The method does not require the use of potentially expensive and inefficient infrared detectors and sources, it can be applied to a broad variety of samples, and it does not require a priori knowledge of sample properties in the visible range.

A polychromatic adaption of the Beer-Lambert model for spectral decomposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sellerer, Thorsten; Ehn, Sebastian; Mechlem, Korbinian; Pfeiffer, Franz; Herzen, Julia; Noël, Peter B.

2017-03-01

We present a semi-empirical forward-model for spectral photon-counting CT which is fully compatible with state-of-the-art maximum-likelihood estimators (MLE) for basis material line integrals. The model relies on a minimum calibration effort to make the method applicable in routine clinical set-ups with the need for periodic re-calibration. In this work we present an experimental verifcation of our proposed method. The proposed method uses an adapted Beer-Lambert model, describing the energy dependent attenuation of a polychromatic x-ray spectrum using additional exponential terms. In an experimental dual-energy photon-counting CT setup based on a CdTe detector, the model demonstrates an accurate prediction of the registered counts for an attenuated polychromatic spectrum. Thereby deviations between model and measurement data lie within the Poisson statistical limit of the performed acquisitions, providing an effectively unbiased forward-model. The experimental data also shows that the model is capable of handling possible spectral distortions introduced by the photon-counting detector and CdTe sensor. The simplicity and high accuracy of the proposed model provides a viable forward-model for MLE-based spectral decomposition methods without the need of costly and time-consuming characterization of the system response.

A new material platform of Si photonics for implementing architecture of dense wavelength division multiplexing on Si bulk wafer

PubMed Central

Zhang, Ziyi; Yako, Motoki; Ju, Kan; Kawai, Naoyuki; Chaisakul, Papichaya; Tsuchizawa, Tai; Hikita, Makoto; Yamada, Koji; Ishikawa, Yasuhiko; Wada, Kazumi

2017-01-01

Abstract A new materials group to implement dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) in Si photonics is proposed. A large thermo-optic (TO) coefficient of Si malfunctions multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) on a chip under thermal fluctuation, and thus DWDM implementation, has been one of the most challenging targets in Si photonics. The present study specifies an optical materials group for DWDM by a systematic survey of their TO coefficients and refractive indices. The group is classified as mid-index contrast optics (MiDex) materials, and non-stoichiometric silicon nitride (SiNx) is chosen to demonstrate its significant thermal stability. The TO coefficient of non-stoichiometric SiNx is precisely measured in the temperature range 24–76 °C using the SiNx rings prepared by two methods: chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and physical vapor deposition (PVD). The CVD-SiNx ring reveals nearly the same TO coefficient reported for stoichiometric CVD-Si3N4, while the value for the PVD-SiNx ring is slightly higher. Both SiNx rings lock their resonance frequencies within 100 GHz in this temperature range. Since CVD-SiNx needs a high temperature annealing to reduce N–H bond absorption, it is concluded that PVD-SiNx is suited as a MiDex material introduced in the CMOS back-end-of-line. Further stabilization is required, considering the crosstalk between two channels; a ‘silicone’ polymer is employed to compensate for the temperature fluctuation using its negative TO coefficient, called athermalization. This demonstrates that the resonance of these SiNx rings is locked within 50 GHz at the same temperature range in the wavelength range 1460–1620 nm (the so-called S, C, and L bands in optical fiber communication networks). A further survey on the MiDex materials strongly suggests that Al2O3, Ga2O3 Ta2O5, HfO2 and their alloys should provide even more stable platforms for DWDM implementation in MiDex photonics. It is discussed that the MiDex photonics will find various applications such as medical and environmental sensing and in-vehicle data-communication. PMID:28567174

A new material platform of Si photonics for implementing architecture of dense wavelength division multiplexing on Si bulk wafer.

PubMed

Zhang, Ziyi; Yako, Motoki; Ju, Kan; Kawai, Naoyuki; Chaisakul, Papichaya; Tsuchizawa, Tai; Hikita, Makoto; Yamada, Koji; Ishikawa, Yasuhiko; Wada, Kazumi

2017-01-01

A new materials group to implement dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) in Si photonics is proposed. A large thermo-optic (TO) coefficient of Si malfunctions multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) on a chip under thermal fluctuation, and thus DWDM implementation, has been one of the most challenging targets in Si photonics. The present study specifies an optical materials group for DWDM by a systematic survey of their TO coefficients and refractive indices. The group is classified as mid-index contrast optics (MiDex) materials, and non-stoichiometric silicon nitride (SiN x ) is chosen to demonstrate its significant thermal stability. The TO coefficient of non-stoichiometric SiN x is precisely measured in the temperature range 24-76 °C using the SiN x rings prepared by two methods: chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and physical vapor deposition (PVD). The CVD-SiN x ring reveals nearly the same TO coefficient reported for stoichiometric CVD-Si 3 N 4 , while the value for the PVD-SiN x ring is slightly higher. Both SiN x rings lock their resonance frequencies within 100 GHz in this temperature range. Since CVD-SiN x needs a high temperature annealing to reduce N-H bond absorption, it is concluded that PVD-SiN x is suited as a MiDex material introduced in the CMOS back-end-of-line. Further stabilization is required, considering the crosstalk between two channels; a 'silicone' polymer is employed to compensate for the temperature fluctuation using its negative TO coefficient, called athermalization. This demonstrates that the resonance of these SiN x rings is locked within 50 GHz at the same temperature range in the wavelength range 1460-1620 nm (the so-called S, C, and L bands in optical fiber communication networks). A further survey on the MiDex materials strongly suggests that Al 2 O 3 , Ga 2 O 3 Ta 2 O 5 , HfO 2 and their alloys should provide even more stable platforms for DWDM implementation in MiDex photonics. It is discussed that the MiDex photonics will find various applications such as medical and environmental sensing and in-vehicle data-communication.

Determining attenuation properties of interfering fast and slow ultrasonic waves in cancellous bone.

PubMed

Nelson, Amber M; Hoffman, Joseph J; Anderson, Christian C; Holland, Mark R; Nagatani, Yoshiki; Mizuno, Katsunori; Matsukawa, Mami; Miller, James G

2011-10-01

Previous studies have shown that interference between fast waves and slow waves can lead to observed negative dispersion in cancellous bone. In this study, the effects of overlapping fast and slow waves on measurements of the apparent attenuation as a function of propagation distance are investigated along with methods of analysis used to determine the attenuation properties. Two methods are applied to simulated data that were generated based on experimentally acquired signals taken from a bovine specimen. The first method uses a time-domain approach that was dictated by constraints imposed by the partial overlap of fast and slow waves. The second method uses a frequency-domain log-spectral subtraction technique on the separated fast and slow waves. Applying the time-domain analysis to the broadband data yields apparent attenuation behavior that is larger in the early stages of propagation and decreases as the wave travels deeper. In contrast, performing frequency-domain analysis on the separated fast waves and slow waves results in attenuation coefficients that are independent of propagation distance. Results suggest that features arising from the analysis of overlapping two-mode data may represent an alternate explanation for the previously reported apparent dependence on propagation distance of the attenuation coefficient of cancellous bone. © 2011 Acoustical Society of America

Determining attenuation properties of interfering fast and slow ultrasonic waves in cancellous bone

PubMed Central

Nelson, Amber M.; Hoffman, Joseph J.; Anderson, Christian C.; Holland, Mark R.; Nagatani, Yoshiki; Mizuno, Katsunori; Matsukawa, Mami; Miller, James G.

2011-01-01

Previous studies have shown that interference between fast waves and slow waves can lead to observed negative dispersion in cancellous bone. In this study, the effects of overlapping fast and slow waves on measurements of the apparent attenuation as a function of propagation distance are investigated along with methods of analysis used to determine the attenuation properties. Two methods are applied to simulated data that were generated based on experimentally acquired signals taken from a bovine specimen. The first method uses a time-domain approach that was dictated by constraints imposed by the partial overlap of fast and slow waves. The second method uses a frequency-domain log-spectral subtraction technique on the separated fast and slow waves. Applying the time-domain analysis to the broadband data yields apparent attenuation behavior that is larger in the early stages of propagation and decreases as the wave travels deeper. In contrast, performing frequency-domain analysis on the separated fast waves and slow waves results in attenuation coefficients that are independent of propagation distance. Results suggest that features arising from the analysis of overlapping two-mode data may represent an alternate explanation for the previously reported apparent dependence on propagation distance of the attenuation coefficient of cancellous bone. PMID:21973378

Measurement of Attenuation with Airborne and Ground-Based Radar in Convective Storms Over Land and Its Microphysical Implications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tian, Lin; Heymsfield, G. M.; Srivastava, R. C.; Starr, D. OC. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Observations by the airborne X-band Doppler radar (EDOP) and the NCAR S-band polarimetric (S-POL) radar from two field experiments are used to evaluate the Surface ref'ercnce technique (SRT) for measuring the path integrated attenuation (PIA) and to study attenuation in deep convective storms. The EDOP, flying at an altitude of 20 km, uses a nadir beam and a forward pointing beam. It is found that over land, the surface scattering cross-section is highly variable at nadir incidence but relatively stable at forward incidence. It is concluded that measurement by the forward beam provides a viable technique for measuring PIA using the SRT. Vertical profiles of peak attenuation coefficient are derived in vxo deep convective storms by the dual-wavelength method. Using the measured Doppler velocity, the reflectivities at. the two wavelengths, the differential reflectivity and the estimated attenuation coefficients, it is shown that: supercooled drops and dry ice particles probably co-existed above the melting level in regions of updraft, that water-coated partially melted ice particles probably contributed to high attenuation below the melting level, and that the data are not readil explained in terms of a gamma function raindrop size distribution.

Infrared reduction, an efficient method to control the non-linear optical property of graphene oxide in femtosecond regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharya, S.; Maiti, R.; Saha, S.; Das, A. C.; Mondal, S.; Ray, S. K.; Bhaktha, S. B. N.; Datta, P. K.

2016-04-01

Graphene Oxide (GO) has been prepared by modified Hummers method and it has been reduced using an IR bulb (800-2000 nm). Both as grown GO and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) have been characterized using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Raman spectra shows well documented Dband and G-band for both the samples while blue shift of G-band confirms chemical functionalization of graphene with different oxygen functional group. The XPS result shows that the as-prepared GO contains 52% of sp2 hybridized carbon due to the C=C bonds and 33% of carbon atoms due to the C-O bonds. As for RGO, increment of the atomic % of the sp2 hybridized carbon atom to 83% and rapid decrease in atomic % of C=O bonds confirm an efficient reduction with infrared radiation. UV-Visible absorption spectrum also confirms increment of conjugation with increased reduction. Non-linear optical properties of both GO and RGO are measured using single beam open aperture Z-Scan technique in femtosecond regime. Intensity dependent nonlinear phenomena are observed. Depending upon the intensity, both saturable absorption and two photon absorption contribute to the non-linearity of both the samples. Saturation dominates at low intensity (~ 127 GW/cm2) while two photon absorption become prominent at higher intensities (from 217 GW/cm2 to 302 GW/cm2). We have calculated the two-photon absorption co-efficient and saturation intensity for both the samples. The value of two photon absorption co-efficient (for GO~ 0.0022-0.0037 cm/GW and for RGO~ 0.0128-0.0143 cm/GW) and the saturation intensity (for GO~57 GW/cm2 and for RGO~ 194GW/cm2) is increased with reduction. Increase in two photon absorption coefficient with increasing intensity can also suggest that there may be multi-photon absorption is taking place.

Rayleigh imaging in spectral mammography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berggren, Karl; Danielsson, Mats; Fredenberg, Erik

2016-03-01

Spectral imaging is the acquisition of multiple images of an object at different energy spectra. In mammography, dual-energy imaging (spectral imaging with two energy levels) has been investigated for several applications, in particular material decomposition, which allows for quantitative analysis of breast composition and quantitative contrast-enhanced imaging. Material decomposition with dual-energy imaging is based on the assumption that there are two dominant photon interaction effects that determine linear attenuation: the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering. This assumption limits the number of basis materials, i.e. the number of materials that are possible to differentiate between, to two. However, Rayleigh scattering may account for more than 10% of the linear attenuation in the mammography energy range. In this work, we show that a modified version of a scanning multi-slit spectral photon-counting mammography system is able to acquire three images at different spectra and can be used for triple-energy imaging. We further show that triple-energy imaging in combination with the efficient scatter rejection of the system enables measurement of Rayleigh scattering, which adds an additional energy dependency to the linear attenuation and enables material decomposition with three basis materials. Three available basis materials have the potential to improve virtually all applications of spectral imaging.

Photon absorption potential coefficient as a tool for materials engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akande, Raphael Oluwole; Oyewande, Emmanuel Oluwole

2016-09-01

Different atoms achieve ionizations at different energies. Therefore, atoms are characterized by different responses to photon absorption in this study. That means there exists a coefficient for their potential for photon absorption from a photon source. In this study, we consider the manner in which molecular constituents (atoms) absorb photon from a photon source. We observe that there seems to be a common pattern of variation in the absorption of photon among the electrons in all atoms on the periodic table. We assume that the electrons closest to the nucleus (En) and the electrons closest to the outside of the atom (Eo) do not have as much potential for photon absorption as the electrons at the middle of the atom (Em). The explanation we give to this effect is that the En electrons are embedded within the nuclear influence, and similarly, Eo electrons are embedded within the influence of energies outside the atom that there exists a low potential for photon absorption for them. Unlike En and Eo, Em electrons are conditioned, such that there is a quest for balance between being influenced either by the nuclear force or forces external to the atom. Therefore, there exists a higher potential for photon absorption for Em electrons than for En and Eo electrons. The results of our derivations and analysis always produce a bell-shaped curve, instead of an increasing curve as in the ionization energies, for all elements in the periodic table. We obtained a huge data of PAPC for each of the several materials considered. The point at which two or more PAPC values cross one another is termed to be a region of conflicting order of ionization, where all the atoms absorb equal portion of the photon source at the same time. At this point, a greater fraction of the photon source is pumped into the material which could lead to an explosive response from the material. In fact, an unimaginable and unreported phenomenon (in physics) could occur, when two or more PAPCs cross, and the material is able to absorb more than that the photon source could provide, at this point. These resulting effects might be of immense materials engineering applications.

Load-based approaches for modelling visual clarity in streams at regional scale.

PubMed

Elliott, A H; Davies-Colley, R J; Parshotam, A; Ballantine, D

2013-01-01

Reduction of visual clarity in streams by diffuse sources of fine sediment is a cause of water quality impairment in New Zealand and internationally. In this paper we introduce the concept of a load of optical cross section (LOCS), which can be used for load-based management of light-attenuating substances and for water quality models that are based on mass accounting. In this approach, the beam attenuation coefficient (units of m(-1)) is estimated from the inverse of the visual clarity (units of m) measured with a black disc. This beam attenuation coefficient can also be considered as an optical cross section (OCS) per volume of water, analogous to a concentration. The instantaneous 'flux' of cross section is obtained from the attenuation coefficient multiplied by the water discharge, and this can be accumulated over time to give an accumulated 'load' of cross section (LOCS). Moreover, OCS is a conservative quantity, in the sense that the OCS of two combined water volumes is the sum of the OCS of the individual water volumes (barring effects such as coagulation, settling, or sorption). The LOCS can be calculated for a water quality station using rating curve methods applied to measured time series of visual clarity and flow. This approach was applied to the sites in New Zealand's National Rivers Water Quality Network (NRWQN). Although the attenuation coefficient follows roughly a power relation with flow at some sites, more flexible loess rating curves are required at other sites. The hybrid mechanistic-statistical catchment model SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes), which is based on a mass balance for mean annual load, was then applied to the NRWQN dataset. Preliminary results from this model are presented, highlighting the importance of factors related to erosion, such as rainfall, slope, hardness of catchment rock types, and the influence of pastoral development on the load of optical cross section.

Localization of cortical tissue optical changes during seizure activity in vivo with optical coherence tomography

PubMed Central

Eberle, Melissa M.; Hsu, Mike S.; Rodriguez, Carissa L.; Szu, Jenny I.; Oliveira, Michael C.; Binder, Devin K.; Park, B. Hyle

2015-01-01

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high resolution, minimally invasive imaging technique, which can produce depth-resolved cross-sectional images. In this study, OCT was used to detect changes in the optical properties of cortical tissue in vivo in mice during the induction of global (pentylenetetrazol) and focal (4-aminopyridine) seizures. Through the use of a confidence interval statistical method on depth-resolved volumes of attenuation coefficient, we demonstrated localization of regions exhibiting both significant positive and negative changes in attenuation coefficient, as well as differentiating between global and focal seizure propagation. PMID:26137382

Effects of 160 keV electron irradiation on the optical properties and microstructure of "Panda" type Polarization-Maintaining optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong-Chen, Zhang; Hai, Liu; Hui-Jie, Xue; Wen-Qiang, Qiao; Shi-Yu, He

2012-11-01

In this paper, effects of 160 keV electron irradiated "Panda" type Polarization-Maintaining optical fiber at 1310 nm are investigated by us. Attenuation coefficient induced in optical fiber by electron beams at 1310 nm increases with increase in electron fluence. Electron irradiation-induced damage mechanism are studied by means of CASINO simulation program, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron spin resonance spectrometer (EPR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that Si-OH impurity defect concentration is the main reason of increasing attenuation coefficient at 1310 nm.

Computed tomography of the liver and kidneys in glycogen storage disease.

PubMed

Doppman, J L; Cornblath, M; Dwyer, A J; Adams, A J; Girton, M E; Sidbury, J

1982-02-01

Glycogen, in concentrations encountered in von Gierke's disease, has computed tomography (CT) attenuation coefficients in the 50 to 70 Hounsfield unit (HU: 1,000 scale) range and accounts for the increased density of the liver. However, in eight patients with Type I glycogen storage disease, simultaneous hepatic infiltration with fat and glycogen led to a range of liver CT densities from 13 to 80 HU. Fatty infiltration may facilitate the demonstration of hepatic tumors in older patients with this disease. Half the patients showed increased attenuation coefficients of the renal cortex, indicating glycogen deposition in the kidneys.

Effect of molybdenum on gamma ray shielding and structural properties of PbO-B2O3 glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dogra, Mridula; Singh, K. J.; Kaur, Kulwinder

2018-04-01

The present study is aimed at developing new shielding materials for gamma ray shielding applications. Transparent glasses of the composition xMoO3-0.7PbO-(0.3-x)B2O3 where x= 0.03 to 0. 06 (mole fraction) have been prepared by using melt-quenchingtechnique. Gamma ray shielding properties have been evaluated in terms of mass attenuation coefficient and half value layer parameter at photon energies 662 and 1173 keV. These shielding parameters are also compared with standard shielding material`concretes'. It has been found that prepared glass system shows better shielding properties than barite and ordinary concretes proving the possibility of its usage as an alternate to conventional concrete for gamma ray shielding applications. The density, molar volume, X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform InfraRed and Raman studies have been performed to study the structural properties of the glass system. It has been analyzed from FTIR and Raman studies that bridging oxygens increase with the decrease of MoO3 content in the glass composition.

Seasonal to multi-decadal trends in apparent optical properties in the Sargasso Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allen, James G.; Nelson, Norman B.; Siegel, David A.

2017-01-01

Multi-decadal, monthly observations of optical and biogeochemical properties, made as part of the Bermuda Bio-Optics Project (BBOP) at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site in the Sargasso Sea, allow for the examination of temporal trends in vertical light attenuation and their potential controls. Trends in the magnitude of the diffuse attenuation coefficient, Kd(λ), and a proxy for its spectral shape reflect changes in phytoplankton and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) characteristics. The length and methodological consistency of this time series provide an excellent opportunity to extend analyses of seasonal cycles of apparent optical properties to interannual and decadal time scales. Here, we characterize changes in the magnitude and spectral shape proxy of diffuse attenuation coefficient spectra and compare them to available biological and optical data from the BATS time series program. The time series analyses reveal a 1.01%±0.18% annual increase of the magnitude of the diffuse attenuation coefficient at 443 nm over the upper 75 m of the water column while showing no significant change in selected spectral characteristics over the study period. These and other observations indicate that changes in phytoplankton rather than changes in CDOM abundance are the primary driver for the diffuse attenuation trends on multi-year timescales for this region. Our findings are inconsistent with previous decadal-scale global ocean water clarity and global satellite ocean color analyses yet are consistent with recent analyses of the BATS time series and highlight the value of long-term consistent observation at ocean time series sites.

Simultaneous source and attenuation reconstruction in SPECT using ballistic and single scattering data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Courdurier, M.; Monard, F.; Osses, A.; Romero, F.

2015-09-01

In medical single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging, we seek to simultaneously obtain the internal radioactive sources and the attenuation map using not only ballistic measurements but also first-order scattering measurements and assuming a very specific scattering regime. The problem is modeled using the radiative transfer equation by means of an explicit non-linear operator that gives the ballistic and scattering measurements as a function of the radioactive source and attenuation distributions. First, by differentiating this non-linear operator we obtain a linearized inverse problem. Then, under regularity hypothesis for the source distribution and attenuation map and considering small attenuations, we rigorously prove that the linear operator is invertible and we compute its inverse explicitly. This allows proof of local uniqueness for the non-linear inverse problem. Finally, using the previous inversion result for the linear operator, we propose a new type of iterative algorithm for simultaneous source and attenuation recovery for SPECT based on the Neumann series and a Newton-Raphson algorithm.

Spatial attenuation of different sound field components in a water layer and shallow-water sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belov, A. I.; Kuznetsov, G. N.

2017-11-01

The paper presents the results of an experimental study of spatial attenuation of low-frequency vector-scalar sound fields in shallow water. The experiments employed a towed pneumatic cannon and spatially separated four-component vector-scalar receiver modules. Narrowband analysis of received signals made it possible to estimate the attenuation coefficients of the first three modes in the frequency of range of 26-182 Hz and calculate the frequency dependences of the sound absorption coefficients in the upper part of bottom sediments. We analyze the experimental and calculated (using acoustic calibration of the waveguide) laws of the drop in sound pressure and orthogonal vector projections of the oscillation velocity. It is shown that the vertical projection of the oscillation velocity vector decreases significantly faster than the sound pressure field.

Utilization of barite/cement composites for gamma rays attenuation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakr, Khaled; Ramadan, Wageeh; Sayed, Magda; El-Zakla, Tarek; El-Desouqy, Mohamed; El-Faramawy, Nabil

2018-04-01

The present work is directed to investigate the contribution of adding barite aggregates to cement as a shielding material for radioactive wastes disposal facilities. The percentages of barite from 5% up to 20% mixed with cement with different grain sizes were examined. Mechanical and physical properties such as compressive strength, wet and dry densities, water absorption, and porosity have been investigated. The thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction were used to examine the thermal stability and the characterizations of studied samples, respectively. The linear attenuation coefficient, mean free path, half value layer, and transmission fraction were evaluated. All the nuclear shielding parameters revealed the uppermost values for cement mixed with 5% barite of size range 250-600 µm. The attenuation coefficient of the investigated samples displayed an increase by more than 125% than that of neat cement.

Attenuation correction for brain PET imaging using deep neural network based on dixon and ZTE MR images.

PubMed

Gong, Kuang; Yang, Jaewon; Kim, Kyungsang; El Fakhri, Georges; Seo, Youngho; Li, Quanzheng

2018-05-23

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a functional imaging modality widely used in neuroscience studies. To obtain meaningful quantitative results from PET images, attenuation correction is necessary during image reconstruction. For PET/MR hybrid systems, PET attenuation is challenging as Magnetic Resonance (MR) images do not reflect attenuation coefficients directly. To address this issue, we present deep neural network methods to derive the continuous attenuation coefficients for brain PET imaging from MR images. With only Dixon MR images as the network input, the existing U-net structure was adopted and analysis using forty patient data sets shows it is superior than other Dixon based methods. When both Dixon and zero echo time (ZTE) images are available, we have proposed a modified U-net structure, named GroupU-net, to efficiently make use of both Dixon and ZTE information through group convolution modules when the network goes deeper. Quantitative analysis based on fourteen real patient data sets demonstrates that both network approaches can perform better than the standard methods, and the proposed network structure can further reduce the PET quantification error compared to the U-net structure. © 2018 Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

BGO as a hybrid scintillator / Cherenkov radiator for cost-effective time-of-flight PET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brunner, S. E.; Schaart, D. R.

2017-06-01

Due to detector developments in the last decade, the time-of-flight (TOF) method is now commonly used to improve the quality of positron emission tomography (PET) images. Clinical TOF-PET systems based on L(Y)SO:Ce crystals and silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) with coincidence resolving times (CRT) between 325 ps and 400 ps FWHM have recently been developed. Before the introduction of L(Y)SO:Ce, BGO was used in many PET systems. In addition to a lower price, BGO offers a superior attenuation coefficient and a higher photoelectric fraction than L(Y)SO:Ce. However, BGO is generally considered an inferior TOF-PET scintillator. In recent years, TOF-PET detectors based on the Cherenkov effect have been proposed. However, the low Cherenkov photon yield in the order of  ˜10 photons per event complicates energy discrimination-a severe disadvantage in clinical PET. The optical characteristics of BGO, in particular its high transparency down to 310 nm and its high refractive index of  ˜2.15, are expected to make it a good Cherenkov radiator. Here, we study the feasibility of combining event timing based on Cherenkov emission with energy discrimination based on scintillation in BGO, as a potential approach towards a cost-effective TOF-PET detector. Rise time measurements were performed using a time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) setup implemented on a digital photon counter (DPC) array, revealing a prompt luminescent component likely to be due to Cherenkov emission. Coincidence timing measurements were performed using BGO crystals with a cross-section of 3 mm  ×  3 mm and five different lengths between 3 mm and 20 mm, coupled to DPC arrays. Non-Gaussian coincidence spectra with a FWHM of 200 ps were obtained with the 27 mm3 BGO cubes, while FWHM values as good as 330 ps were achieved with the 20 mm long crystals. The FWHM value was found to improve with decreasing temperature, while the FWTM value showed the opposite trend.

BGO as a hybrid scintillator / Cherenkov radiator for cost-effective time-of-flight PET.

PubMed

Brunner, S E; Schaart, D R

2017-06-07

Due to detector developments in the last decade, the time-of-flight (TOF) method is now commonly used to improve the quality of positron emission tomography (PET) images. Clinical TOF-PET systems based on L(Y)SO:Ce crystals and silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) with coincidence resolving times (CRT) between 325 ps and 400 ps FWHM have recently been developed. Before the introduction of L(Y)SO:Ce, BGO was used in many PET systems. In addition to a lower price, BGO offers a superior attenuation coefficient and a higher photoelectric fraction than L(Y)SO:Ce. However, BGO is generally considered an inferior TOF-PET scintillator. In recent years, TOF-PET detectors based on the Cherenkov effect have been proposed. However, the low Cherenkov photon yield in the order of  ∼10 photons per event complicates energy discrimination-a severe disadvantage in clinical PET. The optical characteristics of BGO, in particular its high transparency down to 310 nm and its high refractive index of  ∼2.15, are expected to make it a good Cherenkov radiator. Here, we study the feasibility of combining event timing based on Cherenkov emission with energy discrimination based on scintillation in BGO, as a potential approach towards a cost-effective TOF-PET detector. Rise time measurements were performed using a time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) setup implemented on a digital photon counter (DPC) array, revealing a prompt luminescent component likely to be due to Cherenkov emission. Coincidence timing measurements were performed using BGO crystals with a cross-section of 3 mm  ×  3 mm and five different lengths between 3 mm and 20 mm, coupled to DPC arrays. Non-Gaussian coincidence spectra with a FWHM of 200 ps were obtained with the 27 mm 3 BGO cubes, while FWHM values as good as 330 ps were achieved with the 20 mm long crystals. The FWHM value was found to improve with decreasing temperature, while the FWTM value showed the opposite trend.

Selective perturbation of in vivo linear energy transfer using high- Z vaginal applicators for Cf-252 brachytherapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivard, M. J.; Evans, K. E.; Leal, L. C.; Kirk, B. L.

2004-01-01

Californium-252 ( 252Cf) brachytherapy sources emit both neutrons and photons, and have the potential to vastly improve the current standard-of-practice for brachytherapy. While hydrogenous materials readily attenuate the 252Cf fission energy neutrons, high- Z materials are utilized to attenuate the 252Cf gamma-rays. These differences in shielding materials may be exploited when treating with a vaginal applicator to possibly improve patient survival through perturbation of the in vivo linear energy transfer radiation.

Acoustic parameters inversion and sediment properties in the Yellow River reservoir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chang-Zheng; Yang, Yong; Wang, Rui; Yan, Xiao-Fei

2018-03-01

The physical properties of silt in river reservoirs are important to river dynamics. Unfortunately, traditional techniques yield insufficient data. Based on porous media acoustic theory, we invert the acoustic parameters for the top river-bottom sediments. An explicit form of the acoustic reflection coefficient at the water-sediment interface is derived based on Biot's theory. The choice of parameters in the Biot model is discussed and the relation between acoustic and geological parameters is studied, including that between the reflection coefficient and porosity and the attenuation coefficient and permeability. The attenuation coefficient of the sound wave in the sediments is obtained by analyzing the shift of the signal frequency. The acoustic reflection coefficient at the water-sediment interface is extracted from the sonar signal. Thus, an inversion method of the physical parameters of the riverbottom surface sediments is proposed. The results of an experiment at the Sanmenxia reservoir suggest that the estimated grain size is close to the actual data. This demonstrates the ability of the proposed method to determine the physical parameters of sediments and estimate the grain size.

Effects of micro-sized and nano-sized WO3 on mass attenauation coefficients of concrete by using MCNPX code.

PubMed

Tekin, H O; Singh, V P; Manici, T

2017-03-01

In the present work the effect of tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) nanoparticles on mass attenauation coefficients of concrete has been investigated by using MCNPX (version 2.4.0). The validation of generated MCNPX simulation geometry has been provided by comparing the results with standard XCOM data for mass attenuation coefficients of concrete. A very good agreement between XCOM and MCNPX have been obtained. The validated geometry has been used for definition of nano-WO 3 and micro-WO 3 into concrete sample. The mass attenuation coefficients of pure concrete and WO 3 added concrete with micro-sized and nano-sized have been compared. It was observed that shielding properties of concrete doped with WO 3 increased. The results of mass attenauation coefficients also showed that the concrete doped with nano-WO 3 significanlty improve shielding properties than micro-WO 3 . It can be concluded that addition of nano-sized particles can be considered as another mechanism to reduce radiation dose. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improvement of attenuation correction in time-of-flight PET/MR imaging with a positron-emitting source.

PubMed

Mollet, Pieter; Keereman, Vincent; Bini, Jason; Izquierdo-Garcia, David; Fayad, Zahi A; Vandenberghe, Stefaan

2014-02-01

Quantitative PET imaging relies on accurate attenuation correction. Recently, there has been growing interest in combining state-of-the-art PET systems with MR imaging in a sequential or fully integrated setup. As CT becomes unavailable for these systems, an alternative approach to the CT-based reconstruction of attenuation coefficients (μ values) at 511 keV must be found. Deriving μ values directly from MR images is difficult because MR signals are related to the proton density and relaxation properties of tissue. Therefore, most research groups focus on segmentation or atlas registration techniques. Although studies have shown that these methods provide viable solutions in particular applications, some major drawbacks limit their use in whole-body PET/MR. Previously, we used an annulus-shaped PET transmission source inside the field of view of a PET scanner to measure attenuation coefficients at 511 keV. In this work, we describe the use of this method in studies of patients with the sequential time-of-flight (TOF) PET/MR scanner installed at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Five human PET/MR and CT datasets were acquired. The transmission-based attenuation correction method was compared with conventional CT-based attenuation correction and the 3-segment, MR-based attenuation correction available on the TOF PET/MR imaging scanner. The transmission-based method overcame most problems related to the MR-based technique, such as truncation artifacts of the arms, segmentation artifacts in the lungs, and imaging of cortical bone. Additionally, the TOF capabilities of the PET detectors allowed the simultaneous acquisition of transmission and emission data. Compared with the MR-based approach, the transmission-based method provided average improvements in PET quantification of 6.4%, 2.4%, and 18.7% in volumes of interest inside the lung, soft tissue, and bone tissue, respectively. In conclusion, a transmission-based technique with an annulus-shaped transmission source will be more accurate than a conventional MR-based technique for measuring attenuation coefficients at 511 keV in future whole-body PET/MR studies.

Improved Modeling and Prediction of Surface Wave Amplitudes

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-05-31

structures and derived attenuation coefficients from the Eurasian Q inversion study. 15. SUBJECT TERMS nuclear explosion monitoring, surface waves, membrane...24 4.6 Inversion of Eurasian Attenuation Data for Q Structure ........................................ 31 4.6.1 Data used in the Q Inversion ...33 4.6.2 Q Inversion Results

Retrieval of Macro- and Micro-Physical Properties of Oceanic Hydrosols from Polarimetric Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ibrahim, Amir; Gilerson, Alexander; Chowdhary, Jacek; Ahmed, Samir

2016-01-01

Remote sensing has mainly relied on measurements of scalar radiance and its spectral and angular features to retrieve micro- and macro-physical properties of aerosols/hydrosols. However, it is recognized that measurements that include the polarimetric characteristics of light provide more intrinsic information about particulate scattering. To take advantage of this, we used vector radiative transfer (VRT) simulations and developed an analytical relationship to retrieve the macro and micro-physical properties of the oceanic hydrosols. Specifically, we investigated the relationship between the observed degree of linear polarization (DoLP) and the ratio of attenuation-to- absorption coefficients (c/a) in water, from which the scattering coefficient can be readily computed (b equals c minus a), after retrieving a. This relationship was parameterized for various scattering geometries, including sensor zenith/azimuth angles relative to the Sun's principal plane, and for varying Sun zenith angles. An inversion method was also developed for the retrieval of the microphysical properties of hydrosols, such as the bulk refractive index and the particle size distribution. The DoLP vs c/a relationship was tested and validated against in-situ measurements of underwater light polarization obtained by a custom-built polarimeter and measurements of the coefficients a and c, obtained using an in-water WET (Western Environmental Technologies) Labs ac-s (attenuation coefficients In-Situ Spectrophotometer) instrument package. These measurements confirmed the validity of the approach, with retrievals of attenuation coefficients showing a high coefficient of determination depending on the wavelength. We also performed a sensitivity analysis of the DoLP at the Top of Atmosphere (TOA) over coastal waters showing the possibility of polarimetric remote sensing application for ocean color.

Azimuthally anisotropic emission of low-momentum direct photons in Au + Au collisions at √{sN N}=200 GeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adare, A.; Afanasiev, S.; Aidala, C.; Ajitanand, N. N.; Akiba, Y.; Akimoto, R.; Al-Bataineh, H.; Alexander, J.; Alfred, M.; Al-Ta'Ani, H.; Angerami, A.; Aoki, K.; Apadula, N.; Aramaki, Y.; Asano, H.; Aschenauer, E. C.; Atomssa, E. T.; Averbeck, R.; Awes, T. C.; Azmoun, B.; Babintsev, V.; Bai, M.; Baksay, G.; Baksay, L.; Bandara, N. S.; Bannier, B.; Barish, K. N.; Bassalleck, B.; Basye, A. T.; Bathe, S.; Baublis, V.; Baumann, C.; Baumgart, S.; Bazilevsky, A.; Beaumier, M.; Beckman, S.; Belikov, S.; Belmont, R.; Bennett, R.; Berdnikov, A.; Berdnikov, Y.; Bickley, A. A.; Blau, D. S.; Bok, J. S.; Boyle, K.; Brooks, M. L.; Bryslawskyj, J.; Buesching, H.; Bumazhnov, V.; Bunce, G.; Butsyk, S.; Camacho, C. M.; Campbell, S.; Castera, P.; Chen, C.-H.; Chi, C. Y.; Chiu, M.; Choi, I. J.; Choi, J. B.; Choi, S.; Choudhury, R. K.; Christiansen, P.; Chujo, T.; Chung, P.; Chvala, O.; Cianciolo, V.; Citron, Z.; Cole, B. A.; Connors, M.; Constantin, P.; Csanád, M.; Csörgő, T.; Dahms, T.; Dairaku, S.; Danchev, I.; Danley, T. W.; Das, K.; Datta, A.; Daugherity, M. S.; David, G.; Deblasio, K.; Dehmelt, K.; Denisov, A.; Deshpande, A.; Desmond, E. J.; Dharmawardane, K. V.; Dietzsch, O.; Ding, L.; Dion, A.; Diss, P. B.; Do, J. H.; Donadelli, M.; D'Orazio, L.; Drapier, O.; Drees, A.; Drees, K. A.; Durham, J. M.; Durum, A.; Dutta, D.; Edwards, S.; Efremenko, Y. V.; Ellinghaus, F.; Engelmore, T.; Enokizono, A.; En'yo, H.; Esumi, S.; Eyser, K. O.; Fadem, B.; Feege, N.; Fields, D. E.; Finger, M.; Finger, M.; Fleuret, F.; Fokin, S. L.; Fraenkel, Z.; Frantz, J. E.; Franz, A.; Frawley, A. D.; Fujiwara, K.; Fukao, Y.; Fusayasu, T.; Gainey, K.; Gal, C.; Gallus, P.; Garg, P.; Garishvili, A.; Garishvili, I.; Ge, H.; Giordano, F.; Glenn, A.; Gong, H.; Gong, X.; Gonin, M.; Goto, Y.; Granier de Cassagnac, R.; Grau, N.; Greene, S. V.; Grosse Perdekamp, M.; Gunji, T.; Guo, L.; Gustafsson, H.-Å.; Hachiya, T.; Haggerty, J. S.; Hahn, K. I.; Hamagaki, H.; Hamblen, J.; Hamilton, H. F.; Han, R.; Han, S. Y.; Hanks, J.; Hartouni, E. P.; Hasegawa, S.; Haseler, T. O. S.; Hashimoto, K.; Haslum, E.; Hayano, R.; He, X.; Heffner, M.; Hemmick, T. K.; Hester, T.; Hill, J. C.; Hohlmann, M.; Hollis, R. S.; Holzmann, W.; Homma, K.; Hong, B.; Horaguchi, T.; Hori, Y.; Hornback, D.; Hoshino, T.; Hotvedt, N.; Huang, J.; Huang, S.; Ichihara, T.; Ichimiya, R.; Ide, J.; Iinuma, H.; Ikeda, Y.; Imai, K.; Imrek, J.; Inaba, M.; Iordanova, A.; Isenhower, D.; Ishihara, M.; Isobe, T.; Issah, M.; Isupov, A.; Ivanishchev, D.; Jacak, B. V.; Javani, M.; Jezghani, M.; Jia, J.; Jiang, X.; Jin, J.; Johnson, B. M.; Joo, K. S.; Jouan, D.; Jumper, D. S.; Kajihara, F.; Kametani, S.; Kamihara, N.; Kamin, J.; Kanda, S.; Kaneti, S.; Kang, B. H.; Kang, J. H.; Kang, J. S.; Kapustinsky, J.; Karatsu, K.; Kasai, M.; Kawall, D.; Kawashima, M.; Kazantsev, A. V.; Kempel, T.; Key, J. A.; Khachatryan, V.; Khanzadeev, A.; Kijima, K. M.; Kim, B. I.; Kim, C.; Kim, D. H.; Kim, D. J.; Kim, E.; Kim, E.-J.; Kim, G. W.; Kim, H. J.; Kim, K.-B.; Kim, M.; Kim, S. H.; Kim, Y.-J.; Kim, Y. K.; Kimelman, B.; Kinney, E.; Kiriluk, K.; Kiss, Á.; Kistenev, E.; Kitamura, R.; Klatsky, J.; Kleinjan, D.; Kline, P.; Koblesky, T.; Kochenda, L.; Komatsu, Y.; Komkov, B.; Konno, M.; Koster, J.; Kotchetkov, D.; Kotov, D.; Kozlov, A.; Král, A.; Kravitz, A.; Krizek, F.; Kunde, G. J.; Kurita, K.; Kurosawa, M.; Kwon, Y.; Kyle, G. S.; Lacey, R.; Lai, Y. S.; Lajoie, J. G.; Lebedev, A.; Lee, B.; Lee, D. M.; Lee, J.; Lee, K.; Lee, K. B.; Lee, K. S.; Lee, S.; Lee, S. H.; Lee, S. R.; Leitch, M. J.; Leite, M. A. L.; Leitgab, M.; Leitner, E.; Lenzi, B.; Lewis, B.; Li, X.; Liebing, P.; Lim, S. H.; Linden Levy, L. A.; Liška, T.; Litvinenko, A.; Liu, H.; Liu, M. X.; Love, B.; Luechtenborg, R.; Lynch, D.; Maguire, C. F.; Makdisi, Y. I.; Makek, M.; Malakhov, A.; Malik, M. D.; Manion, A.; Manko, V. I.; Mannel, E.; Mao, Y.; Masui, H.; Masumoto, S.; Matathias, F.; McCumber, M.; McGaughey, P. L.; McGlinchey, D.; McKinney, C.; Means, N.; Meles, A.; Mendoza, M.; Meredith, B.; Miake, Y.; Mibe, T.; Mignerey, A. C.; Mikeš, P.; Miki, K.; Milov, A.; Mishra, D. K.; Mishra, M.; Mitchell, J. T.; Miyachi, Y.; Miyasaka, S.; Mizuno, S.; Mohanty, A. K.; Mohapatra, S.; Montuenga, P.; Moon, H. J.; Moon, T.; Morino, Y.; Morreale, A.; Morrison, D. P.; Motschwiller, S.; Moukhanova, T. V.; Murakami, T.; Murata, J.; Mwai, A.; Nagae, T.; Nagamiya, S.; Nagashima, K.; Nagle, J. L.; Naglis, M.; Nagy, M. I.; Nakagawa, I.; Nakagomi, H.; Nakamiya, Y.; Nakamura, K. R.; Nakamura, T.; Nakano, K.; Nattrass, C.; Nederlof, A.; Netrakanti, P. K.; Newby, J.; Nguyen, M.; Nihashi, M.; Niida, T.; Nishimura, S.; Nouicer, R.; Novák, T.; Novitzky, N.; Nyanin, A. S.; O'Brien, E.; Oda, S. X.; Ogilvie, C. A.; Oka, M.; Okada, K.; Onuki, Y.; Orjuela Koop, J. D.; Osborn, J. D.; Oskarsson, A.; Ouchida, M.; Ozawa, K.; Pak, R.; Pantuev, V.; Papavassiliou, V.; Park, B. H.; Park, I. H.; Park, J.; Park, J. S.; Park, S.; Park, S. K.; Park, W. J.; Pate, S. F.; Patel, L.; Patel, M.; Pei, H.; Peng, J.-C.; Pereira, H.; Perepelitsa, D. V.; Perera, G. D. N.; Peresedov, V.; Peressounko, D. Yu.; Perry, J.; Petti, R.; Pinkenburg, C.; Pinson, R.; Pisani, R. P.; Proissl, M.; Purschke, M. L.; Purwar, A. K.; Qu, H.; Rak, J.; Rakotozafindrabe, A.; Ramson, B. J.; Ravinovich, I.; Read, K. F.; Reygers, K.; Reynolds, D.; Riabov, V.; Riabov, Y.; Richardson, E.; Rinn, T.; Roach, D.; Roche, G.; Rolnick, S. D.; Rosati, M.; Rosen, C. A.; Rosendahl, S. S. E.; Rosnet, P.; Rowan, Z.; Rubin, J. G.; Rukoyatkin, P.; Ružička, P.; Sahlmueller, B.; Saito, N.; Sakaguchi, T.; Sakashita, K.; Sako, H.; Samsonov, V.; Sano, M.; Sano, S.; Sarsour, M.; Sato, S.; Sato, T.; Sawada, S.; Schaefer, B.; Schmoll, B. K.; Sedgwick, K.; Seele, J.; Seidl, R.; Semenov, A. Yu.; Sen, A.; Seto, R.; Sett, P.; Sexton, A.; Sharma, D.; Shein, I.; Shibata, T.-A.; Shigaki, K.; Shimomura, M.; Shoji, K.; Shukla, P.; Sickles, A.; Silva, C. L.; Silvermyr, D.; Silvestre, C.; Sim, K. S.; Singh, B. K.; Singh, C. P.; Singh, V.; Slunečka, M.; Snowball, M.; Soltz, R. A.; Sondheim, W. E.; Sorensen, S. P.; Sourikova, I. V.; Sparks, N. A.; Stankus, P. W.; Stenlund, E.; Stepanov, M.; Ster, A.; Stoll, S. P.; Sugitate, T.; Sukhanov, A.; Sumita, T.; Sun, J.; Sziklai, J.; Takagui, E. M.; Takahara, A.; Taketani, A.; Tanabe, R.; Tanaka, Y.; Taneja, S.; Tanida, K.; Tannenbaum, M. J.; Tarafdar, S.; Taranenko, A.; Tarján, P.; Tennant, E.; Themann, H.; Thomas, T. L.; Tieulent, R.; Timilsina, A.; Todoroki, T.; Togawa, M.; Toia, A.; Tomášek, L.; Tomášek, M.; Torii, H.; Towell, C. L.; Towell, R.; Towell, R. S.; Tserruya, I.; Tsuchimoto, Y.; Tsuji, T.; Vale, C.; Valle, H.; van Hecke, H. W.; Vargyas, M.; Vazquez-Zambrano, E.; Veicht, A.; Velkovska, J.; Vértesi, R.; Vinogradov, A. A.; Virius, M.; Vossen, A.; Vrba, V.; Vznuzdaev, E.; Wang, X. R.; Watanabe, D.; Watanabe, K.; Watanabe, Y.; Watanabe, Y. S.; Wei, F.; Wei, R.; Wessels, J.; White, A. S.; White, S. N.; Winter, D.; Wolin, S.; Wood, J. P.; Woody, C. L.; Wright, R. M.; Wysocki, M.; Xia, B.; Xie, W.; Xue, L.; Yalcin, S.; Yamaguchi, Y. L.; Yamaura, K.; Yang, R.; Yanovich, A.; Ying, J.; Yokkaichi, S.; Yoo, J. H.; Yoon, I.; You, Z.; Young, G. R.; Younus, I.; Yu, H.; Yushmanov, I. E.; Zajc, W. A.; Zelenski, A.; Zhang, C.; Zhou, S.; Zolin, L.; Zou, L.; Phenix Collaboration

2016-12-01

The PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured second- and third-order Fourier coefficients of the azimuthal distributions of direct photons emitted at midrapidity in Au +Au collisions at √{sNN}=200 GeV for various collision centralities. Combining two different analysis techniques, results were obtained in the transverse momentum range of 0.4

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Fermi/GBM GRB time-resolved spectral catalog (Yu+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, H.-F.; Preece, R. D.; Greiner, J.; Bhat, P. N.; Bissaldi, E.; Briggs, M. S.; Cleveland, W. H.; Connaughton, V.; Goldstein, A.; von Kienlin; A.; Kouveliotou, C.; Mailyan, B.; Meegan, C. A.; Paciesas, W. S.; Rau, A.; Roberts, O. J.; Veres, P.; Wilson-Hodge, C.; Zhang, B.-B.; van Eerten, H. J.

2016-01-01

Time-resolved spectral analysis results of BEST models: for each spectrum GRB name using the Fermi GBM trigger designation, spectrum number within individual burst, start time Tstart and end time Tstop for the time bin, BEST model, best-fit parameters of the BEST model, value of CSTAT per degrees of freedom, 10keV-1MeV photon and energy flux are given. Ep evolutionary trends: for each burst GRB name, number of spectra with Ep, Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficients between Ep_ and photon flux and 90%, 95%, and 99% confidence intervals, Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficients between Ep and energy flux and 90%, 95%, and 99% confidence intervals, Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient between Ep and time and 90%, 95%, and 99% confidence intervals, trends as determined by computer for 90%, 95%, and 99% confidence intervals, trends as determined by human eyes are given. (2 data files).

Coherent-pulse implementations of quantum cryptography protocols resistant to photon-number-splitting attacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acín, Antonio; Gisin, Nicolas; Scarani, Valerio

2004-01-01

We propose a class of quantum cryptography protocols that are robust against photon-number-splitting attacks (PNS) in a weak coherent-pulse implementation. We give a quite exhaustive analysis of several eavesdropping attacks on these schemes. The honest parties (Alice and Bob) use present-day technology, in particular an attenuated laser as an approximation of a single-photon source. The idea of the protocols is to exploit the nonorthogonality of quantum states to decrease the information accessible to Eve due to the multiphoton pulses produced by the imperfect source. The distance at which the key distribution becomes insecure due to the PNS attack is significantly increased compared to the existing schemes. We also show that strong-pulse implementations, where a strong pulse is included as a reference, allow for key distribution robust against photon-number-splitting attacks.

Space-time modeling of the photon diffusion in a three-layered model: application to the study of muscular oxygenation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mansouri, C.; L'Huillier, J. P.; Piron, V.

2007-07-01

This work presents results on the modeling of the photon diffusion in a three-layered model, (skin, fat and muscle). The Finite Element method was performed in order to calculate the temporal response of the above-mentioned structure. The thickness of the fat layer was varied from 1 to 15 mm to investigate the effects of increasing fat thickness on the muscle layer absorption coefficient measurements for a source-detector spacing of 30 mm. The simulated time-resolved reflectance data, at different wavelengths, were fitted to the diffusion model to yield the scattering and absorption coefficients of muscle. The errors in estimating muscle absorption coefficients μ α depend on the thickness of the fat layer and its optical properties. In addition, it was shown that it is possible to recover with a good precision (~2.6 % of error) the absorption coefficient of muscle and this up to a thickness of the fat layer not exceeding 4mm. Beyond this limit a correction is proposed in order to make measurements coherent. The muscle-corrected absorption coefficient can be then used to calculate hemoglobin oxygenation.

Spectroscopic Measurements of the Far-Ultraviolet Dust Attenuation Curve at z ˜ 3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reddy, Naveen A.; Steidel, Charles C.; Pettini, Max; Bogosavljević, Milan

2016-09-01

We present the first spectroscopic measurements of the shape of the far-ultraviolet (far-UV; λ =950{--}1500 Å) dust attenuation curve at high redshift (z˜ 3). Our analysis employs rest-frame UV spectra of 933 galaxies at z˜ 3, 121 of which have very deep spectroscopic observations (≳ 7 hr) at λ =850{--}1300 \\mathring{{A}} , with the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph on the Keck Telescope. By using an iterative approach in which we calculate the ratios of composite spectra in different bins of continuum color excess, E(B-V), we derive a dust curve that implies a lower attenuation in the far-UV for a given E(B-V) than those obtained with standard attenuation curves. We demonstrate that the UV composite spectra of z˜ 3 galaxies can be modeled well by assuming our new attenuation curve, a high covering fraction of H I, and absorption from the Lyman-Werner bands of {{{H}}}2 with a small (≲ 20 % ) covering fraction. The low covering fraction of {{{H}}}2 relative to that of the {{H}} {{I}} and dust suggests that most of the dust in the ISM of typical galaxies at z˜ 3 is unrelated to the catalysis of {{{H}}}2, and is associated with other phases of the ISM (I.e., the ionized and neutral gas). The far-UV dust curve implies a factor of ≈ 2 lower dust attenuation of Lyman continuum (ionizing) photons relative to those inferred from the most commonly assumed attenuation curves for L* galaxies at z˜ 3. Our results may be utilized to assess the degree to which ionizing photons are attenuated in H II regions or, more generally, in the ionized or low column density (N({{H}} {{I}})≲ {10}17.2 cm-2) neutral ISM of high-redshift galaxies. Based on data obtained at the W.M. Keck Observatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and NASA, and was made possible by the generous financial support of the W.M. Keck Foundation.

Monsoon variability of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) attenuation and bio-optical factors in the Asian tropical coral-reef waters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizubayashi, Keiko; Kuwahara, Victor S.; Segaran, Thirukanthan C.; Zaleha, Kassim; Effendy, A. W. M.; Kushairi, M. R. M.; Toda, Tatsuki

2013-07-01

The East coast of Peninsular Malaysia is strongly influenced by the North-East (NE) monsoon, and may significantly influence the optical environment of coral-reef ecosystems. However, our knowledge of temporal variability, including episodic events, of environmental factors in Asian tropical regions is still limited. The objectives of this study were to (1) observe temporal variability in ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) attenuation and (2) determine the bio-optical factors regulating the optical environment in shallow coral-reef waters. Downwelling UVR and PAR irradiance and in situ bio-optical factors were measured monthly near Bidong Island on the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia from June 2010 to June 2011. The NE monsoon was recognized between November 2010 and January 2011. The highest diffuse attenuation coefficient at 305 nm was 2.05 ± 0.03 m-1 in a coral-reef area on December 2010. The most significant bio-optical factor at 305, 380, 440 nm during the NE monsoon season was CDOM (89 ± 8% at 305 nm, 84 ± 9% at 380 nm and 49 ± 17% at 440 nm). All UVR attenuation coefficients showed significant correlations with the CDOM absorption coefficients (aCDOM). CDOM with relatively low S275-295 during the NE monsoon season (0.0177 ± 0.0020 nm-1) suggests terrestrial sources, which is also supported by the correlation between salinity and aCDOM(305). A significant correlation between S275-295 and the carbon specific absorbance coefficient (a*(305)) suggest the potential to measure DOC optically in these waters. The high CDOM during the NE monsoon season may have an important role to reduce harmful UVR exposure reaching benthic communities.

Energy-angle correlation correction algorithm for monochromatic computed tomography based on Thomson scattering X-ray source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chi, Zhijun; Du, Yingchao; Huang, Wenhui; Tang, Chuanxiang

2017-12-01

The necessity for compact and relatively low cost x-ray sources with monochromaticity, continuous tunability of x-ray energy, high spatial coherence, straightforward polarization control, and high brightness has led to the rapid development of Thomson scattering x-ray sources. To meet the requirement of in-situ monochromatic computed tomography (CT) for large-scale and/or high-attenuation materials based on this type of x-ray source, there is an increasing demand for effective algorithms to correct the energy-angle correlation. In this paper, we take advantage of the parametrization of the x-ray attenuation coefficient to resolve this problem. The linear attenuation coefficient of a material can be decomposed into a linear combination of the energy-dependent photoelectric and Compton cross-sections in the keV energy regime without K-edge discontinuities, and the line integrals of the decomposition coefficients of the above two parts can be determined by performing two spectrally different measurements. After that, the line integral of the linear attenuation coefficient of an imaging object at a certain interested energy can be derived through the above parametrization formula, and monochromatic CT can be reconstructed at this energy using traditional reconstruction methods, e.g., filtered back projection or algebraic reconstruction technique. Not only can monochromatic CT be realized, but also the distributions of the effective atomic number and electron density of the imaging object can be retrieved at the expense of dual-energy CT scan. Simulation results validate our proposal and will be shown in this paper. Our results will further expand the scope of application for Thomson scattering x-ray sources.

Dark gauge bosons: LHC signatures of non-abelian kinetic mixing

DOE PAGES

Argüelles, Carlos A.; He, Xiao-Gang; Ovanesyan, Grigory; ...

2017-04-20

We consider non-abelian kinetic mixing between the Standard Model and a dark sector gauge group associated with the presence of a scalar triplet. The magnitude of the resulting dark photon coupling ϵ is determined by the ratio of the triplet vacuum expectation value, constrained to by by electroweak precision tests, to the scale Λ of the effective theory. The corresponding effective operator Wilson coefficient can be while accommodating null results for dark photon searches, allowing for a distinctive LHC dark photon phenomenology. After outlining the possible LHC signatures, we illustrate by recasting current ATLAS dark photon results into the non-abelianmore » mixing context.« less

Azimuthal anisotropy of photon and charged particle emissionin 208Pb + 208Pb collisions at 158 $$\\cdot A$$ GeV/c

DOE PAGES

Aggarwal, M. M.; Ahammed, Z.; Angelis, A. L.S.; ...

2005-05-04

The azimuthal distributions of photons and charged particles with respect to the event plane are investigated as a function of centrality in 208Pb + 208Pb collisions at 158 · A GeV/c in the WA98 experiment at the CERN SPS. The anisotropy of the azimuthal distributions is characterized using a Fourier analysis. For both the photon and charged particle distributions the first two Fourier coefficients are observed to decrease with increasing centrality. The observed anisotropies of the photon distributions compare well with the expectations from the charged particle measurements for all centralities.

Coastal Atmosphere and Sea Time Series (CoASTS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hooker, Stanford B. (Editor); Firestone, Elaine R. (Editor); Berthon, Jean-Francoise; Zibordi, Giuseppe; Doyle, John P.; Grossi, Stefania; vanderLinde, Dirk; Targa, Cristina; McClain, Charles R. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

In this document, the first three years of a time series of bio-optical marine and atmospheric measurements are presented and analyzed. These measurements were performed from an oceanographic tower in the northern Adriatic Sea within the framework of the Coastal Atmosphere and Sea Time Series (CoASTS) project, an ocean color calibration and validation activity. The data set collected includes spectral measurements of the in-water apparent (diffuse attenuation coefficient, reflectance, Q-factor, etc.) and inherent (absorption and scattering coefficients) optical properties, as well as the concentrations of the main optical components (pigment and suspended matter concentrations). Clear seasonal patterns are exhibited by the marine quantities on which an appreciable short-term variability (on the order of a half day to one day) is superimposed. This short-term variability is well correlated with the changes in salinity at the surface resulting from the southward transport of freshwater coming from the northern rivers. Concentrations of chlorophyll alpha and total suspended matter span more than two orders of magnitude. The bio-optical characteristics of the measurement site pertain to both Case-I (about 64%) and Case-II (about 36%) waters, based on a relationship between the beam attenuation coefficient at 660nm and the chlorophyll alpha concentration. Empirical algorithms relating in-water remote sensing reflectance ratios and optical components or properties of interest (chlorophyll alpha, total suspended matter, and the diffuse attenuation coefficient) are presented.

Quantitative photoacoustic microscopy of optical absorption coefficients from acoustic spectra in the optical diffusive regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Zijian; Favazza, Christopher; Garcia-Uribe, Alejandro; Wang, Lihong V.

2012-06-01

Photoacoustic (PA) microscopy (PAM) can image optical absorption contrast with ultrasonic spatial resolution in the optical diffusive regime. Conventionally, accurate quantification in PAM requires knowledge of the optical fluence attenuation, acoustic pressure attenuation, and detection bandwidth. We circumvent this requirement by quantifying the optical absorption coefficients from the acoustic spectra of PA signals acquired at multiple optical wavelengths. With the acoustic spectral method, the absorption coefficients of an oxygenated bovine blood phantom at 560, 565, 570, and 575 nm were quantified with errors of <3%. We also quantified the total hemoglobin concentration and hemoglobin oxygen saturation in a live mouse. Compared with the conventional amplitude method, the acoustic spectral method provides greater quantification accuracy in the optical diffusive regime. The limitations of the acoustic spectral method was also discussed.

Quantitative photoacoustic microscopy of optical absorption coefficients from acoustic spectra in the optical diffusive regime

PubMed Central

Guo, Zijian; Favazza, Christopher; Garcia-Uribe, Alejandro

2012-01-01

Abstract. Photoacoustic (PA) microscopy (PAM) can image optical absorption contrast with ultrasonic spatial resolution in the optical diffusive regime. Conventionally, accurate quantification in PAM requires knowledge of the optical fluence attenuation, acoustic pressure attenuation, and detection bandwidth. We circumvent this requirement by quantifying the optical absorption coefficients from the acoustic spectra of PA signals acquired at multiple optical wavelengths. With the acoustic spectral method, the absorption coefficients of an oxygenated bovine blood phantom at 560, 565, 570, and 575 nm were quantified with errors of <3%. We also quantified the total hemoglobin concentration and hemoglobin oxygen saturation in a live mouse. Compared with the conventional amplitude method, the acoustic spectral method provides greater quantification accuracy in the optical diffusive regime. The limitations of the acoustic spectral method was also discussed. PMID:22734767

Quantitative photoacoustic microscopy of optical absorption coefficients from acoustic spectra in the optical diffusive regime.

PubMed

Guo, Zijian; Favazza, Christopher; Garcia-Uribe, Alejandro; Wang, Lihong V

2012-06-01

Photoacoustic (PA) microscopy (PAM) can image optical absorption contrast with ultrasonic spatial resolution in the optical diffusive regime. Conventionally, accurate quantification in PAM requires knowledge of the optical fluence attenuation, acoustic pressure attenuation, and detection bandwidth. We circumvent this requirement by quantifying the optical absorption coefficients from the acoustic spectra of PA signals acquired at multiple optical wavelengths. With the acoustic spectral method, the absorption coefficients of an oxygenated bovine blood phantom at 560, 565, 570, and 575 nm were quantified with errors of <3%. We also quantified the total hemoglobin concentration and hemoglobin oxygen saturation in a live mouse. Compared with the conventional amplitude method, the acoustic spectral method provides greater quantification accuracy in the optical diffusive regime. The limitations of the acoustic spectral method was also discussed.

Laser Ablation of Poly(methylmethacrylate) Doped with Aromatic Compounds: Laser Intensity Dependence of Absorption Coefficient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jun; Niino, Hiroyuki; Yabe, Akira

1999-02-01

We developed a novel method of obtaining an absorption coefficient which depends on the laser intensity, since a single-photon absorption coefficient of a polymer could not be applied to laser ablation. The relationship between the nonlinear absorption coefficient and the laser intensity was derived from experimental data of transmission and incident laser intensities. Using the nonlinear absorption coefficient of poly(methylmethacrylate) doped with benzil and pyrene, we succeeded in fitting the relationship of etch depth and laser intensity, obtained experimentally, and discussed the energy absorbed by the polymer at the threshold fluence.

Evaluation of 3D printing materials for fabrication of a novel multi-functional 3D thyroid phantom for medical dosimetry and image quality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alssabbagh, Moayyad; Tajuddin, Abd Aziz; Abdulmanap, Mahayuddin; Zainon, Rafidah

2017-06-01

Recently, the three-dimensional printer has started to be utilized strongly in medical industries. In the human body, many parts or organs can be printed from 3D images to meet accurate organ geometries. In this study, five common 3D printing materials were evaluated in terms of their elementary composition and the mass attenuation coefficients. The online version of XCOM photon cross-section database was used to obtain the attenuation values of each material. The results were compared with the attenuation values of the thyroid listed in the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements - ICRU 44. Two original thyroid models (hollow-inside and solid-inside) were designed from scratch to be used in nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy for dosimetry and image quality purposes. Both designs have three holes for installation of radiation dosimeters. The hollow-inside model has more two holes in the top for injection the radioactive materials. The attenuation properties of the Polylactic Acid (PLA) material showed a very good match with the thyroid tissue, which it was selected to 3D print the phantom using open source RepRap, Prusa i3 3D printer. The scintigraphy images show that the phantom simulates a real healthy thyroid gland and thus it can be used for image quality purposes. The measured CT numbers of the PA material after the 3D printing show a close match with the human thyroid CT numbers. Furthermore, the phantom shows a good accommodation of the TLD dosimeters inside the holes. The 3D fabricated thyroid phantom simulates the real shape of the human thyroid gland with a changeable geometrical shape-size feature to fit different age groups. By using 3D printing technology, the time required to fabricate the 3D phantom was considerably shortened compared to the longer conventional methods, where it took only 30 min to print out the model. The 3D printing material used in this study is commercially available and cost-effective compared to current commercial tissue-equivalent materials.

CT-based attenuation correction and resolution compensation for I-123 IMP brain SPECT normal database: a multicenter phantom study.

PubMed

Inui, Yoshitaka; Ichihara, Takashi; Uno, Masaki; Ishiguro, Masanobu; Ito, Kengo; Kato, Katsuhiko; Sakuma, Hajime; Okazawa, Hidehiko; Toyama, Hiroshi

2018-06-01

Statistical image analysis of brain SPECT images has improved diagnostic accuracy for brain disorders. However, the results of statistical analysis vary depending on the institution even when they use a common normal database (NDB), due to different intrinsic spatial resolutions or correction methods. The present study aimed to evaluate the correction of spatial resolution differences between equipment and examine the differences in skull bone attenuation to construct a common NDB for use in multicenter settings. The proposed acquisition and processing protocols were those routinely used at each participating center with additional triple energy window (TEW) scatter correction (SC) and computed tomography (CT) based attenuation correction (CTAC). A multicenter phantom study was conducted on six imaging systems in five centers, with either single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or SPECT/CT, and two brain phantoms. The gray/white matter I-123 activity ratio in the brain phantoms was 4, and they were enclosed in either an artificial adult male skull, 1300 Hounsfield units (HU), a female skull, 850 HU, or an acrylic cover. The cut-off frequency of the Butterworth filters was adjusted so that the spatial resolution was unified to a 17.9 mm full width at half maximum (FWHM), that of the lowest resolution system. The gray-to-white matter count ratios were measured from SPECT images and compared with the actual activity ratio. In addition, mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation images were calculated after normalization and anatomical standardization to evaluate the variability of the NDB. The gray-to-white matter count ratio error without SC and attenuation correction (AC) was significantly larger for higher bone densities (p < 0.05). The count ratio error with TEW and CTAC was approximately 5% regardless of bone density. After adjustment of the spatial resolution in the SPECT images, the variability of the NDB decreased and was comparable to that of the NDB without correction. The proposed protocol showed potential for constructing an appropriate common NDB from SPECT images with SC, AC and spatial resolution compensation.

Self-collimating photonic crystal polarization beam splitter.

PubMed

Zabelin, V; Dunbar, L A; Le Thomas, N; Houdré, R; Kotlyar, M V; O'Faolain, L; Krauss, T F

2007-03-01

We present theoretical and experimental results of a polarization splitter device that consists of a photonic crystal (PhC) slab, which exhibits a large reflection coefficient for TE and a high transmission coefficient for TM polarization. The slab is embedded in a PhC tile operating in the self-collimation mode. Embedding the polarization-discriminating slab in a PhC with identical lattice symmetry suppresses the in-plane diffraction losses at the PhC-non-PhC interface. The optimization of the PhC-non-PhC interface is thereby decoupled from the optimization of the polarizing function. Transmissions as high as 35% for TM- and 30% for TE-polarized light are reported.

Maximizing power output from continuous-wave single-frequency fiber amplifiers.

PubMed

Ward, Benjamin G

2015-02-15

This Letter reports on a method of maximizing the power output from highly saturated cladding-pumped continuous-wave single-frequency fiber amplifiers simultaneously, taking into account the stimulated Brillouin scattering and transverse modal instability thresholds. This results in a design figure of merit depending on the fundamental mode overlap with the doping profile, the peak Brillouin gain coefficient, and the peak mode coupling gain coefficient. This figure of merit is then numerically analyzed for three candidate fiber designs including standard, segmented acoustically tailored, and micro-segmented acoustically tailored photonic-crystal fibers. It is found that each of the latter two fibers should enable a 50% higher output power than standard photonic crystal fiber.

Photon pair source via two coupling single quantum emitters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Yong-Gang; Zheng, Yu-Jun

2015-10-01

We study the two coupling two-level single molecules driven by an external field as a photon pair source. The probability of emitting two photons, P2, is employed to describe the photon pair source quality in a short time, and the correlation coefficient RAB is employed to describe the photon pair source quality in a long time limit. The results demonstrate that the coupling single quantum emitters can be considered as a stable photon pair source. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grand Nos. 91021009, 21073110, and 11374191), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (Grant No. ZR2013AQ020), the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 2013M531584), the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (Grant Nos. 20130131110005 and 20130131120006), and the Taishan Scholarship Project of Shandong Province, China.

Random noise attenuation of non-uniformly sampled 3D seismic data along two spatial coordinates using non-equispaced curvelet transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hua; Yang, Hui; Li, Hongxing; Huang, Guangnan; Ding, Zheyi

2018-04-01

The attenuation of random noise is important for improving the signal to noise ratio (SNR). However, the precondition for most conventional denoising methods is that the noisy data must be sampled on a uniform grid, making the conventional methods unsuitable for non-uniformly sampled data. In this paper, a denoising method capable of regularizing the noisy data from a non-uniform grid to a specified uniform grid is proposed. Firstly, the denoising method is performed for every time slice extracted from the 3D noisy data along the source and receiver directions, then the 2D non-equispaced fast Fourier transform (NFFT) is introduced in the conventional fast discrete curvelet transform (FDCT). The non-equispaced fast discrete curvelet transform (NFDCT) can be achieved based on the regularized inversion of an operator that links the uniformly sampled curvelet coefficients to the non-uniformly sampled noisy data. The uniform curvelet coefficients can be calculated by using the inversion algorithm of the spectral projected-gradient for ℓ1-norm problems. Then local threshold factors are chosen for the uniform curvelet coefficients for each decomposition scale, and effective curvelet coefficients are obtained respectively for each scale. Finally, the conventional inverse FDCT is applied to the effective curvelet coefficients. This completes the proposed 3D denoising method using the non-equispaced curvelet transform in the source-receiver domain. The examples for synthetic data and real data reveal the effectiveness of the proposed approach in applications to noise attenuation for non-uniformly sampled data compared with the conventional FDCT method and wavelet transformation.

On the sub-band gap optical absorption in heat treated cadmium sulphide thin film deposited on glass by chemical bath deposition technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chattopadhyay, P.; Karim, B.; Guha Roy, S.

2013-12-01

The sub-band gap optical absorption in chemical bath deposited cadmium sulphide thin films annealed at different temperatures has been critically analyzed with special reference to Urbach relation. It has been found that the absorption co-efficient of the material in the sub-band gap region is nearly constant up to a certain critical value of the photon energy. However, as the photon energy exceeds the critical value, the absorption coefficient increases exponentially indicating the dominance of Urbach rule. The absorption coefficients in the constant absorption region and the Urbach region have been found to be sensitive to annealing temperature. A critical examination of the temperature dependence of the absorption coefficient indicates two different kinds of optical transitions to be operative in the sub-band gap region. After a careful analyses of SEM images, energy dispersive x-ray spectra, and the dc current-voltage characteristics, we conclude that the absorption spectra in the sub-band gap domain is possibly associated with optical transition processes involving deep levels and the grain boundary states of the material.

Multi-tap complex-coefficient incoherent microwave photonic filters based on optical single-sideband modulation and narrow band optical filtering.

PubMed

Sagues, Mikel; García Olcina, Raimundo; Loayssa, Alayn; Sales, Salvador; Capmany, José

2008-01-07

We propose a novel scheme to implement tunable multi-tap complex coefficient filters based on optical single sideband modulation and narrow band optical filtering. A four tap filter is experimentally demonstrated to highlight the enhanced tuning performance provided by complex coefficients. Optical processing is performed by the use of a cascade of four phase-shifted fiber Bragg gratings specifically fabricated for this purpose.

Attenuation correction in emission tomography using the emission data—A review

PubMed Central

Li, Yusheng

2016-01-01

The problem of attenuation correction (AC) for quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) had been considered solved to a large extent after the commercial availability of devices combining PET with computed tomography (CT) in 2001; single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has seen a similar development. However, stimulated in particular by technical advances toward clinical systems combining PET and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), research interest in alternative approaches for PET AC has grown substantially in the last years. In this comprehensive literature review, the authors first present theoretical results with relevance to simultaneous reconstruction of attenuation and activity. The authors then look back at the early history of this research area especially in PET; since this history is closely interwoven with that of similar approaches in SPECT, these will also be covered. We then review algorithmic advances in PET, including analytic and iterative algorithms. The analytic approaches are either based on the Helgason–Ludwig data consistency conditions of the Radon transform, or generalizations of John’s partial differential equation; with respect to iterative methods, we discuss maximum likelihood reconstruction of attenuation and activity (MLAA), the maximum likelihood attenuation correction factors (MLACF) algorithm, and their offspring. The description of methods is followed by a structured account of applications for simultaneous reconstruction techniques: this discussion covers organ-specific applications, applications specific to PET/MRI, applications using supplemental transmission information, and motion-aware applications. After briefly summarizing SPECT applications, we consider recent developments using emission data other than unscattered photons. In summary, developments using time-of-flight (TOF) PET emission data for AC have shown promising advances and open a wide range of applications. These techniques may both remedy deficiencies of purely MRI-based AC approaches in PET/MRI and improve standalone PET imaging. PMID:26843243

Attenuation correction in emission tomography using the emission data—A review

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berker, Yannick, E-mail: berker@mail.med.upenn.edu; Li, Yusheng

2016-02-15

The problem of attenuation correction (AC) for quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) had been considered solved to a large extent after the commercial availability of devices combining PET with computed tomography (CT) in 2001; single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has seen a similar development. However, stimulated in particular by technical advances toward clinical systems combining PET and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), research interest in alternative approaches for PET AC has grown substantially in the last years. In this comprehensive literature review, the authors first present theoretical results with relevance to simultaneous reconstruction of attenuation and activity. The authors thenmore » look back at the early history of this research area especially in PET; since this history is closely interwoven with that of similar approaches in SPECT, these will also be covered. We then review algorithmic advances in PET, including analytic and iterative algorithms. The analytic approaches are either based on the Helgason–Ludwig data consistency conditions of the Radon transform, or generalizations of John’s partial differential equation; with respect to iterative methods, we discuss maximum likelihood reconstruction of attenuation and activity (MLAA), the maximum likelihood attenuation correction factors (MLACF) algorithm, and their offspring. The description of methods is followed by a structured account of applications for simultaneous reconstruction techniques: this discussion covers organ-specific applications, applications specific to PET/MRI, applications using supplemental transmission information, and motion-aware applications. After briefly summarizing SPECT applications, we consider recent developments using emission data other than unscattered photons. In summary, developments using time-of-flight (TOF) PET emission data for AC have shown promising advances and open a wide range of applications. These techniques may both remedy deficiencies of purely MRI-based AC approaches in PET/MRI and improve standalone PET imaging.« less

SU-F-T-398: Improving Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Using Dual Energy Computed Tomography Based Tissue Characterization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tomic, N; Bekerat, H; Seuntjens, J

Purpose: Both kVp settings and geometric distribution of various materials lead to significant change of the HU values, showing the largest discrepancy for high-Z materials and for the lowest CT scanning kVp setting. On the other hand, the dose distributions around low-energy brachytherapy sources are highly dependent on the architecture and composition of tissue heterogeneities in and around the implant. Both measurements and Monte Carlo calculations show that improper tissue characterization may lead to calculated dose errors of 90% for low energy and around 10% for higher energy photons. We investigated the ability of dual-energy CT (DECT) to characterize moremore » accurately tissue equivalent materials. Methods: We used the RMI-467 heterogeneity phantom scanned in DECT mode with 3 different set-ups: first, we placed high electron density (ED) plugs within the outer ring of the phantom; then we arranged high ED plugs within the inner ring; and finally ED plugs were randomly distributed. All three setups were scanned with the same DECT technique using a single-source DECT scanner with fast kVp switching (Discovery CT750HD; GE Healthcare). Images were transferred to a GE Advantage workstation for DECT analysis. Spectral Hounsfield unit curves (SHUACs) were then generated from 50 to 140-keV, in 10-keV increments, for each plug. Results: The dynamic range of Hounsfield units shrinks with increased photon energy as the attenuation coefficients decrease. Our results show that the spread of HUs for the three different geometrical setups is the smallest at 80 keV. Furthermore, among all the energies and all materials presented, the largest difference appears at high Z tissue equivalent plugs. Conclusion: Our results suggest that dose calculations at both megavoltage and low photon energies could benefit in the vicinity of bony structures if the 80 keV reconstructed monochromatic CT image is used with the DECT protocol utilized in this work.« less

ImaSim, a software tool for basic education of medical x-ray imaging in radiotherapy and radiology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landry, Guillaume; deBlois, François; Verhaegen, Frank

2013-11-01

Introduction: X-ray imaging is an important part of medicine and plays a crucial role in radiotherapy. Education in this field is mostly limited to textbook teaching due to equipment restrictions. A novel simulation tool, ImaSim, for teaching the fundamentals of the x-ray imaging process based on ray-tracing is presented in this work. ImaSim is used interactively via a graphical user interface (GUI). Materials and methods: The software package covers the main x-ray based medical modalities: planar kilo voltage (kV), planar (portal) mega voltage (MV), fan beam computed tomography (CT) and cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging. The user can modify the photon source, object to be imaged and imaging setup with three-dimensional editors. Objects are currently obtained by combining blocks with variable shapes. The imaging of three-dimensional voxelized geometries is currently not implemented, but can be added in a later release. The program follows a ray-tracing approach, ignoring photon scatter in its current implementation. Simulations of a phantom CT scan were generated in ImaSim and were compared to measured data in terms of CT number accuracy. Spatial variations in the photon fluence and mean energy from an x-ray tube caused by the heel effect were estimated from ImaSim and Monte Carlo simulations and compared. Results: In this paper we describe ImaSim and provide two examples of its capabilities. CT numbers were found to agree within 36 Hounsfield Units (HU) for bone, which corresponds to a 2% attenuation coefficient difference. ImaSim reproduced the heel effect reasonably well when compared to Monte Carlo simulations. Discussion: An x-ray imaging simulation tool is made available for teaching and research purposes. ImaSim provides a means to facilitate the teaching of medical x-ray imaging.

The statistical fluctuation study of quantum key distribution in means of uncertainty principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Dunwei; An, Huiyao; Zhang, Xiaoyu; Shi, Xuemei

2018-03-01

Laser defects in emitting single photon, photon signal attenuation and propagation of error cause our serious headaches in practical long-distance quantum key distribution (QKD) experiment for a long time. In this paper, we study the uncertainty principle in metrology and use this tool to analyze the statistical fluctuation of the number of received single photons, the yield of single photons and quantum bit error rate (QBER). After that we calculate the error between measured value and real value of every parameter, and concern the propagation error among all the measure values. We paraphrase the Gottesman-Lo-Lutkenhaus-Preskill (GLLP) formula in consideration of those parameters and generate the QKD simulation result. In this study, with the increase in coding photon length, the safe distribution distance is longer and longer. When the coding photon's length is N = 10^{11}, the safe distribution distance can be almost 118 km. It gives a lower bound of safe transmission distance than without uncertainty principle's 127 km. So our study is in line with established theory, but we make it more realistic.

Separation of ballistic and diffusive fluorescence photons in confocal Light-Sheet Microscopy of Arabidopsis roots.

PubMed

Meinert, Tobias; Tietz, Olaf; Palme, Klaus J; Rohrbach, Alexander

2016-08-24

Image quality in light-sheet fluorescence microscopy is strongly affected by the shape of the illuminating laser beam inside embryos, plants or tissue. While the phase of Gaussian or Bessel beams propagating through thousands of cells can be partly controlled holographically, the propagation of fluorescence light to the detector is difficult to control. With each scatter process a fluorescence photon loses information necessary for the image generation. Using Arabidopsis root tips we demonstrate that ballistic and diffusive fluorescence photons can be separated by analyzing the image spectra in each plane without a priori knowledge. We introduce a theoretical model allowing to extract typical scattering parameters of the biological material. This allows to attenuate image contributions from diffusive photons and to amplify the relevant image contributions from ballistic photons through a depth dependent deconvolution. In consequence, image contrast and resolution are significantly increased and scattering artefacts are minimized especially for Bessel beams with confocal line detection.

Separation of ballistic and diffusive fluorescence photons in confocal Light-Sheet Microscopy of Arabidopsis roots

PubMed Central

Meinert, Tobias; Tietz, Olaf; Palme, Klaus J.; Rohrbach, Alexander

2016-01-01

Image quality in light-sheet fluorescence microscopy is strongly affected by the shape of the illuminating laser beam inside embryos, plants or tissue. While the phase of Gaussian or Bessel beams propagating through thousands of cells can be partly controlled holographically, the propagation of fluorescence light to the detector is difficult to control. With each scatter process a fluorescence photon loses information necessary for the image generation. Using Arabidopsis root tips we demonstrate that ballistic and diffusive fluorescence photons can be separated by analyzing the image spectra in each plane without a priori knowledge. We introduce a theoretical model allowing to extract typical scattering parameters of the biological material. This allows to attenuate image contributions from diffusive photons and to amplify the relevant image contributions from ballistic photons through a depth dependent deconvolution. In consequence, image contrast and resolution are significantly increased and scattering artefacts are minimized especially for Bessel beams with confocal line detection. PMID:27553506

Transport of Neutrons and Photons Through Iron and Water Layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Košťál, Michal; Cvachovec, František; Ošmera, Bohumil; Hansen, Wolfgang; Noack, Klaus

2009-08-01

The neutron and photon spectra were measured after iron and water plates placed at the horizontal channel of the Dresden University reactor AK-2. The measurements have been performed with the multiparameter spectrometer [1] with a stilbene cylindrical crystal, 10 × 10 mm or 45 × 45 mm; the neutron and photon spectra have been measured simultaneously. The calculations were performed with the MCNP code and nuclear data libraries ENDF/B VI.2, ENDF/BVII.0, JENDL 3.3 and JEFF 3.1. The measured channel leakage spectrum was used as the input spectrum for the transport calculation. Photons, the primary photons from the reactor - as well as the ones induced by neutron interaction - were calculated. The comparison of the measurements and calculations through 10 cm of iron and 20 cm thickness of water are presented. Besides that, the attenuation of the radiation mixed field by iron layers from 5 to 30 cm is presented; the measured and calculated data are compared.

Quantum communications system with integrated photonic devices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nordholt, Jane E.; Peterson, Charles Glen; Newell, Raymond Thorson

Security is increased in quantum communication (QC) systems lacking a true single-photon laser source by encoding a transmitted optical signal with two or more decoy-states. A variable attenuator or amplitude modulator randomly imposes average photon values onto the optical signal based on data input and the predetermined decoy-states. By measuring and comparing photon distributions for a received QC signal, a single-photon transmittance is estimated. Fiber birefringence is compensated by applying polarization modulation. A transmitter can be configured to transmit in conjugate polarization bases whose states of polarization (SOPs) can be represented as equidistant points on a great circle on themore » Poincare sphere so that the received SOPs are mapped to equidistant points on a great circle and routed to corresponding detectors. Transmitters are implemented in quantum communication cards and can be assembled from micro-optical components, or transmitter components can be fabricated as part of a monolithic or hybrid chip-scale circuit.« less

Time-dependent models for blazar emission with the second-order Fermi acceleration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Asano, Katsuaki; Takahara, Fumio; Toma, Kenji

The second-order Fermi acceleration (Fermi-II) driven by turbulence may be responsible for the electron acceleration in blazar jets. We test this model with time-dependent simulations. The hard electron spectrum predicted by the Fermi-II process agrees with the hard photon spectrum of 1ES 1101–232. For other blazars that show softer spectra, the Fermi-II model requires radial evolution of the electron injection rate and/or diffusion coefficient in the outflow. Such evolutions can yield a curved electron spectrum, which can reproduce the synchrotron spectrum of Mrk 421 from the radio to the X-ray regime. The photon spectrum in the GeV energy range ofmore » Mrk 421 is hard to fit with a synchrotron self-Compton model. However, if we introduce an external radio photon field with a luminosity of 4.9 × 10{sup 38} erg s{sup –1}, GeV photons are successfully produced via inverse Compton scattering. The temporal variability of the diffusion coefficient or injection rate causes flare emission. The observed synchronicity of X-ray and TeV flares implies a decrease of the magnetic field in the flaring source region.« less

Sound propagation in urban areas: a periodic disposition of buildings.

PubMed

Picaut, J; Hardy, J; Simon, L

1999-10-01

A numerical simulation of background noise propagation is performed for a network of hexagonal buildings. The obtained results suggest that the prediction of background noise in urban spaces is possible by means of a modified diffusion equation using two parameters: the diffusion coefficient that expresses the spreading out of noise resulting from diffuse scattering and multiple reflections by buildings, and an attenuation term accounting for the wall absorption, atmospheric attenuation, and absorption by the open top. The dependence of the diffusion coefficient with geometrical shapes and the diffusive nature of the buildings are investigated in the case of a periodic disposition of hexagonal buildings.

Determination of particles concentration in Black Sea waters from spectral beam attenuation coefficient

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korchemkina, E. N.; Latushkin, A. A.; Lee, M. E.

2017-11-01

The methods of determination of concentration and scattering by suspended particles in seawater are compared. The methods considered include gravimetric measurements of the mass concentration of suspended matter, empirical and analytical calculations based on measurements of the light beam attenuation coefficient (BAC) in 4 spectral bands, calculation of backscattering by particles using satellite measurements in the visible spectral range. The data were obtained in two cruises of the R/V "Professor Vodyanitsky" in the deep-water part of the Black Sea in July and October 2016., Spatial distribution of scattering by marine particles according to satellite data is in good agreement with the contact measurements.

Study of mass attenuation coefficients and effective atomic numbers of bismuth-ground granulated blast furnace slag concretes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Sandeep, E-mail: sandeep0078monu@gmail.com; Singh, Sukhpal, E-mail: sukhpal-78@rediffmail.com

2016-05-06

Five samples of Bismuth-Ground granulated blast furnace slag (Bi-GGBFS) concretes were prepared using composition (0.6 cement + x Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} + (0.4-x) GGBFS, x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25) by keeping constant water (W) cement (C) ratio. Mass attenuation coefficients (μ{sub m}) of these prepared samples were calculated using a computer program winXCOM at different gamma ray energies, whereas effective atomic numbers (Z{sub eff}) is calculated using mathematical formulas. The radiation shielding properties of Bi-GGBFS concrete has been compared with standard radiation shielding concretes.

Laboratory measurements of selected optical, physical, chemical, and remote-sensing properties of five water mixtures containing Calvert clay and a nonfluorescing dye

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Usry, J. W.; Whitlock, C. H.; Poole, L. R.; Witte, W. G., Jr.

1981-01-01

Total suspended solids concentrations ranged from 6.1 ppm to 24.3 ppm and sizes ranged between 1.5 micrometers and 10 micrometers with the most frequently occurring size less than 2 micrometers. Iron concentration was less than 1 percent of the total suspended solids. Nonfluorescing dye concentrations of the two mixtures were 20 ppm and 40 ppm. Attenuation coefficient for the five mixtures ranged from 4.8/m to 21.3/m. Variations in volume scattering function with phase angle were typical. Variations in attenuation and absorption coefficient with wavelength were similar for the mixtures without the dye. Attenuation coefficient of the mixtures with the dye increased for wavelengths less than 600 nm due to the dye's strong absorption peak near 500 nm. Reflectance increased as the concentration of Calvert clay increased and peaked near 600 nm. The nonfluorescent dye decreased the magnitude of the peak, but had practically no effect on the variation for wavelengths greater than 640 nm. At wavelengths less than 600 nm, the spectral variations of the mixtures with the dye were significantly different from those mixtures without the dye.

Lithium-doped hydroxyapatite nano-composites: Synthesis, characterization, gamma attenuation coefficient and dielectric properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badran, H.; Yahia, I. S.; Hamdy, Mohamed S.; Awwad, N. S.

2017-01-01

Lithium-hydroxyapatite (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt% Li-HAp) nano-composites were synthesized by sol-gel technique followed by microwave-hydrothermal treatment. The composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman techniques. Gamma attenuation coefficient and the dielectric properties for all composites were investigated. The crystallinity degree of Li-doped HAp was higher than that of un-doped HAp. Gamma attenuation coefficient values increased from 0.562 cm-1 for 0 wt% Li-HAp to 2.190 cm-1 for 40 wt% Li-HAp. The alternating current conductivity increased with increasing frequency. The concentration of Li affect the values of dielectric constant where Li doped HAp of low dielectric constant can have an advantage for healing in bone fractures. The calcium to phosphorus ratio decreased from 1.43 to 1.37 with the addition of lithium indicating the Ca deficiency in the studied composites. Our findings lead to the conclusion that Li-HAp is a new nano-composite useful for medical applications and could be doped with gamma shield materials.

Effective Atomic Number, Mass Attenuation Coefficient Parameterization, and Implications for High-Energy X-Ray Cargo Inspection Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langeveld, Willem G. J.

The most widely used technology for the non-intrusive active inspection of cargo containers and trucks is x-ray radiography at high energies (4-9 MeV). Technologies such as dual-energy imaging, spectroscopy, and statistical waveform analysis can be used to estimate the effective atomic number (Zeff) of the cargo from the x-ray transmission data, because the mass attenuation coefficient depends on energy as well as atomic number Z. The estimated effective atomic number, Zeff, of the cargo then leads to improved detection capability of contraband and threats, including special nuclear materials (SNM) and shielding. In this context, the exact meaning of effective atomic number (for mixtures and compounds) is generally not well-defined. Physics-based parameterizations of the mass attenuation coefficient have been given in the past, but usually for a limited low-energy range. Definitions of Zeff have been based, in part, on such parameterizations. Here, we give an improved parameterization at low energies (20-1000 keV) which leads to a well-defined Zeff. We then extend this parameterization up to energies relevant for cargo inspection (10 MeV), and examine what happens to the Zeff definition at these higher energies.

Laser microbeam CT scanning of dosimetry gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maryanski, Marek J.; Ranade, Manisha K.

2001-06-01

A novel design of an optical tomographic scanner is described that can be used for 3D mapping of optical attenuation coefficient within translucent cylindrical objects with spatial resolution on the order of 100 microns. Our scanner design utilizes the cylindrical geometry of the imaged object to obtain the desired paths of the scanning light rays. A rotating mirror and a photodetector are placed at two opposite foci of the translucent cylinder that acts as a cylindrical lens. A He-Ne laser beam passes first through a focusing lens and then is reflected by the rotating mirror, so as to scan the interior of the cylinder with focused and parallel paraxial rays that are subsequently collected by the photodetector to produce the projection data, as the cylinder rotates in small angle increments between projections. Filtered backprojection is then used to reconstruct planar distributions of optical attenuation coefficient in the cylinder. Multiplanar scans are used to obtain a complete 3D tomographic reconstruction. Among other applications, the scanner can be used in radiation therapy dosimetry and quality assurance for mapping 3D radiation dose distributions in various types of tissue-equivalent gel phantoms that change their optical attenuation coefficients in proportion to the absorbed radiation dose.

Estimation of underwater visibility in coastal and inland waters using remote sensing data.

PubMed

Kulshreshtha, Anuj; Shanmugam, Palanisamy

2017-04-01

An optical method is developed to estimate water transparency (or underwater visibility) in terms of Secchi depth (Z sd ), which follows the remote sensing and contrast transmittance theory. The major factors governing the variation in Z sd , namely, turbidity and length attenuation coefficient (1/(c + K d ), c = beam attenuation coefficient; K d  = diffuse attenuation coefficient at 531 nm), are obtained based on band rationing techniques. It was found that the band ratio of remote sensing reflectance (expressed as (R rs (443) + R rs (490))/(R rs (555) + R rs (670)) contains essential information about the water column optical properties and thereby positively correlates to turbidity. The beam attenuation coefficient (c) at 531 nm is obtained by a linear relationship with turbidity. To derive the vertical diffuse attenuation coefficient (K d ) at 531 nm, K d (490) is estimated as a function of reflectance ratio (R rs (670)/R rs (490)), which provides the bio-optical link between chlorophyll concentration and K d (531). The present algorithm was applied to MODIS-Aqua images, and the results were evaluated by matchup comparisons between the remotely estimated Z sd and in situ Z sd in coastal waters off Point Calimere and its adjoining regions on the southeast coast of India. The results showed the pattern of increasing Z sd from shallow turbid waters to deep clear waters. The statistical evaluation of the results showed that the percent mean relative error between the MODIS-Aqua-derived Z sd and in situ Z sd values was within ±25%. A close agreement achieved in spatial contours of MODIS-Aqua-derived Z sd and in situ Z sd for the month of January 2014 and August 2013 promises the model capability to yield accurate estimates of Z sd in coastal, estuarine, and inland waters. The spatial contours have been included to provide the best data visualization of the measured, modeled (in situ), and satellite-derived Z sd products. The modeled and satellite-derived Z sd values were compared with measurement data which yielded RMSE = 0.079, MRE = -0.016, and R 2  = 0.95 for the modeled Z sd and RMSE = 0.075, MRE = 0.020, and R 2  = 0.95 for the satellite-derived Z sd products.

X-ray tube voltage and image quality in adult and pediatric CT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huda, W.; Ogden, K. M.; Scalzetti, E. M.; Lavallee, R. L.; Samei, E.

2006-03-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate how tissue x-ray attenuation coefficients, and their uncertainties, vary with x-ray tube voltage in different sized patients. Anthropomorphic phantoms (newborn, 10 year old, adult) were scanned a GE LightSpeed scanner at four x-ray tube voltages. Measurements were made of tissue attenuation in the head, chest and abdomen regions, as well as the corresponding noise values. Tissue signal to noise ratios (SNR) were obtained by dividing the average attenuation coefficient by the corresponding standard deviation. Soft tissue attenuation coefficients, relative to water, showed little variation with patient location or x-ray voltage (< 0.5%), but increasing the x-ray tube voltage from 80 to 140 kV reduced bone x-ray attenuation by ~14%. All tissues except adult bone showed a reduction of noise with increasing x-ray tube voltage (kV); the noise was found to be proportional to kV n and the average value of n for all tissues was -1.19 +/- 0.57. In pediatric patients at a constant x-ray tube voltage, SNR values were approximately independent of the body region, but the adult abdomen soft tissue SNR values were ~40% lower than the adult head. SNR values in the newborn were more than double the corresponding SNR soft tissue values in adults. SNR values for lung and bone were generally lower than those for soft tissues. For soft tissues, increasing the x-ray tube voltage from 80 to 140 kV increased the SNR by an average of ~90%. Data in this paper can be used to help design CT imaging protocols that take into account patient size and diagnostic imaging task.

Assessment of dynamic material properties of intact rocks using seismic wave attenuation: an experimental study

PubMed Central

Wanniarachchi, W. A. M.; Perera, M. S. A.; Rathnaweera, T. D.; Lyu, Q.; Mahanta, B.

2017-01-01

The mechanical properties of any substance are essential facts to understand its behaviour and make the maximum use of the particular substance. Rocks are indeed an important substance, as they are of significant use in the energy industry, specifically for fossil fuels and geothermal energy. Attenuation of seismic waves is a non-destructive technique to investigate mechanical properties of reservoir rocks under different conditions. The attenuation characteristics of five different rock types, siltstone, shale, Australian sandstone, Indian sandstone and granite, were investigated in the laboratory using ultrasonic and acoustic emission instruments in a frequency range of 0.1–1 MHz. The pulse transmission technique and spectral ratios were used to calculate the attenuation coefficient (α) and quality factor (Q) values for the five selected rock types for both primary (P) and secondary (S) waves, relative to the reference steel sample. For all the rock types, the attenuation coefficient was linearly proportional to the frequency of both the P and S waves. Interestingly, the attenuation coefficient of granite is more than 22% higher than that of siltstone, sandstone and shale for both P and S waves. The P and S wave velocities were calculated based on their recorded travel time, and these velocities were then used to calculate the dynamic mechanical properties including elastic modulus (E), bulk modulus (K), shear modulus (µ) and Poisson's ratio (ν). The P and S wave velocities for the selected rock types varied in the ranges of 2.43–4.61 km s−1 and 1.43–2.41 km h−1, respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that the P wave velocity was always greater than the S wave velocity, and this confirmed the first arrival of P waves to the sensor. According to the experimental results, the dynamic E value is generally higher than the static E value obtained by unconfined compressive strength tests. PMID:29134090

Assessment of dynamic material properties of intact rocks using seismic wave attenuation: an experimental study.

PubMed

Wanniarachchi, W A M; Ranjith, P G; Perera, M S A; Rathnaweera, T D; Lyu, Q; Mahanta, B

2017-10-01

The mechanical properties of any substance are essential facts to understand its behaviour and make the maximum use of the particular substance. Rocks are indeed an important substance, as they are of significant use in the energy industry, specifically for fossil fuels and geothermal energy. Attenuation of seismic waves is a non-destructive technique to investigate mechanical properties of reservoir rocks under different conditions. The attenuation characteristics of five different rock types, siltstone, shale, Australian sandstone, Indian sandstone and granite, were investigated in the laboratory using ultrasonic and acoustic emission instruments in a frequency range of 0.1-1 MHz. The pulse transmission technique and spectral ratios were used to calculate the attenuation coefficient ( α ) and quality factor ( Q ) values for the five selected rock types for both primary ( P ) and secondary ( S ) waves, relative to the reference steel sample. For all the rock types, the attenuation coefficient was linearly proportional to the frequency of both the P and S waves. Interestingly, the attenuation coefficient of granite is more than 22% higher than that of siltstone, sandstone and shale for both P and S waves. The P and S wave velocities were calculated based on their recorded travel time, and these velocities were then used to calculate the dynamic mechanical properties including elastic modulus ( E ), bulk modulus ( K ), shear modulus ( µ ) and Poisson's ratio ( ν ). The P and S wave velocities for the selected rock types varied in the ranges of 2.43-4.61 km s -1 and 1.43-2.41 km h -1 , respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that the P wave velocity was always greater than the S wave velocity, and this confirmed the first arrival of P waves to the sensor. According to the experimental results, the dynamic E value is generally higher than the static E value obtained by unconfined compressive strength tests.

Assessment of dynamic material properties of intact rocks using seismic wave attenuation: an experimental study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wanniarachchi, W. A. M.; Ranjith, P. G.; Perera, M. S. A.; Rathnaweera, T. D.; Lyu, Q.; Mahanta, B.

2017-10-01

The mechanical properties of any substance are essential facts to understand its behaviour and make the maximum use of the particular substance. Rocks are indeed an important substance, as they are of significant use in the energy industry, specifically for fossil fuels and geothermal energy. Attenuation of seismic waves is a non-destructive technique to investigate mechanical properties of reservoir rocks under different conditions. The attenuation characteristics of five different rock types, siltstone, shale, Australian sandstone, Indian sandstone and granite, were investigated in the laboratory using ultrasonic and acoustic emission instruments in a frequency range of 0.1-1 MHz. The pulse transmission technique and spectral ratios were used to calculate the attenuation coefficient (α) and quality factor (Q) values for the five selected rock types for both primary (P) and secondary (S) waves, relative to the reference steel sample. For all the rock types, the attenuation coefficient was linearly proportional to the frequency of both the P and S waves. Interestingly, the attenuation coefficient of granite is more than 22% higher than that of siltstone, sandstone and shale for both P and S waves. The P and S wave velocities were calculated based on their recorded travel time, and these velocities were then used to calculate the dynamic mechanical properties including elastic modulus (E), bulk modulus (K), shear modulus (µ) and Poisson's ratio (ν). The P and S wave velocities for the selected rock types varied in the ranges of 2.43-4.61 km s-1 and 1.43-2.41 km h-1, respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that the P wave velocity was always greater than the S wave velocity, and this confirmed the first arrival of P waves to the sensor. According to the experimental results, the dynamic E value is generally higher than the static E value obtained by unconfined compressive strength tests.

Expectation-maximization of the potential of mean force and diffusion coefficient in Langevin dynamics from single molecule FRET data photon by photon.

PubMed

Haas, Kevin R; Yang, Haw; Chu, Jhih-Wei

2013-12-12

The dynamics of a protein along a well-defined coordinate can be formally projected onto the form of an overdamped Lagevin equation. Here, we present a comprehensive statistical-learning framework for simultaneously quantifying the deterministic force (the potential of mean force, PMF) and the stochastic force (characterized by the diffusion coefficient, D) from single-molecule Förster-type resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments. The likelihood functional of the Langevin parameters, PMF and D, is expressed by a path integral of the latent smFRET distance that follows Langevin dynamics and realized by the donor and the acceptor photon emissions. The solution is made possible by an eigen decomposition of the time-symmetrized form of the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation coupled with photon statistics. To extract the Langevin parameters from photon arrival time data, we advance the expectation-maximization algorithm in statistical learning, originally developed for and mostly used in discrete-state systems, to a general form in the continuous space that allows for a variational calculus on the continuous PMF function. We also introduce the regularization of the solution space in this Bayesian inference based on a maximum trajectory-entropy principle. We use a highly nontrivial example with realistically simulated smFRET data to illustrate the application of this new method.

Band structure of one-dimensional photonic crystal with graphene layers using the Fresnel coefficients method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jafari, A.; Rahmat, A.

2018-04-01

In this paper, we have calculated the band structure of an instance of one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) composed of double-layered dielectrics via the Fresnel coefficients method. Then, we supposed the addition of a thin layer of graphene to each dielectric layer and the given photonic crystal (PC) composed of dielectric-graphene composites. The effects of graphene layers on the PC band structure were evaluated. We found out that according to the effective medium theory unlike the TE polarization, the electric permittivity of the dielectric layers changed at TM polarization. As such, the band structure of PC for TM polarization changed, too. Moreover, instead of bandgap related to “zero averaged refractive index” an approximately omnidirectional bandgap appeared and a related bandgap to “𝜀 = 0” disappeared. In addition, a new angular gap branch appeared at a new frequency at TM polarization in which the width of gap increased as the angle increased.

Hybrid photonic signal processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghauri, Farzan Naseer

This thesis proposes research of novel hybrid photonic signal processing systems in the areas of optical communications, test and measurement, RF signal processing and extreme environment optical sensors. It will be shown that use of innovative hybrid techniques allows design of photonic signal processing systems with superior performance parameters and enhanced capabilities. These applications can be divided into domains of analog-digital hybrid signal processing applications and free-space---fiber-coupled hybrid optical sensors. The analog-digital hybrid signal processing applications include a high-performance analog-digital hybrid MEMS variable optical attenuator that can simultaneously provide high dynamic range as well as high resolution attenuation controls; an analog-digital hybrid MEMS beam profiler that allows high-power watt-level laser beam profiling and also provides both submicron-level high resolution and wide area profiling coverage; and all optical transversal RF filters that operate on the principle of broadband optical spectral control using MEMS and/or Acousto-Optic tunable Filters (AOTF) devices which can provide continuous, digital or hybrid signal time delay and weight selection. The hybrid optical sensors presented in the thesis are extreme environment pressure sensors and dual temperature-pressure sensors. The sensors employ hybrid free-space and fiber-coupled techniques for remotely monitoring a system under simultaneous extremely high temperatures and pressures.

The piecewise-linear dynamic attenuator reduces the impact of count rate loss with photon-counting detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsieh, Scott S.; Pelc, Norbert J.

2014-06-01

Photon counting x-ray detectors (PCXDs) offer several advantages compared to standard energy-integrating x-ray detectors, but also face significant challenges. One key challenge is the high count rates required in CT. At high count rates, PCXDs exhibit count rate loss and show reduced detective quantum efficiency in signal-rich (or high flux) measurements. In order to reduce count rate requirements, a dynamic beam-shaping filter can be used to redistribute flux incident on the patient. We study the piecewise-linear attenuator in conjunction with PCXDs without energy discrimination capabilities. We examined three detector models: the classic nonparalyzable and paralyzable detector models, and a ‘hybrid’ detector model which is a weighted average of the two which approximates an existing, real detector (Taguchi et al 2011 Med. Phys. 38 1089-102 ). We derive analytic expressions for the variance of the CT measurements for these detectors. These expressions are used with raw data estimated from DICOM image files of an abdomen and a thorax to estimate variance in reconstructed images for both the dynamic attenuator and a static beam-shaping (‘bowtie’) filter. By redistributing flux, the dynamic attenuator reduces dose by 40% without increasing peak variance for the ideal detector. For non-ideal PCXDs, the impact of count rate loss is also reduced. The nonparalyzable detector shows little impact from count rate loss, but with the paralyzable model, count rate loss leads to noise streaks that can be controlled with the dynamic attenuator. With the hybrid model, the characteristic count rates required before noise streaks dominate the reconstruction are reduced by a factor of 2 to 3. We conclude that the piecewise-linear attenuator can reduce the count rate requirements of the PCXD in addition to improving dose efficiency. The magnitude of this reduction depends on the detector, with paralyzable detectors showing much greater benefit than nonparalyzable detectors.

Ultrasonic attenuation in pearlitic steel.

PubMed

Du, Hualong; Turner, Joseph A

2014-03-01

Expressions for the attenuation coefficients of longitudinal and transverse ultrasonic waves are developed for steel with pearlitic microstructure. This type of lamellar duplex microstructure influences attenuation because of the lamellar spacing. In addition, longitudinal attenuation measurements were conducted using an unfocused transducer with 10 MHz central frequency on the cross section of a quenched railroad wheel sample. The dependence of longitudinal attenuation on the pearlite microstructure is observed from the changes of longitudinal attenuation from the quenched tread surface to deeper locations. The results show that the attenuation value is lowest and relatively constant within the quench depth, then increases linearly. The experimental results demonstrate a reasonable agreement with results from the theoretical model. Ultrasonic attenuation provides an important non-destructive method to evaluate duplex microstructure within grains which can be implemented for quality control in conjunction with other manufacturing processes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of noise on modulation amplitude and phase in frequency-domain diffusive imaging

PubMed Central

Kupinski, Matthew A.

2012-01-01

Abstract. We theoretically investigate the effect of noise on frequency-domain heterodyne and/or homodyne measurements of intensity-modulated beams propagating through diffusive media, such as a photon density wave. We assumed that the attenuated amplitude and delayed phase are estimated by taking the Fourier transform of the noisy, modulated output data. We show that the estimated amplitude and phase are biased when the number of output photons is small. We also show that the use of image intensifiers for photon amplification in heterodyne or homodyne measurements increases the amount of biases. Especially, it turns out that the biased estimation is independent of AC-dependent noise in sinusoidal heterodyne or homodyne outputs. Finally, the developed theory indicates that the previously known variance model of modulation amplitude and phase is not valid in low light situations. Monte-Carlo simulations with varied numbers of input photons verify our theoretical trends of the bias. PMID:22352660

Photon Detector System Timing Performance in the DUNE 35-ton Prototype Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adams, D.L.; et al.

The 35-ton prototype for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment far detector was a single-phase liquid argon time projection chamber with an integrated photon detector system, all situated inside a membrane cryostat. The detector took cosmic-ray data for six weeks during the period of February 1, 2016 to March 12, 2016. The performance of the photon detection system was checked with these data. An installed photon detector was demonstrated to measure the arrival times of cosmic-ray muons with a resolution better than 32 ns, limited by the timing of the trigger system. A measurement of the timing resolution using closely-spaced calibration pulses yielded a resolution of 15 ns for pulses at a level of 6 photo-electrons. Scintillation light from cosmic-ray muons was observed to be attenuated with increasing distance with a characteristic length ofmore » $$155 \\pm 28$$ cm.« less

Revealing of photon-number splitting attack on quantum key distribution system by photon-number resolving devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaidash, A. A.; Egorov, V. I.; Gleim, A. V.

2016-08-01

Quantum cryptography allows distributing secure keys between two users so that any performed eavesdropping attempt would be immediately discovered. However, in practice an eavesdropper can obtain key information from multi-photon states when attenuated laser radiation is used as a source of quantum states. In order to prevent actions of an eavesdropper, it is generally suggested to implement special cryptographic protocols, like decoy states or SARG04. In this paper, we describe an alternative method based on monitoring photon number statistics after detection. We provide a useful rule of thumb to estimate approximate order of difference of expected distribution and distribution in case of attack. Formula for calculating a minimum value of total pulses or time-gaps to resolve attack is shown. Also formulas for actual fraction of raw key known to Eve were derived. This method can therefore be used with any system and even combining with mentioned special protocols.

SPRAI: coupling of radiative feedback and primordial chemistry in moving mesh hydrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaura, O.; Glover, S. C. O.; Klessen, R. S.; Paardekooper, J.-P.

2018-04-01

In this paper, we introduce a new radiative transfer code SPRAI (Simplex Photon Radiation in the Arepo Implementation) based on the SIMPLEX radiation transfer method. This method, originally used only for post-processing, is now directly integrated into the AREPO code and takes advantage of its adaptive unstructured mesh. Radiated photons are transferred from the sources through the series of Voronoi gas cells within a specific solid angle. From the photon attenuation, we derive corresponding photon fluxes and ionization rates and feed them to a primordial chemistry module. This gives us a self-consistent method for studying dynamical and chemical processes caused by ionizing sources in primordial gas. Since the computational cost of the SIMPLEX method does not scale directly with the number of sources, it is convenient for studying systems such as primordial star-forming haloes that may form multiple ionizing sources.

Coherent-pulse implementations of quantum cryptography protocols resistant to photon-number-splitting attacks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Acin, Antonio; Gisin, Nicolas; Scarani, Valerio

2004-01-01

We propose a class of quantum cryptography protocols that are robust against photon-number-splitting attacks (PNS) in a weak coherent-pulse implementation. We give a quite exhaustive analysis of several eavesdropping attacks on these schemes. The honest parties (Alice and Bob) use present-day technology, in particular an attenuated laser as an approximation of a single-photon source. The idea of the protocols is to exploit the nonorthogonality of quantum states to decrease the information accessible to Eve due to the multiphoton pulses produced by the imperfect source. The distance at which the key distribution becomes insecure due to the PNS attack is significantlymore » increased compared to the existing schemes. We also show that strong-pulse implementations, where a strong pulse is included as a reference, allow for key distribution robust against photon-number-splitting attacks.« less

Thermal tuning the reversible optical band gap of self-assembled polystyrene photonic crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vakili Tahami, S. H.; Pourmahdian, S.; Shirkavand Hadavand, B.; Azizi, Z. S.; Tehranchi, M. M.

2016-11-01

Nano-sized polymeric colloidal particles could undergo self-organization into three-dimensional structures to produce desired optical properties. In this research, a facile emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization method was employed to synthesize highly mono-disperse sub-micron polystyrene colloids. A high quality photonic crystal (PhC) structure was prepared by colloidal polystyrene. The reversible thermal tuning effect on photonic band gap position as well as the attenuation of the band gap was investigated in detail. The position of PBG can be tuned from 420 nm to 400 nm by varying the temperature of the PhC structure, reversibly. This reversible effect provides a reconfigurable PhC structure which could be used as thermo-responsive shape memory polymers.

Photon beam dose distributions for patients with implanted temporary tissue expanders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asena, A.; Kairn, T.; Crowe, S. B.; Trapp, J. V.

2015-01-01

This study examines the effects of temporary tissue expanders (TTEs) on the dose distributions of photon beams in breast cancer radiotherapy treatments. EBT2 radiochromic film and ion chamber measurements were taken to quantify the attenuation and backscatter effects of the inhomogeneity. Results illustrate that the internal magnetic port present in a tissue expander causes a dose reduction of approximately 25% in photon tangent fields immediately downstream of the implant. It was also shown that the silicone elastomer shell of the tissue expander reduced the dose to the target volume by as much as 8%. This work demonstrates the importance for an accurately modelled high-density implant in the treatment planning system for post-mastectomy breast cancer patients.

In situ gamma-spectrometry several years after deposition of radiocesium. II. Peak-to-valley method.

PubMed

Gering, F; Hillmann, U; Jacob, P; Fehrenbacher, G

1998-12-01

A new method is introduced for deriving radiocesium soil contaminations and kerma rates in air from in situ gamma-ray spectrometric measurements. The approach makes use of additional information about gamma-ray attenuation given by the peak-to-valley ratio, which is the ratio of the count rates for primary and forward scattered photons. In situ measurements are evaluated by comparing the experimental data with the results of Monte Carlo simulations of photon transport and detector response. The influence of photons emitted by natural radionuclides on the calculation of the peak-to-valley ratio is carefully analysed. The new method has been applied to several post-Chernobyl measurements and the results agreed well with those of soil sampling.

Prediction of CT Substitutes from MR Images Based on Local Diffeomorphic Mapping for Brain PET Attenuation Correction.

PubMed

Wu, Yao; Yang, Wei; Lu, Lijun; Lu, Zhentai; Zhong, Liming; Huang, Meiyan; Feng, Yanqiu; Feng, Qianjin; Chen, Wufan

2016-10-01

Attenuation correction is important for PET reconstruction. In PET/MR, MR intensities are not directly related to attenuation coefficients that are needed in PET imaging. The attenuation coefficient map can be derived from CT images. Therefore, prediction of CT substitutes from MR images is desired for attenuation correction in PET/MR. This study presents a patch-based method for CT prediction from MR images, generating attenuation maps for PET reconstruction. Because no global relation exists between MR and CT intensities, we propose local diffeomorphic mapping (LDM) for CT prediction. In LDM, we assume that MR and CT patches are located on 2 nonlinear manifolds, and the mapping from the MR manifold to the CT manifold approximates a diffeomorphism under a local constraint. Locality is important in LDM and is constrained by the following techniques. The first is local dictionary construction, wherein, for each patch in the testing MR image, a local search window is used to extract patches from training MR/CT pairs to construct MR and CT dictionaries. The k-nearest neighbors and an outlier detection strategy are then used to constrain the locality in MR and CT dictionaries. Second is local linear representation, wherein, local anchor embedding is used to solve MR dictionary coefficients when representing the MR testing sample. Under these local constraints, dictionary coefficients are linearly transferred from the MR manifold to the CT manifold and used to combine CT training samples to generate CT predictions. Our dataset contains 13 healthy subjects, each with T1- and T2-weighted MR and CT brain images. This method provides CT predictions with a mean absolute error of 110.1 Hounsfield units, Pearson linear correlation of 0.82, peak signal-to-noise ratio of 24.81 dB, and Dice in bone regions of 0.84 as compared with real CTs. CT substitute-based PET reconstruction has a regression slope of 1.0084 and R 2 of 0.9903 compared with real CT-based PET. In this method, no image segmentation or accurate registration is required. Our method demonstrates superior performance in CT prediction and PET reconstruction compared with competing methods. © 2016 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.

Laser Measurement Of Convective-Heat-Transfer Coefficient

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Porro, A. Robert; Hingst, Warren R.; Chriss, Randall M.; Seablom, Kirk D.; Keith, Theo G., Jr.

1994-01-01

Coefficient of convective transfer of heat at spot on surface of wind-tunnel model computed from measurements acquired by developmental laser-induced-heat-flux technique. Enables non-intrusive measurements of convective-heat-transfer coefficients at many points across surfaces of models in complicated, three-dimensional, high-speed flows. Measurement spot scanned across surface of model. Apparatus includes argon-ion laser, attenuator/beam splitter electronic shutter infrared camera, and subsystem.

Comparison of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) exposures using empirical and backscatter attenuation estimation methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Civale, John; Ter Haar, Gail; Rivens, Ian; Bamber, Jeff

2005-09-01

Currently, the intensity to be used in our clinical HIFU treatments is calculated from the acoustic path lengths in different tissues measured on diagnostic ultrasound images of the patient in the treatment position, and published values of ultrasound attenuation coefficients. This yields an approximate value for the acoustic power at the transducer required to give a stipulated focal intensity in situ. Estimation methods for the actual acoustic attenuation have been investigated in large parts of the tissue path overlying the target volume from the backscattered ultrasound signal for each patient (backscatter attenuation estimation: BAE). Several methods have been investigated. The backscattered echo information acquired from an Acuson scanner has been used to compute the diffraction-corrected attenuation coefficient at each frequency using two methods: a substitution method and an inverse diffraction filtering process. A homogeneous sponge phantom was used to validate the techniques. The use of BAE to determine the correct HIFU exposure parameters for lesioning has been tested in ex vivo liver. HIFU lesions created with a 1.7-MHz therapy transducer have been studied using a semiautomated image processing technique. The reproducibility of lesion size for given in situ intensities determined using BAE and empirical techniques has been compared.

Low-energy gamma ray attenuation characteristics of aviation fuels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, Jag J.; Shen, Chih-Ping; Sprinkle, Danny R.

1990-01-01

Am241 (59.5 keV) gamma ray attenuation characteristics were investigated in 270 aviation fuel (Jet A and Jet A-1) samples from 76 airports around the world as a part of world wide study to measure the variability of aviation fuel properties as a function of season and geographical origin. All measurements were made at room temperature which varied from 20 to 27 C. Fuel densities (rho) were measured concurrently with their linear attenuation coefficients (mu), thus providing a measure of mass attenuation coefficient (mu/rho) for the test samples. In 43 fuel samples, rho and mu values were measured at more than one room temperature, thus providing mu/rho values for them at several temperatures. The results were found to be independent of the temperature at which mu and rho values were measured. It is noted that whereas the individual mu and rho values vary considerably from airport to airport as well as season to season, the mu/rho values for all samples are constant at 0.1843 + or - 0.0013 cu cm/gm. This constancy of mu/rho value for aviation fuels is significant since a nuclear fuel quantity gauging system based on low energy gamma ray attenuation will be viable throughout the world.

The physics of heterodyne detection in the far-infrared: Transition from electric-field to photon-absorption detection in a simple system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teich, M. C.

1980-01-01

The history of heterodyne detection is reviewed from the radiowave to the optical regions of the electromagnetic spectrum with emphasion the submillimeter/far infrared. The transition from electric field to photon absorption detection in a simple system is investigated. The response of an isolated two level detector to a coherent source of incident radiation is calculated for both heterodyne and video detection. When the processes of photon absorption and photon emission cannot be distinguished, the relative detected power at double- and sum-frequencies is found to be multiplied by a coefficient, which is less than or equal to unity, and which depends on the incident photon energy and on the effective temperature of the system.