Efficacy of removal of cariogenic bacteria and carious dentin by ablation using different modes of Er:YAG lasers.

PubMed

Baraba, A; Kqiku, L; Gabrić, D; Verzak, Ž; Hanscho, K; Miletić, I

2018-01-11

The primary objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficiency of removal of cariogenic bacteria and carious dentin by ablation using two lasers: fluorescence-feedback controlled (FFC) Er:YAG laser and different pulses of Er:YAG laser based on variable square pulse technology (VSPt). The secondary objective was to measure the temperature during laser ablation of carious tissue. Seventy-two extracted human molars were used in this study. Sixty teeth with carious dentin were randomly divided into four experimental groups according to the treatment for caries removal: group 1: 400 µs (FFC group); group 2: super short pulse (SSP group, 50 µs pulse); group 3: medium short pulse (MSP group, 100 µs pulse); group 4: short pulse (SP group, 300 µs pulse) and one positive control group with no treatment. Twelve teeth without carious lesion were used as a negative control group. After caries removal, swabs were taken with cotton pellets and real-time PCR analysis was performed. During caries ablation, a thermal infrared camera was used to measure the temperature changes. In all experimental groups, specimens were free of bacterial contamination after the treatment. In the SSP, MSP and SP groups, temperatures measured during caries ablation were significantly higher compared to temperatures in the FFC group (P<0.001). In this in vitro study, laser treatment for removal of carious dentin and cariogenic bacteria was an efficient treatment modality without causing excessive temperatures that might adversely affect pulp vitality.

A Hairy Situation: Laser Hair Removal after Oral Reconstruction.

PubMed

Shields, Bridget E; Moye, Molly S; Bayon, Rodrigo; Sperry, Steven M; Wanat, Karolyn A

2018-03-01

To present a case series of 4 patients who underwent postoperative hair removal using the long-pulsed Alexandrite or Nd:YAG laser following intraoral cutaneous flap reconstruction. Patients underwent epilation in dermatology clinic with long-pulsed Alexandrite or Nd:YAG lasers, spaced 8 weeks apart, until hair removal was achieved. All patients achieved improvement in hair removal regardless of initial flap donor site with significant improvement in quality of life and minimal side effects. The long-pulsed Alexandrite and Nd:YAG represent safe and effective treatment options to improve patient quality of life following intraoral flap repair following excision of malignancy.

Characteristics of 2-heptanone decomposition using nanosecond pulsed discharge plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakase, Yuki; Fukuchi, Yuichi; Wang, Douyan; Namihira, Takao; Akiyama, Hidenori; Kumamoto University Collaboration

2015-09-01

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) evaporate at room temperature. VOCs typically consist of toluene, benzene and ethyl acetate, which are used in cosmetics, dry cleaning products and paints. Exposure to elevated levels of VOCs may cause headaches, dizziness and irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat; they may also cause environmental problems such as air pollution, acid rain and photochemical smog. As such, they require prompt removal. Nanosecond pulsed discharge is a kind of non-thermal plasma consisting of a streamer discharge. Several advantages of nanosecond pulsed discharge plasma have been demonstrated by studies of our research group, including low heat loss, highly energetic electron generation, and the production of highly active radicals. These advantages have shown ns pulsed discharge plasma capable of higher energy efficiency for processes, such as air purification, wastewater treatment and ozone generation. In this research, nanosecond pulsed discharge plasma was employed to treat 2-heptanone, which is a volatile organic compound type and presents several harmful effects. Characteristics of treatment dependent on applied voltage, gas flow rate and input energy density were investigated. Furthermore, byproducts generated by treatment were also investigated.

Ultrashort pulse high repetition rate laser system for biological tissue processing

DOEpatents

Neev, Joseph; Da Silva, Luiz B.; Matthews, Dennis L.; Glinsky, Michael E.; Stuart, Brent C.; Perry, Michael D.; Feit, Michael D.; Rubenchik, Alexander M.

1998-01-01

A method and apparatus is disclosed for fast, efficient, precise and damage-free biological tissue removal using an ultrashort pulse duration laser system operating at high pulse repetition rates. The duration of each laser pulse is on the order of about 1 fs to less than 50 ps such that energy deposition is localized in a small depth and occurs before significant hydrodynamic motion and thermal conduction, leading to collateral damage, can take place. The depth of material removed per pulse is on the order of about 1 micrometer, and the minimal thermal and mechanical effects associated with this ablation method allows for high repetition rate operation, in the region 10 to over 1000 Hertz, which, in turn, achieves high material removal rates. The input laser energy per ablated volume of tissue is small, and the energy density required to ablate material decreases with decreasing pulse width. The ablation threshold and ablation rate are only weakly dependent on tissue type and condition, allowing for maximum flexibility of use in various biological tissue removal applications. The use of a chirped-pulse amplified Titanium-doped sapphire laser is disclosed as the source in one embodiment.

Ultrashort pulse high repetition rate laser system for biological tissue processing

DOEpatents

Neev, J.; Da Silva, L.B.; Matthews, D.L.; Glinsky, M.E.; Stuart, B.C.; Perry, M.D.; Feit, M.D.; Rubenchik, A.M.

1998-02-24

A method and apparatus are disclosed for fast, efficient, precise and damage-free biological tissue removal using an ultrashort pulse duration laser system operating at high pulse repetition rates. The duration of each laser pulse is on the order of about 1 fs to less than 50 ps such that energy deposition is localized in a small depth and occurs before significant hydrodynamic motion and thermal conduction, leading to collateral damage, can take place. The depth of material removed per pulse is on the order of about 1 micrometer, and the minimal thermal and mechanical effects associated with this ablation method allows for high repetition rate operation, in the region 10 to over 1000 Hertz, which, in turn, achieves high material removal rates. The input laser energy per ablated volume of tissue is small, and the energy density required to ablate material decreases with decreasing pulse width. The ablation threshold and ablation rate are only weakly dependent on tissue type and condition, allowing for maximum flexibility of use in various biological tissue removal applications. The use of a chirped-pulse amplified Titanium-doped sapphire laser is disclosed as the source in one embodiment. 8 figs.

Selective removal of composite sealants with near-UV laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Louie, Tiffany M.; Jones, Robert S.; Sarma, Anupama V.; Fried, Daniel

2004-05-01

It is often necessary to replace pit and fissure sealants and composite restorations. This task is complicated by the necessity for complete removal of the remaining composite to enable suitable adhesion of new composite. Previous studies have shown that lasers pulses from a frequency-tripled Nd:YAG laser (355-nm) can selectively remove residual composite after orthodontic bracket removal on enamel surfaces. UV laser light is preferentially absorbed by polymeric resins and the organic content of the tooth enamel. The objective of this study was to determine if such laser pulses are suitable for selective removal of the old composite from pit and fissure sealants and restorations without damaging surrounding sound tissues. Optical coherence tomography was used to acquire optical cross sections of the occlusal topography and peripheral tooth structure non-destructively before application of the sealants, after sealant application, and after sealant removal with 355-nm laser pulses with intensities ranging from 0-10 J/cm2. Thermocouples were used to monitor the temperature in the pulp chamber during composite removal under clinically relevant ablation rates, i.e., 30 Hz and 30 mJ per laser pulse. At an irradiation intensity of 1.3 J/cm2 pit and fissure sealants were completely removed without visible damage to the underlying enamel. At intensities above 1.5 J/cm2, the laser removes the resin layer while at the same time preferentially etching the surface of the enamel. Temperature excursions in the pulp chamber of extracted teeth was limited to less than 5°C if air-cooling was used during the rapid removal (1-2 min) of sealants, water-cooling was not needed. This is the first presentation of a method for the selective removal of composite restorative materials without damage to the underlying sound tooth structure.

Development of Rust Stripping System using High Power Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shirakawa, Kazuomi; Ohashi, Katsuaki; Ashidate, Shuichi; Kurosawa, Kiyoshi; Nakayama, Michio; Uchida, Yutaka; Nobusada, Yuuji

The repainting cycle depends on removal of rust in maintenance of outdoor steel-frame structural facilities. However existing stripping process, which is usually made by hands with brushes, cannot strip the rust completely in maintenance of power transmission towers, for example. To solve this problem, we investigated laser fluence and pulse width for removal of rust using DPSSL (Diode Pumped Solid State Laser), and selected optimum laser supply. Then we checked the effect of laser stripping on prolongation of the repainting cycle compared with the conventional stripping process. Utilizing results of the research, we developed rust stripping system using DPSSL. From the results of field trial of rust removal operation using this system at high places of a power transmission tower, possibility of practical use of the system for the maintenance was confirmed.

Decomposition of mixed malodorants in a wire-plate pulse corona reactor.

PubMed

Shi, Y; Ruan, J; Wang, X; Li, W; Tan, T

2005-09-01

Decomposition characteristics of two groups of representative mixed malodorants (1, ethanethiol + hydrogen sulfide; 2, ethanethiol + ammonia) in air were investigated employing a wire-plate pulse corona reactor. A new type of high-voltage pulse generator with a thyratron switch and a Blumlein pulse-forming network (BPFN) was used in our experiments. The experiments were conducted at a gas-flow rate of 13 m3/h. Important parameters, including peak voltage, chemical structures of malodorants, pulse frequency, and initial concentration, which influenced the removal efficiency, were investigated. The results showed that the mixed malodorants could be treated effectively by pulse corona. The removal efficiencies of 200 mg/m3 C2H5SH and 200 mg/m3 H2S for group 1 were 95.6% and 100%, respectively, which were almost equal to those of the two pollutants separately. The energy cost was about 65.1-81.4 J/L, which was 31.5-45.2% lower than for treating pollutants alone. The removal efficiencies of 105 mg/m3 C2HsSH and 40 mg/m3 NH3 for group 2 were 93.1% and almost 100%, and the energy cost was 65.1 J/L, 55.6% lower than that which was treated separately. In the case of two groups of mixed malodorants removal, NOx, 03, SO2, CO2, and CO were all observed. Moreover, some sulfur and white crystal ammonium nitrates were discovered adhering to the corona wires in the removal of groups 1 and 2, respectively. A dynamics model was developed to describe the relation of the removal efficiency with specific energy density and initial concentration. In the case of group 1 removal,the decomposition rate constants decreased as compared to the single treating. As for group 2 removal, the decomposition rate constants increased, especially for NH3. According to the results, the optimization design for the reactor and the matching of high pulse voltage source can be reckoned.

Ablation-cooled material removal with ultrafast bursts of pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerse, Can; Kalaycıoğlu, Hamit; Elahi, Parviz; Çetin, Barbaros; Kesim, Denizhan K.; Akçaalan, Önder; Yavaş, Seydi; Aşık, Mehmet D.; Öktem, Bülent; Hoogland, Heinar; Holzwarth, Ronald; Ilday, Fatih Ömer

2016-09-01

The use of femtosecond laser pulses allows precise and thermal-damage-free removal of material (ablation) with wide-ranging scientific, medical and industrial applications. However, its potential is limited by the low speeds at which material can be removed and the complexity of the associated laser technology. The complexity of the laser design arises from the need to overcome the high pulse energy threshold for efficient ablation. However, the use of more powerful lasers to increase the ablation rate results in unwanted effects such as shielding, saturation and collateral damage from heat accumulation at higher laser powers. Here we circumvent this limitation by exploiting ablation cooling, in analogy to a technique routinely used in aerospace engineering. We apply ultrafast successions (bursts) of laser pulses to ablate the target material before the residual heat deposited by previous pulses diffuses away from the processing region. Proof-of-principle experiments on various substrates demonstrate that extremely high repetition rates, which make ablation cooling possible, reduce the laser pulse energies needed for ablation and increase the efficiency of the removal process by an order of magnitude over previously used laser parameters. We also demonstrate the removal of brain tissue at two cubic millimetres per minute and dentine at three cubic millimetres per minute without any thermal damage to the bulk.

Ablation-cooled material removal with ultrafast bursts of pulses.

PubMed

Kerse, Can; Kalaycıoğlu, Hamit; Elahi, Parviz; Çetin, Barbaros; Kesim, Denizhan K; Akçaalan, Önder; Yavaş, Seydi; Aşık, Mehmet D; Öktem, Bülent; Hoogland, Heinar; Holzwarth, Ronald; Ilday, Fatih Ömer

2016-09-01

The use of femtosecond laser pulses allows precise and thermal-damage-free removal of material (ablation) with wide-ranging scientific, medical and industrial applications. However, its potential is limited by the low speeds at which material can be removed and the complexity of the associated laser technology. The complexity of the laser design arises from the need to overcome the high pulse energy threshold for efficient ablation. However, the use of more powerful lasers to increase the ablation rate results in unwanted effects such as shielding, saturation and collateral damage from heat accumulation at higher laser powers. Here we circumvent this limitation by exploiting ablation cooling, in analogy to a technique routinely used in aerospace engineering. We apply ultrafast successions (bursts) of laser pulses to ablate the target material before the residual heat deposited by previous pulses diffuses away from the processing region. Proof-of-principle experiments on various substrates demonstrate that extremely high repetition rates, which make ablation cooling possible, reduce the laser pulse energies needed for ablation and increase the efficiency of the removal process by an order of magnitude over previously used laser parameters. We also demonstrate the removal of brain tissue at two cubic millimetres per minute and dentine at three cubic millimetres per minute without any thermal damage to the bulk.

NO Removal with Repetitive Discharges Caused by Reciprocal Traveling Wave Voltage Pulse in a Coaxial Cable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamaga, Keisuke; Kadowaki, Kazunori; Nishimoto, Sakae; Kitani, Isamu

This paper describes experimental results of NO removal using barrier discharges produced by a reciprocal pulse generator. When a coaxial cable is charged and then grounded at one end of the cable without any resistance, a reciprocal traveling voltage pulse is repeatedly applied to a barrier-type reactor at the opposite end with a change in its polarity. 50% streamer initiation voltage for the reciprocal pulse generator was much smaller than that with the self-matched pulse generator having a matching resistance. The reason for the low initiation voltage in the reciprocal pulse was that space charges which accumulated on the barrier surface during cable charging had an effect on field enhancement in the reactor after the first polarity reversal. High speed photographs of discharge light produced by the reciprocal pulse showed that the voltage oscillation caused by one switching induced alternate propagation of positive and negative streamers with a very high frequency. In measurements of NO concentration, the reciprocal pulse generator gave a better performance for NO removal ratio than the self-matched pulse generator even though the stored energy in the recipocal pulse generator was very low.

New and Advanced Picosecond Lasers for Tattoo Removal.

PubMed

Adatto, Maurice A; Amir, Ruthie; Bhawalkar, Jayant; Sierra, Rafael; Bankowski, Richard; Rozen, Doran; Dierickx, Christine; Lapidoth, Moshe

2017-01-01

Early methods of tattoo removal ultimately resulted in unacceptable cosmetic outcomes. While the introduction of laser technology was an improvement over the existing chemical, mechanical, and surgical procedures, the use of nonselective tattoo removal with carbon dioxide and argon lasers led to scarring. Q-switched lasers with nanosecond (10-9) pulse domains were considered to have revolutionized tattoo treatment, by selectively heating the tattoo particles, while reducing the adverse sequelae to adjacent normal skin. Theoretical considerations of restricting pulse duration, to heat tattoo particles to higher temperatures, proposed the use of sub-nanosecond pulses to target particles with thermal relaxation times lower than the nanosecond pulses in Q-switched lasers. Initial studies demonstrated that picosecond (10-12) pulses were more effective than nanosecond pulses in clearing black tattoos. Advances in picosecond technology led to the development of commercially available lasers, incorporating several different wavelengths, to further refine pigment targeting. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution.

PubMed

Lo, Hoi-Kwong; Curty, Marcos; Qi, Bing

2012-03-30

How to remove detector side channel attacks has been a notoriously hard problem in quantum cryptography. Here, we propose a simple solution to this problem--measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (QKD). It not only removes all detector side channels, but also doubles the secure distance with conventional lasers. Our proposal can be implemented with standard optical components with low detection efficiency and highly lossy channels. In contrast to the previous solution of full device independent QKD, the realization of our idea does not require detectors of near unity detection efficiency in combination with a qubit amplifier (based on teleportation) or a quantum nondemolition measurement of the number of photons in a pulse. Furthermore, its key generation rate is many orders of magnitude higher than that based on full device independent QKD. The results show that long-distance quantum cryptography over say 200 km will remain secure even with seriously flawed detectors.

What's New for Laser Orbital Debris Removal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phipps, Claude; Lander, Mike

2011-11-01

Orbital debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) are now sufficiently dense that the use of space is threatened by runaway collision cascading. A problem predicted more than thirty years ago, the threat from debris larger than about 1cm is now a reality that we ignore at our peril. The least costly, and most comprehensive, solution is Laser Orbital Debris Removal (LODR). In this approach, a high power pulsed laser on the Earth creates a laser-ablation jet on the debris object's surface which provides the small impulse required to cause it to re-enter and burn up in the atmosphere. The LODR system should be located near the Equator, and includes the laser, a large, agile mirror, and systems for active detection, tracking and atmospheric path correction. In this paper, we discuss advances that have occurred since LODR was first proposed, which make this solution to the debris problem look quite realistic.

Thermal shock removal of defective glass-enamel coating from cast-iron products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aleutdinov, A. D.; Ghyngazov, S. A.; Mylnikova, T. S.; Luchnikov, P. A.

2015-04-01

A setup for light beam exposure has been developed. The setup was used to consider the technology of thermal shock destruction of the coating by pulsed-periodic exposure to powerful focused light from the xenon arc lamp DKsShRB-10000. It is shown that this type of exposure can effectively remove the glass-enamel coating from iron products. The optimal mode of setup operation to efficiently remove the defective glass-enamel coating is found: the diameter of the focused light beams is 2.5-3.5 cm; the lamp arc pulse current is 350-450 A; pulse duration is (0.5-1) s and pulse repetition frequency is (0.15-0.5) s-1.

Testing of concrete by laser ablation

DOEpatents

Flesher, Dann J.; Becker, David L.; Beem, William L.; Berry, Tommy C.; Cannon, N. Scott

1997-01-01

A method of testing concrete in a structure in situ, by: directing a succession of pulses of laser radiation at a point on the structure so that each pulse effects removal of a quantity of concrete and transfers energy to the concrete; detecting a characteristic of energy which has been transferred to the concrete; determining, separately from the detecting step, the total quantity of concrete removed by the succession of pulses; and calculating a property of the concrete on the basis of the detected energy characteristic and the determined total quantity of concrete removed.

J-modulation effects in DOSY experiments and their suppression: the Oneshot45 experiment.

PubMed

Botana, Adolfo; Aguilar, Juan A; Nilsson, Mathias; Morris, Gareth A

2011-02-01

Diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) is a powerful NMR method for identifying compounds in mixtures. DOSY experiments are very demanding of spectral quality; even small deviations from expected behaviour in NMR signals can cause significant distortions in the diffusion domain. This is a particular problem when signals overlap, so it is very important to be able to acquire clean data with as little overlap as possible. DOSY experiments all suffer to a greater or lesser extent from multiplet phase distortions caused by J-modulation, requiring a trade-off between such distortions and gradient pulse width. Multiplet distortions increase spectral overlap and may cause unexpected and misleading apparent diffusion coefficients in DOSY spectra. These effects are described here and a simple and effective remedy, the addition of a 45° purging pulse immediately before the onset of acquisition to remove the unwanted anti-phase terms, is demonstrated. As well as affording significantly cleaner results, the new method allows much longer diffusion-encoding pulses to be used without problems from J-modulation, and hence greatly increases the range of molecular sizes that can be studied for coupled spin systems. The sensitivity loss is negligible and the added phase cycling is modest. The new method is illustrated for a widely-used general purpose DOSY pulse sequence, Oneshot. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Laser-assisted hair removal for facial hirsutism in women: A review of evidence.

PubMed

Lee, Chun-Man

2018-06-01

Poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been described as the common diagnosis for hirsutism in women. Facial hirsutism is by far the most distressing symptom of hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS. A statistically significant improvement in psychological well-being has been reported in patients with PCOS allocated for laser-assisted hair removal. The theory of selective photothermolysis has revolutionized laser hair removal in that it is effective and safe, when operated by sufficiently trained and experienced professionals. Long-pulsed ruby (694 nm), long-pulsed alexandrite (755 nm), diode (800-980 nm), and long-pulsed Nd:YAG (1064 nm) are commercially available laser devices for hair removal most widely studied. This article will introduce the fundamentals and mechanism of action of lasers in hair removal, in a contemporary literature review looking at medium to long term efficacy and safety profiles of various laser hair removal modalities most widely commercially available to date.

Selective near-UV ablation of subgingival dental calculus: measurement of removal rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schoenly, J. E.; Seka, W.; Rechmann, P.

2010-02-01

A noncontact profilometer (laser triangulation) was used to measure the removal rates of subgingival dental calculus irradiated with a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser (60-ns pulse duration, 400-nm wavelength, 10-Hz repetition rate, 7-mJ pulse energy). Profilometer traces before and after irradiation were used to create a removal map with 4-μm axial and 15-μm transverse resolution. Twenty-three teeth (15 with calculus and 8 pristine) were irradiated at 90° and 45° under a cooling water spray with a super-Gaussian beam (~300-μm diameter). Subgingival calculus was selectively removed at 5.6 and 4.0 J/cm2 for 90° and 45°, respecetively, within a range of rates, between 2 to 9 μm/pulse. These ablation rates were constant during these exposures. For comparison, pristine cementum irradiated for 10 min at the same peak fluence and pulse repetition rate showed only craters, 15 to 50 μm deep, corresponding to an equivalent removal rate three orders of magnitude smaller than that obtained for calculus. Pristine enamel was not removed under the same irradiation conditions.

Selective Near-UV Ablation of Subgingival Dental Calculus: Measurement of Removal Rates

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

Schoenly, J.E.; Seka, W.; Rechmann, P.

A noncontact profilometer (laser triangulation) was used to measure the removal rates of subgingival dental calculus irradiated with a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser (60-ns pulse duration, 400-nm wavelength, 10-Hz repetition rate, 7-mJ pulse energy). Profilometer traces before and after irradiation were used to create a removal map with 4-μm axial and 15-μm transverse resolution. Twenty-three teeth (15 with calculus and 8 pristine) were irradiated at 90° and 45° under a cooling water spray with a super-Gaussian beam (~300-μm diameter). Subgingival calculus was selectively removed at 5.6 and 4.0 J/cm2 for 90° and 45°, respecetively, within a range of rates, between 2more » to 9 μm/pulse. These ablation rates were constant during these exposures. For comparison, pristine cementum irradiated for 10 min at the same peak fluence and pulse repetition rate showed only craters, 15 to 50 μm deep, corresponding to an equivalent removal rate three orders of magnitude smaller than that obtained for calculus. Pristine enamel was not removed under the same irradiation conditions.« less

Testing of concrete by laser ablation

DOEpatents

Flesher, D.J.; Becker, D.L.; Beem, W.L.; Berry, T.C.; Cannon, N.S.

1997-01-07

A method is disclosed for testing concrete in a structure in situ, by: directing a succession of pulses of laser radiation at a point on the structure so that each pulse effects removal of a quantity of concrete and transfers energy to the concrete; detecting a characteristic of energy which has been transferred to the concrete; determining, separately from the detecting step, the total quantity of concrete removed by the succession of pulses; and calculating a property of the concrete on the basis of the detected energy characteristic and the determined total quantity of concrete removed. 1 fig.

Clinical application of intense pulsed light depilation technology in total auricular reconstruction.

PubMed

Guo, Ying; Shan, Jing; Zhang, Tianyu

2017-08-01

Although ear reconstruction technology has been highly developed in recent years, hair growth on the reconstructed ear has plagued both surgeons and patients. In this paper, the authors introduce a clinical application of intense pulsed light depilation in total auricular reconstruction. From August 2012 to August 2013, 27 patients (28 ears) suffering from congenital microtia were treated by intense pulsed light depilation (650-950-nm filter, initial fluence of 14-16 J/cm 2 and gradually increased, pulse width of 30-50 ms, spot size of 20 × 30 mm 2 , intervals of 6-8 weeks, a total of four sessions) either before or after auricular reconstruction. According to the treatment situation at diagnosis, the patients were divided into two groups: the preoperative group and the postoperative group. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age or initial fluence for hair removal; however, there were less treatments in the former than in the latter group (preoperative group 4.1 ± 0.3, postoperative group 4.7 ± 0.7, F = 9.10, P = 0.006), and the maximum fluence used for hair removal was lower in the former than in the latter group (preoperative group 18-20 J/cm 2 , postoperative group 19-22 J/cm 2 , F = 22.31, P < 0.001). After follow-up for ≥4-6 months, the effective rate was 100% in the preoperative group, and the effective rate was 80% in the postoperative group. Intense pulsed light depilation technology is a reasonable complementary approach to total auricular reconstruction. And preoperative depilation is recommended over postoperative depilation. The non-invasive modern photonic technology can resolve the problem of postoperative residual hair on the reconstructed auricle, improving auricular shape and increasing patient satisfaction. In addition, an adequately set preoperative hair removal area can provide surface skin that is most similar to normal auricle skin for auricular reconstruction.

Influence of pulse repetition rate on temperature rise and working time during composite filling removal with the Er:YAG laser.

PubMed

Correa-Afonso, Alessandra M; Pécora, Jesus Djalma; Palma-Dibb, Regina G

2008-06-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Er:YAG laser energy for composite resin removal and the influence of pulse repetition rate on the thermal alterations occurring during laser ablation. Composite resin filling was placed in cavities (1.0 mm deep) prepared in bovine teeth and the specimens were randomly assigned to five groups according to the technique used for composite filling removal. In group I (controls), the restorations were removed using a high-speed diamond bur. In the other groups, the composite fillings were removed using an Er:YAG laser with different pulse repetition rates: group 2-2 Hz; group 3-4 Hz; group 4-6 Hz; and group 5-10 Hz. The time required for complete removal of the restorative material and the temperature changes were recorded. Temperature rise during composite resin removal with the Er:YAG laser occurred in the substrate underneath the restoration and was directly proportional to the increase in pulse repetition rate. None of the groups had a temperature increase during composite filling removal of more than 5.6 degrees C, which is considered the critical point above which irreversible thermal damage to the pulp may result. Regarding the time for composite filling removal, all the laser-ablated groups (except for group 5 [10 Hz]) required more time than the control group for complete elimination of the material from the cavity walls. Under the tested conditions, Er:YAG laser irradiation was efficient for composite resin ablation and did not cause a temperature increase above the limit considered safe for the pulp. Among the tested pulse repetition rates, 6 Hz produced minimal temperature change compared to the control group (high-speed bur), and allowed composite filling removal within a time period that is acceptable for clinical conditions.

Treatment of emulsified oils by electrocoagulation: pulsed voltage applications.

PubMed

Genc, Ayten; Bakirci, Busra

2015-01-01

The effect of pulsed voltage application on energy consumption during electrocoagulation was investigated. Three voltage profiles having the same arithmetic average with respect to time were applied to the electrodes. The specific energy consumption for these profiles were evaluated and analyzed together with oil removal efficiencies. The effects of applied voltages, electrode materials, electrode configurations, and pH on oil removal efficiency were determined. Electrocoagulation experiments were performed by using synthetic and real wastewater samples. The pulsed voltages saved energy during the electrocoagulation process. In continuous operation, energy saving was as high as 48%. Aluminum electrodes used for the treatment of emulsified oils resulted in higher oil removal efficiencies in comparison with stainless steel and iron electrodes. When the electrodes gap was less than 1 cm, higher oil removal efficiencies were obtained. The highest oil removal efficiencies were 95% and 35% for the batch and continuous operating modes, respectively.

Process development and monitoring in stripping of a highly transparent polymeric paint with ns-pulsed fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jasim, Halah A.; Demir, Ali Gökhan; Previtali, Barbara; Taha, Ziad A.

2017-08-01

Laser paint removal was studied with ns-pulsed fiber laser on the combination of 20 μm-thick, white polymeric paint and Al alloy substrate. The response of paint to single pulse ablation was evaluated to measure the ablated zone dimensions. With this information, the effect of overlap, number of passes and pulse repetition rate was evaluated to investigate machining depth. Optical emission spectroscopy was used to investigate the machining behaviour as well as to propose monitoring strategies. The results showed that despite the high transparency of the paint, complete paint removal can be achieved with reduced substrate damage (Sa = 1.3 μm). The emission spectroscopy can be used to identify removal completion as well as the reach of substrate material. The observations were also used to explain a paint removal mechanism based on thermal expansion of the paint and mechanical action provided by the plasma expansion from the substrate material.

Pulsed laser-assisted removal of powder coating from galvanised steel surface: a characterisation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Aniruddha; Prasad, Manisha; Shail, Shailini; Bhatt, R. B.; Behere, P. G.; Afzal, Md.; Kumar, Arun; Kar, Rajib; Nilaya, J. P.; Biswas, D. J.

2015-06-01

Removal of pure polyester powder coating from galvanised steel surface is studied using the fundamental, second and third harmonic radiations obtained from a Q-switched Nd-YAG laser capable of delivering pulses of duration 10 ns. Removal of the coating was found to be most effective for 1064 nm radiation followed by 532 and 355 nm radiations. Measurement of absorption of the incident radiation by the paint layer carried out with an integrating sphere has helped to gain insight into the removal mechanisms operative at these wavelengths. Single shot removal of the entire thickness of the powder coating was successfully achieved using 1064 nm radiation. Characterisation study of the laser-treated surface revealed that the coating removal was achieved leaving the underneath zinc layer as before. Usage of pulsed emission at 1064 nm of fluence 0.7 J/cm2 and repetition rate 5 Hz allowed stripping of 60-micron-thick coating at the rate of ~35 cm2 per minute.

Removal of phenol by activated alumina bed in pulsed high-voltage electric field.

PubMed

Zhu, Li-nan; Ma, Jun; Yang, Shi-dong

2007-01-01

A new process for removing the pollutants in aqueous solution-activated alumina bed in pulsed high-voltage electric field was investigated for the removal of phenol under different conditions. The experimental results indicated the increase in removal rate with increasing applied voltage, increasing pH value of the solution, aeration, and adding Fe2+. The removal rate of phenol could reach 72.1% when air aeration flow rate was 1200 ml/min, and 88.2% when 0.05 mmol/L Fe2+ was added into the solution under the conditions of applied voltage 25 kV, initial phenol concentration of 5 mg/L, and initial pH value 5.5. The addition of sodium carbonate reduced the phenol removal rate. In the pulsed high-voltage electric field, local discharge occurred at the surface of activated alumina, which promoted phenol degradation in the thin water film. At the same time, the space-time distribution of gas-liquid phases was more uniform and the contact areas of the activated species generated from the discharge and the pollutant molecules were much wider due to the effect of the activated alumina bed. The synthetical effects of the pulsed high-voltage electric field and the activated alumina particles accelerated phenol degradation.

Air and water cooled modulator

DOEpatents

Birx, Daniel L.; Arnold, Phillip A.; Ball, Don G.; Cook, Edward G.

1995-01-01

A compact high power magnetic compression apparatus and method for delivering high voltage pulses of short duration at a high repetition rate and high peak power output which does not require the use of environmentally unacceptable fluids such as chlorofluorocarbons either as a dielectric or as a coolant, and which discharges very little waste heat into the surrounding air. A first magnetic switch has cooling channels formed therethrough to facilitate the removal of excess heat. The first magnetic switch is mounted on a printed circuit board. A pulse transformer comprised of a plurality of discrete electrically insulated and magnetically coupled units is also mounted on said printed board and is electrically coupled to the first magnetic switch. The pulse transformer also has cooling means attached thereto for removing heat from the pulse transformer. A second magnetic switch also having cooling means for removing excess heat is electrically coupled to the pulse transformer. Thus, the present invention is able to provide high voltage pulses of short duration at a high repetition rate and high peak power output without the use of environmentally unacceptable fluids and without discharging significant waste heat into the surrounding air.

Electrochemical Removal of Metal Cations from Wastewater Monitored by Differential Pulse Polarography

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruce, Delphine; Kuhn, Alexander; Sojic, Neso

2004-01-01

Electrodeposition eliminates wastewater pollutants such as electrochemically active metal cations, with different pulse polarography (DPP) scrutinizing the kinetics of the treatment process. These mechanisms produce qualitative and quantitative data about the removal process, while students appreciate the use of electrochemistry in resolving…

Application of lasers and pulsed power to coating removal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Chris M.; Moeny, William M.; Curry, Randy D.; McDonald, Ken; Bosma, John T.

1995-03-01

Lasers and other pulsed power systems are uniquely suited for removal of coatings from a wide variety of substrates. Coatings which can be removed by these systems include paint, adhesives, epoxies, dips, rust, scale, and bird droppings. Suitable substrates include wood, metal, cloth, stone, ceramic, plastics, and even skin. These systems have the advantage over chemical stripping or mechanical abrasion in that the substrate is left virtually unharmed and in many cases the residue is reduced to a form that is more easily disposed of without toxic byproducts or expensive refurbishment. Furthermore, laser and other pulsed power based systems can be operated using only local containment without the need for special operator protective gear or complete enclosure of the substrate structure. Additional advantages are gained in these systems because they typically combine multiple removal mechanisms for greater effectiveness. For example, pulsed lasers create rapid heating of the coating. This rapid heating can result in chemical breakdown of the coating, thermomechanical stress induced dislocation, shock wave agitation, and physical ablation. This paper presents some of the latest research findings on coating removal using these systems. A comparative survey of the system technology, effectiveness, cost, and application is presented. Also presented is a survey of the commercial potential for the systems. Systems which are presented include lasers (CW, pulsed, Infrared, UV, etc.), flashlamps, electro-cathodic debonders, electron beams, and glow discharges.

Rust and paint stripping from power transmission towers with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashidate, Shu-ichi; Obara, Minoru

1997-04-01

The possibility of the rust and paint removal from the power transmission towers was investigated with the pulsed Nd:YAG laser for the first time. The red rust and paint were successfully removed without damaging underlying Zn(zinc) galvanized steel substrates. The optimum irradiated laser fluence for the red rust was found from 0.3 J/cm2 to 0.4 J/cm2 for 9 ns short pulses, from 1.0 J/cm2 to 4.4 J/cm2 for 200 ns long pulses, respectively. For the paint stripping the optimum ranged from 3.3 J/cm2 to 4.4 J/cm2 with the pulse width of 200 ns.

Plasma cleaning of nanoparticles from EUV mask materials by electrostatics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lytle, W. M.; Raju, R.; Shin, H.; Das, C.; Neumann, M. J.; Ruzic, D. N.

2008-03-01

Particle contamination on surfaces used in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask blank deposition, mask fabrication, and patterned mask handling must be avoided since the contamination can create significant distortions and loss of reflectivity. Particles on the order of 10nm are problematic during MLM mirror fabrication, since the introduced defects disrupt the local Bragg planes. The most serious problem is the accumulation of particles on surfaces of patterned blanks during EUV light exposure, since > 25nm particles will be printed without an out-of-focus pellicle. Particle contaminants are also a problem with direct imprint processes since defects are printed every time. Plasma Assisted Cleaning by Electrostatics (PACE) works by utilizing a helicon plasma as well as a pulsed DC substrate bias to charge particle and repel them electrostatically from the surface. Removal of this nature is a dry cleaning method and removes contamination perpendicular from the surface instead of rolling or sweeping the particles off the surface, a benefit when cleaning patterned surfaces where contamination can be rolled or trapped between features. Also, an entire mask can be cleaned at once since the plasma can cover the entire surface, thus there is no need to focus in on an area to clean. Sophisticated particle contamination detection system utilizing high power laser called DEFCON is developed to analyze the particle removal after PACE cleaning process. PACE has shown greater than 90 % particle removal efficiencies for 30 to 220 nm PSL particles on ruthenium capped quartz. Removal results for silicon surfaces and quartz surfaces show similar removal efficiencies. Results of cleaning 80 nm PSL spheres from silicon substrates will be shown.

Calculus removal on a root cement surface by ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraft, Johan F.; Vestentoft, Kasper; Christensen, Bjarke H.; Løvschall, Henrik; Balling, Peter

2008-01-01

Ultrashort-pulse-laser ablation of dental calculus (tartar) and cement is performed on root surfaces. The investigation shows that the threshold fluence for ablation of calculus is a factor of two to three times smaller than that of a healthy root cement surface. This indicates that ultrashort laser pulses may provide an appropriate tool for selective removal of calculus with minimal damage to the underlying root cement. Future application of an in situ profiling technique allows convenient on-line monitoring of the ablation process.

Rapid and Selective Removal of Composite From Tooth Surfaces With a 9.3 μm CO2 Laser Using Spectral Feedback

PubMed Central

Chan, Kenneth H.; Hirasuna, Krista; Fried, Daniel

2015-01-01

Objective Dental composite restorative materials are color matched to the tooth and are difficult to remove by mechanical means without excessive removal or damage to peripheral enamel and dentin. Lasers are ideally suited for selective ablation to minimize healthy tissue loss when replacing existing restorations, sealants, or removing composite adhesives such as residual composite left after debonding orthodontic brackets. Methods In this study, a carbon dioxide laser operating at 9.3-μm with a pulse duration of 10–20-microsecond and a pulse repetition rate of ~200 Hz was integrated with a galvanometer based scanner and used to selectively remove composite from tooth surfaces. Spectra of the plume emission were acquired after each laser pulse and used to differentiate between the ablation of dental enamel or composite. Microthermocouples were used to monitor the temperature rise in the pulp chamber during composite removal. The composite was placed on tooth buccal and occlusal surfaces and the carbon dioxide laser beam was scanned across the surface to selectively remove the composite without excessive damage to the underlying sound enamel. The residual composite and the damage to the underlying enamel was evaluated using optical microscopy. Results The laser was able to rapidly remove composite from tooth buccal and occlusal surfaces with minimal damage to the underlying sound enamel and without excessive heat accumulation in the tooth. Conclusion This study demonstrated that composite can be selectively removed from tooth surfaces at clinically relevant rates using a CO2 laser operating at 9.3-μm with high pulse repetition rates with minimal heat deposition and damage to the underlying enamel. PMID:21956630

Rapid and selective removal of composite from tooth surfaces with a 9.3 µm CO2 laser using spectral feedback.

PubMed

Chan, Kenneth H; Hirasuna, Krista; Fried, Daniel

2011-09-01

Dental composite restorative materials are color matched to the tooth and are difficult to remove by mechanical means without excessive removal or damage to peripheral enamel and dentin. Lasers are ideally suited for selective ablation to minimize healthy tissue loss when replacing existing restorations, sealants, or removing composite adhesives such as residual composite left after debonding orthodontic brackets. In this study, a carbon dioxide laser operating at 9.3-µm with a pulse duration of 10-20-microsecond and a pulse repetition rate of ∼200 Hz was integrated with a galvanometer based scanner and used to selectively remove composite from tooth surfaces. Spectra of the plume emission were acquired after each laser pulse and used to differentiate between the ablation of dental enamel or composite. Microthermocouples were used to monitor the temperature rise in the pulp chamber during composite removal. The composite was placed on tooth buccal and occlusal surfaces and the carbon dioxide laser beam was scanned across the surface to selectively remove the composite without excessive damage to the underlying sound enamel. The residual composite and the damage to the underlying enamel was evaluated using optical microscopy. The laser was able to rapidly remove composite from tooth buccal and occlusal surfaces with minimal damage to the underlying sound enamel and without excessive heat accumulation in the tooth. This study demonstrated that composite can be selectively removed from tooth surfaces at clinically relevant rates using a CO(2) laser operating at 9.3-µm with high pulse repetition rates with minimal heat deposition and damage to the underlying enamel. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Histologic and SEM evaluation of caries removal and restoration in enamel and dentin using a pulsed fiber optic delivered Nd:YAG laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, Joel M.; Goodis, Harold E.; Kudler, Joel J.; Eakle, W. S.; Neev, Joseph

1994-09-01

The pulsed Nd:YAG laser has been proposed as an alternative to the dental handpiece for caries removal in enamel and dentin. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate, in vitro, the process of caries removal and restoration in enamel and dentin. The effectiveness of this device was investigated utilizing scanning electron microscopy to determine the behavior of dentin after laser treatment of artificially created carious lesions in dentin. Histologic sections of extracted teeth after laser treatment and restoration demonstrated successful caries removal and restoration using the pulsed fiber optic delivered Nd:YAG laser as compared to both high and low speed rotary instrumentation. The adjacent enamel and dentin were unaffected by the laser irradiation although slight carbonization was seen on the dentin surface. Thermocouples placed in the pulp chamber during caries removal confirmed previous studies that showed laser parameters up to 1 W and 10 Hz being the same as conventional caries removal in the amount of heat generated which reaches the pulp. The addition of air/water coolant decreased pulpal temperature.

Dust Removal on Mars Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Graff, T. G.; Morris, R. V.; Clegg, S. M.; Wiens, R. C.; Anderson, R. B.

2011-01-01

Dust coatings on the surface of Mars complicate and, if sufficiently thick, mask the spectral characteristics and compositional determination of underlying material from in situ and remote sensing instrumentation. The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) portion of the Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam) instrument, aboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, will be the first active remote sensing technique deployed on Mars able to remove dust. ChemCam utilizes a 5 ns pulsed 1067 nm high-powered laser focused to less than 400 m diameter on targets at distances up to 7 m [1,2]. With multiple laser pulses, dust and weathering coatings can be remotely analyzed and potentially removed using this technique [2,3]. A typical LIBS measurement during MSL surface operations is planned to consist of 50 laser pulses at 14 mJ, with the first 5 to 10 pulses used to analyze as well as remove any surface coating. Additionally, ChemCam's Remote Micro-Imager (RMI) is capable of resolving 200 m details at a distance of 2 m, or 1 mm at 10 m [1,4]. In this study, we report on initial laboratory experiments conducted to characterize the removal of dust coatings using similar LIBS parameters as ChemCam under Mars-like conditions. These experiments serve to better understand the removal of surface dust using LIBS and to facilitate the analysis of ChemCam LIBS spectral data and RMI images.

Lithotripsy of gallstones by means of a quality-switched giant-pulse neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. Basic in vitro studies using a highly flexible fiber system.

PubMed

Hochberger, J; Gruber, E; Wirtz, P; Dürr, U; Kolb, A; Zanger, U; Hahn, E G; Ell, C

1991-11-01

The quality-switched neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser represents a new instrument for athermal fragmentation of gallstones by transformation of optical energy into mechanical energy in the form of shock waves via local plasma formation. A highly flexible 300-micron fiber transmission system was used in basic investigations to determine the influence of varying pulse repetition rates (5-30 Hz) and pulse energies (15 and 20 mJ) on shock wave intensity and stone fragmentation in vitro for 105 biliary calculi of known size and chemical composition. After performance of 1200 shock wave pressure measurements using polyvinylidenefluoride hydrophones, stone fragmentation was analyzed by determination of fragment removal rates (volume of fragments removed per fragmentation time), ablation rates (mean volume removed per laser pulse), and median fragment sizes for each laser setting. With the quality-switched neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser system, all concrements could be reliably disintegrated into small fragments (median diameter, 0.7-1.7 mm). Compared with pure cholesterol stones, a significantly higher fragment removal rate was achieved in cholesterol stones containing 30% calcium phosphate (P = 0.039), in cholesterol stones containing 20% pigment (P = 0.015), and in pure pigment stones (P = 0.007). Fragment removal rates, local shock wave pressures, and median grain sizes were significantly higher at a pulse energy of 20 mJ than with 15 mJ. Shock wave pressures showed a distinct dependence on pulse repetition rates at 20 mJ, yet not at 15 mJ. Because there is no evident hazard of thermal damage to tissue using the quality-switched neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, it appears to be a promising device for nonsurgical biliary stone therapy.

Air and water cooled modulator

DOEpatents

Birx, D.L.; Arnold, P.A.; Ball, D.G.; Cook, E.G.

1995-09-05

A compact high power magnetic compression apparatus and method are disclosed for delivering high voltage pulses of short duration at a high repetition rate and high peak power output which does not require the use of environmentally unacceptable fluids such as chlorofluorocarbons either as a dielectric or as a coolant, and which discharges very little waste heat into the surrounding air. A first magnetic switch has cooling channels formed therethrough to facilitate the removal of excess heat. The first magnetic switch is mounted on a printed circuit board. A pulse transformer comprised of a plurality of discrete electrically insulated and magnetically coupled units is also mounted on said printed board and is electrically coupled to the first magnetic switch. The pulse transformer also has cooling means attached thereto for removing heat from the pulse transformer. A second magnetic switch also having cooling means for removing excess heat is electrically coupled to the pulse transformer. Thus, the present invention is able to provide high voltage pulses of short duration at a high repetition rate and high peak power output without the use of environmentally unacceptable fluids and without discharging significant waste heat into the surrounding air. 9 figs.

Mechanistic modeling of destratification in cryogenic storage tanks using ultrasonics.

PubMed

Jagannathan, T K; Mohanan, Srijith; Nagarajan, R

2014-01-01

Stratification is one of the main causes for vaporization of cryogens and increase of tank pressure during cryogenic storage. This leads subsequent problems such as cavitation in cryo-pumps, reduced length of storage time. Hence, it is vital to prevent stratification to improve the cost efficiency of storage systems. If stratified layers exist inside the tank, they have to be removed by suitable methods without venting the vapor. Sonication is one such method capable of keeping fluid layers mixed. In the present work, a mechanistic model for ultrasonic destratification is proposed and validated with destratification experiments done in water. Then, the same model is used to predict the destratification characteristics of cryogenic liquids such as liquid nitrogen (LN₂), liquid hydrogen (LH₂) and liquid ammonia (LNH₃). The destratification parameters are analysed for different frequencies of ultrasound and storage pressures by considering continuous and pulsed modes of ultrasonic operation. From the results, it is determined that use of high frequency ultrasound (low-power/continuous; high-power/pulsing) or low frequency ultrasound (continuous operation with moderate power) can both be effective in removing stratification. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of Voltage Rise Time for Oxidation Treatment of NO in Simulated Exhausted Gas by Polarity-Reversed Pulse Discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinmoto, Kazuya; Kadowaki, Kazunori; Nishimoto, Sakae; Kitani, Isamu

This paper describes experimental study on NO removal from a simulated exhausted-gas using repetitive surface discharge on a glass barrier subjected to polarity-reversed voltage pulses. The very fast polarity-reversal with a rise time of 20ns is caused by direct grounding of a charged coaxial cable of 10m in length. Influence of voltage rise time on energy efficiency for NO removal is studied. Results of NO removal using a barrier-type plasma reactor with screw-plane electrode system indicates that the energy efficiency for the very fast polarity reversal caused by direct grounding becomes higher than that for the slower polarity reversal caused by grounding through an inductor at the cable end. The energy efficiency for the direct grounding is about 80g/kWh for 50% NO removal ratio and is about 60g/kWh for 100% NO removal ratio. Very intense discharge light is observed at the initial time of 10ns for the fast polarity reversal, whereas the intensity in the initial discharge light for the slower polarity reversal is relatively small. To confirm the effectiveness of the polarity-reversed pulse application, comparison of the energy efficiency between the polarity-reversed voltage pulse and ac 60Hz voltage will be presented.

AN EFFICIENT TREATMENT STRATEGY FOR HISTOTRIPSY BY REMOVING CAVITATION MEMORY

PubMed Central

Wang, Tzu-Yin; Xu, Zhen; Hall, Timothy L.; Fowlkes, J. Brian; Cain, Charles A.

2012-01-01

Cavitation memory effects occur when remnants of cavitation bubbles (nuclei) persist in the host medium and act as seeds for subsequent events. In pulsed cavitational ultrasound therapy, or histotripsy, this effect may cause cavitation to repeatedly occur at these seeded locations within a target volume, producing inhomogeneous tissue fractionation or requiring an excess number of pulses to completely homogenize the target volume. We hypothesized that by removing the cavitation memory, i.e., the persistent nuclei, the cavitation bubbles could be induced at random locations in response to each pulse; therefore, complete disruption of a tissue volume may be achieved with fewer pulses. To test the hypothesis, the cavitation memory was passively removed by increasing the intervals between successive pulses, Δt, from 2, 10, 20, 50 and 100, to 200 ms. Histotripsy treatments were performed in red blood cell tissue phantoms and ex vivo livers using 1-MHz ultrasound pulses of 10 cycles at P−/P+ pressure of 21/59 MPa. The phantom study allowed for direct visualization of the cavitation patterns and the lesion development process in real time using high-speed photography; the ex vivo tissue study provided validation of the memory effect in real tissues. Results of the phantom study showed an exponential decrease in the correlation coefficient between cavitation patterns in successive pulses from 0.5 ± 0.1 to 0.1 ± 0.1 as Δt increased from 2–200 ms; correspondingly, the lesion was completely fractionated with significantly fewer pulses for longer Δts. In the tissue study, given the same number of therapy pulses, complete and homogeneous tissue fractionation with well-defined lesion boundaries was achieved only for Δt ≥ 100 ms. These results indicated that the removal of the cavitation memory resulted in more efficient treatments and homogeneous lesions. PMID:22402025

Laser ablation of iron-rich black films from exposed granite surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delgado Rodrigues, J.; Costa, D.; Mascalchi, M.; Osticioli, I.; Siano, S.

2014-10-01

Here, we investigated the potential of laser removal of iron-rich dark films from weathered granite substrates, which represents a very difficult conservation problem because of the polymineralic nature of the stone and of its complex deterioration mechanisms. As often occurs, biotite was the most critical component because of its high optical absorption, low melting temperature, and pronounced cleavage, which required a careful control of the photothermal and photomechanical effects to optimize the selective ablation of the mentioned unwanted dark film. Different pulse durations and wavelengths Nd:YAG lasers were tested and optimal irradiation conditions were determined through thorough analytical characterisations. Besides addressing a specific conservation problem, the present work provides information of general valence in laser uncovering of encrusted granite.

Means and method for characterizing high power, ultra short laser pulses in a real time, on line manner

DOEpatents

Veligdan, J.T.

1994-03-08

An ultra short (<10 ps), high power laser pulse is temporally characterized by a system that uses a physical measurement of a wavefront that has been altered in a known manner. The system includes a first reflection switch to remove a portion of a pulse from a beam of pulses, then includes a second reflection switch, operating in a mode that is opposite to the first reflection switch, to slice off a portion of that removed portion. The sliced portion is then directed to a measuring device for physical measurement. The two reflection switches are arranged with respect to each other and with respect to the beam of ultra short pulses such that physical measurement of the sliced portion is related to the temporal measurement of the ultra short pulse by a geometric or trigonometric relationship. The reflection switches are operated by a control pulse that is directed to impinge on each of the reflection switches at a 90[degree] angle of incidence. 8 figures.

Means and method for characterizing high power, ultra short laser pulses in a real time, on line manner

DOEpatents

Veligdan, James T.

1994-01-01

An ultra short (<10 ps), high power laser pulse is temporally characterized by a system that uses a physical measurement of a wavefront that has been altered in a known manner. The system includes a first reflection switch to remove a portion of a pulse from a beam of pulses, then includes a second reflection switch, operating in a mode that is opposite to the first reflection switch, to slice off a portion of that removed portion. The sliced portion is then directed to a measuring device for physical measurement. The two reflection switches are arranged with respect to each other and with respect to the beam of ultra short pulses such that physical measurement of the sliced portion is related to the temporal measurement of the ultra short pulse by a geometric or trigonometric relationship. The reflection switches are operated by a control pulse that is directed to impinge on each of the reflection switches at a 90.degree. angle of incidence.

Near-ultraviolet removal rates for subgingival dental calculus at different irradiation angles.

PubMed

Schoenly, Joshua E; Seka, Wolf D; Rechmann, Peter

2011-07-01

The laser ablation rate of subgingival dental calculus irradiated at a 400-nm-wavelength, 7.4-mJ pulse energy, and 85- and 20-deg irradiation angles is measured using laser triangulation. Three-dimensional images taken before and after irradiation create a removal map with 6-μm axial resolution. Fifteen human teeth with subgingival calculus are irradiated in vitro under a cooling water spray with an ∼300-μm-diam, tenth-order super-gaussian beam. The average subgingival calculus removal rates for irradiation at 85 and 20 deg are 11.1±3.6 and 11.5±5.9 μm∕pulse, respectively, for depth removal and 4.5±1.7×10(5) and 4.8±2.3×10(5) μm(3)∕pulse, respectively, for volume removal. The ablation rate is constant at each irradiation site but varies between sites because of the large differences in the physical and optical properties of calculus. Comparison of the average depth- and volume-removal rates does not reveal any dependence on the irradiation angle and is likely due to the surface topology of subgingival calculus samples that overshadows any expected angular dependence.

Near-ultraviolet removal rates for subgingival dental calculus at different irradiation angles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schoenly, Joshua E.; Seka, Wolf D.; Rechmann, Peter

2011-07-01

The laser ablation rate of subgingival dental calculus irradiated at a 400-nm-wavelength, 7.4-mJ pulse energy, and 85- and 20-deg irradiation angles is measured using laser triangulation. Three-dimensional images taken before and after irradiation create a removal map with 6-μm axial resolution. Fifteen human teeth with subgingival calculus are irradiated in vitro under a cooling water spray with an ~300-μm-diam, tenth-order super-Gaussian beam. The average subgingival calculus removal rates for irradiation at 85 and 20 deg are 11.1+/-3.6 and 11.5+/-5.9 μm/pulse, respectively, for depth removal and 4.5+/-1.7×105 and 4.8+/-2.3×105 μm3/pulse, respectively, for volume removal. The ablation rate is constant at each irradiation site but varies between sites because of the large differences in the physical and optical properties of calculus. Comparison of the average depth- and volume-removal rates does not reveal any dependence on the irradiation angle and is likely due to the surface topology of subgingival calculus samples that overshadows any expected angular dependence.

Influences of Excess Oscillation of Voltage Pulse and Discharge Mode on NO Removal Using Barrier-Type Plasma Reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadowaki, Kazunori; Suzuki, Yoshiaki; Ihori, Haruo; Kitani, Isamu

This paper presents experimental results of NO removal from a simulated exhausted-gas using a barrier type reactor with screw electrodes subjected to polarity-reversed voltage pulses. The polarity-reversed pulse was produced by direct grounding of a charged coaxial cable because a traveling wave voltage was negatively reflected at the grounding end with a change in its polarity and then it propagated to the plasma reactor at the opposite end. Influence of cable length on NO removal was studied for two kinds of cable connection, single-connected cable and parallel-connected cables. NO removal ratio for a 50m-long cable was lower than that for much shorter cables in both single and parallel connections when the applied voltage became high. Energy efficiency for NO removal also increased with decreasing the cable length. This was because excess discharges during the voltage oscillation caused by the large stored energy in the long cable resulted in reproduction of NO molecules. Energy efficiency was further improved by changing the discharge mode from dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) to surface discharge (SD). Energy efficiency was up to 110g/kWh with 55% NO removal ratio and 34g/kWh with 100% NO removal ratio by using a single 10m-long cable in SD mode.

Laser effects based optimal laser parameter identifications for paint removal from metal substrate at 1064 nm: a multi-pulse model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Jinghua; Cui, Xudong; Wang, Sha; Feng, Guoying; Deng, Guoliang; Hu, Ruifeng

2017-10-01

Paint removal by laser ablation is favoured among cleaning techniques due to its high efficiency. How to predict the optimal laser parameters without producing damage to substrate still remains challenging for accurate paint stripping. On the basis of ablation morphologies and combining experiments with numerical modelling, the underlying mechanisms and the optimal conditions for paint removal by laser ablation are thoroughly investigated. Our studies suggest that laser paint removal is dominated by the laser vaporization effect, thermal stress effect and laser plasma effect, in which thermal stress effect is the most favoured while laser plasma effect should be avoided during removal operations. Based on the thermodynamic equations, we numerically evaluated the spatial distribution of the temperature as well as thermal stress in the paint and substrate under the irradiation of laser pulse at 1064 nm. The obtained curves of the paint thickness vs. threshold fluences can provide the reference standard of laser parameter selection in view of the paint layer with different thickness. A multi-pulse model is proposed and validated under a constant laser fluence to perfectly remove a thicker paint layer. The investigations and the methods proposed here might give hints to the efficient operations on the paint removal and lowering the risk of substrate damages.

Increase of hole-drilling speed by using packs of laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorny, Sergey G.; Grigoriev, A. M.; Lopota, Vitaliy A.; Turichin, Gleb A.

1999-09-01

For realization of the optimum mode of hole drilling the packs of laser pulses of high intensity were used, when average level of intensity of radiation is not too high, that reduces specific energy of destruction, and the peak intensity is reasonably great, that the pulse of pressure of effect at evaporation has completely deleted the liquid from the zone of processing. The high peak intensity of radiation permits in this case to place a target not in focus of a optical system, creating on its surface the image with the help of masks. It permits to receive in metal plates the holes of any section, to execute marking of surfaces and deep engraving of sample material with the help of laser. With the using of focused radiation the cutting of thin materials can be executed without a auxiliary gas. The condition of melt replacement is excess of power of recoil pressure above the power of viscous forces and forces of inertia. The decision of the hydrodynamic problem permits to evaluate the necessary parameters of laser radiation, frequency and longitude of packs of pulses which provide increases of process speed in several times. The conducted experiments confirm the indicated theoretical analysis of process of removing of the material under action of packs of pulses of laser radiation. The given process is realized in laser technological installations for holes drilling and marks of materials.

The picosecond laser for tattoo removal.

PubMed

Hsu, Vincent M; Aldahan, Adam S; Mlacker, Stephanie; Shah, Vidhi V; Nouri, Keyvan

2016-11-01

The prevalence of tattoos continues to grow as modern society's stigma towards this form of body art shifts towards greater acceptance. Approximately one third of Americans aged 18-25 and 40 % of Americans aged 26-40 are tattooed. As tattoos continue to rise in popularity, so has the demand for an effective method of tattoo removal such as lasers. The various colors of tattoo inks render them ideal targets for specific lasers using the principle of selective photothermolysis. Traditional laser modalities employed for tattoo removal operate on pulse durations in the nanosecond domain. However, this pulse duration range is still too long to effectively break ink into small enough particles. Picosecond (10 -12 ) lasers have emerged at the forefront of laser tattoo removal due to their shorter pulse lengths, leading to quicker heating of the target chromophores, and consequently, more effective tattoo clearance. Recent studies have cited more effective treatment outcomes using picosecond lasers. Future comparative studies between picosecond lasers of various settings are necessary to determine optimal laser parameters for tattoo clearance.

Experiments on sediment pulses in mountain rivers

Treesearch

Y. Cui; T. E. Lisle; J. E. Pizzuto; G. Parker

1998-01-01

Pulses of sediment can be introduced into mountain rivers from such mechanisms as debris flows, landslides and fans at tributary confluences. These processes can be natural or associated with the activities of humans, as in the case of a pulse created by sediment derived from timber harvest or the removal of a dam. How does the river digest these pulses?

Pulse shaping with transmission lines

DOEpatents

Wilcox, Russell B.

1987-01-01

A method and apparatus for forming shaped voltage pulses uses passive reflection from a transmission line with nonuniform impedance. The impedance of the reflecting line varies with length in accordance with the desired pulse shape. A high voltage input pulse is transmitted to the reflecting line. A reflected pulse is produced having the desired shape and is transmitted by pulse removal means to a load. Light activated photoconductive switches made of silicon can be utilized. The pulse shaper can be used to drive a Pockels cell to produce shaped optical pulses.

Pulse shaping with transmission lines

DOEpatents

Wilcox, R.B.

1985-08-15

A method and apparatus for forming shaped voltage pulses uses passive reflection from a transmission line with nonuniform impedance. The impedance of the reflecting line varies with length in accordance with the desired pulse shape. A high voltage input pulse is transmitted to the reflecting line. A reflected pulse is produced having the desired shape and is transmitted by pulse removal means to a load. Light activated photoconductive switches made of silicon can be utilized. The pulse shaper can be used to drive a Pockels cell to produce shaped optical pulses.

Long-term clinical evaluation of a 800-nm long-pulsed diode laser with a large spot size and vacuum-assisted suction for hair removal.

PubMed

Ibrahimi, Omar A; Kilmer, Suzanne L

2012-06-01

The long-pulsed diode (800-810-nm) laser is one of the most commonly used and effective lasers for hair removal. Limitations of currently available devices include a small treatment spot size, treatment-associated pain, and the need for skin cooling. To evaluate the long-term hair reduction capabilities of a long-pulsed diode laser with a large spot size and vacuum assisted suction. Thirty-five subjects were enrolled in a prospective, self-controlled, single-center study of axillary hair removal. The study consisted of three treatments using a long-pulsed diode laser with a large spot size and vacuum-assisted suction at 4- to 6-week intervals with follow-up visits 6 and 15 months after the last treatment. Hair clearance was quantified using macro hair-count photographs taken at baseline and at 6- and 15-month follow-up visits. Changes in hair thickness and color, levels of treatment-associated pain, and adverse events were additional study endpoints. There was statistically significant hair clearance at the 6 (54%) and 15-month (42%) follow-up visits. Remaining hairs were thinner and lighter at the 15-month follow-up visit, and the majority of subjects reported feeling up to mild to moderate pain during treatment without the use of pretreatment anesthesia or skin cooling. A long-pulsed diode laser with a large spot size and vacuum-assisted suction is safe and effective for long-term hair removal. This is the largest prospective study to evaluate long-term hair removal and the first to quantify decreases in hair thickness and darkness with treatment. © 2012 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Laser-driven hydrothermal process studied with excimer laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mariella, Raymond; Rubenchik, Alexander; Fong, Erika; Norton, Mary; Hollingsworth, William; Clarkson, James; Johnsen, Howard; Osborn, David L.

2017-08-01

Previously, we discovered [Mariella et al., J. Appl. Phys. 114, 014904 (2013)] that modest-fluence/modest-intensity 351-nm laser pulses, with insufficient fluence/intensity to ablate rock, mineral, or concrete samples via surface vaporization, still removed the surface material from water-submerged target samples with confinement of the removed material, and then dispersed at least some of the removed material into the water as a long-lived suspension of nanoparticles. We called this new process, which appears to include the generation of larger colorless particles, "laser-driven hydrothermal processing" (LDHP) [Mariella et al., J. Appl. Phys. 114, 014904 (2013)]. We, now, report that we have studied this process using 248-nm and 193-nm laser light on submerged concrete, quartzite, and obsidian, and, even though light at these wavelengths is more strongly absorbed than at 351 nm, we found that the overall efficiency of LDHP, in terms of the mass of the target removed per Joule of laser-pulse energy, is lower with 248-nm and 193-nm laser pulses than with 351-nm laser pulses. Given that stronger absorption creates higher peak surface temperatures for comparable laser fluence and intensity, it was surprising to observe reduced efficiencies for material removal. We also measured the nascent particle-size distributions that LDHP creates in the submerging water and found that they do not display the long tail towards larger particle sizes that we had observed when there had been a multi-week delay between experiments and the date of measuring the size distributions. This is consistent with transient dissolution of the solid surface, followed by diffusion-limited kinetics of nucleation and growth of particles from the resulting thin layer of supersaturated solution at the sample surface.

Pulse combusted acoustic agglomeration apparatus and process

DOEpatents

Mansour, Momtaz N.; Chandran, Ravi

1994-01-01

An improved apparatus and process for removal of particulates entrained in a gas stream are provided. The removal process employs a pulse combustor to provide an acoustic pressure wave to acoustically enhance agglomeration of particulates which may be collected and removed using a conventional separation apparatus. The apparatus may be employed as a direct fired system for improved operation of gas-operated equipment such as a gas turbine, or may, alternatively, be employed as an add-on subsystem for combustion exhaust clean-up. Additionally, added particulates may include a sorbent for effecting sorption of other contaminants such as sulfur. Various other particulates for contaminant removal may also be introduced into the system as exemplified by alkali-gettering agents.

Dynamics of laser-induced damage of spherical nanoparticles by high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komolov, Vladimir L.; Gruzdev, Vitaly E.; Przhibelskii, Sergey G.; Smirnov, Dmitry S.

2012-12-01

Damage of a metal spherical nanoparticle by femtosecond laser pulses is analyzed by splitting the overall process into two steps. The fast step includes electron photoemission from a nanoparticle. It takes place during direct action of a laser pulse and its rate is evaluated as a function of laser and particle parameters by two approaches. Obtained results suggest the formation of significant positive charge of the nanoparticles due to the photoemission. The next step includes ion emission that removes the excessive positive charge and modifies particle structure. It is delayed with respect to the photo-emission and is analyzed by a simple analytical model and modified molecular dynamics. Obtained energy distribution suggests generation of fast ions capable of penetrating into surrounding material and generating defects next to the nanoparticle. The modeling is extended to the case of a nanoparticle on a solid surface to understand the basic mechanism of surface laser damage initiated by nano-contamination. Simulations predict embedding the emitted ions into substrate within a spot with size significantly exceeding the original particle size. We discuss the relation of those effects to the problem of bulk and surface laser-induced damage of optical materials by single and multiple ultrashort laser pulses.

Application of Pulse Spark Discharges for Scale Prevention and Continuous Filtration Methods in Coal-Fired Power Plant

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

Cho, Young; Fridman, Alexander

2012-06-30

The overall objective of the present work was to develop a new scale-prevention technology by continuously precipitating and removing dissolved mineral ions (such as calcium and magnesium) in cooling water while the COC could be doubled from the present standard value of 3.5. The hypothesis of the present study was that if we could successfully precipitate and remove the excess calcium ions in cooling water, we could prevent condenser-tube fouling and at the same time double the COC. The approach in the study was to utilize pulse spark discharges directly in water to precipitate dissolved mineral ions in recirculating coolingmore » water into relatively large suspended particles, which could be removed by a self-cleaning filter. The present study began with a basic scientific research to better understand the mechanism of pulse spark discharges in water and conducted a series of validation experiments using hard water in a laboratory cooling tower. Task 1 of the present work was to demonstrate if the spark discharge could precipitate the mineral ions in water. Task 2 was to demonstrate if the selfcleaning filter could continuously remove these precipitated calcium particles such that the blowdown could be eliminated or significantly reduced. Task 3 was to demonstrate if the scale could be prevented or minimized at condenser tubes with a COC of 8 or (almost) zero blowdown. In Task 1, we successfully completed the validation study that confirmed the precipitation of dissolved calcium ions in cooling water with the supporting data of calcium hardness over time as measured by a calcium ion probe. In Task 2, we confirmed through experimental tests that the self-cleaning filter could continuously remove precipitated calcium particles in a simulated laboratory cooling tower such that the blowdown could be eliminated or significantly reduced. In addition, chemical water analysis data were obtained which were used to confirm the COC calculation. In Task 3, we conducted a series of heat transfer fouling tests using a condenser heat exchanger in the laboratory cooling tower, from which we confirmed that the plasma water treatment technology could prevent or significantly mitigate mineral foulings in condenser tubes when compared with the no-treatment case. With the completion of the present work, a cooling water treatment technology using pulse spark discharges is currently ready for field-validation tests. The plasma water treatment technology is a true mechanical water softener with almost no maintenance, which continuously converts hard water to soft water spending a relatively small amount of energy. Such a mechanical water softener could find wide-spread applications to solve hard water problems both in industry and at home.« less

Knuckle Pads—A common problem but good to treat by Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herold, Manfred; Russe-Wilflingseder, Katharina

2010-05-01

Knuckle pads are common skin lesions not disease associated and seen as thickended skin like nodules situated usually on the dorsal site of the proximal interphalangeal joints. Neither medical nor surgical procedures are very effective to remove knuckle pads. A women 22 years of age with knuckle pads on the fingers two and three on both hands which reoccurred after surgical resections was successful treated with a long pulsed Erbium:YAG laser. All four fingers were ablated within one single treatment. The aesthetic result was excellent and lasted at least for 18 months.

Statistical Feature Extraction for Artifact Removal from Concurrent fMRI-EEG Recordings

PubMed Central

Liu, Zhongming; de Zwart, Jacco A.; van Gelderen, Peter; Kuo, Li-Wei; Duyn, Jeff H.

2011-01-01

We propose a set of algorithms for sequentially removing artifacts related to MRI gradient switching and cardiac pulsations from electroencephalography (EEG) data recorded during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Special emphases are directed upon the use of statistical metrics and methods for the extraction and selection of features that characterize gradient and pulse artifacts. To remove gradient artifacts, we use a channel-wise filtering based on singular value decomposition (SVD). To remove pulse artifacts, we first decompose data into temporally independent components and then select a compact cluster of components that possess sustained high mutual information with the electrocardiogram (ECG). After the removal of these components, the time courses of remaining components are filtered by SVD to remove the temporal patterns phase-locked to the cardiac markers derived from the ECG. The filtered component time courses are then inversely transformed into multi-channel EEG time series free of pulse artifacts. Evaluation based on a large set of simultaneous EEG-fMRI data obtained during a variety of behavioral tasks, sensory stimulations and resting conditions showed excellent data quality and robust performance attainable by the proposed methods. These algorithms have been implemented as a Matlab-based toolbox made freely available for public access and research use. PMID:22036675

Statistical feature extraction for artifact removal from concurrent fMRI-EEG recordings.

PubMed

Liu, Zhongming; de Zwart, Jacco A; van Gelderen, Peter; Kuo, Li-Wei; Duyn, Jeff H

2012-02-01

We propose a set of algorithms for sequentially removing artifacts related to MRI gradient switching and cardiac pulsations from electroencephalography (EEG) data recorded during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Special emphasis is directed upon the use of statistical metrics and methods for the extraction and selection of features that characterize gradient and pulse artifacts. To remove gradient artifacts, we use channel-wise filtering based on singular value decomposition (SVD). To remove pulse artifacts, we first decompose data into temporally independent components and then select a compact cluster of components that possess sustained high mutual information with the electrocardiogram (ECG). After the removal of these components, the time courses of remaining components are filtered by SVD to remove the temporal patterns phase-locked to the cardiac timing markers derived from the ECG. The filtered component time courses are then inversely transformed into multi-channel EEG time series free of pulse artifacts. Evaluation based on a large set of simultaneous EEG-fMRI data obtained during a variety of behavioral tasks, sensory stimulations and resting conditions showed excellent data quality and robust performance attainable with the proposed methods. These algorithms have been implemented as a Matlab-based toolbox made freely available for public access and research use. Published by Elsevier Inc.

An experimental investigation of pulsed laser-assisted machining of AISI 52100 steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panjehpour, Afshin; Soleymani Yazdi, Mohammad R.; Shoja-Razavi, Reza

2014-11-01

Grinding and hard turning are widely used for machining of hardened bearing steel parts. Laser-assisted machining (LAM) has emerged as an efficient alternative to grinding and hard turning for hardened steel parts. In most cases, continuous-wave lasers were used as a heat source to cause localized heating prior to material removal by a cutting tool. In this study, an experimental investigation of pulsed laser-assisted machining of AISI 52100 bearing steel was conducted. The effects of process parameters (i.e., laser mean power, pulse frequency, pulse energy, cutting speed and feed rate) on state variables (i.e., material removal temperature, specific cutting energy, surface roughness, microstructure, tool wear and chip formation) were investigated. At laser mean power of 425 W with frequency of 120 Hz and cutting speed of 70 m/min, the benefit of LAM was shown by 25% decrease in specific cutting energy and 18% improvement in surface roughness, as compared to those of the conventional machining. It was shown that at constant laser power, the increase of laser pulse energy causes the rapid increase in tool wear rate. Pulsed laser allowed efficient control of surface temperature and heat penetration in material removal region. Examination of the machined subsurface microstructure and microhardness profiles showed no change under LAM and conventional machining. Continuous chips with more uniform plastic deformation were produced in LAM.

Ultrashort pulse laser processing of hard tissue, dental restoration materials, and biocompatibles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yousif, A.; Strassl, M.; Beer, F.; Verhagen, L.; Wittschier, M.; Wintner, E.

2007-07-01

During the last few years, ultra-short laser pulses have proven their potential for application in medical tissue treatment in many ways. In hard tissue ablation, their aptitude for material ablation with negligible collateral damage provides many advantages. Especially teeth representing an anatomically and physiologically very special region with less blood circulation and lower healing rates than other tissues require most careful treatment. Hence, overheating of the pulp and induction of microcracks are some of the most problematic issues in dental preparation. Up till now it was shown by many authors that the application of picosecond or femtosecond pulses allows to perform ablation with very low damaging potential also fitting to the physiological requirements indicated. Beside the short interaction time with the irradiated matter, scanning of the ultra-short pulse trains turned out to be crucial for ablating cavities of the required quality. One main reason for this can be seen in the fact that during scanning the time period between two subsequent pulses incident on the same spot is so much extended that no heat accumulation effects occur and each pulse can be treated as a first one with respect to its local impact. Extension of this advantageous technique to biocompatible materials, i.e. in this case dental restoration materials and titanium plasma-sprayed implants, is just a matter of consequence. Recently published results on composites fit well with earlier data on dental hard tissue. In case of plaque which has to be removed from implants, it turns out that removal of at least the calcified version is harder than tissue removal. Therefore, besides ultra-short lasers, also Diode and Neodymium lasers, in cw and pulsed modes, have been studied with respect to plaque removal and sterilization. The temperature increase during laser exposure has been experimentally evaluated in parallel.

Chronic neuropathic facial pain after intense pulsed light hair removal. Clinical features and pharmacological management.

PubMed

Gay-Escoda, Cosme; Párraga-Manzol, Gabriela; Sánchez-Torres, Alba; Moreno-Arias, Gerardo

2015-10-01

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) photodepilation is usually performed as a hair removal method. The treatment is recommended to be indicated by a physician, depending on each patient and on its characteristics. However, the use of laser devices by medical laypersons is frequent and it can suppose a risk of damage for the patients. Most side effects associated to IPL photodepilation are transient, minimal and disappear without sequelae. However, permanent side effects can occur. Some of the complications are laser related but many of them are caused by an operator error or mismanagement. In this work, we report a clinical case of a patient that developed a chronic neuropathic facial pain following IPL hair removal for unwanted hair in the upper lip. The specific diagnosis was painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy, reference 13.1.2.3 according to the International Headache Society (IHS). Neuropathic facial pain, photodepilation, intense pulse light.

Optodynamic monitoring of laser tattoo removal.

PubMed

Cencič, Boris; Grad, Ladislav; Možina, Janez; Jezeršek, Matija

2012-04-01

The goal of this research is to use the information contained in the mechanisms occurring during the laser tattoo removal process. We simultaneously employed a laser-beam deflection probe (LBDP) to measure the shock wave and a camera to detect the plasma radiation, both originating from a high-intensity laser-pulse interaction with a tattoo. The experiments were performed in vitro (skin phantoms), ex vivo (marking tattoos on pig skin), and in vivo (professional and amateur decorative tattoos). The LBDP signal includes the information about the energy released during the interaction and indicates textural changes in the skin, which are specific for different skin and tattoo conditions. Using both sensors, we evaluated a measurement of threshold for skin damage and studied the effect of multiple pulses. In vivo results show that a prepulse reduces the interaction strength and that a single strong pulse produces better removal results.

Efficacy and Safety of Hair Removal with a Long-Pulsed Diode Laser Depending on the Spot Size: A Randomized, Evaluators-Blinded, Left-Right Study.

PubMed

Jo, Seong Jin; Kim, Jin Yong; Ban, Juhee; Lee, Youngjoo; Kwon, Ohsang; Koh, Wooseok

2015-10-01

The efficacy of the long-pulsed diode laser (LPDL) in hair removal is determined with various physical parameters. Recently, LPDLs with a larger spot size are commercially available; however, the independent effect of spot size on hair removal has not been studied. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of the LPDL in hair removal depending on the spot size. A randomized, evaluators-blind, intrapatient comparison (left vs. right) trial was designed. Ten healthy Korean women received three hair removal treatment sessions on both armpits with the 805-nm LPDL and followed for 3 months. A 10×10 mm handpiece (D1) or a 10×30 mm handpiece (D3) was randomly assigned to the right or left axilla. The fluence, pulse duration, and epidermal cooling temperature were identical for both armpits. Hair clearance was quantified with high-resolution photos taken at each visit. Postprocedural pain was quantified on a visual analogue scale. Adverse events were evaluated by physical examination and the patients' self-report. The mean hair clearance at 3 months after three treatment sessions was 38.7% and 50.1% on the armpits treated with D1 and D3, respectively (p=0.028). Procedural pain was significantly greater in the side treated with D3 (p=0.009). Serious adverse events were not observed. Given that the pulse duration, fluence, and epidermal cooling were identical, the 805-nm LPDL at the three times larger spot size showed an efficacy improvement of 29.5% in axillary hair removal without serious adverse events.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) guided smart laser knife for cancer surgery (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katta, Nitesh; Mcelroy, Austin; Estrada, Arnold; Milner, Thomas E.

2017-02-01

Neurological cancer surgeries require specialized tools that enhance imaging for precise cutting and removal of tissue without damaging adjacent neurological structures. The novel combination of high-resolution fast optical coherence tomography (OCT) alongside short pulsed nanosecond thulium (Tm) lasers offers stark advantages utilizing the superior beam quality, high volumetric tissue removal rates of thulium lasers with minimal residual thermal footprint in the tissue and avoiding damage to delicate sub-surface structures (e.g., nerves and microvessels); which has not been showcased before. A bench-top system is constructed, using a 15W 1940nm nanosecond pulsed Tm fiber laser (500uJ pulse energy, 100ns pulse duration, 30kHz repetition rate) for removing tissue and a swept source laser (1310±70nm, 100kHz sweep rate) is utilized for OCT imaging, forming a combined Tm/OCT system - a smart laser knife. The OCT image-guidance informs the Tm laser for cutting/removal of targeted tissue structures. Tissue phantoms were constructed to demonstrate surgical incision with blood vessel avoidance on the surface where 2mm wide 600um deep cuts are executed around the vessel using OCT to guide the procedure. Cutting up to delicate subsurface blood vessels (2mm deep) is demonstrated while avoiding damage to their walls. A tissue removal rate of 5mm^3/sec is obtained from the bench-top system. We constructed a blow-off model to characterize Tm cut depths taking into account the absorption coefficients and beam delivery systems to compute Arrhenius damage integrals. The model is used to compare predicted tissue removal rate and residual thermal injury with experimental values in response to Tm laser-tissue modification.

Three-frequency Nd:YAG laser for dental treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadlecová, Martina; Dostálová, Tat'jana; Jelínková, Helena; Němec, Michal; Å ulc, Jan; Fibrich, Martin; Bradna, Pavel; Nejezchleb, Karel; Kapitch, Nickalai; Å koda, Václav

2018-02-01

In the last decade, lasers found a number of indications in dentistry. However, there is still one problem: the narrow spectrum of usefulness for individual radiation wavelengths. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the use of a compact three-frequency pulsed Nd-YAG laser for more than one treatment, namely disinfection, coagulation, selective ablation, and soft tissue removal. The laser wavelengths and the maximal energies achieved were the following: 1.06 um, 1.32 um, 1.44 um and 830 mJ, 425 mJ, and 200 mJ, respectively. It has been found that all of the investigated wavelengths exhibit disinfection properties. Moreover, radiation of 1.06 um wavelength removes soft tissue and exhibits also coagulation properties. Radiation of 1.44 um is most useful for selective ablation of initial caries and disinfection, and 1.32 um radiation can be used for precise ablation when higher energy is applied.

Synthesis of compact patterns for NMR relaxation decay in intelligent "electronic tongue" for analyzing heavy oil composition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapshenkov, E. M.; Volkov, V. Y.; Kulagin, V. P.

2018-05-01

The article is devoted to the problem of pattern creation of the NMR sensor signal for subsequent recognition by the artificial neural network in the intelligent device "the electronic tongue". The specific problem of removing redundant data from the spin-spin relaxation signal pattern that is used as a source of information in analyzing the composition of oil and petroleum products is considered. The method is proposed that makes it possible to remove redundant data of the relaxation decay pattern but without introducing additional distortion. This method is based on combining some relaxation decay curve intervals that increment below the noise level such that the increment of the combined intervals is above the noise level. In this case, the relaxation decay curve samples that are located inside the combined intervals are removed from the pattern. This method was tested on the heavy-oil NMR signal patterns that were created by using the Carr-Purcell-Meibum-Gill (CPMG) sequence for recording the relaxation process. Parameters of CPMG sequence are: 100 μs - time interval between 180° pulses, 0.4s - duration of measurement. As a result, it was revealed that the proposed method allowed one to reduce the number of samples 15 times (from 4000 to 270), and the maximum detected root mean square error (RMS error) equals 0.00239 (equivalent to signal-to-noise ratio 418).

Green electrochemical modification of RVC foam electrode and improved H2O2 electrogeneration by applying pulsed current for pollutant removal.

PubMed

Zhou, Wei; Ding, Yani; Gao, Jihui; Kou, Kaikai; Wang, Yan; Meng, Xiaoxiao; Wu, Shaohua; Qin, Yukun

2018-02-01

The performance of cathode on H 2 O 2 electrogeneration is a critical factor that limits the practical application of electro-Fenton (EF) process. Herein, we report a simple but effective electrochemical modification of reticulated vitreous carbon foam (RVC foam) electrode for enhanced H 2 O 2 electrogeneration. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectrum were used to characterize the modified electrode. Oxygen-containing groups (72.5-184.0 μmol/g) were introduced to RVC foam surface, thus resulting in a 59.8-258.2% higher H 2 O 2 yield. The modified electrodes showed much higher electrocatalytic activity toward O 2 reduction and good stability. Moreover, aimed at weakening the extent of electroreduction of H 2 O 2 in porous RVC foam, the strategy of pulsed current was proposed. H 2 O 2 concentration was 582.3 and 114.0% higher than the unmodified and modified electrodes, respectively. To test the feasibility of modification, as well as pulsed current, EF process was operated for removal of Reactive Blue 19 (RB19). The fluorescence intensity of hydroxybenzoic acid in EF with modified electrode is 3.2 times higher than EF with unmodified electrode, illustrating more hydroxyl radicals were generated. The removal efficiency of RB 19 in EF with unmodified electrode, modified electrode, and unmodified electrode assisted by pulsed current was 53.9, 68.9, and 81.1%, respectively, demonstrating that the green modification approach, as well as pulsed current, is applicable in EF system for pollutant removal. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Feasibility study on a short-pulsed IR wavelength for effective calculus fragmentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Hyun Wook

2015-05-01

Laser-induced lithotripsy has been used for a minimally-invasive surgery to treat kidney-stone disease associated with urinary obstruction. A short-pulsed Tm:YAG laser (λ = 2.01 µm) was developed to improve fragmentation efficiency and was evaluated with a Ho:YAG laser (λ = 2.12 μm) as to its ablation feature and mass removal rate. Application of a train of sub-microsecond pulses with a lower energy at a frequency of 500 Hz created multiple events of cavitation that accompanied strong acoustic transients. During Tm:YAG irradiation, both high light absorption and secondary photomechanical impacts readily fragmented the calculus into small pieces (< 3 mm) and removed them 130 times faster than photothermal Ho:YAG lithotripsy. The proposed short-pulsed Tm:YAG approach may be an effective lithotripter for treating calculus disease.

Self-focusing and group-velocity dispersion of pulsed laser beams in the inhomogeneous atmosphere.

PubMed

Zhang, Yuqiu; Ji, Xiaoling; Zhang, Hao; Li, Xiaoqing; Wang, Tao; Wang, Huan; Deng, Yu

2018-05-28

We study self-focusing and group-velocity dispersion (GVD) effects in the inhomogeneous atmosphere on pulsed-laser space debris removal facilitated by a ground-based laser. It is found that changes of the pulse duration and the beam spot size with the propagation distance are noticeable due to the interplay of the GVD effect and the self-focusing effect, which is quite different from the behavior in the linear case. It is shown that the temporal pulse splitting may appear on the space debris, and the spatial side lobe usually appears together with the temporal pulse splitting. As compared with the linear case, the beam width and the pulse width on the debris target increase. On the other hand, crucial formulae of the modified focal length and the M 2 -factor for laser debris removal are also derived. It is found that the beam quality on the debris target becomes better if our modified focal length is adopted, and the beam quality on the debris target will be good if the value of M 2 -factor is less than 1.6.

Removal of residual particulate matter from filter media

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

Almlie, Jay C.; Miller, Stanley J.

A method for removing residual filter cakes that remain adhered to a filter after typical particulate removal methodologies have been employed, such as pulse-jet filter element cleaning, for all cleanable filters used for air pollution control, dust control, or powder control.

Removal of residual particulate matter from filter media

DOEpatents

Almlie, Jay C; Miller, Stanley J

2014-11-11

A method for removing residual filter cakes that remain adhered to a filter after typical particulate removal methodologies have been employed, such as pulse-jet filter element cleaning, for all cleanable filters used for air pollution control, dust control, or powder control.

Simulation of laser-tattoo pigment interaction in a tissue-mimicking phantom using Q-switched and long-pulsed lasers.

PubMed

Ahn, K J; Kim, B J; Cho, S B

2017-08-01

Laser therapy is the treatment of choice in tattoo removal. However, the precise mechanisms of laser-tattoo pigment interactions remain to be evaluated. We evaluated the geometric patterns of laser-tattoo pigment particle interactions using a tattoo pigment-embedded tissue-mimicking (TM) phantom. A Q-switched (QS) neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser was used at settings of 532-, 660-, and 1064-nm wavelengths, single-pulse and quick pulse-to-pulse treatment modes, and spot sizes of 4 and 7 mm. Most of the laser-tattoo interactions in the experimental conditions formed cocoon-shaped or oval photothermal and photoacoustic injury zones, which contained fragmented tattoo particles in various sizes depending on the conditions. In addition, a long-pulsed 755-nm alexandrite laser was used at a spot size of 6 mm and pulse widths of 3, 5, and 10 ms. The finer granular pattern of tattoo destruction was observed in TM phantoms treated with 3- and 5-ms pulse durations compared to those treated with a 10-ms pulse. We outlined various patterns of laser-tattoo pigment interactions in a tattoo-embedded TM phantom to predict macroscopic tattoo and surrounding tissue reactions after laser treatment for tattoo removal. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ablation of aluminum nitride films by nanosecond and femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruzdev, Vitaly; Tzou, Robert; Salakhutdinov, Ildar; Danylyuk, Yuriy; McCullen, Erik; Auner, Gregory

2009-02-01

We present results of comparative study of laser-induced ablation of AlN films with variable content of oxygen as a surface-doping element. The films deposited on sapphire substrate were ablated by a single nanosecond pulse at wavelength 248 nm, and by a single femtosecond pulse at wavelength 775 nm in air at normal pressure. Ablation craters were inspected by AFM and Nomarski high-resolution microscope. Irradiation by nanosecond pulses leads to a significant removal of material accompanied by extensive thermal effects, chemical modification of the films around the ablation craters and formation of specific defect structures next to the craters. Remarkable feature of the nanosecond experiments was total absence of thermo-mechanical fracturing near the edges of ablation craters. The femtosecond pulses produced very gentle ablation removing sub-micrometer layers of the films. No remarkable signs of thermal, thermo-mechanical or chemical effects were found on the films after the femtosecond ablation. We discuss mechanisms responsible for the specific ablation effects and morphology of the ablation craters.

Plasma induced degradation of Indigo Carmine by bipolar pulsed dielectric barrier discharge(DBD) in the water-air mixture.

PubMed

Zhang, Ruo-Bing; Wu, Yan; Li, Guo-Feng; Wang, Ning-Hui; Li, Jie

2004-01-01

Degradation of the Indigo Carmine (IC) by the bipolar pulsed DBD in water-air mixture was studied. Effects of various parameters such as gas flow rate, solution conductivity, pulse repetitive rate and ect., on color removal efficiency of dying wastewater were investigated. Concentrations of gas phase o3 and aqueous phase H2O2 under various conditions were measured. Experimental results showed that air bubbling facilitates the breakdown of water and promotes generation of chemically active species. Color removal efficiency of IC solution can be greatly improved by the air aeration under various solution conductivities. Decolorization efficiency increases with the increase of the gas flow rate, and decreases with the increase of the initial solution conductivity. A higher pulse repetitive rate and a larger pulse capacitor C(p) are favorable for the decolorization process. Ozone and hydrogen peroxide formed decreases with the increase of initial solution conductivity. In addition, preliminary analysis of the decolorization mechanisms is given.

The Catalytic Effect of Electronegative Additives on Removal of Perchloroethylene Vapor from Air by Pulsed Corona Discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filatov, I. E.; Uvarin, V. V.; Kuznetsov, D. L.

2017-12-01

It is established that electronegative additives (CCl4, freon-113) produce a catalytic effect on the conversion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the action of atmospheric-pressure nonequilibrium plasma generated in pulsed corona discharge. At concentrations below 0.1%, these additives significantly decrease the discharge current, but the energy efficiency of the process of VOC removal from air increases. The catalytic effect of electronegative additives on the VOC conversion in air and nitrogen is quantitatively demonstrated in the case of perchloroethylene C2Cl4 (PCE) vapor removal. The addition of 0.085% CCl4 to air reduces the energy consumption for PCE removal at initial concentration of 0.09% by half (from 12 to 6 eV per molecule) at a 63% degree of cleaning. Mechanisms explaining the active inf luence of electronegative additives on the discharge current and the process of impurity removal are suggested.

The efficiency of backward magnetic-pulse processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudasov, Yu. B.; Maslov, D. A.; Surdin, O. M.

2017-01-01

The dependence of the efficiency of magnetic-pulse processing of materials on the pulsed magnetic-field shape has been studied. It is shown that, by using a pulse train instead of a single pulse in the fast-rising component of a magnetic field applied during the backward forming process, it is possible to increase the specific mechanical impulse transferred to a workpiece and, thus, improve the efficiency of processing. Possible applications of the proposed method to removing dents from car chassis and aircraft parts are considered

Nitrite survival and nitrous oxide production of denitrifying phosphorus removal sludges in long-term nitrite/nitrate-fed sequencing batch reactors.

PubMed

Wang, Yayi; Zhou, Shuai; Ye, Liu; Wang, Hong; Stephenson, Tom; Jiang, Xuxin

2014-12-15

Nitrite-based phosphorus (P) removal could be useful for innovative biological P removal systems where energy and carbon savings are a priority. However, using nitrite for denitrification may cause nitrous oxide (N2O) accumulation and emissions. A denitrifying nitrite-fed P removal system [Formula: see text] was successfully set up in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and was run for 210 days. The maximum pulse addition of nitrite to [Formula: see text] was 11 mg NO2(-)-N/L in the bulk, and a total of 34 mg NO2(-)-N/L of nitrite was added over three additions. Fluorescent in situ hybridization results indicated that the P-accumulating organisms (PAOs) abundance was 75 ± 1.1% in [Formula: see text] , approximately 13.6% higher than that in a parallel P removal SBR using nitrate [Formula: see text] . Type II Accumulibacter (PAOII) (unable to use nitrate as an electron acceptor) was the main PAOs species in [Formula: see text] , contributing 72% to total PAOs. Compared with [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] biomass had enhanced nitrite/free nitrous acid (FNA) endurance, as demonstrated by its higher nitrite denitrification and P uptake rates. N2O accumulated temporarily in [Formula: see text] after each pulse of nitrite. Peak N2O concentrations in the bulk for [Formula: see text] were generally 6-11 times higher than that in [Formula: see text] ; these accumulations were rapidly denitrified to nitrogen gases. N2O concentration increased rapidly in nitrate-cultivated biomass when 5 or 10 mg NO2(-)-N/L per pulse was added. Whereas, N2O accumulation did not occur in nitrite-cultivated biomass until up to 30 mg NO2(-)-N/L per pulse was added. Long-term acclimation to nitrite and pulse addition of nitrite in [Formula: see text] reduced the risk of nitrite accumulation, and mitigated N2O accumulation and emissions from denitrifying P removal by nitrite. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Removal of SO2 from flue gas by water vapor DC corona discharge].

PubMed

Sun, Ming; Wu, Yan

2006-07-01

The influence of several factors on removal rate of SO2 from flue gas in unsaturated water vapor DC corona discharge was researched. Furthermore, the experiments of the removal rate of SO2 in pulsed discharge increased by water vapor DC corona discharge plasma were conducted. The experiment system is supplied with multi-nozzle-plate electrodes and the flow of simulated flue gas is under 70 m3/h. The results show that removal rate of SO2 can be improved by increasing the concentration of water vapor, intensity of electric field or decreasing flow of simulated flue gas. In unsaturated water vapor DC corona discharge, removal rate of SO2 can be improved by 10%, when NH3 is added as NH3 and SO2 is in a mole ratio of two to one, it can reach 60%. The removal rate of SO2 can be increased by 5% in pulsed corona discharge and reach above 90%.

Scanning electron microscopy investigation of PMMA removal by laser irradiation (Er:YAG) in comparison with an ultrasonic system and curettage in hip joint revision arthroplasty.

PubMed

Birnbaum, Klaus; Gutknecht, Norbert

2010-07-01

The cement often left in the femur socket during hip joint revision arthroplasty is usually removed by curettage. Another method for removing the cement is to use an ultrasonic system, and yet another alternative may be to use a laser system. The aim of these investigations was to determine the pulse rate and pulse energy of the Er:YAG laser for sufficient cement ablation. We also compared the results obtained using the laser with those obtained using an ultrasonic device or curettage by histological and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation of the border zone between the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and unfixed specimens of femoral bone. Therefore we prepared 30 unfixed human femur stems after hip joint replacement and prepared ten sagittal sections from each femur stem (in total 300 sections). Of these 300 specimens, 180 were treated with the Er:YAG laser, 60 with the ultrasonic system and 60 by curettage. The high pulse energy of 500 mJ and a pulse rate of 4 Hz provided the highest PMMA ablation rate, although the boundary surface between PMMA and femoral bone was not as fine-grained as found in samples treated at 15 Hz and 250 mJ. However, the treatment time for the same cement ablation rate with the latter settings was twice that at 4 Hz and 500 mJ. Compared to the boundary surfaces treated with the ultrasonic device or curettage, the laser-treated samples had a more distinct undifferentiated boundary surface between PMMA and femoral bone. After development of the Er:YAG-laser to provide higher pulse energies, it may in the future be an additional efficient method for the removal of PMMA in revision arthroplasty. The Er:YAG laser should be combined with an endoscopic and a rinsing suction system so that PMMA can be removed from the femoral shaft under direct vision.

Transiting Planet Search in the Kepler Pipeline

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenkins, Jon M.; Chandrasekaran, Hema; McCauliff, Sean D.; Caldwell, Douglas A.; Tenebaum, Peter; Li, Jie; Klaus, Todd C.; Cote, Mile T.; Middour, Christopher

2010-01-01

The Kepler Mission simultaneously measures the brightness of more than 160,000 stars every 29.4 minutes over a 3.5-year mission to search for transiting planets. Detecting transits is a signal-detection problem where the signal of interest is a periodic pulse train and the predominant noise source is non-white, non-stationary (1/f) type process of stellar variability. Many stars also exhibit coherent or quasi-coherent oscillations. The detection algorithm first identifies and removes strong oscillations followed by an adaptive, wavelet-based matched filter. We discuss how we obtain super-resolution detection statistics and the effectiveness of the algorithm for Kepler flight data.

Composite Pulse Tube

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, Jerry L.; Cloyd, Jason H.

2007-01-01

A modification of the design of the pulse tube in a pulse-tube cryocooler reduces axial thermal conductance while preserving radial thermal conductance. It is desirable to minimize axial thermal conductance in the pulse-tube wall to minimize leakage of heat between the warm and cold ends of the pulse tube. At the same time, it is desirable to maximize radial thermal conductance at the cold end of the pulse tube to ensure adequate thermal contact between (1) a heat exchanger in the form of a stack of copper screens inside the pulse tube at the cold end and (2) the remainder of the cold tip, which is the object to which the heat load is applied and from which heat must be removed. The modified design yields a low-heat-leak pulse tube that can be easily integrated with a cold tip. A typical pulse tube of prior design is either a thin-walled metal tube or a metal tube with a nonmetallic lining. It is desirable that the outer surface of a pulse tube be cylindrical (in contradistinction to tapered) to simplify the design of a regenerator that is also part of the cryocooler. Under some conditions, it is desirable to taper the inner surface of the pulse tube to reduce acoustic streaming. The combination of a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered inner surface can lead to unacceptably large axial conduction if the pulse tube is made entirely of metal. Making the pulse-tube wall of a nonmetallic, lowthermal- conductivity material would not solve the problem because the wall would not afford the needed thermal contact for the stack of screens in the cold end. The modified design calls for fabricating the pulse tube in two parts: a longer, nonmetallic part that is tapered on the inside and cylindrical on the outside and a shorter, metallic part that is cylindrical on both the inside and the outside. The nonmetallic part can be made from G-10 fiberglass-reinforced epoxy or other low-thermal-conductivity, cryogenically compatible material. The metallic part must have high thermal conductivity in the cryogenic temperature range and would typically be made of pure copper to satisfy this requirement. The metallic part is bonded to the nonmetallic part with epoxy. Copper screens are inserted in the metallic part to form the cold-end heat exchanger, then the assembled pulse tube is inserted in the cold tip.

Influence of High Speed Repetition of Pulsed Streamer Discharge Produced by Polarity-Reversed Traveling Wave on NO Oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuda, Eiji; Kadowaki, Kazunori; Nishimoto, Sakae; Kitani, Isamu

This paper describes experimental results of NO removal from a simulated exhausted gas using a barrier-type plasma reactor subjected to reciprocal traveling wave voltage pulses. A pulse-forming cable was charged and then grounded at one end without any resistance, so that a traveling wave reciprocated along the cable with a change in its polarity because the traveling wave was negatively reflected at the grounded-end. Transient discharge light between point-plane electrodes with a glass barrier was observed using a gated image-intensifier. Photographs of the transient discharge light indicated that many streamer channels extended widely in the gap at the initial stage in the voltage oscillation, while only an intense discharge channel was observed at the latter stage. NO removal tests were carried out using the reciprocal pulse generator and a coaxial plasma reactor with a cylindrical glass-barrier. Results indicated that the discharges at the first and the second polarity reversals contributed largely to the oxidation reaction from NO into NO2, whereas the contribution of the subsequent discharges in the latter stage to NO removal was small.

Periodate-assisted pulsed sonocatalysis of real textile wastewater in the presence of MgO nanoparticles: Response surface methodological optimization.

PubMed

Darvishi Cheshmeh Soltani, Reza; Safari, Mahdi

2016-09-01

The improvement of sonocatalytic treatment of real textile wastewater in the presence of MgO nanoparticles was the main goal of the present study. According to our preliminary results, the application of pulse mode of sonication, together with the addition of periodate ions, produced the greatest sonocatalytic activity and consequently, the highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency (73.95%) among all the assessed options. In the following, pulsed sonocatalysis of real textile wastewater in the presence of periodate ions was evaluated response surface methodologically on the basis of central composite design. Accordingly, a high correlation coefficient of 0.95 was attained for the applied statistical strategy to optimize the process. As results, a pulsed sonication time of 141min, MgO dosage of 2.4g/L, solution temperature of 314K and periodate concentration of 0.11M gave the maximum COD removal of about 85%. Under aforementioned operational conditions, the removal of total organic carbon (TOC) was obtained to be 63.34% with the reaction rate constant of 7.1×10(-3)min(-1) based on the pseudo-first order kinetic model (R(2)=0.99). Overall, periodate-assisted pulsed sonocatalysis over MgO nanoparticles can be applied as an efficient alternative process for treating and mineralizing real textile wastewater with good reusability potential. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dry etch challenges for CD shrinkage in memory process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsushita, Takaya; Matsumoto, Takanori; Mukai, Hidefumi; Kyoh, Suigen; Hashimoto, Kohji

2015-03-01

Line pattern collapse attracts attention as a new problem of the L&S formation in sub-20nm H.P feature. Line pattern collapse that occurs in a slight non-uniformity of adjacent CD (Critical dimension) space using double patterning process has been studied with focus on micro-loading effect in Si etching. Bias RF pulsing plasma etching process using low duty cycle helped increase of selectivity Si to SiO2. In addition to the effect of Bias RF pulsing process, the thin mask obtained from improvement of selectivity has greatly suppressed micro-loading in Si etching. However it was found that micro-loading effect worsen again in sub-20nm space width. It has been confirmed that by using cycle etch process to remove deposition with CFx based etching micro-loading effect could be suppressed. Finally, Si etching process condition using combination of results above could provide finer line and space without "line pattern collapse" in sub-20nm.

Optical coherence tomography image-guided smart laser knife for surgery.

PubMed

Katta, Nitesh; McElroy, Austin B; Estrada, Arnold D; Milner, Thomas E

2018-03-01

Surgical oncology can benefit from specialized tools that enhance imaging and enable precise cutting and removal of tissue without damage to adjacent structures. The combination of high-resolution, fast optical coherence tomography (OCT) co-aligned with a nanosecond pulsed thulium (Tm) laser offers advantages over conventional surgical laser systems. Tm lasers provide superior beam quality, high volumetric tissue removal rates with minimal residual thermal footprint in tissue, enabling a reduction in unwanted damage to delicate adjacent sub-surface structures such as nerves or micro-vessels. We investigated such a combined Tm/OCT system with co-aligned imaging and cutting beams-a configuration we call a "smart laser knife." A blow-off model that considers absorption coefficients and beam delivery systems was utilized to predict Tm cut depth, tissue removal rate and spatial distribution of residual thermal injury. Experiments were performed to verify the volumetric removal rate predicted by the model as a function of average power. A bench-top, combined Tm/OCT system was constructed using a 15W 1940 nm nanosecond pulsed Tm fiber laser (500 μJ pulse energy, 100 ns pulse duration, 30 kHz repetition rate) for removing tissue and a swept source laser (1310 ± 70 nm, 100 kHz sweep rate) for OCT imaging. Tissue phantoms were used to demonstrate precise surgery with blood vessel avoidance. Depth imaging informed cutting/removal of targeted tissue structures by the Tm laser was performed. Laser cutting was accomplished around and above phantom blood vessels while avoiding damage to vessel walls. A tissue removal rate of 5.5 mm 3 /sec was achieved experimentally, in comparison to the model prediction of approximately 6 mm 3 /sec. We describe a system that combines OCT and laser tissue modification with a Tm laser. Simulation results of the tissue removal rate using a simple model, as a function of average power, are in good agreement with experimental results using tissue phantoms. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:202-212, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Selective removal of dental composite using a rapidly scanned carbon dioxide laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Kenneth H.; Fried, Daniel

2011-03-01

Dental restorative materials are color matched to the tooth and are difficult to remove by mechanical means without excessive removal or damage to peripheral enamel and dentin. Lasers are ideally suited for selective ablation to minimize healthy tissue loss when replacing existing restorations, sealants or removing composite adhesives such as residual composite left after debonding orthodontic brackets. In this study a carbon dioxide laser operating at high laser pulse repetition rates integrated with a galvanometer based scanner was used to selectively remove composite from tooth surfaces. A diode array spectrometer was used to measure the plume emission after each laser pulse and determine if the ablated material was tooth mineral or composite. The composite was placed on tooth buccal and occlusal surfaces and the carbon dioxide laser was scanned across the surface to selectively remove the composite without excessive damage to the underlying sound enamel. The residual composite and the damage to the underlying enamel was evaluated using optical microscopy. The laser was able to rapidly remove the composites rapidly from both surfaces with minimal damage to the underlying sound enamel.

Modeling seismic stimulation: Enhanced non-aqueous fluid extraction from saturated porous media under pore-pressure pulsing at low frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lo, Wei-Cheng; Sposito, Garrison; Huang, Yu-Han

2012-03-01

Seismic stimulation, the application of low-frequency stress-pulsing to the boundary of a porous medium containing water and a non-aqueous fluid to enhance the removal of the latter, shows great promise for both contaminated groundwater remediation and enhanced oil recovery, but theory to elucidate the underlying mechanisms lag significantly behind the progress achieved in experimental research. We address this conceptual lacuna by formulating a boundary-value problem to describe pore-pressure pulsing at seismic frequencies that is based on the continuum theory of poroelasticity for an elastic porous medium permeated by two immiscible fluids. An exact analytical solution is presented that is applied numerically using elasticity parameters and hydraulic data relevant to recent proof-of-principle laboratory experiments investigating the stimulation-induced mobilization of trichloroethene (TCE) in water flowing through a compressed sand core. The numerical results indicated that significant stimulation-induced increases of the TCE concentration in effluent can be expected from pore-pressure pulsing in the frequency range of 25-100 Hz, which is in good agreement with what was observed in the laboratory experiments. Sensitivity analysis of our numerical results revealed that the TCE concentration in the effluent increases with the porous medium framework compressibility and the pulsing pressure. Increasing compressibility also leads to an optimal stimulation response at lower frequencies, whereas changing the pulsing pressure does not affect the optimal stimulation frequency. Within the context of our model, the dominant physical cause for enhancement of non-aqueous fluid mobility by seismic stimulation is the dilatory motion of the porous medium in which the solid and fluid phases undergo opposite displacements, resulting in stress-induced changes of the pore volume.

Chronic neuropathic facial pain after intense pulsed light hair removal. Clinical features and pharmacological management

PubMed Central

Párraga-Manzol, Gabriela; Sánchez-Torres, Alba; Moreno-Arias, Gerardo

2015-01-01

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) photodepilation is usually performed as a hair removal method. The treatment is recommended to be indicated by a physician, depending on each patient and on its characteristics. However, the use of laser devices by medical laypersons is frequent and it can suppose a risk of damage for the patients. Most side effects associated to IPL photodepilation are transient, minimal and disappear without sequelae. However, permanent side effects can occur. Some of the complications are laser related but many of them are caused by an operator error or mismanagement. In this work, we report a clinical case of a patient that developed a chronic neuropathic facial pain following IPL hair removal for unwanted hair in the upper lip. The specific diagnosis was painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy, reference 13.1.2.3 according to the International Headache Society (IHS). Key words:Neuropathic facial pain, photodepilation, intense pulse light. PMID:26535105

Laser-assisted focused He + ion beam induced etching with and without XeF 2 gas assist

DOE PAGES

Stanford, Michael G.; Mahady, Kyle; Lewis, Brett B.; ...

2016-10-04

Focused helium ion (He +) milling has been demonstrated as a high-resolution nanopatterning technique; however, it can be limited by its low sputter yield as well as the introduction of undesired subsurface damage. Here, we introduce pulsed laser- and gas-assisted processes to enhance the material removal rate and patterning fidelity. A pulsed laser-assisted He+ milling process is shown to enable high-resolution milling of titanium while reducing subsurface damage in situ. Gas-assisted focused ion beam induced etching (FIBIE) of Ti is also demonstrated in which the XeF 2 precursor provides a chemical assist for enhanced material removal rate. In conclusion, amore » pulsed laser-assisted and gas-assisted FIBIE process is shown to increase the etch yield by ~9× relative to the pure He+ sputtering process. These He + induced nanopatterning techniques improve material removal rate, in comparison to standard He + sputtering, while simultaneously decreasing subsurface damage, thus extending the applicability of the He + probe as a nanopattering tool.« less

Laser-assisted focused He + ion beam induced etching with and without XeF 2 gas assist

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

Stanford, Michael G.; Mahady, Kyle; Lewis, Brett B.

Focused helium ion (He +) milling has been demonstrated as a high-resolution nanopatterning technique; however, it can be limited by its low sputter yield as well as the introduction of undesired subsurface damage. Here, we introduce pulsed laser- and gas-assisted processes to enhance the material removal rate and patterning fidelity. A pulsed laser-assisted He+ milling process is shown to enable high-resolution milling of titanium while reducing subsurface damage in situ. Gas-assisted focused ion beam induced etching (FIBIE) of Ti is also demonstrated in which the XeF 2 precursor provides a chemical assist for enhanced material removal rate. In conclusion, amore » pulsed laser-assisted and gas-assisted FIBIE process is shown to increase the etch yield by ~9× relative to the pure He+ sputtering process. These He + induced nanopatterning techniques improve material removal rate, in comparison to standard He + sputtering, while simultaneously decreasing subsurface damage, thus extending the applicability of the He + probe as a nanopattering tool.« less

Numerical investigation of vessel heating using a copper vapor laser and a pulsed dye laser in treating vascular skin lesions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pushkareva, A. E.; Ponomarev, I. V.; Isaev, A. A.; Klyuchareva, S. V.

2018-02-01

A computer simulation technique was employed to study the selective heating of a tissue vessel using emission from a pulsed copper vapor laser and a pulsed dye laser. The depth and size of vessels that could be selectively and safely removed were determined for the lasers under examination.

The influence of the Q-switched and free-running Er:YAG laser beam characteristics on the ablation of root canal dentine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papagiakoumou, Eirini; Papadopoulos, Dimitrios N.; Khabbaz, Marouan G.; Makropoulou, Mersini I.; Serafetinides, Alexander A.

2004-06-01

Laser based dental treatment is attractive to many researchers. Lasers in the 3 μm region, as the Er:YAG, are suitable especially for endodontic applications. In this study a pulsed free-running and Q-switched laser was used for the ablation experiments of root canal dentine. The laser beam was either directly focused on the dental tissue or delivered to it through an infrared fiber. For different spatial beam distributions, energies, number of pulses and both laser operations the quality characteristics (crater's shape formation, ablation efficiency and surface characteristics modification) were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The craters produced, generally, reflect the relevant beam profile. Inhomogeneous spatial beam profiles and short pulse duration result in cracks formation and lower tissue removal efficiency, while longer pulse durations cause hard dentine fusion. Any beam profile modification, due to laser characteristics variations and the specific delivering system properties, is directly reflected in the ablation crater shape and the tissue removal efficiency. Therefore, the laser parameters, as fluence, pulse repetition rate and number of pulses, have to be carefully adjusted in relation to the desirable result.

State dependent model predictive control for orbital rendezvous using pulse-width pulse-frequency modulated thrusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Peng; Zhu, Zheng H.; Meguid, S. A.

2016-07-01

This paper studies the pulse-width pulse-frequency modulation based trajectory planning for orbital rendezvous and proximity maneuvering near a non-cooperative spacecraft in an elliptical orbit. The problem is formulated by converting the continuous control input, output from the state dependent model predictive control, into a sequence of pulses of constant magnitude by controlling firing frequency and duration of constant-magnitude thrusters. The state dependent model predictive control is derived by minimizing the control error of states and control roughness of control input for a safe, smooth and fuel efficient approaching trajectory. The resulting nonlinear programming problem is converted into a series of quadratic programming problem and solved by numerical iteration using the receding horizon strategy. The numerical results show that the proposed state dependent model predictive control with the pulse-width pulse-frequency modulation is able to effectively generate optimized trajectories using equivalent control pulses for the proximity maneuvering with less energy consumption.

Characteristics of pulse corona discharge over water surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujii, Tomio; Arao, Yasushi; Rea, Massimo

2008-12-01

Production of ozone and OH radical is required to advance the plasma chemical reactions in the NOx removal processes for combustion gas treatment. The corona discharge to the water surface is expected to induce the good conditions for the proceeding of the NO oxidation and the NO2 dissolution removal into water. In order to get the fundamental data of the corona discharge over the water surface, the positive and negative V-I characteristics and the ozone production were measured with the multi needle and the saw-edge type of the discharge electrodes. The pulse corona characteristics were also measured with some different waveforms of the applied pulse voltage. The experiments were carried out under the atmospheric pressure and room temperature. Both the DC and the pulse corona to the water surface showed a stable and almost the same V-I characteristics as to plate electrodes though the surface of water was waved by corona wind. The positive streamer corona showed more ozone production than the negative one both in the DC and in the pulse corona.

Modelling of heating and photoexcitation of single-crystal silicon under multipulse irradiation by a nanosecond laser at 1.06 μm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polyakov, D. S.; Yakovlev, E. B.

2018-03-01

We report a theoretical study of heating and photoexcitation of single-crystal silicon by nanosecond laser radiation at a wavelength of 1.06 μm. The proposed physicomathematical model of heating takes into account the complex nonlinear dynamics of the interband absorption coefficient of silicon and the contribution of the radial heat removal to the cooling of silicon between pulses under multipulse irradiation, which allows one to obtain a satisfactory agreement between theoretical predictions of silicon melting thresholds at different nanosecond pulse durations and experimental data (both under single-pulse and multipulse irradiation). It is found that under irradiation by nanosecond pulses at a wavelength of 1.06 μm, the dynamic Burshtein–Moss effect can play an important role in processes of photoexcitation and heating. It is shown that with the regimes typical for laser multipulse microprocessing of silicon (the laser spot diameter is less than 100 μm, and the repetition rate of pulses is about 100 kHz), the radial heat removal cannot be neglected in the analysis of heat accumulation processes.

Research on laser-removal of a deuterium deposit from a graphite sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kubkowska, M.; Skladnik-Sadowska, E.; Malinowski, K.; Sadowski, M. J.; Rosinski, M.; Gasior, P.

2014-04-01

The paper presents experimental results of investigation of a removal of deuterium deposits from a graphite target by means of pulsed laser beams. The sample was a part of the TEXTOR limiter with a deuterium-deposited layer. That target was located in the vacuum chamber, pumped out to 5×10-5 Torr, and it was irradiated with a Nd:YAG laser, which generated 3.5-ns pulses of energy of 0.5 J at λ1 = 1063 nm, or 0.1 J at λ3 = 355 nm.

High-throughput machining using a high-average power ultrashort pulse laser and high-speed polygon scanner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schille, Joerg; Schneider, Lutz; Streek, André; Kloetzer, Sascha; Loeschner, Udo

2016-09-01

High-throughput ultrashort pulse laser machining is investigated on various industrial grade metals (aluminum, copper, and stainless steel) and Al2O3 ceramic at unprecedented processing speeds. This is achieved by using a high-average power picosecond laser in conjunction with a unique, in-house developed polygon mirror-based biaxial scanning system. Therefore, different concepts of polygon scanners are engineered and tested to find the best architecture for high-speed and precision laser beam scanning. In order to identify the optimum conditions for efficient processing when using high-average laser powers, the depths of cavities made in the samples by varying the processing parameter settings are analyzed and, from the results obtained, the characteristic removal values are specified. For overlapping pulses of optimum fluence, the removal rate is as high as 27.8 mm3/min for aluminum, 21.4 mm3/min for copper, 15.3 mm3/min for stainless steel, and 129.1 mm3/min for Al2O3, when a laser beam of 187 W average laser powers irradiates. On stainless steel, it is demonstrated that the removal rate increases to 23.3 mm3/min when the laser beam is very fast moving. This is thanks to the low pulse overlap as achieved with 800 m/s beam deflection speed; thus, laser beam shielding can be avoided even when irradiating high-repetitive 20-MHz pulses.

Non-thermal plasma-induced photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol in water.

PubMed

Hao, Xiao Long; Zhou, Ming Hua; Lei, Le Cheng

2007-03-22

TiO(2) photocatalyst (P-25) (50mgL(-1)) was tentatively introduced into pulsed high-voltage discharge process for non-thermal plasma-induced photocatalytic degradation of the representative mode organic pollutant parachlorophenol (4-CP), including other compounds phenol and methyl red in water. The experimental results showed that rate constant of 4-CP degradation, energy efficiency for 4-CP removal and TOC removal with TiO(2) were obviously increased. Pulsed high-voltage discharge process with TiO(2) had a promoted effect for the degradation of these pollutants under a broad range of liquid conductivity. Furthermore, the apparent formation rates of chemically active species (e.g., ozone and hydrogen peroxide) were increased, the hydrogen peroxide formation rate from 1.10x10(-6) to 1.50x10(-6)Ms(-1), the ozone formation rate from 1.99x10(-8) to 2.35x10(-8)Ms(-1), respectively. In addition, this process had no influence on the photocatalytic properties of TiO(2). The introduction of TiO(2) photocatalyst into pulsed discharge plasma process in the utilizing of ultraviolet radiation and electric field in pulsed discharge plasma process enhanced the yields of chemically active species, which were available for highly efficient removal and mineralization of organic pollutants.

Selective removal of natural caries lesions from dentin and tooth occlusal surfaces using a diode-pumped Er:YAG laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jew, Jamison; Chan, Kenneth H.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2017-02-01

Selective removal of caries lesions with high precision is best accomplished using lasers operating at high pulse repetition rates utilizing small spot sizes. Conventional flash-lamp pumped Er:YAG lasers are poorly suited for this purpose, but new diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) Er:YAG lasers have become available operating at high pulse repetition rates. Microradiography was used to determine the mineral content of the demineralized dentin of 200-μm thick sections with natural caries lesions prior to laser ablation. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of a DPSS Er:YAG laser for the selective removal of demineralized dentin and natural occlusal lesions on extracted teeth.

Pulse combusted acoustic agglomeration apparatus and process

DOEpatents

Mansour, Momtaz N.

1993-01-01

An improved apparatus and process for removal of particulates entrained in a gas stream are provided. The removal process employs a pulse combustor to provide an acoustic pressure wave to acoustically enhance bimodal agglomeration of particulates which may be collected and removed using a conventional separation apparatus. A particulate having a size different from the size of the particulate in the gas stream to be cleaned is introduced into the system to effectuate the bimodal process. The apparatus may be employed as a direct fired system for improved operation of gas-operated equipment such as a gas turbine, or may, alternatively, be employed as an add-on subsystem for combustion exhaust clean-up. Additionally, the added particulate may be a sorbent for effecting sorption of other contaminants such as sulfur. Various other particulates for contaminant removal may also be introduced into the system as exemplified by alkali-gettering agents.

SEM investigations of the cementum surface after irradiation with a frequency-doubled Alexandrite laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rechmann, Peter; Hennig, Thomas

1996-04-01

During prior studies it could be demonstrated while engaging a frequency doubled Alexandrite-laser (wavelength 380 nm, pulse duration 100 ns, fluence 1 J/cm2, pulse repetition rate 110 Hz) a fast and strictly selective ablation of supra- and subgingival calculus is possible. Even the removal of unstained microbial plaque was observed. First conclusions were drawn after light microscopical investigations on undecalcified sections of irradiated teeth. In the present study the cementum surface after irradiation with a frequency doubled Alexandrite-laser was observed by means of a Scanning Electron Microscope. After irradiation sections of teeth were dried in alcohol and sputtered with gold. In comparison irradiated cementum surfaces of unerupted operatively removed wisdom teeth and tooth surfaces after the selective removal of calculus were investigated. A complete removal of calculus was observed as well as a remaining smooth surface of irradiated cementum.

Geomorphic and Ecological Disturbance and Recovery from Two Small Dams and Their Removal

PubMed Central

Tullos, Desirée D.; Finn, Debra S.; Walter, Cara

2014-01-01

Dams are known to impact river channels and ecosystems, both during their lifetime and in their decommissioning. In this study, we applied a before-after-control-impact design associated with two small dam removals to investigate abiotic and biotic recovery trajectories from both the elimination of the press disturbance associated with the presence of dams and the introduction of a pulse disturbance associated with removal of dams. The two case studies represent different geomorphic and ecological conditions that we expected to represent low and high sensitivities to the pulse disturbance of dam removal: the 4 m tall, gravel-filled Brownsville Dam on the wadeable Calapooia River and the 12.5 m tall, sand and gravel-filled Savage Rapids Dam on the largely non-wadeable Rogue River. We evaluated both geomorphic and ecological responses annually for two years post removal, and asked if functional traits of the macroinvertebrate assemblages provided more persistent signals of ecological disturbance than taxonomically defined assemblages over the period of study. Results indicate that: 1) the presence of the dams constituted a strong ecological press disturbance to the near-downstream reaches on both rivers, despite the fact that both rivers passed unregulated flow and sediment during the high flow season; 2) ecological recovery from this press disturbance occurred within the year following the restoration action of dam removal, whereas signals of geomorphic disturbance from the pulse of released sediment persisted two years post-removal, and 3) the strength of the press disturbance and the rapid ecological recovery were detected regardless of whether recovery was assessed by taxonomic or functional assemblages and for both case studies, in spite of their different geomorphic settings. PMID:25233231

Evaluation of pilot-scale pulse-corona-induced plasma device to remove NO{sub x} from combustion exhausts from a subscale combustor and from a hush house at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Final report, August 1994--January 1997

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

Haythornthwaite, S.M.; Durham, M.D.; Anderson, G.L.

1997-05-01

Jet engine test cells (JETCs) are used to test-fire new, installed, and reworked jet engines. Because JETCs have been classified as stationary sources of pollutant emissions, they are subject to possible regulation under Title 1 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) as amended in 1990. In Phase 1 of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, a novel NOx-control approach utilizing pulsed-corona-induced plasma successfully showed 90% removal of NOx in the laboratory. The objective of Phase 2 was to reproduce the laboratory-scale results in a pilot-scale system. The technology was successfully demonstrated at pilot scale in the field, on amore » slipstream of JETC flue gas at Nellis Air Force Base. Based on the field data, cost projections were made for a system to treat the full JETC exhaust. The technology efficiently converted NO into ONO, and a wet scrubber was required to achieve the treatment goal of 50-percent removal and destruction of NOx. The plasma simultaneously removes hydrocarbons from the flue gas stream. This project demonstrated that pulse-corona-induced plasma technology is scalable to practical industrial dimensions.« less

Composition and method for removing photoresist materials from electronic components

DOEpatents

Davenhall, Leisa B [Santa Fe, NM; Rubin, James B [Los Alamos, NM; Taylor, Craig M. V. [Jemez Springs, NM

2008-06-03

Composition and method for removing photoresist materials from electronic components. The composition is a mixture of at least one dense phase fluid and at least one dense phase fluid modifier. The method includes exposing a substrate to at least one pulse of the composition in a supercritical state to remove photoresist materials from the substrate.

Composition and method for removing photoresist materials from electronic components

DOEpatents

Davenhall, Leisa B.; Rubin, James B.; Taylor, Craig M.

2005-01-25

Composition and method for removing photoresist materials from electronic components. The composition is a mixture of at least one dense phase fluid and at least one dense phase fluid modifier. The method includes exposing a substrate to at least one pulse of the composition in a supercritical state to remove photoresist materials from the substrate.

[Design of a pulse oximeter used to low perfusion and low oxygen saturation].

PubMed

Tan, Shuangping; Ai, Zhiguang; Yang, Yuxing; Xie, Qingguo

2013-05-01

This paper presents a new pulse oximeter used to low perfusion at 0.125% and wide oxygen saturation range from 35% to 100%. In order to acquire the best PPG signals, the variable gain amplifier(VGA) is adopted in hardware. The self-developed auto-correlation modeling method is adopted in software and it can extract pulse wave from low perfusion signals and remove motion artifacts partly.

Selective ablation of dental calculus with a frequency-doubled Alexandrite laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rechmann, Peter; Hennig, Thomas

1996-01-01

The aim of the study was the selective removal of dental calculus by means of pulsed lasers. In a first approach the optical characteristics of subgingival calculus were calculated using fluorescence emission spectroscopy (excitation laser: N2-laser, wavelength 337 nm, pulse duration 4 ns). Subgingival calculus seems to absorb highly in the ultraviolet spectral region up to 420 nm. According to these measurements a frequency doubled Alexandrite-laser (wavelength 377 nm, pulse duration 100 ns, repetition rate 110 Hz) was used to irradiate calculus located on enamel, at the cementum enamel junction and on the root surface (located on dentin or on cementum). Irradiation was performed perpendicular to the root surface with a laser fluence of 1 Jcm-2. During the irradiation procedure an effective water cooling-system was engaged. Histological investigations were done on undecalcified sections. As a result, engaging low fluences allows a fast and strictly selective removal of subgingival calculus. Even more the investigations revealed that supragingival calculus can be removed in a strictly selective manner engaging a frequency doubled Alexandrite-laser. No adverse side effects to the surrounding tissues could be found.

Experimental and modeling study of the oxidation of acetaldehyde in an atmospheric-pressure pulsed corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klett, C.; Touchard, S.; Vega-Gonzalez, A.; Redolfi, M.; Bonnin, X.; Hassouni, K.; Duten, X.

2012-08-01

This paper reports the results obtained for the degradation of acetaldehyde by an atmospheric plasma corona discharge working in a pulsed regime. It was shown that a few hundred ppm of acetaldehyde diluted in a pure N2 gas flow can be removed up to 80% by a discharge fed with an electric power lower than 1 W. Under the same conditions, adding up to 5% of O2 allowed the removal of up to 95% of the initial acetaldehyde. The main identified end products were CO2, CO and methanol. A quasi-homogeneous zero-dimensional chemical model was developed to investigate the respective efficiency of the discharge and post-discharge periods in the global removal of the pollutant. The identified main pathways of acetaldehyde degradation were quenching of N2 metastable states during plasma pulses and oxidation by O and OH radicals during the post-discharge. This latter contribution increased with input power because of ozone accumulation in the gas mixture acting as an additional oxygen reservoir.

High-throughput machining using high average power ultrashort pulse lasers and ultrafast polygon scanner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schille, Joerg; Schneider, Lutz; Streek, André; Kloetzer, Sascha; Loeschner, Udo

2016-03-01

In this paper, high-throughput ultrashort pulse laser machining is investigated on various industrial grade metals (Aluminium, Copper, Stainless steel) and Al2O3 ceramic at unprecedented processing speeds. This is achieved by using a high pulse repetition frequency picosecond laser with maximum average output power of 270 W in conjunction with a unique, in-house developed two-axis polygon scanner. Initially, different concepts of polygon scanners are engineered and tested to find out the optimal architecture for ultrafast and precision laser beam scanning. Remarkable 1,000 m/s scan speed is achieved on the substrate, and thanks to the resulting low pulse overlap, thermal accumulation and plasma absorption effects are avoided at up to 20 MHz pulse repetition frequencies. In order to identify optimum processing conditions for efficient high-average power laser machining, the depths of cavities produced under varied parameter settings are analyzed and, from the results obtained, the characteristic removal values are specified. The maximum removal rate is achieved as high as 27.8 mm3/min for Aluminium, 21.4 mm3/min for Copper, 15.3 mm3/min for Stainless steel and 129.1 mm3/min for Al2O3 when full available laser power is irradiated at optimum pulse repetition frequency.

Interference Resilient Sigma Delta-Based Pulse Oximeter.

PubMed

Shokouhian, Mohsen; Morling, Richard; Kale, Izzet

2016-06-01

Ambient light and optical interference can severely affect the performance of pulse oximeters. The deployment of a robust modulation technique to drive the pulse oximeter LEDs can reduce these unwanted effects and increases the resilient of the pulse oximeter against artificial ambient light. The time division modulation technique used in conventional pulse oximeters can not remove the effect of modulated light coming from surrounding environment and this may cause huge measurement error in pulse oximeter readings. This paper presents a novel cross-coupled sigma delta modulator which ensures that measurement accuracy will be more robust in comparison with conventional fixed-frequency oximeter modulation technique especially in the presence of pulsed artificial ambient light. Moreover, this novel modulator gives an extra control over the pulse oximeter power consumption leading to improved power management.

Waterjet and laser etching: the nonlinear inverse problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilbao-Guillerna, A.; Axinte, D. A.; Billingham, J.; Cadot, G. B. J.

2017-07-01

In waterjet and laser milling, material is removed from a solid surface in a succession of layers to create a new shape, in a depth-controlled manner. The inverse problem consists of defining the control parameters, in particular, the two-dimensional beam path, to arrive at a prescribed freeform surface. Waterjet milling (WJM) and pulsed laser ablation (PLA) are studied in this paper, since a generic nonlinear material removal model is appropriate for both of these processes. The inverse problem is usually solved for this kind of process by simply controlling dwell time in proportion to the required depth of milling at a sequence of pixels on the surface. However, this approach is only valid when shallow surfaces are etched, since it does not take into account either the footprint of the beam or its overlapping on successive passes. A discrete adjoint algorithm is proposed in this paper to improve the solution. Nonlinear effects and non-straight passes are included in the optimization, while the calculation of the Jacobian matrix does not require large computation times. Several tests are performed to validate the proposed method and the results show that tracking error is reduced typically by a factor of two in comparison to the pixel-by-pixel approach and the classical raster path strategy with straight passes. The tracking error can be as low as 2-5% and 1-2% for WJM and PLA, respectively, depending on the complexity of the target surface.

A digital acquisition and elaboration system for nuclear fast pulse detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Esposito, B.; Riva, M.; Marocco, D.; Kaschuck, Y.

2007-03-01

A new digital acquisition and elaboration system has been developed and assembled in ENEA-Frascati for the direct sampling of fast pulses from nuclear detectors such as scintillators and diamond detectors. The system is capable of performing the digital sampling of the pulses (200 MSamples/s, 14-bit) and the simultaneous (compressed) data transfer for further storage and software elaboration. The design (FPGA-based) is oriented to real-time applications and has been developed in order to allow acquisition with no loss of pulses and data storage for long-time intervals (tens of s at MHz pulse count rates) without the need of large on-board memory. A dedicated pulse analysis software, written in LabVIEWTM, performs the treatment of the acquired pulses, including pulse recognition, pile-up rejection, baseline removal, pulse shape particle separation and pulse height spectra analysis. The acquisition and pre-elaboration programs have been fully integrated with the analysis software.

RAPID NITRATE UPTAKE RATES AND LARGE SHORT-TERM STORAGE CAPACITIES MAY EXPLAIN WHY OPPORTUNISTIC GREEN MACROALGAE DOMINATE SHALLOW EUTROPHIC ESTUARIES1.

PubMed

Kennison, Rachel L; Kamer, Krista; Fong, Peggy

2011-06-01

We quantified the effects of initial macroalgal tissue nitrogen (N) status (depleted and enriched) and varying pulses of nitrate (NO 3 - ) concentration on uptake and storage of nitrogen in Ulva intestinalis L. and Ulva expansa (Setch.) Setch. et N. L. Gardner using mesocosms modeling shallow coastal estuaries in Mediterranean climates. Uptake of NO 3 - (μmol · g dry weight [dwt] -1  · h -1 ) was measured as loss from the water after 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h and storage as total tissue nitrogen (% dwt) and nitrate (ppm). Both species of algae exhibited a high affinity for NO 3 - across all N pulses and initial tissue contents. There was greater NO 3 - removal from the water for depleted than enriched algae across all time intervals. In the low-N-pulse treatment, U. intestinalis and U. expansa removed all measurable NO 3 - within 8 and 12 h, respectively, and in the medium and high treatments, removal was high and then decreased over time. Maximum mean uptake rates of nitrate were greater for U. expansa (∼300 μmol · g dwt -1  · h -1 ) than U. intestinalis (∼100 μmol · g dwt -1  · h -1 ); however, uptake rates were highly variable over time. Overall, U. expansa uptake rates were double those of U. intestinalis. Maximum tissue NO 3 - for U. expansa was >1,000 ppm, five times that of U. intestinalis, suggesting that U. expansa has a greater storage capacity in this cellular pool. These results showed that opportunistic green algae with differing tissue nutrient histories were able to efficiently remove nitrate from the water across a wide range of N pulses; thus, both are highly adapted to proliferate in estuarine environments with pulsed nutrient supplies. © 2011 Phycological Society of America.

A case of generalized bromhidrosis following whole-body depilatory laser.

PubMed

Helou, Josiane; Haber, Roger; Kechichian, Elio; Tomb, Roland

2015-01-01

Laser treatment is a widespread method for hair removal. Despite its very common use, side effects remain relatively rare and transient. Axillary hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis have already been reported in the literature after depilatory lasers. We report here a novel side effect of total body bromhidrosis following hair removal laser. A 27-year-old man, phototype 3 underwent four sessions of total body depilatory laser, combining pulsed alexandrite and pulsed diode lasers. A few days afterwards, a generalized foul odor was noted and was resistant to regular deodorants and Aluminum chloride based antiperspirants. Possible mechanisms include the activation of dormant bacteria in the skin flora, sweat gland dysfunction, altered skin flora, sweat gland hormone receptor disturbances, and genetic factors. Total body bromhidrosis and hyperhidrosis are potential complications of total body laser hair removal.

Designing dipolar recoupling and decoupling experiments for biological solid-state NMR using interleaved continuous wave and RF pulse irradiation.

PubMed

Bjerring, Morten; Jain, Sheetal; Paaske, Berit; Vinther, Joachim M; Nielsen, Niels Chr

2013-09-17

Rapid developments in solid-state NMR methodology have boosted this technique into a highly versatile tool for structural biology. The invention of increasingly advanced rf pulse sequences that take advantage of better hardware and sample preparation have played an important part in these advances. In the development of these new pulse sequences, researchers have taken advantage of analytical tools, such as average Hamiltonian theory or lately numerical methods based on optimal control theory. In this Account, we focus on the interplay between these strategies in the systematic development of simple pulse sequences that combines continuous wave (CW) irradiation with short pulses to obtain improved rf pulse, recoupling, sampling, and decoupling performance. Our initial work on this problem focused on the challenges associated with the increasing use of fully or partly deuterated proteins to obtain high-resolution, liquid-state-like solid-state NMR spectra. Here we exploit the overwhelming presence of (2)H in such samples as a source of polarization and to gain structural information. The (2)H nuclei possess dominant quadrupolar couplings which complicate even the simplest operations, such as rf pulses and polarization transfer to surrounding nuclei. Using optimal control and easy analytical adaptations, we demonstrate that a series of rotor synchronized short pulses may form the basis for essentially ideal rf pulse performance. Using similar approaches, we design (2)H to (13)C polarization transfer experiments that increase the efficiency by one order of magnitude over standard cross polarization experiments. We demonstrate how we can translate advanced optimal control waveforms into simple interleaved CW and rf pulse methods that form a new cross polarization experiment. This experiment significantly improves (1)H-(15)N and (15)N-(13)C transfers, which are key elements in the vast majority of biological solid-state NMR experiments. In addition, we demonstrate how interleaved sampling of spectra exploiting polarization from (1)H and (2)H nuclei can substantially enhance the sensitivity of such experiments. Finally, we present systematic development of (1)H decoupling methods where CW irradiation of moderate amplitude is interleaved with strong rotor-synchronized refocusing pulses. We show that these sequences remove residual cross terms between dipolar coupling and chemical shielding anisotropy more effectively and improve the spectral resolution over that observed in current state-of-the-art methods.

Nox reduction system utilizing pulsed hydrocarbon injection

DOEpatents

Brusasco, Raymond M.; Penetrante, Bernardino M.; Vogtlin, George E.; Merritt, Bernard T.

2001-01-01

Hydrocarbon co-reductants, such as diesel fuel, are added by pulsed injection to internal combustion engine exhaust to reduce exhaust NO.sub.x to N.sub.2 in the presence of a catalyst. Exhaust NO.sub.x reduction of at least 50% in the emissions is achieved with the addition of less than 5% fuel as a source of the hydrocarbon co-reductants. By means of pulsing the hydrocarbon flow, the amount of pulsed hydrocarbon vapor (itself a pollutant) can be minimized relative to the amount of NO.sub.x species removed.

LASER APPLICATIONS AND OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Gas-dynamic effects in the interaction of a motionless optical pulsating discharge with gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tishchenko, V. N.; Grachev, G. N.; Pavlov, A. A.; Smirnov, A. L.; Pavlov, A. A.; Golubev, M. P.

2008-01-01

The effect of energy removal from the combustion zone of a motionless optical pulsating discharge in the horizontal direction along the axis of a repetitively pulsed laser beam producing the discharge is discovered. The directivity diagram of a hot gas flow is formed during the action of hundreds of pulses. The effect is observed for short pulse durations, when the discharge efficiently generates shock waves. For long pulse durations, the heated gas propagates upward, as in a thermal source.

Planarization of Isolated Defects on ICF Target Capsule Surfaces by Pulsed Laser Ablation

DOE PAGES

Alfonso, Noel; Carlson, Lane C.; Bunn, Thomas L.

2016-08-09

Demanding surface quality requirements for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsules motivated the development of a pulsed laser ablation method to reduce or eliminate undesirable surface defects. The pulsed laser ablation technique takes advantage of a full surface (4π) capsule manipulation system working in combination with an optical profiling (confocal) microscope. Based on the defect topography, the material removal rate, the laser pulse energy and its beam profile, a customized laser raster pattern is derived to remove the defect. The pattern is a table of coordinates and number of pulses that dictate how the defect will be vaporized until its heightmore » is level with the capsule surface. This paper explains how the raster patterns are optimized to minimize surface roughness and how surface roughness after laser ablation is simulated. The simulated surfaces are compared with actual ablated surfaces. Large defects are reduced to a size regime where a tumble finishing process produces very high quality surfaces devoid of high mode defects. The combined polishing processes of laser ablation and tumble finishing have become routine fabrication steps for National Ignition Facility capsule production.« less

Brief review on pulse laser propulsion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Haichao; Li, Hanyang; Wang, Yan; Cui, Lugui; Liu, Shuangqiang; Yang, Jun

2018-03-01

Pulse laser propulsion (PLP) is an advanced propulsion concept can be used across a variety of fields with a wide range of applications. PLP reflects superior payload as well as decreased launch costs in comparison with other conventional methods of producing thrust, such as chemical propulsion or electric propulsion. Numerous researchers have attempted to exploit the potential applications of PLP. This paper first reviews concepts relevant to PLP, including the propulsion modes, breakdown regimes, and propulsion efficiency; the propulsion targets for different materials with the pulse laser are then discussed in detail, including the propulsion of solid and liquid microspheres. PLP applications such as the driven microsatellite, target surface particle removal, and orbital debris removal are also discussed. Although the PLP has been applied to a variety of fields, further research is yet warranted to establish its application in the aerospace field.

Electrical switching in cadmium boracite single crystals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Takahashi, T.; Yamada, O.

1981-01-01

Cadmium boracite single crystals at high temperatures ( 300 C) were found to exhibit a reversible electric field-induced transition between a highly insulative and a conductive state. The switching threshold is smaller than a few volts for an electrode spacing of a few tenth of a millimeter corresponding to an electric field of 100 to 1000 V/cm. This is much smaller than the dielectric break-down field for an insulator such as boracite. The insulative state reappears after voltage removal. A pulse technique revealed two different types of switching. Unstable switching occurs when the pulse voltage slightly exceeds the switching threshold and is characterized by a pre-switching delay and also a residual current after voltage pulse removal. A stable type of switching occurs when the voltage becomes sufficiently high. Possible device applications of this switching phenomenon are discussed.

Reticulated Vitreous Carbon Electrodes for Gas Phase Pulsed Corona Reactors.

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-01-01

AFRL-ML-TY-TP-1999-4546 RETICULATED VITREOUS CARBON ELECTRODES FOR GAS PHASE PULSED CORONA REACTORS B.R. LOCKE M. KIRKPATRICK H. HANSON W.C...SUBTITLE Reticulated Vitreous Carbon Electrodes for Gas Phase Pulsed Corona Reactors 6. AUTHOR(S) B.R. Locke, M. Kirkpatrick, H. Hanson, and W.C. Finney...incorporating reticulated vitreous carbon electrodes is demonstrated to be effective for the removal of nitrogen oxides from synthetic air mixtures

Real-time multi-mode neutron multiplicity counter

DOEpatents

Rowland, Mark S; Alvarez, Raymond A

2013-02-26

Embodiments are directed to a digital data acquisition method that collects data regarding nuclear fission at high rates and performs real-time preprocessing of large volumes of data into directly useable forms for use in a system that performs non-destructive assaying of nuclear material and assemblies for mass and multiplication of special nuclear material (SNM). Pulses from a multi-detector array are fed in parallel to individual inputs that are tied to individual bits in a digital word. Data is collected by loading a word at the individual bit level in parallel, to reduce the latency associated with current shift-register systems. The word is read at regular intervals, all bits simultaneously, with no manipulation. The word is passed to a number of storage locations for subsequent processing, thereby removing the front-end problem of pulse pileup. The word is used simultaneously in several internal processing schemes that assemble the data in a number of more directly useable forms. The detector includes a multi-mode counter that executes a number of different count algorithms in parallel to determine different attributes of the count data.

Effect of a novel low-energy pulsed-light device for home-use hair removal.

PubMed

Alster, Tina S; Tanzi, Elizabeth L

2009-03-01

Removal of unwanted hair is the most popular skin treatment worldwide. Over the past decade, various lasers and light sources for epilation have been advocated for use in an office setting, although most people continue to treat unwanted hair with a variety of temporary physical methods (e.g., waxing, shaving) in a home setting, presumably due to cost and convenience factors. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a low-energy pulsed-light device intended for home-use hair removal. Twenty women (skin phototypes I-IV) with dark terminal hair in nonfacial sites (axilla, forearms, inguinal region, legs) self-administered three treatments at 2-week intervals using a handheld intense-pulsed-light device. Matched untreated skin sites were also studied. Hair counts and clinical photographs were obtained pretreatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the third treatment. Side effects and patient satisfaction scores were recorded. All patients showed a positive clinical response to treatment, with reduction of unwanted hair. No reduction of hair was noted in untreated matched areas. Hair counts were reduced 37.8% to 53.6% 6 months after the three treatments. Skin region influenced clinical response, with lower legs exhibiting greater hair reduction than arms and inguinal and axillary areas. Mild erythema was experienced in 25% of patients, but no other side effects or complications were encountered. Patient satisfaction scores were high, with all patients stating that they would purchase the device for future home use. CONCLUSIONS Low-energy pulsed light can be applied safely and effectively for at-home hair removal in a variety of nonfacial locations and skin phototypes I-IV.

Advancing RF pulse design using an open-competition format: Report from the 2015 ISMRM challenge.

PubMed

Grissom, William A; Setsompop, Kawin; Hurley, Samuel A; Tsao, Jeffrey; Velikina, Julia V; Samsonov, Alexey A

2017-10-01

To advance the best solutions to two important RF pulse design problems with an open head-to-head competition. Two sub-challenges were formulated in which contestants competed to design the shortest simultaneous multislice (SMS) refocusing pulses and slice-selective parallel transmission (pTx) excitation pulses, subject to realistic hardware and safety constraints. Short refocusing pulses are needed for spin echo SMS imaging at high multiband factors, and short slice-selective pTx pulses are needed for multislice imaging in ultra-high field MRI. Each sub-challenge comprised two phases, in which the first phase posed problems with a low barrier of entry, and the second phase encouraged solutions that performed well in general. The Challenge ran from October 2015 to May 2016. The pTx Challenge winners developed a spokes pulse design method that combined variable-rate selective excitation with an efficient method to enforce SAR constraints, which achieved 10.6 times shorter pulse durations than conventional approaches. The SMS Challenge winners developed a time-optimal control multiband pulse design algorithm that achieved 5.1 times shorter pulse durations than conventional approaches. The Challenge led to rapid step improvements in solutions to significant problems in RF excitation for SMS imaging and ultra-high field MRI. Magn Reson Med 78:1352-1361, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Study on Decomposition of Indoor Air Contaminants by Pulsed Atmospheric Microplasma

PubMed Central

Shimizu, Kazuo; Kuwabara, Tomoya; Blajan, Marius

2012-01-01

Decomposition of formaldehyde (HCHO) by a microplasma reactor in order to improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) was achieved. HCHO was removed from air using one pass through reactor treatment (5 L/min). From an initial concentration of HCHO of 0.7 ppm about 96% was removed in one pass treatment using a discharge power of 0.3 W provided by a high voltage amplifier and a Marx Generator with MOSFET switches as pulsed power supplies. Moreover microplasma driven by the Marx Generator did not generate NOx as detected by a chemiluminescence NOx analyzer. In the case of large volume treatment the removal ratio of HCHO (initial concentration: 0.5 ppm) after 60 minutes was 51% at 1.2 kV when using HV amplifier considering also a 41% natural decay ratio of HCHO. The removal ratio was 54% at 1.2 kV when a Marx Generator energized the electrodes with a 44% natural decay ratio after 60 minutes of treatment. PMID:23202173

Photoacoustic removal of occlusions from blood vessels

DOEpatents

Visuri, Steven R.; Da Silva, Luiz B.; Celliers, Peter M.; London, Richard A.; Maitland, IV, Duncan J.; Esch, Victor C.

2002-01-01

Partial or total occlusions of fluid passages within the human body are removed by positioning an array of optical fibers in the passage and directing treatment radiation pulses along the fibers, one at a time, to generate a shock wave and hydrodynamics flows that strike and emulsify the occlusions. A preferred application is the removal of blood clots (thrombin and embolic) from small cerebral vessels to reverse the effects of an ischemic stroke. The operating parameters and techniques are chosen to minimize the amount of heating of the fragile cerebral vessel walls occurring during this photo acoustic treatment. One such technique is the optical monitoring of the existence of hydrodynamics flow generating vapor bubbles when they are expected to occur and stopping the heat generating pulses propagated along an optical fiber that is not generating such bubbles.

Estimation of Qualitative and Quantitative Parameters of Air Cleaning by a Pulsed Corona Discharge Using Multicomponent Standard Mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filatov, I. E.; Uvarin, V. V.; Kuznetsov, D. L.

2018-05-01

The efficiency of removal of volatile organic impurities in air by a pulsed corona discharge is investigated using model mixtures. Based on the method of competing reactions, an approach to estimating the qualitative and quantitative parameters of the employed electrophysical technique is proposed. The concept of the "toluene coefficient" characterizing the relative reactivity of a component as compared to toluene is introduced. It is proposed that the energy efficiency of the electrophysical method be estimated using the concept of diversified yield of the removal process. Such an approach makes it possible to substantially intensify the determination of energy parameters of removal of impurities and can also serve as a criterion for estimating the effectiveness of various methods in which a nonequilibrium plasma is used for air cleaning from volatile impurities.

Standoff Detection of Trace Molecules by Remote High Gain Backward Lasing in Air

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-17

vapor it is essential. Backward lasing from two simultaneously pumped, closely separated regions in the air provides a method for the reduction of pulse... inversion in an atomic species, leading to “cavityless” lasing. Lasing occurs from the population inversion that is created in the focal volume of...provide a reference that is capable of removing these pulse-to- pulse variations, a second, simultaneous backward lasing beam is generated using the same

Composition analysis by scanning femtosecond laser ultraprobing (CASFLU).

DOEpatents

Ishikawa, Muriel Y.; Wood, Lowell L.; Campbell, E. Michael; Stuart, Brent C.; Perry, Michael D.

2002-01-01

The composition analysis by scanning femtosecond ultraprobing (CASFLU) technology scans a focused train of extremely short-duration, very intense laser pulses across a sample. The partially-ionized plasma ablated by each pulse is spectrometrically analyzed in real time, determining the ablated material's composition. The steering of the scanned beam thus is computer directed to either continue ablative material-removal at the same site or to successively remove nearby material for the same type of composition analysis. This invention has utility in high-speed chemical-elemental, molecular-fragment and isotopic analyses of the microstructure composition of complex objects, e.g., the oxygen isotopic compositions of large populations of single osteons in bone.

Removal of dust particles from metal-mirror surfaces by excimer-laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mann, Klaus R.; Wolff-Rottke, B.; Mueller, F.

1995-07-01

The effect of particle desorption from Al mirror surfaces by the influence of pulsed UV laser radiation has been studied. The investigations are closely related to the demands of astronomers, who are looking for a more effective way of cleaning the Al coatings of future very large telescope mirrors. A systematic parameter study has been performed in order to determine the irradiation conditions which yield the highest dust removal efficiency (i.e. reflectivity increase) on contaminated samples, taking particularly into account laser-induced damage and degradation effects of coating and substrate. The particle removal rate increases with increasing laser fluence, being limited however by the damage threshold of the coating. Therefore, parameters influencing the damage threshold of metal coatings like wavelength, pulse width, and number of pulses have been studied in detail. Data indicate that on Al coated BK7 and Zerodur samples KrF laser radiation yields the optimum result, with cleaning efficiencies comparable to polymer film stripping. The initial reflectivity of the clean coating can nearly be reinstalled, in particular when an additional solvent film on the sample surface is applied. Hence, laser desorption seems to be a viable method of cleaning large Al mirrors for telescopes.

Ultrashort pulse laser machining of metals and alloys

DOEpatents

Perry, Michael D.; Stuart, Brent C.

2003-09-16

The invention consists of a method for high precision machining (cutting, drilling, sculpting) of metals and alloys. By using pulses of a duration in the range of 10 femtoseconds to 100 picoseconds, extremely precise machining can be achieved with essentially no heat or shock affected zone. Because the pulses are so short, there is negligible thermal conduction beyond the region removed resulting in negligible thermal stress or shock to the material beyond approximately 0.1-1 micron (dependent upon the particular material) from the laser machined surface. Due to the short duration, the high intensity (>10.sup.12 W/cm.sup.2) associated with the interaction converts the material directly from the solid-state into an ionized plasma. Hydrodynamic expansion of the plasma eliminates the need for any ancillary techniques to remove material and produces extremely high quality machined surfaces with negligible redeposition either within the kerf or on the surface. Since there is negligible heating beyond the depth of material removed, the composition of the remaining material is unaffected by the laser machining process. This enables high precision machining of alloys and even pure metals with no change in grain structure.

Layer-by-layer modification of thin-film metal-semiconductor multilayers with ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romashevskiy, S. A.; Tsygankov, P. A.; Ashitkov, S. I.; Agranat, M. B.

2018-05-01

The surface modifications in a multilayer thin-film structure (50-nm alternating layers of Si and Al) induced by a single Gaussian-shaped femtosecond laser pulse (350 fs, 1028 nm) in the air are investigated by means of atomic-force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy (OM). Depending on the laser fluence, various modifications of nanometer-scale metal and semiconductor layers, including localized formation of silicon/aluminum nanofoams and layer-by-layer removal, are found. While the nanofoams with cell sizes in the range of tens to hundreds of nanometers are produced only in the two top layers, layer-by-layer removal is observed for the four top layers under single pulse irradiation. The 50-nm films of the multilayer structure are found to be separated at their interfaces, resulting in a selective removal of several top layers (up to 4) in the form of step-like (concentric) craters. The observed phenomenon is associated with a thermo-mechanical ablation mechanism that results in splitting off at film-film interface, where the adhesion force is less than the bulk strength of the used materials, revealing linear dependence of threshold fluences on the film thickness.

Scattering of Femtosecond Laser Pulses on the Negative Hydrogen Ion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Astapenko, V. A.; Moroz, N. N.

2018-05-01

Elastic scattering of ultrashort laser pulses (USLPs) on the negative hydrogen ion is considered. Results of calculations of the USLP scattering probability are presented and analyzed for pulses of two types: the corrected Gaussian pulse and wavelet pulse without carrier frequency depending on the problem parameters.

Characterizations of double pulsing in neutron multiplicity and coincidence counting systems

DOE PAGES

Koehler, Katrina E.; Henzl, Vladimir; Croft, Stephen; ...

2016-06-29

Passive neutron coincidence/multiplicity counters are subject to non-ideal behavior, such as double pulsing and dead time. It has been shown in the past that double-pulsing exhibits a distinct signature in a Rossi-alpha distribution, which is not readily noticed using traditional Multiplicity Shift Register analysis. But, it has been assumed that the use of a pre-delay in shift register analysis removes any effects of double pulsing. Here, we use high-fidelity simulations accompanied by experimental measurements to study the effects of double pulsing on multiplicity rates. By exploiting the information from the double pulsing signature peak observable in the Rossi-alpha distribution, themore » double pulsing fraction can be determined. Algebraic correction factors for the multiplicity rates in terms of the double pulsing fraction have been developed. We also discuss the role of these corrections across a range of scenarios.« less

Tri-Service Dem/Val of the Pulsed Optical Energy Decoating (FLASHJET) Process for Military Applications - Rotary Wing Evaluation. Cost and Performance Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-01

substrate None Selective Coatings Removal 3.1.2 Topcoat layer removed, no damage to underlying primer layer None Strippable Area Assessment 3.1.3 At... selected . By implementing the FLASHJET® process and having a continuous workload, the FLASHJET® process has the potential for significant cost avoidances...to remove coating without damage to the underlying substrate, to selectively remove topcoat layers only, and to reach intricate areas of the test

Comparative study of pulsed laser cleaning applied to weathered marble surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortiz, P.; Antúnez, V.; Ortiz, R.; Martín, J. M.; Gómez, M. A.; Hortal, A. R.; Martínez-Haya, B.

2013-10-01

The removal of unwanted matter from surface stones is a demanding task in the conservation of cultural heritage. This paper investigates the effectiveness of near-infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) laser pulses for the cleaning of surface deposits, iron oxide stains and different types of graffiti (black, red and green sprays and markers, and black cutting-edge ink) on dolomitic white marble. The performance of the laser techniques is compared to common cleaning methods on the same samples, namely pressurized water and chemical treatments. The degree of cleaning achieved with each technique is assessed by means of colorimetric measurements and X-ray microfluorescence. Eventual morphological changes induced on the marble substrate are monitored with optical and electronic microscopy. It is found that UV pulsed laser ablation at 266 nm manages to clean all the stains except the cutting-edge ink, although some degree of surface erosion is produced. The IR laser pulses at 1064 nm can remove surface deposits and black spray acceptably, but a yellowing is observed on the stone surface after treatment. An economic evaluation shows that pulsed laser cleaning techniques are advantageous for the rapid cleaning of small or inaccessible surface areas, although their extensive application becomes expensive due to the long operating times required.

Simultaneous multislice refocusing via time optimal control.

PubMed

Rund, Armin; Aigner, Christoph Stefan; Kunisch, Karl; Stollberger, Rudolf

2018-02-09

Joint design of minimum duration RF pulses and slice-selective gradient shapes for MRI via time optimal control with strict physical constraints, and its application to simultaneous multislice imaging. The minimization of the pulse duration is cast as a time optimal control problem with inequality constraints describing the refocusing quality and physical constraints. It is solved with a bilevel method, where the pulse length is minimized in the upper level, and the constraints are satisfied in the lower level. To address the inherent nonconvexity of the optimization problem, the upper level is enhanced with new heuristics for finding a near global optimizer based on a second optimization problem. A large set of optimized examples shows an average temporal reduction of 87.1% for double diffusion and 74% for turbo spin echo pulses compared to power independent number of slices pulses. The optimized results are validated on a 3T scanner with phantom measurements. The presented design method computes minimum duration RF pulse and slice-selective gradient shapes subject to physical constraints. The shorter pulse duration can be used to decrease the effective echo time in existing echo-planar imaging or echo spacing in turbo spin echo sequences. © 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Lock-in detection for pulsed electrically detected magnetic resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoehne, Felix; Dreher, Lukas; Behrends, Jan; Fehr, Matthias; Huebl, Hans; Lips, Klaus; Schnegg, Alexander; Suckert, Max; Stutzmann, Martin; Brandt, Martin S.

2012-04-01

We show that in pulsed electrically detected magnetic resonance (pEDMR) signal modulation in combination with a lock-in detection scheme can reduce the low-frequency noise level by one order of magnitude and in addition removes the microwave-induced non-resonant background. This is exemplarily demonstrated for spin-echo measurements in phosphorus-doped silicon. The modulation of the signal is achieved by cycling the phase of the projection pulse used in pEDMR for the readout of the spin state.

Rangefinder, Laser AN/GVS-5( )

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-06-01

capacitor, which is proportional to optical energy, is compared to two reference voltages. One comparison is made in the LO power comparator (U1-A...and the other in the NORMAL power comparator (U1-B). 108 OSC. FREQ. RANGE S1A ADJ. ADJ.SB O OSCILLATOR RANGE TIMER MLII:T 2 ELECTRON ICS BOARD PULSE (2...RCVR 1 PULSE and RCVR 2 PULSE modes an oscillator (U4A) is turned on by removal of a short across an integrator. This oscillator triggers the range timer

Auditory steady-state responses in cochlear implant users: Effect of modulation frequency and stimulation artifacts.

PubMed

Gransier, Robin; Deprez, Hanne; Hofmann, Michael; Moonen, Marc; van Wieringen, Astrid; Wouters, Jan

2016-05-01

Previous studies have shown that objective measures based on stimulation with low-rate pulse trains fail to predict the threshold levels of cochlear implant (CI) users for high-rate pulse trains, as used in clinical devices. Electrically evoked auditory steady-state responses (EASSRs) can be elicited by modulated high-rate pulse trains, and can potentially be used to objectively determine threshold levels of CI users. The responsiveness of the auditory pathway of profoundly hearing-impaired CI users to modulation frequencies is, however, not known. In the present study we investigated the responsiveness of the auditory pathway of CI users to a monopolar 500 pulses per second (pps) pulse train modulated between 1 and 100 Hz. EASSRs to forty-three modulation frequencies, elicited at the subject's maximum comfort level, were recorded by means of electroencephalography. Stimulation artifacts were removed by a linear interpolation between a pre- and post-stimulus sample (i.e., blanking). The phase delay across modulation frequencies was used to differentiate between the neural response and a possible residual stimulation artifact after blanking. Stimulation artifacts were longer than the inter-pulse interval of the 500pps pulse train for recording electrodes ipsilateral to the CI. As a result the stimulation artifacts could not be removed by artifact removal on the bases of linear interpolation for recording electrodes ipsilateral to the CI. However, artifact-free responses could be obtained in all subjects from recording electrodes contralateral to the CI, when subject specific reference electrodes (Cz or Fpz) were used. EASSRs to modulation frequencies within the 30-50 Hz range resulted in significant responses in all subjects. Only a small number of significant responses could be obtained, during a measurement period of 5 min, that originate from the brain stem (i.e., modulation frequencies in the 80-100 Hz range). This reduced synchronized activity of brain stem responses in long-term severely-hearing impaired CI users could be an attribute of processes associated with long-term hearing impairment and/or electrical stimulation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Numerical Modeling of Pulsed Electrical Discharges for High-Speed Flow Control

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

dimensions , and later on more complex problems. Subsequent work compared different physical models for pulsed discharges: one-moment (drift-diffusion with...two dimensions , and later on more complex problems. Subsequent work compared different physical models for pulsed discharges: one-moment (drift...The state of a particle can be specified by its position and velocity. In principal, the motion of a large group of particles can be predicted from

Efficient TEA CO II-laser-based coating removal system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prinsloo, F. J.; van Heerden, S. P.; Ronander, E.; Botha, L. R.

2007-05-01

A high power 1kW pulsed transversely excited atmospheric CO II laser that has been developed for the paint stripping of missiles was used to test paint stripping on several metallic and composite aircraft panels to determine the rate at which this laser could remove paint from aircraft.

High precision laser sclerostomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Góra, W. S.; Urich, A.; McIntosh, L.; Carter, R. M.; Wilson, C. G.; Dhillon, B.; Hand, D. P.; Shephard, J. D.

2015-03-01

Ultrafast lasers offer a possibility of removing soft ophthalmic tissue without introducing collateral damage at the ablation site or in the surrounding tissue. The potential for using ultrashort pico- and femtosecond pulse lasers for modification of ophthalmic tissue has been reported elsewhere and has resulted in the introduction of new, minimally invasive procedures into clinical practice. Our research aims to define the most efficient parameters to allow for the modification of scleral tissue without introducing collateral damage. Our experiments were carried out on hydrated porcine sclera in vitro. Porcine sclera, which has similar collagen organization, histology and water content (~70%) to human tissue was used. Supporting this work we present a 2D finite element blow-off model which employs a one-step heating process. It is assumed that the incident laser radiation that is not reflected is absorbed in the tissue according to the Beer-Lambert law and transformed into heat energy. The experimental setup uses an industrial picosecond laser (TRUMPF TruMicro 5x50) with 5.9 ps pulses at 1030 nm, with pulse energies up to 125 μJ and a focused spot diameter of 35 μm. Use of a beam steering scan head allows flexibility in designing complicated scanning patterns. In this study we have demonstrated that picosecond pulses are capable of removing scleral tissue without introducing any major thermal damage which offers a possible route for minimally invasive sclerostomy. In assessing this we have tested several different scanning patterns including single line ablation, square and circular cavity removal.

Sparsity-based super-resolved coherent diffraction imaging of one-dimensional objects.

PubMed

Sidorenko, Pavel; Kfir, Ofer; Shechtman, Yoav; Fleischer, Avner; Eldar, Yonina C; Segev, Mordechai; Cohen, Oren

2015-09-08

Phase-retrieval problems of one-dimensional (1D) signals are known to suffer from ambiguity that hampers their recovery from measurements of their Fourier magnitude, even when their support (a region that confines the signal) is known. Here we demonstrate sparsity-based coherent diffraction imaging of 1D objects using extreme-ultraviolet radiation produced from high harmonic generation. Using sparsity as prior information removes the ambiguity in many cases and enhances the resolution beyond the physical limit of the microscope. Our approach may be used in a variety of problems, such as diagnostics of defects in microelectronic chips. Importantly, this is the first demonstration of sparsity-based 1D phase retrieval from actual experiments, hence it paves the way for greatly improving the performance of Fourier-based measurement systems where 1D signals are inherent, such as diagnostics of ultrashort laser pulses, deciphering the complex time-dependent response functions (for example, time-dependent permittivity and permeability) from spectral measurements and vice versa.

Pulse shaping system research of CdZnTe radiation detector for high energy x-ray diagnostic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Miao; Zhao, Mingkun; Ding, Keyu; Zhou, Shousen; Zhou, Benjie

2018-02-01

As one of the typical wide band-gap semiconductor materials, the CdZnTe material has high detection efficiency and excellent energy resolution for the hard X-ray and the Gamma ray. The generated signal of the CdZnTe detector needs to be transformed to the pseudo-Gaussian pulse with a small impulse-width to remove noise and improve the energy resolution by the following nuclear spectrometry data acquisition system. In this paper, the multi-stage pseudo-Gaussian shaping-filter has been investigated based on the nuclear electronic principle. The optimized circuit parameters were also obtained based on the analysis of the characteristics of the pseudo-Gaussian shaping-filter in our following simulations. Based on the simulation results, the falling-time of the output pulse was decreased and faster response time can be obtained with decreasing shaping-time τs-k. And the undershoot was also removed when the ratio of input resistors was set to 1 to 2.5. Moreover, a two stage sallen-key Gaussian shaping-filter was designed and fabricated by using a low-noise voltage feedback operation amplifier LMH6628. A detection experiment platform had been built by using the precise pulse generator CAKE831 as the imitated radiation pulse which was equivalent signal of the semiconductor CdZnTe detector. Experiment results show that the output pulse of the two stage pseudo-Gaussian shaping filter has minimum 200ns pulse width (FWHM), and the output pulse of each stage was well consistent with the simulation results. Based on the performance in our experiment, this multi-stage pseudo-Gaussian shaping-filter can reduce the event-lost caused by pile-up in the CdZnTe semiconductor detector and improve the energy resolution effectively.

Serial removal of caries lesions from tooth occlusal surfaces using near-IR image-guided IR laser ablation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Kenneth H.; Tom, Henry; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2015-02-01

Previous studies have established that caries lesions can be imaged with high contrast without the interference of stains at near-IR wavelengths greater than 1300-nm. It has been demonstrated that computer controlled laser scanning systems utilizing IR lasers operating at high pulse repetition rates can be used for serial imaging and selective removal of caries lesions. In this study, we report our progress towards the development of algorithms for generating rasterized ablation maps from near-IR reflectance images for the removal of natural lesions from tooth occlusal surfaces. An InGaAs camera and a filtered tungsten-halogen lamp producing near-IR light in the range of 1500-1700-nm were used to collect crosspolarization reflectance images of tooth occlusal surfaces. A CO2 laser operating at a wavelength of 9.3- μm with a pulse duration of 10-15-μs was used for image-guided ablation.

Mass removal modes in the laser ablation of silicon by a Q-switched diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Daniel J.; Ki, Hyungson; Mazumder, Jyoti

2006-06-01

A fundamental study on the Q-switched diode-pumped solid-state laser interaction with silicon was performed both experimentally and numerically. Single pulse drilling experiments were conducted on N-type silicon wafers by varying the laser intensity from 108-109 W cm-2 to investigate how the mass removal mechanism changes depending on the laser intensity. Hole width and depth were measured and surface morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy. For the numerical model study, Ki et al's self-consistent continuous-wave laser drilling model (2001 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 34 364-72) was modified to treat the solidification phenomenon between successive laser pulses. The model has the capabilities of simulating major interaction physics, such as melt flow, heat transfer, evaporation, homogeneous boiling, multiple reflections and surface evolution. This study presents some interesting results on how the mass removal mode changes as the laser intensity increases.

Complete regression of a melanocytic nevus under intense pulsed light therapy for axillary hair removal in a cosmetic center.

PubMed

Martín, José M; Monteagudo, Carlos; Bella, Rebeca; Reig, Irela; Jordá, Esperanza

2012-01-01

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy using noncoherent broad-spectrum light has been reported to be effective for hair removal, and also for treating superficial pigmented lesions like ephelides and solar lentigines. We report complete regression of a pigmented melanocytic nevus, histologically confirmed, after hair removal treatment with IPL. The use of lasers and IPL is a common procedure used by dermatologists and even other professions for the treatment of cosmetically troubling skin conditions. The main advantage of such treatment is a reduction of surgical scars, thus producing a favorable cosmetic outcome, but a major limitation is that histopathologic diagnosis is not usually obtained prior to treatment. Such devices should be carefully used in patients with potentially dangerous melanocytic lesions. We also review the recent literature regarding inadequate treatment of melanocytic lesions with lasers. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Image-guided removal of occlusal caries lesions with a λ= 9.3-µm CO2 laser using near-IR transillumination

PubMed Central

Chung, Leon C.; Tom, Henry; Chan, Kenneth H.; Simon, Jacob C.; Fried, Daniel; Darling, Cynthia L.

2015-01-01

Previous studies have shown that near-IR transillumination is well suited for imaging deep occlusal lesions. The purpose of this study was to determine if near-IR images can be used to guide a CO2 laser for the selective removal of natural occlusal lesions on extracted teeth. Near-IR occlusal transillumination images of extracted human teeth with natural occlusal caries lesions were acquired using an InGaAs camera and near-IR light at wavelengths from 1290 to 1470-nm from a filtered tungsten halogen source. A CO2 laser operating at 9.3-µm with a pulse duration of 10–15-µs and a pulse repetition rate of 100–300-Hz was used for caries removal. Optical Coherence tomography was used to confirm lesion presence and serial scans were used to assess selective removal. Teeth were also sectioned for histological examination using polarized light microscopy. This study suggests that near-infrared transillumination is a promising method for the image guided laser ablation of occlusal caries lesions but the use of serial near-IR transillumination imaging for monitoring lesion removal was limited. PMID:25914498

Image-guided removal of occlusal caries lesions with a λ= 9.3-μm CO2 laser using near-IR transillumination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Leon C.; Tom, Henry; Chan, Kenneth H.; Simon, Jacob C.; Fried, Daniel; Darling, Cynthia L.

2015-02-01

Previous studies have shown that near-IR transillumination is well suited for imaging deep occlusal lesions. The purpose of this study was to determine if near-IR images can be used to guide a CO2 laser for the selective removal of natural occlusal lesions on extracted teeth. Near-IR occlusal transillumination images of extracted human teeth with natural occlusal caries lesions were acquired using an InGaAs camera and near-IR light at wavelengths from 1290 to 1470-nm from a filtered tungsten halogen source. A CO2 laser operating at 9.3-μm with a pulse duration of 10-15-μs and a pulse repetition rate of 100-300-Hz was used for caries removal. Optical Coherence tomography was used to confirm lesion presence and serial scans were used to assess selective removal. Teeth were also sectioned for histological examination using polarized light microscopy. This study suggests that near-infrared transillumination is a promising method for the image guided laser ablation of occlusal caries lesions but the use of serial near-IR transillumination imaging for monitoring lesion removal was limited.

Thermal and microstructural effects of nanosecond pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation on tooth root surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilder-Smith, Petra B. B.; Arrastia-Jitosho, Anna-Marie A.; Grill, G.; Liaw, Lih-Huei L.; Berns, Michael W.

1995-05-01

Plaque, calculus and altered cementum removal by scaling and root planing is a fundamental procedure in periodontal treatment. However, the residual smear layer contains cytotoxic and inflammatory mediators which adversely affect healing. Chemical smear layer removal is also problematic. In previous investigations effective smear layer removal was achieved using long pulsed irradiation at 1.06 (mu) . However, laser irradiation was not adequate as an alternative to scaling and root planing procedures and concurrent temperature rises exceeded thermal thresholds for pulpal and periodontal safety. It was the aim of this study to determine whether nanosecond pulsed irradiation at 1.06 (mu) could be used as an alternative or an adjunct to scaling and root planing. Sixty freshly extracted teeth were divided as follows: 5 control, 5 root planed only, 25 irradiated only, 25 root planed and irradiated. Irradiation was performed at fluences of 0.5 - 2.7 J/cm2, total energy densities of 12 - 300 J/cm2, frequencies of 2 - 10 Hz using the Medlite (Continuum) laser. Irradiation-induced thermal events were recorded using a thermocouple within the root canal and a thermal camera to monitor surface temperatures. SEM demonstrated effective smear layer removal with minimal microstructural effects. Surface temperatures increased minimally (< 3 C) at all parameters, intrapulpal temperature rises remained below 4 C at 2 and 5 Hz, F < 0.5 J/cm2. Without prior scaling and root planing, laser effects did not provide an adequately clean root surface.

Process optimization for microcystin-LR degradation by Response Surface Methodology and mechanism analysis in gas-liquid hybrid discharge system.

PubMed

Zhang, Yi; Wei, Hanyu; Xin, Qing; Wang, Mingang; Wang, Qi; Wang, Qiang; Cong, Yanqing

2016-12-01

A gas-liquid hybrid discharge system was applied to microcystin-LR (MC-LR) degradation. MC-LR degradation was completed after 1 min under a pulsed high voltage of 16 kV, gas-liquid interface gap of 10 mm and oxygen flow rate of 160 L/h. The Box-Behnken Design was proposed in Response Surface Methodology to evaluate the influence of pulsed high voltage, electrode distance and oxygen flow rate on MC-LR removal efficiency. Multiple regression analysis, focused on multivariable factors, was employed and a reduced cubic model was developed. The ANOVA analysis shows that the model is significant and the model prediction on MC-LR removal was also validated with experimental data. The optimum conditions for the process are obtained at pulsed voltage of 16 kV, gas-liquid interface gap of 10 mm and oxygen flow rate of 120 L/h with ta removal efficiency of MC-LR of 96.6%. The addition of catalysts (TiO 2 or Fe 2+ ) in the gas-liquid hybrid discharge system was found to enhance the removal of MC-LR. The intermediates of MC-LR degradation were analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The degradation pathway proposed envisaged the oxidation of hydroxyl radicals and ozone, and attack of high-energy electrons on the unsaturated double bonds of Adda and Mdha, with MC-LR finally decomposing into small molecular products. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultrafast laser machining of porcine sclera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Góra, W. S.; Carter, R. M.; Dhillon, B.; Hand, D. P.; Shephard, J. D.

2015-07-01

The use of ultrafast lasers (pulsed lasers with pulse lengths of a few picoseconds or less) offers the possibility for minimally invasive removal of soft ophthalmic tissue. The potential for using pico- and femtosecond pulses for modification of scleral tissue has been reported elsewhere [1-6] and has resulted in the introduction of new, minimally invasive, procedures into clinical practice [3, 5-10]. Our research is focused on finding optimal parameters for picosecond laser machining of scleral tissue without introducing any unwanted collateral damage to the tissue. Experiments were carried out on hydrated porcine sclera in vitro, which has similar collagen organization, histology and water content (~70%) to human tissue. In this paper we present a 2D finite element ablation model which employs a one-step heating process. It is assumed that the incident laser radiation that is not reflected is absorbed in the tissue according to the Beer-Lambert law and transformed into heat energy. The experimental setup uses an industrial picosecond laser (TRUMPF TruMicro 5x50) with 5.9 ps pulses at 1030 nm, with pulse energies up to 125 μJ and a focused spot diameter of 35 μm. The use of a scan head allows flexibility in designing various scanning patterns. We show that picosecond pulses are capable of modifying scleral tissue without introducing collateral damage. This offers a possible route for minimally invasive sclerostomy. Many scanning patterns including single line ablation, square and circular cavity removal were tested.

Fast scintillation counter system and performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sasaki, H.; Nishioka, A.; Ohmori, N.; Kusumose, M.; Nakatsuka, T.; Horiki, T.; Hatano, Y.

1985-01-01

An experimental study of the fast scintillation counter (FS) system to observe a shower disk structure at Mt. Norikura is described, especially the system performance and a pulse wave-form by a single charge particles. The photomultiplier tube (PT) pulse appears at the leading edge of the main pulse. To remove this PT-pulse from the main pulse, the frame of the scintillator vessel was changed. The fast triggering system was made to decrease the dead time which came from the use of the function of the self triggering of the storage oscilloscope (OSC). To provide a new field on the multi-parameter study of the cosmic ray showers, the system response of the FS system also improved as a result of many considerations.

Effective removal of calcified deposits on microstructured titanium fixture surfaces of dental implants with erbium lasers.

PubMed

Takagi, Toru; Aoki, Akira; Ichinose, Shizuko; Taniguchi, Yoichi; Tachikawa, Noriko; Shinoki, Takeshi; Meinzer, Walter; Sculean, Anton; Izumi, Yuichi

2018-03-13

Recently, the occurrence of peri-implantitis has been increasing. However, a suitable method to debride the contaminated surface of titanium implants has not been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological changes of the microstructured fixture surface after erbium laser irradiation, and to clarify the effects of the erbium lasers when used to remove calcified deposits from implant fixture surfaces. In experiment 1, sandblasted, large grit, acid etched surface implants were treated with Er:YAG laser or Er,Cr:YSGG laser at 30-60 mJ/pulse and 20 Hz with water spray. In experiments 2 and 3, the effects of erbium lasers used to remove calcified deposits (artificially prepared deposits on virgin implants and natural calculus on failed implants) were investigated and compared with mechanical debridement using either a titanium curette or cotton pellets. After the various debridement methods, all specimens were analyzed by stereomicroscopy (SM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Stereomicroscopy and SEM showed that erbium lasers with optimal irradiation parameters did not have an effect on titanium microstructures. Compared to mechanical debridement, erbium lasers were more capable of removing calcified deposits on the microstructured surface without surface alteration using a non-contact sweeping irradiation at 40 mJ/pulse (ED 14.2 J/cm 2 /pulse) and 20 Hz with water spray. These results indicate that Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG lasers are more advantageous in removing calcified deposits on the microstructured surface of titanium implants without inducing damage, compared to mechanical therapy by cotton pellet or titanium curette. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Enhanced methane production from pig slurry with pulsed electric field pre-treatment.

PubMed

Safavi, Seyedeh Masoumeh; Unnthorsson, Runar

2018-02-01

Intensive amount of manure produced in pig breeding sectors represents negative impact on the environment and requires optimal management. Anaerobic digestion as a well-known manure management process was optimized in this experimental study by pulsed electric field (PEF) pre-treatment. The effect of PEF on methane production was investigated at three different intensities (15, 30 and 50 kWh/m 3 ). The results indicate that the methane production and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was improved by continuous escalation of applied intensity, up to 50 kWh/m 3 . In comparison with untreated slurry, methane production and COD removal were increased up to 58% and 44%, respectively.

USSR Report, Chemistry

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-02-06

of technical processes in chemical industries and shows fundamental sources of defects of various analysis methods and ways to remove them. It...their Removal 18 2.1. Methods for Analyzing Composition of Industrial Gases and Vapors.. 19. 2.1.1. Thermal Conductometric Method. 19 2.1.2...cyclododecanol (80-135°C) were purged with neon to remove oxygen and irradiated with 10 MeV pulses of 1.5 ys duration in a 3.5 cm cylindrical quartz

Removal Enhancement of Basic Blue 41 BY RGO-TiO2 Nanocomposite Synthesized Using Pulsed Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghasemi, Fatemeh; Kimiagar, Salimeh; Shahbazi, Mozhgan; Vojoudi, Hossein

Graphene oxide (GO) and GO-TiO2 nanocomposite was produced then reduced under pulse laser irradiation (RGO-TiO2). Basic blue 41 (bb41) dye was removed from aqueous solutions by using RGO-TiO2 nanocomposites. The UV-Vis absorption and FTIR analysis were utilized to confirm the reduction of GO-TiO2 to RGO-TiO2. The results showed complete reduction of GO. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were applied to approve the RGO-TiO2 nanocomposite structure. The effect of pH on the bb41 removal by RGO-TiO2 was studied varying the pH from 1 to 11. The optimum pH and adsorbent dosage were found to be 9 and 0.2g/L with 98% efficiency, respectively. The calculated coefficients demonstrated that the Langmuir model was fixed to the experimental data. The results indicated that RGO-TiO2 could be engaged as an exceptional sorbent to remove bb41 dye which is in aqueous solution.

Robust motion artefact resistant circuit for calculation of Mean Arterial Pressure from pulse transit time.

PubMed

Bhattacharya, Tinish; Gupta, Ankesh; Singh, Salam ThoiThoi; Roy, Sitikantha; Prasad, Anamika

2017-07-01

Cuff-less and non-invasive methods of Blood Pressure (BP) monitoring have faced a lot of challenges like stability, noise, motion artefact and requirement for calibration. These factors are the major reasons why such devices do not get approval from the medical community easily. One such method is calculating Blood Pressure indirectly from pulse transit time (PTT) obtained from electrocardiogram (ECG) and Photoplethysmogram (PPG). In this paper we have proposed two novel analog signal conditioning circuits for ECG and PPG that increase stability, remove motion artefacts, remove the sinusoidal wavering of the ECG baseline due to respiration and provide consistent digital pulses corresponding to blood pulses/heart-beat. We have combined these two systems to obtain the PTT and then correlated it with the Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP). The aim was to perform major part of the processing in analog domain to decrease processing load over microcontroller so as to reduce cost and make it simple and robust. We have found from our experiments that the proposed circuits can calculate the Heart Rate (HR) with a maximum error of ~3.0% and MAP with a maximum error of ~2.4% at rest and ~4.6% in motion.

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

Lee, Seong-Joo, E-mail: sj.lee@kriss.re.kr; Shim, Jeong Hyun; Kim, Kiwoong

A strong pre-polarization field, usually tenths of a milli-tesla in magnitude, is used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio in ordinary superconducting quantum interference device-based nuclear magnetic resonance/magnetic resonance imaging experiments. Here, we introduce an experimental approach using two techniques to remove the need for the pre-polarization field. A dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) technique enables us to measure an enhanced resonance signal. In combination with a π/2 pulse to avoid the Bloch-Siegert effect in a micro-tesla field, we obtained an enhanced magnetic resonance image by using DNP technique with a 34.5 μT static external magnetic field without field cycling. In this approach,more » the problems of eddy current and flux trapping in the superconducting pickup coil, both due to the strong pre-polarization field, become negligible.« less

Predicting, examining, and evaluating FAC in US power plants

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

Cohn, M.J.; Garud, Y.S.; Raad, J. de

1999-11-01

There have been many pipe failures in fossil and nuclear power plant piping systems caused by flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC). In some piping systems, this failure mechanism maybe the most important type of damage to mitigate because FAC damage has led to catastrophic failures and fatalities. Detecting the damage and mitigating the problem can significantly reduce future forced outages and increase personnel safety. This article discusses the implementation of recent developments to select FAC inspection locations, perform cost-effective examinations, evaluate results, and mitigate FAC failures. These advances include implementing the combination of software to assist in selecting examination locations and anmore » improved pulsed eddy current technique to scan for wall thinning without removing insulation. The use of statistical evaluation methodology and possible mitigation strategies also are discussed.« less

Pulsed corona discharge oxidation of aqueous carbamazepine micropollutant.

PubMed

Ajo, Petri; Krzymyk, Ewelina; Preis, Sergei; Kornev, Iakov; Kronberg, Leif; Louhi-Kultanen, Marjatta

2016-08-01

The anti-epileptic drug carbamazepine (CBZ) receives growing attention due to slow biodegradation and inherent accumulation in the aquatic environment. The application of a gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD) was investigated to remove CBZ from synthetic solutions and spiked wastewater effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment facility. The treated water was showered between high voltage (HV) wires and grounded plate electrodes, to which ultra-short HV pulses were applied. CBZ was readily oxidized and 1-(2-benzaldehyde)-4-hydroquinazoline-2-one (BQM) and 1-(2-benzaldehyde)-4-hydro-quinazoline-2,4-dione (BQD) were identified as the most abundant primary transformation products, which, contrary to CBZ ozonation data available in the literature, were further easily oxidized with PCD: BQM and BQD attributed to only a minor portion of the target compound oxidized. In concentrations commonly found in wastewater treatment plant effluents (around 5 µg L(-1)), up to 97% reduction in CBZ concentration was achieved at mere 0.3 kW h m(-3) energy consumption, and over 99.9% was removed at 1 kW h m(-3). The PCD application proved to be efficient in the removal of both the parent substance and its known transformation products, even with the competing reactions in the complex composition of wastewater.

Intrapulpal temperatures during pulsed Nd:YAG laser treatment of dentin, in vitro.

PubMed

White, J M; Fagan, M C; Goodis, H E

1994-03-01

Lasers are being used for soft tissue removal, caries removal, and treatment of root surface sensitivity. One concern for laser safety is that the heat produced at the irradiated root surface may diffuse to the pulp causing irreversible pulpal damage. To test this heat diffusion, copper-constantan thermocouples were inserted into the radicular pulp canals of extracted teeth. Simulating direct exposure which might occur during gingival excision, superficial caries removal, and modification of the dentin surface for treatment of root surface sensitivity, a 2 mm2 area of the external root surface was uniformly irradiated with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser using a 320 microns diameter fiber optic contact probe. Power was varied from 0.3 to 3.0 W with frequencies of 10 and 20 Hz. Temperature changes during cavity preparations using a high speed handpiece with air coolant were also recorded. Repeated measures ANOVA (P < or = 0.05) indicated that intrapulpal temperatures increased as a function of power, frequency, and time. Intrapulpal temperatures decreased as remaining dentin thickness (0.2 to 2.0 mm) increased for each laser parameter. Irradiation of dentin using a Nd:YAG pulsed laser, within the treatment times, powers, and frequencies with adequate remaining dentin thickness, as outlined in this paper, should not cause devitalizing intrapulpal temperature rises.

Pulsed discharge plasma induced Fenton-like reactions for the enhancement of the degradation of 4-chlorophenol in water.

PubMed

Hao, Xiaolong; Zhou, Minghua; Xin, Qing; Lei, Lecheng

2007-02-01

To sufficiently utilize chemically active species and enhance the degradation rate and removal efficiency of toxic and biorefractory organic pollutant para-chlorophenol (para-CP), the introductions of iron metal ions (Fe2+/Fe3+) into either pulsed discharge plasma (PDP) process or the PDP process with TiO2 photo-catalyst were tentatively performed. The experimental results showed that under the same experimental condition, the degradation rate and removal efficiency of para-CP were greatly enhanced by the introduction of iron ions (Fe2+/Fe3+) into the PDP process. Moreover, when iron ions and TiO2 were added together in the PDP process, the degradation rate and removal energy of para-CP further improved. The possible mechanism was discussed that the obvious promoting effects were attributed to ferrous ions via plasma induced Fenton-like reactions by UV light irradiation excited and hydrogen peroxide formed in pulsed electrical discharge, resulting in a larger amount of hydroxyl radicals produced from the residual hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the regeneration of ferric ions to ferrous ions facilitates the progress of plasma induced Fenton-like reactions by photo-catalytic reduction of UV light, photo-catalytic reduction on TiO2 surface and electron transfer of quinone intermediates, i.e. 1,4-hydroquinone and 1,4-benzoquinone.

Removal of dust particles from metal mirror surfaces by excimer laser radiation

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

Mann, K.; Wolff-Rottke, B.; Mueller, F.

1995-12-31

The effect of particle desorption from Al mirror surfaces by the influence of pulsed UV laser radiation has been studied. The investigations are closely related to the demands of astronomers, who are looking for a more effective way of cleaning the Al coatings of future very large telescope (VLT) mirrors. A systematic parameter study has been performed in order to determine the irradiation conditions which yield the highest dust removal efficiency (i.e. reflectivity increase) on contaminated samples, taking particularly into account laser induced damage and degradation effects of coating and substrate. The particle removal rate increases with increasing laser fluence,more » being limited however by the damage threshold of the coating. Therefore, parameters influencing the damage threshold of metal coatings like wavelength, pulse width and number of pulses have been studied in detail. Data indicate that on Al coated BK7 and Zerodur samples KrF laser radiation yields the optimum result, with cleaning efficiencies comparable to polymer film stripping. The initial reflectivity of the clean coating can nearly be reinstalled, in particular when an additional solvent film on the sample surface is applied. Hence, laser desorption seems to be a viable method of cleaning large Al mirrors for telescopes.« less

Single-pulse and burst-mode ablation of gold films measured by quartz crystal microbalance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrusyak, Oleksiy G.; Bubelnik, Matthew; Mares, Jeremy; McGovern, Theresa; Siders, Craig W.

2005-02-01

Femtosecond ablation has several distinct advantages: the threshold energy fluence for the onset of damage and ablation is orders of magnitude less than for traditional nanosecond laser machining, and by virtue of the rapid material removal of approximately an optical penetration depth per pulse, femtosecond machined cuts can be cleaner and more precise than those made with traditional nanosecond or longer pulse lasers. However, in many materials of interest, especially metals, this limits ablation rates to 10-100 nm/pulse. We present the results of using multiple pulse bursts to significantly increase the per-burst ablation rate compared to a single pulse with the same integrated energy, while keeping the peak intensity of each individual pulse below the air ionization limit. Femtosecond ablation with pulses centered at 800-nm having integrated energy of up to 30 mJ per pulse incident upon thin gold films was measured via resonance frequency shifts in a gold-electrode-coated quartz-crystal oscillator. Measurements were performed using Michelson-interferometer-based burst generators, with up to 2 ns pulse separations, as well as pulse shaping by programmable acousto-optic dispersive filter (Dazzler from FastLite) with up to 2 ps pulse separations.

Application of grey-fuzzy approach in parametric optimization of EDM process in machining of MDN 300 steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Protim Das, Partha; Gupta, P.; Das, S.; Pradhan, B. B.; Chakraborty, S.

2018-01-01

Maraging steel (MDN 300) find its application in many industries as it exhibits high hardness which are very difficult to machine material. Electro discharge machining (EDM) is an extensively popular machining process which can be used in machining of such materials. Optimization of response parameters are essential for effective machining of these materials. Past researchers have already used Taguchi for obtaining the optimal responses of EDM process for this material with responses such as material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), relative wear ratio (RWR), and surface roughness (SR) considering discharge current, pulse on time, pulse off time, arc gap, and duty cycle as process parameters. In this paper, grey relation analysis (GRA) with fuzzy logic is applied to this multi objective optimization problem to check the responses by an implementation of the derived parametric setting. It was found that the parametric setting derived by the proposed method results in better a response than those reported by the past researchers. Obtained results are also verified using the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The predicted result also shows that there is a significant improvement in comparison to the results of past researchers.

Pulse laser-induced particle separation from polymethyl methacrylate: a mechanistic study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arif, S.; Armbruster, O.; Kautek, W.

2013-04-01

The separation mechanism of opaque and transparent model micro-particles, graphite and polystyrene copolymer spheres, respectively, from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrates were investigated employing a ns-pulse laser radiating at 532 nm. The particles transparent in the visible wavelength range could be removed from PMMA efficiently in a very narrow fluence range between 1 and 2 J/cm2 according to a simple 1D thermal expansion model. Above this fluence region, with single pulses, the transparent microspheres caused local ablation of the PMMA substrate in the optical microlens nearfield. This process led to removal of the particles themselves due to the expansion of the ablation plasma. The irregularly shaped graphite particles shaded the underlying substrate from the incoming radiation so that no optical nearfield damage mechanism could be observed. Therefore, a substantial cleaning window between 0.5 and more than 16 J/cm2 was provided. The graphite data suggest an ablation mechanism of the particulates themselves due to a high optical absorption coefficient.

Evaluation of the potential of pentachlorophenol degradation in soil by pulsed corona discharge plasma from soil characteristics.

PubMed

Wang, Tie Cheng; Lu, Na; Li, Jie; Wu, Yan

2010-04-15

Chlorinated organics are frequently found as harmful soil contaminants and persisted for extended periods of time. A novel approach, named pulsed corona discharge plasma (PCDP), was employed for the degradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in soil. Experimental results showed that 87% of PCP could be smoothly removed in 60 min. Increasing pulse voltage, enhancing soil pH, lowering humic acid (HA) in soil and reducing granular size of the soil were found to be favorable for PCP degradation efficiency. Oxidation and physical processes simultaneously contributed to PCP removal in soil and ozone was the main factor in PCDP treatment. C-Cl bonds in PCP were cleaved during PCDP treatment by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The mineralization of PCP was confirmed by total organic carbon (TOC) and dechlorination analyses. The main intermediate products such as tetrachlorocatechol, tetrachlorohydroquinone, acetic acid, formic acid, and oxalic acid were identified by HPLC/MS and ion chromatography. A possible pathway of PCP degradation in soil in such a system was proposed.

CORRECTING FOR INTERSTELLAR SCATTERING DELAY IN HIGH-PRECISION PULSAR TIMING: SIMULATION RESULTS

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

Palliyaguru, Nipuni; McLaughlin, Maura; Stinebring, Daniel

2015-12-20

Light travel time changes due to gravitational waves (GWs) may be detected within the next decade through precision timing of millisecond pulsars. Removal of frequency-dependent interstellar medium (ISM) delays due to dispersion and scattering is a key issue in the detection process. Current timing algorithms routinely correct pulse times of arrival (TOAs) for time-variable delays due to cold plasma dispersion. However, none of the major pulsar timing groups correct for delays due to scattering from multi-path propagation in the ISM. Scattering introduces a frequency-dependent phase change in the signal that results in pulse broadening and arrival time delays. Any methodmore » to correct the TOA for interstellar propagation effects must be based on multi-frequency measurements that can effectively separate dispersion and scattering delay terms from frequency-independent perturbations such as those due to a GW. Cyclic spectroscopy, first described in an astronomical context by Demorest (2011), is a potentially powerful tool to assist in this multi-frequency decomposition. As a step toward a more comprehensive ISM propagation delay correction, we demonstrate through a simulation that we can accurately recover impulse response functions (IRFs), such as those that would be introduced by multi-path scattering, with a realistic signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). We demonstrate that timing precision is improved when scatter-corrected TOAs are used, under the assumptions of a high S/N and highly scattered signal. We also show that the effect of pulse-to-pulse “jitter” is not a serious problem for IRF reconstruction, at least for jitter levels comparable to those observed in several bright pulsars.« less

Correlation between audible noise and corona current generated by AC corona discharge in time and frequency domains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xuebao; Wang, Jing; Li, Yinfei; Zhang, Qian; Lu, Tiebing; Cui, Xiang

2018-06-01

Corona-generated audible noise is induced by the collisions between space charges and air molecules. It has been proven that there is a close correlation between audible noise and corona current from DC corona discharge. Analysis on the correlation between audible noise and corona current can promote the cognition of the generation mechanism of corona discharge. In this paper, time-domain waveforms of AC corona-generated audible noise and corona current are measured simultaneously. The one-to-one relationship between sound pressure pulses and corona current pulses can be found and is used to remove the interferences from background noise. After the interferences are removed, the linear correlated relationships between sound pressure pulse amplitude and corona current pulse amplitude are obtained through statistical analysis. Besides, frequency components at the harmonics of power frequency (50 Hz) can be found both in the frequency spectrums of audible noise and corona current through frequency analysis. Furthermore, the self-correlation relationships between harmonic components below 400 Hz with the 50 Hz component are analyzed for audible noise and corona current and corresponding empirical formulas are proposed to calculate the harmonic components based on the 50 Hz component. Finally, based on the AC corona discharge process and generation mechanism of audible noise and corona current, the correlation between audible noise and corona current in time domain and frequency domain are interpreted qualitatively. Besides, with the aid of analytical expressions of periodic square waves, sound pressure pulses, and corona current pulses, the modulation effects from the AC voltage on the pulse trains are used to interpret the generation of the harmonic components of audible noise and corona current.

The possibility of multi-layer nanofabrication via atomic force microscope-based pulse electrochemical nanopatterning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Uk Su; Morita, Noboru; Lee, Deug Woo; Jun, Martin; Park, Jeong Woo

2017-05-01

Pulse electrochemical nanopatterning, a non-contact scanning probe lithography process using ultrashort voltage pulses, is based primarily on an electrochemical machining process using localized electrochemical oxidation between a sharp tool tip and the sample surface. In this study, nanoscale oxide patterns were formed on silicon Si (100) wafer surfaces via electrochemical surface nanopatterning, by supplying external pulsed currents through non-contact atomic force microscopy. Nanoscale oxide width and height were controlled by modulating the applied pulse duration. Additionally, protruding nanoscale oxides were removed completely by simple chemical etching, showing a depressed pattern on the sample substrate surface. Nanoscale two-dimensional oxides, prepared by a localized electrochemical reaction, can be defined easily by controlling physical and electrical variables, before proceeding further to a layer-by-layer nanofabrication process.

Microprocessor-Controlled Laser Balancing System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Demuth, R. S.

1985-01-01

Material removed by laser action as part tested for balance. Directed by microprocessor, laser fires appropriate amount of pulses in correct locations to remove necessary amount of material. Operator and microprocessor software interact through video screen and keypad; no programing skills or unprompted system-control decisions required. System provides complete and accurate balancing in single load-and-spinup cycle.

The determination of the pulse pile-up reject (PUR) counting for X and gamma ray spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karabıdak, S. M.; Kaya, S.

2017-02-01

The collection the charged particles produced by the incident radiation on a detector requires a time interval. If this time interval is not sufficiently short compared with the peaking time of the amplifier, a loss in the recovered signal amplitude occurs. Another major constraint on the throughput of modern x or gamma-ray spectrometers is the time required for the subsequent the pulse processing by the electronics. Two above-mentioned limitations are cause of counting losses resulting from the dead time and the pile-up. The pulse pile-up is a common problem in x and gamma ray radiation detection systems. The pulses pile-up in spectroscopic analysis can cause significant errors. Therefore, inhibition of these pulses is a vital step. A way to reduce errors due to the pulse pile-up is a pile-up inspection circuitry (PUR). Such a circuit rejects some of the pulse pile-up. Therefore, this circuit leads to counting losses. Determination of these counting losses is an important problem. In this work, a new method is suggested for the determination of the pulse pile-up reject.

Target Glint Suppression Technology.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-01

report is organized into two principal sections. Section 2 addresses the impact of target effects on the noncoherent detection problem associated with...zero pulse-to-pulse correlation. Results are presented for a scanning search radar which is assumed to noncoherently integrate N pulses. Generally...speaking, detection performance is shown to be a maximum when the pulse-to-pulse correlation is a minimum. As a result noncoherent search radars should

Laser balancing system for high material removal rates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, M. G.; Georgalas, G.; Ortiz, A. L.

1984-01-01

A laser technique to remove material in excess of 10 mg/sec from a spinning rotor is described. This material removal rate is 20 times greater than previously reported for a surface speed of 30 m/sec. Material removal enhancement was achieved by steering a focused laser beam with moving optics to increase the time of laser energy interaction with a particular location on the circumferential surface of a spinning rotor. A neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) pulse laser was used in this work to evaluate material removal for carbon steel, 347 stainless steel, Inconal 718, and titanium 6-4. This technique is applicable to dynamic laser balancing.

Visualization of liquid-assisted hard tissue ablation with a pulsed CO2 laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, X. W.; Chen, C. G.; Zhang, X. Z.; Zhan, Z. L.; Xie, S. S.

2015-01-01

To investigate the characteristics of liquid-mediated hard tissue ablation induced by a pulsed CO2 laser with a wavelength of 10.6 μm, a high speed camera was used to monitor the interaction between water, tissue and laser irradiation. The results showed that laser irradiation can directly impact on tissue through a vapor channel formed by the leading part of the laser pulse. The ablation debris plays a key role in liquid-assisted laser ablation, having the ability to keep the vapor channel open to extend actuation time. The runoff effect induced by vortex convection liquid flow can remove the tissue that obstructs the effect of the next laser pulse.

Filtering higher-order laser modes using leaky plasma channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Djordjević, B. Z.; Benedetti, C.; Schroeder, C. B.; Esarey, E.; Leemans, W. P.

2018-01-01

Plasma structures based on leaky channels are proposed to filter higher-order laser mode content. The evolution and propagation of non-Gaussian laser pulses in leaky channels are studied, and it is shown that, for appropriate laser-plasma parameters, the higher-order laser mode content of the pulse may be removed while the fundamental mode remains well-guided. The behavior of multi-mode laser pulses is described analytically and numerically using envelope equations, including the derivation of the leakage coefficients, and compared to particle-in-cell simulations. Laser pulse propagation, with reduced higher-order mode content, improves guiding in parabolic plasma channels, enabling extended interaction lengths for laser-plasma accelerator applications.

PULSE AMPLITUDE DISTRIBUTION RECORDER

DOEpatents

Cowper, G.

1958-08-12

A device is described for automatica1ly recording pulse annplitude distribution received from a counter. The novelty of the device consists of the over-all arrangement of conventional circuit elements to provide an easy to read permanent record of the pulse amplitude distribution during a certain time period. In the device a pulse analyzer separates the pulses according to annplitude into several channels. A scaler in each channel counts the pulses and operates a pen marker positioned over a drivable recorder sheet. Since the scalers in each channel have the sanne capacity, the control circuitry permits counting of the incoming pulses until one scaler reaches capacity, whereupon the input is removed and an internal oscillator supplies the necessary pulses to fill up the other scalers. Movement of the chart sheet is initiated wben the first scaler reaches capacity to thereby give a series of marks at spacings proportional to the time required to fill the remaining scalers, and accessory equipment marks calibration points on the recorder sheet to facilitate direct reading of the number of external pulses supplied to each scaler.

Comparison of the effect of diode laser versus intense pulsed light in axillary hair removal.

PubMed

Ormiga, Patricia; Ishida, Cleide Eiko; Boechat, Alvaro; Ramos-E-Silva, Marcia

2014-10-01

Devices such as diode laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) are in constant development aiming at permanent hair removal, but there are few comparative studies between these technologies. The objective was to comparatively assess axillary hair removal performed by diode laser and IPL and to obtain parameters of referred pain and evolution response for each method. A comparative prospective, double-blind, and randomized study of axillary hair removal performed by the diode laser and IPL was conducted in 21 females. Six sessions were held with application of the diode laser in one axilla and the IPL in the other, with intervals of 30 days and follow-up of 6 months after the last session. Clinical photographs and digital dermoscopy for hair counts in predefined and fixed fields of the treated areas were performed before, 2 weeks after the sixth session, and 6 months after the end of treatment. A questionnaire to assess the pain was applied. The number of hair shafts was significantly reduced with the diode laser and IPL. The diode laser was more effective, although more painful than the IPL. No serious, adverse, or permanent effects were observed with both technologies. Both diode laser and the IPL are effective, safe, and able to produce lasting results in axillary hair removal.

Paper un-printing: using lasers to remove toner-print in order to reuse office paper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leal-Ayala, D. R.; Allwood, J. M.; Counsell, T. A. M.

2011-12-01

In this article, lasers in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared light spectra working with pulse widths in the nanosecond range are applied to a range of toner-paper combinations to determine their ability to remove toner. If the laser energy fluence can be chosen to stay below the ablation threshold of paper at the same time that it surpasses that of toner, paper could be cleaned and re-used instead of being recycled or disposed into a landfill. This could significantly reduce the environmental impact of paper production and use. Although there are a variety of paper conservation studies which have investigated the effects of laser radiation on blank and soiled paper, none has previously explored toner-print removal from paper by laser ablation. Colour analysis under the L ∗ a ∗ b ∗ colour space and SEM examination of the outcome indicate that it is possible to remove toner from paper without damaging and discolouring the substrate. Best results are obtained when employing visible radiation at a wavelength of 532 nm working with a pulse width of 4 ns and energy fluences under 1.6 J/cm2. This means that it is technically feasible to remove toner-print for paper re-use.

Photoconductive circuit element reflectometer

DOEpatents

Rauscher, Christen

1990-01-01

A photoconductive reflectometer for characterizing semiconductor devices at millimeter wavelength frequencies where a first photoconductive circuit element (PCE) is biased by a direct current voltage source and produces short electrical pulses when excited into conductance by short first laser light pulses. The electrical pulses are electronically conditioned to improve the frequency related amplitude characteristics of the pulses which thereafter propagate along a transmission line to a device under test. Second PCEs are connected along the transmission line to sample the signals on the transmission line when excited into conductance by short second laser light pulses, spaced apart in time a variable period from the first laser light pulses. Electronic filters connected to each of the second PCEs act as low-pass filters and remove parasitic interference from the sampled signals and output the sampled signals in the form of slowed-motion images of the signals on the transmission line.

Photoconductive circuit element reflectometer

DOEpatents

Rauscher, C.

1987-12-07

A photoconductive reflectometer for characterizing semiconductor devices at millimeter wavelength frequencies where a first photoconductive circuit element (PCE) is biased by a direct current voltage source and produces short electrical pulses when excited into conductance by short first laser light pulses. The electrical pulses are electronically conditioned to improve the frequency related amplitude characteristics of the pulses which thereafter propagate along a transmission line to a device under test. Second PCEs are connected along the transmission line to sample the signals on the transmission line when excited into conductance by short second laser light pulses, spaced apart in time a determinable period from the first laser light pulses. Electronic filters connected to each of the second PCEs act as low-pass filters and remove parasitic interference from the sampled signals and output the sampled signals in the form of slowed-motion images of the signals on the transmission line. 4 figs.

Noncoherent-intense-pulsed light for the treatment of relapsing hairy intradermal melanocytic nevus after shave excision.

PubMed

Moreno-Arias, G A; Ferrando, J

2001-01-01

Few reports about melanocytic lesions treatment by means of noncoherent-intense-pulsed light (NCIPL) have been published. Here we evaluate the clinical results of a relapsing hairy intradermal melanocytic nevus treated with a noncoherent-intense-pulsed light source. A facial repigmented hairy intradermal melanocytic nevus that relapsed after shave excision, received four treatment sessions of a noncoherent-intense-pulsed light source (EpiLight, ESC Medical Systems Ltd, Israel) with the following parameters: 755 nm, a fluence energy of 40-42.5 J/cm(2), triple mode, a pulse width of 3.8 ms, and a delay of 20 ms, at 4-week intervals. Complete pigment clearance and hair removal was obtained. We have neither observed repigmentation nor hair regrowth after a 6 month-follow-up. No side effects were documented. Noncoherent-intense-pulse light is an effective treatment for hairy-pigmented melanocytic nevus. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A new high current laboratory and pulsed homopolar generator power supply at the University of Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Floyd, J. E.; Aanstoos, T. A.

1984-03-01

The University of Texas at Austin is constructing a facility for research in pulse power technology for the Center for Electromechanics at the Balcones Research Center. The facility, designed to support high-current experiments, will be powered by six homopolar generators, each rated at 10 MJ and arranged to allow matching the requirements of resistive and inductive loads at various voltage and current combinations. Topics covered include the high bay, the power supply configuration and parameters, the speed and field control, and the magnetic circuit. Also considered are the removable air-cooled brushes, the water-cooled field coils, the hydraulic motor sizing and direct coupling, the low-impedance removable field coils, and the hydrostatic bearing design.

Collisional Removal of OH (X (sup 2)Pi, nu=7) by O2, N2, CO2, and N2O

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knutsen, Karen; Dyer, Mark J.; Copeland, Richard A.

1996-01-01

Collisional removal rate constants for the OH (X 2PI, nu = 7) radical are measured for the colliders O2, CO2, and N2O, and an upper limit is established for N2. OH(nu = 4) molecules, generated in a microwave discharge flow cell by the reaction of hydrogen atoms with ozone, are excited to v = 7 by the output of a pulsed infrared laser via direct vibrational overtone excitation. The temporal evolution of the P = 7 population is probed as a function of the collider gas partial pressure by a time-delayed pulsed ultraviolet laser. Fluorescence from the B 21 + state is detected in the visible spectral region.

Pulsed photothermal depth profiling of tattoos undergoing laser removal treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milanic, Matija; Majaron, Boris

2012-02-01

Pulsed photothermal radiometry (PPTR) allows noninvasive determination of temperature depth profiles induced by pulsed laser irradiation of strongly scattering biological tissues and organs, including human skin. In present study, we evaluate the potential of this technique for investigational characterization and possibly quantitative evaluation of laser tattoo removal. The study involved 5 healthy volunteers (3 males, 2 females), age 20-30 years, undergoing tattoo removal treatment using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. There were four measurement and treatment sessions in total, separated by 2-3 months. Prior to each treatment, PPTR measurements were performed on several tattoo sites and one nearby healthy site in each patient, using a 5 ms Nd:YAG laser at low radiant exposure values and a dedicated radiometric setup. The laser-induced temperature profiles were then reconstructed by applying a custom numerical code. In addition, each tatoo site was documented with a digital camera and measured with a custom colorimetric system (in tristimulus color space), providing an objective evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy to be correlated with our PPTR results. The results show that the laser-induced temperature profile in untreated tattoos is invariably located at a subsurface depth of 300 μm. In tattoo sites that responded well to laser therapy, a significant drop of the temperature peak was observed in the profiles obtained from PPTR record. In several sites that appeared less responsive, as evidenced by colorimetric data, a progressive shift of the temperature profile deeper into the dermis was observed over the course of consecutive laser treatments, indicating that the laser tattoo removal was efficient.

Selective Removal of Residual Orthodontic Composite Using a Rapidly Scanned Carbon Dioxide Laser with Spectral Feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirasuna, Krista

Background and Objective: Excessive heat accumulation within the tooth, incomplete removal of composite, and variable damage to the enamel are shortcomings of using conventional burs to remove residual orthodontic composite after debonding fixed appliances. The objective of this study was to determine if composite could be selectively removed from the enamel surface using a rapidly scanned carbon dioxide laser controlled by spectral feedback. Materials and Methods: A carbon dioxide laser operating at a wavelength of 9.3 microm with a pulse duration of 10-15 micros and a pulse repetition rate of ˜ 200 Hz was used to selectively remove composite from the buccal surfaces of 21 extracted teeth. GrenGloo(TM) composite was used to better visualize residual composite and the amount of enamel lost was measured with optical microscopy. A spectral feedback system utilizing a miniature spectrometer was used to control the laser scanning system. Pulpal temperature measurements were performed during composite removal to determine if there was excessive heat accumulation. Results: The amount of enamel lost averaged 22.7microm +/- 8.9 and 25.3 microm +/- 9.4 for removal at 3.8 and 4.2 J/cm2, respectively. An average maximum temperature rise of 1.9°C +/- 1.5 was recorded, with no teeth approaching the critical value of 5.5°C. The average time of composite removal was 19.3 +/- 4.1 seconds. Conclusions: Residual orthodontic composite can be rapidly removed from the tooth surface using a rapidly scanned CO2 laser with spectral feedback, with minimal temperature rise within the pulp and with minimal damage to the underlying enamel surface.

A study of cavity preparation by Er:YAG laser--observation of hard tooth structures by laser scanning microscope and examination of the time necessary to remove caries.

PubMed

Shigetani, Yoshimi; Okamoto, Akira; Abu-Bakr, Neamat; Iwaku, Masaaki

2002-03-01

The purpose of this study was to observe and measure the morphological changes that occur in the hard tissue after the application of Er:YAG laser. Another objective was to evaluate and compare the duration of application of both the laser apparatus and a conventional cutting device. In this study, sound and newly extracted carious tissues were used. The morphological changes in hard tooth structures produced by Er:YAG laser irradiation were examined by using a laser scanning microscope. Results showed that appropriate laser irradiation was 100 mJ/pulse for dentin, and 200 mJ/pulse for enamel. Also, the laser scanning microscope images were less damaged than the SEM images due to pretreatment of the specimens. The time taken to remove carious enamel by laser irradiation was slightly longer than the compared rotary cutting device; however, no differences between the two methods were observed in case of carious dentin removal.

Solder dross removal apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Webb, Winston S. (Inventor)

1990-01-01

An automatic dross removal apparatus is disclosed for removing dross from the surface of a solder bath in an automated electric component handling system. A rotatable wiper blade is positioned adjacent the solder bath which skims the dross off of the surface prior to the dipping of a robot conveyed component into the bath. An electronic control circuit causes a motor to rotate the wiper arm one full rotational cycle each time a pulse is received from a robot controller as a component approaches the solder bath.

Laser pulse stacking method

DOEpatents

Moses, Edward I.

1992-01-01

A laser pulse stacking method is disclosed. A problem with the prior art has been the generation of a series of laser beam pulses where the outer and inner regions of the beams are generated so as to form radially non-synchronous pulses. Such pulses thus have a non-uniform cross-sectional area with respect to the outer and inner edges of the pulses. The present invention provides a solution by combining the temporally non-uniform pulses in a stacking effect to thus provide a more uniform temporal synchronism over the beam diameter.

Laser pulse stacking method

DOEpatents

Moses, E.I.

1992-12-01

A laser pulse stacking method is disclosed. A problem with the prior art has been the generation of a series of laser beam pulses where the outer and inner regions of the beams are generated so as to form radially non-synchronous pulses. Such pulses thus have a non-uniform cross-sectional area with respect to the outer and inner edges of the pulses. The present invention provides a solution by combining the temporally non-uniform pulses in a stacking effect to thus provide a more uniform temporal synchronism over the beam diameter. 2 figs.

Removal of ruminal contents followed by restricted feeding does not affect the frequency of luteinizing-hormone pulses in steers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of removal of ruminal contents and reduced nutrient intake on concentrations of LH in serum of beef cattle. Gonadectomized, male, Angus x Hereford cattle (steers, 402 ± 17 kg) with rumen cannulae were randomly assigned to treatment. Control (C...

Pulsed Nd:YAG laser selective ablation of surface enamel caries: II. Histology and clinical trials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, David M.; Goodis, Harold E.; White, Joel M.; Arcoria, Charles J.; Simon, James; Burkart, John; Yessik, Michael J.; Myers, Terry D.

2000-03-01

High intensity infrared light from the pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser is absorbed by pigmented carious enamel and not absorbed by normal enamel. Therefore, this system is capable of selective removal of surface enamel caries. Safety and efficacy of the clinical procedure was evaluated in two sets of clinical trials at three dental schools. Carious lesions were randomized to drill or laser treatment. Pulp vitality, surface condition, preparations and restorations were evaluated by blinded evaluators. In Study 1 surface caries were removed from 104 third molars scheduled for extraction. One week post-treatment teeth were extracted and the pulp was examined histologically. In Study 2 90 patients with 422 lesions on 376 teeth were randomized to laser or drill and followed for six months. There were no adverse events and both clinical and histological evaluations of pulp vitality showed no abnormalities. Caries were removed in all conditions. A significantly greater number of preparations in the drill groups vs. laser groups entered dentin (drill equals 11, laser equals 1, p less than 0.001). This indicates that the more conservative laser treatment removed the caries but not the sound enamel below the lesion.

Application of low temperature plasmas for restoration/conservation of archaeological objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krčma, F.; Blahová, L.; Fojtíková, P.; Graham, W. G.; Grossmannová, H.; Hlochová, L.; Horák, J.; Janová, D.; Kelsey, C. P.; Kozáková, Z.; Mazánková, V.; Procházka, M.; Přikryl, R.; Řádková, L.; Sázavská, V.; Vašíček, M.; Veverková, R.; Zmrzlý, M.

2014-12-01

The low-temperature low-pressure hydrogen based plasmas were used to study the influence of processes and discharge conditions on corrosion removal. The capacitive coupled RF discharge in the continuous or pulsed regime was used at operating pressure of 100-200 Pa. Plasma treatment was monitored by optical emission spectroscopy. To be able to study influence of various process parameters, the model corroded samples with and without sandy incrustation were prepared. The SEM-EDX analyzes were carried out to verify corrosion removal efficiency. Experimental conditions were optimized for the selected most frequent materials of original metallic archaeological objects (iron, bronze, copper, and brass). Chlorides removal is based on hydrogen ion reactions while oxides are removed mainly by neutral species interactions. A special focus was kept for the samples temperature because it was necessary to avoid any metallographic changes in the material structure. The application of higher power pulsed regime with low duty cycle seems be the best treatment regime. The low pressure hydrogen plasma is not applicable for objects with a very broken structure or for nonmetallic objects due to the non-uniform heat stress. Due to this fact, the new developed plasmas generated in liquids were applied on selected original archaeological glass materials.

760nm: a new laser diode wavelength for hair removal modules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wölz, Martin; Zorn, Martin; Pietrzak, Agnieszka; Kindsvater, Alex; Meusel, Jens; Hülsewede, Ralf; Sebastian, Jürgen

2015-02-01

A new high-power semiconductor laser diode module, emitting at 760 nm is introduced. This wavelength permits optimum treatment results for fair skin individuals, as demonstrated by the use of Alexandrite lasers in dermatology. Hair removal applications benefit from the industry-standard diode laser design utilizing highly efficient, portable and light-weight construction. We show the performance of a tap-water-cooled encapsulated laser diode stack with a window for use in dermatological hand-pieces. The stack design takes into account the pulse lengths required for selectivity in heating the hair follicle vs. the skin. Super-long pulse durations place the hair removal laser between industry-standard CW and QCW applications. The new 760 nm laser diode bars are 30% fill factor devices with 1.5 mm long resonator cavities. At CW operation, these units provide 40 W of optical power at 43 A with wall-plug-efficiency greater than 50%. The maximum output power before COMD is 90 W. Lifetime measurements starting at 40 W show an optical power loss of 20% after about 3000 h. The hair removal modules are available in 1x3, 1x8 and 2x8 bar configurations.

Single-electron population and depopulation of an isolated quantum dot using a surface-acoustic-wave pulse.

PubMed

Kataoka, M; Schneble, R J; Thorn, A L; Barnes, C H W; Ford, C J B; Anderson, D; Jones, G A C; Farrer, I; Ritchie, D A; Pepper, M

2007-01-26

We use a pulse of surface acoustic waves (SAWs) to control the electron population and depopulation of a quantum dot. The barriers between the dot and reservoirs are set high to isolate the dot. Within a time scale of approximately 100 s the dot can be set to a nonequilibrium charge state, where an empty (occupied) level stays below (above) the Fermi energy. A pulse containing a fixed number of SAW periods is sent through the dot, controllably changing the potential, and hence the tunneling probability, to add (remove) an electron to (from) the dot.

Laser removal of loose uranium compound contamination from metal surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roberts, D. E.; Modise, T. S.

2007-04-01

Pulsed laser removal of surface contamination of uranyl nitrate and uranium dioxide from stainless steel has been studied. Most of the loosely bound contamination has been removed at fluence levels below 0.5 J cm -2, leaving about 5% fixed contamination for uranyl nitrate and 15% for uranium dioxide. Both alpha and beta activities are then sufficiently low that contaminated objects can be taken out of a restricted radiation area for re-use. The ratio of beta to alpha activity is found to be a function of particle size and changes during laser removal. In a separate experiment using technetium-99m, the collection of removed radioactivity in the filter was studied and an inventory made of removed and collected contamination.

Laser paint stripping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Head, J. D.; Niedzielski, J. Peter

1991-06-01

A study to assess the utility of high powered CO2 pulsed laser depainting methods was conducted on aluminum and graphite epoxy composites. The various tests were designed to detect potential forms of damage or loss of properties of various aircraft structural materials during removal of paint with pulsed laser energy. Tests for changes in physical properties, paint adhesion and corrosion protection of repainted materials showed no detectable adverse changes in any of the samples studied.

Removing interfering clutter associated with radar pulses that an airborne radar receives from a radar transponder

DOEpatents

Ormesher, Richard C.; Axline, Robert M.

2008-12-02

Interfering clutter in radar pulses received by an airborne radar system from a radar transponder can be suppressed by developing a representation of the incoming echo-voltage time-series that permits the clutter associated with predetermined parts of the time-series to be estimated. These estimates can be used to estimate and suppress the clutter associated with other parts of the time-series.

Biosynthesis and maturation of cellular membrane glycoproteins.

PubMed

Hunt, L A

1979-01-01

The biosynthesis and the processing of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of cellular membrane glycoproteins were examined in monolayer cultures of BHK21 cells and human diploid fibroblasts after pulse- and pulse-chase labeling with [2-3H]mannose. After pronase digestion, radiolabeled glycopeptides were characterized by high-resolution gel filtration, with or without additional digestion with various exoglycosidases and endoglycosidases. Pulse-labeled glycoproteins contained a relatively homogenous population of neutral oligosaccharides (major species: Man9GlcNAc2ASN). The vast majority of these asparagine-linked oligosaccharides was smaller than the major fraction of lipid-linked oligosaccharides from the cell and was apparently devoid of terminal glucose. After pulse-chase or long labeling periods, a significant fraction of the large oligomannosyl cores was processed by removal of mannose units and addition of branch sugars (NeuNAc-Gal-GlcNAc), resulting in complex acidic structures containing three and possibly five mannoses. In addition, some of the large oligomannosyl cores were processed by the removal of only several mannoses, resulting in a mixture of neutral structures with 5-9 mannoses. This oligomannosyl core heterogeneity in both neutral and acidic oligosaccharides linked to asparagine in cellular membrane glycoproteins was analogous to the heterogeneity reported for the oligosaccharides of avian RNA tumor virus glycoproteins (Hunt LA, Wright SE, Etchison JR, Summers DF: J Virol 29:336, 1979).

Selective treatment of carious dentin using a mid-infrared tunable pulsed laser at 6 μm wavelength range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saiki, Masayuki; Ishii, Katsunori; Yoshikawa, Kazushi; Yasuo, Kenzo; Yamamoto, Kazuyo; Awazu, Kunio

2011-03-01

Optical technologies have good potential for caries detection, prevention, excavation, and the realization of minimal intervention dentistry. This study aimed to develop a selective excavation technique of carious tissue using the specific absorption in 6 μm wavelength range. Bovine dentin demineralized with lactic acid solution was used as a carious dentin model. A mid-infrared tunable pulsed laser was obtained by difference-frequency generation technique. The wavelength was tuned to 6.02 and 6.42 μm which correspond to absorption bands called amide I and amide II, respectively. The laser delivers 5 ns pulse width at a repetition rate of 10 Hz. The morphological change after irradiation was observed with a scanning electron microscope, and the measurement of ablation depth was performed with a confocal laser microscope. At λ = 6.02 μm and the average power density of 15 W/cm2, demineralized dentin was removed selectively with less-invasive effect on sound dentin. The wavelength of 6.42 μm also showed the possibility of selective removal. High ablation efficiency and low thermal side effect were observed using the nanosecond pulsed laser with λ = 6.02 μm. In the near future, development of compact laser device will open the minimal invasive laser treatment to the dental clinic.

Cutting and skin-ablative properties of pulsed mid-infrared laser surgery.

PubMed

Kaufmann, R; Hartmann, A; Hibst, R

1994-02-01

Pulsed mid-infrared lasers allow a precise removal of soft tissues with only minimal thermal damage. To study the potential dermatosurgical usefulness of currently available systems at different wavelengths (2010-nm Thulium:YAG laser, 2100-nm Holmium:YAG laser, 2790-nm Erbium:YSGG laser, and 2940-nm Erbium:YAG laser) in vivo on pig skin. Immediate effects and wound healing of superficial laser-abrasions and incisions were compared with those of identical control lesions produced by dermabrasion, scalpel incisions, or laser surgery performed by a 1060-nm Nd:YAG and a 1060-nm CO2 laser (continuous and superpulsed mode). Best efficiency and least thermal injury was found for the pulsed Erbium:YAG laser, leading to ablative and incisional lesions comparable to those obtained by dermabrasion or superficial scalpel incisions, respectively. In contrast to other mid-infrared lasers tested, the 2940-nm Erbium:YAG laser thus provides a potential instrument for future applications in skin surgery, especially when aiming at a careful ablative removal of delicate superficial lesions with maximum sparing of adjacent tissue structures. However, in the purely incisional application mode pulsed mid-infrared lasers, though of potential usefulness in microsurgical indications (eg, surgery of the cornea), do not offer a suggestive alternative to simple scalpel surgery of the skin.

Duration of an intense laser pulse can determine the breakage of multiple chemical bonds

PubMed Central

Xie, Xinhua; Lötstedt, Erik; Roither, Stefan; Schöffler, Markus; Kartashov, Daniil; Midorikawa, Katsumi; Baltuška, Andrius; Yamanouchi, Kaoru; Kitzler, Markus

2015-01-01

Control over the breakage of a certain chemical bond in a molecule by an ultrashort laser pulse has been considered for decades. With the availability of intense non-resonant laser fields it became possible to pre-determine femtosecond to picosecond molecular bond breakage dynamics by controlled distortions of the electronic molecular system on sub-femtosecond time scales using field-sensitive processes such as strong-field ionization or excitation. So far, all successful demonstrations in this area considered only fragmentation reactions, where only one bond is broken and the molecule is split into merely two moieties. Here, using ethylene (C2H4) as an example, we experimentally investigate whether complex fragmentation reactions that involve the breakage of more than one chemical bond can be influenced by parameters of an ultrashort intense laser pulse. We show that the dynamics of removing three electrons by strong-field ionization determines the ratio of fragmentation of the molecular trication into two respectively three moieties. We observe a relative increase of two-body fragmentations with the laser pulse duration by almost an order of magnitude. Supported by quantum chemical simulations we explain our experimental results by the interplay between the dynamics of electron removal and nuclear motion. PMID:26271602

Novel Treatment Approach for Deep Palmoplantar Warts Using Long-Pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG Laser and a Moisturizing Cream Without Prior Paring of the Wart Surface.

PubMed

Alshami, Mohammad Ali; Mohana, Mona Jameel

2016-10-01

The present study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of palmoplantar wart removal using long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser after application of a moisturizing cream. Previously described laser treatments for wart removal are associated with negative side effects and need to pare the warts before laser treatment. Two hundred forty patients (142 males, 98 females) were treated for 1-40 palmoplantar warts by long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser (spot size 4-6 mm, pulse duration 20 msec, fluence 200 J/cm 2 ) after covering the wart surface with a thin film of a moisturizing cream. The endpoint was lesion graying or whitening with or without development of a hemorrhagic bulla beneath the treated wart. Color photographs were taken before and immediately after each laser session and at 1, 4, and 16 weeks after the last session. The overall clearance rate was 97%, with 90% of treated patients cured after one session, 4% after two, and 3% after three. Clearance rate after three laser sessions decreased linearly with the number of warts from 100% to 95%. Less accessible wart location in interdigital spaces also decreased the cure rate after three sessions from 100% to 95%. Additionally, warts became more difficult to eradicate as they aged. Remission lasted up to 6 years, and complications were mild and infrequent (17.5%). This novel method is effective in removing palmoplantar warts. It is easier, time-saving, and safer than other methods described in previous studies conducted with ablative or nonablative lasers.

Effective NOx remediation from a surrogate flue gas using the US NRL Electra electron beam facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrova, Tz. B.; Petrov, G. M.; Wolford, M. F.; Giuliani, J. L.; Ladouceur, H. D.; Hegeler, F.; Myers, M. C.; Sethian, J. D.

2017-02-01

Nitric oxide (NOx) emission is under restrictive federal regulations because of its negative impact on atmosphere, biosphere, and human health. Therefore, its removal has been a subject of extensive research to develop new efficient and cost effective techniques that can be applied on an industrial scale. In this work, we study both experimentally and theoretically an effective removal of NOx pollutants from a surrogate flue gas (SFG) using high power electron beam (e-beam) pulses. SFG is a simulant for exhaust from coal combustion power plants (82% N2, 6% O2, 12% CO2, and ˜100 ppm of NOx). The pulsed electron beam is generated using the United States Naval Research Laboratory Electra facility, which delivers e-beams with energies of ˜500 keV and a power pulse duration of ˜140 ns. During the e-beam irradiation, the energetic electrons generate a non-equilibrium plasma containing chemically active species, which then react with NOx to form harmless substances. A non-equilibrium time-dependent model is developed to describe NOx remediation from SFG. The model combines e-beam deposition rates obtained by solving the electron Boltzmann equation and extensive plasma chemistry modeling, which follows the species on a time scale from sub-nanoseconds to a few seconds. NOx decomposition as a function of electron beam parameters is studied. It is demonstrated experimentally that short (ns) pulses are the most efficient for NOx removal. A sharp reduction of NOx was measured with e-beam power deposition increasing, following the trend predicted by the model, achieving a 20 fold reduction to ˜5 ppm at energy deposition ˜20 J/l.

Pulsed corona discharge for improving treatability of coking wastewater.

PubMed

Liu, Ming; Preis, Sergei; Kornev, Iakov; Hu, Yun; Wei, Chao-Hai

2018-02-01

Coking wastewater (CW) contains toxic and macromolecular substances that inhibit biological treatment. The refractory compounds remaining in biologically treated coking wastewater (BTCW) provide chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color levels that make it unacceptable for reuse or disposal. Gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD) utilizing mostly hydroxyl radicals and ozone as oxidants was applied to both raw coking wastewater (RCW) and BTCW wastewater as a supplemental treatment. The energy efficiency of COD, phenol, thiocyanate and cyanide degradation by PCD was the subject of the research. The cost-effective removal of intermediate oxidation products with addition of lime was also studied. The energy efficiency of oxidation was inversely proportional to the pulse repetition frequency: lower frequency allows more effective utilization of ozone at longer treatment times. Oxidative treatment of RCW showed the removal of phenol and thiocyanate at 800 pulses per second from 611 to 227mg/L and from 348 to 86mg/L, respectively, at 42kWh/m 3 delivered energy, with substantial improvement in the BOD 5 /COD ratio (from 0.14 to 0.43). The COD and color of BTCW were removed by 30% and 93%, respectively, at 20kWh/m 3 , showing energy efficiency for the PCD treatment exceeding that of conventional ozonation by a factor of 3-4. Application of lime appeared to be an effective supplement to the PCD treatment of RCW, degrading COD by about 28% at an energy input of 28kWh/m 3 and the lime dose of 3.0kg/m 3 . The improvement of RCW treatability is attributed to the degradation of toxic substances and fragmentation of macromolecular compounds. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Dental hard tissue modification and removal using sealed transverse excited atmospheric-pressure lasers operating at lambda=9.6 and 10.6 um

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fried, Daniel; Ragadio, Jerome N.; Akrivou, Maria; Featherstone, John D.; Murray, Michael W.; Dickenson, Kevin M.

2001-04-01

Pulsed CO2 lasers have been shown to be effective for both removal and modification of dental hard tissue for the treatment of dental caries. In this study, sealed transverse excited atmospheric pressure (TEA) laser systems optimally tuned to the highly absorbed 9.6 micrometers wavelength were investigated for application on dental hard tissue. Conventional TEA lasers produce an initial high energy spike at the beginning of the laser pulse of submicrosecond duration followed by a long tail of about 1 - 4 microsecond(s) . The pulse duration is well matched to the 1 - 2 microsecond(s) thermal relaxation time of the deposited laser energy at 9.6 micrometers and effectively heats the enamel to the temperatures required for surface modification at absorbed fluences of less than 0.5 J/cm2. Thus, the heat deposition in the tooth and the corresponding risk of pulpal necrosis from excessive heat accumulation is minimized. At higher fluences, the high peak power of the laser pulse rapidly initiates a plasma that markedly reduces the ablation rate and efficiency, severely limiting applicability for hard tissue ablation. By lengthening the laser pulse to reduce the energy distributed in the initial high energy spike, the plasma threshold can be raised sufficiently to increase the ablation rate by an order of magnitude. This results in a practical and efficient CO2 laser system for caries ablation and surface modification.

Dental hard tissue modification and removal using sealed TEA lasers operating at λ=9.6 and 10.6 μm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fried, Daniel; Murray, Michael W.; Featherstone, John D. B.; Akrivou, Maria; Dickenson, Kevin M.; Duhn, Clifford W.; Ojeda, Orlando P.

1999-05-01

Pulsed CO2 lasers have been shown to be effective for both removal and modification of dental hard tissue for the treatment of dental caries. In this study, sealed TEA laser systems optimally tuned to the highly absorbed 9.6 μm wavelength were investigated for application on dental hard tissue. Conventional TEA lasers produce a laser pulse wit a 100-200 ns gain switched spike followed by a long tail of about 1-4 μs in duration. the pulse duration is well matched to the 1-2 μs thermal relaxation time of the deposited laser energy at 9.6 μm and effectively heats the enamel to temperatures required for surface modification for caries prevention at absorbed fluences of less than 0.5 J/cm2. Thus, the heat deposition in the tooth and the corresponding risk, of pulpal necrosis form excessive heat accumulation is minimized. At higher fluences the high peak power of the gain-switched spike rapidly initiates a plasma that markedly reduces the ablation rate and efficiency, severely limiting applicability for hard tissue ablation. By slightly stretching the pulse to reduce the energy distributed in the initial 100-200 ns of the laser pulse, the plasma threshold can be raised sufficiently to increase the ablation rate by an order of magnitude. This results in a practical and efficient CO2 laser system for caries ablation and surface modification.

Hybrid mode-locked fiber ring laser using graphene and charcoal nanoparticles as saturable absorbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Hongyu; Zhang, Xiang; Li, Wenbo; Dutta, Niloy K.

2016-05-01

A fiber ring laser which implements hybrid mode locking technique has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated to generate pulse train at 20 GHz repetition rate with ultrashort pulse width. Graphene and charcoal nano-particles acting as passive mode lockers are inserted into a rational harmonic mode-locked fiber laser to improve the performance. With graphene saturable absorbers, the pulse duration is shortened from 5.3 ps to 2.8 ps, and with charcoal nano-particles, it is shortened to 3.2 ps. The RF spectra show that supermode noise can be removed in the presence of the saturable absorbers. Numerical simulation of the pulse transmission has also been carried out, which shows good agreement with the experimental results.

Application of actuator-driven pulsed water jet in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage surgery: its effectiveness for dissection around ruptured aneurysmal walls and subarachnoid clot removal.

PubMed

Endo, Hidenori; Endo, Toshiki; Nakagawa, Atsuhiro; Fujimura, Miki; Tominaga, Teiji

2017-07-01

In clipping surgery for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), critical steps include clot removal and dissection of aneurysms without premature rupture or brain injuries. To pursue this goal, a piezo actuator-driven pulsed water jet (ADPJ) system was introduced in this study. This study included 42 patients, who suffered aSAH and underwent clipping surgery. Eleven patients underwent surgery with the assistance of the ADPJ system (ADPJ group). In the other 31 patients, surgery was performed without the ADPJ system (Control group). The ADPJ system was used for clot removal and aneurysmal dissection. The clinical impact of the ADPJ system was judged by comparing the rate of premature rupture, degree of clot removal, and clinical outcomes. Intraoperatively, a premature rupture was encountered in 18.2 and 25.8% of cases in the ADPJ and control groups, respectively. Although the differences were not statistically significant, intraoperative observation suggested that the ADPJ system was effective in clot removal and dissection of aneurysms in a safe manner. Computed tomography scans indicated the achievement of higher degrees of clot removal, especially when the ADPJ system was used for cases with preoperative clot volumes of more than 25 ml (p = 0.047, Mann-Whitney U test). Clinical outcomes, including incidence of postoperative brain injury or symptomatic vasospasm, were similar in both groups. We described our preliminary surgical results using the ADPJ system for aSAH. Although further study is needed, the ADPJ system was considered a safe and effective tool for clot removal and dissection of aneurysms.

Magnetic resonance imaging without field cycling at less than earth's magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Seong-Joo; Shim, Jeong Hyun; Kim, Kiwoong; Yu, Kwon Kyu; Hwang, Seong-min

2015-03-01

A strong pre-polarization field, usually tenths of a milli-tesla in magnitude, is used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio in ordinary superconducting quantum interference device-based nuclear magnetic resonance/magnetic resonance imaging experiments. Here, we introduce an experimental approach using two techniques to remove the need for the pre-polarization field. A dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) technique enables us to measure an enhanced resonance signal. In combination with a π / 2 pulse to avoid the Bloch-Siegert effect in a micro-tesla field, we obtained an enhanced magnetic resonance image by using DNP technique with a 34.5 μT static external magnetic field without field cycling. In this approach, the problems of eddy current and flux trapping in the superconducting pickup coil, both due to the strong pre-polarization field, become negligible.

CRADA opportunities in removal of particulates from hot-gas streams by filtration

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

Smith, D H

1995-06-01

Our analyses of samples and operating data from the Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustion (PFBC), cyclone, and filtration units of the Tidd Clean Coal demonstration facility show that calcined dolomitic sorbent reacted with SO{sub 2} (and O{sub 2}) to form Sulfates (CaSO{sub 4} and CaMgn [SO{sub 4}]n+1) not only in the PFBC bed, but also in the filtration vessel. Analyses of limited data from the journal literature suggest that the filter-vessel reactions may have produced sulfate {open_quotes}necks,{close_quotes} which bonded the particles together, thus substantially increasing the critical angle of repose and shear tensile strengths of the filtered powders. This proposed mechanismmore » rationalizes the {open_quotes}bridging{close_quotes} and other particle-accumulation problems that caused filter breakage. Engineering services potentially available to resolve these problems include elucidation and modeling of ex-situ and in-situ filter-vessel chemistry, measurement and modeling of particulate materials properties, and measurement and modeling of cleaning back-pulse aerodynamics and cleaning efficiencies.« less

Teletype Tester

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

In the United States, more than 12,000 homes of deaf people are equipped with a system that enables the deaf to communicate by telephone. It consists of a teletype machine hooked up to an "acoustic coupler." The deaf person taps out a message on the teletype keyboard and the acoustic coupler converts teletype pulses into audio signals that can be sent over phone lines. At the other end, another coupler reconverts the signals to activate the teletype's printer and provide a readable message. Though a boon to the deaf, the system presents a problem when something goes wrong. It is difficult to pinpoint the trouble because of the multiple units involved-the teletype's keyboard or its printer, the coupler's sending circuit or its receiving circuit. Finding the trouble is time-consuming and it usually involves removing the equipment from service, leaving the deaf person temporarily without communication. Seeking an answer to this difficulty, NASA's Biomedical Applications Team at Research Triangle Institute, North Carolina, circulated a problem statement to NASA field centers. Langley Research Center responded by developing a compactly-packaged portable Teletype Test Unit.

Ca2+ removal mechanisms in rat cerebral resistance size arteries.

PubMed Central

Kamishima, T; McCarron, J G

1998-01-01

Tissue blood flow and blood pressure are each regulated by the contractile behavior of resistance artery smooth muscle. Vascular diseases such as hypertension have also been attributed to changes in vascular smooth muscle function as a consequence of altered Ca2+ removal. In the present study of Ca2+ removal mechanisms, in dissociated single cells from resistance arteries using fura-2 microfluorimetry and voltage clamp, Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum and extrusion by the Ca2+ pump in the cell membrane were demonstrably important in regulating Ca2+. In contrast, the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger played no detectable role in clearing Ca2+. Thus a voltage pulse to 0 mV, from a holding potential of -70 mV, triggered a Ca2+ influx and increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). On repolarization, [Ca2+]i returned to the resting level. The decline in [Ca2+]i consisted of three phases. Ca2+ removal was fast immediately after repolarization (first phase), then plateaued (second phase), and finally accelerated just before [Ca2+]i returned to resting levels (third phase). Thapsigargin or ryanodine, which each inhibit Ca2+ uptake into stores, did not affect the first but significantly inhibited the third phase. On the other hand, Na+ replacement with choline+ did not affect either the phasic features of Ca2+ removal or the absolute rate of its decline. Ca2+ removal was voltage-independent; holding the membrane potential at 120 mV, rather than at -70 mV, after the voltage pulse to 0 mV, did not attenuate Ca2+ removal rate. These results suggest that Ca2+ pumps in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane, but not the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger, are important in Ca2+ removal in cerebral resistance artery cells. PMID:9746518

Theoretical Study of Methods for Improving the Energy Efficiency of NOx Removal from Diesel Exhaust Gases by Silent Discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shoyama, Taiji; Yoshioka, Yoshio

To improve the NO removal performance in silent discharge process, we investigated the influence of the physical parameters such as current density, channel radius and pulse duration of the one micro discharge under the constant reduced electric field strength. And influence of the micro discharges occurrence locations were also discussed. In order to analyze the NO removal process, we assumed that the pulse micro discharges occur repeatedly at the same location in static gas and that the chemical reactions induced by micro discharge forms many radicals, which react with pollutants and by-products. The conclusions we obtained are that lower current density, smaller discharge radius and shorter discharge duration improve NO removal efficiency. These results also mean that the lower discharge energy of the one micro discharge and the larger number of parallel micro discharges increase the NO removal performance. Therefore, to make the area of one micro discharge small is a desirable way to improve the NO removal performance. So we think that the glow like discharge might be more effective than the streamer like discharge mode. Next, using the two-dimensional model, which considered the influence of gas flow, we obtained a conclusion that the repeated micro discharges at different positions are very effective to increase the De-NOx performance. The reason is that the reaction of NO2+O→NO+O2 and ozone dissociation reactions are suppressed by the movement of the location of micro discharges.

Extraction of He and NE from Individual Lunar Ilmenite Grains by Pulse Heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nier, A. O.; Schlutter, D. J.

1993-07-01

The pulse-heating technique employed for extracting helium and neon from individual interplanetary dust particles [1] has been extended to a similar study of individual lunar grains. A succession of 5-s constant power pulses is applied to the oven holding the particle. The power is increased in 0.25-W increments until all the gas is removed. The peak temperature reached during a pulse lasts about 2 s and increases by roughly 75 degrees C for each 0.25-W increment in power. In the present investigation six individual ilmenite grains of lunar soil 71501 and of breccia 79035 were studied. It was felt that this method of extracting the gas might help in distinguishing between surface embedded solar wind (SW) particles and more deeply embedded constituents such as solar energetic particles (SEP) [2], or gas of trapped or primordial origin. Although only six particles of each type have been studied to date, interesting results are beginning to emerge. For example, for both types of particles, for the initial low power pulses where the maximum pulse temperature does not exceed 500 degrees C, the ^3He/^4He ratio falls near 4 x 10^-4, as expected, if the helium is primarily unfractionated solar wind implanted near the surface. As the pulse temperature is increased to around 1000 degrees C and the solar wind gas presumably has been removed, the ^3He/^4He ratio falls to around 2.5 x 10^-4, in rough agreement with the layer etching results [2]. Likewise, the ^20Ne/^22Ne ratio falls from around 14 to a value near 12, as in the etching experiments [2]. In the case of ^4He/^20Ne ratios there appears to be a real difference between the particles from the two ilmenites. For the 79035 grains, the ratio falls from around 600 for the surface gas to around 150 for the later high-temperature extractions. On the other hand, for the 71501 grains, the ratio starts somewhat lower, near 400, and drops below 100 as the pulse temperature is raised. A qualitatively similar difference was observed in the total gas released by laser beam extractions performed on single grains from the same lunar ilmenite samples [3]. While there is considerable scatter in the data, the overall results are gratifying, and should become more definitive as more particles are investigated. The initial releases, almost certainly from the surfaces of the particles, come closer to the solar wind values [4] than generally reported for lunar grains. It will be interesting to see whether or not the differences observed are real and have a bearing on the general problem of the variation of the solar wind with time [5]. Acknowledgment: We are indebted to R. Wieler for the ilmenite grains used in the investigation. References: [1] Nier A. O. and Schlutter D. J. (1993) LPS XXIV, 1075-1076.[2] Wieler R. et al. (1986) GCA, 50, 1997-2017. [3] Olinger C. T. et al. (1990) Meteoritics, 25, 394. [4] Geiss J. et al. (1972) Apollo 16 Prelim. Sci. Rept., 14-1 to 14-10, NASA SP 315. [5] Becker R. H. and Pepin R. O. (1989) GCA, 53, 1135-1146.

A new algorithm for detection of apnea in infants in neonatal intensive care units

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hoshik; Vergales, Brooke; Paget-Brown, Alix; Rusin, Craig; Moorman, Randall; Kattwinkel, John; Delos, John

2011-03-01

Apnea is a very common problem for premature infants: apnea of prematurity (AOP) occurs in >50% of babies whose birth weight is less than 1500 g, and AOP is found in almost all babies who are < 1000 g at birth. Current respiration detectors often fail to detect apnea, and also give many false alarms. We have created a new algorithm for detection of apnea. Respiration is monitored by continuous measurement of chest impedance (CI). However, the pulsing of the heart also causes fluctuations in CI. We developed a new adaptive filtering system to remove heart activity from CI, thereby giving much more reliable measurements of respiration. The new approach is to rescale the impedance measurement to heartbeat-time, sampling 30 times per interbeat interval. We take the Fourier transform of the rescaled signal, bandstop filter at 1 per beat to remove fluctuations due to heartbeats, and then take the inverse transform. The filtered signal retains all properties except the impedance changes due to cardiac filling and emptying. We convert the variance of CI into an estimated likelihood of apnea. This work is supported by NICHD 5RCZHD064488.

Extreme Heat

MedlinePlus

... stomach, arms, or legs Actions: Go to a cooler location. Remove excess clothing. Take sips of cool ... above 103 degrees) taken orally; red, hot, and dry skin with no sweat; rapid, strong pulse; dizziness; ...

Ultrasonic angle beam standard reflector. [ultrasonic nondestructive inspection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berry, R. F., Jr. (Inventor)

1985-01-01

A method that provides an impression profile in a reference standard material utilized in inspecting critically stressed components with pulsed ultrasound is described. A die stamp having an I letter is used to impress the surface of a reference material. The die stamp is placed against the surface and struck with an inertia imparting member to impress the I in the reference standard material. Upset may appear on the surface as a result of the impression and is removed to form a smooth surface. The stamping and upset removal is repeated until the entire surface area of a depth control platform on the die stamp uniformly contacts the material surface. The I impression profile in the reference standard material is utilized for reflecting pulsed ultrasonic beams for inspection purposes.

Selective removal of cholesterol ester in atherosclerotic plaque using nanosecond pulsed laser at 5.75 μm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishii, K.; Tsukimoto, H.; Hazama, H.; Awazu, K.

2008-02-01

Laser angioplasty, for example XeCl excimer laser angioplasty, has gained more attention in addition to conventional methods of surgical and interventional treatment of atherosclerotic diseases such as bypass operation and balloon dilatation. Low degrees of thermal damage after ablation of atherosclerotic lesions have been achieved by XeCl excimer laser at 308 nm. However, in most cases, laser ablation is not selective and normal arterial wall is also damaged. To avoid complications such as severe dissections or perforation of the arterial wall in an angioplasty, a laser light source with high ablation efficiency but low arterial wall injury is desirable. At atherosclerotic lesions, cholesterol accumulates on the tunica intima by establishing an ester bond with fatty acids such as oleic acid, and thus cholesterol ester is the main component of atherosclerotic plaques. Mid-infrared pulsed laser at 5.75 μm is selectively well absorbed in C=O stretching vibration mode of ester bonds. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of nanosecond pulsed laser at 5.75 μm irradiation of cholesterol ester in atherosclerotic plaques. In this study, we used a mid-infrared tunable solid-state laser which is operated by difference frequency generation method, with a wavelength of 5.75 μm, a pulse width of 5 nsec and a pulse duration of 10 Hz. It was confirmed that non-invasive interaction to normal thoracic aortas could be induce by the parameters, the wavelength of 5.75 μm, the average power densities of 35 W/cm2 and the irradiation time under 10 sec. This study shows that nanosecond pulsed laser irradiations at 5.75 μm provide an alternative laser light source as an effectively cutting, less traumatic tool for removal of atherosclerotic plaque.

Long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser vs. intense pulsed light for hair removal in dark skin: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Ismail, S A

2012-02-01

Although several lasers meet the wavelength criteria for selective follicular destruction, the treatment of darker skin phototypes is particularly challenging because absorption of laser energy by the targeted hairs is compromised by an increased concentration of epidermal melanin. To compare satisfaction level, safety and effectiveness of a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) in axillary hair reduction in subjects with dark skin. The study design was a within-patient, right-left, assessor-blinded, comparison of long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser and IPL. Fifty women (skin phototypes IV-VI) volunteered for removal of axillary hair. Five sessions at 4- to 6-week intervals were performed. Hair counts at both sides were compared at baseline and 6months after the last session. Final overall evaluations were performed by subjects and clinician at the end of the study. Satisfaction was scored for both devices. Thirty-nine women completed the study. At 6months, the decrease in hair counts on the laser side (79·4%, P<0·001 vs. pretreatment) was significantly (P<0·01) greater than that on the IPL side (54·4%, P<0·01 vs. pretreatment). Only temporary adverse effects were reported at both sides. Higher pain scores and more inflammation were reported with Nd:YAG laser; however, it was preferred by 29 volunteers (74%). Volunteers reported higher satisfaction score with Nd:YAG laser (P<0·01). Dark skin can be treated by both systems safely and effectively; however, long-pulsed (1064 nm) Nd:YAG laser is more effective as reported by both subjects and clinician. © 2011 The Authors. BJD © 2011 British Association of Dermatologists.

A New Strategy to Enhance Cavitational Tissue Erosion Using a High-Intensity, Initiating Sequence

PubMed Central

Xu, Zhen; Fowlkes, J. Brian; Cain, Charles A.

2009-01-01

Our previous studies have shown that pulsed ultrasound can physically remove soft tissue through cavitation. A new strategy to enhance the cavitation-induced erosion is proposed wherein tissue erosion is initiated by a short, high-intensity sequence of pulses and sustained by lower intensity pulses. We investigated effects of the initiating sequence on erosion and cavitation sustained by lower intensity pulses. Multiple three-cycle pulses at a pulse repetition frequency of 20 kHz delivered by a 788-kHz focused transducer were used for tissue erosion. Fixing the initiating sequence at ISPPA of 9000 W/cm2, 16 combinations of different numbers of pulses within the initiating sequence and different sustaining pulse intensities were tested. Results showed: the initiating sequence increases the probability of erosion occurrence and the erosion rate with only slight overall increases in propagated energy; the initiating sequence containing more pulses does not increase the sustained cavitation period; and if extinguished and reinitiated, the sustained cavitation period becomes shorter after each initiation, although the waiting time between adjacent cavitation periods is random. The high-intensity, initiating sequence enhances cavitational tissue erosion and enables erosion at intensities significantly lower than what is required to initiate erosion. PMID:16921893

Assessing the application and downstream effects of pulsed mode ultrasound as a pre-treatment for alum coagulation.

PubMed

Al-Juboori, Raed A; Aravinthan, Vasantha; Yusaf, Talal; Bowtell, Leslie

2016-07-01

The application of pulsed mode ultrasound (PMU) as a pre-treatment for alum coagulation was investigated at various alum dosages and pH levels. The effects of the treatments on turbidity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal and residual Al were evaluated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize the operating conditions of the applied treatments. The results showed that PMU pre-treatment increased turbidity and DOC removal percentages from maximum of 96.6% and 43% to 98.8% and 52%, respectively. It also helped decrease the minimum residual Al from 0.100 to 0.094 ppm. The multiple response optimization was carried out using the desirability function. A desirability value of >0.97 estimated respective turbidity removal, DOC removal and Al residual of 89.24%, 45.66% and ∼ 0.1 ppm for coagulation (control) and 90.61%, >55% and ∼ 0 for coagulation preceded by PMU. These figures were validated via confirmatory experiments. PMU pre-treatment increased total coliform removal from 80% to >98% and decreased trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) from 250 to 200 ppb CH3Cl. Additionally, PMU application prior to coagulation improved the settleability of sludge due to the degassing effects. The results of this study confirms that PMU pre-treatment can significantly improve coagulation performance. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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

Madrak, R.; Wildman, D.

The key elements have been constructed for a fast chopper system capable of removing single 2.5 MeV proton bunches spaced at 325 MHz. The average chopping rate is ~ 1 MHz. The components include a pulse delaying microstrip structure for deflecting the beam, high voltage (1.2 kV) fast (ns rise time) pulsers, and an associated wideband combiner. Various designs for the deflecting structures have been studied. Measurements of the microstrip structures' coverage factors and pulse shapes are presented.

Partial ablation of Ti/Al nano-layer thin film by single femtosecond laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaković, B.; Tsibidis, G. D.; Skoulas, E.; Petrović, S. M.; Vasić, B.; Stratakis, E.

2017-12-01

The interaction of ultra-short laser pulses with Titanium/Aluminium (Ti/Al) nano-layered thin film was investigated. The sample composed of alternating Ti and Al layers of a few nanometres thick was deposited by ion-sputtering. A single pulse irradiation experiment was conducted in an ambient air environment using focused and linearly polarized femtosecond laser pulses for the investigation of the ablation effects. The laser induced morphological changes and the composition were characterized using several microscopy techniques and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The following results were obtained: (i) at low values of pulse energy/fluence, ablation of the upper Ti layer only was observed; (ii) at higher laser fluence, a two-step ablation of Ti and Al layers takes place, followed by partial removal of the nano-layered film. The experimental observations were supported by a theoretical model accounting for the thermal response of the multiple layered structure upon irradiation with ultra-short laser pulses.

Solder dross removal apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Webb, Winston S. (Inventor)

1992-01-01

An automatic dross removal apparatus (10) is disclosed for removing dross from the surface of a solder bath (22) in an automated electric component handling system. A rotatable wiper blade (14) is positioned adjacent the solder bath (22) which skims the dross off of the surface prior to the dipping of a robot conveyed component into the bath. An electronic control circuit (34) causes a motor (32) to rotate the wiper arm (14) one full rotational cycle each time a pulse is received from a robot controller (44) as a component approaches the solder bath (22).

Laser space debris removal: now, not later

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phipps, Claude R.

2015-02-01

Small (1-10cm) debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) are extremely dangerous, because they spread the breakup cascade depicted in the movie "Gravity." Laser-Debris-Removal (LDR) is the only solution that can address both large and small debris. In this paper, we briefly review ground-based LDR, and discuss how a polar location can dramatically increase its effectiveness for the important class of sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) objects. No other solutions address the whole problem of large ( 1000cm, 1 ton) as well as small debris. Physical removal of small debris (by nets, tethers and so on) is impractical because of the energy cost of matching orbits. We also discuss a new proposal which uses a space-based station in low Earth orbit (LEO), and rapid, head-on interaction in 10- 40s rather than 4 minutes, with high-power bursts of 100ps, 355nm pulses from a 1.5m diameter aperture. The orbiting station employs "heat-capacity" laser mode with low duty cycle to create an adaptable, robust, dualmode system which can lower or raise large derelict objects into less dangerous orbits, as well as clear out the small debris in a 400-km thick LEO band. Time-average laser optical power is less than 15kW. The combination of short pulses and UV wavelength gives lower required energy density (fluence) on target as well as higher momentum coupling coefficient. This combination leads to much smaller mirrors and lower average power than the ground-based systems we have considered previously. Our system also permits strong defense of specific assets. Analysis gives an estimated cost of about 1k each to re-enter most small debris in a few months, and about 280k each to raise or lower 1-ton objects by 40km. We believe it can do this for 2,000 such large objects in about four years. Laser ablation is one of the few interactions in nature that propel a distant object without any significant reaction on the source.

All-digital pulse-expansion-based CMOS digital-to-time converter.

PubMed

Chen, Chun-Chi; Chu, Che-Hsun

2017-02-01

This paper presents a new all-digital CMOS digital-to-time converter (DTC) based on pulse expansion. Pulse expansion is achieved using an all-digital pulse-mixing scheme that can effectively improve the timing resolution and enable the DTC to be concise. Without requiring the Vernier principle or a costly digital-to-analog converter, the DTC comprises a pulse generator for generating a pulse, a pulse-expanding circuit (PEC) for programming timing generation, and a time subtractor for removing the time width of the pulse. The PEC comprises only a delay chain composed of proposed pulse-expanding units and a multiplexer. For accuracy enhancement, a pulse neutralization technique is presented to eliminate undesirable pulse variation. A 4-bit converter was fabricated in a 0.35-μm Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company CMOS process and had a small area of nearly 0.045 mm 2 . Six chips were tested, all of which exhibited an improved resolution (approximately 16 ps) and low integral nonlinearity (less than ±0.4 least significant bit). The power consumption was 0.2 mW when the sample rate was 1M samples/s and the voltage supply was 3.3 V. The proposed DTC not only has favorable cost and power but also achieves an acceptable resolution without requiring an advanced CMOS process. This study is the first to use pulse expansion in digital-to-time conversion.

All-digital pulse-expansion-based CMOS digital-to-time converter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chun-Chi; Chu, Che-Hsun

2017-02-01

This paper presents a new all-digital CMOS digital-to-time converter (DTC) based on pulse expansion. Pulse expansion is achieved using an all-digital pulse-mixing scheme that can effectively improve the timing resolution and enable the DTC to be concise. Without requiring the Vernier principle or a costly digital-to-analog converter, the DTC comprises a pulse generator for generating a pulse, a pulse-expanding circuit (PEC) for programming timing generation, and a time subtractor for removing the time width of the pulse. The PEC comprises only a delay chain composed of proposed pulse-expanding units and a multiplexer. For accuracy enhancement, a pulse neutralization technique is presented to eliminate undesirable pulse variation. A 4-bit converter was fabricated in a 0.35-μ m Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company CMOS process and had a small area of nearly 0.045 mm2. Six chips were tested, all of which exhibited an improved resolution (approximately 16 ps) and low integral nonlinearity (less than ±0.4 least significant bit). The power consumption was 0.2 mW when the sample rate was 1M samples/s and the voltage supply was 3.3 V. The proposed DTC not only has favorable cost and power but also achieves an acceptable resolution without requiring an advanced CMOS process. This study is the first to use pulse expansion in digital-to-time conversion.

Detection and characterization of pulses in broadband seismometers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilson, David; Ringler, Adam; Hutt, Charles R.

2017-01-01

Pulsing - caused either by mechanical or electrical glitches, or by microtilt local to a seismometer - can significantly compromise the long‐period noise performance of broadband seismometers. High‐fidelity long‐period recordings are needed for accurate calculation of quantities such as moment tensors, fault‐slip models, and normal‐mode measurements. Such pulses have long been recognized in accelerometers, and methods have been developed to correct these acceleration steps, but considerable work remains to be done in order to detect and correct similar pulses in broadband seismic data. We present a method for detecting and characterizing the pulses using data from a range of broadband sensor types installed in the Global Seismographic Network. The technique relies on accurate instrument response removal and employs a moving‐window approach looking for acceleration baseline shifts. We find that pulses are present at varying levels in all sensor types studied. Pulse‐detection results compared with average daily station noise values are consistent with predicted noise levels of acceleration steps. This indicates that we can calculate maximum pulse amplitude allowed per time window that would be acceptable without compromising long‐period data analysis.

Predicting non-isometric fatigue induced by electrical stimulation pulse trains as a function of pulse duration

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Our previous model of the non-isometric muscle fatigue that occurs during repetitive functional electrical stimulation included models of force, motion, and fatigue and accounted for applied load but not stimulation pulse duration. Our objectives were to: 1) further develop, 2) validate, and 3) present outcome measures for a non-isometric fatigue model that can predict the effect of a range of pulse durations on muscle fatigue. Methods A computer-controlled stimulator sent electrical pulses to electrodes on the thighs of 25 able-bodied human subjects. Isometric and non-isometric non-fatiguing and fatiguing knee torques and/or angles were measured. Pulse duration (170–600 μs) was the independent variable. Measurements were divided into parameter identification and model validation subsets. Results The fatigue model was simplified by removing two of three non-isometric parameters. The third remained a function of other model parameters. Between 66% and 77% of the variability in the angle measurements was explained by the new model. Conclusion Muscle fatigue in response to different stimulation pulse durations can be predicted during non-isometric repetitive contractions. PMID:23374142

Effect of Pulse Width on Oxygen-fed Ozonizer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okada, Sho; Wang, Douyan; Namihira, Takao; Katsuki, Sunao; Akiyama, Hidenori

Though general ozonizers based on silent discharge (barrier discharge) have been used to supply ozone at many industrial situations, there is still some problem, such as improvements of ozone yield. In this work, ozone was generated by pulsed discharge in order to improve the characteristics of ozone generation. It is known that a pulse width gives strong effect to the improvement of energy efficiency in exhaust gas processing. In this paper, the effect of pulse duration on ozone generation by pulsed discharge in oxygen would be reported.

GaN thin films growth and their application in photocatalytic removal of sulforhodamine B from aqueous solution under UV pulsed laser irradiation.

PubMed

Gondal, Mohammed A; Chang, Xiao F; Yamani, Zain H; Yang, Guo F; Ji, Guang B

2011-01-01

Single-crystalline Gallium Nitride (GaN) thin films were fabricated and grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method on c-plane sapphire substrates and then characterized by high resolution-X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The photocatalytic decomposition of Sulforhodamine B (SRB) molecules on GaN thin films was investigated under 355 nm pulsed UV laser irradiation. The results demonstrate that as-grown GaN thin films exhibited efficient degradation of SRB molecules and exhibited an excellent photocatalytic-activity-stability under UV pulsed laser exposure.

Soft-state biomicrofluidic pulse generator for single cell analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabounchi, Poorya; Ionescu-Zanetti, Cristian; Chen, Roger; Karandikar, Manjiree; Seo, Jeonggi; Lee, Luke P.

2006-05-01

We present the design, fabrication, and characterization of a soft-state biomicrofluidic pulse generator for single cell analysis. Hydrodynamic cell trapping via lateral microfluidic junctions allows the trapping of single cells from a bulk suspension. Microfluidic injection sites adjacent to the cell-trapping channels enable the pulsed delivery of nanoliter volumes of biochemical reagent. We demonstrated the application and removal of reagent at a frequency of 10Hz with a rise time of less than 33ms and a reagent consumption rate of 0.2nL/s. It is shown that this system operates as a low-pass filter with a cutoff frequency of 7Hz.

Pump-probe imaging of laser-induced periodic surface structures after ultrafast irradiation of Si

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

Murphy, Ryan D.; Torralva, Ben; Adams, David P.

2013-09-30

Ultrafast pump-probe microscopy has been used to investigate laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) formation on polished Si surfaces. A crater forms on the surface after irradiation by a 150 fs laser pulse, and a second, subsequent pulse forms LIPSS within the crater. Sequentially delayed images show that LIPSS with a periodicity slightly less than the fundamental laser wavelength of 780 nm appear on Si surfaces ∼50 ps after arrival of the second pump laser pulse, well after the onset of melting. LIPSS are observed on the same timescale as material removal, suggesting that their formation involves material ejection.

[NMDA-GluR Subunit Antibody-Positive Encephalitis: A Clinical Analysis of Five Cases].

PubMed

Kaneko, Chikako; Shakespear, Norshalena; Tuchiya, Mario; Kubo, Jin; Yamamoto, Teiji; Katayama, Soichi; Takahashi, Yukitoshi

2016-09-01

Five consecutive cases of anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis that we encountered were marked by a rapidly fluctuating level of consciousness associated with psychotic and delirious mental states. Opisthotonus, catatonia, and rhythmic and non-rhythmic involuntary movements of the mouth and jaw were also characteristic features of these particular cases. Serious and potentially fatal problems included epilepsia partialis continua, partial and generalized seizures, and respiratory depression, resembling the symptoms of encephalitis lethargica. An epidemic of encephalitis lethargica, also known of Economo encephalitis, occurred around 1917. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed edema of the neocortex in two cases and electroencephalography showed polymorphic and monomorphic delta slowing in the acute stage, although electroencephalographic seizure activity were not apparent. Routine cerebrospinal fluid analyses revealed lymphocyte-dominant pleocytosis in three cases, but antibodies against the NMDA-GluR subunit, GluN2B N-terminal, were at a high level in the fluid. All patients recovered without apparent sequelae. Two patients found to have ovarian teratoma underwent surgery for tumor removal. Treatments included pulse intravenous methylprednisolone, high-dose immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange together with seizure control and respiratory support. However, rituximab and or cyclophosphamide pulse therapy should also be considered for intractable cases, as indicated by recent reports. (Received February 16, 2016; Accepted May 2, 2016; Published September 1, 2016).

Palatability and efficacy of bromadiolone rodenticide block bait previously exposed to environmental conditions.

PubMed

Nakagawa, Lia; de Masi, Eduardo; Narciso, Emerson; Neto, Hildebrando Montenegro; Papini, Solange

2015-10-01

In São Paulo city, rodent infestation is considered to be a serious public health problem and is the object of a municipal rodent control programme. One of the most important routine methods involves baiting in sewers, using bromadiolone block bait in a pulsed baiting strategy. It has been observed that, after each pulse, bait is not always consumed, and its appearance is altered, which has led to concerns about efficacy. We assessed whether exposure to sewer conditions influences the palatability and efficacy of rodenticide baits to Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). Baits containing bromadiolone as active ingredient were placed in sewers, removed after 30 days and offered to rats in a two-choice food trial and a no-choice food trial. The appearance of the rodenticide baits changed after 30 days exposure to sewer conditions, but they continued to be palatable and effective against rats. The level of mortality was considered to be satisfactory, 75% in the two-choice food trial and 100% in the no-choice food trial. Results support the reuse of rodenticide block bait in rodent control. It seems to be justified to continue using/reuse baits even when their appearance has changed after 30 days exposure in sewer systems. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Industrial 2-kW TEA CO2 laser for paint stripping of aircraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schweizer, Gerhard; Werner, L.

1995-03-01

Paint stripping of aircraft with pulsed laser radiation has several advantages compared to traditional methods of depainting: selective removal of individual layers possible, suitable for sensitive surfaces, workpiece ready for immediate repainting, and considerable reduction of contaminated waste. For paint stripping of large aircraft pulsed lasers with average power of at least 2 kW are required. Amongst the various types of pulsed lasers technical and economical considerations clearly favor TEA CO2 lasers for this application. The first commercially available TEA CO2 laser with an average power in excess of 2 kW, especially designed for depainting, has been developed by Urenco. The key data of this laser are: pulse energy up to 9 J, repetition rate up to 330 Hz, and beam quality: `flat top'.

Facial skin resurfacing with a very short-pulsed CO2 laser: beam characterization and initial histological results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, David M.; Bell, Thomas; From, Lynn; Schachter, Daniel

1996-05-01

The beam characteristics and spot geometry of a short pulsed (15 - 1000 microsecond) carbon- dioxide, multimode laser were measured. At a distance of 1.0 - 3.0 cm from the handpiece the laser produced a 5 mm2 square spot with an even fluence across the entire spot area (Mesa Mode). Human eyelid skin was irradiated both in vivo and ex-vivo immediately after excision with 1, 2, 3, or 4 pulses, a pulse duration of 62.5 microseconds, and at a fluence of 6 J/cm2. H&E stained sections showed an even removal of tissue across the impact site. The depth of thermal damage was measured as 38 micrometer plus or minus 22.7 with a range of 0 - 100 micrometer.

Removal of Verrucaria nigrescens from Carrara marble artefacts using Nd:YAG lasers: comparison among different pulse durations and wavelengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osticioli, I.; Mascalchi, M.; Pinna, D.; Siano, S.

2015-03-01

The periodical removal of biodeteriogens is a fundamental need for the preservation of outdoor stone cultural heritage, which is stimulating significant efforts toward the development of low-impact conservation strategies. In the present work, the potential of laser removal of Verrucaria nigrescens Pers. from Carrara marble and the evaluation of the associated biocide effect on the organism residues embedded in the surface texture and through the outer porosities of the stone substrate were investigated. The fundamental wavelength of Nd:YAG laser (1,064 nm), commonly used in stone cleaning, and its second harmonic (532 nm) were comparatively tested. The phenomenology of laser treatments carried out in different irradiation conditions was characterized using optical, epifluorescence, and electron microscopes along with chlorophyll fluorescence with pulsed amplitude-modulated imaging. The results achieved show that 532 nm can provide significant advantages with respect to 1,064 nm. The potential of the latter against the biodeteriogens appears rather limited because of the low optical absorption, whereas the former can allow effective and practicable laser treatments, which disclose a significant application perspective.

Pulsed Laser Gate Experiment for Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, S. M.; Slutz, S. A.; Gomez, M. R.; Klein, S. R.; Campbell, P. C.; Woolstrum, J. M.; Yager-Elorriaga, D. A.; Jordan, N. M.; Lau, Y. Y.; Gilgenbach, R. M.; McBride, R. D.

2017-10-01

Fuel preheating in full scale magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) currently has low efficiency. This loss is thought to occur from laser-plasma interactions (LPI) at the laser entrance window (LEW). The gaseous fuel is held in a pressurized vessel by the thin mylar LEW that must be removed right before heating. To ensure more laser energy heats the fuel, the LEW could be weakened at an early time. One proposed solution is to use the current from a small pulse generator to break the LEW allowing it to open outward from the fuel. With the LEW removed away from the laser path, LPI losses would be reduced. Wire attached to a 13 kV mini-pulser will be used to remove the LEW from the laser path. We will report on LEW fabrication and the current state of the laser gate project. This research was funded in part by the University of Michigan, a Faculty Development Grant from the NRC, and Sandia National Laboratories under DOE-NNSA contract DE-NA0003525.

Controlled removal of ceramic surfaces with combination of ions implantation and ultrasonic energy

DOEpatents

Boatner, Lynn A.; Rankin, Janet; Thevenard, Paul; Romana, Laurence J.

1995-01-01

A method for tailoring or patterning the surface of ceramic articles is provided by implanting ions to predetermined depth into the ceramic material at a selected surface location with the ions being implanted at a fluence and energy adequate to damage the lattice structure of the ceramic material for bi-axially straining near-surface regions of the ceramic material to the predetermined depth. The resulting metastable near-surface regions of the ceramic material are then contacted with energy pulses from collapsing, ultrasonically-generated cavitation bubbles in a liquid medium for removing to a selected depth the ion-damaged near-surface regions containing the bi-axially strained lattice structure from the ceramic body. Additional patterning of the selected surface location on the ceramic body is provided by implanting a high fluence of high-energy, relatively-light ions at selected surface sites for relaxing the bi-axial strain in the near-surface regions defined by these sites and thereby preventing the removal of such ion-implanted sites by the energy pulses from the collapsing ultrasonic cavitation bubbles.

Laser restoration of flow in occluded ventricular shunts for pediatric neurosurgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christens-Barry, William A.; Guarnieri, Michael; Carson, Benjamin S.

1998-01-01

We have investigated the use of short pulses of infrared ((lambda) equals 2.09 micrometers ) light from a Ho:YAG laser to photofragment occlusions and restore flow in ventricular shunts, which provide the sole means of maintaining proper intracranial pressure in hydrocephalus patients. These experiments employed model tissues, a polymeric model compound, and patient explants in order to determine appropriate pulse energies and delivery rates for removal of occlusions material. Laser energy doses and rates of occlusion removal were established for these materials. Laser energy doses that do not damage the shunt device or surrounding tissue were identified. Optical fibers (25 ga. or smaller) can be introduced through the dome of current shunt devices and threaded to the occlusion site. Clinical application will require the continued development of an introducer tool for the transcutaneous insertion of the optical fiber into the shunt device and irrigation techniques for removing the occlusion detritus generated by photofragmentation treatment. Using this approach, a minimally invasive and benign procedure for in situ restoration of flow in occluded neurological implant devices becomes possible.

Analysis of enamel surface damage after selective laser ablation of composite from tooth surfaces.

PubMed

Chan, Kenneth H; Hirasuna, Krista; Fried, Daniel

2014-02-01

Resin-based composites are used for many applications in dentistry. They are difficult to remove without damage to the underlying enamel since they adhere strongly and are color matched to the tooth. The objective of this study was to determine if an automated laser scanning system with spectral feedback could be used for selective removal of residual orthodontic composite from tooth surfaces with minimal damage to the underlying enamel. A CO 2 laser operating at a wavelength of 9.3 μm with a pulse duration of 10-15 μs and a pulse repetition rate of ~200 Hz was used to selectively remove composite from the buccal surfaces of extracted teeth. A spectral feedback system utilizing a miniature spectrometer was used to control the laser scanning system. Pulpal temperature measurements were performed during composite removal to determine if there was excessive heat accumulation. Conventional and digital microscopes were used to assess the amount of enamel lost during removal. The amount of enamel lost averaged between 20 and 25 μm for irradiation intensities from 3.8 to 4.2 J/cm 2 , respectively. An average maximum temperature rise of 1.9±1.5°C was recorded, with no teeth approaching the critical value of 5.5°C. The average time for composite removal from an area of 5 mm 2 was 19.3±4.1 s, fast enough for clinical feasibility. Residual composite can be rapidly removed from tooth surfaces using a CO 2 laser with spectral feedback, with minimal temperature rise within the pulp and with minimal loss of sound enamel.

Evolution of bubble clouds induced by pulsed cavitational ultrasound therapy - histotripsy.

PubMed

Xu, Zhen; Raghavan, M; Hall, T L; Mycek, M-A; Fowlkes, J B

2008-05-01

Mechanical tissue fractionation can be achieved using successive, high-intensity ultrasound pulses in a process termed histotripsy. Histotripsy has many potential clinical applications where noninvasive tissue removal is desired. The primary mechanism for histotripsy is believed to be cavitation. Using fast-gated imaging, this paper studies the evolution of a cavitating bubble cloud induced by a histotripsy pulse (10 and 14 cycles) at peak negative pressures exceeding 21MPa. Bubble clouds are generated inside a gelatin phantom and at a tissue-water interface, representing two situations encountered clinically. In both environments, the imaging results show that the bubble clouds share the same evolutionary trend. The bubble cloud and individual bubbles in the cloud were generated by the first cycle of the pulse, grew with each cycle during the pulse, and continued to grow and collapsed several hundred microseconds after the pulse. For example, the bubbles started under 10 microm, grew to 50 microm during the pulse, and continued to grow 100 microm after the pulse. The results also suggest that the bubble clouds generated in the two environments differ in growth and collapse duration, void fraction, shape, and size. This study furthers our understanding of the dynamics of bubble clouds induced by histotripsy.

Technical advantages of disk laser technology in short and ultrashort pulse processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Graham, P.; Stollhof, J.; Weiler, S.; Massa, S.; Faisst, B.; Denney, P.; Gounaris, E.

2011-03-01

This paper demonstrates that disk-laser technology introduces advantages that increase efficiency and allows for high productivity in micro-processing in both the nanosecond (ns) and picosecond (ps) regimes. Some technical advantages of disk technology include not requiring good pump beam quality or special wavelengths for pumping of the disk, high optical efficiencies, no thermal lensing effects and a possible scaling of output power without an increase of pump beam quality. With cavity-dumping, the pulse duration of the disk laser can be specified between 30 and hundreds of nanoseconds, but is independent of frequency, thus maintaining process stability. TRUMPF uses this technology in the 750 watts average power laser TruMicro 7050. High intensity, along with fluency, is important for high ablation rates in thinfilm removal. Thus, these ns lasers show high removal rates, above 60 cm2/s, in thin-film solar cell production. In addition, recent results in paint-stripping of aerospace material prove the green credentials and high processing rates inherent with this technology as it can potentially replace toxic chemical processes. The ps disk technology meanwhile is used in, for example, scribing of solar cells, wafer dicing and drilling injector nozzles, as the pulse duration is short enough to minimize heat input in the laser-matter interaction. In the TruMicro Series 5000, the multi-pass regenerative amplifier stage combines high optical-optical efficiencies together with excellent output beam quality for pulse durations of only 6 ps and high pulse energies of up to 0.25 mJ.

Charge line quad pulser

DOEpatents

Booth, R.

1996-10-08

A quartet of parallel coupled planar triodes is removably mounted in a quadrahedron shaped PCB structure. Releasable brackets and flexible means attached to each triode socket make triode cathode and grid contact with respective conductive coatings on the PCB and a detachable cylindrical conductive element enclosing and contacting the triode anodes jointly permit quick and easy replacement of faulty triodes. By such orientation, the quad pulser can convert a relatively low and broad pulse into a very high and narrow pulse. 16 figs.

Charge line quad pulser

DOEpatents

Booth, Rex

1996-01-01

A quartet of parallel coupled planar triodes is removably mounted in a quadrahedron shaped PCB structure. Releasable brackets and flexible means attached to each triode socket make triode cathode and grid contact with respective conductive coatings on the PCB and a detachable cylindrical conductive element enclosing and contacting the triode anodes jointly permit quick and easy replacement of faulty triodes. By such orientation, the quad pulser can convert a relatively low and broad pulse into a very high and narrow pulse.

Automatic single-image-based rain streaks removal via image decomposition.

PubMed

Kang, Li-Wei; Lin, Chia-Wen; Fu, Yu-Hsiang

2012-04-01

Rain removal from a video is a challenging problem and has been recently investigated extensively. Nevertheless, the problem of rain removal from a single image was rarely studied in the literature, where no temporal information among successive images can be exploited, making the problem very challenging. In this paper, we propose a single-image-based rain removal framework via properly formulating rain removal as an image decomposition problem based on morphological component analysis. Instead of directly applying a conventional image decomposition technique, the proposed method first decomposes an image into the low- and high-frequency (HF) parts using a bilateral filter. The HF part is then decomposed into a "rain component" and a "nonrain component" by performing dictionary learning and sparse coding. As a result, the rain component can be successfully removed from the image while preserving most original image details. Experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm.

Energy coupling in short pulse laser solid interactions and its impact for space debris removal.

PubMed

Neely, David; Allott, Ric; Bingham, Bob; Collier, John; Greenhalgh, Justin; Michaelis, Max; Phillips, Jonathan; Phipps, Claude R; McKenna, Paul

2014-11-01

Significant advances have been made over the last decade to improve the performance, efficiency, and contrast of high peak and average power laser systems, driven by their use in a wide variety of fields, from the industrial to the scientific. As the contrast of the lasers has improved, interactions with contrasts of 10¹² are now routinely undertaken. At such high contrasts, there is negligible preplasma formation and the ionized surface layer created by subpicosecond-duration pulses typically forms a highly reflective "plasma mirror" capable of reflecting between 70% and 90% of the incident energy. Although such interactions are of significant interest for applications such as harmonic source production and to enable the underlying physics to be studied, their low absorption can limit their usefulness for applications such as space debris removal.

Laser cleaning of the contaminations on the surface of tire mould

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Yayun; Jia, Baoshen; Chen, Jing; Jiang, Yilan; Tang, Hongping; Wang, Haijun; Luan, Xiaoyu; Liao, Wei; Zhang, Chuanchao; Yao, Caizhen

2017-07-01

During the manufacturing of tires, surface pollutants on tire mould will lead to the production of unqualified tires. Tire moulds need to be regularly cleaned. Laser cleaning is recognized as a non-destructive, effective, precise and environmental friendly method. In this paper, laser cleaning was used to remove contaminants on tire mould surface. First, laser induced damage experiments were performed. The results showed that the roughness and hardness of the cast steel sample surface seldom changed under the energy range of 140.1-580.2 mJ laser irradiation 1 pulse and the energy range of 44.7-168.9 mJ laser irradiation 100 pulses. In the laser cleaning experiments, the cleaning thresholds and the optimal cleaning parameters were obtained. Results indicated that laser cleaning was safe and effective for tire mould contamination removal.

Transport and removal of viruses in saturated sand columns under oxic and anoxic conditions--Potential implications for groundwater protection.

PubMed

Frohnert, Anne; Apelt, Susann; Klitzke, Sondra; Chorus, Ingrid; Szewzyk, Regine; Selinka, Hans-Christoph

2014-11-01

To protect groundwater as a drinking water resource from microbiological contamination, protection zones are installed. While travelling through these zones, concentrations of potential pathogens should decline to levels that pose no risks to human health. Removal of viruses during subsurface passage is influenced by physicochemical conditions, such as oxygen concentration, which also affects virus survival. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of redox conditions on the removal of viruses during sand filtration. Experiments in glass columns filled with medium-grained sand were conducted to investigate virus removal in the presence and absence of dissolved oxygen. Bacteriophages MS2 and PhiX174, as surrogates for human enteric viruses were spiked in pulsed or in continuous mode and pumped through the columns at a filter velocity of about 1m/d. Virus breakthrough curves were analyzed by calculating total viral elimination and fitted using one-dimensional transport models (CXTFIT and HYDRUS-1D). While short-term experiments with pulsed virus application showed only small differences with regard to virus removal under oxic and anoxic conditions, a long-term experiment with continuous dosing revealed a clearly lower elimination of viruses under anoxic conditions. These findings suggest that less inactivation and less adsorption of viruses in anoxic environments affect their removal. Therefore, in risk assessment studies aimed to secure drinking water resources from viral contamination and optimization of protection zones, the oxic and anoxic conditions in the subsurface should also be considered. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Ablation of porcine ligamentum flavum with Ho:YAG, q-switched Ho:YAG, and quadrupled Nd:YAG lasers.

PubMed

Johnson, Matt R; Codd, Patrick J; Hill, Westin M; Boettcher, Tara

2015-12-01

Ligamentum flavum (LF) is a tough, rubbery connective tissue providing a portion of the ligamentous stability to the spinal column, and in its hypertrophied state forms a significant compressive pathology in degenerative spinal stenosis. The interaction of lasers and this biological tissue have not been thoroughly studied. Technological advances improving endoscopic surgical access to the spinal canal makes selective removal of LF using small, flexible tools such as laser-coupled fiber optics increasingly attractive for treatment of debilitating spinal stenosis. Testing was performed to assess the effect of Ho:YAG, Q-switched Ho:YAG, and frequency quadrupled Nd:YAG lasers on samples of porcine LF. The objective was to evaluate the suitability of these lasers for surgical removal of LF. LF was resected from porcine spine within 2 hours of sacrifice and stored in saline until immediately prior to laser irradiation, which occurred within an additional 2 hours. The optical absorbance of a sample was measured over the spectral band from 190 to 2,360 nm both before and after dehydration. For the experiments using the Ho:YAG (λ = 2,080 nm, tp  = 140 µs, FWHM) and Q-Switched Ho:YAG (λ = 2,080 nm, tp  = 260 ns, FWHM) lasers, energy was delivered to the LF through a laser-fiber optic with 600 µm core and NA = 0.39. For the experiment using the frequency quadrupled Nd:YAG laser (λ = 266 nm, tp  = 5 ns FWHM), rather than applying the laser energy through a laser-fiber, the energy was focused through an aperture and lens directly onto the LF. Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of the given lasers on LF. First, using the Ho:YAG laser, the single-pulse laser-hole depth versus laser fluence was measured with the laser-fiber in direct contact with the LF (1 g force) and with a standoff distance of 1 mm between the laser-fiber face and the LF. Second, with the LF remaining in situ and the spine bisected along the coronal plane, the surface temperature of the LF was measured with an IR camera during irradiation with the Ho:YAG laser, with and without constant saline flush. Third, the mass loss was measured over the course of 450 Ho:YAG pulses. Fourth, hole depth and temperature were measured over 30 pulses of fixed fluence from the Ho:YAG and Q-Switched Ho:YAG lasers. Fifth, the ablation rate and surface temperature were measured as a function of fluence from the Nd:YAG laser. Several LF staining and hole-depth measurement techniques were also explored. Aside from the expected absorbance peaks corresponding to the water in the LF, the most significant peaks in absorbance were located in the spectral band from 190 to 290 nm and persisted after the tissue was dehydrated. In the first experiment, using the Ho:YAG laser and with the laser-fiber in direct contact with the LF, the lowest single-pulse fluence for which LF was visibly removed was 35 J/cm(2) . Testing was conducted at 6 fluences between 35 and 354 J/cm(2) . Over this range the single-pulse hole depth was shown to be near linear (R(2)  = 0.9374, M = 1.6), ranging from 40 to 639 µm (N = 3). For the case where the laser-fiber face was displaced 1 mm from the LF surface, the lowest single-pulse fluence for which tissue was visibly removed was 72 J/cm(2) . Testing was conducted at 4 energy densities between 72 and 180 J/cm(2) . Over this range the single-pulse hole depth was shown to be near linear (R(2)  = 0.8951, M = 1.4), ranging from 31 to 220 µm (N = 3). In the second experiment, with LF in situ, constant flushing with room temperature saline was shown to drastically reduce surface temperature during exposure to Ho:YAG at 5 Hz with the laser-fiber in direct contact with the LF. Without saline, over 1 minute of treatment with a per-pulse fluence of 141 mJ/cm(2) , the average maximum surface temperature measured 110°C. With 10 cc's of saline flushed over 1 minute and a per-pulse laser fluence of 212 mJ/cm(2) , the average maximum surface temperature was 35°C. In the third experiment, mass loss was shown to be linear over 450 pulses of 600 mJ from the Ho:YAG laser (212 J/cm(2) , direct contact, N = 4; 108 J/cm(2) , 1 mm standoff, N = 4). With the laser-fiber in direct contact, an average of 53 mg was removed (R(2)  = 0.996, M = 0.117) and with 1 mm laser-fiber standoff, an average of 44 mg was removed (R(2)  = 0.9988, M = 0.097). In the fourth experiment, 30 pulses of the Ho:YAG and Q-Switched Ho:YAG lasers at 1 mm standoff, and 5 Hz produced similar hole depths for the tested fluences of 9 J/cm(2) (151 and 154 µm, respectively) and 18 J/cm(2) (470 and 442 µm, respectively), though the Ho:YAG laser produced significantly more carbonization around the rim of the laser-hole. The increased carbonization was corroborated by higher measured LF temperature. In all tests with the Ho:YAG and Q-Switched Ho:YAG, an audible photo-acoustic affect coincided with the laser pulse. In the fifth experiment, with the frequency quadrupled Nd:YAG laser at 15 Hz for 450 pulses, ablation depth per pulse was shown to be linear for the fluence range of 0.18 - 0.73 J/cm(2) (R(2)  = 0.989, M = 2.4). There was no noticeable photo-acoustic effect nor charring around the rim of the laser-hole. The Ho:YAG, Q-Switched Ho:YAG, and frequency quadrupled Nd:YAG lasers were shown to remove ligamentum flavum (LF). A single pulse of the Ho:YAG laser was shown to cause tearing of the tissue and a large zone of necrosis surrounding the laser-hole. Multiple pulses of the Ho:YAG and Q-Switched Ho:YAG lasers caused charring around the rim of the laser-hole, though the extent of charring was more extensive with the Ho:YAG laser. Charring caused by the Ho:YAG laser was shown to be mitigated by continuously flushing the affected LF with saline during irradiation. The Nd:YAG laser was shown to ablate LF with no gross visible indication of thermal damage to surrounding LF. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The removal of myoplasmic free calcium following calcium release in frog skeletal muscle.

PubMed Central

Melzer, W; Ríos, E; Schneider, M F

1986-01-01

Transient changes in intracellular free calcium concentration (delta [Ca2+]) in response to pulse depolarizations were monitored in isolated segments of single frog skeletal muscle fibres cut at both ends and voltage clamped at a holding potential of -90 mV in a double-Vaseline-gap chamber. Calcium transients were monitored optically using the metallochromic indicator dye Antipyrylazo III (APIII), which entered the fibre by diffusion from the solution applied to the cut ends. Optical artifacts due to fibre movement were minimized or eliminated by stretching the fibres to sarcomere lengths at which there was little or no overlap of thick and thin contractile filaments. Remaining movement-independent optical changes intrinsic to the fibre and unrelated to the dye were monitored at 850 nm, where free and dye-bound APIII have no absorbance. These 850 nm signals scaled by lambda -1.2 were used to remove intrinsic components from the signals at 700 or 720 nm, wave-lengths at which the APIII absorbance increases when calcium is bound. The corrected 700 or 720 nm signals were used to calculate delta [Ca2+]. The decay of delta [Ca2+] following fibre repolarization at the termination of a depolarizing pulse was well described by a single exponential plus a constant. The exponential rate constant for the decay of delta [Ca2+] decreased and the final 'steady' level that delta [Ca2+] appeared to be approaching increased with increasing amplitude and/or duration of the depolarizing pulse. Both the decreasing decay rate and the build up of the 'steady' level can be accounted for using a two-component model for the removal of free calcium from the myoplasm. One component consists of a set number of a single type of saturable calcium binding site in the myoplasm. The second component is a non-saturable, first-order uptake mechanism operating in parallel with the saturable binding sites. The removal model parameter values were adjusted to fit simultaneously the decay of delta [Ca2+] after pulses of various amplitudes and durations in a given fibre. The basic procedure was to track delta [Ca2+] during each pulse when an undetermined calcium release was occurring, but to calculate the decay of delta [Ca2+] starting 14 ms after repolarization when release was assumed to be negligible. After appropriate selection of parameter values, the model reproduced most aspects of the decay of delta [Ca2+].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) PMID:3487641

Phase retrieval by coherent modulation imaging

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

Zhang, Fucai; Chen, Bo; Morrison, Graeme R.

Phase retrieval is a long-standing problem in imaging when only the intensity of the wavefield can be recorded. Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) is a lensless technique that uses iterative algorithms to recover amplitude and phase contrast images from diffraction intensity data. For general samples, phase retrieval from a single diffraction pattern has been an algorithmic and experimental challenge. Here we report a method of phase retrieval that uses a known modulation of the sample exit-wave. This coherent modulation imaging (CMI) method removes inherent ambiguities of CDI and uses a reliable, rapidly converging iterative algorithm involving three planes. It works formore » extended samples, does not require tight support for convergence, and relaxes dynamic range requirements on the detector. CMI provides a robust method for imaging in materials and biological science, while its single-shot capability will benefit the investigation of dynamical processes with pulsed sources, such as X-ray free electron laser.« less

Phase retrieval by coherent modulation imaging

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Fucai; Chen, Bo; Morrison, Graeme R.; ...

2016-11-18

Phase retrieval is a long-standing problem in imaging when only the intensity of the wavefield can be recorded. Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) is a lensless technique that uses iterative algorithms to recover amplitude and phase contrast images from diffraction intensity data. For general samples, phase retrieval from a single diffraction pattern has been an algorithmic and experimental challenge. Here we report a method of phase retrieval that uses a known modulation of the sample exit-wave. This coherent modulation imaging (CMI) method removes inherent ambiguities of CDI and uses a reliable, rapidly converging iterative algorithm involving three planes. It works formore » extended samples, does not require tight support for convergence, and relaxes dynamic range requirements on the detector. CMI provides a robust method for imaging in materials and biological science, while its single-shot capability will benefit the investigation of dynamical processes with pulsed sources, such as X-ray free electron laser.« less

Phase retrieval by coherent modulation imaging.

PubMed

Zhang, Fucai; Chen, Bo; Morrison, Graeme R; Vila-Comamala, Joan; Guizar-Sicairos, Manuel; Robinson, Ian K

2016-11-18

Phase retrieval is a long-standing problem in imaging when only the intensity of the wavefield can be recorded. Coherent diffraction imaging is a lensless technique that uses iterative algorithms to recover amplitude and phase contrast images from diffraction intensity data. For general samples, phase retrieval from a single-diffraction pattern has been an algorithmic and experimental challenge. Here we report a method of phase retrieval that uses a known modulation of the sample exit wave. This coherent modulation imaging method removes inherent ambiguities of coherent diffraction imaging and uses a reliable, rapidly converging iterative algorithm involving three planes. It works for extended samples, does not require tight support for convergence and relaxes dynamic range requirements on the detector. Coherent modulation imaging provides a robust method for imaging in materials and biological science, while its single-shot capability will benefit the investigation of dynamical processes with pulsed sources, such as X-ray free-electron lasers.

Refinement and application of acoustic impulse technique to study nozzle transmission characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salikuddin, M.; Brown, W. H.; Ramakrishnan, R.; Tanna, H. K.

1983-01-01

An improved acoustic impulse technique was developed and was used to study the transmission characteristics of duct/nozzle systems. To accomplish the above objective, various problems associated with the existing spark-discharge impulse technique were first studied. These included (1) the nonlinear behavior of high intensity pulses, (2) the contamination of the signal with flow noise, (3) low signal-to-noise ratio at high exhaust velocities, and (4) the inability to control or shape the signal generated by the source, specially when multiple spark points were used as the source. The first step to resolve these problems was the replacement of the spark-discharge source with electroacoustic driver(s). These included (1) synthesizing on acoustic impulse with acoustic driver(s) to control and shape the output signal, (2) time domain signal averaging to remove flow noise from the contaminated signal, (3) signal editing to remove unwanted portions of the time history, (4) spectral averaging, and (5) numerical smoothing. The acoustic power measurement technique was improved by taking multiple induct measurements and by a modal decomposition process to account for the contribution of higher order modes in the power computation. The improved acoustic impulse technique was then validated by comparing the results derived by an impedance tube method. The mechanism of acoustic power loss, that occurs when sound is transmitted through nozzle terminations, was investigated. Finally, the refined impulse technique was applied to obtain more accurate results for the acoustic transmission characteristics of a conical nozzle and a multi-lobe multi-tube supressor nozzle.

Efficacy and safety of the remOVE System for OTSC® and FTRD® clip removal: data from a PMCF analysis.

PubMed

Caputo, Antonio; Schmidt, Arthur; Caca, Karel; Bauerfeind, Peter; Schostek, Sebastian; Ho, Chi-Nghia; Gottwald, Thomas; Schurr, Marc O

2018-06-01

The remOVE System (Ovesco Endoscopy AG, Tuebingen, Germany) is a medical device for the endoscopic removal of OTSC or FTRD clips (Ovesco Endoscopy AG, Tuebingen, Germany). The aim of this paper is to assess the efficacy and safety of this system. A total of 74 patients underwent clip extraction. The standard removal procedure comprises fragmenting the clip by applying an electrical direct current pulse at two opposing sides of the clip. Clip fragmentation was successful in 72 of 74 patients (97.3%). In two cases (2.7%) clip fragmentation was not possible. In nine cases (12.2%) a clip fragment could not be removed and was left in place. Complications occurred in three cases (4.1%): two minor bleedings near the clip removal site (2.7%), and one superficial mucosal tear resulting from clip fragment extraction (1.4%). Based on this study, the use of the remOVE System for OTSC or FTRD clip removal can be considered safe and effective.

Laser Tattoo Removal: An Update.

PubMed

Naga, Lina I; Alster, Tina S

2017-02-01

Tattoo art has been around for thousands of years in every culture and is currently flourishing in all age groups, social classes, and occupations. Despite the rising popularity of tattoos, demand for their removal has also increased. While various treatments, including surgical excision, dermabrasion, and chemical destruction have historically been applied, over the past 2 decades, lasers have revolutionized the way tattoos are treated and have become the gold standard of treatment. To achieve optimal cosmetic outcome of treatment, lasers emitting high energies and short pulses are required to adequately destroy tattoo ink. We review the history of laser tattoo removal, outlining the challenges inherent in developing lasers that can most effectively remove tattoo particles while safely protecting skin from unwanted injury.

Experiments in dam removal, sediment pulses and channel evolution on the Clark Fork River, MT and White Salmon River, WA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilcox, A. C.

2012-12-01

Two recent dam removals on tributaries to the Columbia River in the northwestern United States present contrasting examples of how dam removal methods, reservoir contents, and geomorphic settings influence system responses. The 2008 removal of Milltown Dam, from the Clark Fork River (CFR), Montana, and the 2011 removal of Condit Dam from the White Salmon River (WSR), Washington (Table 1), represent two of the largest dam removals to date. The Milltown Dam removal was notable because the dam stored millions of cubic meters of contaminated mine tailings, a portion of which were excavated as part of Superfund remediation but a portion of which flowed downstream after the removal. On the CFR, post-breach high flows in 2008 produced reservoir erosion and downstream deposition in bed interstices, along bars, and on the floodplain, but above-average (3-15 year recurrence interval) floods since then have remobilized this material and have, to a large extent, erased signs of downstream sedimentation. The Condit Dam removal entailed dynamiting of a 4m by 5.5m hole at the base of the dam, which produced rapid and dramatic draining of fine reservoir sediments within hours of the blast. Downstream of Condit Dam, the initial hyperconcentrated flows and sediment pulse draped the WSR with fine sediment, filled pools, and, in an unconfined reach influenced by the Columbia River's backwater, caused meters of aggradation and new bar formation. In the confined, bedrock-dominated reach downstream of the Condit site, pool-riffle structure has started to reemerge as of summer 2012 and the finest bed materials have been evacuated from the main channel, although sediment storage in pools and eddies persists. Whereas post-breach geomorphic responses on the CFR have been largely driven by hydrology, the post-breach evolution of the WSR has been predominantly influenced by antecedent geomorphic conditions (slope, confinement, and Columbia River backwater). On both the CFR and WSR, the pace of post-breach reservoir erosion and of geomorphic recovery from the disturbances produced by dam removal has been rapid, far exceeding pre-breach predictions.Table 1: Comparison of Milltown and Condit Dam removals

Laser Pulse-Stretching Using Multiple Optical Ring-Cavities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kojima, Jun; Nguyen, Quang-Viet; Lee, Chi-Ming (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We describe a simple and passive nanosecond-long (ns-long) laser 'pulse-stretcher' using multiple optical ring-cavities. We present a model of the pulse-stretching process for an arbitrary number of optical ring-cavities. Using the model, we optimize the design of a pulse-stretcher for use in a spontaneous Raman scattering excitation system that avoids laser-induced plasma spark problems. From the optimized design, we then experimentally demonstrate and verify the model with a 3-cavity pulse-stretcher system that converts a 1000 mJ, 8.4 ns-long input laser pulse into an approximately 75 ns-long (FWHM) output laser pulse with a peak power reduction of 0.10X, and an 83% efficiency.

Measuring system for the determination of nonlinear elastic and electromechanical properties in solids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Straube, U.; Beige, H.

1999-03-01

An arbitrary waveform generator was introduced to produce pulse bursts with improved time jitter for the generation of ultrasound pulses. The problem of pulse amplification was solved using a ceramic power triode driven by a power FET amplifier. The construction of these special amplifier stages is mainly considered in this paper.

Overview of radar intra-pulse modulation recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zang, Hanlin; Li, Yanling

2018-05-01

This paper introduces the current radar intra-pulse modulation method, describes the status quo and development direction of the intentional modulation and unintentional modulation in the pulse, and summarizes the existing problems and prospects for the future. Looking forward to the future, and providing a reference direction for the research on radar signal recognition in the next step.

Effect of pulsed hollow electron-lens operation on the proton beam core in LHC

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

Fitterer, Miriam; Stancari, Giulio; Valishev, Alexander

Collimation with hollow electron beams is currently one of the most promising concepts for active halo control in the HL-LHC. In order to further increase the diffusion rates for a fast halo removal as e.g. desired before the squeeze, the electron lens (e-lens) can be operated in pulsed mode. In case of profile imperfections in the electron beam the pulsing of the e-lens induces noise on the proton beam which can, depending on the frequency content and strength, lead to emittance growth. In order to study the sensitivity to the pulsing pattern and the amplitude, a beam study (machine developmentmore » MD) at the LHC has been proposed for August 2016 and we present in this note the preparatory simulations and estimates.« less

Method to reduce damage to backing plate

DOEpatents

Perry, Michael D.; Banks, Paul S.; Stuart, Brent C.

2001-01-01

The present invention is a method for penetrating a workpiece using an ultra-short pulse laser beam without causing damage to subsequent surfaces facing the laser. Several embodiments are shown which place holes in fuel injectors without damaging the back surface of the sack in which the fuel is ejected. In one embodiment, pulses from an ultra short pulse laser remove about 10 nm to 1000 nm of material per pulse. In one embodiment, a plasma source is attached to the fuel injector and initiated by common methods such as microwave energy. In another embodiment of the invention, the sack void is filled with a solid. In one other embodiment, a high viscosity liquid is placed within the sack. In general, high-viscosity liquids preferably used in this invention should have a high damage threshold and have a diffusing property.

High-Field Fast-Risetime Pulse Failures in 4H- and 6H-SiC pn Junction Diodes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neudeck, Philip G.; Fazi, Christian

1996-01-01

We report the observation of anomalous reverse breakdown behavior in moderately doped (2-3 x 10(exp 17 cm(exp -3)) small-area micropipe-free 4H- and 6H-SiC pn junction diodes. When measured with a curve tracer, the diodes consistently exhibited very low reverse leakage currents and sharp repeatable breakdown knees in the range of 140-150 V. However, when subjected to single-shot reverse bias pulses (200 ns pulsewidth, 1 ns risetime), the diodes failed catastrophically at pulse voltages of less than 100 V. We propose a possible mechanism for this anomalous reduction in pulsed breakdown voltage relative to dc breakdown voltage. This instability must be removed so that SiC high-field devices can operate with the same high reliability as silicon power devices.

Enhancement of short-pulse recombination-pumped gain by soft-x-ray photoionization of the ground state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apruzese, J. P.; Umstadter, D.

1996-02-01

The gain achieved in lasing to the ground state following short-pulse field ionization by a pump laser is highly transient. It will usually persist for only tens of picoseconds because of the rapid filling and negligible emptying of the ground state. Employing a detailed atomic model of lasing in hydrogen, we show that the removal of ground-state population by an appropriate broadband ionizing radiation field can enhance and prolong the gain in such a laser.

Coherent pump pulses in Double Electron Electron Resonance Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Tait, Claudia E.; Stoll, Stefan

2016-01-01

The recent introduction of shaped pulses to Double Electron Electron Resonance (DEER) spectroscopy has led to significant enhancements in sensitivity through increased excitation bandwidths and improved control over spin dynamics. The application of DEER has so far relied on the presence of an incoherent pump channel to average out most undesired coherent effects of the pump pulse(s) on the observer spins. However, in fully coherent EPR spectrometers that are increasingly used to generate shaped pulses, the presence of coherent pump pulses means that these effects need to be explicitly considered. In this paper, we examine the effects of coherent rectangular and sech/tanh pump pulses in DEER experiments with up to three pump pulses. We show that, even in the absence of significant overlap of the observer and pump pulse excitation bandwidths, coherence transfer pathways involving both types of pulses generate spin echoes of considerable intensity. These echoes introduce artefacts, which, if not identified and removed, can easily lead to misinterpretation. We demonstrate that the observed echoes can be quantitatively modelled using a simple spin quantum dynamics approach that includes instrumental transfer functions. Based on an analysis of the echo crossing artefacts, we propose efficient phase cycling schemes for their suppression. This enables the use of advanced DEER experiments, characterized by high sensitivity and increased accuracy for long-distance measurements, on novel fully coherent EPR spectrometers. PMID:27339858

Removal of floating dust in glow discharge using plasma jet

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

Ticos, C. M.; Jepu, I.; Lungu, C. P.

2010-07-05

Dust can be an inconvenient source of impurities in plasma processing reactors and in many cases it can cause damage to the plasma-treated surfaces. A technique for dust expulsion out of the trapping region in plasma is presented here, based on the wind force exerted on dust particles by a pulsed plasma jet. Its applicability is demonstrated by removing floating dust in the sheath of parallel-plate capacitive radio-frequency plasma.

Degradation of phenol using a combination of granular activated carbon adsorption and bipolar pulse dielectric barrier discharge plasma regeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shoufeng, TANG; Na, LI; Jinbang, QI; Deling, YUAN; Jie, LI

2018-05-01

A combined method of granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption and bipolar pulse dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma regeneration was employed to degrade phenol in water. After being saturated with phenol, the GAC was filled into the DBD reactor driven by bipolar pulse power for regeneration under various operating parameters. The results showed that different peak voltages, air flow rates, and GAC content can affect phenol decomposition and its major degradation intermediates, such as catechol, hydroquinone, and benzoquinone. The higher voltage and air support were conducive to the removal of phenol, and the proper water moisture of the GAC was 20%. The amount of H2O2 on the GAC was quantitatively determined, and its laws of production were similar to phenol elimination. Under the optimized conditions, the elimination of phenol on the GAC was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the total removal of organic carbons achieved 50.4%. Also, a possible degradation mechanism was proposed based on the HPLC analysis. Meanwhile, the regeneration efficiency of the GAC was improved with the discharge treatment time, which attained 88.5% after 100 min of DBD processing.

Degradation of the chlorophenoxyacetic herbicide 2,4-D by plasma-ozonation system.

PubMed

Bradu, C; Magureanu, M; Parvulescu, V I

2017-08-15

A novel advanced oxidation process based on the combination of ozonation with non-thermal plasma generated in a pulsed corona discharge was developed for the oxidative degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants in water. The pulsed corona discharge in contact with liquid, operated in oxygen, produced 3.5mgL -1 ozone, which was subsequently introduced in the ozonation reactor. The solution to be treated was continuously circulated between the plasma reactor and the ozonation reactor. The system was tested for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and considerably improved performance as compared to ozonation alone, both with respect to the removal of the target compound and to mineralization. The apparent reaction rate constant for 2,4-D removal was 0.195min -1 , more than two times higher than the value obtained in ozonation experiments. The mineralization reached more than 90% after 60min treatment and the chlorine balance confirms the absence of quantifiable amounts of chlorinated by-products. The energy efficiency was considerably enhanced by shortening the duration of the discharge pulses, which opens the way for further optimization of the electrical circuit design. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pulsed laser deposition and characterization of cellulase thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cicco, N.; Morone, A.; Verrastro, M.; Viggiano, V.

2013-08-01

Thin films of cellulase were obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on an appropriate substrate. Glycoside hydrolase cellulase has received our attention because it emerges among the antifouling enzymes (enzymes being able to remove and prevent the formation of micro-organism biofilms) used in industry and medicine field. Pressed cellulase pellets, used as target material, were ablated with pulses of a Nd-YAG laser working at wavelength of 532 nm. In this work, we evaluated the impact of PLD technique both on molecular structure and hydrolytic activity of cellulase. Characteristic chemical bonds and morphology of deposited layers were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy and SEM respectively. The hydrolytic activity of cellulase thin films was detected by a colorimetric assay.

Bleaching of tattooed skin phantoms by series of laser shots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shubnyy, Andrey G.; Zhigarkov, Vyacheslav S.; Yusupov, Vladimir I.; Sviridov, Alexander P.; Bagratashvili, Victor N.

2018-04-01

The bleaching of polyacrylamide tattooed skin-mimicking phantoms by a series of laser pulses in a single session is studied. It is shown that compared to the single-pulse procedures tattoo removal by series of laser pulses allows not only for reducing the necessary laser fluence, but also for improving the degree of bleaching. The dynamics of formation and dissolution of microscopic gas bubbles in tattooed skin phantoms exposed to laser radiation is also studied. A laser-induced tattoo bleaching mechanism is suggested, based on the process of selective photo-thermolysis of pigmented particles in conditions where the thermal conductivity of the medium surrounding the particles is decreased because of the microbubbles formed therein.

Evaluation of Selected MR Pulse Sequences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Yong-Jin

1990-01-01

This research addressed four main areas of radiofrequency (rf) pulse programming: (1) correction of instrumentation errors in spin echo sequences by use of phase rolling of the rf pulses; (2) chemical shift imaging of water and lipid; (3) development of special pulse sequences for the measurement of phosphorus metabolites by ^ {31}P spectroscopy and lactate by ^1H spectroscopy; and (4) flow methods to measure and separate diffusion from perfusion. All experiments were performed on a horizontal 2.0T (superconducting magnet) 31-cm small-bore MR system. Computer programming and data analysis were performed on a PDP 11/84 computer system. 1. The effects of rf tips, dc and gain misadjustments in the rf spectrometer were evaluated for a series of MR images. Four different phase cycling schemes (FIXED, ALTERNATE, FORWARD, REVERSED) to suppress unwanted signal components such as mirror and ghost images were evaluated using two signal acquisitions. When the receiver phase factor is cycled counter-clockwise (REVERSED), these artifacts are completely removed. 2. A major problem common to all chemical shift imaging methods is static magnetic field non-uniformity. Four methods (Dixon's, CHESS, SECSI and modified CHESS-SECSI) were quantitatively evaluated for the measurement of water and fat content, which are separated by approximately 3.5 ppm, in in vivo biological tissues. It was demonstrated in phantoms that the modified CHESS+SECSI method gave superior results even without field shimming. 3. The development of new MR rf pulse sequences is essential in order to acquire specialized in vivo information concerning biologic metabolites. The time course of change in concentration of lactate and of phosphorus metabolites in human forearm muscle before and after exercise was determined. Lactate concentration returned to normal in 25 minutes after exercise. The Pi/PCr ratio was 0.25 before exercise, and increased to 0.5 at 4.5 minutes after exercise. 4. The fourth study involved the incorporation of a bipolar gradient pulse technique into a spin echo sequence; by varying the strength of the bipolar gradients, diffusion as well as perfusion can be quantitatively determined. The diffusion coefficient (D) for H_2O and acetone were 2.10 and 5.06 (times10 ^{-3} mm^2 /sec), respectively. The perfusion factor was linearly incremental for stepwise increases in flow velocities.

GaAs MMIC: recovery from upset by x-ray pulse

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

Armendariz, M.G.; Castle, J.G. Jr.

1986-01-01

Tolerance for fast neutrons and total ionizing dose is a feature of GaAs microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMIC). However, upset during an ionizing pulse is expected to occur and delayed recovery due to backgating may be a problem. The purpose of this study of an experimental MMIC design is to observe the recovery of oscillator power output following upset by a short ionizing pulse as a function of applied bias, dose per pulse and case temperature.

Flying mirror model for interaction of a super-intense laser pulse with a thin plasma layer: Transparency and shaping of linearly polarized laser pulses

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

Kulagin, Victor V.; Cherepenin, Vladimir A.; Hur, Min Sup

2007-11-15

A self-consistent one-dimensional (1D) flying mirror model is developed for description of an interaction of an ultra-intense laser pulse with a thin plasma layer (foil). In this model, electrons of the foil can have large longitudinal displacements and relativistic longitudinal momenta. An approximate analytical solution for a transmitted field is derived. Transmittance of the foil shows not only a nonlinear dependence on the amplitude of the incident laser pulse, but also time dependence and shape dependence in the high-transparency regime. The results are compared with particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations and a good agreement is ascertained. Shaping of incident laser pulses usingmore » the flying mirror model is also considered. It can be used either for removing a prepulse or for reducing the length of a short laser pulse. The parameters of the system for effective shaping are specified. Predictions of the flying mirror model for shaping are compared with the 1D PIC simulations, showing good agreement.« less

Influence of electron dynamics on the enhancement of double-pulse femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of fused silica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Zhitao; Jiang, Lan; Wang, Sumei; Wang, Mengmeng; Liu, Lei; Yang, Fan; Lu, Yongfeng

2018-03-01

Femtosecond laser pulse train induced breakdown of fused silica was studied by investigating its plasma emission and the ablated crater morphology. It was demonstrated that the electron dynamics in the ablated fused silica play a dominant role in the emission intensity of induced plasma and the volume of material removal, corresponding to the evolution of free-electron, self-trapped excitons, and the phase change of the fused silica left over by the first pulse. For a fluence of 11 J/cm2, the maximum plasma intensity of double-pulse irradiation at an interpulse delay of 120 ps was about 35 times stronger than that of a single-pulse, while the ablated crater was reduced by 27% in volume. The ionization of slow plume component generated by the first pulse was found to be the main reason for the extremely high intensity enhancement for an interpulse delay of over 10 ps. The results serve as a route to simultaneously increase the spatial resolution and plasma intensity in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of dielectrics.

A theoretical and experimental study on the pulsed laser dressing of bronze-bonded diamond grinding wheels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, H.; Chen, G. Y.; Zhou, C.; Zhou, X. C.; He, J.; Zhang, Y.

2014-09-01

A series of theoretical analyses and experimental investigations were performed to examine a pulsed fiber-laser tangential profiling and radial sharpening technique for bronze-bonded diamond grinding wheels. The mechanisms for the pulsed laser tangential profiling and radial sharpening of grinding wheels were theoretically analyzed, and the four key processing parameters that determine the quality, accuracy, and efficiency of pulsed laser dressing, namely, the laser power density, laser spot overlap ratio, laser scanning track line overlap ratio, and number of laser scanning cycles, were proposed. Further, by utilizing cylindrical bronze wheels (without diamond grains) and bronze-bonded diamond grinding wheels as the experimental subjects, the effects of these four processing parameters on the removal efficiency and the surface smoothness of the bond material after pulsed laser ablation, as well as the effects on the contour accuracy of the grinding wheels, the protrusion height of the diamond grains, the sharpness of the grain cutting edges, and the graphitization degree of the diamond grains after pulsed laser dressing, were explored. The optimal values of the four key processing parameters were identified.

Virtual active touch using randomly patterned intracortical microstimulation.

PubMed

O'Doherty, Joseph E; Lebedev, Mikhail A; Li, Zheng; Nicolelis, Miguel A L

2012-01-01

Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) has promise as a means for delivering somatosensory feedback in neuroprosthetic systems. Various tactile sensations could be encoded by temporal, spatial, or spatiotemporal patterns of ICMS. However, the applicability of temporal patterns of ICMS to artificial tactile sensation during active exploration is unknown, as is the minimum discriminable difference between temporally modulated ICMS patterns. We trained rhesus monkeys in an active exploration task in which they discriminated periodic pulse-trains of ICMS (200 Hz bursts at a 10 Hz secondary frequency) from pulse trains with the same average pulse rate, but distorted periodicity (200 Hz bursts at a variable instantaneous secondary frequency). The statistics of the aperiodic pulse trains were drawn from a gamma distribution with mean inter-burst intervals equal to those of the periodic pulse trains. The monkeys distinguished periodic pulse trains from aperiodic pulse trains with coefficients of variation 0.25 or greater. Reconstruction of movement kinematics, extracted from the activity of neuronal populations recorded in the sensorimotor cortex concurrent with the delivery of ICMS feedback, improved when the recording intervals affected by ICMS artifacts were removed from analysis. These results add to the growing evidence that temporally patterned ICMS can be used to simulate a tactile sense for neuroprosthetic devices.

Needle-array to Plate DBD Plasma Using Sine AC and Nanosecond Pulse Excitations for Purpose of Improving Indoor Air Quality

PubMed Central

Zhang, Li; Yang, Dezheng; Wang, Wenchun; Wang, Sen; Yuan, Hao; Zhao, Zilu; Sang, Chaofeng; Jia, Li

2016-01-01

In this study, needle-array to plate electrode configuration was employed to generate an atmospheric air diffuse discharge using both nanosecond pulse and sine AC voltage as excitation voltage for the purpose of improving indoor air quality. Different types of voltage sources and electrode configurations are employed to optimize electrical field distribution and improve discharge stability. Discharge images, electrical characteristics, optical emission spectra, and plasma gas temperatures in both sine AC discharge and nanosecond pulse discharge were compared and the discharge stability during long operating time were discussed. Compared with the discharge excited by sine AC voltage, the nanosecond pulsed discharge is more homogenous and stable, besides, the plasma gas temperature of nanosecond pulse discharge is much lower. Using packed-bed structure, where γ- Al2O3 pellets are filled in the electrode gap, has obvious efficacy in the production of homogenous discharge. Furthermore, both sine AC discharge and nanosecond pulse discharge were used for removing formaldehyde from flowing air. It shows that nanosecond pulse discharge has a significant advantage in energy cost. And the main physiochemical processes for the generation of active species and the degradation of formaldehyde were discussed. PMID:27125663

Near-source noise suppression of AMT by compressive sensing and mathematical morphology filtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Guang; Xiao, Xiao; Tang, Jing-Tian; Li, Jin; Zhu, Hui-Jie; Zhou, Cong; Yan, Fa-Bao

2017-12-01

In deep mineral exploration, the acquisition of audio magnetotelluric (AMT) data is severely affected by ambient noise near the observation sites; This near-field noise restricts investigation depths. Mathematical morphological filtering (MMF) proved effective in suppressing large-scale strong and variably shaped noise, typically low-frequency noise, but can not deal with pulse noise of AMT data. We combine compressive sensing and MMF. First, we use MMF to suppress the large-scale strong ambient noise; second, we use the improved orthogonal match pursuit (IOMP) algorithm to remove the residual pulse noise. To remove the noise and protect the useful AMT signal, a redundant dictionary that matches with spikes and is insensitive to the useful signal is designed. Synthetic and field data from the Luzong field suggest that the proposed method suppresses the near-source noise and preserves the signal well; thus, better results are obtained that improve the output of either MMF or IOMP.

Thermal study of bare tips with various system parameters and incision sizes.

PubMed

Osher, Robert H; Injev, Valentine P

2006-05-01

To identify major and minor surgeon-controlled parameters that affect incision temperature when performing microincision lens removal using the Alcon Infiniti Vision System. In vitro research and development laboratory, Alcon Research, Irvine, California, USA. Phacoemulsification was performed in eye-bank cadaver eyes and the following parameters evaluated: incision, duty cycle, ultrasound (US) power, aspiration flow rate (AFR), vacuum, pulse, bottle height and balanced salt solution temperature, and tip design/size. Each parameter was varied while the others remained constant. The resulting temperature of the incision and US tip was measured using a thermal camera. Major contributors to elevated incision temperature included incision size, US power, duty cycle, AFR, vacuum setting, tip design, and presence of an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD). Minor contributors included pulse frequency, bottle height, and temperature of the infusate. Microincision lens removal can be performed at safe temperatures with the knowledgeable selection of surgeon-controlled parameters.

METHOD FOR PUMPING GASES AT LOW VACUUM PRESSURES

DOEpatents

Milleron, N.

1962-06-01

A method is given for pumping overpressure "pulses" or "bursts" of gases without a significant rise in base pressure within a "gettering-type" vacuum pump having surfaces within the pumping cavity coated with or comprising clean gettering metal, e.g., Mo or Ta. The cavity is first pumped down by any convenient means to an equilibrium base pressure in the range desired, generally below 10/sup -6/ mm Hg. At this pressure, the metal immediately adsorbs overpressures or "bursts" of gases striking same with thermal motion without raising the base pressure significantiy. Desorption takes place at an equilibrium rate which, of course, is dependent upon the equilibrium pressure, and such desorbed gases are continuously removed by diffuaion pump or other pumping, whereby said overpressures or "bursts" of gases are removed without a rise in the equilibrium pressure and/or back diffusion of the gaseous pulse from the pumping cavity. (AEC)

Fast pulsed operation of a small non-radioactive electron source with continuous emission current control

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

Cochems, P.; Kirk, A. T.; Bunert, E.

Non-radioactive electron sources are of great interest in any application requiring the emission of electrons at atmospheric pressure, as they offer better control over emission parameters than radioactive electron sources and are not subject to legal restrictions. Recently, we published a simple electron source consisting only of a vacuum housing, a filament, and a single control grid. In this paper, we present improved control electronics that utilize this control grid in order to focus and defocus the electron beam, thus pulsing the electron emission at atmospheric pressure. This allows short emission pulses and excellent stability of the emitted electron currentmore » due to continuous control, both during pulsed and continuous operations. As an application example, this electron source is coupled to an ion mobility spectrometer. Here, the pulsed electron source allows experiments on gas phase ion chemistry (e.g., ion generation and recombination kinetics) and can even remove the need for a traditional ion shutter.« less

Novel Signal Noise Reduction Method through Cluster Analysis, Applied to Photoplethysmography.

PubMed

Waugh, William; Allen, John; Wightman, James; Sims, Andrew J; Beale, Thomas A W

2018-01-01

Physiological signals can often become contaminated by noise from a variety of origins. In this paper, an algorithm is described for the reduction of sporadic noise from a continuous periodic signal. The design can be used where a sample of a periodic signal is required, for example, when an average pulse is needed for pulse wave analysis and characterization. The algorithm is based on cluster analysis for selecting similar repetitions or pulses from a periodic single. This method selects individual pulses without noise, returns a clean pulse signal, and terminates when a sufficiently clean and representative signal is received. The algorithm is designed to be sufficiently compact to be implemented on a microcontroller embedded within a medical device. It has been validated through the removal of noise from an exemplar photoplethysmography (PPG) signal, showing increasing benefit as the noise contamination of the signal increases. The algorithm design is generalised to be applicable for a wide range of physiological (physical) signals.

The effects of focusing power on TEA CO2 laser-induced gas breakdown and the consequent pulse shaping effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beheshtipour, Saleheh; Safari, Ebrahim; Majdabadi, Abbas; Silakhori, Kaveh

2018-02-01

Transversely Excited Atmospheric (TEA) CO2 laser pulses were used in order to generate an optical breakdown in a variety of mono- and polyatomic molecules using different focusing powers. The dependence of the spark kernel geometry and the transmitted pulse shapes on the focusing power as well as the pressure, molecular weight, and ionization energy of the gases was investigated in detail. Partial removal of the transmitted pulse tail in the 0.05-2.6 μs range together with shortened spikes in the 10-60 ns range has been observed by applying a 2.5 cm focal length lens for all the gases. At higher focal lengths, this effect is only incompletely observed for He gas. Spatial-temporal analyses of the laser beams and the relevant plasma plumes indicate that this behavior is due to the drop in the plasma density below the critical level, before the laser pulse tail is completed.

Heat effect of pulsed Er:YAG laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hibst, Raimund; Keller, Ulrich

1990-06-01

Pulsed Er:YAG laser radiation has been found to be effective for dental enamel and dentin removal. Damage to the surrounding hard tissue is little, but before testing the Er:YAG laser clinically for the preparation of cavities, possible effects on the soft tissue of the pulp must be known. In order to estimate pulp damage , temperature rise in dentin caused by the laser radiation was measured by a thermocouple. Additionally, temperature distributions were observed by means of a thermal imaging system. The heat effect of a single Er:YAG laser pulse is little and limited to the vicinity of the impact side. Because heat energy is added with each additional pulse , the temperature distribution depends not only on the radiant energy, but also on the number of pulses and the repetition rate. Both irradiation conditions can be found , making irreversible pulp damage either likely or unlikely. The experimental observations can be explained qualitatively by a simple model of the ablation process.

Minimum envelope roughness pulse design for reduced amplifier distortion in parallel excitation.

PubMed

Grissom, William A; Kerr, Adam B; Stang, Pascal; Scott, Greig C; Pauly, John M

2010-11-01

Parallel excitation uses multiple transmit channels and coils, each driven by independent waveforms, to afford the pulse designer an additional spatial encoding mechanism that complements gradient encoding. In contrast to parallel reception, parallel excitation requires individual power amplifiers for each transmit channel, which can be cost prohibitive. Several groups have explored the use of low-cost power amplifiers for parallel excitation; however, such amplifiers commonly exhibit nonlinear memory effects that distort radio frequency pulses. This is especially true for pulses with rapidly varying envelopes, which are common in parallel excitation. To overcome this problem, we introduce a technique for parallel excitation pulse design that yields pulses with smoother envelopes. We demonstrate experimentally that pulses designed with the new technique suffer less amplifier distortion than unregularized pulses and pulses designed with conventional regularization.

Fluid dynamics analysis of a gas attenuator for X-ray FELs under high-repetition-rate operation

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

Yang, Bo; Wu, Juhao; Raubenheimer, Tor O.

Newtonian fluid dynamics simulations were performed using the Navier–Stokes–Fourier formulations to elucidate the short time-scale (µs and longer) evolution of the density and temperature distributions in an argon-gas-filled attenuator for an X-ray free-electron laser under high-repetition-rate operation. Both hydrodynamic motions of the gas molecules and thermal conductions were included in a finite-volume calculation. It was found that the hydrodynamic wave motions play the primary role in creating a density depression (also known as a filament) by advectively transporting gas particles away from the X-ray laser–gas interaction region, where large pressure and temperature gradients have been built upon the initial energymore » depositionviaX-ray photoelectric absorption and subsequent thermalization. Concurrent outward heat conduction tends to reduce the pressure in the filament core region, generating a counter gas flow to backfill the filament, but on an initially slower time scale. If the inter-pulse separation is sufficiently short so the filament cannot recover, the depth of the filament progressively increases as the trailing pulses remove additional gas particles. Since the rate of hydrodynamic removal decreases while the rate of heat conduction back flow increases as time elapses, the two competing mechanisms ultimately reach a dynamic balance, establishing a repeating pattern for each pulse cycle. Finally, by performing simulations at higher repetition rates but lower per pulse energies while maintaining a constant time-averaged power, the amplitude of the hydrodynamic motion per pulse becomes smaller, and the evolution of the temperature and density distributions approach asymptotically towards, as expected, those calculated for a continuous-wave input of the equivalent power.« less

System level latchup mitigation for single event and transient radiation effects on electronics

DOEpatents

Kimbrough, J.R.; Colella, N.J.

1997-09-30

A ``blink`` technique, analogous to a person blinking at a flash of bright light, is provided for mitigating the effects of single event current latchup and prompt pulse destructive radiation on a micro-electronic circuit. The system includes event detection circuitry, power dump logic circuitry, and energy limiting measures with autonomous recovery. The event detection circuitry includes ionizing radiation pulse detection means for detecting a pulse of ionizing radiation and for providing at an output terminal thereof a detection signal indicative of the detection of a pulse of ionizing radiation. The current sensing circuitry is coupled to the power bus for determining an occurrence of excess current through the power bus caused by ionizing radiation or by ion-induced destructive latchup of a semiconductor device. The power dump circuitry includes power dump logic circuitry having a first input terminal connected to the output terminal of the ionizing radiation pulse detection circuitry and having a second input terminal connected to the output terminal of the current sensing circuitry. The power dump logic circuitry provides an output signal to the input terminal of the circuitry for opening the power bus and the circuitry for shorting the power bus to a ground potential to remove power from the power bus. The energy limiting circuitry with autonomous recovery includes circuitry for opening the power bus and circuitry for shorting the power bus to a ground potential. The circuitry for opening the power bus and circuitry for shorting the power bus to a ground potential includes a series FET and a shunt FET. The invention provides for self-contained sensing for latchup, first removal of power to protect latched components, and autonomous recovery to enable transparent operation of other system elements. 18 figs.

System level latchup mitigation for single event and transient radiation effects on electronics

DOEpatents

Kimbrough, Joseph Robert; Colella, Nicholas John

1997-01-01

A "blink" technique, analogous to a person blinking at a flash of bright light, is provided for mitigating the effects of single event current latchup and prompt pulse destructive radiation on a micro-electronic circuit. The system includes event detection circuitry, power dump logic circuitry, and energy limiting measures with autonomous recovery. The event detection circuitry includes ionizing radiation pulse detection means for detecting a pulse of ionizing radiation and for providing at an output terminal thereof a detection signal indicative of the detection of a pulse of ionizing radiation. The current sensing circuitry is coupled to the power bus for determining an occurrence of excess current through the power bus caused by ionizing radiation or by ion-induced destructive latchup of a semiconductor device. The power dump circuitry includes power dump logic circuitry having a first input terminal connected to the output terminal of the ionizing radiation pulse detection circuitry and having a second input terminal connected to the output terminal of the current sensing circuitry. The power dump logic circuitry provides an output signal to the input terminal of the circuitry for opening the power bus and the circuitry for shorting the power bus to a ground potential to remove power from the power bus. The energy limiting circuitry with autonomous recovery includes circuitry for opening the power bus and circuitry for shorting the power bus to a ground potential. The circuitry for opening the power bus and circuitry for shorting the power bus to a ground potential includes a series FET and a shunt FET. The invention provides for self-contained sensing for latchup, first removal of power to protect latched components, and autonomous recovery to enable transparent operation of other system elements.

Fluid dynamics analysis of a gas attenuator for X-ray FELs under high-repetition-rate operation

DOE PAGES

Yang, Bo; Wu, Juhao; Raubenheimer, Tor O.; ...

2017-05-01

Newtonian fluid dynamics simulations were performed using the Navier–Stokes–Fourier formulations to elucidate the short time-scale (µs and longer) evolution of the density and temperature distributions in an argon-gas-filled attenuator for an X-ray free-electron laser under high-repetition-rate operation. Both hydrodynamic motions of the gas molecules and thermal conductions were included in a finite-volume calculation. It was found that the hydrodynamic wave motions play the primary role in creating a density depression (also known as a filament) by advectively transporting gas particles away from the X-ray laser–gas interaction region, where large pressure and temperature gradients have been built upon the initial energymore » depositionviaX-ray photoelectric absorption and subsequent thermalization. Concurrent outward heat conduction tends to reduce the pressure in the filament core region, generating a counter gas flow to backfill the filament, but on an initially slower time scale. If the inter-pulse separation is sufficiently short so the filament cannot recover, the depth of the filament progressively increases as the trailing pulses remove additional gas particles. Since the rate of hydrodynamic removal decreases while the rate of heat conduction back flow increases as time elapses, the two competing mechanisms ultimately reach a dynamic balance, establishing a repeating pattern for each pulse cycle. Finally, by performing simulations at higher repetition rates but lower per pulse energies while maintaining a constant time-averaged power, the amplitude of the hydrodynamic motion per pulse becomes smaller, and the evolution of the temperature and density distributions approach asymptotically towards, as expected, those calculated for a continuous-wave input of the equivalent power.« less

Emerging organic contaminants in vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands: influence of media size, loading frequency and use of active aeration.

PubMed

Avila, Cristina; Nivala, Jaime; Olsson, Linda; Kassa, Kinfe; Headley, Tom; Mueller, Roland A; Bayona, Josep Maria; García, Joan

2014-10-01

Four side-by-side pilot-scale vertical flow (VF) constructed wetlands of different designs were evaluated for the removal of eight widely used emerging organic contaminants from municipal wastewater (i.e. ibuprofen, acetaminophen, diclofenac, tonalide, oxybenzone, triclosan, ethinylestradiol, bisphenol A). Three of the systems were free-draining, with one containing a gravel substrate (VGp), while the other two contained sand substrate (VS1p and VS2p). The fourth system had a saturated gravel substrate and active aeration supplied across the bottom of the bed (VAp). All beds were pulse-loaded on an hourly basis, except VS2p, which was pulse-loaded every 2h. Each system had a surface area of 6.2m(2), received a hydraulic loading rate of 95 mm/day and was planted with Phragmites australis. The beds received an organic loading rate of 7-16 gTOC/m(2)d. The sand-based VF (VS1p) performed significantly better (p<0.05) than the gravel-based wetland (VGp) both in the removal of conventional water quality parameters (TSS, TOC, NH4-N) and studied emerging organic contaminants except for diclofenac (85 ± 17% vs. 74 ± 15% average emerging organic contaminant removal for VS1p and VGp, respectively). Although loading frequency (hourly vs. bi-hourly) was not observed to affect the removal efficiency of the cited conventional water quality parameters, significantly lower removal efficiencies were found for tonalide and bisphenol A for the VF wetland that received bi-hourly dosing (VS2p) (higher volume per pulse), probably due to the more reducing conditions observed in that system. However, diclofenac was the only contaminant showing an opposite trend to the rest of the compounds, achieving higher elimination rates in the wetlands that exhibited less-oxidizing conditions (VS2p and VGp). The use of active aeration in the saturated gravel bed (VAp) generally improved the treatment performance compared to the free-draining gravel bed (VGp) and achieved a similar performance to the free-draining sand-based VF wetlands (VS1p). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A pulse-shape discrimination method for improving Gamma-ray spectrometry based on a new digital shaping filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Zhang-jian; Chen, Chuan; Luo, Jun-song; Xie, Xing-hong; Ge, Liang-quan; Wu, Qi-fan

2018-04-01

It is a usual practice for improving spectrum quality by the mean of designing a good shaping filter to improve signal-noise ratio in development of nuclear spectroscopy. Another method is proposed in the paper based on discriminating pulse-shape and discarding the bad pulse whose shape is distorted as a result of abnormal noise, unusual ballistic deficit or bad pulse pile-up. An Exponentially Decaying Pulse (EDP) generated in nuclear particle detectors can be transformed into a Mexican Hat Wavelet Pulse (MHWP) and the derivation process of the transform is given. After the transform is performed, the baseline drift is removed in the new MHWP. Moreover, the MHWP-shape can be discriminated with the three parameters: the time difference between the two minima of the MHWP, and the two ratios which are from the amplitude of the two minima respectively divided by the amplitude of the maximum in the MHWP. A new type of nuclear spectroscopy was implemented based on the new digital shaping filter and the Gamma-ray spectra were acquired with a variety of pulse-shape discrimination levels. It had manifested that the energy resolution and the peak-Compton ratio were both improved after the pulse-shape discrimination method was used.

Scale model experimentation: using terahertz pulses to study light scattering.

PubMed

Pearce, Jeremy; Mittleman, Daniel M

2002-11-07

We describe a new class of experiments involving applications of terahertz radiation to problems in biomedical imaging and diagnosis. These involve scale model measurements, in which information can be gained about pulse propagation in scattering media. Because of the scale invariance of Maxwell's equations, these experiments can provide insight for researchers working on similar problems at shorter wavelengths. As a first demonstration, we measure the propagation constants for pulses in a dense collection of spherical scatterers, and compare with the predictions of the quasi-crystalline approximation. Even though the fractional volume in our measurements exceeds the limit of validity of this model, we find that it still predicts certain features of the propagation with reasonable accuracy.

Suitability of orthodontic brackets for rebonding and reworking following removal by air pressure pulses and conventional debracketing techniques.

PubMed

Knösel, Michael; Mattysek, Simone; Jung, Klaus; Kubein-Meesenburg, Dietmar; Sadat-Khonsari, Reza; Ziebolz, Dirk

2010-07-01

To test the null hypothesis that there are no significant differences in the reusability of debonded brackets with regard to debonding technique and adhesive used. Ninety-six osteotomed third molars were randomly assigned to two study groups (n = 48) for bonding of a 0.018-inch bracket (Ormesh, Ormco) with either a composite adhesive (Mono-Lok2; RMO) or a glass ionomer cement (GIC; Fuji Ortho LC;GC). Each of these two groups were then randomly divided into four subgroups (n = 12) according to the method of debonding using (1) bracket removal pliers (BRP; Dentaurum), (2) a side cutter (SC; Dentaurum), (3) a lift-off debracketing instrument (LODI; 3M-Unitek), or (4) an air pressure pulse device (CoronaFlex; KaVo). The brackets were subsequently assessed visually for reusability and reworkability with 2x magnification and by pull testing with a 0.017- x 0.025-inch steel archwire. The proportions of reusable brackets were individually compared in terms of mode of removal and with regard to adhesives using the Fisher exact test (alpha = 5%). The null hypothesis was rejected. Not taking into account the debonding method, brackets bonded with GIC were judged to a significant extent (81%; n = 39; P < .01) to be reworkable compared with those bonded with composite (56%; n = 27). All brackets in both adhesive groups removed with either the LODI or the CoronaFlex were found to be reusable, whereas 79% (46%) of the brackets removed with the BRP (SC) were not. The proportion of reusable brackets differed significantly between modes of removal (P < .01). With regard to bracket reusability, the SC and the BRP cannot be recommended for debonding brackets, especially in combination with a composite adhesive.

Comparison of two Q-switched lasers and a short-pulse erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser for treatment of cosmetic tattoos containing titanium and iron in an animal model.

PubMed

Wang, Chia-Chen; Huang, Chuen-Lin; Yang, An-Hang; Chen, Chih-Kang; Lee, Shao-Chen; Leu, Fur-Jiang

2010-11-01

Cosmetic tattoos contain titanium and ferric oxide and darken through reduction after Q-switched laser irradiation. The optimal treatment for removing these pigments remains unknown. To compare the effects of two Q-switched lasers and a short-pulse erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (SP Er:YAG) laser to remove cosmetic tattoos in an animal model. Rats were tattooed using white, flesh-colored, and brown inks (4 bands of each color) on their backs. For each color, one band was left untreated, and one each was treated with a Q-switched neodymium-doped YAG laser, a Q-switched alexandrite laser, and a SP Er:YAG laser every 3 weeks until the pigments were clear. The two Q-switched lasers were equally effective; all three pigments darkened initially and then resolved gradually. Up to 20, 18, and 10 sessions were required to remove white, flesh-colored, and brown tattoos, respectively. Only six sessions were required with the SP Er:YAG laser. Minimal scarring was observed with all lasers. Skin biopsies confirmed pigment granule fragmentation after Q-switched laser treatment and a decrease in the amount of pigment after SP Er:YAG laser treatment. The SP Er:YAG laser was superior to the Q-switched lasers for removing cosmetic tattoos. © 2010 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.

Pure-phase selective excitation in fast-relaxing systems.

PubMed

Zangger, K; Oberer, M; Sterk, H

2001-09-01

Selective pulses have been used frequently for small molecules. However, their application to proteins and other macromolecules has been limited. The long duration of shaped-selective pulses and the short T(2) relaxation times in proteins often prohibited the use of highly selective pulses especially on larger biomolecules. A very selective excitation can be obtained within a short time by using the selective excitation sequence presented in this paper. Instead of using a shaped low-intensity radiofrequency pulse, a cluster of hard 90 degrees pulses, delays of free precession, and pulsed field gradients can be used to selectively excite a narrow chemical shift range within a relatively short time. Thereby, off-resonance magnetization, which is allowed to evolve freely during the free precession intervals, is destroyed by the gradient pulses. Off-resonance excitation artifacts can be removed by random variation of the interpulse delays. This leads to an excitation profile with selectivity as well as phase and relaxation behavior superior to that of commonly used shaped-selective pulses. Since the evolution of scalar coupling is inherently suppressed during the double-selective excitation of two different scalar-coupled nuclei, the presented pulse cluster is especially suited for simultaneous highly selective excitation of N-H and C-H fragments. Experimental examples are demonstrated on hen egg white lysozyme (14 kD) and the bacterial antidote ParD (19 kD). Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Ethylene Removal in Strong Electric Field Formed by Floating Multi-Electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagasawa, Takeshi

Ethylene gas that contains the acetic acid ester element can be removed by applying the pulse voltage to the floating multi-electrode device. This phenomenon is caused in the weak discharge by the strong electric field between the narrow electrodes. This device is possible in very small electric power (<1.5Wh). When this device was installed in the container for preservation, the following results were obtained: Each removal effect of ethylene gas is 16ppm/35min for bananas 10.8kg, 14ppm/6 hour for 50 apples, and 3.5ppm/30min for 2 melons. However, ethylene gas that doesn't contain the acetic acid ester cannot be removed (ex. ethylene pure gas and Japanese apricot).

p-Nitrophenol removal by combination of powdered activated carbon adsorption and ultrafiltration - comparison of different operational modes.

PubMed

Ivancev-Tumbas, Ivana; Hobby, Ralph; Küchle, Benjamin; Panglisch, Stefan; Gimbel, Rolf

2008-09-01

Ultrafiltration is classified as a low-pressure membrane technology which effectively removes particulate matter and microorganisms and to a certain extent dissolved organic matter (15-25%) and colour. The technology has been optimized and is becoming competitive compared to conventional processes for larger scale plant capacities. In combination with activated carbon it is an effective barrier regarding the removal of synthetic organic chemicals. Growing interest in ultrafiltration raises the question of better usage of the adsorption capacity of powdered activated carbon (PAC) used in combination with this low-pressure membrane technique. This paper presents a pilot plant study of different PAC dosing procedures within a combined hybrid membrane IN/OUT process for removal of p-nitrophenol (PNP) from water (c(0)=1mg/L) under real case conditions (e.g. usage of the same module for the whole duration of the experiment, backwashing with permeate water, no separate saturation of the membrane with substance without presence of carbon). p-Nitrophenol was chosen as an appropriate test substance to assess the efficiency of different operation modes. Dead-end and cross-flow filtration were compared with respect to different PAC dosing procedures: continuous dosing into a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) in front of the module and direct dosing into the pipe in front of the module (continuous, single-pulse and multi-pulse dosing). There was no advantage in cross-flow mode over dead-end referring to PNP concentration in the permeate. Relating to the carbon dosing procedure, the best results were obtained for continuous PAC addition. The option of dosing directly into the pipe has the advantage of no additional tank being necessary. In the case of single-pulse dosing, the formation of a carbon layer on the membrane surface was assumed and an LDF model applied for a simplified estimation of the "breakthrough behaviour" in the thus formed "PAC filter layer".

Orbital debris removal and meteoroid deflection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campbell, Jonathan W.; Taylor, Charles R.; Smalley, Larry L.; Dickerson, Thomas

1998-11-01

Orbital debris in low-Earth orbit in the size range from 1 to 10 cm in diameter can be detected but not tracked reliably enough to be avoided by spacecraft. It can cause catastrophic damage even to a shielded spacecraft. With adaptive optics, a ground-based pulsed laser ablating the debris surface can produce enough propulsion in several hundred pulses to cause such debris to reenter the atmosphere. A single laser station could remove all of the 1 - 10 cm debris in three years or less. A technology demonstration of laser space propulsion is proposed which would pave the way for the implementation of such a debris removal system. The cost of the proposed demonstration is comparable with the estimated annual cost of spacecraft operations in the present orbital debris environment. Orbital debris is not the only space junk that is deleterious to the Earth's environment. Collisions with asteroids have caused major havoc to the Earth's biosphere many times in the ancient past. Since the possibility still exists for major impacts of asteroids with the Earth, it shown that it is possible to scale up the systems to prevent these catastrophic collisions providing sufficient early warning is available from new generation space telescopes plus deep space radar tracking.

Laser/space material uncooperative propulsion for orbital debris removal and asteroid, meteoroid, and comet deflection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campbell, Jonathan W.; Taylor, Charles R.; Smalley, Larry L.; Dickerson, Thomas

1999-01-01

Orbital debris in low-Earth orbit in the size range from 1 to 10 cm in diameter can be detected but not tracked reliably enough to be avoided by spacecraft. It can cause catastrophic damage even to a shielded spacecraft. With adaptive optics, a ground-based pulsed laser ablating the debris surface can produce enough propulsion in several hundred pulses to cause such debris to reenter the atmosphere. A single laser station could remove all of the 1-10 cm debris in three years or less. A technology demonstration of laser space propulsion is proposed which would pave the way for the implementation of such a debris removal system. The cost of the proposed demonstration is comparable with the estimated annual cost of spacecraft operations in the present orbital debris environment. Orbital debris is not the only space junk that is deleterious to the Earth's environment. Collisions with asteroids have caused major havoc to the Earth's biosphere many times in the ancient past. Since the possibility still exists for major impacts, it is shown that it is possible to scale up the systems to prevent these catastrophic collisions given sufficient early warning.

Laser comminution of submerged samples

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

Mariella, R. Jr.; Rubenchik, A.; Norton, M.

With the long-term goal in mind of investigating possible designs for a 'universal, solid-sample comminution technique' for elemental analysis of debris and rubble, we have studied pulsed-laser ablation of solid samples that were submerged in water. Using 351-nm, 15-ns laser pulses with energy between 1 J and 0.35 J, intensities between 500 MW/cm{sup 2} and 30 MW/cm{sup 2}, and samples of broken rock [quartzite] and concrete debris, we have observed conditions in which the laser-driven process can remove material from the solid target substrate, dissolving it and/or converting it into ultrafine particles in a controlled manner. Our study used impure,more » non-metallic substrates and investigated both the rate of material removal as well as the size distribution of particles that were ablated from the process. We studied ablation at lower regimes of intensity and fluence [below 100 MW/cm{sup 2} and 0.4 J/cm{sup 2}, respectively] than has previously attracted attention and discovered that there appears to be a new regime for energy-efficient material removal [Q* < 4000 J/g, for quartzite and <2000 J/g for concrete] and for the generation of ultrafine particles.« less

Microcomponents manufacturing for precise devices by copper vapor laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorny, Sergey; Nikonchuk, Michail O.; Polyakov, Igor V.

2001-06-01

This paper presents investigation results of drilling of metal microcomponents by copper vapor laser. The laser consists of master oscillator - spatial filter - amplifier system, electronics switching with digital control of laser pulse repetition rate and quantity of pulses, x-y stage with computer control system. Mass of metal, removed by one laser pulse, is measured and defined by means of diameter and depth of holes. Interaction of next pulses on drilled material is discussed. The difference between light absorption and metal evaporation processes is considered for drilling and cutting. Efficiency of drilling is estimated by ratio of evaporation heat and used laser energy. Maximum efficiency of steel cutting is calculated with experimental data of drilling. Applications of copper vapor laser for manufacturing is illustrated by such microcomponents as pin guide plate for printers, stents for cardio surgery, encoded disks for security systems and multiple slit masks for spectrophotometers.

Application of 2-um wavelength holmium lasers for treatment of skin diseases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shcherbakov, Ivan A.; Klimov, Igor V.; Tsvetkov, Vladimir B.; Nerobeev, Alexander I.; Sadovnikova, Lija B.; Eliseenko, Vladimir I.

1994-09-01

Theoretical and experimental analysis of the efficiency of application of 2 micrometers pulsed holmium laser for cosmetic and plastic surgery and dermatology is carried out. Preliminary experiments were carried out on rats. Solid state 2 micrometers pulsed laser was allowed to operate in free running mode with pulse energy up to 1.5 J and pulse repetition rate up to 5 Hz. To deliver emission to the object a flexible quartz fiber without further focusing of 2.5 m in length and 400 micrometers of the core diameter was used. The effect of the different power density emission on the skin was studied. The second stage was the study of the influence of 2 micrometers emission on human skin. The results of the removal of hemangioma, papilloma, telangiectasia, nevus, nevus acantholytic, xanthelasma palpebral, verruca, chloasma, pigmental spots, tattoos, etc. are presented. Precision, simplicity, efficiency, and the high cosmetic effect of these operations is noted.

Underwater Laser Micromilling of Commercially-Pure Titanium Using Different Scan Overlaps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Charee, Wisan; Tangwarodomnukun, Viboon

2018-01-01

Underwater laser milling process is a technique for minimizing the thermal damage and gaining a higher material removal rate than processing in air. This paper presents the effect of laser scan overlap on cavity width, depth and surface roughness in the laser milling of commercially-pure titanium in water. The effects of laser pulse energy and pulse repetition rate were also examined, in which a nanosecond pulse laser emitting a 1064-nm wavelength was used in this study. The experimental results indicated that a wide and deep cavity was achievable under high laser energy and large scan overlap. According to the surface roughness, the use of high pulse repetition rate together with low laser energy can promote a smooth laser-milled surface particularly at 50% scan overlap. These findings can further suggest a suitable laser micromilling condition for titanium in roughing and finishing operations.

Robust fuel- and time-optimal control of uncertain flexible space structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wie, Bong; Sinha, Ravi; Sunkel, John; Cox, Ken

1993-01-01

The problem of computing open-loop, fuel- and time-optimal control inputs for flexible space structures in the face of modeling uncertainty is investigated. Robustified, fuel- and time-optimal pulse sequences are obtained by solving a constrained optimization problem subject to robustness constraints. It is shown that 'bang-off-bang' pulse sequences with a finite number of switchings provide a practical tradeoff among the maneuvering time, fuel consumption, and performance robustness of uncertain flexible space structures.

A posteriori error estimates in voice source recovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonov, A. S.; Sorokin, V. N.

2017-12-01

The inverse problem of voice source pulse recovery from a segment of a speech signal is under consideration. A special mathematical model is used for the solution that relates these quantities. A variational method of solving inverse problem of voice source recovery for a new parametric class of sources, that is for piecewise-linear sources (PWL-sources), is proposed. Also, a technique for a posteriori numerical error estimation for obtained solutions is presented. A computer study of the adequacy of adopted speech production model with PWL-sources is performed in solving the inverse problems for various types of voice signals, as well as corresponding study of a posteriori error estimates. Numerical experiments for speech signals show satisfactory properties of proposed a posteriori error estimates, which represent the upper bounds of possible errors in solving the inverse problem. The estimate of the most probable error in determining the source-pulse shapes is about 7-8% for the investigated speech material. It is noted that a posteriori error estimates can be used as a criterion of the quality for obtained voice source pulses in application to speaker recognition.

Speed of Wave Pulses in Hooke's Law Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huggins, Elisha

2008-01-01

As students watched a compressional pulse bounce back and forth on the horizontally suspended Slinky[TM], shown in Fig. 1, we wrote down the formula for the speed of the pulse and promised that later in the course we would derive the formula. The problem is we did not keep our promise in the course. Here is where we are keeping the promise. As…

Measurement of efficiency in calculus removal with a frequency-doubled Alexandrite laser on pigs' jaws

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pilgrim, Christian G.; Rechmann, Peter; Goldin, Dan S.; Hennig, Thomas

2000-03-01

Periodontal therapy aims in a most sufficient cleaning of tooth surfaces from supra- and subgingival calculus. As a standard dental procedure teeth are treated with ultrasonic devices. The competence of the frequency doubled Alexandrite laser for a highly effective and selective removal of calculus has been repeatedly proved. Aim of the study presented here was to determine the efficiency at simulated clinical conditions of the frequency doubled Alexandrite laser (laboratory prototype, q-switched, fiber guided, wavelength 377 nm, pulse duration 1 microsecond, pulse repetition rate 70 Hz, water cooling) by quantifying it's calculus removing efficiency. The evaluated data were compared to those obtained with an ultrasonic calculus remover. In the first part of the study sample material consisted of 23 pigs' jaws. They were divided into two groups. The teeth of one group were cleaned on their buccal surfaces using an ultrasonic device (Sonosoft Lux, KaVo, Biberach, Germany; tip #9). Than hand-guided cleaning was performed until no further improvement in cleanness was visible. Cleaning time was measured. Photographic documentation was taken before and after the treatment. The teeth in the second group were cleaned engaging a frequency doubled Alexandrite laser. Treatment time was measured and photographs were taken in the same way. In the second part of the study 21 surfaces of human teeth set up in an artificial pocket model were treated with both systems again. Measurements followed the same protocol. The results strongly support the use of the frequency doubled Alexandrite laser for calculus removal.

Nucleation and growth of dielectric films on III-V semiconductors during atomic layer deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granados Alpizar, Bernal

In order to continue with metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS) transistor scaling and to reduce the power density, the channel should be replaced with a material having a higher electron mobility, such as a III-V semiconductor. However, the integration of III-V's is a challenge because these materials oxidize rapidly when exposed to air and the native oxide produced is characterized by a high density of defects. Deposition of high-k materials on III-V semiconductors using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) reduces the thickness of these oxides, improving the semiconductor/oxide interface quality and the transistor electrical characteristics. In this work, ALD is used to deposit two dielectrics, Al 2O3 and TiO2, on two III-V materials, GaAs and InGaAs, and in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and in-situ thermal programmed desorption (TPD) are used for interface characterization. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching of GaAs(100) and brief reoxidation in air produces a 9.0 ±1.6 Å-thick oxide overlayer containing 86% As oxides. The oxides are removed by 1 s pulses of trimethylaluminum (TMA) or TiCl4. TMA removes the oxide overlayer while depositing a 7.5 ± 1.6 Å thick aluminum oxide. The reaction follows a ligand exchange mechanism producing nonvolatile Al-O species that remain on the surface. TiCl4 exposure removes the oxide overlayer in the temperature range 89°C to 300°C, depositing approximately 0.04 monolayer of titanium oxide for deposition temperatures from 89°C to 135°C, but no titanium oxide is present from 170 °C to 230 °C. TiCl4 forms a volatile oxychloride product and removes O from the surface while leaving Cl atoms adsorbed to an elemental As layer, chemically passivating the surface. The native oxide of In0.53Ga0.47As(100) is removed using liquid HF and gas phase HF before deposition of Al2O3 using TMA and H2O at 170 °C. An aluminium oxide film with a thickness of 7.2 ± 1.2 Å and 7.3 ± 1.2 Å is deposited during the first pulse of TMA on liquid and gas phase HF treated samples, respectively. After three complete ALD cycles the thickness of the aluminum oxide film is 10.0 ± 1.2 Å on liquid HF treated and 6.6 ± 1.2 Å on gas phase HF treated surfaces. Samples treated with gas phase HF inhibit growth. Inhibition is caused by residual F atoms that passivate the surface and by surface poisoning due to the thicker carbon film deposited during the first pulse of TMA. On InGaAs covered by native oxide, the first TMA pulse deposits 9 Å of aluminum oxide, and reaches saturation at 13 Å after 15 pulses of TMA. The film grows by scavenging oxygen from the substrate oxides. Substrate oxides are reduced by the first pulse of TMA even at 0°C. At 0°C, on a 9 Å thick Ga-rich oxide surface, 1 pulse of TMA mainly physisorbs and a limited amount of aluminum oxide is deposited. At 0°C, 110°C, and 170°C, more aluminum oxide is deposited on surfaces initially containing As oxide, and larger binding energy (BE) shifts of the O 1s peak are observed compared to surfaces that contain Ga oxides only, showing that As oxides improve the nucleation of Al2O 3.

Tickling the retina: integration of subthreshold electrical pulses can activate retinal neurons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekhar, S.; Jalligampala, A.; Zrenner, E.; Rathbun, D. L.

2016-08-01

Objective. The field of retinal prosthetics has made major progress over the last decade, restoring visual percepts to people suffering from retinitis pigmentosa. The stimulation pulses used by present implants are suprathreshold, meaning individual pulses are designed to activate the retina. In this paper we explore subthreshold pulse sequences as an alternate stimulation paradigm. Subthreshold pulses have the potential to address important open problems such as fading of visual percepts when patients are stimulated at moderate pulse repetition rates and the difficulty in preferentially stimulating different retinal pathways. Approach. As a first step in addressing these issues we used Gaussian white noise electrical stimulation combined with spike-triggered averaging to interrogate whether a subthreshold sequence of pulses can be used to activate the mouse retina. Main results. We demonstrate that the retinal network can integrate multiple subthreshold electrical stimuli under an experimental paradigm immediately relevant to retinal prostheses. Furthermore, these characteristic stimulus sequences varied in their shape and integration window length across the population of retinal ganglion cells. Significance. Because the subthreshold sequences activate the retina at stimulation rates that would typically induce strong fading (25 Hz), such retinal ‘tickling’ has the potential to minimize the fading problem. Furthermore, the diversity found across the cell population in characteristic pulse sequences suggests that these sequences could be used to selectively address the different retinal pathways (e.g. ON versus OFF). Both of these outcomes may significantly improve visual perception in retinal implant patients.

Pulse ignition characterization of mercury ion thruster hollow cathode using an improved pulse ignitor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wintucky, E. G.; Gruber, R. P.

1978-01-01

An investigation of the high voltage pulse ignition characteristics of the 8 cm mercury ion thruster neutralizer cathode identified a low rate of voltage rise and long pulse duration as desirable factors for reliable cathode starting. Cathode starting breakdown voltages were measured over a range of mercury flow rates and tip heater powers for pulses with five different rates of voltage rise. Breakdown voltage requirements for the fastest rising pulse (2.5 to 3.0 kV/micro sec) were substantially higher (2 kV or more) than for the slowest rising pulse (0.3 to 0.5 kV/micro sec) for the same starting conditions. Also described is an improved, low impedance pulse ignitor circuit which reduces power losses and eliminates problems with control and packaging associated with earlier designs.

Standoff detection of explosive molecules using nanosecond gated Raman spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Jin Hyuk; Cho, Soo Gyeong

2013-06-01

Recently, improvised explosive device (IED) has been a serious threat for many countries. One of the approaches to alleviate this threat is standoff detection of explosive molecules used in IEDs. Raman spectroscopy is a prospective method among many technologies under research to achieve this goal. It provides unique information of the target materials, through which the ingredients used in IEDs can be analyzed and identified. The main problem of standoff Raman spectroscopic detection is the large background noise hindering weak Raman signals from the target samples. Typical background noise comes from both ambient fluorescent lights indoor and sunlight outdoor whose intensities are usually much larger than that of Raman scattering from the sample. Under the proper condition using pulse laser and ICCD camera with nanosecond pulse width and gating technology, we succeed to separate and remove these background noises from Raman signals. For this experiment, we build an optical system for standoff detection of explosive molecules. We use 532 nm, 10 Hz, Q-switching Nd:YAG laser as light source, and ICCD camera triggered by laser Qswitching time with proper gate delay regarding the flight time of Raman from target materials. Our detection system is successfully applied to detect and identify more than 20 ingredients of IEDs including TNT, RDX, and HMX which are located 10 to 54 meters away from the system.

Improving the time efficiency of the Fourier synthesis method for slice selection in magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Tahayori, B; Khaneja, N; Johnston, L A; Farrell, P M; Mareels, I M Y

2016-01-01

The design of slice selective pulses for magnetic resonance imaging can be cast as an optimal control problem. The Fourier synthesis method is an existing approach to solve these optimal control problems. In this method the gradient field as well as the excitation field are switched rapidly and their amplitudes are calculated based on a Fourier series expansion. Here, we provide a novel insight into the Fourier synthesis method via representing the Bloch equation in spherical coordinates. Based on the spherical Bloch equation, we propose an alternative sequence of pulses that can be used for slice selection which is more time efficient compared to the original method. Simulation results demonstrate that while the performance of both methods is approximately the same, the required time for the proposed sequence of pulses is half of the original sequence of pulses. Furthermore, the slice selectivity of both sequences of pulses changes with radio frequency field inhomogeneities in a similar way. We also introduce a measure, referred to as gradient complexity, to compare the performance of both sequences of pulses. This measure indicates that for a desired level of uniformity in the excited slice, the gradient complexity for the proposed sequence of pulses is less than the original sequence. Copyright © 2015 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efficient bounding schemes for the two-center hybrid flow shop scheduling problem with removal times.

PubMed

Hidri, Lotfi; Gharbi, Anis; Louly, Mohamed Aly

2014-01-01

We focus on the two-center hybrid flow shop scheduling problem with identical parallel machines and removal times. The job removal time is the required duration to remove it from a machine after its processing. The objective is to minimize the maximum completion time (makespan). A heuristic and a lower bound are proposed for this NP-Hard problem. These procedures are based on the optimal solution of the parallel machine scheduling problem with release dates and delivery times. The heuristic is composed of two phases. The first one is a constructive phase in which an initial feasible solution is provided, while the second phase is an improvement one. Intensive computational experiments have been conducted to confirm the good performance of the proposed procedures.

Efficient Bounding Schemes for the Two-Center Hybrid Flow Shop Scheduling Problem with Removal Times

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

We focus on the two-center hybrid flow shop scheduling problem with identical parallel machines and removal times. The job removal time is the required duration to remove it from a machine after its processing. The objective is to minimize the maximum completion time (makespan). A heuristic and a lower bound are proposed for this NP-Hard problem. These procedures are based on the optimal solution of the parallel machine scheduling problem with release dates and delivery times. The heuristic is composed of two phases. The first one is a constructive phase in which an initial feasible solution is provided, while the second phase is an improvement one. Intensive computational experiments have been conducted to confirm the good performance of the proposed procedures. PMID:25610911

Microsecond enamel ablation with 10.6μm CO2 laser radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Góra, W. S.; McDonald, A.; Hand, D. P.; Shephard, J. D.

2016-02-01

Lasers have been previously been used for dental applications, however there remain issues with thermally-induced cracking. In this paper we investigate the impact of pulse length on CO2 laser ablation of human dental enamel. Experiments were carried in vitro on molar teeth without any modification to the enamel surface, such as grinding or polishing. In addition to varying the pulse length, we also varied pulse energy and focal position, to determine the most efficient ablation of dental hard tissue and more importantly to minimize or eradicate cracking. The maximum temperature rise during the multi pulse ablation process was monitored using a set of thermocouples embedded into the pulpal chamber. The application of a laser device in dental surgery allows removal of tissue with higher precision, which results in minimal loss of healthy dental tissue. In this study we use an RF discharge excited CO2 laser operating at 10.6μm. The wavelength of 10.6 μm overlaps with a phosphate band (PO3-4) absorption in dental hard tissue hence the CO2 laser radiation has been selected as a potential source for modification of the tissue. This research describes an in-depth analysis of single pulse laser ablation. To determine the parameters that are best suited for the ablation of hard dental tissue without thermal cracking, a range of pulse lengths (10-200 μs), and fluences (0-100 J/cm2) are tested. In addition, different laser focusing approaches are investigated to select the most beneficial way of delivering laser radiation to the surface (divergent/convergent beam). To ensure that these processes do not increase the temperature above the critical threshold and cause the necrosis of the tissue a set of thermocouples was placed into the pulpal chambers. Intermittent laser radiation was investigated with and without application of a water spray to cool down the ablation site and the adjacent area. Results show that the temperature can be kept below the critical threshold either by using water spray or by decreasing the repetition rate. We demonstrate that CO2 laser pulses with pulse lengths in the regime of 10 μs can provide precise enamel tissue removal without introducing any unwanted thermal damage.

Extraction of quasi-straightforward-propagating photons from diffused light transmitting through a scattering medium by polarization modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horinaka, Hiromichi; Hashimoto, Koji; Wada, Kenji; Cho, Yoshio; Osawa, Masahiko

1995-07-01

The utilization of light polarization is proposed to extract quasi-straightforward-propagating photons from diffused light transmitting through a scattering medium under continuously operating conditions. Removal of a floor level normally appearing on the dynamic range over which the extraction capability is maintained is demonstrated. By use of pulse-based observations this cw scheme of extraction of quasi-straightforward-propagating photons is directly shown to be equivalent to the use of a temporal gate in the pulse-based operation.

INTERACTION OF LASER RADIATION WITH MATTER. LASER PLASMA: Calculation of mass transfer in the remote cutting of metals by radiation of a high-power repetitively pulsed CO2 laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gladush, G. G.; Rodionov, N. B.

2002-01-01

The mechanism of remote cutting of steel plates by radiation of a high-power repetitively pulsed CO2 laser is theoretically studied. The models of melt removal by the gravity force and the recoil pressure of material vapour are proposed and the sufficient conditions for the initiation of cutting are determined. A numerical model of a thermally thin plate was employed to describe the cutting for large focal spots.

Correlated Photon-Pair Generation in Reverse Proton-Exchange PPLN Waveguides With Integrated Mode Demultiplexer at 10 GHz Clock

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-07-31

number of photon-pairs per pulse is μ ( 1<<μ ) and the laser repetition frequency isν . The average noise photon numbers per pulse are sμ and iμ for the...and 1563-nm center wavelength pass through a tunable bandpass filter to remove the background noise from the EDFA. The pump is then frequency doubled...generation in dispersion-shifted fiber: suppression of noise photons by cooling fiber", Opt. Express, 13, 7832 (2005) #83485 - $15.00 USD Received 29 May

Laser ignition of traumatically embedded firework debris.

PubMed

Taylor, C R

1998-01-01

The Q-switched ruby laser (QSRL) has a good track record for traumatic tattoo removal. An unusual case of QSRL-treatment of a traumatic tattoo composed of firework debris is presented. A young man's traumatic tattoo, composed of firework debris, underwent QSRL ablation at 4-7 J/cm2 (pulse width 5 mm; duration 20 ns). Each test pulse produced visible sparks and focal projectile ejection of skin with pox-like scar formation. Caution is advised when using the QSRL for the treatment of traumatic tattoos composed of potentially combustible debris.

Deficiencies of active electronic radiation protection dosimeters in pulsed fields.

PubMed

Ankerhold, U; Hupe, O; Ambrosi, P

2009-07-01

Nowadays nearly all radiation fields used for X-ray diagnostics are pulsed. These fields are characterised by a high dose rate during the pulse and a short pulse duration in the range of a few milliseconds. The use of active electronic dosimeters has increased in the past few years, but these types of dosimeters might possibly not measure reliably in pulsed radiation fields. Not only personal dosimeters but also area dosimeters that are used mainly for dose rate measurements are concerned. These cannot be substituted by using passive dosimeter types. The characteristics of active electronic dosimeters determined in a continuous radiation field cannot be transferred to those in pulsed fields. Some provisional measurements with typical electronic dosimeters in pulsed radiation fields are presented to reveal this basic problem.

AN/SLQ-32 EW System Model: and Expandable, Object-Oriented, Process- Based Simulation

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-09-01

CONST threshold = 0.1; timetol = 0.01; orientol = 5.8; VAR rec, recLast :BufferBeamRecType; time,power : REAL; powerl,orientation : REAL; BEGIN NEW...PulseGroup); rec:-ASK BufferBeam Removed; time: =rec. time; orientation: =rec. orientation; OUTPUT ( "ORIENREFI, orientation); recLast :=ASK BufferBeam Last...TO Add(rec); IF (rec= recLast ) EXIT; END IF; rec :=ASK BufferBeam Remove o; ELSE ASK BufferBeam TO Add(rec); IF (rec = recLast ) EXIT; END IF; rec

The use of picosecond lasers beyond tattoos.

PubMed

Forbat, E; Al-Niaimi, F

2016-10-01

Picosecond lasers are a novel laser with the ability to create a pulse of less than one nanosecond. They have been available in the clinical context since 2012. Dermatologists are now using picosecond lasers regularly for the treatment of blue and green pigment tattoo removal. This article reviews the use of picosecond lasers beyond tattoo removal. The overall consensus for the use of picosecond lasers beyond tattoo treatment is positive. With examples of this in the treatment of nevus of Ota, minocycline-induced pigmentation, acne scarring, and rhytides.

Real-Time RFI Mitigation in Pulsar Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramey, Emily; Joslyn, Nick; Prestage, Richard; Whitehead, Mark; Lam, Michael Timothy; Blattner, Tim; Hawkins, Luke; Viou, Cedric; Masson, Jessica

2018-01-01

As the use of wireless technology has increased around the world, Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) has become more and more of a problem for radio astronomers. Preventative measures exist to limit the presence of RFI, and programs exist to remove it from saved data, but the routine use of algorithms to detect and remove RFI as an observation is occurring is much less common. Such a method would be incredibly useful for observations in which the data must undergo several rounds of processing before being saved, as in pulsar timing studies. Strategies for real-time mitigation have been discussed and tested with simulated data (Buch et al., 2016), but ideally the results of any approach would be validated by a detailed comparison of the final data products - for pulsar timing, the variance in the pulse times of arrival (TOAs) - with and without mitigation applied. The goal of this project is to develop an RFI mitigation approach based on the previously suggested strategies and test this program on actual data from the observation of pulsar J1713+0747. We use a Median Absolute Deviation (MAD) filter to identify interference in the observation and replace the compromised data with random Gaussian noise to match a characteristic radio signal from space. In order to verify our results, we analyze the pulsar’s TOAs obtained both from the mitigated data and from the unmitigated data processed through offline RFI removal software. Comparing the two, our preliminary findings indicate that our program is able to improve the quality of timing results from the observation.

Analytical Characterization on Pulse Propagation in a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Based on Homotopy Analysis Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Xiaofei

2018-06-01

Starting from the basic equations describing the evolution of the carriers and photons inside a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), the equation governing pulse propagation in the SOA is derived. By employing homotopy analysis method (HAM), a series solution for the output pulse by the SOA is obtained, which can effectively characterize the temporal features of the nonlinear process during the pulse propagation inside the SOA. Moreover, the analytical solution is compared with numerical simulations with a good agreement. The theoretical results will benefit the future analysis of other problems related to the pulse propagation in the SOA.

Virtual Active Touch Using Randomly Patterned Intracortical Microstimulation

PubMed Central

O’Doherty, Joseph E.; Lebedev, Mikhail A.; Li, Zheng; Nicolelis, Miguel A.L.

2012-01-01

Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) has promise as a means for delivering somatosensory feedback in neuroprosthetic systems. Various tactile sensations could be encoded by temporal, spatial, or spatiotemporal patterns of ICMS. However, the applicability of temporal patterns of ICMS to artificial tactile sensation during active exploration is unknown, as is the minimum discriminable difference between temporally modulated ICMS patterns. We trained rhesus monkeys in an active exploration task in which they discriminated periodic pulse-trains of ICMS (200 Hz bursts at a 10 Hz secondary frequency) from pulse trains with the same average pulse rate, but distorted periodicity (200 Hz bursts at a variable instantaneous secondary frequency). The statistics of the aperiodic pulse trains were drawn from a gamma distribution with mean inter-burst intervals equal to those of the periodic pulse trains. The monkeys distinguished periodic pulse trains from aperiodic pulse trains with coefficients of variation 0.25 or greater. Reconstruction of movement kinematics, extracted from the activity of neuronal populations recorded in the sensorimotor cortex concurrent with the delivery of ICMS feedback, improved when the recording intervals affected by ICMS artifacts were removed from analysis. These results add to the growing evidence that temporally patterned ICMS can be used to simulate a tactile sense for neuroprosthetic devices. PMID:22207642

Laparoscopic Transcystic Treatment Biliary Calculi by Laser Lithotripsy

PubMed Central

Jin, Lan; Zhang, Zhongtao

2016-01-01

Background and Objectives: Laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE) is a complex procedure requiring expertise in laparoscopic and choledochoscopic skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and feasibility of treating biliary calculi through laparoscopic transcystic exploration of the CBD via an ultrathin choledochoscope combined with dual-frequency laser lithotripsy. Methods: From August 2011 through September 2014, 89 patients at our hospital were treated for cholecystolithiasis with biliary calculi. Patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and exploration of the CBD via the cystic duct and the choledochoscope instrument channel. A dual-band, dual-pulse laser lithotripsy system was used to destroy the calculi. Two intermittent laser emissions (intensity, 0.12 J; pulse width 1.2 μs; and pulse frequency, 10 Hz) were applied during each contact with the calculi. The stones were washed out by water injection or removed by a stone-retrieval basket. Results: Biliary calculi were removed in 1 treatment in all 89 patients. No biliary tract injury or bile leakage was observed. Follow-up examination with type-B ultrasonography or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography 3 months after surgery revealed no instances of retained-calculi–related biliary tract stenosis. Conclusion: The combined use of laparoscopic transcystic CBD exploration by ultrathin choledochoscopy and dual-frequency laser lithotripsy offers an accurate, convenient, safe, effective method of treating biliary calculi. PMID:27904308

High speed direct imaging of thin metal film ablation by movie-mode dynamic transmission electron microscopy

PubMed Central

Hihath, Sahar; Santala, Melissa K.; Cen, Xi; Campbell, Geoffrey; van Benthem, Klaus

2016-01-01

Obliteration of matter by pulsed laser beams is not only prevalent in science fiction movies, but finds numerous technological applications ranging from additive manufacturing over machining of micro- and nanostructured features to health care. Pulse lengths ranging from femtoseconds to nanoseconds are utilized at varying laser beam energies and pulse lengths, and enable the removal of nanometric volumes of material. While the mechanisms for removal of material by laser irradiation, i.e., laser ablation, are well understood on the micrometer length scale, it was previously impossible to directly observe obliteration processes on smaller scales due to experimental limitations for the combination of nanometer spatial and nanosecond temporal resolution. Here, we report the direct observation of metal thin film ablation from a solid substrate through dynamic transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative analysis reveals liquid-phase dewetting of the thin-film, followed by hydrodynamic sputtering of nano- to submicron sized metal droplets. We discovered unexpected fracturing of the substrate due to evolving thermal stresses. This study confirms that hydrodynamic sputtering remains a valid mechanism for droplet expulsion on the nanoscale, while irradiation induced stress fields represent limit laser processing of nanostructured materials. Our results allow for improved safety during laser ablation in manufacturing and medical applications. PMID:26965073

High speed direct imaging of thin metal film ablation by movie-mode dynamic transmission electron microscopy

DOE PAGES

Hihath, Sahar; Santala, Melissa K.; Cen, Xi; ...

2016-03-11

Obliteration of matter by pulsed laser beams is not only prevalent in science fiction movies, but finds numerous technological applications ranging from additive manufacturing over machining of micro- and nanostructured features to health care. Pulse lengths ranging from femtoseconds to nanoseconds are utilized at varying laser beam energies and pulse lengths, and enable the removal of nanometric volumes of material. While the mechanisms for removal of material by laser irradiation, i.e., laser ablation, are well understood on the micrometer length scale, it was previously impossible to directly observe obliteration processes on smaller scales due to experimental limitations for the combinationmore » of nanometer spatial and nanosecond temporal resolution. Here, we report the direct observation of metal thin film ablation from a solid substrate through dynamic transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative analysis reveals liquid-phase dewetting of the thin-film, followed by hydrodynamic sputtering of nano- to submicron sized metal droplets. We discovered unexpected fracturing of the substrate due to evolving thermal stresses. This study confirms that hydrodynamic sputtering remains a valid mechanism for droplet expulsion on the nanoscale, while irradiation induced stress fields represent limit laser processing of nanostructured materials. Ultimately, our results allow for improved safety during laser ablation in manufacturing and medical applications.« less

High speed direct imaging of thin metal film ablation by movie-mode dynamic transmission electron microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hihath, Sahar; Santala, Melissa K.; Cen, Xi; Campbell, Geoffrey; van Benthem, Klaus

2016-03-01

Obliteration of matter by pulsed laser beams is not only prevalent in science fiction movies, but finds numerous technological applications ranging from additive manufacturing over machining of micro- and nanostructured features to health care. Pulse lengths ranging from femtoseconds to nanoseconds are utilized at varying laser beam energies and pulse lengths, and enable the removal of nanometric volumes of material. While the mechanisms for removal of material by laser irradiation, i.e., laser ablation, are well understood on the micrometer length scale, it was previously impossible to directly observe obliteration processes on smaller scales due to experimental limitations for the combination of nanometer spatial and nanosecond temporal resolution. Here, we report the direct observation of metal thin film ablation from a solid substrate through dynamic transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative analysis reveals liquid-phase dewetting of the thin-film, followed by hydrodynamic sputtering of nano- to submicron sized metal droplets. We discovered unexpected fracturing of the substrate due to evolving thermal stresses. This study confirms that hydrodynamic sputtering remains a valid mechanism for droplet expulsion on the nanoscale, while irradiation induced stress fields represent limit laser processing of nanostructured materials. Our results allow for improved safety during laser ablation in manufacturing and medical applications.

High speed direct imaging of thin metal film ablation by movie-mode dynamic transmission electron microscopy.

PubMed

Hihath, Sahar; Santala, Melissa K; Cen, Xi; Campbell, Geoffrey; van Benthem, Klaus

2016-03-11

Obliteration of matter by pulsed laser beams is not only prevalent in science fiction movies, but finds numerous technological applications ranging from additive manufacturing over machining of micro- and nanostructured features to health care. Pulse lengths ranging from femtoseconds to nanoseconds are utilized at varying laser beam energies and pulse lengths, and enable the removal of nanometric volumes of material. While the mechanisms for removal of material by laser irradiation, i.e., laser ablation, are well understood on the micrometer length scale, it was previously impossible to directly observe obliteration processes on smaller scales due to experimental limitations for the combination of nanometer spatial and nanosecond temporal resolution. Here, we report the direct observation of metal thin film ablation from a solid substrate through dynamic transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative analysis reveals liquid-phase dewetting of the thin-film, followed by hydrodynamic sputtering of nano- to submicron sized metal droplets. We discovered unexpected fracturing of the substrate due to evolving thermal stresses. This study confirms that hydrodynamic sputtering remains a valid mechanism for droplet expulsion on the nanoscale, while irradiation induced stress fields represent limit laser processing of nanostructured materials. Our results allow for improved safety during laser ablation in manufacturing and medical applications.

Laser eye protection bleaching with femtosecond exposure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stolarski, Jacob; Hayes, Kristy L.; Thomas, Robert J.; Noojin, Gary D.; Stolarski, David J.; Rockwell, Benjamin A.

2003-06-01

The measured optical density of various laser eye protection samples is presented as a function of irradiance using femtosecond laser pulses. We show that the protective quality of some eyewear degrades as irradiance increases. In previous studies this problem has been demonstrated for samples irradiated by nanosecond pulses, but the current study shows that some modern laser eye protection seems to be robust except for the irradiance level possible with ultrashort laser pulse exposure. We discuss the most likely saturation mechanisms in this pulse duration regime and its relevance to laser safety.

Laser System for Photoelectron and X-Ray Production in the PLEIADES Compton Light Source

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

Gibson, D J; Barty, C J; Betts, S M

2005-04-21

The PLEIADES (Picosecond Laser-Electron Interaction for the Dynamic Evaluation of Structures) facility provides tunable short x-ray pulses with energies of 30-140 keV and pulse durations of 0.3-5 ps by scattering an intense, ultrashort laser pulse off a 35-75 MeV electron beam. Synchronization of the laser and electron beam is obtained by using a photoinjector gun, and using the same laser system to generate the electrons and the scattering laser. The Ti Ti:Sapphire, chirped pulse amplification based 500 mJ, 50 fs, 810 nm scattering laser and the similar 300 {micro}J, 5 ps, 266 nm photoinjector laser systems are detailed. Additionally, anmore » optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) system is studied as a replacement for part of the scattering laser front end. Such a change would significantly simplify the set-up the laser system by removing the need for active switching optics, as well as increase the pre-pulse contrast ratio which will be important when part of the scattering laser is used as a pump beam in pump-probe diffraction experiments using the ultrashort tunable x-rays generated as the probe.« less

Ablation mass features in multi-pulses femtosecond laser ablate molybdenum target

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Dongye; Gierse, Niels; Wegner, Julian; Pretzler, Georg; Oelmann, Jannis; Brezinsek, Sebastijan; Liang, Yunfeng; Neubauer, Olaf; Rasinski, Marcin; Linsmeier, Christian; Ding, Hongbin

2018-03-01

In this study, the ablation mass features related to reflectivity of bulk Molybdenum (Mo) were investigated by a Ti: Sa 6 fs laser pulse at central wavelength 790 nm. The ablated mass removal was determined using Confocal Microscopy (CM) technique. The surface reflectivity was calibrated and measured by a Lambda 950 spectrophotometer as well as a CCD camera during laser ablation. The ablation mass loss per pulse increase with the increasing of laser shots, meanwhile the surface reflectivity decrease. The multi-pulses (100 shots) ablation threshold of Mo was determined to be 0.15 J/cm2. The incubation coefficient was estimated as 0.835. The reflectivity change of the Mo target surface following multi-pulses laser ablation were studied as a function of laser ablation shots at various laser fluences from 1.07 J/cm2 to 36.23 J/cm2. The results of measured reflectivity indicate that surface reflectivity of Mo target has a significant decline in the first 3-laser pulses at the various fluences. These results are important for developing a quantitative analysis model for laser induced ablation and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy for the first wall diagnosis of EAST tokamak.

Thermal analysis of EAST neutral beam injectors for long-pulse beam operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chundong, HU; Yongjian, XU; Yuanlai, XIE; Yahong, XIE; Lizhen, LIANG; Caichao, JIANG; Sheng, LIU; Jianglong, WEI; Peng, SHENG; Zhimin, LIU; Ling, TAO; the NBI Team

2018-04-01

Two sets of neutral beam injectors (NBI-1 and NBI-2) have been mounted on the EAST tokamak since 2014. NBI-1 and NBI-2 are co-direction and counter-direction, respectively. As with in-depth physics and engineering study of EAST, the ability of long pulse beam injection should be required in the NBI system. For NBIs, the most important and difficult thing that should be overcome is heat removal capacity of heat loaded components for long-pulse beam extraction. In this article, the thermal state of the components of EAST NBI is investigated using water flow calorimetry and thermocouple temperatures. Results show that (1) operation parameters have an obvious influence on the heat deposited on the inner components of the beamline, (2) a suitable operation parameter can decrease the heat loading effectively and obtain longer beam pulse length, and (3) under the cooling water pressure of 0.25 MPa, the predicted maximum beam pulse length will be up to 260 s with 50 keV beam energy by a duty factor of 0.5. The results present that, in this regard, the EAST NBI-1 system has the ability of long-pulse beam injection.

High speed micromachining with high power UV laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, Rajesh S.; Bovatsek, James M.

2013-03-01

Increasing demand for creating fine features with high accuracy in manufacturing of electronic mobile devices has fueled growth for lasers in manufacturing. High power, high repetition rate ultraviolet (UV) lasers provide an opportunity to implement a cost effective high quality, high throughput micromachining process in a 24/7 manufacturing environment. The energy available per pulse and the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of diode pumped solid state (DPSS) nanosecond UV lasers have increased steadily over the years. Efficient use of the available energy from a laser is important to generate accurate fine features at a high speed with high quality. To achieve maximum material removal and minimal thermal damage for any laser micromachining application, use of the optimal process parameters including energy density or fluence (J/cm2), pulse width, and repetition rate is important. In this study we present a new high power, high PRF QuasarR 355-40 laser from Spectra-Physics with TimeShiftTM technology for unique software adjustable pulse width, pulse splitting, and pulse shaping capabilities. The benefits of these features for micromachining include improved throughput and quality. Specific example and results of silicon scribing are described to demonstrate the processing benefits of the Quasar's available power, PRF, and TimeShift technology.

Low Capacity Reliquefier for Storage of Cryogenic Fluids.

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-11-01

comparably derated mechanically driven Stirling cryocooler could have low pressure ratio and forces without the high temperature problems. Pulse Tube ...than conventional Stirling refrigerators. Pulse tube cryocoolers have reached temperatures below 35 K with 1 or 2 stages and below 10 K with 3 stages...temperatures below 20 K with regenerative cycle cryocoolers (e.g. Stirling , Gifford- McMahan, pulse tube , etc.). Ideally, the regenerator should have high

Optimal filter bandwidth for pulse oximetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stuban, Norbert; Niwayama, Masatsugu

2012-10-01

Pulse oximeters contain one or more signal filtering stages between the photodiode and microcontroller. These filters are responsible for removing the noise while retaining the useful frequency components of the signal, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio. The corner frequencies of these filters affect not only the noise level, but also the shape of the pulse signal. Narrow filter bandwidth effectively suppresses the noise; however, at the same time, it distorts the useful signal components by decreasing the harmonic content. In this paper, we investigated the influence of the filter bandwidth on the accuracy of pulse oximeters. We used a pulse oximeter tester device to produce stable, repetitive pulse waves with digitally adjustable R ratio and heart rate. We built a pulse oximeter and attached it to the tester device. The pulse oximeter digitized the current of its photodiode directly, without any analog signal conditioning. We varied the corner frequency of the low-pass filter in the pulse oximeter in the range of 0.66-15 Hz by software. For the tester device, the R ratio was set to R = 1.00, and the R ratio deviation measured by the pulse oximeter was monitored as a function of the corner frequency of the low-pass filter. The results revealed that lowering the corner frequency of the low-pass filter did not decrease the accuracy of the oxygen level measurements. The lowest possible value of the corner frequency of the low-pass filter is the fundamental frequency of the pulse signal. We concluded that the harmonics of the pulse signal do not contribute to the accuracy of pulse oximetry. The results achieved by the pulse oximeter tester were verified by human experiments, performed on five healthy subjects. The results of the human measurements confirmed that filtering out the harmonics of the pulse signal does not degrade the accuracy of pulse oximetry.

Optimal filter bandwidth for pulse oximetry.

PubMed

Stuban, Norbert; Niwayama, Masatsugu

2012-10-01

Pulse oximeters contain one or more signal filtering stages between the photodiode and microcontroller. These filters are responsible for removing the noise while retaining the useful frequency components of the signal, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio. The corner frequencies of these filters affect not only the noise level, but also the shape of the pulse signal. Narrow filter bandwidth effectively suppresses the noise; however, at the same time, it distorts the useful signal components by decreasing the harmonic content. In this paper, we investigated the influence of the filter bandwidth on the accuracy of pulse oximeters. We used a pulse oximeter tester device to produce stable, repetitive pulse waves with digitally adjustable R ratio and heart rate. We built a pulse oximeter and attached it to the tester device. The pulse oximeter digitized the current of its photodiode directly, without any analog signal conditioning. We varied the corner frequency of the low-pass filter in the pulse oximeter in the range of 0.66-15 Hz by software. For the tester device, the R ratio was set to R = 1.00, and the R ratio deviation measured by the pulse oximeter was monitored as a function of the corner frequency of the low-pass filter. The results revealed that lowering the corner frequency of the low-pass filter did not decrease the accuracy of the oxygen level measurements. The lowest possible value of the corner frequency of the low-pass filter is the fundamental frequency of the pulse signal. We concluded that the harmonics of the pulse signal do not contribute to the accuracy of pulse oximetry. The results achieved by the pulse oximeter tester were verified by human experiments, performed on five healthy subjects. The results of the human measurements confirmed that filtering out the harmonics of the pulse signal does not degrade the accuracy of pulse oximetry.

Time-resolved processes in a pulsed electrical discharge in argon bubbles in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gershman, S.; Belkind, A.

2010-12-01

A phenomenological picture of a pulsed electrical discharge in gas bubbles in water is produced by combining electrical, spectroscopic, and imaging characterization methods. The discharge is generated by applying 1 μ s pulses of 5 to 20 kV between a needle and a disk electrode submerged in water. An Ar gas bubble surrounds the tip of the needle electrode. Imaging, electrical characteristics, and time-resolved optical emission spectroscopic data suggest a fast streamer propagation mechanism and the formation of a plasma channel in the bubble. Comparing the electrical and imaging data for consecutive pulses applied to the bubble at a frequency of 1 Hz indicates that each discharge proceeds as an entirely new process with no memory of the previous discharge aside from the presence of long-lived chemical species, such as ozone and oxygen. Imaging and electrical data show the presence of two discharge events during each applied voltage pulse, a forward discharge near the beginning of the applied pulse depositing charge on the surface of the bubble and a reverse discharge removing the accumulated charge from the water/gas interface when the applied voltage is turned off. The pd value of ~ 300-500 torr cm, the 1 μs long pulse duration, low repetition rate, and unidirectional character of the applied voltage pulses make the discharge process here unique compared to the traditional corona or dielectric barrier discharges.

Birefringent Fiber Devices and Lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Theimer, James Prentice

1995-01-01

This thesis presents the results of numerical simulations of mode-locked figure eight lasers and their components: fiber amplifiers and nonlinear optical loop mirrors (NOLMs). The computations were designed to study pulse evolution in optical amplifiers and NOLMs with periodic repetition of these elements. Since fiber laser systems also include birefringent fiber, the effects of fiber birefringence was incorporated into the simulations. My studies of pulse amplification in non-birefringent amplifiers show pulse breakup when their energies exceed 4.5 fundamental soliton energies. In birefringent fibers pulse breakup is also found, but the two orthogonally polarized pulses propagate together. I find that their behavior is related to the properties of a vector soliton. I found that vector waves have close to unity transmission through a birefringent NOLM, but the pulse shape is distorted. This shape distortion reduces subsequent transmissions through the NOLM. The energy required for peak transmission of the pulse is predicted by the theory based on vector solitons. The same theory also predicted the low intensity transmission. The performance of the NOLM with birefringent fiber could not be improved by altering the polarization state of the pulse from linear polarization; the polarization controller introduced pulse distortion that resulted in excessive loss. I found an instability in the steady-state operation of the figure eight laser, which is due to pulse reshaping during propagation in the amplifier section. To remove this instability I introduced the concept of dispersion balancing; by increasing the dispersion in the amplifier section, the pulse can propagate nearly as a fundamental soliton in both the amplifier and the NOLM sections of the laser. This eliminated a major source of dispersive wave shedding and allowed the laser operation to become independent of the amplifier length. Sidebands were found on the pulse spectrum and their maxima corresponded well with the periodic resonance model.

Experimental application of pulsed laser-induced water jet for endoscopic submucosal dissection: mechanical investigation and preliminary experiment in swine.

PubMed

Sato, Chiaki; Nakano, Toru; Nakagawa, Atsuhiro; Yamada, Masato; Yamamoto, Hiroaki; Kamei, Takashi; Miyata, Go; Sato, Akira; Fujishima, Fumiyoshi; Nakai, Masaaki; Niinomi, Mitsuo; Takayama, Kazuyoshi; Tominaga, Teiji; Satomi, Susumu

2013-05-01

A current drawback of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastrointestinal tumors is the lack of instruments that can safely assist with this procedure. We have developed a pulsed jet device that can be incorporated into a gastrointestinal endoscope. Here, we investigated the mechanical profile of the pulsed jet device and demonstrated the usefulness of this instrument in esophageal ESD in swine. The device comprises a 5-Fr catheter, a 14-mm long stainless steel tube for generating the pulsed water jet, a nozzle and an optical quartz fiber. The pulsed water jet was generated at pulse rates of 3 Hz by irradiating the physiological saline (4°C) within the stainless steel tube with an holmium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser at 1.1 J/pulse. Mechanical characteristics were evaluated using a force meter. The device was used only for the part of submucosal dissection in the swine ESD model. Tissues removed using the pulsed jet device and a conventional electrocautery device, and the esophagus, were histologically examined to assess thermal damage. The peak impact force was observed at a stand-off distance of 40 mm (1.1 J/pulse). ESD using the pulsed jet device was successful, as the tissue specimens showed precise dissection of the submucosal layer. The extent of thermal injury was significantly lower in the dissected bed using the pulsed jet device. The results showed that the present endoscopic pulsed jet system is a useful alternative for a safe ESD with minimum tissue injury. © 2012 The Authors. Digestive Endoscopy © 2012 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.

The role of mass removal mechanisms in the onset of ns-laser induced plasma formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Autrique, D.; Clair, G.; L'Hermite, D.; Alexiades, V.; Bogaerts, A.; Rethfeld, B.

2013-07-01

The present study focuses on the role of mass removal mechanisms in ns-laser ablation. A copper sample is placed in argon, initially set at standard pressure and temperature. Calculations are performed for a 6 ns laser pulse with a wavelength of 532 nm and laser fluences up to 10 J/cm2. The transient behavior in and above the copper target is described by a hydrodynamic model. Transmission profiles and ablation depths are compared with experimental results and similar trends are found. Our calculations reveal an interesting self-inhibiting mechanism: volumetric mass removal in the supercritical region triggers plasma shielding and therefore stops proceeding. This self-limiting process indicates that volumetric mass removal does not necessarily result in large ablation depths.

NMR implementation of adiabatic SAT algorithm using strongly modulated pulses.

PubMed

Mitra, Avik; Mahesh, T S; Kumar, Anil

2008-03-28

NMR implementation of adiabatic algorithms face severe problems in homonuclear spin systems since the qubit selective pulses are long and during this period, evolution under the Hamiltonian and decoherence cause errors. The decoherence destroys the answer as it causes the final state to evolve to mixed state and in homonuclear systems, evolution under the internal Hamiltonian causes phase errors preventing the initial state to converge to the solution state. The resolution of these issues is necessary before one can proceed to implement an adiabatic algorithm in a large system where homonuclear coupled spins will become a necessity. In the present work, we demonstrate that by using "strongly modulated pulses" (SMPs) for the creation of interpolating Hamiltonian, one can circumvent both the problems and successfully implement the adiabatic SAT algorithm in a homonuclear three qubit system. This work also demonstrates that the SMPs tremendously reduce the time taken for the implementation of the algorithm, can overcome problems associated with decoherence, and will be the modality in future implementation of quantum information processing by NMR.

Collisional Removal of O2 (c(sup 1) Sigma(sup-)(sub u), nu=9) by O2, N2, and He

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Copeland, Richard A.; Knutsen, Karen; Onishi, Marc E.; Yalcin, Talat

1996-01-01

The collisional removal Of 02 molecules in selected vibrational levels of the c state is studied using a two-laser double-resonance technique. The output of the first laser excites the 02 to nu = 9 or 10 of the c Sigma - state, and the ultraviolet output of the second laser monitors specific rovibrational levels via resonance-enhanced ionization. The temporal evolution of the c Sigma u state vibrational level is observed by scanning the time delay between the two pulsed lasers. As the rate constants for 02 and N2 are similar in magnitude, N2 collisions dominate the removal rate in the earth's atmosphere. For v= 10 colliding with 02, we find a removal rate constant that is 2-5 times that for v=9 and that single quantum collision cascade is an important pathway for removal.

Visualization of femtosecond laser pulse-induced microincisions inside crystalline lens tissue.

PubMed

Stachs, Oliver; Schumacher, Silvia; Hovakimyan, Marine; Fromm, Michael; Heisterkamp, Alexander; Lubatschowski, Holger; Guthoff, Rudolf

2009-11-01

To evaluate a new method for visualizing femtosecond laser pulse-induced microincisions inside crystalline lens tissue. Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Hannover, Germany. Lenses removed from porcine eyes were modified ex vivo by femtosecond laser pulses (wavelength 1040 nm, pulse duration 306 femtoseconds, pulse energy 1.0 to 2.5 microJ, repetition rate 100 kHz) to create defined planes at which lens fibers separate. The femtosecond laser pulses were delivered by a 3-dimension (3-D) scanning unit and transmitted by focusing optics (numerical aperture 0.18) into the lens tissue. Lens fiber orientation and femtosecond laser-induced microincisions were examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) based on a Rostock Cornea Module attached to a Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II. Optical sections were analyzed in 3-D using Amira software (version 4.1.1). Normal lens fibers showed a parallel pattern with diameters between 3 microm and 9 microm, depending on scanning location. Microincision visualization showed different cutting effects depending on pulse energy of the femtosecond laser. The effects ranged from altered tissue-scattering properties with all fibers intact to definite fiber separation by a wide gap. Pulse energies that were too high or overlapped too tightly produced an incomplete cutting plane due to extensive microbubble generation. The 3-D CLSM method permitted visualization and analysis of femtosecond laser pulse-induced microincisions inside crystalline lens tissue. Thus, 3-D CLSM may help optimize femtosecond laser-based procedures in the treatment of presbyopia.

Pulse energy dependence of subcellular dissection by femtosecond laser pulses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heisterkamp, A.; Maxwell, I. Z.; Mazur, E.; Underwood, J. M.; Nickerson, J. A.; Kumar, S.; Ingber, D. E.

2005-01-01

Precise dissection of cells with ultrashort laser pulses requires a clear understanding of how the onset and extent of ablation (i.e., the removal of material) depends on pulse energy. We carried out a systematic study of the energy dependence of the plasma-mediated ablation of fluorescently-labeled subcellular structures in the cytoskeleton and nuclei of fixed endothelial cells using femtosecond, near-infrared laser pulses focused through a high-numerical aperture objective lens (1.4 NA). We find that the energy threshold for photobleaching lies between 0.9 and 1.7 nJ. By comparing the changes in fluorescence with the actual material loss determined by electron microscopy, we find that the threshold for true material ablation is about 20% higher than the photobleaching threshold. This information makes it possible to use the fluorescence to determine the onset of true material ablation without resorting to electron microscopy. We confirm the precision of this technique by severing a single microtubule without disrupting the neighboring microtubules, less than 1 micrometer away. c2005 Optical Society of America.

Pulse electrochemical meso/micro/nano ultraprecision machining technology.

PubMed

Lee, Jeong Min; Kim, Young Bin; Park, Jeong Woo

2013-11-01

This study demonstrated meso/micro/nano-ultraprecision machining through electrochemical reactions using intermittent DC pulses. The experiment focused on two machining methods: (1) pulse electrochemical polishing (PECP) of stainless steel, and (2) pulse electrochemical nano-patterning (PECNP) on a silicon (Si) surface, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) for fabrication. The dissolution reaction at the stainless steel surface following PECP produced a very clean, smooth workpiece. The advantages of the PECP process included improvements in corrosion resistance, deburring of the sample surface, and removal of hydrogen from the stainless steel surface as verified by time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). In PECNP, the electrochemical reaction generated within water molecules produced nanoscale oxide textures on a Si surface. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) was used to evaluate nanoscale-pattern processing on a Si wafer surface produced by AFM-PECNP For both processes using pulse electrochemical reactions, three-dimensional (3-D) measurements and AFM were used to investigate the changes on the machined surfaces. Preliminary results indicated the potential for advancing surface polishing techniques and localized micro/nano-texturing technology using PECP and PECNP processes.

Mode-locked ytterbium-doped fiber laser based on topological insulator: Bi₂Se₃.

PubMed

Dou, Zhiyuan; Song, Yanrong; Tian, Jinrong; Liu, Jinghui; Yu, Zhenhua; Fang, Xiaohui

2014-10-06

We demonstrated an all-normal-dispersion Yb-doped mode-locked fiber laser based on Bi₂Se₃ topological insulator (TI). Different from previous TI-mode-locked fiber lasers in which TIs were mixed with film-forming agent, we used a special way to paste a well-proportioned pure TI on a fiber end-facet. In this way, the effect of the film-forming agent could be removed, thus the heat deposition was relieved and damage threshold could be improved. The modulation depth of the Bi₂Se₃ film was measured to be 5.2%. When we used the Bi₂Se₃ film in the Yb-doped fiber laser, the mode locked pulses with pulse energy of 0.756 nJ, pulse width of 46 ps and the repetition rate of 44.6 MHz were obtained. The maximum average output power was 33.7 mW. When the pump power exceeded 270 mW, the laser can operate in multiple pulse state that six-pulse regime can be realized. This contribution indicates that Bi₂Se₃ has an attractive optoelectronic property at 1μm waveband.

Pulse stuttering as a remedy for aliased ground backscatter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowhill, S. A.

1983-12-01

An algorithm that aides in the removal of ground scatter from low frequency Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere (MST) radar signals is examined. The unwanted ground scatter is shown as a sequence of velocity plots which are almost typical at the various altitudes. The interpulse period is changed in a cyclic way, thereby destroying the coherence of the unwanted signal. The interpulse period must be changed by an amount at least equal to the transmitted pulse width, and optimum performance is obtained when the number of different interpulse period occupies a time span greater than the coherence time of the unwanted signal. Since a 20-msec pulse width is used, it was found convenient to cycle through 50 pulses, the interpulse period changing from 2 msec to 3 msec during the 1/8-second time. This particular pattern of interpulse periods was provided by a software radar controller. With application of this algorithm, the unwanted scatter signal becomes incoherent from one pulse to the next, and therefore is perceived as noise by the coherent integrator and correlator.

Pulse stuttering as a remedy for aliased ground backscatter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowhill, S. A.

1983-01-01

An algorithm that aides in the removal of ground scatter from low frequency Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere (MST) radar signals is examined. The unwanted ground scatter is shown as a sequence of velocity plots which are almost typical at the various altitudes. The interpulse period is changed in a cyclic way, thereby destroying the coherence of the unwanted signal. The interpulse period must be changed by an amount at least equal to the transmitted pulse width, and optimum performance is obtained when the number of different interpulse period occupies a time span greater than the coherence time of the unwanted signal. Since a 20-msec pulse width is used, it was found convenient to cycle through 50 pulses, the interpulse period changing from 2 msec to 3 msec during the 1/8-second time. This particular pattern of interpulse periods was provided by a software radar controller. With application of this algorithm, the unwanted scatter signal becomes incoherent from one pulse to the next, and therefore is perceived as noise by the coherent integrator and correlator.

Pulsed Laser-induced Liquid Jet System for Treatment of Sellar and Parasellar Tumors: Safety Evaluation.

PubMed

Nakagawa, Atsuhiro; Ogawa, Yoshikazu; Amano, Kosaku; Ishii, Yudo; Tahara, Shigeshi; Horiguchi, Kentaro; Kawamata, Takakazu; Yano, Shigetoshi; Arafune, Tatsuhiko; Washio, Toshikatsu; Kuratsu, Jun-Ichi; Saeki, Naokatsu; Okada, Yoshikazu; Teramoto, Akira; Tominaga, Teiji

2015-11-01

The pulsed laser-induced liquid jet (LILJ) system is an emerging surgical instrument intended to assist both maximal removal of the lesion and functional maintenance through preservation of fine vessels and minimal damage to the surrounding tissue. The system ejects the minimum required amount of pulsed water through a handy bayonet-shaped catheter. We have already shown a significant increase in removal rate, in addition to a noteworthy reduction of intraoperative blood loss and procedure time in the treatment of large pituitary and skull base tumors in a single-institution series. The present study evaluated the safety of the system in multiple institutions. The study included 46 patients, 29 men and 17 women (mean age: 59.1 years) who underwent microsurgical/endoscopic resection of lesions in or in the vicinity of the pituitary fossa through the transsphenoidal approach between October 2011 and June 2012 at six institutions. The histologic diagnoses were pituitary adenoma (31 cases), meningioma (4), craniopharyngioma (3), cavernous angioma (2), and Rathke cyst cleft (1). Lesion volume ranged from 2.0 to 30.4 cm³ (mean: 3.7 cm³). Cavernous sinus invasion was observed in 11 cases and suprasellar extension in 29 cases. Preservation of intralesional arteries (diameter: 150 µm) was achieved in all situations in > 80% of cases. Intended surgical steps were achieved except for some restrictions in motion due to the use of an optical quartz fiber. No complications occurred directly related to the use of the device. The LILJ system can be used for safe removal of lesions in or in the vicinity of the pituitary fossa. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Design of universal parallel-transmit refocusing kT -point pulses and application to 3D T2 -weighted imaging at 7T.

PubMed

Gras, Vincent; Mauconduit, Franck; Vignaud, Alexandre; Amadon, Alexis; Le Bihan, Denis; Stöcker, Tony; Boulant, Nicolas

2018-07-01

T 2 -weighted sequences are particularly sensitive to the radiofrequency (RF) field inhomogeneity problem at ultra-high-field because of the errors accumulated by the imperfections of the train of refocusing pulses. As parallel transmission (pTx) has proved particularly useful to counteract RF heterogeneities, universal pulses were recently demonstrated to save precious time and computational efforts by skipping B 1 calibration and online RF pulse tailoring. Here, we report a universal RF pulse design for non-selective refocusing pulses to mitigate the RF inhomogeneity problem at 7T in turbo spin-echo sequences with variable flip angles. Average Hamiltonian theory was used to synthetize a single non-selective refocusing pulse with pTx while optimizing its scaling properties in the presence of static field offsets. The design was performed under explicit power and specific absorption rate constraints on a database of 10 subjects using a 8Tx-32Rx commercial coil at 7T. To validate the proposed design, the RF pulses were tested in simulation and applied in vivo on 5 additional test subjects. The root-mean-square rotation angle error (RA-NRMSE) evaluation and experimental data demonstrated great improvement with the proposed universal pulses (RA-NRMSE ∼8%) compared to the standard circularly polarized mode of excitation (RA-NRMSE ∼26%). This work further completes the spectrum of 3D universal pulses to mitigate RF field inhomogeneity throughout all 3D MRI sequences without any pTx calibration. The approach returns a single pulse that can be scaled to match the desired flip angle train, thereby increasing the modularity of the proposed plug and play approach. Magn Reson Med 80:53-65, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Electro-Optic Time-to-Space Converter for Optical Detector Jitter Mitigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Birnbaum, Kevin; Farr, William

2013-01-01

A common problem in optical detection is determining the arrival time of a weak optical pulse that may comprise only one to a few photons. Currently, this problem is solved by using a photodetector to convert the optical signal to an electronic signal. The timing of the electrical signal is used to infer the timing of the optical pulse, but error is introduced by random delay between the absorption of the optical pulse and the creation of the electrical one. To eliminate this error, a time-to-space converter separates a sequence of optical pulses and sends them to different photodetectors, depending on their arrival time. The random delay, called jitter, is at least 20 picoseconds for the best detectors capable of detecting the weakest optical pulses, a single photon, and can be as great as 500 picoseconds. This limits the resolution with which the timing of the optical pulse can be measured. The time-to-space converter overcomes this limitation. Generally, the time-to-space converter imparts a time-dependent momentum shift to the incoming optical pulses, followed by an optical system that separates photons of different momenta. As an example, an electro-optic phase modulator can be used to apply longitudinal momentum changes (frequency changes) that vary in time, followed by an optical spectrometer (such as a diffraction grating), which separates photons with different momenta into different paths and directs them to impinge upon an array of photodetectors. The pulse arrival time is then inferred by measuring which photodetector receives the pulse. The use of a time-to-space converter mitigates detector jitter and improves the resolution with which the timing of an optical pulse is determined. Also, the application of the converter enables the demodulation of a pulse position modulated signal (PPM) at higher bandwidths than using previous photodetector technology. This allows the creation of a receiver for a communication system with high bandwidth and high bits/photon efficiency.

Effect of Pulse Parameters on Weld Quality in Pulsed Gas Metal Arc Welding: A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pal, Kamal; Pal, Surjya K.

2011-08-01

The weld quality comprises bead geometry and its microstructure, which influence the mechanical properties of the weld. The coarse-grained weld microstructure, higher heat-affected zone, and lower penetration together with higher reinforcement reduce the weld service life in continuous mode gas metal arc welding (GMAW). Pulsed GMAW (P-GMAW) is an alternative method providing a better way for overcoming these afore mentioned problems. It uses a higher peak current to allow one molten droplet per pulse, and a lower background current to maintain the arc stability. Current pulsing refines the grains in weld fusion zone with increasing depth of penetration due to arc oscillations. Optimum weld joint characteristics can be achieved by controlling the pulse parameters. The process is versatile and easily automated. This brief review illustrates the effect of pulse parameters on weld quality.

A transient laboratory method for determining the hydraulic properties of 'tight' rocks-I. Theory

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hsieh, P.A.; Tracy, J.V.; Neuzil, C.E.; Bredehoeft, J.D.; Silliman, Stephen E.

1981-01-01

Transient pulse testing has been employed increasingly in the laboratory to measure the hydraulic properties of rock samples with low permeability. Several investigators have proposed a mathematical model in terms of an initial-boundary value problem to describe fluid flow in a transient pulse test. However, the solution of this problem has not been available. In analyzing data from the transient pulse test, previous investigators have either employed analytical solutions that are derived with the use of additional, restrictive assumptions, or have resorted to numerical methods. In Part I of this paper, a general, analytical solution for the transient pulse test is presented. This solution is graphically illustrated by plots of dimensionless variables for several cases of interest. The solution is shown to contain, as limiting cases, the more restrictive analytical solutions that the previous investigators have derived. A method of computing both the permeability and specific storage of the test sample from experimental data will be presented in Part II. ?? 1981.

Gender recognition from vocal source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sorokin, V. N.; Makarov, I. S.

2008-07-01

Efficiency of automatic recognition of male and female voices based on solving the inverse problem for glottis area dynamics and for waveform of the glottal airflow volume velocity pulse is studied. The inverse problem is regularized through the use of analytical models of the voice excitation pulse and of the dynamics of the glottis area, as well as the model of one-dimensional glottal airflow. Parameters of these models and spectral parameters of the volume velocity pulse are considered. The following parameters are found to be most promising: the instant of maximum glottis area, the maximum derivative of the area, the slope of the spectrum of the glottal airflow volume velocity pulse, the amplitude ratios of harmonics of this spectrum, and the pitch. On the plane of the first two main components in the space of these parameters, an almost twofold decrease in the classification error relative to that for the pitch alone is attained. The male voice recognition probability is found to be 94.7%, and the female voice recognition probability is 95.9%.

Influence of irradiation conditions on the deformation of pure titanium frames in laser welding.

PubMed

Shimakura, Michio; Yamada, Satoshi; Takeuchi, Misao; Miura, Koki; Ikeyama, Joji

2009-03-01

Due to its ease of use in connecting metal frames, laser welding is now applied in dentistry. However, to achieve precise laser welding, several problems remain to be resolved. One such problem is the influence of irradiation conditions on the deformation of titanium frameworks during laser welding, which this study sought to investigate. Board-shaped pure titanium specimens were prepared with two different joint types. Two specimens were abutted against each other to form a welding block with gypsum. For welding, three different laser waveforms were used. Deformation of the specimen caused by laser welding was measured as a rise from the gypsum surface at the opposite, free end of the specimen. It was observed that specimens with a beveled edge registered a smaller deformation than specimens with a square edge. In addition, a double laser pulse waveform--whereby a supplementary laser pulse was delivered immediately after the main pulse--resulted in a smaller deformation than with a single laser pulse waveform.

Two-state and two-state plus continuum problems associated with the interaction of intense laser pulses with atoms

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

Choi, C. W.; Payne, M. G.

1977-02-01

Two mathematical methods are utilized (one a form of adiabatic approximation, and the other closely related to the Zener method from collision theory) in order to calculate the probability of three-photon ionization when strong counter propagating pulses are tuned very near a two-photon resonant state. In this case the inverted populations predicted by Grischkowsky and Loy for smooth laser pulses lead to larger ionization probabilities than would be obtained for a square pulse of equal peak power and energy per pulse. The line shape of the ionization probability is also quite unusual in this problem. A sharp onset in themore » ionization probability occurs as the lasers are tuned through the exact unperturbed two-photon resonance. Under proper conditions, the change can be from a very small value to one near unity. It occurs in a very small frequency range determined by the larger of the residual Doppler effect and the reciprocal duration of the pulse. Thus, the line shape retains a Doppler-free aspect even at power levels such that power broadening would dwarf even the full Doppler effect in the case of a square pulse of equal energy and peak power. The same mathematical methods have been used to calculate line shapes for the two-photon excitation of fluorescence when the atoms see a pulsed field due to their time of passage across a tightly focused cw laser beam. Thus,the mathematical methods used above permitted accurate analytical calculations under a set of very interesting conditions.« less

Atomistic three-dimensional coherent x-ray imaging of nonbiological systems

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

Ho, Phay J.; Knight, Chris; Tegze, Miklos

We computationally study the resolution limits for three-dimensional coherent x-ray diffractive imaging of heavy, nonbiological systems using Ar clusters as a prototype. We treat electronic and nuclear dynamics on an equal footing and remove the frozen-lattice approximation often used in electronic damage studies. We explore the achievable resolution as a function of pulse parameters (fluence level, pulse duration, and photon energy) and particle size. The contribution of combined lattice and electron dynamics is not negligible even for 2 fs pulses, and the Compton scattering is less deleterious than in biological systems for atomic-scale imaging. Although free-electron scattering represents a significantmore » background, we find that recovery of the original structure is in principle possible with 3 angstrom resolution for particles of 11 nm diameter.« less

Active cooling of pulse compression diffraction gratings for high energy, high average power ultrafast lasers

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

Alessi, David A.; Rosso, Paul A.; Nguyen, Hoang T.

Laser energy absorption and subsequent heat removal from diffraction gratings in chirped pulse compressors poses a significant challenge in high repetition rate, high peak power laser development. In order to understand the average power limitations, we have modeled the time-resolved thermo-mechanical properties of current and advanced diffraction gratings. We have also developed and demonstrated a technique of actively cooling Petawatt scale, gold compressor gratings to operate at 600W of average power - a 15x increase over the highest average power petawatt laser currently in operation. As a result, combining this technique with low absorption multilayer dielectric gratings developed in ourmore » group would enable pulse compressors for petawatt peak power lasers operating at average powers well above 40kW.« less

Atomistic three-dimensional coherent x-ray imaging of nonbiological systems

DOE PAGES

Ho, Phay J.; Knight, Chris; Tegze, Miklos; ...

2016-12-12

We computationally study the resolution limits for three-dimensional coherent x-ray diffractive imaging of heavy, nonbiological systems using Ar clusters as a prototype. We treat electronic and nuclear dynamics on an equal footing and remove the frozen-lattice approximation often used in electronic damage studies. We explore the achievable resolution as a function of pulse parameters (fluence level, pulse duration, and photon energy) and particle size. The contribution of combined lattice and electron dynamics is not negligible even for 2 fs pulses, and the Compton scattering is less deleterious than in biological systems for atomic-scale imaging. Although free-electron scattering represents a significantmore » background, we find that recovery of the original structure is in principle possible with 3 angstrom resolution for particles of 11 nm diameter.« less

Precise femtosecond laser ablation of dental hard tissue: preliminary investigation on adequate laser parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hikov, Todor; Pecheva, Emilia; Montgomery, Paul; Antoni, Frederic; Leong-Hoi, Audrey; Petrov, Todor

2017-01-01

This work aims at evaluating the possibility of introducing state-of-the-art commercial femtosecond laser system in restorative dentistry by maintaining well-known benefits of lasers for caries removal, but also in overcoming disadvantages such as thermal damage of irradiated substrate. Femtosecond ablation of dental hard tissue is investigated by changing the irradiation parameters (pulsed laser energy, scanning speed and pulse repetition rate), assessed for enamel and dentin. The femtosecond laser system used in this work may be suitable for cavity preparation in dentin and enamel, due to the expected effective ablation and low temperature increase when using ultra short laser pulses. If adequate laser parameters are selected, this system seems to be promising for promoting a laser-assisted, minimally invasive approach in restorative dentistry.

Filtering of higher-order laser modes using plasma structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Djordjevic, Blagoje; Benedetti, Carlo; Schroeder, Carl; Esarey, Eric; Leemans, Wim

2017-10-01

Plasma structures based on leaky channels are proposed to filter higher-order laser mode content. The evolution and propagation of non-Gaussian laser pulses in leaky channels is studied, and it is shown that, for appropriate laser-plasma parameters, the higher-order laser mode content may be removed while the fundamental mode remains well-guided. The behavior of the multi-mode laser pulse is described analytically, including the derivation of the leakage coefficients, and compared to numerical calculations. Gaussian laser pulse propagation, without higher-order mode content, improves guiding in parabolic plasma channels, enabling extended interaction lengths for laser-plasma accelerator applications. This work was supported by the Director, Office of Science, Office of High Energy Physics, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.

Surface patterning of CRFP composites using femtosecond laser interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveira, V.; Moreira, R. D. F.; de Moura, M. F. S. F.; Vilar, R.

2018-03-01

We report on the surface patterning of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites using femtosecond laser interferometry. The effect of experimental processing parameters, such as the pulse energy and scanning speed, on the quality of the patterns is studied. Using the appropriate processing parameters, a selective removal of the epoxy resin can be achieved, leaving the carbon fibers exposed and textured with the desired pattern. The period of the patterns can be controlled by changing the distance between the two interfering beams. On the other hand, the amplitude of the patterns can be controlled by changing the pulse energy or the number of laser pulses applied. In addition, sub-micron ripples are created on the carbon fibers surface allowing multiscale surface modification which may contribute to improve bonding between CFRP parts.

Active cooling of pulse compression diffraction gratings for high energy, high average power ultrafast lasers

DOE PAGES

Alessi, David A.; Rosso, Paul A.; Nguyen, Hoang T.; ...

2016-12-26

Laser energy absorption and subsequent heat removal from diffraction gratings in chirped pulse compressors poses a significant challenge in high repetition rate, high peak power laser development. In order to understand the average power limitations, we have modeled the time-resolved thermo-mechanical properties of current and advanced diffraction gratings. We have also developed and demonstrated a technique of actively cooling Petawatt scale, gold compressor gratings to operate at 600W of average power - a 15x increase over the highest average power petawatt laser currently in operation. As a result, combining this technique with low absorption multilayer dielectric gratings developed in ourmore » group would enable pulse compressors for petawatt peak power lasers operating at average powers well above 40kW.« less

Visualization of nanosecond laser-induced dewetting, ablation and crystallization processes in thin silicon films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Dongfeng; Zhang, Zifeng; Yu, Xiaohan; Zhang, Yawen

2018-06-01

In the present work, nanosecond pulsed laser crystallization, dewetting and ablation of thin amorphous silicon films are investigated by time-resolved imaging. Laser pulses of 532 nm wavelength and 7 ns temporal width are irradiated on silicon film. Below the dewetting threshold, crystallization process happens after 400 ns laser irradiation in the spot central region. With the increasing of laser fluence, it is observed that the dewetting process does not conclude until 300 ns after the laser irradiation, forming droplet-like particles in the spot central region. At higher laser intensities, ablative material removal occurs in the spot center. Cylindrical rims are formed in the peripheral dewetting zone due to solidification of transported matter at about 500 ns following the laser pulse exposure.

Virtual-pulse time integral methodology: A new explicit approach for computational dynamics - Theoretical developments for general nonlinear structural dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Xiaoqin; Tamma, Kumar K.; Sha, Desong

1993-01-01

The present paper describes a new explicit virtual-pulse time integral methodology for nonlinear structural dynamics problems. The purpose of the paper is to provide the theoretical basis of the methodology and to demonstrate applicability of the proposed formulations to nonlinear dynamic structures. Different from the existing numerical methods such as direct time integrations or mode superposition techniques, the proposed methodology offers new perspectives and methodology of development, and possesses several unique and attractive computational characteristics. The methodology is tested and compared with the implicit Newmark method (trapezoidal rule) through a nonlinear softening and hardening spring dynamic models. The numerical results indicate that the proposed explicit virtual-pulse time integral methodology is an excellent alternative for solving general nonlinear dynamic problems.

WATER LEVEL AND OXYGEN DELIVERY/UTILIZATION IN POROUS SALT MARSH SEDIMENTS

EPA Science Inventory

Increasing terrestrial nutrient inputs to coastal waters is a global water quality issue worldwide, and salt marshes may provide a valuable nutrient buffer, either by direct removal or by smoothing out pulse inputs between sources and sensitive estuarine habitats. A major challen...

nanopipe: Calibration and data reduction pipeline for pulsar timing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demorest, Paul B.

2018-03-01

nanopipe is a data reduction pipeline for calibration, RFI removal, and pulse time-of-arrival measurement from radio pulsar data. It was developed primarily for use by the NANOGrav project. nanopipe is written in Python, and depends on the PSRCHIVE (ascl:1105.014) library.

TOPICAL REVIEW: Black silicon method X: a review on high speed and selective plasma etching of silicon with profile control: an in-depth comparison between Bosch and cryostat DRIE processes as a roadmap to next generation equipment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jansen, H V; de Boer, M J; Unnikrishnan, S; Louwerse, M C; Elwenspoek, M C

2009-03-01

An intensive study has been performed to understand and tune deep reactive ion etch (DRIE) processes for optimum results with respect to the silicon etch rate, etch profile and mask etch selectivity (in order of priority) using state-of-the-art dual power source DRIE equipment. The research compares pulsed-mode DRIE processes (e.g. Bosch technique) and mixed-mode DRIE processes (e.g. cryostat technique). In both techniques, an inhibitor is added to fluorine-based plasma to achieve directional etching, which is formed out of an oxide-forming (O2) or a fluorocarbon (FC) gas (C4F8 or CHF3). The inhibitor can be introduced together with the etch gas, which is named a mixed-mode DRIE process, or the inhibitor can be added in a time-multiplexed manner, which will be termed a pulsed-mode DRIE process. Next, the most convenient mode of operation found in this study is highlighted including some remarks to ensure proper etching (i.e. step synchronization in pulsed-mode operation and heat control of the wafer). First of all, for the fabrication of directional profiles, pulsed-mode DRIE is far easier to handle, is more robust with respect to the pattern layout and has the potential of achieving much higher mask etch selectivity, whereas in a mixed-mode the etch rate is higher and sidewall scalloping is prohibited. It is found that both pulsed-mode CHF3 and C4F8 are perfectly suited to perform high speed directional etching, although they have the drawback of leaving the FC residue at the sidewalls of etched structures. They show an identical result when the flow of CHF3 is roughly 30 times the flow of C4F8, and the amount of gas needed for a comparable result decreases rapidly while lowering the temperature from room down to cryogenic (and increasing the etch rate). Moreover, lowering the temperature lowers the mask erosion rate substantially (and so the mask selectivity improves). The pulsed-mode O2 is FC-free but shows only tolerable anisotropic results at -120 °C. The downside of needing liquid nitrogen to perform cryogenic etching can be improved by using a new approach in which both the pulsed and mixed modes are combined into the so-called puffed mode. Alternatively, the use of tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate (TEOS) as a silicon oxide precursor is proposed to enable sufficient inhibiting strength and improved profile control up to room temperature. Pulsed-mode processing, the second important aspect, is commonly performed in a cycle using two separate steps: etch and deposition. Sometimes, a three-step cycle is adopted using a separate step to clean the bottom of etching features. This study highlights an issue, known by the authors but not discussed before in the literature: the need for proper synchronization between gas and bias pulses to explore the benefit of three steps. The transport of gas from the mass flow controller towards the wafer takes time, whereas the application of bias to the wafer is relatively instantaneous. This delay causes a problem with respect to synchronization when decreasing the step time towards a value close to the gas residence time. It is proposed to upgrade the software with a delay time module for the bias pulses to be in pace with the gas pulses. If properly designed, the delay module makes it possible to switch on the bias exactly during the arrival of the gas for the bottom removal step and so it will minimize the ionic impact because now etch and deposition steps can be performed virtually without bias. This will increase the mask etch selectivity and lower the heat impact significantly. Moreover, the extra bottom removal step can be performed at (also synchronized!) low pressure and therefore opens a window for improved aspect ratios. The temperature control of the wafer, a third aspect of this study, at a higher etch rate and longer etch time, needs critical attention, because it drastically limits the DRIE performance. It is stressed that the exothermic reaction (high silicon loading) and ionic impact (due to metallic masks and/or exposed silicon) are the main sources of heat that might raise the wafer temperature uncontrollably, and they show the weakness of the helium backside technique using mechanical clamping. Electrostatic clamping, an alternative technique, should minimize this problem because it is less susceptible to heat transfer when its thermal resistance and the gap of the helium backside cavity are minimized; however, it is not a subject of the current study. Because oxygen-growth-based etch processes (due to their ultra thin inhibiting layer) rely more heavily on a constant wafer temperature than fluorocarbon-based processes, oxygen etches are more affected by temperature fluctuations and drifts during the etching. The fourth outcome of this review is a phenomenological model, which explains and predicts many features with respect to loading, flow and pressure behaviour in DRIE equipment including a diffusion zone. The model is a reshape of the flow model constructed by Mogab, who studied the loading effect in plasma etching. Despite the downside of needing a cryostat, it is shown that—when selecting proper conditions—a cryogenic two-step pulsed mode can be used as a successful technique to achieve high speed and selective plasma etching with an etch rate around 25 µm min-1 (<1% silicon load) with nearly vertical walls and resist etch selectivity beyond 1000. With the model in hand, it can be predicted that the etch rate can be doubled (50 µm min-1 at an efficiency of 33% for the fluorine generation from the SF6 feed gas) by minimizing the time the free radicals need to pass the diffusion zone. It is anticipated that this residence time can be reduced sufficiently by a proper inductive coupled plasma (ICP) source design (e.g. plasma shower head and concentrator). In order to preserve the correct profile at such high etch rates, the pressure during the bottom removal step should be minimized and, therefore, the synchronized three-step pulsed mode is believed to be essential to reach such high etch rates with sufficient profile control. In order to improve the etch rate even further, the ICP power should be enhanced; the upgrading of the turbopump seems not yet to be relevant because the throttle valve in the current study had to be used to restrict the turbo efficiency. In order to have a versatile list of state-of-the-art references, it has been decided to arrange it in subjects. The categories concerning plasma physics and applications are, for example, books, reviews, general topics, fluorine-based plasmas, plasma mixtures with oxygen at room temperature, wafer heat transfer and high aspect ratio trench (HART) etching. For readers 'new' to this field, it is advisable to study at least one (but rather more than one) of the reviews concerning plasma as found in the first 30 references. In many cases, a paper can be classified into more than one category. In such cases, the paper is directed to the subject most suited for the discussion of the current review. For example, many papers on heat transfer also treat cryogenic conditions and all the references dealing with highly anisotropic behaviour have been directed to the category HARTs. Additional pointers could get around this problem but have the disadvantage of creating a kind of written spaghetti. I hope that the adapted organization structure will help to have a quick look at and understanding of current developments in high aspect ratio plasma etching. Enjoy reading... Henri Jansen 18 June 2008

Removal of volatile fatty acids and ammonia recovery from unstable anaerobic digesters with a microbial electrolysis cell.

PubMed

Cerrillo, Míriam; Viñas, Marc; Bonmatí, August

2016-11-01

Continuous assays with a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) fed with digested pig slurry were performed to evaluate its stability and robustness to malfunction periods of an anaerobic digestion (AD) reactor and its feasibility as a strategy to recover ammonia. When performing punctual pulses of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the anode compartment of the MEC, simulating a malfunction of the AD process, an increase in the current density was produced (up to 14 times, reaching values of 3500mAm(-2)) as a result of the added chemical oxygen demand (COD), especially when acetate was used. Furthermore, ammonium diffusion from the anode to the cathode compartment was enhanced and the removal efficiency achieved up to 60% during daily basis VFA pulses. An AD-MEC combined system has proven to be a robust and stable configuration to obtain a high quality effluent, with a lower organic and ammonium content. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intraoperative diagnostics and elimination of residual microtumours with plasmonic nanobubbles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukianova-Hleb, Ekaterina Y.; Kim, Yoo-Shin; Belatsarkouski, Ihor; Gillenwater, Ann M.; O'Neill, Brian E.; Lapotko, Dmitri O.

2016-06-01

Failure of cancer surgery to intraoperatively detect and eliminate microscopic residual disease (MRD) causes lethal recurrence and metastases, and the removal of important normal tissues causes excessive morbidity. Here, we show that a plasmonic nanobubble (PNB), a non-stationary laser pulse-activated nanoevent, intraoperatively detects and eliminates MRD in the surgical bed. PNBs were generated in vivo in head and neck cancer cells by systemically targeting tumours with gold colloids and locally applying near-infrared, low-energy short laser pulses, and were simultaneously detected with an acoustic probe. In mouse models, between 3 and 30 residual cancer cells and MRD (undetectable with current methods) were non-invasively detected up to 4 mm deep in the surgical bed within 1 ms. In resectable MRD, PNB-guided surgery prevented local recurrence and delivered 100% tumour-free survival. In unresectable MRD, PNB nanosurgery improved survival twofold compared with standard surgery. Our results show that PNB-guided surgery and nanosurgery can rapidly and precisely detect and remove MRD in simple intraoperative procedures.

Accurate Micro-Tool Manufacturing by Iterative Pulsed-Laser Ablation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warhanek, Maximilian; Mayr, Josef; Dörig, Christian; Wegener, Konrad

2017-12-01

Iterative processing solutions, including multiple cycles of material removal and measurement, are capable of achieving higher geometric accuracy by compensating for most deviations manifesting directly on the workpiece. Remaining error sources are the measurement uncertainty and the repeatability of the material-removal process including clamping errors. Due to the lack of processing forces, process fluids and wear, pulsed-laser ablation has proven high repeatability and can be realized directly on a measuring machine. This work takes advantage of this possibility by implementing an iterative, laser-based correction process for profile deviations registered directly on an optical measurement machine. This way efficient iterative processing is enabled, which is precise, applicable for all tool materials including diamond and eliminates clamping errors. The concept is proven by a prototypical implementation on an industrial tool measurement machine and a nanosecond fibre laser. A number of measurements are performed on both the machine and the processed workpieces. Results show production deviations within 2 μm diameter tolerance.

Laser patterning of diamond films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narayan, J.; Chen, X.

1992-04-01

Selective deposition and fine-scale patterning of hot filament deposited diamond films by the use of pulsed laser irradiation on silicon and copper substrates are reported. The substrates were abraded with diamond and alumina powders before hot-filament chemical vapor deposition. A drastic enhancement in diamond nucleation (using hot-filament chemical vapor deposition) was observed on specimens treated with diamond powder, whereas enhancement on specimens pretreated with alumina powder was relatively insignificant. It is found that the seeding of diamond crystals was substantially reduced by pulsed laser annealing/melting which removes the plastic damage as well as the seed crystals introduced by diamond powder pretreatment. The selective deposition or fine-scale patterning of diamond films was achieved either by a shadow masking or by scanning a focused laser beam to generate desired patterns. The nucleation can also be enhanced by laser deposition of thin films, such as diamond-like carbon and tungsten carbide (WC), and selective deposition and patterning achieved by controlled removal or deposition of the above films.

Influence of power supply on the generation of ozone and degradation of phenol in a surface discharge reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yan; Shang, Kefeng; Duan, Lijuan; Li, Yue; An, Jiutao; Zhang, Chunyang; Lu, Na; Li, Jie; Wu, Yan

2013-03-01

A surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) reactor was utilized to degrade phenol in water. Different power supplies applied to the DBD reactor affect the discharge modes, the formation of chemically active species and thus the removal efficiency of pollutants. It is thus important to select an optimized power supply for the DBD reactor. In this paper, the influence of the types of power supplies including alternate current (AC) and bipolar pulsed power supply on the ozone generation in a surface discharge reactor was measured. It was found that compared with bipolar pulsed power supply, higher energy efficiency of O3 generation was obtained when DBD reactor was supplied with 50Hz AC power supply. The highest O3 generation was approximate 4 mg kJ-1 moreover, COD removal efficiency of phenol wastewater reached 52.3% after 3 h treatment under an AC peak voltage of 2.6 kV.

Laser-Tissue Interaction in Tattoo Removal by Q-Switched Lasers

PubMed Central

Barua, Shyamanta

2015-01-01

Q-switched (QS) lasers are widely considered the gold standard for tattoo removal, with excellent clinical results, impressive predictability, and a good safety profile. The generation of giant pulses by the method of Q-switching is responsible for the unique laser-tissue interaction that is seen in tattoo removal by QS lasers. The QS lasers work by impaction and dissolution of the tattoo pigments. Mechanical fragmentation of the tattoo pigments encased in intracellular lamellated organelles followed by their phagocytosis by macrophages is thought to be the major event in the clearance of pigments by QS lasers. A few novel techniques have been tried in recent times to hasten the clearance of tattoo pigments. PMID:25949016

Laser-tissue interaction in tattoo removal by q-switched lasers.

PubMed

Barua, Shyamanta

2015-01-01

Q-switched (QS) lasers are widely considered the gold standard for tattoo removal, with excellent clinical results, impressive predictability, and a good safety profile. The generation of giant pulses by the method of Q-switching is responsible for the unique laser-tissue interaction that is seen in tattoo removal by QS lasers. The QS lasers work by impaction and dissolution of the tattoo pigments. Mechanical fragmentation of the tattoo pigments encased in intracellular lamellated organelles followed by their phagocytosis by macrophages is thought to be the major event in the clearance of pigments by QS lasers. A few novel techniques have been tried in recent times to hasten the clearance of tattoo pigments.

Cutting efficiency of a mid-infrared laser on human enamel.

PubMed

Levy, G; Koubi, G F; Miserendino, L J

1998-02-01

In this study, the cutting ability of a newly developed dental laser was compared with a dental high-speed handpiece and rotary bur for removal of enamel. Measurements of the volume of tissue removed, energy emitted, and time of exposure were used to quantify the ablation rate (rate of tissue removal) for each test group and compared. Cutting efficiency (mm3/s) of the laser was calculated based on the mean volume of tissue removed per pulse (mm3/pulse) and unit energy expended (mm3/J) over the range of applied powers (2, 4, 6, and 8 W). The specimens were then examined by light microscopy and scanning electron micrographs for qualitative analysis of the amount of remaining debris and the presence of the smear layer on the prepared enamel surface. Calculations of the cutting efficiency of the laser over the range of powers tested revealed a linear relationship with the level of applied power. The maximum average rate of tissue removal by the laser was 0.256 mm3/s at 8 W, compared with 0.945 mm3/s by the dental handpiece. Light microscopy and scanning electron micrograph examinations revealed a reduction in the amount of remaining debris and smear layer in the laser-prepared enamel surfaces, compared with the conventional method. Based on the results of this study, the cutting efficiency of the high-speed handpiece and dental bur was 3.7 times greater than the laser over the range of powers tested, but the laser appeared to create a cleaner enamel surface with minimal thermal damage. Further modifications of the laser system are suggested for improvement of laser cutting efficiency.

Improving the ablation efficiency of excimer laser systems with higher repetition rates through enhanced debris removal and optimized spot pattern.

PubMed

Arba-Mosquera, Samuel; Klinner, Thomas

2014-03-01

To evaluate the reasons for the required increased radiant exposure for higher-repetition-rate excimer lasers and determine experimentally possible compensations to achieve equivalent ablation profiles maintaining the same single-pulse energies and radiant exposures for laser repetition rates ranging from 430 to 1000 Hz. Schwind eye-tech-solutions GmbH and Co. KG, Kleinostheim, Germany. Experimental study. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) plates were photoablated. The pulse laser energy was maintained during all experiments; the effects of the flow of the debris removal, the shot pattern for the correction, and precooling the PMMA plates were evaluated in terms of achieved ablation versus repetition rate. The mean ablation performance ranged from 88% to 100%; the variability between the profile measurements ranged from 1.4% to 6.2%. Increasing the laser repetition rate from 430 Hz to 1000 Hz reduced the mean ablation performance from 98% to 91% and worsened the variability from 1.9% to 4.3%. Increasing the flow of the debris removal, precooling the PMMA plates to -18°C, and adapting the shot pattern for the thermal response of PMMA to excimer ablation helped stabilize the variability. Only adapting the shot pattern for the thermal response of PMMA to excimer ablation helped stabilize the mean ablation performance. The ablation performance of higher-repetition-rate excimer lasers on PMMA improved with improvements in the debris removal systems and shot pattern. More powerful debris removal systems and smart shot patterns in terms of thermal response improved the performance of these excimer lasers. Copyright © 2014 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nanosecond multi-pulse laser milling for certain area removal of metal coating on plastics surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Kai; Jia, Zhenyuan; Ma, Jianwei; Liu, Wei; Wang, Ling

2014-12-01

Metal coating with functional pattern on engineering plastics surface plays an important role in industry applications; it can be obtained by adding or removing certain area of metal coating on engineering plastics surface. However, the manufacturing requirements are improved continuously and the plastic substrate presents three-dimensional (3D) structure-many of these parts cannot be fabricated by conventional processing methods, and a new manufacturing method is urgently needed. As the laser-processing technology has many advantages like high machining accuracy and constraints free substrate structure, the machining of the parts is studied through removing certain area of metal coating based on the nanosecond multi-pulse laser milling. To improve the edge quality of the functional pattern, generation mechanism and corresponding avoidance strategy of the processing defects are studied. Additionally, a prediction model for the laser ablation depth is proposed, which can effectively avoid the existence of residual metal coating and reduces the damage of substrate. With the optimal machining parameters, an equiangular spiral pattern on copper-clad polyimide (CCPI) is machined based on the laser milling at last. The experimental results indicate that the edge of the pattern is smooth and consistent, the substrate is flat and without damage. The achievements in this study could be applied in industrial production.

Simulation of toluene decomposition in a pulse-periodic discharge operating in a mixture of molecular nitrogen and oxygen

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

Trushkin, A. N.; Kochetov, I. V.

The kinetic model of toluene decomposition in nonequilibrium low-temperature plasma generated by a pulse-periodic discharge operating in a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen is developed. The results of numerical simulation of plasma-chemical conversion of toluene are presented; the main processes responsible for C{sub 6}H{sub 5}CH{sub 3} decomposition are identified; the contribution of each process to total removal of toluene is determined; and the intermediate and final products of C{sub 6}H{sub 5}CH{sub 3} decomposition are identified. It was shown that toluene in pure nitrogen is mostly decomposed in its reactions with metastable N{sub 2}(A{sub 3}{Sigma}{sub u}{sup +}) and N{sub 2}(a Primemore » {sup 1}{Sigma}{sub u}{sup -}) molecules. In the presence of oxygen, in the N{sub 2} : O{sub 2} gas mixture, the largest contribution to C{sub 6}H{sub 5}CH{sub 3} removal is made by the hydroxyl radical OH which is generated in this mixture exclusively due to plasma-chemical reactions between toluene and oxygen decomposition products. Numerical simulation showed the existence of an optimum oxygen concentration in the mixture, at which toluene removal is maximum at a fixed energy deposition.« less

Selective Removal of Demineralization Using Near Infrared Cross Polarization Reflectance and a Carbon Dioxide Laser.

PubMed

Chan, Kenneth H; Fried, Daniel

2012-02-09

Lasers can ablate/remove tissue in a non-contact mode of operation and a pulsed laser beam does not interfere with the ability to image the tooth surface, therefore lasers are ideally suited for integration with imaging devices for image-guided ablation. Laser energy can be rapidly and efficiently delivered to tooth surfaces using a digitally controlled laser beam scanning system for precise and selective laser ablation with minimal loss of healthy tissues. Under the appropriate irradiation conditions such laser energy can induce beneficial chemical and morphological changes in the walls of the drilled cavity that can increase resistance to further dental decay and produce surfaces with enhanced adhesive properties to restorative materials. Previous studies have shown that images acquired using near-IR transillumination, optical coherence tomography and fluorescence can be used to guide the laser for selective removal of demineralized enamel. Recent studies have shown that NIR reflectance measurements at 1470-nm can be used to obtain images of enamel demineralization with very high contrast. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that image guided ablation of occlusal lesions can be successfully carried out using a NIR reflectance imaging system coupled with a carbon dioxide laser operating at 9.3-μm with high pulse repetition rates.

Removal of graffiti paintings from the Mansion de Mattis site in Corato (Bari), Italy: Laser deveiling or complete cleaning?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daurelio, G.; Andriani, E. S.; Albanese, A.; Catalano, I. M.; Teseo, G.; Marano, D.

2008-10-01

Nowadays one the main problem of stone monuments conservation is not only the natural environment deterioration but the defaced, in particular esthetic, due to graffiti. This paper presents the different stages of the cleaning graffiti research: the laboratory study phase, in which the aims were to investigate the laser cleaning effect on substrate and testing user-friendly and efficient solutions for in situ application; the application phase in which the study results were applied in the restoration of Palazzo de Mattis facade. The graffiti cleaning were carried out by using a Q-Switch Nd:YAG laser source (λ=1064 nm with pulse duration, t=8 ns, f=2 to 20 Hz, energy per impulse up to 280 mJ) in dry, wet and Very wet modes adopting the Daurelio technique n.1 (blade spot laser). The Q-Switch Nd:Yag laser source has demonstrated to be the most suitable for a fully or, according to new restoring theory, "de veiling" graffiti ablation.

Export of earthquake-triggered landslides in active mountain ranges: insights from 2D morphodynamic modelling.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Croissant, Thomas; Lague, Dimitri; Davy, Philippe; Steer, Philippe

2016-04-01

In active mountain ranges, large earthquakes (Mw > 5-6) trigger numerous landslides that impact river dynamics. These landslides bring local and sudden sediment piles that will be eroded and transported along the river network causing downstream changes in river geometry, transport capacity and erosion efficiency. The progressive removal of landslide materials has implications for downstream hazards management and also for understanding landscape dynamics at the timescale of the seismic cycle. The export time of landslide-derived sediments after large-magnitude earthquakes has been studied from suspended load measurements but a full understanding of the total process, including the coupling between sediment transfer and channel geometry change, still remains an issue. Note that the transport of small sediment pulses has been studied in the context of river restoration, but the magnitude of sediment pulses generated by landslides may make the problem different. Here, we study the export of large volumes (>106 m3) of sediments with the 2D hydro-morphodynamic model, Eros. This model uses a new hydrodynamic module that resolves a reduced form of the Saint-Venant equations with a particle method. It is coupled with a sediment transport and lateral and vertical erosion model. Eros accounts for the complex retroactions between sediment transport and fluvial geometry, with a stochastic description of the floods experienced by the river. Moreover, it is able to reproduce several features deemed necessary to study the evacuation of large sediment pulses, such as river regime modification (single-thread to multi-thread), river avulsion and aggradation, floods and bank erosion. Using a synthetic and simple topography we first present how granulometry, landslide volume and geometry, channel slope and flood frequency influence 1) the dominance of pulse advection vs. diffusion during its evacuation, 2) the pulse export time and 3) the remaining volume of sediment in the catchment. The model is then applied to a high resolution (5-10 m) digital elevation model of the Poerua catchment in New Zealand which has been impacted by the effect of a large landslide during the last 15 years. We investigate several plausible Alpine Faults earthquake scenarios to study the propagation of the sediment along a complex river network. We characterize and quantify the sediment pulse export time and mechanism for this river configuration and show its impact on the alluvial plain evolution. Our findings have strong implications for the understanding of aggradation rates and the temporal persistence of induced hazards in the alluvial plain as well as of sediment transfers in active mountain belts.

Common approach to solving SGEMP, DEMP, and ESD survivability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ling, D.

1977-01-01

System Generated Electromagnetic Pulse (SGEMP) and Dispersed Electromagnetic Pulse DEMP) are nuclear generated spacecraft environments. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a natural spacecraft environment resulting from differential charging in magnetic substorms. All three phenomena, though differing in origin, result in the same problem to the spacecraft and that is Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). A common design approach utilizing a spacecraft structural Faraday Cage is presented which helps solve the EMI problem. Also, other system design techniques are discussed which minimize the magnitude of these environments through control of materials and electrical grounding configuration.

Laser mass spectrometry of chemical warfare agents using ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weickhardt, C.; Grun, C.; Grotemeyer, J.

1998-12-01

Fast relaxation processes in excited molecules such as IC, ISC, and fragmentation are observed in many environmentally and technically relevant substances. They cause severe problems to resonance ionization mass spectrometry because they reduce the ionization yield and lead to mass spectra which do not allow the identification of the compound. By the use of ultrashort laser pulses these problems can be overcome and the advantages of REMPI over conventional ionization techniques in mass spectrometry can be regained. This is demonstrated using soil samples contaminated with a chemical warfare agent.

Breathing pulses in singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veerman, Frits

2015-07-01

The weakly nonlinear stability of pulses in general singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion systems near a Hopf bifurcation is determined using a centre manifold expansion. A general framework to obtain leading order expressions for the (Hopf) centre manifold expansion for scale separated, localised structures is presented. Using the scale separated structure of the underlying pulse, directly calculable expressions for the Hopf normal form coefficients are obtained in terms of solutions to classical Sturm-Liouville problems. The developed theory is used to establish the existence of breathing pulses in a slowly nonlinear Gierer-Meinhardt system, and is confirmed by direct numerical simulation.

Laser pulse detection method and apparatus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goss, W.; Janesick, J. R. (Inventor)

1984-01-01

A sensor is described for detecting the difference in phase of a pair of returned light pulse components, such as two components of a light pulse of an optical gyro. In an optic gyro, the two light components have passed in opposite directions through a coil of optical fiber, with the difference in phase of the returned light components determining the intensity of light shining on the sensor. The sensor includes a CCD (charge coupled device) that receives the pair of returned light components to generate a charge proportional to the number of photons in the received light. The amount of the charge represents the phase difference between the two light components. At a time after the transmission of the light pulse and before the expected time of arrival of the interfering light components, charge accumulating in the CCD as a result of reflections from components in the system, are repeatedly removed from the CCD, by transferring out charges in the CCD and dumping these charges.

Stabilization of Particle Discrimination Efficiencies for Neutron Spectrum Unfolding With Organic Scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawrence, Chris C.; Polack, J. K.; Febbraro, Michael; Kolata, J. J.; Flaska, Marek; Pozzi, S. A.; Becchetti, F. D.

2017-02-01

The literature discussing pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) in organic scintillators dates back several decades. However, little has been written about PSD techniques that are optimized for neutron spectrum unfolding. Variation in n-γ misclassification rates and in γ/n ratio of incident fields can distort the neutron pulse-height response of scintillators and these distortions can in turn cause large errors in unfolded spectra. New applications in arms-control verification call for detection of lower-energy neutrons, for which PSD is particularly problematic. In this article, we propose techniques for removing distortions on pulse-height response that result from the merging of PSD distributions in the low-pulse-height region. These techniques take advantage of the repeatable shapes of PSD distributions that are governed by the counting statistics of scintillation-photon populations. We validate the proposed techniques using accelerator-based time-of-flight measurements and then demonstrate them by unfolding the Watt spectrum from measurement with a 252Cf neutron source.

Investigation of the LMJ ignition target sensitivity to the laser pulse shape with 2D integrated calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherfils, Catherine; Malinie, Guy; Boniface, Claude; Gauthier, Pascal; Laffite, Stephane; Loiseau, Pascal

2010-11-01

The A943 cryogenic target in a Rugby hohlraum is our current nominal design for ignition with 160 beams on the Laser MegaJoule (Laffite et al 2007, 49th Annual Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics, Loiseau et al 2010, 40th Annual Anomalous Absorption Conference). In this study we redesign the laser pulse of the target under the form of a sum of six supergaussians, which is more amenable to a sensitivity study : four supergaussians are used to launch the four main shocks in the capsule, and two additional supergaussians are used first to remove the LEH windows and then to control the acceleration of the first shock, respectively. We use our 2D FCI2 code to compare the radiation hydro of the capsule, obtained with this new pulse, to what was previously obtained. We investigate the sensitivity of the yield on some parameters, which are the maximum powers and respective timings of the different components of the laser pulse.

Precision resection of intestine using ultrashort laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beck, Rainer J.; Gora, Wojciech S.; Jayne, David; Hand, Duncan P.; Shephard, Jonathan D.

2016-03-01

Endoscopic resection of early colorectal neoplasms typically employs electrocautery tools, which lack precision and run the risk of full thickness thermal injury to the bowel wall with subsequent perforation. We present a means of endoluminal colonic ablation using picosecond laser pulses as a potential alternative to mitigate these limitations. High intensity ultrashort laser pulses enable nonlinear absorption processes, plasma generation, and as a consequence a predominantly non-thermal ablation regimen. Robust process parameters for the laser resection are demonstrated using fresh ex vivo pig intestine samples. Square cavities with comparable thickness to early colorectal neoplasms are removed for a wavelength of 1030 nm and 515 nm using a picosecond laser system. The corresponding histology sections exhibit in both cases only minimal collateral damage to the surrounding tissue. The ablation depth can be controlled precisely by means of the pulse energy. Overall, the application of ultrafast lasers for the resection of intestine enables significantly improved precision and reduced thermal damage to the surrounding tissue compared to conventional electrocautery.

Defects in regular nanosystems and interference spectra at reemission of electromagnetic field attosecond pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matveev, V. I.; Makarov, D. N.

2017-01-01

The effect of defects in nanostructured targets on interference spectra at the reemission of attosecond electromagnetic pulses has been considered. General expressions have been obtained for calculations of spectral distributions for one-, two-, and three-dimensional multiatomic nanosystems consisting of identical complex atoms with defects such as bends, vacancies, and breaks. Changes in interference spectra by a linear chain with several removed atoms (chain with breaks) and by a linear chain with a bend have been calculated as examples allowing a simple analytical representation. Generalization to two- and three-dimensional nanosystems has been developed.

Electro-expulsive separation system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haslim, Leonard A. (Inventor); Lee, Robert D. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

An electro-expulsive system has one or more overlapped conductors, each comprising a flexible ribbon conductor, which is folded back on itself. The conductors are embedded in an elastomeric material. Large current pulses are fed to the conductors from power storage units. As a result of the antiparallel currents, the opposed segments of a conductor are forcefully separated and the elastomeric material is distended. Voids in the elastomer aid the separation of the conductor segments. The distention is almost instantaneous when a current pulse reaches the conductor and the distention tends to remove any solid body on the surface of the elastomeric material.

Wavefront Tilt And Beam Walk Correction For A Pulsed Laser System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartosewcz, Mike; Tyburski, Joe

1986-05-01

The Lockheed Beam Alignment Assembly (BAA) is designed to be a space qualifiable, long life, low bandwidth beam stabilization system. The BAA will stabilize a wandering pulsed laser beam with an input beam tilt of ±750 microradians and translation of ±2.5 mm by two orders of magnitude at the bandwidth of interest. A bandwidth of three hertz was selected to remove laser and optical train thermal drifts and launch induced strain effects. The lambda over twenty RMS wavefront will be maintained in the optics at full power under vacuum test, to demonstrate space qualifiability and optical performance.

The Navy Medical Department’s Workload Management System for Nursing (Patient Classification and Staffing Allocation). Self-Instructional Workbook

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-01-01

minal area, assess fetal heart tones with stethoscope , record FHTs, and remove equipment from area. or . Fetal Heart Tones, Doppler: Includes time to...activity to total 4 points. 5. Femoral OR pedal pulses OR fetal heart tones must be taken q 4 h . before you count the 2 points, but once again, since the... fetal heart tones OR tilt tests will count 2 points each if doneq 4 h or more frequently. If you had a patient with pedal pulses q 4 h AND fetal heart

Laser assisted bioprinting using a femtosecond laser with and without a gold transductive layer: a parametric study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desrus, H.; Chassagne, B.; Catros, S.; Artiges, C.; Devillard, R.; Petit, S.; Deloison, F.; Fricain, J. C.; Guillemot, F.; Kling, R.

2016-03-01

Experimental results of femtosecond Laser Assisted Bioprinting (LAB) are reported on. Two set-up, used to print different model bioinks and keratinocytes cells line HaCaT, were studied: first one was using a femtosecond laser with low pulse energy and an absorbing gold layer, whereas the second one used high pulse energy enabling the removal of the absorbing layer. Printed drop diameter and resulting height of the bioink jet are then quantified as a function of the LAB parameters such as laser energy, focus spot location or numerical aperture.

Genetic algorithm optimized triply compensated pulses in NMR spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manu, V. S.; Veglia, Gianluigi

2015-11-01

Sensitivity and resolution in NMR experiments are affected by magnetic field inhomogeneities (of both external and RF), errors in pulse calibration, and offset effects due to finite length of RF pulses. To remedy these problems, built-in compensation mechanisms for these experimental imperfections are often necessary. Here, we propose a new family of phase-modulated constant-amplitude broadband pulses with high compensation for RF inhomogeneity and heteronuclear coupling evolution. These pulses were optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA), which consists in a global optimization method inspired by Nature's evolutionary processes. The newly designed π and π / 2 pulses belong to the 'type A' (or general rotors) symmetric composite pulses. These GA-optimized pulses are relatively short compared to other general rotors and can be used for excitation and inversion, as well as refocusing pulses in spin-echo experiments. The performance of the GA-optimized pulses was assessed in Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR experiments using a crystalline U-13C, 15N NAVL peptide as well as U-13C, 15N microcrystalline ubiquitin. GA optimization of NMR pulse sequences opens a window for improving current experiments and designing new robust pulse sequences.

Satellite tracking and Earth dynamics research programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearlman, M. R.

1984-01-01

Following an upgrading program, ranging performance capabilities of a satellite-tracking pulsed laser system were assessed in terms of range accuracy, range noise, data yield, and reliability. With a shorter laser pulse duration (2.5 to 3.0 NSEC) and a new analog pulse processing system, the systematic range errors were reduced to 3 to 5 cm and range noise was reduced to 5 to 16 cm and range noise was reduced to 5 to 15 cm on Starlette and BE-C, and 10 to 18 cm on LAGEOS. Maximum pulse repetition rate was increased to 30 pulses per minute and significant improvement was made in signal to noise ratio by installing a 3 A interference filter and by reducing the range gate window to 200 to 400 nsec. The solution to a problem involving leakage of a fraction of the laser oscillator pulse through the pulse chopper was outlined.

Thermally controlled femtosecond pulse shaping using metasurface based optical filters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahimi, Eesa; Şendur, Kürşat

2018-02-01

Shaping of the temporal distribution of the ultrashort pulses, compensation of pulse deformations due to phase shift in transmission and amplification are of interest in various optical applications. To address these problems, in this study, we have demonstrated an ultra-thin reconfigurable localized surface plasmon (LSP) band-stop optical filter driven by insulator-metal phase transition of vanadium dioxide. A Joule heating mechanism is proposed to control the thermal phase transition of the material. The resulting permittivity variation of vanadium dioxide tailors spectral response of the transmitted pulse from the stack. Depending on how the pulse's spectrum is located with respect to the resonance of the band-stop filter, the thin film stack can dynamically compress/expand the output pulse span up to 20% or shift its phase up to 360°. Multi-stacked filters have shown the ability to dynamically compensate input carrier frequency shifts and pulse span variations besides their higher span expansion rates.

Two-photon microscopy using fiber-based nanosecond excitation.

PubMed

Karpf, Sebastian; Eibl, Matthias; Sauer, Benjamin; Reinholz, Fred; Hüttmann, Gereon; Huber, Robert

2016-07-01

Two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy is a powerful technique for sensitive tissue imaging at depths of up to 1000 micrometers. However, due to the shallow penetration, for in vivo imaging of internal organs in patients beam delivery by an endoscope is crucial. Until today, this is hindered by linear and non-linear pulse broadening of the femtosecond pulses in the optical fibers of the endoscopes. Here we present an endoscope-ready, fiber-based TPEF microscope, using nanosecond pulses at low repetition rates instead of femtosecond pulses. These nanosecond pulses lack most of the problems connected with femtosecond pulses but are equally suited for TPEF imaging. We derive and demonstrate that at given cw-power the TPEF signal only depends on the duty cycle of the laser source. Due to the higher pulse energy at the same peak power we can also demonstrate single shot two-photon fluorescence lifetime measurements.

The telecommunications and data acquisition report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Renzetti, N. A. (Editor)

1982-01-01

Developments in Earth-based radio technology are reported. The Deep Space Network is discussed in terms of its advanced systems, network and facility engineering and implementation, operations, and energy sources. Problems in pulse communication and radio frequency interference are addressed with emphasis on pulse position modulation and laser beam collimation.

Nanosecond Pulse Technique

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-03-17

along line. As is evident, input resistance of parabolic line differs from input resistance of usual uniform forming line only by presence of term - 1...i.e., the same problem, which stands also before pulse technique in usual understanding of this term , i.e., before microsecond pulse technique...frequencies occurs inequality i,<Lw. Therefore it is possible to record DOC - 88076701 PAGE 17 I L.-Vi=zsV(L,+L.)C z -/L-C (j+ 2Law or, using expression (1.4

Construction of a pulse-coupled dipole network capable of fear-like and relief-like responses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lungsi Sharma, B.

2016-07-01

The challenge for neuroscience as an interdisciplinary programme is the integration of ideas among the disciplines to achieve a common goal. This paper deals with the problem of deriving a pulse-coupled neural network that is capable of demonstrating behavioural responses (fear-like and relief-like). Current pulse-coupled neural networks are designed mostly for engineering applications, particularly image processing. The discovered neural network was constructed using the method of minimal anatomies approach. The behavioural response of a level-coded activity-based model was used as a reference. Although the spiking-based model and the activity-based model are of different scales, the use of model-reference principle means that the characteristics that is referenced is its functional properties. It is demonstrated that this strategy of dissection and systematic construction is effective in the functional design of pulse-coupled neural network system with nonlinear signalling. The differential equations for the elastic weights in the reference model are replicated in the pulse-coupled network geometrically. The network reflects a possible solution to the problem of punishment and avoidance. The network developed in this work is a new network topology for pulse-coupled neural networks. Therefore, the model-reference principle is a powerful tool in connecting neuroscience disciplines. The continuity of concepts and phenomena is further maintained by systematic construction using methods like the method of minimal anatomies.

Effects of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound on Implant Osseointegration in Ovariectomized Rats.

PubMed

Zhou, Hongbo; Hou, Yongfu; Zhu, Zhimin; Xiao, Weixiong; Xu, Qian; Li, Lei; Li, Xin; Chen, Wenchuan

2016-04-01

To investigate the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (US) on periimplant bone healing and osseointegration under osteoporotic conditions. Seventy-two 12-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats received bilateral ovariectomies. Twelve weeks later, titanium implants were bilaterally placed in the proximal tibial metaphysis. The right tibia was exposed to low-intensity pulsed US (40 mW/cm2, spatial and temporal average) for 20 min/d starting the 2nd day after implantation, and the left tibia served as a control without stimulation. The rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups of 12 each according to the US duration (group 1: weeks 0–2, 280 minutes; group 2: weeks 0–4, 560 minutes; group 3: weeks 0–6, 840 minutes; group 4: weeks 0–8, 1120 minutes; group 5: weeks 0–10, 1400 minutes; group 6: weeks 0–12, 1680 minutes). At the end of the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th weeks, the rats were euthanized, and bilateral tibias were harvested. Peri-implant bone volume and bone-implant contact were assessed by micro–computed tomography; the implantbone interface was assessed histologically; and implant fixation strength was determined by a removal torque test. Low-intensity pulsed US increased bone-implant contact at the 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th weeks (P = .019, .017, <.001, <.001, and <.001, respectively) and periimplant bone volume at all times (P = <.001, .002, .012, .007, .005, and .010). Removal torque on the US side was improved at the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th weeks (P= .012, <.001, .006, and .009). Ultrasound evoked a favorable bone response in the histologic study. Low-intensity pulsed US might enhance new bone formation, especially at an early stage, and improve osseointegration in osteoporotic bone as an auxiliary method. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its action.

Effects of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound on Implant Osseointegration in Ovariectomized Rats.

PubMed

Zhou, Hongbo; Hou, Yongfu; Zhu, Zhimin; Xiao, Weixiong; Xu, Qian; Li, Lei; Li, Xin; Chen, Wenchuan

2016-04-01

To investigate the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (US) on peri-implant bone healing and osseointegration under osteoporotic conditions. Seventy-two 12-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats received bilateral ovariectomies. Twelve weeks later, titanium implants were bilaterally placed in the proximal tibial metaphysis. The right tibia was exposed to low-intensity pulsed US (40 mW/cm 2 , spatial and temporal average) for 20 min/d starting the 2nd day after implantation, and the left tibia served as a control without stimulation. The rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups of 12 each according to the US duration (group 1: weeks 0-2, 280 minutes; group 2: weeks 0-4, 560 minutes; group 3: weeks 0-6, 840 minutes; group 4: weeks 0-8, 1120 minutes; group 5: weeks 0-10, 1400 minutes; group 6: weeks 0-12, 1680 minutes). At the end of the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th weeks, the rats were euthanized, and bilateral tibias were harvested. Peri-implant bone volume and bone-implant contact were assessed by micro-computed tomography; the implant-bone interface was assessed histologically; and implant fixation strength was determined by a removal torque test. Low-intensity pulsed US increased bone-implant contact at the 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th weeks (P = .019, .017, <.001, <.001, and <.001, respectively) and peri-implant bone volume at all times (P = <.001, .002, .012, .007, .005, and .010). Removal torque on the US side was improved at the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th weeks (P= .012, <.001, .006, and .009). Ultrasound evoked a favorable bone response in the histologic study. Low-intensity pulsed US might enhance new bone formation, especially at an early stage, and improve osseointegration in osteoporotic bone as an auxiliary method. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its action. © 2016 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Precision guided antiaircraft munition

DOEpatents

Hirschfeld, Tomas B.

1987-01-01

A small diameter, 20 mm to 50 mm, guided projectile is used in antiaircraft defense. A pulsing laser designator illuminates the target aircraft. Energy reflected from the aircraft is received by the guided projectile. The guided projectile is fired from a standard weapon but the spining caused by the riflings are removed before active tracking and guidance occurs. The received energy is focused by immersion optics onto a bridge cell. AC coupling and gating removes background and allows steering signals to move extended vanes by means of piezoelectric actuators in the rear of the guided projectile.

Spatial transport of electron quantum states with strong attosecond pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chovancova, M.; Agueny, H.; Førre, M.; Kocbach, L.; Hansen, J. P.

2017-11-01

This work follows up the work of Dimitrovsky, Briggs and co-workers on translated electron atomic states by a strong field of an atto-second laser pulse, also described as creation of atoms without a nucleus. Here, we propose a new approach by analyzing the electron states in the Kramers-Henneberger moving frame in the dipole approximation. The wave function follows the displacement vector α (t). This allows arbitrarily shaped pulses, including the model delta-function potentials in the Dimitrovsky and Briggs approach. In the case of final-length single-cycle pulses, we apply both the Kramers-Henneberger moving frame analysis and a full numerical treatment of our 1D model. When the laser pulse frequency exceeds the frequency associated by the energy difference between initial and final states, the entire wavefunction is translated in space nearly without loss of coherence, to a well defined distance from the original position where the ionized core is left behind. This statement is demonstrated on the excited Rydberg states (n = 10, n = 15), where almost no distortion in the transported wave functions has been observed. However, the ground state (n = 1) is visibly distorted during the removal by pulses of reasonable frequencies, as also predicted by Dimitrovsky and Briggs analysis. Our approach allows us to analyze general pulses as well as the model delta-function potentials on the same footing in the Kramers-Henneberger frame.

Temperature variation during apicectomy with Er:YAG laser.

PubMed

Bodrumlu, Emre; Keskiner, Ilker; Sumer, Mahmut; Sumer, A Pinar; Telcıoglu, N Tuba

2012-08-01

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the generated temperature of the Er:YAG laser, with three different pulse durations for apicectomy, compared with tungsten bur and surgical saw. Apicectomy is an endodontic surgery performed to remove the root apex and curette adjacent periapical tissue because of lesions of the apical area that are not healing properly. Sixty single-rooted extracted human teeth were resected by three cutting methods: tungsten bur, surgical saw, and Er:YAG laser irradiation with three different pulse durations; pulse duration 50 μs, pulse duration 100 μs, and pulse duration 300 μs. Teflon-insulated, type K thermocouples were used to measure temperature changes during the apicectomy process. Data were analyzed using the general linear models procedure of the SPSS statistical software program. Although there was no statistically significant difference for the mean values of temperature changes at 1 mm away to the cutting site of teeth, there was statistically significant difference among groups for the mean values of temperature changes at 3 mm away to the cutting site of teeth. Additionally, there was statistically significant difference among groups for the total time required for apicectomy. The laser irradiation with pulse duration 50 μs appears to have the lowest temperature rise and the shortest time required for apicectomy of the three pulse durations. However, Er:YAG laser for apicectomy in all pulse durations could be used safely for resection in endodontics in the presence of sufficient water.

Research notes : methods for traffic stripe removal.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-11-01

Pavement marking removal due to changed traffic configurations is a continual construction and maintenance problem. Often the removal alters the texture and/or color of the pavement surface. The removed markings become visible under different lightin...

Solution of heat removal from nuclear reactors by natural convection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zitek, Pavel; Valenta, Vaclav

2014-03-01

This paper summarizes the basis for the solution of heat removal by natural convection from both conventional nuclear reactors and reactors with fuel flowing coolant (such as reactors with molten fluoride salts MSR).The possibility of intensification of heat removal through gas lift is focused on. It might be used in an MSR (Molten Salt Reactor) for cleaning the salt mixture of degassed fission products and therefore eliminating problems with iodine pitting. Heat removal by natural convection and its intensification increases significantly the safety of nuclear reactors. Simultaneously the heat removal also solves problems with lifetime of pumps in the primary circuit of high-temperature reactors.

Chamber wall materials response to pulsed ions at power-plant level fluences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renk, T. J.; Provencio, P. P.; Tanaka, T. J.; Olson, C. L.; Peterson, R. R.; Stolp, J. E.; Schroen, D. G.; Knowles, T. R.

2005-12-01

Candidate dry-wall materials for the reactor chambers of future laser-driven Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) power plants have been exposed to ion pulses from RHEPP-1, located at Sandia National Laboratories. These pulses simulate the MeV-level ion pulses with fluences of up to 20 J/cm 2 that can be expected to impinge on the first wall of such future plants. Various forms of tungsten and tungsten alloy were subjected to up to 1600 pulses, usually while being heated to 600 °C. Other metals were exposed as well. Thresholds for roughening and material removal, and evolution of surface morphology were measured and compared with code predictions for materials response. Powder-metallurgy (PM) tungsten is observed to undergo surface roughening and subsurface crack formation that evolves over hundreds of pulses, and which can occur both below and above the melt threshold. This roughening is worse than for other metals, and worse than for either tungsten alloyed with rhenium (W25Re), or for CVD and single-crystal forms of tungsten. Carbon, particularly the form used in composite material, appears to suffer material loss well below its sublimation point. Some engineered materials were also investigated. It appears that some modification to PM tungsten is required for its successful use in a reactor environment.

Pulse retrieval algorithm for interferometric frequency-resolved optical gating based on differential evolution.

PubMed

Hyyti, Janne; Escoto, Esmerando; Steinmeyer, Günter

2017-10-01

A novel algorithm for the ultrashort laser pulse characterization method of interferometric frequency-resolved optical gating (iFROG) is presented. Based on a genetic method, namely, differential evolution, the algorithm can exploit all available information of an iFROG measurement to retrieve the complex electric field of a pulse. The retrieval is subjected to a series of numerical tests to prove the robustness of the algorithm against experimental artifacts and noise. These tests show that the integrated error-correction mechanisms of the iFROG method can be successfully used to remove the effect from timing errors and spectrally varying efficiency in the detection. Moreover, the accuracy and noise resilience of the new algorithm are shown to outperform retrieval based on the generalized projections algorithm, which is widely used as the standard method in FROG retrieval. The differential evolution algorithm is further validated with experimental data, measured with unamplified three-cycle pulses from a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser. Additionally introducing group delay dispersion in the beam path, the retrieval results show excellent agreement with independent measurements with a commercial pulse measurement device based on spectral phase interferometry for direct electric-field retrieval. Further experimental tests with strongly attenuated pulses indicate resilience of differential-evolution-based retrieval against massive measurement noise.

Laser paint removal on the outside walls of the Church Abbey Saint Adoeno in Bisceglie (BAT), Italy: a case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daurelio, G.; Catalano, I. M.; Bassi, P.

2010-09-01

It is the oldest church in the city after the cathedral. It is among the purest examples of Romanesque. It was founded in 1074 and expenses for its construction helped the inhabitants of the agricultural hamlets of the Cirignano, Pacciano and Zappino. The church was dedicated to St. Adoeno Dado, bishop of Rouen, protector of Norman, because , according to tradition, the building also participated Norman soldiers. San Adoeno church has a façade at cusp with a truncated tympanum , crowned by an eagle. In the centre of the façade there is a rose ornament surrounded by four lions and a statue of St. Adoeno ( Figs. A to I ). On the outside walls of this Abbey many graffiti, produced by different coloured spray paints were found. After the usual photographical tests some Laser Paint Removal trials were executed to verify the damage threshold of the calcareous stony substrate as well as the possibility to ablate these paints by a Nd - YAG laser in Q-Switch mode. Even if all the classical four laser paint ablation techniques were employed some paints showed a great difficulty to be removed from the substrate. For these ones it was necessary to increase at maximum both the energy per pulse and the fluence value for obtaining some acceptable result but the substrate looked turned pale. It was decided to remove a small amount of these paints and subject to chemical analysis for determining whether they were acrylic based. At the same time it was investigated on the type of limestone substrate that appeared more porous and less hard on the surface than the common local limestone marble basin, that is, Trani or Bisceglie. So, on the light of these investigations, the possible solution for this hard laser ablation problem was carried out with an acceptable final result.

Optimal Er:YAG laser irradiation parameters for debridement of microstructured fixture surfaces of titanium dental implants.

PubMed

Taniguchi, Yoichi; Aoki, Akira; Mizutani, Koji; Takeuchi, Yasuo; Ichinose, Shizuko; Takasaki, Aristeo Atsushi; Schwarz, Frank; Izumi, Yuichi

2013-07-01

Er:YAG laser (ErL) irradiation has been reported to be effective for treating peri-implant disease. The present study seeks to evaluate morphological and elemental changes induced on microstructured surfaces of dental endosseous implants by high-pulse-repetition-rate ErL irradiation and to determine the optimal irradiation conditions for debriding contaminated microstructured surfaces. In experiment 1, dual acid-etched microstructured implants were irradiated by ErL (pulse energy, 30-50 mJ/pulse; repetition rate, 30 Hz) with and without water spray and for used and unused contact tips. Experiment 2 compared the ErL treatment with conventional mechanical treatments (metal/plastic curettes and ultrasonic scalers). In experiment 3, five commercially available microstructures were irradiated by ErL light (pulse energy, 30-50 mJ/pulse; pulse repetition rate, 30 Hz) while spraying water. In experiment 4, contaminated microstructured surfaces of three failed implants were debrided by ErL irradiation. After the experiments, all treated surfaces were assessed by stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and/or energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The stereomicroscopy, SEM, and EDS results demonstrate that, unlike mechanical treatments, ErL irradiation at 30 mJ/pulse and 30 Hz with water spray induced no color or morphological changes to the microstructures except for the anodized implant surface, which was easily damaged. The optimized irradiation parameters effectively removed calcified deposits from contaminated titanium microstructures without causing substantial thermal damage. ErL irradiation at pulse energies below 30 mJ/pulse (10.6 J/cm(2)/pulse) and 30 Hz with water spray in near-contact mode seems to cause no damage and to be effective for debriding microstructured surfaces (except for anodized microstructures).

Laser lift-off scribing of the CZTSe thin-film solar cells at different pulse durations

DOE PAGES

Markauskas, Edgaras; Gečys, Paulius; Repins, Ingrid; ...

2017-04-27

Here, the transition to fully sized solar modules requires additional three-step laser structuring processes to preserve small-scale cell efficiencies over the large areas. The adjacent cell isolation (the P3 scribe) was found to be the most sensitive process in the case of laser induced damage. The laser induced layer lift-off mechanism seems to be a very attractive process for the P3 patterning, since almost all the laser affected material is removed by mechanical spallation. However, a laser induced layer spallation behavior together with scribe electrical validation under the different laser pulse durations was not investigated extensively in the past. Therefore,more » we report our novel results on the P2 and P3 laser lift-off processing of the Cu 2ZnSn(S, Se 4) (CZTSe) thin-film solar cells covering the pulse duration range from 300 fs to 60 ps. Shorter sub-ps pulses enabled us to process smaller P2 and P3 craters, although the lift-off threshold fluences were higher compared to the longer ps pulses. In the case of the layer lift-off, the laser radiation had to penetrate through the layer stack down to the CZTSe/Mo interface. At shorter sub-ps pulses, the nonlinear effects triggered absorption of the laser radiation in the bulk of the material, resulting in increased damage of the CZTSe layer. The Raman measurements confirmed the CZTSe surface stoichiometry changes for shorter pulses. Furthermore, shorter pulses induced higher electrical conductivity of a scribe, resulting in lower photo-electrical efficiency during the mini-module simulation. In the case of the P3 lift-off scribing, the 10 ps pulses were more favorable than shorter femtosecond pulses.« less

Laser lift-off scribing of the CZTSe thin-film solar cells at different pulse durations

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

Markauskas, Edgaras; Gečys, Paulius; Repins, Ingrid

Here, the transition to fully sized solar modules requires additional three-step laser structuring processes to preserve small-scale cell efficiencies over the large areas. The adjacent cell isolation (the P3 scribe) was found to be the most sensitive process in the case of laser induced damage. The laser induced layer lift-off mechanism seems to be a very attractive process for the P3 patterning, since almost all the laser affected material is removed by mechanical spallation. However, a laser induced layer spallation behavior together with scribe electrical validation under the different laser pulse durations was not investigated extensively in the past. Therefore,more » we report our novel results on the P2 and P3 laser lift-off processing of the Cu 2ZnSn(S, Se 4) (CZTSe) thin-film solar cells covering the pulse duration range from 300 fs to 60 ps. Shorter sub-ps pulses enabled us to process smaller P2 and P3 craters, although the lift-off threshold fluences were higher compared to the longer ps pulses. In the case of the layer lift-off, the laser radiation had to penetrate through the layer stack down to the CZTSe/Mo interface. At shorter sub-ps pulses, the nonlinear effects triggered absorption of the laser radiation in the bulk of the material, resulting in increased damage of the CZTSe layer. The Raman measurements confirmed the CZTSe surface stoichiometry changes for shorter pulses. Furthermore, shorter pulses induced higher electrical conductivity of a scribe, resulting in lower photo-electrical efficiency during the mini-module simulation. In the case of the P3 lift-off scribing, the 10 ps pulses were more favorable than shorter femtosecond pulses.« less

Underwater femtosecond laser micromachining of thin nitinol tubes for medical coronary stent manufacture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muhammad, Noorhafiza; Li, Lin

2012-06-01

Microprofiling of medical coronary stents has been dominated by the use of Nd:YAG lasers with pulse lengths in the range of a few milliseconds, and material removal is based on the melt ejection with a high-pressure gas. As a result, recast and heat-affected zones are produced, and various post-processing procedures are required to remove these defects. This paper reports a new approach of machining stents in submerged conditions using a 100-fs pulsed laser. A comparison is given of dry and underwater femtosecond laser micromachining techniques of nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol) typically used as the material for coronary stents. The characteristics of laser interactions with the material have been studied. A femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser system (wavelength of 800 nm, pulse duration of 100 fs, repetition rate of 1 kHz) was used to perform the cutting process. It is observed that machining under a thin water film resulted in no presence of heat-affected zone, debris, spatter or recast with fine-cut surface quality. At the optimum parameters, the results obtained with dry cutting showed nearly the same cut surface quality as with cutting under water. However, debris and recast formation still appeared on the dry cut, which is based on material vaporization. Physical processes involved during the cutting process in a thin water film, i.e. bubble formation and shock waves, are discussed.

Compact 1.5-GHz intra-burst repetition rate Yb-doped all-PM-fiber laser system for ablation-cooled material removal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akcaalan, Onder; Kalaycioglu, Hamit; Ilday, F. Omer

Although fs fiber laser systems are powerful technologies for material and tissue processing, limited ablation rates and high energy are drawbacks. Recently, we identified a new regime of laser-material interaction, ablation-cooled laser material removal, where the repetition rate has to be high enough so that the targeted spot size cannot cool down substantially by heat conduction which scales down ablation threshold by several orders of magnitude and reduces thermal effects to the bulk of the target. This opens the door to simplified laser systems for processing. In order to exploit this regime in tissue processing, a compact all-PM-fiber laser amplifier system with an intra-burst repetition rate of 1.5 GHz is developed on a 40 x 65 cm platform. The system is able to produce bursts ranging from 20-ns to 65-ns duration with 20 uJ to 80 uJ total energy, respectively, and pulses with up to 2 uJ individual energy and burst repetition rate ranging from 25 kHz to 200 kHz. The seed signal is generated by a home-built all-normal dispersion oscillator with 385 MHz repetition rate and converted to approximately 1.5 GHz by a multiplier. Amplified pulses are compressed to approximately 250-fs, the shortest pulse width for burst-mode fiber laser systems known to date.

Tracking the fate of nitrate through pulse-flow wetlands: A mesocosm scale 15N enrichment tracer study

USGS Publications Warehouse

Messer, Tiffany L.; Burchell, Michael R.; Böhlke, John Karl; Tobias, Craig R.

2017-01-01

Quantitative information about the fate of applied nitrate (NO3-N) in pulse-flow constructed wetlands is essential for designing wetland treatment systems and assessing their nitrogen removal services for agricultural and stormwater applications. Although many studies have documented NO3-N losses in wetlands, controlled experiments indicating the relative importance of different processes and N sinks are scarce. In the current study, 15NO3-N isotope enrichment tracer experiments were conducted in wetland mesocosms of two different wetland soil types at two realistic agricultural NO3-N source loads. The 15N label was traced from the source NO3-N into plant biomass, soil (including organic matter and ammonium), and N-gas constituents over 7–10 day study periods. All sinks responded positively to higher NO3-N loading. Plant uptake exceeded denitrification 2–3 fold in the low NO3-N loading experiments, while both fates were nearly equivalent in the high loading experiments. One to two years later, soils largely retained the assimilated tracer N, whereas plants had lost much of it. Results demonstrated that plant and microbial assimilation in the soil (temporary N sinks) can exceed denitrification (permanent N loss) in pulse-flow environments and must be considered by wetland designers and managers for optimizing nitrogen removal potential.

Flip-angle profile of slice-selective excitation and the measurement of the MR longitudinal relaxation time with steady-state magnetization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, Jung-Jiin

2015-08-01

In MRI, the flip angle (FA) of slice-selective excitation is not uniform across the slice-thickness dimension. This work investigates the effect of the non-uniform FA profile on the accuracy of a commonly-used method for the measurement, in which the T1 value, i.e., the longitudinal relaxation time, is determined from the steady-state signals of an equally-spaced RF pulse train. By using the numerical solutions of the Bloch equation, it is shown that, because of the non-uniform FA profile, the outcome of the T1 measurement depends significantly on T1 of the specimen and on the FA and the inter-pulse spacing τ of the pulse train. A new method to restore the accuracy of the T1 measurement is described. Different from the existing approaches, the new method also removes the FA profile effect for the measurement of the FA, which is normally a part of the T1 measurement. In addition, the new method does not involve theoretical modeling, approximation, or modification to the underlying principle of the T1 measurement. An imaging experiment is performed, which shows that the new method can remove the FA-, the τ-, and the T1-dependence and produce T1 measurements in excellent agreement with the ones obtained from a gold standard method (the inversion-recovery method).

Copper extraction from ammoniacal medium in a pulsed sieve-plate column with LIX 84-I.

PubMed

Gameiro, M Lurdes F; Machado, Remígio M; Ismael, M Rosinda C; Reis, M Teresa A; Carvalho, Jorge M R

2010-11-15

This article reports on a study of copper removal from ammoniacal aqueous solution (1.0 kg m(-3) Cu, pH 9.5) by liquid-liquid extraction using a pulsed sieve-plate column. The extractant tested was the hydroxyoxime LIX 84-I (2-hydroxy-5-nonylacetophenone oxime) in the aliphatic diluent Shellsol D-70. The results of the pilot plant experiments demonstrated the feasibility of operating the extraction process in this type of column, with efficiencies of copper removal in the range of 90.5-99.5%. Several effects on the column performance were examined, namely the aqueous and organic flow rates and the pulse velocity. The axial dispersion model was applied to simulate the concentration profiles, which reasonably predicted the experimental data. The overall mass transfer coefficient was evaluated from the experimental data and was found to be between 9×10(-6) and 1.2×10(-5) m s(-1). These data were compared with the ones obtained from the resistances in series model, which indicated that the resistance due to chemical reaction was 84-91% of the overall resistance to mass transfer. The extraction using a hollow fiber contactor was also carried out to compare the membrane process performance with the one of conventional process. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Band-selective shaped pulse for high fidelity quantum control in diamond

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

Chang, Yan-Chun; Xing, Jian; Liu, Gang-Qin

High fidelity quantum control of qubits is crucially important for realistic quantum computing, and it becomes more challenging when there are inevitable interactions between qubits. We introduce a band-selective shaped pulse, refocusing BURP (REBURP) pulse, to cope with the problems. The electron spin of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond is flipped with high fidelity by the REBURP pulse. In contrast with traditional rectangular pulses, the shaped pulse has almost equal excitation effect in a sharply edged region (in frequency domain). So the three sublevels of host {sup 14}N nuclear spin can be flipped accurately simultaneously, while unwanted excitations of other sublevelsmore » (e.g., of a nearby {sup 13}C nuclear spin) is well suppressed. Our scheme can be used for various applications such as quantum metrology, quantum sensing, and quantum information process.« less

Two-step phase-shifting SPIDER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Shuiqin; Cai, Yi; Pan, Xinjian; Zeng, Xuanke; Li, Jingzhen; Li, Ying; Zhu, Tianlong; Lin, Qinggang; Xu, Shixiang

2016-09-01

Comprehensive characterization of ultrafast optical field is critical for ultrashort pulse generation and its application. This paper combines two-step phase-shifting (TSPS) into the spectral phase interferometry for direct electric-field reconstruction (SPIDER) to improve the reconstruction of ultrafast optical-fields. This novel SPIDER can remove experimentally the dc portion occurring in traditional SPIDER method by recording two spectral interferograms with π phase-shifting. As a result, the reconstructed results are much less disturbed by the time delay between the test pulse replicas and the temporal widths of the filter window, thus more reliable. What is more, this SPIDER can work efficiently even the time delay is so small or the measured bandwidth is so narrow that strong overlap happens between the dc and ac portions, which allows it to be able to characterize the test pulses with complicated temporal/spectral structures or narrow bandwidths.

Nonthermal Biological Treatments Using Discharge Plasma Produced by Pulsed Power 4. Cleaning of Lakes and Marshes by Pulsed Power Produced Streamer Discharges in Water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akiyama, Hidenori; Katsuki, Sunao; Namihira, Takao; Ishibashi, Kazuo; Kiyosaki, Noriaki

Pulsed power has been used to produce non-thermal plasmas in atmospheric pressure gases that generate a high electric field at the tips of streamer discharges, where high energy electrons, free radicals, ultraviolet rays, and ozone are produced. These manifestations of streamer discharges have been used in the treatment of exhaust gases, removal of volatile and toxic compounds such as dioxin, and the sterilization of microorganisms. Here, large volume streamer discharges in water are described. These streamer discharges in liquids are able to produce a high electric field, high energy electrons, ozone, chemically active species, ultraviolet rays, and shock waves, which readily sterilize microorganisms and decompose molecules and materials. An application of this phenomenon to the cleaning of lakes and marshes is also described.

40 CFR 63.7740 - What are my monitoring requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... a bag leak detection system according to the requirements in § 63.7741(b). (c) For each baghouse... the proper functioning of removal mechanisms. (3) Check the compressed air supply for pulse-jet... integrity of the baghouse through quarterly visual inspections of the baghouse interior for air leaks. (8...

9 CFR 307.7 - Safety requirements for electrical stimulating (EST) equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... requirements for electrical stimulating (EST) equipment. (a) General. Electrical stimulating (EST) equipment is... of facilitating blood removal. These provisions do not apply to electrical equipment used to stun and... generate pulsed DC or AC voltage for stimulation and is separate from the equipment used to apply the...

9 CFR 307.7 - Safety requirements for electrical stimulating (EST) equipment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... requirements for electrical stimulating (EST) equipment. (a) General. Electrical stimulating (EST) equipment is... of facilitating blood removal. These provisions do not apply to electrical equipment used to stun and... generate pulsed DC or AC voltage for stimulation and is separate from the equipment used to apply the...

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE: CHEMICAL-FREE CLEANING OF SEMICONDUCTORS BY THE RADIANCE PROCESS

EPA Science Inventory

The Radiance Process is a patented dry process for removing contaminants from surfaces. It uses light, usually from a pulsed laser and a gas inert to the surface, to entrain released contaminants. The focus of this effort is to assess the applicability of the Radiance Process t...

Global Monitoring of Clouds and Aerosols Using a Network of Micro-Pulse Lidar Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Welton, Ellsworth J.; Campbell, James R.; Spinhirne, James D.; Scott, V. Stanley

2000-01-01

Long-term global radiation programs, such as AERONET and BSRN, have shown success in monitoring column averaged cloud and aerosol optical properties. Little attention has been focused on global measurements of vertically resolved optical properties. Lidar systems are the preferred instrument for such measurements. However, global usage of lidar systems has not been achieved because of limits imposed by older systems that were large, expensive, and logistically difficult to use in the field. Small, eye-safe, and autonomous lidar systems are now currently available and overcome problems associated with older systems. The first such lidar to be developed is the Micro-pulse lidar System (MPL). The MPL has proven to be useful in the field because it can be automated, runs continuously (day and night), is eye-safe, can easily be transported and set up, and has a small field-of-view which removes multiple scattering concerns. We have developed successful protocols to operate and calibrate MPL systems. We have also developed a data analysis algorithm that produces data products such as cloud and aerosol layer heights, optical depths, extinction profiles, and the extinction-backscatter ratio. The algorithm minimizes the use of a priori assumptions and also produces error bars for all data products. Here we present an overview of our MPL protocols and data analysis techniques. We also discuss the ongoing construction of a global MPL network in conjunction with the AERONET program. Finally, we present some early results from the MPL network.

Generation of programmable temporal pulse shape and applications in micromachining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, X.; Jordens, B.; Hooper, A.; Baird, B. W.; Ren, W.; Xu, L.; Sun, L.

2009-02-01

In this paper we presented a pulse shaping technique on regular solid-state lasers and the application in semiconductor micromachining. With a conventional Q-switched laser, all of the parameters can be adjusted over only limited ranges, especially the pulse width and pulse shape. However, some laser link processes using traditional laser pulses with pulse widths of a few nanoseconds to a few tens of nanoseconds tend to over-crater in thicker overlying passivation layers and thereby cause IC reliability problems. Use of a laser pulse with a special shape and a fast leading edge, such as tailored pulse, is one technique for controlling link processing. The pulse shaping technique is based on light-loop controlled optical modulation to shape conventional Q-switched solid-state lasers. One advantage of the pulse shaping technique is to provide a tailored pulse shape that can be programmed to have more than one amplitude value. Moreover, it has the capability of providing programmable tailored pulse shapes with discrete amplitude and time duration components. In addition, it provides fast rising and fall time of each pulse at fairly high repetition rate at 355nm with good beam quality. The regular-to-shaped efficiency is up to 50%. We conclude with a discussion of current results for laser processing of semiconductor memory link structures using programmable temporal pulse shapes. The processing experiments showed promising results with shaped pulse.

A comparative study on the activity of TiO2 in pulsed plasma under different discharge conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lijuan, DUAN; Nan, JIANG; Na, LU; Kefeng, SHANG; Jie, LI; Yan, WU

2018-05-01

In the present study, a combination of pulsed discharge plasma and TiO2 (plasma/TiO2) has been developed in order to study the activity of TiO2 by varying the discharge conditions of pulsed voltage, discharge mode, air flow rate and solution conductivity. Phenol was used as the chemical probe to characterize the activity of TiO2 in a pulsed discharge system. The experimental results showed that the phenol removal efficiency could be improved by about 10% by increasing the applied voltage. The phenol removal efficiency for three discharge modes in the plasma-discharge-alone system was found to be highest in the spark mode, followed by the spark–streamer mode and finally the streamer mode. In the plasma/TiO2 system, the highest catalytic effect of TiO2 was observed in the spark–streamer discharge mode, which may be attributed to the favorable chemical and physical effects from the spark–streamer discharge mode, such as ultraviolet light, O3, H2O2, pyrolysis, shockwaves and high-energy electrons. Meanwhile, the optimal flow rate and conductivity were 0.05 m3 l‑1 and 10 μS cm‑1, respectively. The main phenolic intermediates were hydroquinone, catechol, and p-benzoquinone during the discharge treatment process. A different phenol degradation pathway was observed in the plasma/TiO2 system as compared to plasma alone. Analysis of the reaction intermediates demonstrated that p-benzoquinone reduction was selectively catalyzed on the TiO2 surface. The effective decomposition of phenol constant (D e) increased from 74.11% to 79.16% when TiO2 was added, indicating that higher phenol mineralization was achieved in the plasma/TiO2 system.

Skin graft take and healing following 193-nm excimer, continuous-wave carbon dioxide (CO2), pulsed CO2, or pulsed holmium: YAG laser ablation of the graft bed.

PubMed

Green, H A; Burd, E E; Nishioka, N S; Compton, C C

1993-08-01

Ablative lasers have been used for cutaneous surgery for greater than two decades since they can remove skin and skin lesions bloodlessly and efficiently. Because full-thickness skin wounds created after thermal laser ablation may require skin grafting in order to heal, we have examined the effect of the residual laser-induced thermal damage in the wound bed on subsequent skin graft take and healing. In a pig model, four different pulsed and continuous-wave lasers with varying wavelengths and radiant energy exposures were used to create uniform fascial graft bed thermal damage of approximately 25, 160, 470, and 1100 microns. Meshed split-thickness skin graft take and healing on the thermally damaged fascial graft beds were examined on a gross and microscopic level on days 3 and 7, and then weekly up to 42 days. Laser-induced thermal damage on the graft bed measuring greater than 160 +/- 60 microns in depth significantly decreased skin graft take. Other deleterious effects included delayed graft revascularization, increased inflammatory cell infiltrate at the graft-wound bed interface, and accelerated formation of hypertrophied fibrous tissue within the graft bed and underlying muscle. Ablative lasers developed for cutaneous surgery should create less than 160 +/- 60 microns of residual thermal damage to permit optimal skin graft take and healing. Pulsed carbon dioxide and 193-nm excimer lasers may be valuable instruments for the removal of full-thickness skin, skin lesions, and necrotic tissue, since they create wound beds with minimal thermal damage permitting graft take comparable to that achieved with standard surgical techniques.

A Heuristic Fast Method to Solve the Nonlinear Schroedinger Equation in Fiber Bragg Gratings with Arbitrary Shape Input Pulse

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

Emami, F.; Hatami, M.; Keshavarz, A. R.

2009-08-13

Using a combination of Runge-Kutta and Jacobi iterative method, we could solve the nonlinear Schroedinger equation describing the pulse propagation in FBGs. By decomposing the electric field to forward and backward components in fiber Bragg grating and utilizing the Fourier series analysis technique, the boundary value problem of a set of coupled equations governing the pulse propagation in FBG changes to an initial condition coupled equations which can be solved by simple Runge-Kutta method.

Three-dimensional ultrashort optical Airy beams in an inhomogeneous medium with carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhukov, Alexander V.; Bouffanais, Roland; Belonenko, Mikhail B.; Dvuzhilov, Ilya S.

2017-03-01

In this Letter, we consider the problem of the dynamics of propagation of three-dimensional optical pulses (a.k.a. light bullets) with an Airy profile through a heterogeneous environment of carbon nanotubes. We show numerically that such beams exhibit sustained and stable propagation. Moreover, we demonstrate that by varying the density modulation period of the carbon nanotubes one can indirectly control the pulse velocity, which is a particularly valuable feature for the design and manufacturing of novel pulse delay devices.

Measuring the concentration of ozone produced by a pulsed microwave discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stepanov, A. N.; Iazenkov, V. V.

1991-09-01

The possibility of efficient ozone production in a pulsed microwave discharge in oxygen is investigated experimentally in the context of the problem of creation of an artificial ionization region in the earth atmosphere. The experiments were conducted in commercial oxygen at a pressure of 30 tor. It is found that there exists a certain optimal (from the standpoint of ozone production) microwave pulse duration, which depends on the experimental conditions. A theoretical model is proposed which provides a consistent explanation for the experimental results.

Spatiotemporal multiplexing based on hexagonal multicore optical fibres

DOE PAGES

Chekhovskoy, I. S.; Sorokina, M. A.; Rubenchik, A. M.; ...

2017-12-27

Based on a genetic algorithm, we have solved in this paper the problem of finding the parameters of optical Gaussian pulses which make their efficient nonlinear combining possible in one of the peripheral cores of a 7-core hexagonal fibre. Two approaches based on individual selection of peak powers and field phases of the pulses launched into the fibre are considered. Finally, the found regimes of Gaussian pulse combining open up new possibilities for the development of devices for controlling optical radiation.

In vivo repeatability of the pulse wave inverse problem in human carotid arteries.

PubMed

McGarry, Matthew; Nauleau, Pierre; Apostolakis, Iason; Konofagou, Elisa

2017-11-07

Accurate arterial stiffness measurement would improve diagnosis and monitoring for many diseases. Atherosclerotic plaques and aneurysms are expected to involve focal changes in vessel wall properties; therefore, a method to image the stiffness variation would be a valuable clinical tool. The pulse wave inverse problem (PWIP) fits unknown parameters from a computational model of arterial pulse wave propagation to ultrasound-based measurements of vessel wall displacements by minimizing the difference between the model and measured displacements. The PWIP has been validated in phantoms, and this study presents the first in vivo demonstration. The common carotid arteries of five healthy volunteers were imaged five times in a single session with repositioning of the probe and subject between each scan. The 1D finite difference computational model used in the PWIP spanned from the start of the transducer to the carotid bifurcation, where a resistance outlet boundary condition was applied to approximately model the downstream reflection of the pulse wave. Unknown parameters that were estimated by the PWIP included a 10-segment linear piecewise compliance distribution and 16 discrete cosine transformation coefficients for each of the inlet boundary conditions. Input data was selected to include pulse waves resulting from the primary pulse and dicrotic notch. The recovered compliance maps indicate that the compliance increases close to the bifurcation, and the variability of the average pulse wave velocity estimated through the PWIP is on the order of 11%, which is similar to that of the conventional processing technique which tracks the wavefront arrival time (13%). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of Pulsed Electrical Fields for Advanced Cooling and Water Recovery in Coal-Fired Power Plant

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

Young Cho; Alexander Fridman

2009-04-02

The overall objective of the present work was to develop technologies to reduce freshwater consumption in a cooling tower of coal-based power plant so that one could significantly reduce the need of make-up water. The specific goal was to develop a scale prevention technology based an integrated system of physical water treatment (PWT) and a novel filtration method so that one could reduce the need for the water blowdown, which accounts approximately 30% of water loss in a cooling tower. The present study investigated if a pulsed spark discharge in water could be used to remove deposits from the filtermore » membrane. The test setup included a circulating water loop and a pulsed power system. The present experiments used artificially hardened water with hardness of 1,000 mg/L of CaCO{sub 3} made from a mixture of calcium chloride (CaCl{sub 2}) and sodium carbonate (Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3}) in order to produce calcium carbonate deposits on the filter membrane. Spark discharge in water was found to produce strong shockwaves in water, and the efficiency of the spark discharge in cleaning filter surface was evaluated by measuring the pressure drop across the filter over time. Results showed that the pressure drop could be reduced to the value corresponding to the initial clean state and after that the filter could be maintained at the initial state almost indefinitely, confirming the validity of the present concept of pulsed spark discharge in water to clean dirty filter. The present study also investigated the effect of a plasma-assisted self-cleaning filter on the performance of physical water treatment (PWT) solenoid coil for the mitigation of mineral fouling in a concentric counterflow heat exchanger. The self-cleaning filter utilized shockwaves produced by pulse-spark discharges in water to continuously remove scale deposits from the surface of the filter, thus keeping the pressure drop across the filter at a relatively low value. Artificial hard water was used in the present fouling experiments for three different cases: no treatment, PWT coil only, and PWT coil plus self-cleaning filter. Fouling resistances decreased by 59-72% for the combined case of PWT coil plus filter compared with the values for no-treatment cases. SEM photographs showed much smaller particle sizes for the combined case of PWT coil plus filter as larger particles were continuously removed from circulating water by the filter. The x-ray diffraction data showed calcite crystal structures for all three cases.« less

Spatiotemporal optical pulse transformation by a resonant diffraction grating

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

Golovastikov, N. V.; Bykov, D. A., E-mail: bykovd@gmail.com; Doskolovich, L. L., E-mail: leonid@smr.ru

The diffraction of a spatiotemporal optical pulse by a resonant diffraction grating is considered. The pulse diffraction is described in terms of the signal (the spatiotemporal incident pulse envelope) passage through a linear system. An analytic approximation in the form of a rational function of two variables corresponding to the angular and spatial frequencies has been obtained for the transfer function of the system. A hyperbolic partial differential equation describing the general form of the incident pulse envelope transformation upon diffraction by a resonant diffraction grating has been derived from the transfer function. A solution of this equation has beenmore » obtained for the case of normal incidence of a pulse with a central frequency lying near the guided-mode resonance of a diffraction structure. The presented results of numerical simulations of pulse diffraction by a resonant grating show profound changes in the pulse envelope shape that closely correspond to the proposed theoretical description. The results of the paper can be applied in creating new devices for optical pulse shape transformation, in optical information processing problems, and analog optical computations.« less

Results of Research on Overcoming Pulse Shortening of GW Class HPM Sources

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-05-29

The RPM sources basic research program of the Air Force has a major emphasis on the pulse shortening problem. This includes collaborative work in...universities and the Phillips Laboratory . We have demonstrated two fundamentally different RPM sources which radiate rf power in excess of 1 GW and are

Efficient Z gates for quantum computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKay, David C.; Wood, Christopher J.; Sheldon, Sarah; Chow, Jerry M.; Gambetta, Jay M.

2017-08-01

For superconducting qubits, microwave pulses drive rotations around the Bloch sphere. The phase of these drives can be used to generate zero-duration arbitrary virtual Z gates, which, combined with two Xπ /2 gates, can generate any SU(2) gate. Here we show how to best utilize these virtual Z gates to both improve algorithms and correct pulse errors. We perform randomized benchmarking using a Clifford set of Hadamard and Z gates and show that the error per Clifford is reduced versus a set consisting of standard finite-duration X and Y gates. Z gates can correct unitary rotation errors for weakly anharmonic qubits as an alternative to pulse-shaping techniques such as derivative removal by adiabatic gate (DRAG). We investigate leakage and show that a combination of DRAG pulse shaping to minimize leakage and Z gates to correct rotation errors realizes a 13.3 ns Xπ /2 gate characterized by low error [1.95 (3 ) ×10-4] and low leakage [3.1 (6 ) ×10-6] . Ultimately leakage is limited by the finite temperature of the qubit, but this limit is two orders of magnitude smaller than pulse errors due to decoherence.

Pulsed source of energetic atomic oxygen

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caledonia, George E.; Krech, Robert H.

1987-01-01

A pulsed high flux source of nearly monoenergetic atomic oxygen was designed, built, and successfully demonstrated. Molecular oxygen at several atmospheres pressure is introduced into an evacuated supersonic expansion nozzle through a pulsed molecular beam valve. An 18 J pulsed CO2 TEA laser is focused to intensities greater than 10(9) W/sq cm in the nozzle throat to generate a laser-induced breakdown. The resulting plasma is heated in excess of 20,000 K by a laser supported detonation wave, and then rapidly expands and cools. Nozzle geometry confines the expansion to provide rapid electron-ion recombination into atomic oxygen. Average O atom beam velocities from 5 to 13 km/s were measured at estimated fluxes to 10(18) atoms per pulse. Preliminary materials testing has produced the same surface oxygen enrichment in polyethylene samples as obtained on the STS-8 mission. Scanning electron microscope examinations of irradiated polymer surfaces reveal an erosion morphology similar to that obtained in low Earth orbit, with an estimated mass removal rate of approx. 10(-24) cu cm/atom. The characteristics of the O atom source and the results of some preliminary materials testing studies are reviewed.

Formation of porous networks on polymeric surfaces by femtosecond laser micromachining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Assaf, Youssef; Kietzig, Anne-Marie

2017-02-01

In this study, porous network structures were successfully created on various polymer surfaces by femtosecond laser micromachining. Six different polymers (poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), high density poly(ethylene) (HDPE), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(carbonate) (PC), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)) were machined at different fluences and pulse numbers, and the resulting structures were identified and compared by lacunarity analysis. At low fluence and pulse numbers, porous networks were confirmed to form on all materials except PLA. Furthermore, all networks except for PMMA were shown to bundle up at high fluence and pulse numbers. In the case of PC, a complete breakdown of the structure at such conditions was observed. Operation slightly above threshold fluence and at low pulse numbers is therefore recommended for porous network formation. Finally, the thickness over which these structures formed was measured and compared to two intrinsic material dependent parameters: the single pulse threshold fluence and the incubation coefficient. Results indicate that a lower threshold fluence at operating conditions favors material removal over structure formation and is hence detrimental to porous network formation. Favorable machining conditions and material-dependent parameters for the formation of porous networks on polymer surfaces have thus been identified.

Acetylcysteine reduces plasma homocysteine concentration and improves pulse pressure and endothelial function in patients with end-stage renal failure.

PubMed

Scholze, Alexandra; Rinder, Christiane; Beige, Joachim; Riezler, Reiner; Zidek, Walter; Tepel, Martin

2004-01-27

Increased oxidative stress, elevated plasma homocysteine concentration, increased pulse pressure, and impaired endothelial function constitute risk factors for increased mortality in patients with end-stage renal failure. We investigated the metabolic and hemodynamic effects of intravenous administration of acetylcysteine, a thiol-containing antioxidant, during a hemodialysis session in a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study in 20 patients with end-stage renal failure. Under control conditions, a hemodialysis session reduced plasma homocysteine concentration to 58+/-22% predialysis (mean+/-SD), whereas in the presence of acetylcysteine, the plasma homocysteine concentration was significantly more reduced to 12+/-7% predialysis (P<0.01). The reduction of plasma homocysteine concentration was significantly correlated with a reduction of pulse pressure. A 10% decrease in plasma homocysteine concentration was associated with a decrease of pulse pressure by 2.5 mm Hg. Analysis of the second derivative of photoplethysmogram waveform showed changes of arterial wave reflectance during hemodialysis in the presence of acetylcysteine, indicating improved endothelial function. Acetylcysteine-dependent increase of homocysteine removal during a hemodialysis session improves plasma homocysteine concentration, pulse pressure, and endothelial function in patients with end-stage renal failure.

Femtosecond laser ablation and nanoparticle formation in intermetallic NiAl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jorgensen, David J.; Titus, Michael S.; Pollock, Tresa M.

2015-10-01

The ablation behavior of a stoichiometric intermetallic compound β-NiAl subjected to femtosecond laser pulsing in air has been investigated. The single-pulse ablation threshold for NiAl was determined to be 83 ± 4 mJ/cm2 and the transition to the high-fluence ablation regime occurred at 2.8 ± 0.3 J/cm2. Two sizes of nanoparticles consisting of Al, NiAl, Ni3Al and NiO were formed and ejected from the target during high-fluence ablation. Chemical analysis revealed that smaller nanoparticles (1-30 nm) tended to be rich in Al while larger nanoparticles (>100 nm) were lean in Al. Ablation in the low-fluence regime maintained this trend. Redeposited material and nanoparticles remaining on the surface after a single 3.7 J/cm2 pulse, one hundred 1.7 J/cm2 pulses, or one thousand 250 mJ/cm2 pulses were enriched in Al relative to the bulk target composition. Further, the surface of the irradiated high-fluence region was depleted in Al indicating that the fs laser ablation removal rate of the intermetallic constituents in this regime does not scale with the individual pure element ablation thresholds.

Instrument to synchronize Thomson scattering diagnostic measurements with MHD acitivity in a tokamak

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

Wintenberg, A.L.

1985-04-01

An instrument to synchronize the firing of a ruby laser for a Thomson scattering diagnostic with plasma oscillations was designed, developed, and evaluated. The instrument will fire the laser at a user-selected phase of an input sine or sawtooth wave with an accuracy of +-15/sup 0/. Allowable frequencies range from 20 to 500 Hz for a sawtooth and from 1 to 30 kHz for a sine wave. The instrument also allows synchronization with a sine wave to be enabled by a preselected sawtooth phase. The instrument uses analog signal processing circuits to separate the signal components, remove unwanted components, andmore » produce zero-phase synchronization pulses. The instrument measures the period between zero-phase pulses in order to produce phase synchronization pulses delayed a fraction of the period from the zero-phase pulses. The laser is fired by the phase synchronization pulse. Unwanted signal components are attenuated by bandpass filters. A digitally controlled self-adjusting bandpass filter for sine processing. The instrument was used to investigate the variation of the electron temperature profile with the phase of the x-ray signal from an Impurity Studies Experiment (ISX-B) plasma exhibiting magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) activity.« less

Currents Induced by Injected Charge in Junction Detectors

PubMed Central

Gaubas, Eugenijus; Ceponis, Tomas; Kalesinskas, Vidas

2013-01-01

The problem of drifting charge-induced currents is considered in order to predict the pulsed operational characteristics in photo- and particle-detectors with a junction controlled active area. The direct analysis of the field changes induced by drifting charge in the abrupt junction devices with a plane-parallel geometry of finite area electrodes is presented. The problem is solved using the one-dimensional approach. The models of the formation of the induced pulsed currents have been analyzed for the regimes of partial and full depletion. The obtained solutions for the current density contain expressions of a velocity field dependence on the applied voltage, location of the injected surface charge domain and carrier capture parameters. The drift component of this current coincides with Ramo's expression. It has been illustrated, that the synchronous action of carrier drift, trapping, generation and diffusion can lead to a vast variety of possible current pulse waveforms. Experimental illustrations of the current pulse variations determined by either the rather small or large carrier density within the photo-injected charge domain are presented, based on a study of Si detectors. PMID:24036586

The propagation and backscattering of soliton-like pulses in a chain of quartz beads and related problems. (I). Propagation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manciu, Marian; Sen, Surajit; Hurd, Alan J.

1999-12-01

We confirm that for vanishingly small loading and large impact condition, it may be possible to generate solitons in a chain of grains that are characterized by Hertzian contacts. For uniform or progressive loading conditions throughout the chain, one generates soft-solitons which are weakly dispersive in space and time. Under conditions of weak impact, one generates acoustic pulses through the chain. We describe the displacements, velocities and accelerations suffered by the individual grains when subjected to solitons, soft-solitons and acoustic pulses and describe the effects of restitution on the propagating pulse.

Dispersive distortions of a radio-wave pulse in a double-resonance gaseous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strelkov, G. M.

2017-03-01

The problem on dispersive distortions of an electromagnetic pulse in a gaseous medium with two isolated resonant frequencies is solved analytically. The solution is obtained directly in the time region and, thus, is not the result of calculations of the Fourier integral. Without introducing additional assumptions, it is possible to study the regularities and the features of the process of propagation of pulses caused by variations of both their initial characteristics and the parameters of the propagation medium. As an example, the solution is applied to describe the distortions of the two-frequency pulse of subnanosecond duration in the terrestrial atmosphere.

Natural language processing and inference rules as strategies for updating problem list in an electronic health record.

PubMed

Plazzotta, Fernando; Otero, Carlos; Luna, Daniel; de Quiros, Fernan Gonzalez Bernaldo

2013-01-01

Physicians do not always keep the problem list accurate, complete and updated. To analyze natural language processing (NLP) techniques and inference rules as strategies to maintain completeness and accuracy of the problem list in EHRs. Non systematic literature review in PubMed, in the last 10 years. Strategies to maintain the EHRs problem list were analyzed in two ways: inputting and removing problems from the problem list. NLP and inference rules have acceptable performance for inputting problems into the problem list. No studies using these techniques for removing problems were published Conclusion: Both tools, NLP and inference rules have had acceptable results as tools for maintain the completeness and accuracy of the problem list.

Multiplicative noise removal via a learned dictionary.

PubMed

Huang, Yu-Mei; Moisan, Lionel; Ng, Michael K; Zeng, Tieyong

2012-11-01

Multiplicative noise removal is a challenging image processing problem, and most existing methods are based on the maximum a posteriori formulation and the logarithmic transformation of multiplicative denoising problems into additive denoising problems. Sparse representations of images have shown to be efficient approaches for image recovery. Following this idea, in this paper, we propose to learn a dictionary from the logarithmic transformed image, and then to use it in a variational model built for noise removal. Extensive experimental results suggest that in terms of visual quality, peak signal-to-noise ratio, and mean absolute deviation error, the proposed algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art methods.

Disposition of fuel elements from the Aberdeen and Sandia pulse reactor (SPR-II) assemblies

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

Mckerley, Bill; Bustamante, Jacqueline M; Costa, David A

2010-01-01

We describe the disposition of fuel from the Aberdeen (APR) and the Sandia Pulse Reactors (SPR-II) which were used to provide intense neutron bursts for radiation effects testing. The enriched Uranium - 10% Molybdenum fuel from these reactors was shipped to the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for size reduction prior to shipment to the Savannah River Site (SRS) for final disposition in the H Canyon facility. The Shipper/Receiver Agreements (SRA), intra-DOE interfaces, criticality safety evaluations, safety and quality requirements and key materials management issues required for the successful completion of this project will be presented. This work is inmore » support of the DOE Consolidation and Disposition program. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has operated pulse nuclear reactor research facilities for the Department of Energy since 1961. The Sandia Pulse Reactor (SPR-II) was a bare metal Godiva-type reactor. The reactor facilities have been used for research and development of nuclear and non-nuclear weapon systems, advanced nuclear reactors, reactor safety, simulation sources and energy related programs. The SPR-II was a fast burst reactor, designed and constructed by SNL that became operational in 1967. The SPR-ll core was a solid-metal fuel enriched to 93% {sup 235}U. The uranium was alloyed with 10 weight percent molybdenum to ensure the phase stabilization of the fuel. The core consisted of six fuel plates divided into two assemblies of three plates each. Figure 1 shows a cutaway diagram of the SPR-II Reactor with its decoupling shroud. NNSA charged Sandia with removing its category 1 and 2 special nuclear material by the end of 2008. The main impetus for this activity was based on NNSA Administrator Tom D'Agostino's six focus areas to reenergize NNSA's nuclear material consolidation and disposition efforts. For example, the removal of SPR-II from SNL to DAF was part of this undertaking. This project was in support of NNSA's efforts to consolidate the locations of special nuclear material (SNM) to reduce the cost of securing many SNM facilities. The removal of SPR-II from SNL was a significant accomplishment in SNL's de-inventory efforts and played a key role in reducing the number of locations requiring the expensive security measures required for category 1 and 2 SNM facilities. A similar pulse reactor was fabricated at the Y-12 National Security Complex beginning in the late 1960's. This Aberdeen Pulse Reactor (APR) was operated at the Army Pulse Radiation Facility (APRF) located at the Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) in Maryland. When the APRF was shut down in 2003, a portion of the DOE-owned Special Nuclear Material (SNM) was shipped to an interim facility for storage. Subsequently, the DOE determined that the material from both the SPR-II and the APR would be processed in the H-Canyon at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Because of the SRS receipt requirements some of the material was sent to the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for size-reduction prior to shipment to the SRS for final disposition.« less

Parametric Study of Pulse-Combustor-Driven Ejectors at High-Pressure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yungster, Shaye; Paxson, Daniel E.; Perkins, Hugh D.

2015-01-01

Pulse-combustor configurations developed in recent studies have demonstrated performance levels at high-pressure operating conditions comparable to those observed at atmospheric conditions. However, problems related to the way fuel was being distributed within the pulse combustor were still limiting performance. In the first part of this study, new configurations are investigated computationally aimed at improving the fuel distribution and performance of the pulse-combustor. Subsequent sections investigate the performance of various pulse-combustor driven ejector configurations operating at highpressure conditions, focusing on the effects of fuel equivalence ratio and ejector throat area. The goal is to design pulse-combustor-ejector configurations that maximize pressure gain while achieving a thermal environment acceptable to a turbine, and at the same time maintain acceptable levels of NOx emissions and flow non-uniformities. The computations presented here have demonstrated pressure gains of up to 2.8%.

Parametric Study of Pulse-Combustor-Driven Ejectors at High-Pressure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yungster, Shaye; Paxson, Daniel E.; Perkins, Hugh D.

2015-01-01

Pulse-combustor configurations developed in recent studies have demonstrated performance levels at high-pressure operating conditions comparable to those observed at atmospheric conditions. However, problems related to the way fuel was being distributed within the pulse combustor were still limiting performance. In the first part of this study, new configurations are investigated computationally aimed at improving the fuel distribution and performance of the pulse-combustor. Subsequent sections investigate the performance of various pulse-combustor driven ejector configurations operating at high pressure conditions, focusing on the effects of fuel equivalence ratio and ejector throat area. The goal is to design pulse-combustor-ejector configurations that maximize pressure gain while achieving a thermal environment acceptable to a turbine, and at the same time maintain acceptable levels of NO(x) emissions and flow non-uniformities. The computations presented here have demonstrated pressure gains of up to 2.8.

Pulse reflectometry as an acoustical inverse problem: Regularization of the bore reconstruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forbes, Barbara J.; Sharp, David B.; Kemp, Jonathan A.

2002-11-01

The theoretical basis of acoustic pulse reflectometry, a noninvasive method for the reconstruction of an acoustical duct from the reflections measured in response to an input pulse, is reviewed in terms of the inversion of the central Fredholm equation. It is known that this is an ill-posed problem in the context of finite-bandwidth experimental signals. Recent work by the authors has proposed the truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) in the regularization of the transient input impulse response, a non-measurable quantity from which the spatial bore reconstruction is derived. In the present paper we further emphasize the relevance of the singular system framework to reflectometry applications, examining for the first time the transient bases of the system. In particular, by varying the truncation point for increasing condition numbers of the system matrix, it is found that the effects of out-of-bandwidth singular functions on the bore reconstruction can be systematically studied.

About possibilities of clearing near-Earth space from dangerous debris by a spaceborne laser system with an autonomous cw chemical HF laser

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

Avdeev, A V; Bashkin, A S; Katorgin, Boris I

2011-07-31

The possibility of clearing hazardous near-Earth space debris using a spaceborne laser station with a large autonomous cw chemical HF laser is substantiated and the requirements to its characteristics (i.e., power and divergence of laser radiation, pulse duration in the repetitively pulsed regime, repetition rate and total time of laser action on space debris, necessary to remove them from the orbits of the protected spacecrafts) are determined. The possibility of launching the proposed spaceborne laser station to the orbit with the help of a 'Proton-M' carrier rocket is considered. (laser applications)

Thermal ablation of an aluminium film upon absorption of a femtosecond laser pulse

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

Bezhanov, S G; Kanavin, A P; Uryupin, S A

We have found the time dependence of the ablation depth of aluminium irradiated by a femtosecond laser pulse. It is shown to what extent an increase in the radiation energy flux density leads to an increase in the quasi-stationary value of the ablation depth. By reducing the aluminium film thickness down to one hundred nanometres and less, the ablation depth significantly increases. At the same time, the quasi-stationary value of the ablation depth of a thin film is obtained due to the removal of heat from the focal spot region. (interaction of laser radiation with matter. laser plasma)

Economics of electron beam and electrical discharge processing for post-combustion NO(x) control in internal combustion engines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Penetrante, B. M.

1993-08-01

The physics and chemistry of non-thermal plasma processing for post-combustion NO(x) control in internal combustion engines are discussed. A comparison of electron beam and electrical discharge processing is made regarding their power consumption, radical production, NO(x) removal mechanisms, and by-product formation. Pollution control applications present a good opportunity for transferring pulsed power techniques to the commercial sector. However, unless advances are made to drastically reduce the price and power consumption of electron beam sources and pulsed power systems, these plasma techniques will not become commercially competitive with conventional thermal or surface-catalytic methods.

Influence of the heat transfer on the thermoelastic response of metals on heating by the laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sudenkov, Y. V.; Zimin, B. A.; Sventitskaya, V. E.

2018-05-01

The paper presents an analysis of the effect of the heat transfer process in metals on the parameters of thermal stresses under pulsed laser action. The dynamic problem of thermoelasticity is considered as a two-stage process. The first stage is determined by the time of action of the radiation pulse. The second stage is caused by the dynamics of the heat transfer process after the end of the laser pulse. For showing the continuity of thermoelastic and thermoelectric processes, the analysis of the electronic mechanism for the propagation of heat in metals and the results of experimental studies of these processes are presented. The results of the experiments demonstrate the high sensitivity of the parameters of thermoelastic and thermoelectric pulses to the microstructure of metals.

AxBAxB… pulsed atomic layer deposition: Numerical growth model and experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muneshwar, Triratna; Cadien, Ken

2016-02-01

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is widely used for the fabrication of advanced semiconductor devices and related nanoscale structures. During ALD, large precursor doses (>1000 L per pulse) are often required to achieve surface saturation, of which only a small fraction is utilized in film growth while the rest is pumped from the system. Since the metal precursor constitutes a significant cost of ALD, strategies to enhance precursor utilization are essential for the scaling of ALD processes. In the precursor reaction step, precursor physisorption is restricted by steric hindrance (mA1) from ligands on the precursor molecules. On reaction, some of these ligands are removed as by-products resulting in chemisorbed species with reduced steric hindrance (mA1 → mA2, where mA2 < mA1) and some of the initially hindered surface reaction sites becoming accessible for further precursor physisorption. To utilize these additional reaction sites, we propose a generalized AxBAxB… pulsed deposition where the total precursor dose (ΦA) is introduced as multiple x (x > 1, x ∈ I) short-pulses rather than a single pulse. A numerical first-order surface reaction kinetics growth model is presented and applied to study the effect of AxBAxB… pulsed ALD on the growth per cycle (GPC). The model calculations predict higher GPC for AxBAxB… pulsing than with ABAB… deposition. In agreement with the model predictions, with AxBAxB… pulsed deposition, the GPC was found to increase by ˜46% for ZrN plasma enhanced ALD (PEALD), ˜49% for HfO2 PEALD, and ˜8% for thermal Al2O3 ALD with respect to conventional ABAB… pulsed growth.

Preclinical investigations of articular cartilage ablation with femtosecond and pulsed infrared lasers as an alternative to microfracture surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Erica; Sun, Hui; Juhasz, Tibor; Wong, Brian J. F.

2014-09-01

Microfracture surgery is a bone marrow stimulation technique for treating cartilage defects and injuries in the knee. Current methods rely on surgical skill and instrumentation. This study investigates the potential use of laser technology as an alternate means to create the microfracture holes. Lasers investigated in this study include an erbium:YAG laser (λ=2.94 μm), titanium:sapphire femtosecond laser system (λ=1700 nm), and Nd:glass femtosecond laser (λ=1053 nm). Bovine samples were ablated at fluences of 8 to 18 J/cm2 with the erbium:YAG laser, at a power of 300±15 mW with the titanium:sapphire femtosecond system, and at an energy of 3 μJ/pulse with the Nd:glass laser. Samples were digitally photographed and histological sections were taken for analysis. The erbium:YAG laser is capable of fast and efficient ablation; specimen treated with fluences of 12 and 18 J/cm2 experienced significant amounts of bone removal and minimal carbonization with saline hydration. The femtosecond laser systems successfully removed cartilage but not clinically significant amounts of bone. Precise tissue removal was possible but not to substantial depths due to limitations of the systems. With additional studies and development, the use of femtosecond laser systems to ablate bone may be achieved at clinically valuable ablation rates.

Preclinical investigations of articular cartilage ablation with femtosecond and pulsed infrared lasers as an alternative to microfracture surgery.

PubMed

Su, Erica; Sun, Hui; Juhasz, Tibor; Wong, Brian J F

2014-09-01

Microfracture surgery is a bone marrow stimulation technique for treating cartilage defects and injuriesin the knee. Current methods rely on surgical skill and instrumentation. This study investigates the potential useof laser technology as an alternate means to create the microfracture holes. Lasers investigated in this study include an erbium:YAG laser (λ = 2.94 μm), titanium:sapphire femtosecond laser system (λ = 1700 nm), and Nd:glass femtosecond laser (λ = 1053 nm). Bovine samples were ablated at fluences of 8 to 18 J∕cm2 with the erbium:YAG laser, at a power of 300 ± 15 mW with the titanium:sapphire femtosecond system, and at an energy of 3 μJ∕pulse with the Nd:glass laser. Samples were digitally photographed and histological sections were taken for analysis. The erbium:YAG laser is capable of fast and efficient ablation; specimen treated with fluences of 12 and 18 J∕cm2 experienced significant amounts of bone removal and minimal carbonization with saline hydration. The femtosecond laser systems successfully removed cartilage but not clinically significant amounts of bone. Precise tissue removal was possible but not to substantial depths due to limitations of the systems. With additional studies and development, the use of femtosecond laser systems to ablate bone may be achieved at clinically valuable ablation rates.

Development of an ultrasonic pulse-echo (UPE) technique for aircraft icing studies

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

Liu, Yang; Hu, Hui; Chen, Wen-Li

Aircraft operating in some cold weather conditions face the risk of icing. Icing poses a threat to flight safety and its management is expensive. Removing light frost on a clear day from a medium-size business jet can cost $300, heavy wet snow removal can cost $3,000 and removal of accumulated frozen/freezing rain can cost close to $10,000. Understanding conditions that lead to severe icing events is important and challenging. When an aircraft or rotorcraft flies in a cold climate, some of the super cooled droplets impinging on exposed aircraft surfaces may flow along the surface prior to freezing and givemore » various forms and shapes of ice. The runback behavior of a water film on an aircraft affects the morphology of ice accretion and the rate of formation. In this study, we report the recent progress to develop an Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo (UPE) technique to provide real-time thickness distribution measurements of surface water flows driven by boundary layer airflows for aircraft icing studies. A series of initial experimental investigations are conducted in an ice wind tunnel employing an array of ultrasonic transducers placed underneath the surface of a flat plate. The water runback behavior on the plate is evaluated by measuring the thickness profile variation of the water film along the surface by using the UPE technique under various wind speed and flow rate conditions.« less

Comparison of treatment with an Alexandrite picosecond laser and Nd:YAG nanosecond laser for removing blue-black Chinese eyeliner tattoos.

PubMed

Zhang, Mengli; Huang, Yuqing; Lin, Tong; Wu, Qiuju

2018-02-28

To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of an Alexandrite picosecond laser versus Nd:YAG nanosecond laser for removing blue-black eyeliner tattoos which have existed more than 10 years. A total of 40 patients were treated with an Alexandrite picosecond laser in our department from August 2015 to July 2017, with a fluence of 1.96-6.37J/cm 2 , spot size of 2.0-3.6 mm, and pulse width of 750 ps. Another 32 patients were treated with an Nd:YAG nanosecond laser, with a fluence of 2.80-7.00 J/cm 2 , spot size of 3 mm, and pulse width of 5-20 ns. All analysed patients completed at least one treatment and follow-up. The median number of treatment for all the patients was 1 (range, 1-4). After a single session, no difference was found between the two lasers for the eyeliner removal (p > 0.05). For the people who achieved an excellent response of tattoo clearance, there was still no difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). Transient side effects were observed in two groups, but neither group had significant adverse reactions. To treat blue-black Chinese eyeliner tattoos over 10 years, Alexandrite picosecond laser does not provide better clearance than the Nd:YAG nanosecond laser.

Heat generated by Er:YAG laser in the pulp chamber of teeth submitted to removal of dental tissue and composite resin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zanin, Fatima; Brugnera, Aldo, Jr.; Pecora, Jesus D.; Pinheiro, Antonio; Spano, Julio; Barbin, Eduardo; Marchesan, Melissa A.

2004-05-01

The knowledge about and control of thermal energy produced by Er:YAG laser after irradiating hard dental tissues and compound resin is important because the pulp, like all vital biological tissue, has a certain capacity for supporting stimulus. The objective of this study was to analyze the thermal variation generated by Er:YAG laser (λ=2.94μm) during the preparation of a Class I cavity in the dental structure and in the removal of microhybrid Z100 (3M) compound resin. An evaluation was made of 30 maxillary human pre-molar teeth from the bank of the Endodontic Laboratory Center of Ribeirao Preto Dental School, Brasil. The sample was divided into 6 groups of 5 teeth each: Group 1, preparation of Class I cavity with Er:YAG laser (350mJ, 3Hz, 343 impulses, 120J, 113 seconds); Group 2, preparation of Class I cavity with Er:YAG laser (350mJ, 4Hz, 343 impulses, 120J, 81 seconds); Group 3, preparation of Class I cavity with Er:YAG laser (350mJ, 6Hz, 343 impulses, 120J, 58 seconds); Group 4, removal of compound resin from Class I preparation with Er:YAG laser (350mJ, 3Hz, 258 impulses, 90J, 85 seconds); Group 5, removal of compound resin from Class I preparation with Er:YAG laser (350mJ, 4Hz, 258 impulses, 90J, 67 seconds); Group 6, removal of compound resin from Class I preparation with Er:YAG laser (350mJ, 6Hz, 258 impulses, 42 seconds). The laser used was KaVo Key 2 (Biberach, Germany), λ=2,94μm, P=3 Watts, pulse duration of 250μs, with air-water cooling. The increase in temperature during dental preparation and the removal of the compound resin was evaluated by means of a Tektronix DMM916 Thermocouple (Consitec, Brasil). The results showed that the application of laser for the removal of the hard dental tissues and for the removal of compound resins with the pulse frequencies 3, 4 and 6 Hz did not generate heating greater than 3.1°C and remained within the histopathological limits permitted for pulp tissue (5.5°C) and there was a significant statistical difference between the heat generated by the application of laser in the removal of the hard dental tissues and in the removal of compound resins (p<0.01). The average increase in temperature of the compound resin component was greater than the tooth.

Electro-Osmotic Pulse Technology: A Novel Solution to Severe Water Intrusion Problems in Earth Covered Magazines

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-01

The situation was deemed ideal for ElectroOsmotic Pulse (EOP) technology. A Return-on-Investment (ROI) study concluded that EOP is also the most...various steps in the EOP system installation: Figure 15 shows the chipping operation for installing a ¾-inch wide mixed metal-oxide coated titanium

Gmti Motion Compensation

DOEpatents

Doerry, Armin W.

2004-07-20

Movement of a GMTI radar during a coherent processing interval over which a set of radar pulses are processed may cause defocusing of a range-Doppler map in the video signal. This problem may be compensated by varying waveform or sampling parameters of each pulse to compensate for distortions caused by variations in viewing angles from the radar to the target.

Basic research and data analysis for the national geodetic satellite program and for the earth and ocean physics applications program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

Activities related to the National Geodetic Satellite Program are reported and include a discussion of Ohio State University's OSU275 set of tracking station coordinates and transformation parameters, determination of network distortions, and plans for data acquisition and processing. The problems encountered in the development of the LAGEOS satellite are reported in an account of activities related to the Earth and Ocean Physics Applications Program. The LAGEOS problem involves transmission and reception of the laser pulse designed to make accurate determinations of the earth's crustal and rotational motions. Pulse motion, ephemeris, arc range measurements, and accuracy estimates are discussed in view of the problem. Personnel involved in the two programs are also listed, along with travel activities and reports published to date.

Beam shaping for cosmetic hair removal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lizotte, Todd E.; Tuttle, Tracie

2007-09-01

Beam shaping has the potential to provide comfort to people who require or seek laser based cosmetic skin procedures. Of immediate interest is the procedure of aesthetic hair removal. Hair removal is performed using a variety of wavelengths from 480 to 1200 nm by means of filtered Xenon flash lamps (pulsed light) or 810 nm diode lasers. These wavelengths are considered the most efficient means available for hair removal applications, but current systems use simple reflector designs and plane filter windows to direct the light to the surface being exposed. Laser hair removal is achieved when these wavelengths at sufficient energy levels are applied to the epidermis. The laser energy is absorbed by the melanin (pigment) in the hair and hair follicle which in turn is transformed into heat. This heat creates the coagulation process, which causes the removal of the hair and prevents growth of new hair [1]. This paper outlines a technique of beam shaping that can be applied to a non-contact based hair removal system. Several features of the beam shaping technique including beam uniformity and heat dispersion across its operational treatment area will be analyzed. A beam shaper design and its fundamental testing will be discussed in detail.

A test of critical thresholds and their indicators in a desertification-prone ecosystem: more resilience than we thought

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Theoretical models predict that dryland ecosystems can cross critical thresholds after which vegetation loss is independent of initial drivers, but experimental data are nonexistent. We used a long-term (13 year) pulse-perturbation experiment featuring heavy grazing and shrub removal to determine i...

Development of a laser cleaning method for the first mirror surface of the charge exchange recombination spectroscopy diagnostics on ITER

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

Kuznetsov, A. P., E-mail: APKuznetsov@mephi.ru; Buzinskij, O. I.; Gubsky, K. L.

A set of optical diagnostics is expected for measuring the plasma characteristics in ITER. Optical elements located inside discharge chambers are exposed to an intense radiation load, sputtering due to collisions with energetic atoms formed in the charge transfer processes, and contamination due to recondensation of materials sputtered from different parts of the construction of the chamber. Removing the films of the sputtered materials from the mirrors with the aid of pulsed laser radiation is an efficient cleaning method enabling recovery of the optical properties of the mirrors. In this work, we studied the efficiency of removal of metal oxidemore » films by pulsed radiation of a fiber laser. Optimization of the laser cleaning conditions was carried out on samples representing metal substrates polished with optical quality with deposition of films on them imitating the chemical composition and conditions expected in ITER. It is shown that, by a proper selection of modes of radiation exposure to the surface with a deposited film, it is feasible to restore the original high reflection characteristics of optical elements.« less