Imaging skeletal muscle with linearly polarized light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, X.; Ranasinghesagara, J.; Yao, G.

2008-04-01

We developed a polarization sensitive imaging system that can acquire reflectance images in turbid samples using incident light of different polarization states. Using this system, we studied polarization imaging on bovine sternomandibularis muscle strips using light of two orthogonal linearly polarized states. We found the obtained polarization sensitive reflectance images had interesting patterns depending on the polarization states. In addition, we computed four elements of the Mueller matrix from the acquired images. As a comparison, we also obtained polarization images of a 20% Intralipid"R" solution and compared the results with those from muscle samples. We found that the polarization imaging patterns from Intralipid solution can be described with a model based on single-scattering approximation. However, the polarization images in muscle had distinct patterns and can not be explained by this simple model. These results implied that the unique structural properties of skeletal muscle play important roles in modulating the propagation of polarized light.

Lighted display devices for producing static or animated visual displays, including animated facial features

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

Heilbron, Valerie J; Clem, Paul G; Cook, Adam Wade

An illuminated display device with a base member with a plurality of cavities therein. Illumination devices illuminate the cavities and emit light through an opening of the cavities in a pattern, and a speaker can emit sounds in synchronization with the pattern. A panel with translucent portions can overly the base member and the cavities. An animated talking character can have an animated mouth cavity complex with multiple predetermined mouth lighting configurations simulative of human utterances. The cavities can be open, or optical waveguide material or positive members can be disposed therein. Reflective material can enhance internal reflectance and lightmore » emission.« less

Patterns and properties of polarized light in air and water

PubMed Central

Cronin, Thomas W.; Marshall, Justin

2011-01-01

Natural sources of light are at best weakly polarized, but polarization of light is common in natural scenes in the atmosphere, on the surface of the Earth, and underwater. We review the current state of knowledge concerning how polarization and polarization patterns are formed in nature, emphasizing linearly polarized light. Scattering of sunlight or moonlight in the sky often forms a strongly polarized, stable and predictable pattern used by many animals for orientation and navigation throughout the day, at twilight, and on moonlit nights. By contrast, polarization of light in water, while visible in most directions of view, is generally much weaker. In air, the surfaces of natural objects often reflect partially polarized light, but such reflections are rarer underwater, and multiple-path scattering degrades such polarization within metres. Because polarization in both air and water is produced by scattering, visibility through such media can be enhanced using straightforward polarization-based methods of image recovery, and some living visual systems may use similar methods to improve vision in haze or underwater. Although circularly polarized light is rare in nature, it is produced by the surfaces of some animals, where it may be used in specialized systems of communication. PMID:21282165

Seasonal canopy reflectance patterns of wheat, sorghum, and soybean

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kanemasu, E. T.

1974-01-01

An investigation was conducted of canopy-reflectance patterns as a basis for the determination of surface conditions. Two fields each of wheat, sorghum, and soybeans were selected in a bottom land area. One field contained a dark-colored, silty clay loam and the other a light-colored, silt loam. The study suggests that the reflectance ratio of the 545- to 655-nm-wavelengths may be used as an indicator of crop growth.

Sub-pixel accuracy thickness calculation of poultry fillets from scattered laser profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jing, Hansong; Chen, Xin; Tao, Yang; Zhu, Bin; Jin, Fenghua

2005-11-01

A laser range imaging system based on the triangulation method was designed and implemented for online high-resolution thickness calculation of poultry fillets. A laser pattern was projected onto the surface of the chicken fillet for calculation of the thickness of the meat. Because chicken fillets are relatively loosely-structured material, a laser light easily penetrates the meat, and scattering occurs both at and under the surface. When laser light is scattered under the surface it is reflected back and further blurs the laser line sharpness. To accurately calculate the thickness of the object, the light transportation has to be considered. In the system, the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BSSRDF) was used to model the light transportation and the light pattern reflected into the cameras. BSSRDF gives the reflectance of a target as a function of illumination geometry and viewing geometry. Based on this function, an empirical method has been developed and it has been proven that this method can be used to accurately calculate the thickness of the object from a scattered laser profile. The laser range system is designed as a sub-system that complements the X-ray bone inspection system for non-invasive detection of hazardous materials in boneless poultry meat with irregular thickness.

Simulation for light extraction efficiency of OLEDs with spheroidal microlenses in hexagonal array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bae, Hyungchul; Kim, Jun Soo; Hong, Chinsoo

2018-05-01

A theoretical model based on ray optics is used to simulate the optical performance of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with spheroidal microlens arrays (MLAs) in a hexagonal array configuration using the Monte Carlo method. In simulations, ray tracing was performed until 20 reflections occurred from the metal cathode, with 10 consecutive reflections permitted in a single lens pattern. The parameters describing the shape and array of the lens pattern of a MLA are its radius, height, contact angle, and fill factor (FF). Many previous results on how these parameters affect light extraction efficiency (LEE) are inconsistent. In this paper, these contradictory results are discussed and explained by introducing a new parameter. To examine light extraction from an OLED through a MLA, the LEE enhancement is studied considering the effect of absorption by indium tin oxide during multiple reflections from the metal cathode. The device size where LEE enhancement is unchanged with changing lens pattern was identified for a fixed FF; under this condition, the optimal LEE enhancement, 84%, can be obtained using an OLED with a close-packed spheroidal MLA. An ideal maximum LEE enhancement of 120% was achieved with a device with an infinite-sized MLA. The angular intensity distribution of light emitted through a MLA is considered in addition to LEE enhancement for an optimized MLA.

Modeling the radiation pattern of LEDs.

PubMed

Moreno, Ivan; Sun, Ching-Cherng

2008-02-04

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) come in many varieties and with a wide range of radiation patterns. We propose a general, simple but accurate analytic representation for the radiation pattern of the light emitted from an LED. To accurately render both the angular intensity distribution and the irradiance spatial pattern, a simple phenomenological model takes into account the emitting surfaces (chip, chip array, or phosphor surface), and the light redirected by both the reflecting cup and the encapsulating lens. Mathematically, the pattern is described as the sum of a maximum of two or three Gaussian or cosine-power functions. The resulting equation is widely applicable for any kind of LED of practical interest. We accurately model a wide variety of radiation patterns from several world-class manufacturers.

Lifelog-based lighting design for biofied building

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kake, Fumika; Mita, Akira

2016-04-01

A design tool is proposed for lighting control system that reflects histories of residents' past life using a genetic mechanism. There are many previous researches which show the preference of lighting design differs depending on people and their behaviors. And recently, due to the appearance of LED which can change light color easily, the number of lighting scenes have drastically increased. It is difficult for residents to grasp all patterns of lighting and understand what pattern of lighting design fits for their behaviors. So if we can extract lighting preferences and demands of each resident from histories of past life and reflect these information in next lighting control, it's possible to make living space more comfortable. An evolutionally adaptation mechanism learnt from living organisms is proposed in this research to extract the information from lifelog, especially focusing on methylation and mutation. Methylation is one of the epigenetic algorithms making a difference in phenotype without changing DNA sequence. Mutation is one of the genetic algorithms making a difference in phenotype by changing DNA sequence. Those two mechanisms are applied in the system. First, the lifelog of residents and using hysteresis of lighting equipment are collected. Then the lifelog is converted into the genetic information and stored. When the lifelog is stored enough, the superior genes will be picked up from the stored genetic information to be reflected in lighting control in next generation. Simulations to verify the versatility of the system were conducted.

Portable lamp with dynamically controlled lighting distribution

DOEpatents

Siminovitch, Michael J.; Page, Erik R.

2001-01-01

A double lamp table or floor lamp lighting system has a pair of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) arranged vertically with a reflective septum in between. By selectively turning on one or both of the CFLs, down lighting, up lighting, or both up and down lighting is produced. The control system can also vary the light intensity from each CFL. The reflective septum insures that almost all the light produced by each lamp will be directed into the desired light distribution pattern which is selected and easily changed by the user. Planar compact fluorescent lamps, e.g. circular CFLs, particularly oriented horizontally, are preferable. CFLs provide energy efficiency. The lighting system may be designed for the home, hospitality, office or other environments.

Polarized Light Corridor Demonstrations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davies, G. R.

1990-01-01

Eleven demonstrations of light polarization are presented. Each includes a brief description of the apparatus and the effect demonstrated. Illustrated are strain patterns, reflection, scattering, the Faraday Effect, interference, double refraction, the polarizing microscope, and optical activity. (CW)

Dense pattern multiple pass cells

DOEpatents

Silver, Joel A.; Bomse, David S.

2010-09-21

An optical cell and a method of operating an optical cell comprising employing a first mirror comprising a first hole therein at approximately a center of the first mirror and through which laser light enters the cell, employing a second mirror comprising a second hole therein at approximately a center of the second mirror and through which laser light exits the cell, and forming a Lissajous pattern of spots on the mirrors by repeated reflection of laser light entering the cell.

Reflected scatterometry for noninvasive interrogation of bacterial colonies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Huisung; Doh, Iyll-Joon; Sturgis, Jennifer; Bhunia, Arun K.; Robinson, J. Paul; Bae, Euiwon

2016-10-01

A phenotyping of bacterial colonies on agar plates using forward-scattering diffraction-pattern analysis provided promising classification of several different bacteria such as Salmonella, Vibrio, Listeria, and E. coli. Since the technique is based on forward-scattering phenomena, light transmittance of both the colony and the medium is critical to ensure quality data. However, numerous microorganisms and their growth media allow only limited light penetration and render the forward-scattering measurement a challenging task. For example, yeast, Lactobacillus, mold, and several soil bacteria form colorful and dense colonies that obstruct most of the incoming light passing through them. Moreover, blood agar, which is widely utilized in the clinical field, completely blocks the incident coherent light source used in forward scatterometry. We present a newly designed reflection scatterometer and validation of the resolving power of the instrument. The reflectance-type instrument can acquire backward elastic scatter patterns for both highly opaque media and colonies and has been tested with three different bacterial genera grown on blood agar plates. Cross-validation results show a classification rate above 90% for four genera.

Optical-diffraction method for determining crystal orientation

DOEpatents

Sopori, B.L.

1982-05-07

Disclosed is an optical diffraction technique for characterizing the three-dimensional orientation of a crystal sample. An arbitrary surface of the crystal sample is texture etched so as to generate a pseudo-periodic diffraction grating on the surface. A laser light beam is then directed onto the etched surface, and the reflected light forms a farfield diffraction pattern in reflection. Parameters of the diffraction pattern, such as the geometry and angular dispersion of the diffracted beam are then related to grating shape of the etched surface which is in turn related to crystal orientation. This technique may be used for examining polycrystalline silicon for use in solar cells.

Defect mapping system

DOEpatents

Sopori, Bhushan L.

1995-01-01

Apparatus for detecting and mapping defects in the surfaces of polycrystalline materials in a manner that distinguishes dislocation pits from grain boundaries includes a laser for illuminating a wide spot on the surface of the material, a light integrating sphere with apertures for capturing light scattered by etched dislocation pits in an intermediate range away from specular reflection while allowing light scattered by etched grain boundaries in a near range from specular reflection to pass through, and optical detection devices for detecting and measuring intensities of the respective intermediate scattered light and near specular scattered light. A center blocking aperture or filter can be used to screen out specular reflected light, which would be reflected by nondefect portions of the polycrystalline material surface. An X-Y translation stage for mounting the polycrystalline material and signal processing and computer equipment accommodate rastor mapping, recording, and displaying of respective dislocation and grain boundary defect densities. A special etch procedure is included, which prepares the polycrystalline material surface to produce distinguishable intermediate and near specular light scattering in patterns that have statistical relevance to the dislocation and grain boundary defect densities.

Defect mapping system

DOEpatents

Sopori, B.L.

1995-04-11

Apparatus for detecting and mapping defects in the surfaces of polycrystalline materials in a manner that distinguishes dislocation pits from grain boundaries includes a laser for illuminating a wide spot on the surface of the material, a light integrating sphere with apertures for capturing light scattered by etched dislocation pits in an intermediate range away from specular reflection while allowing light scattered by etched grain boundaries in a near range from specular reflection to pass through, and optical detection devices for detecting and measuring intensities of the respective intermediate scattered light and near specular scattered light. A center blocking aperture or filter can be used to screen out specular reflected light, which would be reflected by nondefect portions of the polycrystalline material surface. An X-Y translation stage for mounting the polycrystalline material and signal processing and computer equipment accommodate rastor mapping, recording, and displaying of respective dislocation and grain boundary defect densities. A special etch procedure is included, which prepares the polycrystalline material surface to produce distinguishable intermediate and near specular light scattering in patterns that have statistical relevance to the dislocation and grain boundary defect densities. 20 figures.

Maskless lithography

DOEpatents

Sweatt, William C.; Stulen, Richard H.

1999-01-01

The present invention provides a method for maskless lithography. A plurality of individually addressable and rotatable micromirrors together comprise a two-dimensional array of micromirrors. Each micromirror in the two-dimensional array can be envisioned as an individually addressable element in the picture that comprises the circuit pattern desired. As each micromirror is addressed it rotates so as to reflect light from a light source onto a portion of the photoresist coated wafer thereby forming a pixel within the circuit pattern. By electronically addressing a two-dimensional array of these micromirrors in the proper sequence a circuit pattern that is comprised of these individual pixels can be constructed on a microchip. The reflecting surface of the micromirror is configured in such a way as to overcome coherence and diffraction effects in order to produce circuit elements having straight sides.

Maskless lithography

DOEpatents

Sweatt, W.C.; Stulen, R.H.

1999-02-09

The present invention provides a method for maskless lithography. A plurality of individually addressable and rotatable micromirrors together comprise a two-dimensional array of micromirrors. Each micromirror in the two-dimensional array can be envisioned as an individually addressable element in the picture that comprises the circuit pattern desired. As each micromirror is addressed it rotates so as to reflect light from a light source onto a portion of the photoresist coated wafer thereby forming a pixel within the circuit pattern. By electronically addressing a two-dimensional array of these micromirrors in the proper sequence a circuit pattern that is comprised of these individual pixels can be constructed on a microchip. The reflecting surface of the micromirror is configured in such a way as to overcome coherence and diffraction effects in order to produce circuit elements having straight sides. 12 figs.

Method for maskless lithography

DOEpatents

Sweatt, William C.; Stulen, Richard H.

2000-01-01

The present invention provides a method for maskless lithography. A plurality of individually addressable and rotatable micromirrors together comprise a two-dimensional array of micromirrors. Each micromirror in the two-dimensional array can be envisioned as an individually addressable element in the picture that comprises the circuit pattern desired. As each micromirror is addressed it rotates so as to reflect light from a light source onto a portion of the photoresist coated wafer thereby forming a pixel within the circuit pattern. By electronically addressing a two-dimensional array of these micromirrors in the proper sequence a circuit pattern that is comprised of these individual pixels can be constructed on a microchip. The reflecting surface of the micromirror is configured in such a way as to overcome coherence and diffraction effects in order to produce circuit elements having straight sides.

Light-Output Enhancement of GaN-Based Light-Emitting Diodes with Three-Dimensional Backside Reflectors Patterned by Microscale Cone Array

PubMed Central

Hu, Jinyong; Wang, Hong

2014-01-01

Three-dimensional (3D) backside reflector, compared with flat reflectors, can improve the probability of finding the escape cone for reflecting lights and thus enhance the light-extraction efficiency (LEE) for GaN-based light-emitting diode (LED) chips. A triangle-lattice of microscale SiO2 cone array followed by a 16-pair Ti3O5/SiO2 distributed Bragg reflector (16-DBR) was proposed to be attached on the backside of sapphire substrate, and the light-output enhancement was demonstrated by numerical simulation and experiments. The LED chips with flat reflectors or 3D reflectors were simulated using Monte Carlo ray tracing method. It is shown that the LEE increases as the reflectivity of backside reflector increases, and the light-output can be significantly improved by 3D reflectors compared to flat counterparts. It can also be observed that the LEE decreases as the refractive index of the cone material increases. The 3D 16-DBR patterned by microscale SiO2 cone array benefits large enhancement of LEE. This microscale pattern was prepared by standard photolithography and wet-etching technique. Measurement results show that the 3D 16-DBR can provide 12.1% enhancement of wall-plug efficiency, which is consistent with the simulated value of 11.73% for the enhancement of LEE. PMID:25133262

Scattering rings in optically anisotropic porous silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oton, C. J.; Gaburro, Z.; Ghulinyan, M.; Pancheri, L.; Bettotti, P.; Negro, L. Dal; Pavesi, L.

2002-12-01

We report the observation of strongly anisotropic scattering of laser light at oblique incidence on a (100)-oriented porous silicon layer. The scattered light forms cones tangent to the incident and reflected beams. The conical pattern is caused by scattering on the vertical walls of pores, which are straight along the layer thickness. The light cone defines structured light rings onto a screen normal to the cone axis. We explain the various structures by optical anisotropy of porous silicon. For the sample under analysis, we directly measure from the ring patterns a value of Δn/nord=8% of positive birefringence.

Design of a backlighting structure for very large-area luminaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carraro, L.; Mäyrä, A.; Simonetta, M.; Benetti, G.; Tramonte, A.; Benedetti, M.; Randone, E. M.; Ylisaukko-Oja, A.; Keränen, K.; Facchinetti, T.; Giuliani, G.

2017-02-01

A novel approach for RGB semiconductor LED-based backlighting system is developed to satisfy the requirements of the Project LUMENTILE funded by the European Commission, whose scope is to develop a luminous electronic tile that is foreseen to be manufactured in millions of square meters each year. This unconventionally large-area surface of uniform, high-brightness illumination requires a specific optical design to keep a low production cost, while maintaining high optical extraction efficiency and a reduced thickness of the structure, as imposed by architectural design constraints. The proposed solution is based on a light-guiding layer to be illuminated by LEDs in edge configuration, or in a planar arrangement. The light guiding slab is finished with a reflective top interface and a diffusive or reflective bottom interface/layer. Patterning is used for both the top interface (punctual removal of reflection and generation of a light scattering centers) and for the bottom layer (using dark/bright printed pattern). Computer-based optimization algorithms based on ray-tracing are used to find optimal solutions in terms of uniformity of illumination of the top surface and overall light extraction efficiency. Through a closed-loop optimization process, that assesses the illumination uniformity of the top surface, the algorithm generates the desired optimized top and bottom patterns, depending on the number of LED sources used, their geometry, and the thickness of the guiding layer. Specific low-cost technologies to realize the patterning are discussed, with the goal of keeping the production cost of these very large-area luminaries below the value of 100$/sqm.

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

Guo, Wei, E-mail: wguo2@ncsu.edu; Kirste, Ronny; Bryan, Zachary

Enhanced light extraction efficiency was demonstrated on nanostructure patterned GaN and AlGaN/AlN Multiple-Quantum-Well (MQW) structures using mass production techniques including natural lithography and interference lithography with feature size as small as 100 nm. Periodic nanostructures showed higher light extraction efficiency and modified emission profile compared to non-periodic structures based on integral reflection and angular-resolved transmission measurement. Light extraction mechanism of macroscopic and microscopic nanopatterning is discussed, and the advantage of using periodic nanostructure patterning is provided. An enhanced photoluminescence emission intensity was observed on nanostructure patterned AlGaN/AlN MQW compared to as-grown structure, demonstrating a large-scale and mass-producible pathway to higher lightmore » extraction efficiency in deep-ultra-violet light-emitting diodes.« less

Table lamp with dynamically controlled lighting distribution and uniformly illuminated luminous shade

DOEpatents

Siminovitch, Michael J.; Page, Erik R.

2002-01-01

A double lamp table or floor lamp lighting system has a pair of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or other lamps arranged vertically, i.e. one lamp above the other, with a reflective septum in between. By selectively turning on one or both of the CFLs, down lighting, up lighting, or both up and down lighting is produced. The control system can also vary the light intensity from each CFL. The reflective septum ensures that almost all the light produced by each lamp will be directed into the desired light distribution pattern which is selected and easily changed by the user. In a particular configuration, the reflective septum is bowl shaped, with the upper CFL sitting in the bowl, and a luminous shade hanging down from the bowl. The lower CFL provides both task lighting and uniform shade luminance. Planar compact fluorescent lamps, e.g. circular CFLs, particularly oriented horizontally, are preferable. CFLs provide energy efficiency. However, other types of lamps, including incandescent, halogen, and LEDs can also be used in the fixture. The lighting system may be designed for the home, hospitality, office or other environments.

Method for maskless lithography

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

NONE

The present invention provides a method for maskless lithography. A plurality of individually addressable and rotatable micromirrors together comprise a two-dimensional array of micromirrors. Each micromirror in the two-dimensional array can be envisioned as an individually addressable element in the picture that comprises the circuit pattern desired. As each micromirror is addressed it rotates so as to reflect light from a light source onto a portion of the photoresist coated wafer thereby forming a pixel within the circuit pattern. By electronically addressing a two-dimensional array of these micromirrors in the proper sequence a circuit pattern that is comprised of thesemore » individual pixels can be constructed on a microchip. The reflecting surface of the micromirror is configured in such a way as to overcome coherence and diffraction effects in order to produce circuit elements having straight sides.« less

Maskless lithography

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

Sweatt, W.C.; Stulen, R.H.

The present invention provides a method for maskless lithography. A plurality of individually addressable and rotatable micromirrors together comprise a two-dimensional array of micromirrors. Each micromirror in the two-dimensional array can be envisioned as an individually addressable element in the picture that comprises the circuit pattern desired. As each micromirror is addressed it rotates so as to reflect light from a light source onto a portion of the photoresist coated wafer thereby forming a pixel within the circuit pattern. By electronically addressing a two-dimensional array of these micromirrors in the proper sequence a circuit pattern that is comprised of thesemore » individual pixels can be constructed on a microchip. The reflecting surface of the micromirror is configured in such a way as to overcome coherence and diffraction effects in order to produce circuit elements having straight sides. 12 figs.« less

Increased effective reflection and transmission at the GaN-sapphire interface of LEDs grown on patterned sapphire substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dongxue, Wu; Ping, Ma; Boting, Liu; Shuo, Zhang; Junxi, Wang; Jinmin, Li

2016-10-01

The effect of patterned sapphire substrate (PSS) on the top-surface (P-GaN-surface) and the bottom-surface (sapphire-surface) of the light output power (LOP) of GaN-based LEDs was investigated, in order to study the changes in reflection and transmission of the GaN-sapphire interface. Experimental research and computer simulations were combined to reveal a great enhancement in LOP from either the top or bottom surface of GaN-based LEDs, which are prepared on patterned sapphire substrates (PSS-LEDs). Furthermore, the results were compared to those of the conventional LEDs prepared on the planar sapphire substrates (CSS-LEDs). A detailed theoretical analysis was also presented to further support the explanation for the increase in both the effective reflection and transmission of PSS-GaN interface layers and to explain the causes of increased LOP values. Moreover, the bottom-surface of the PSS-LED chip shows slightly increased light output performance when compared to that of the top-surface. Therefore, the light extraction efficiency (LEE) can be further enhanced by integrating the method of PSS and flip-chip structure design. Project supported by the National High Technology Program of China (No. Y48A040000) and the National High Technology Program of China (No. Y48A040000).

Generation of low-divergence laser beams

DOEpatents

Kronberg, James W.

1993-01-01

Apparatus for transforming a conventional beam of coherent light, having a Gaussian energy distribution and relatively high divergence, into a beam in which the energy distribution approximates a single, non-zero-order Bessel function and which therefore has much lower divergence. The apparatus comprises a zone plate having transmitting and reflecting zones defined by the pattern of light interference produced by the combination of a beam of coherent light with a Gaussian energy distribution and one having such a Bessel distribution. The interference pattern between the two beams is a concentric array of multiple annuli, and is preferably recorded as a hologram. The hologram is then used to form the transmitting and reflecting zones by photo-etching portions of a reflecting layer deposited on a plate made of a transmitting material. A Bessel beam, containing approximately 50% of the energy of the incident beam, is produced by passing a Gaussian beam through such a Bessel zone plate. The reflected beam, also containing approximately 50% of the incident beam energy and having a Bessel energy distribution, can be redirected in the same direction and parallel to the transmitted beam. Alternatively, a filter similar to the Bessel zone plate can be placed within the resonator cavity of a conventional laser system having a front mirror and a rear mirror, preferably axially aligned with the mirrors and just inside the front mirror to generate Bessel energy distribution light beams at the laser source.

Sequential, progressive, equal-power, reflective beam-splitter arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manhart, Paul K.

2017-11-01

The equations to calculate equal-power reflectivity of a sequential series of beam splitters is presented. Non-sequential optical design examples are offered for uniform illumination using diode lasers. Objects created using Boolean operators and Swept Surfaces can create objects capable of reflecting light into predefined elevation and azimuth angles. Analysis of the illumination patterns for the array are also presented.

Determining the Thickness and Refractive Index of a Mirror

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Uysal, Ahmet

2010-01-01

When a laser beam reflects from a back surface glass mirror and falls on a screen, a pattern of discrete bright spots is created by partial reflection and refraction of the light at the air-glass interface and reflection at the mirror surface (Fig. 1). This paper explains how this phenomenon can be used to determine the refractive index and the…

Light Reflection from Packed Layers of Transparent Spheres: Is Hapke's Photometric Model Accurate Enough to Make Predictions?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, H.; Voss, K. J.

2011-03-01

We demonstrate that the diffraction removal procedure outlined by Hapke et al. [Icarus, 199, 210 (2009)] contains an error. By following their intended scheme we found that the Hapke model is not anisotropic enough to describe the reflectance patterns.

Motion of glossy objects does not promote separation of lighting and surface colour

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The surface properties of an object, such as texture, glossiness or colour, provide important cues to its identity. However, the actual visual stimulus received by the eye is determined by both the properties of the object and the illumination. We tested whether operational colour constancy for glossy objects (the ability to distinguish changes in spectral reflectance of the object, from changes in the spectrum of the illumination) was affected by rotational motion of either the object or the light source. The different chromatic and geometric properties of the specular and diffuse reflections provide the basis for this discrimination, and we systematically varied specularity to control the available information. Observers viewed animations of isolated objects undergoing either lighting or surface-based spectral transformations accompanied by motion. By varying the axis of rotation, and surface patterning or geometry, we manipulated: (i) motion-related information about the scene, (ii) relative motion between the surface patterning and the specular reflection of the lighting, and (iii) image disruption caused by this motion. Despite large individual differences in performance with static stimuli, motion manipulations neither improved nor degraded performance. As motion significantly disrupts frame-by-frame low-level image statistics, we infer that operational constancy depends on a high-level scene interpretation, which is maintained in all conditions. PMID:29291113

Planar optics with patterned chiral liquid crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobashi, Junji; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Ozaki, Masanori

2016-06-01

Reflective metasurfaces based on metallic and dielectric nanoscatterers have attracted interest owing to their ability to control the phase of light. However, because such nanoscatterers require subwavelength features, the fabrication of elements that operate in the visible range is challenging. Here, we show that chiral liquid crystals with a self-organized helical structure enable metasurface-like, non-specular reflection in the visible region. The phase of light that is Bragg-reflected off the helical structure can be controlled over 0-2π depending on the spatial phase of the helical structure; thus planar elements with arbitrary reflected wavefronts can be created via orientation control. The circular polarization selectivity and external field tunability of Bragg reflection open a wide variety of potential applications for this family of functional devices, from optical isolators to wearable displays.

Design, Analysis, and On-Sun Evaluation of Reflective Strips Under Controlled Buckling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaworske, Donald A.; Sechkar, Edward A.; Colozza, Anthony J.

2014-01-01

Solar concentrators are envisioned for use in a variety of space-based applications, including applications involving in situ resource utilization. Identifying solar concentrators that minimize mass and cost are of great interest, especially since launch cost is driven in part by the mass of the payload. Concentrators must also be able to survive the wide temperature excursions on the lunar surface. Identifying smart structures which compensate for changes in concentrator geometry brought about by temperature extremes are of interest. Some applications may benefit from the ability to change the concentrators focal pattern at will. This paper addresses a method of designing a single reflective strip to produce a desired focal pattern through the use of controlled buckling. Small variations in the cross section over the length of the reflective strip influence the distribution of light in the focal region. A finite element method of analysis is utilized here which calculates the curve produced for a given strip cross section and axial load. Varying axial force and strip cross section over the length of the reflective strip provide a means of optimizing ray convergence in the focal region. Careful selection of a tapered cross section yields a reflective strip that approximates a parabola. An array of reflective strips under controlled buckling produces a light weight concentrator and adjustments in the compression of individual strips provide a means of compensating for temperature excursions or changing the focal pattern at will.

Design, Analysis, and On-Sun Evaluation of Reflective Strips Under Controlled Buckling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaworske, D. A.; Sechkar, E. A.; Colozza, A. J.

2014-01-01

Solar concentrators are envisioned for use in a variety of space-based applications, including applications involving in situ resource utilization. Identifying solar concentrators that minimize mass and cost are of great interest, especially since launch cost is driven in part by the mass of the payload. Concentrators must also be able to survive the wide temperature excursions on the lunar surface. Identifying smart structures which compensate for changes in concentrator geometry brought about by temperature extremes are of interest. Some applications may benefit from the ability to change the concentrator's focal pattern at will. This paper addresses a method of designing a single reflective strip to produce a desired focal pattern through the use of controlled buckling. Small variations in the cross section over the length of the reflective strip influence the distribution of light in the focal region. A finite element method of analysis is utilized here which calculates the curve produced for a given strip cross section and axial load. Varying axial force and strip cross section over the length of the reflective strip provide a means of optimizing ray convergence in the focal region. Careful selection of a tapered cross section yields a reflective strip that approximates a parabola. An array of reflective strips under controlled buckling produces a light weight concentrator and adjustments in the compression of individual strips provide a means of compensating for temperature excursions or changing the focal pattern at will.

Generation of low-divergence laser beams

DOEpatents

Kronberg, J.W.

1993-09-14

Apparatus for transforming a conventional beam of coherent light, having a Gaussian energy distribution and relatively high divergence, into a beam in which the energy distribution approximates a single, non-zero-order Bessel function and which therefore has much lower divergence. The apparatus comprises a zone plate having transmitting and reflecting zones defined by the pattern of light interference produced by the combination of a beam of coherent light with a Gaussian energy distribution and one having such a Bessel distribution. The interference pattern between the two beams is a concentric array of multiple annuli, and is preferably recorded as a hologram. The hologram is then used to form the transmitting and reflecting zones by photo-etching portions of a reflecting layer deposited on a plate made of a transmitting material. A Bessel beam, containing approximately 50% of the energy of the incident beam, is produced by passing a Gaussian beam through such a Bessel zone plate. The reflected beam, also containing approximately 50% of the incident beam energy and having a Bessel energy distribution, can be redirected in the same direction and parallel to the transmitted beam. Alternatively, a filter similar to the Bessel zone plate can be placed within the resonator cavity of a conventional laser system having a front mirror and a rear mirror, preferably axially aligned with the mirrors and just inside the front mirror to generate Bessel energy distribution light beams at the laser source. 11 figures.

A superior architecture of brightness enhancement for display backlighting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dross, Oliver; Parkyn, William A.; Chaves, Julio; Falicoff, Waqidi; Miñano, Juan Carlos; Benitez, Pablo; Alvarez, Roberto

2006-08-01

Brightness enhancement of backlighting for displays is typically achieved via crossed micro prismatic films that are introduced between a backlight unit and a transmissive (LCD) display. Prismatic films let pass light only into a restricted angular range, while, in conjunction with other reflective elements below the backlight, all other light is recycled within the backlight unit, thereby increasing the backlight luminance. This design offers no free parameters to influence the resulting light distribution and suffers from insufficient stray light control. A novel strategy of light recycling is introduced, using a microlens array in conjunction with a hole array in a reflective surface, that can provide higher luminance, superior stray light control, and can be designed to meet almost any desired emission pattern. Similar strategies can be applied to mix light from different colored LEDs being mounted upside down to shine into a backlight unit.

Novel EUV mask black border suppressing EUV and DUV OoB light reflection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Shin; Kodera, Yutaka; Fukugami, Norihito; Komizo, Toru; Maruyama, Shingo; Watanabe, Genta; Yoshida, Itaru; Kotani, Jun; Konishi, Toshio; Haraguchi, Takashi

2016-05-01

EUV lithography is the most promising technology for semiconductor device manufacturing of the 10nm node and beyond. The image border is a pattern free dark area around the die on the photomask serving as transition area between the parts of the mask that is shielded from the exposure light by the Reticle Masking (REMA) blades and the die. When printing a die at dense spacing on an EUV scanner, the reflection from the image border overlaps edges of neighboring dies, affecting CD and contrast in this area. This is related to the fact that EUV absorber stack reflects 1-3% of actinic EUV light. To reduce this effect several types of image border with reduced EUV reflectance (<0.05%) have been proposed; such an image border is referred to as a black border. In particular, an etched multilayer type black border was developed; it was demonstrated that CD impact at the edge of a die is strongly reduced with this type of the black border (BB). However, wafer printing result still showed some CD change in the die influenced by the black border reflection. It was proven that the CD shift was caused by DUV Out of Band (OOB) light from the EUV light source. New types of a multilayer etched BB were evaluated and showed a good potential for DUV light suppression. In this study, a novel BB called `Hybrid Black Border' (HBB) has been developed to eliminate EUV and DUV OOB light reflection by applying optical design technique and special micro-fabrication technique. A new test mask with HBB is fabricated without any degradation of mask quality according to the result of CD performance in the main pattern, defectivity and cleaning durability. The imaging performance for N10 imaging structures is demonstrated on NXE:3300B in collaboration with ASML. This result is compared to the imaging results obtained for a mask with the earlier developed BB, and HBB has achieved ~3x improvement; less than 0.2 nm CD changes are observed in the corners of the die. A CD uniformity budget including impact of OOB light in the die edge area is evaluated which shows that the OOB impact from HBB becomes comparable with other CDU contributors in this area. Finally, we state that HBB is a promising technology allowing for CD control at die edges.

Three-dimensional particle tracking in concave structures made by ultraviolet nanoimprint via total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and refractive-index-matching method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujinami, Taku; Kigami, Hiroshi; Unno, Noriyuki; Taniguchi, Jun; Satake, Shin-ichi

2018-06-01

Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) is a promising method for measuring fluid flow close to a wall with nanoscale resolution in a process that is termed "multilayer nanoparticle image velocimetry" (MnPIV). TIRFM uses evanescent light that is generated on a substrate (typically a glass slide) by total internal reflection of light. Many researchers have previously studied x- y- z (3D) flows of water close to flat glass slides using MnPIV. On the other hand, a fluid flow close to a structured surface is also important. To measure flows of water near micro-patterns, we previously developed an MnPIV technique that uses a refractive-index-matching method. In previous study, the micropattern is made of a thermoplastic material with a refractive index that closely matches that of water. In this study, ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography was used for fabricating the appropriate micro-patterns because this technique can fabricate a pattern with a high resolution. As a result, we succeeded in performing MnPIV in water with a circular hole array pattern made by ultraviolet nanoimprint using a refractive-index-matching method. We believe that this technique will be helpful in elucidating fluid flows around microstructures.

Three-dimensional particle tracking in concave structures made by ultraviolet nanoimprint via total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and refractive-index-matching method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujinami, Taku; Kigami, Hiroshi; Unno, Noriyuki; Taniguchi, Jun; Satake, Shin-ichi

2018-03-01

Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) is a promising method for measuring fluid flow close to a wall with nanoscale resolution in a process that is termed "multilayer nanoparticle image velocimetry" (MnPIV). TIRFM uses evanescent light that is generated on a substrate (typically a glass slide) by total internal reflection of light. Many researchers have previously studied x-y-z (3D) flows of water close to flat glass slides using MnPIV. On the other hand, a fluid flow close to a structured surface is also important. To measure flows of water near micro-patterns, we previously developed an MnPIV technique that uses a refractive-index-matching method. In previous study, the micropattern is made of a thermoplastic material with a refractive index that closely matches that of water. In this study, ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography was used for fabricating the appropriate micro-patterns because this technique can fabricate a pattern with a high resolution. As a result, we succeeded in performing MnPIV in water with a circular hole array pattern made by ultraviolet nanoimprint using a refractive-index-matching method. We believe that this technique will be helpful in elucidating fluid flows around microstructures.

Structured light stereo catadioptric scanner based on a spherical mirror

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barone, S.; Neri, P.; Paoli, A.; Razionale, A. V.

2018-08-01

The present paper describes the development and characterization of a structured light stereo catadioptric scanner for the omnidirectional reconstruction of internal surfaces. The proposed approach integrates two digital cameras, a multimedia projector and a spherical mirror, which is used to project the structured light patterns generated by the light emitter and, at the same time, to reflect into the cameras the modulated fringe patterns diffused from the target surface. The adopted optical setup defines a non-central catadioptric system, thus relaxing any geometrical constraint in the relative placement between optical devices. An analytical solution for the reflection on a spherical surface is proposed with the aim at modelling forward and backward projection tasks for a non-central catadioptric setup. The feasibility of the proposed active catadioptric scanner has been verified by reconstructing various target surfaces. Results demonstrated a great influence of the target surface distance from the mirror's centre on the measurement accuracy. The adopted optical configuration allows the definition of a metrological 3D scanner for surfaces disposed within 120 mm from the mirror centre.

Is countershading camouflage robust to lighting change due to weather?

PubMed

Penacchio, Olivier; Lovell, P George; Harris, Julie M

2018-02-01

Countershading is a pattern of coloration thought to have evolved in order to implement camouflage. By adopting a pattern of coloration that makes the surface facing towards the sun darker and the surface facing away from the sun lighter, the overall amount of light reflected off an animal can be made more uniformly bright. Countershading could hence contribute to visual camouflage by increasing background matching or reducing cues to shape. However, the usefulness of countershading is constrained by a particular pattern delivering 'optimal' camouflage only for very specific lighting conditions. In this study, we test the robustness of countershading camouflage to lighting change due to weather, using human participants as a 'generic' predator. In a simulated three-dimensional environment, we constructed an array of simple leaf-shaped items and a single ellipsoidal target 'prey'. We set these items in two light environments: strongly directional 'sunny' and more diffuse 'cloudy'. The target object was given the optimal pattern of countershading for one of these two environment types or displayed a uniform pattern. By measuring detection time and accuracy, we explored whether and how target detection depended on the match between the pattern of coloration on the target object and scene lighting. Detection times were longest when the countershading was appropriate to the illumination; incorrectly camouflaged targets were detected with a similar pattern of speed and accuracy to uniformly coloured targets. We conclude that structural changes in light environment, such as caused by differences in weather, do change the effectiveness of countershading camouflage.

Interference of conically scattered light in surface plasmon resonance.

PubMed

Webster, Aaron; Vollmer, Frank

2013-02-01

Surface plasmon polaritons on thin metal films are a well studied phenomena when excited using prism coupled geometries such as the Kretschmann attenuated total reflection configuration. Here we describe a novel interference pattern in the conically scattered light emanating from such a configuration when illuminated by a focused beam. We observe conditions indicating only self-interference of scattered surface plasmon polaritions without any contributions from specular reflection. The spatial evolution of this field is described in the context of Fourier optics and has applications in highly sensitive surface plasmon based biosensing.

Broadband angle-independent antireflection coatings on nanostructured light trapping solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vázquez-Guardado, Abraham; Boroumand, Javaneh; Franklin, Daniel; Chanda, Debashis

2018-03-01

Backscattering from nanostructured surfaces greatly diminishes the efficacy of light trapping solar cells. While the analytical design of broadband, angle-independent antireflection coatings on nanostructured surfaces proved inefficient, numerical optimization proves a viable alternative. Here, we numerically design and experimentally verify the performance of single and bilayer antireflection coatings on a 2D hexagonal diffractive light trapping pattern on crystalline silicon substrates. Three well-known antireflection coatings, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxide, which also double as high-quality surface passivation materials, are studied in the 400-1000 nm band. By varying thickness and conformity, the optimal parameters that minimize the broadband total reflectance (specular and scattering) from the nanostructured surface are obtained. The design results in a single-layer antireflection coating with normal-angle wavelength-integrated reflectance below 4% and a bilayer antireflection coating demonstrating reflection down to 1.5%. We show experimentally an angle-averaged reflectance of ˜5.2 % up to 60° incident angle from the optimized bilayer antireflection-coated nanostructured surface, paving the path toward practical implementation of the light trapping solar cells.

Measurement of the configuration of a concave surface by the interference of reflected light

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumazawa, T.; Sakamoto, T.; Shida, S.

1985-01-01

A method whereby a concave surface is irradiated with coherent light and the resulting interference fringes yield information on the concave surface is described. This method can be applied to a surface which satisfies the following conditions: (1) the concave face has a mirror surface; (2) the profile of the face is expressed by a mathematical function with a point of inflection. In this interferometry, multilight waves reflected from the concave surface interfere and make fringes wherever the reflected light propagates. Interference fringe orders. Photographs of the fringe patterns for a uniformly loaded thin silicon plate clamped at the edge are shown experimentally. The experimental and the theoretical values of the maximum optical path difference show good agreement. This simple method can be applied to obtain accurate information on concave surfaces.

Stray light calibration of the Dawn Framing Camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kovacs, Gabor; Sierks, Holger; Nathues, Andreas; Richards, Michael; Gutierrez-Marques, Pablo

2013-10-01

Sensitive imaging systems with high dynamic range onboard spacecrafts are susceptible to ghost and stray-light effects. During the design phase, the Dawn Framing Camera was laid out and optimized to minimize those unwanted, parasitic effects. However, the requirement of low distortion to the optical design and use of a front-lit focal plane array induced an additional stray light component. This paper presents the ground-based and in-flight procedures characterizing the stray-light artifacts. The in-flight test used the Sun as the stray light source, at different angles of incidence. The spacecraft was commanded to point predefined solar elongation positions, and long exposure images were recorded. The PSNIT function was calculated by the known illumination and the ground based calibration information. In the ground based calibration, several extended and point sources were used with long exposure times in dedicated imaging setups. The tests revealed that the major contribution to the stray light is coming from the ghost reflections between the focal plan array and the band pass interference filters. Various laboratory experiments and computer modeling simulations were carried out to quantify the amount of this effect, including the analysis of the diffractive reflection pattern generated by the imaging sensor. The accurate characterization of the detector reflection pattern is the key to successfully predict the intensity distribution of the ghost image. Based on the results, and the properties of the optical system, a novel correction method is applied in the image processing pipeline. The effect of this correction procedure is also demonstrated with the first images of asteroid Vesta.

Optical switch based on the electrically controlled liquid crystal interface.

PubMed

Komar, Andrei A; Tolstik, Alexei L; Melnikova, Elena A; Muravsky, Alexander A

2015-06-01

The peculiarities of the linearly polarized light beam reflection at the interface within the bulk of a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell with different orientations of the director are analyzed. Two methods to create the interface are considered. Combination of the planar and homeotropic orientations of the NLC director is realized by means of a spatially structured electrode under the applied voltage. In-plane patterned azimuthal alignment of the NLC director is created by the patterned rubbing alignment technique. All possible orthogonal orientations of the LC director are considered; the configurations for realization of total internal reflection are determined. The revealed relationship between the propagation of optical beams in a liquid crystal material and polarization of laser radiation has enabled realization of the spatial separation for the orthogonally polarized light beams at the interface between two regions of NLC with different director orientations (domains). Owing to variations in the applied voltage and, hence, in the refractive index gradient, the light beam propagation directions may be controlled electrically.

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

Han, Seunghoon; Horie, Yu; Faraon, Andrei

An on-chip optical filter having Fabri-Perot resonators and a spectrometer may include a first sub-wavelength grating (SWG) reflecting layer and a second SWG reflecting layer facing each other. A plurality of Fabri-Perot resonators are formed by the first SWG reflecting layer and the second SWG reflecting layer facing each other. Each of the Fabri-Perot resonators may transmit light corresponding to a resonance wavelength of the Fabri-Perot resonator. The resonance wavelengths of the Fabri-Perot resonators may be determined according to duty cycles of grating patterns.

[Computer-assisted measurement of ocular misalignment in infants and young children using the digital Purkinje reflection pattern procedure].

PubMed

Barry, J C; Effert, R; Kaupp, A; Kleine, M; Reim, M

1994-02-01

A digital image recording and processing system is presented that allows a quick diagnosis of microstrabismus in non-cooperative children. It is thus particularly suited for screening purposes. The Purkinje Reflection Pattern Evaluation (RPE) method is used: three small flashes are used to produce the desired Purkinje images. Two horizontal rows of the three 1st Purkinje images (anterior corneal reflections) and of the three 4th Purkinje images (posterior crystalline lens reflections) stemming from the three light sources form the characteristic Purkinje image reflection pattern. Each eye's position is calculated from the shift between the upper and lower rows of reflections by means of two simple formulae. From the angles obtained in binocular fixation and monocular fixation the manifest angle of strabismus corresponding to the angle measured in the simultaneous prism-and-cover test is computed. The measurement is performed at a fixation distance of 50 cm under natural viewing conditions. To obtain a picture one only has to get the child's attention for a short moment. The primary position is triggered with the fixation light, which is operated by a switch. The digital image recording is done with a hand-held device comprising two miniaturized video cameras, three photo flashes and a fixation light that is operated manually. An IBM-compatible PC equipped with a hard disk and two frame grabbers was adapted for the storage and processing of the pictures. The pictures are evaluated interactively in a few minutes on the workstation's monitor immediately after the measurement. To this end specially designed menu-driven software was implemented. Examples of the measuring procedure and clinical results in infants with microtropic highlight the potential of the system as a screening apparatus and for the exact measurement of small and large squint angles. Usually even 1-year-old children can cooperate well enough to get good-quality pictures in binocular fixation. The new digital system allows easy and rapid application of the Purkinje Reflection Pattern Evaluation method since the time-consuming photographic film processing and evaluation are no longer necessary. For the first time small angles of strabismus under 5 degrees (10 PD) can be measured with a precision of less than 1 degree (2 PD) under clinical conditions in non-cooperative children.

Coupling mediated by photorefractive phase grating between visible radiation and surface plasmon polaritons in iron-doped LiNbO3 crystal slabs coated with indium-tin oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hao; Zhao, Hua; Xu, Chao; Li, Liang; Hu, Guangwei; Zhang, Jingwen

2014-10-01

Photorefractive (PR) phase gratings were used in coupling energy between visible light and surface plasmon polaritons in indium-tin oxide (ITO)-coated iron-doped lithium niobate (Fe:LN) crystal slabs via electrostatic modification at the ITO/LN interface based on a strong photovoltaic effect. The energy coupling is considered to be responsible for several interesting observations: (1) dynamic reflectivity change from 3.25 to 37.0% of the very first reflection at the entrance slab interface, (2) total light reflectivity as high as 89%, and (3) two-dimensional diffraction patterns without external feedback needed.

Contrasting activity patterns of two related octopus species, Octopus macropus and Octopus vulgaris.

PubMed

Meisel, Daniela V; Byrne, Ruth A; Kuba, Michael; Mather, Jennifer; Ploberger, Werner; Reschenhofer, Erhard

2006-08-01

Octopus macropus and Octopus vulgaris have overlapping habitats and are exposed to similar temporal changes. Whereas the former species is described as nocturnal in the field, there are conflicting reports about the activity time of the latter one. To compare activity patterns, the authors tested both species in the laboratory. Octopuses were exposed to a light-dark cycle and held under constant dim light for 7 days each. O. macropus showed nocturnal and light-cued activity. According to casual observations, O. vulgaris started out nocturnal but had switched to mostly diurnal when the experiment began. Individual variation of its activity was found. The different activity patterns of O. macropus and O. vulgaris might reflect their lifestyles, the latter species being more generalist. ((c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).

Light-Induced Buckles Localized by Polymeric Inks Printed on Bilayer Films.

PubMed

Park, Sungjune; Nallainathan, Umaash; Mondal, Kunal; Sen, Pratik; Dickey, Michael D

2018-04-16

Buckling instabilities generate microscale features in thin films in a facile manner. Buckles can form, for example, by heating a metal/polymer film stack on a rigid substrate. Thermal expansion differences of the individual layers generate compressive stress that causes the metal to buckle over the entire surface. The ability to dictate and confine the location of buckle formation can enable patterns with more than one length scale, including hierarchical patterns. Here, sacrificial "ink" patterned on top of the film stack localizes the buckles via two mechanisms. First, stiff inks suppress buckles such that only the non-inked regions buckle in response to infrared light. The metal in the non-inked regions absorbs the infrared light and thus gets sufficiently hot to induce buckles. Second, soft inks that absorb light get hot faster than the non-inked regions and promote buckling when exposed to visible light. The exposed metal in the non-inked regions reflects the light and thus never get sufficiently hot to induce buckles. This second method works on glass substrates, but not silicon substrates, due to the superior thermal insulation of glass. The patterned ink can be removed, leaving behind hierarchical patterns consisting of regions of buckles among non-buckled regions. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Optical instrument employing reticle having preselected visual response pattern formed thereon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haines, R. F. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

An optical instrument for use in locating indicator lights or the like on a work surface is described. It comprises a tubular housing, a lens mounted within the housing and including an inner surface coated with a dichroic material that is capable of reflecting a portion of the light incident thereon, a plate mounted within the housing opposite the lens and having a central aperture, a transparent substrate disposed within the housing intermediate the lens and the plate, the substrate including a first surface disposed in a facing relationship to the dichroic material, and a reticle formed on the first surface and comprised of a material capable of reflecting light.

Multi-layered fabrication of large area PDMS flexible optical light guide sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, Robert; Knopf, George K.; Bordatchev, Evgueni V.

2017-02-01

Large area polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) flexible optical light guide sheets can be used to create a variety of passive light harvesting and illumination systems for wearable technology, advanced indoor lighting, non-planar solar light collectors, customized signature lighting, and enhanced safety illumination for motorized vehicles. These thin optically transparent micro-patterned polymer sheets can be draped over a flat or arbitrarily curved surface. The light guiding behavior of the optical light guides depends on the geometry and spatial distribution of micro-optical structures, thickness and shape of the flexible sheet, refractive indices of the constituent layers, and the wavelength of the incident light. A scalable fabrication method that combines soft-lithography, closed thin cavity molding, partial curing, and centrifugal casting is described in this paper for building thin large area multi-layered PDMS optical light guide sheets. The proposed fabrication methodology enables the of internal micro-optical structures (MOSs) in the monolithic PDMS light guide by building the optical system layer-by-layer. Each PDMS layer in the optical light guide can have the similar, or a slightly different, indices of refraction that permit total internal reflection within the optical sheet. The individual molded layers may also be defect free or micro-patterned with microlens or reflecting micro-features. In addition, the bond between adjacent layers is ensured because each layer is only partially cured before the next functional layer is added. To illustrate the scalable build-by-layers fabrication method a three-layer mechanically flexible illuminator with an embedded LED strip is constructed and demonstrated.

Structure for monolithic optical circuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evanchuk, Vincent L. (Inventor)

1984-01-01

A method for making monolithic optical circuits, with related optical devices as required or desired, on a supporting surface (10) consists of coating the supporting surface with reflecting metal or cladding resin, spreading a layer of liquid radiation sensitive plastic (12) on the surface, exposing the liquid plastic with a mask (14) to cure it in a desired pattern of light conductors (16, 18, 20), washing away the unexposed liquid plastic, and coating the conductors thus formed with reflective metal or cladding resin. The index of refraction for the cladding (22) is selected to be lower than for the conductors so that light in the conductors will be reflected by the interface with the cladding. For multiple level conductors, as where one conductor must cross over another, the process may be repeated to fabricate a bridge with columns (24, 26) of conductors to the next level, and conductor (28) between the columns. For more efficient transfer of energy over the bridge, faces at 45.degree. may be formed to reflect light up and across the bridge.

Dynamically Switching the Polarization State of Light Based on the Phase Transition of Vanadium Dioxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Zhi-Yong; Shu, Fang-Zhou; Gao, Ya-Jun; Cheng, Feng; Peng, Ru-Wen; Fan, Ren-Hao; Liu, Yongmin; Wang, Mu

2018-03-01

There have been great endeavors devoted to manipulating the polarization state of light by plasmonic nanostructures in recent decades. However, the topic of active polarizers has attracted much less attention. We present a composite plasmonic nanostructure consisting of vanadium dioxide that can dynamically modulate the polarization state of the reflected light through a thermally induced phase transition of vanadium dioxide. We design a system consisting of anisotropic plasmonic nanostructures with vanadium dioxide that exhibits distinct reflections subjected to different linearly polarized incidence at room temperature and in the heated state. Under a particular linearly polarized incidence, the polarization state of the reflected light changes at room temperature, and reverts to its original polarization state above the phase-transition temperature. The composite structure can also be used to realize a dynamically switchable infrared image, wherein a pattern can be visualized at room temperature while it disappears above the phase-transition temperature. The composite structure could be potentially used for versatile optical modulators, molecular detection, and polarimetric imaging.

System for characterizing semiconductor materials and photovoltaic device

DOEpatents

Sopori, B.L.

1996-12-03

Apparatus for detecting and mapping defects in the surfaces of polycrystalline material in a manner that distinguishes dislocation pits from grain boundaries includes a first laser of a first wavelength for illuminating a wide spot on the surface of the material, a second laser of a second relatively shorter wavelength for illuminating a relatively narrower spot on the surface of the material, a light integrating sphere with apertures for capturing light scattered by etched dislocation pits in an intermediate range away from specular reflection while allowing light scattered by etched grain boundaries in a near range from specular reflection to pass through, and optical detection devices for detecting and measuring intensities of the respective intermediate scattered light and near specular scattered light. A center blocking aperture or filter can be used to screen out specular reflected light, which would be reflected by nondefect portions of the polycrystalline material surface. An X-Y translation stage for mounting the polycrystalline material and signal processing and computer equipment accommodate raster mapping, recording, and displaying of respective dislocation and grain boundary defect densities. A special etch procedure is included, which prepares the polycrystalline material surface to produce distinguishable intermediate and near specular light scattering in patterns that have statistical relevance to the dislocation and grain boundary defect densities. A reflectance measurement of the piece of material is obtained by adding together the signals from the optical detection devices. In the case where the piece of material includes a photovoltaic device, the current induced in the device by the illuminating light can be measured with a current sensing amplifier after the light integrating sphere is moved away from the device. 22 figs.

System for characterizing semiconductor materials and photovoltaic device

DOEpatents

Sopori, Bhushan L.

1996-01-01

Apparatus for detecting and mapping defects in the surfaces of polycrystalline material in a manner that distinguishes dislocation pits from grain boundaries includes a first laser of a first wavelength for illuminating a wide spot on the surface of the material, a second laser of a second relatively shorter wavelength for illuminating a relatively narrower spot on the surface of the material, a light integrating sphere with apertures for capturing light scattered by etched dislocation pits in an intermediate range away from specular reflection while allowing light scattered by etched grain boundaries in a near range from specular reflection to pass through, and optical detection devices for detecting and measuring intensities of the respective intermediate scattered light and near specular scattered light. A center blocking aperture or filter can be used to screen out specular reflected light, which would be reflected by nondefect portions of the polycrystalline material surface. An X-Y translation stage for mounting the polycrystalline material and signal processing and computer equipment accommodate raster mapping, recording, and displaying of respective dislocation and grain boundary defect densities. A special etch procedure is included, which prepares the polycrystalline material surface to produce distinguishable intermediate and near specular light scattering in patterns that have statistical relevance to the dislocation and grain boundary defect densities. A reflectance measurement of the piece of material is obtained by adding together the signals from the optical detection devices. In the case where the piece of material includes a photovoltaic device, the current induced in the device by the illuminating light can be measured with a current sensing amplifier after the light integrating sphere is moved away from the device.

Light Coupling and Trapping in Ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells Using Dielectric Scattering Patterns.

PubMed

van Lare, Claire; Yin, Guanchao; Polman, Albert; Schmid, Martina

2015-10-27

We experimentally demonstrate photocurrent enhancement in ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) solar cells with absorber layers of 460 nm by nanoscale dielectric light scattering patterns printed by substrate conformal imprint lithography. We show that patterning the front side of the device with TiO2 nanoparticle arrays results in a small photocurrent enhancement in almost the entire 400-1200 nm spectral range due to enhanced light coupling into the cell. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations are in good agreement with external quantum efficiency measurements. Patterning the Mo/CIGSe back interface using SiO2 nanoparticles leads to strongly enhanced light trapping, increasing the efficiency from 11.1% for a flat to 12.3% for a patterned cell. Simulations show that optimizing the array geometry could further improve light trapping. Including nanoparticles at the Mo/CIGSe interface leads to substantially reduced parasitic absorption in the Mo back contact. Parasitic absorption in the back contact can be further reduced by fabricating CIGSe cells on top of a SiO2-patterned In2O3:Sn (ITO) back contact. Simulations show that these semitransparent cells have similar spectrally averaged reflection and absorption in the CIGSe active layer as a Mo-based patterned cell, demonstrating that the absorption losses in the Mo can be partially turned into transmission through the semitransparent geometry.

Is countershading camouflage robust to lighting change due to weather?

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Countershading is a pattern of coloration thought to have evolved in order to implement camouflage. By adopting a pattern of coloration that makes the surface facing towards the sun darker and the surface facing away from the sun lighter, the overall amount of light reflected off an animal can be made more uniformly bright. Countershading could hence contribute to visual camouflage by increasing background matching or reducing cues to shape. However, the usefulness of countershading is constrained by a particular pattern delivering ‘optimal’ camouflage only for very specific lighting conditions. In this study, we test the robustness of countershading camouflage to lighting change due to weather, using human participants as a ‘generic’ predator. In a simulated three-dimensional environment, we constructed an array of simple leaf-shaped items and a single ellipsoidal target ‘prey’. We set these items in two light environments: strongly directional ‘sunny’ and more diffuse ‘cloudy’. The target object was given the optimal pattern of countershading for one of these two environment types or displayed a uniform pattern. By measuring detection time and accuracy, we explored whether and how target detection depended on the match between the pattern of coloration on the target object and scene lighting. Detection times were longest when the countershading was appropriate to the illumination; incorrectly camouflaged targets were detected with a similar pattern of speed and accuracy to uniformly coloured targets. We conclude that structural changes in light environment, such as caused by differences in weather, do change the effectiveness of countershading camouflage. PMID:29515822

Spottier targets are less attractive to tabanid flies: on the tabanid-repellency of spotty fur patterns.

PubMed

Blaho, Miklos; Egri, Adam; Bahidszki, Lea; Kriska, Gyorgy; Hegedus, Ramon; Akesson, Susanne; Horvath, Gabor

2012-01-01

During blood-sucking, female members of the family Tabanidae transmit pathogens of serious diseases and annoy their host animals so strongly that they cannot graze, thus the health of the hosts is drastically reduced. Consequently, a tabanid-resistant coat with appropriate brightness, colour and pattern is advantageous for the host. Spotty coats are widespread among mammals, especially in cattle (Bos primigenius). In field experiments we studied the influence of the size and number of spots on the attractiveness of test surfaces to tabanids that are attracted to linearly polarized light. We measured the reflection-polarization characteristics of living cattle, spotty cattle coats and the used test surfaces. We show here that the smaller and the more numerous the spots, the less attractive the target (host) is to tabanids. We demonstrate that the attractiveness of spotty patterns to tabanids is also reduced if the target exhibits spottiness only in the angle of polarization pattern, while being homogeneous grey with a constant high degree of polarization. Tabanid flies respond strongly to linearly polarized light, and we show that bright and dark parts of cattle coats reflect light with different degrees and angles of polarization that in combination with dark spots on a bright coat surface disrupt the attractiveness to tabanids. This could be one of the possible evolutionary benefits that explains why spotty coat patterns are so widespread in mammals, especially in ungulates, many species of which are tabanid hosts.

Spottier Targets Are Less Attractive to Tabanid Flies: On the Tabanid-Repellency of Spotty Fur Patterns

PubMed Central

Blaho, Miklos; Egri, Adam; Bahidszki, Lea; Kriska, Gyorgy; Hegedus, Ramon; Åkesson, Susanne; Horvath, Gabor

2012-01-01

During blood-sucking, female members of the family Tabanidae transmit pathogens of serious diseases and annoy their host animals so strongly that they cannot graze, thus the health of the hosts is drastically reduced. Consequently, a tabanid-resistant coat with appropriate brightness, colour and pattern is advantageous for the host. Spotty coats are widespread among mammals, especially in cattle (Bos primigenius). In field experiments we studied the influence of the size and number of spots on the attractiveness of test surfaces to tabanids that are attracted to linearly polarized light. We measured the reflection-polarization characteristics of living cattle, spotty cattle coats and the used test surfaces. We show here that the smaller and the more numerous the spots, the less attractive the target (host) is to tabanids. We demonstrate that the attractiveness of spotty patterns to tabanids is also reduced if the target exhibits spottiness only in the angle of polarization pattern, while being homogeneous grey with a constant high degree of polarization. Tabanid flies respond strongly to linearly polarized light, and we show that bright and dark parts of cattle coats reflect light with different degrees and angles of polarization that in combination with dark spots on a bright coat surface disrupt the attractiveness to tabanids. This could be one of the possible evolutionary benefits that explains why spotty coat patterns are so widespread in mammals, especially in ungulates, many species of which are tabanid hosts. PMID:22876282

Real-time analysis keratometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adachi, Iwao P. (Inventor); Adachi, Yoshifumi (Inventor); Frazer, Robert E. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

A computer assisted keratometer in which a fiducial line pattern reticle illuminated by CW or pulsed laser light is projected on a corneal surface through lenses, a prismoidal beamsplitter quarterwave plate, and objective optics. The reticle surface is curved as a conjugate of an ideal corneal curvature. The fiducial image reflected from the cornea undergoes a polarization shift through the quarterwave plate and beamsplitter whereby the projected and reflected beams are separated and directed orthogonally. The reflected beam fiducial pattern forms a moire pattern with a replica of the first recticle. This moire pattern contains transverse aberration due to differences in curvature between the cornea and the ideal corneal curvature. The moire pattern is analyzed in real time by computer which displays either the CW moire pattern or a pulsed mode analysis of the transverse aberration of the cornea under observation, in real time. With the eye focused on a plurality of fixation points in succession, a survey of the entire corneal topography is made and a contour map or three dimensional plot of the cornea can be made as a computer readout in addition to corneal radius and refractive power analysis.

In silico analysis of decomposed reflectances of C3 and C4 plants aiming at the effective assessment of crop needs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baranoski, Gladimir V. G.; Van Leeuwen, Spencer; Chen, Tenn F.

2017-04-01

By separating the surface and subsurface components of foliar hyperspectral signatures using polarization optics, it is possible to enhance the remote discrimination of different plant species and optimize the assessment of different factors associated with their health status. These initiatives, in turn, can lead to higher crop yield and lower environmental impact. It is important to consider, however, that the main varieties of crops, represented by C3 (e.g., soy) and C4 (e.g., maize) plants, have markedly distinct morphological characteristics. Accordingly, the influence of these characteristics on their interactions with impinging light may affect the selection of optimal probe wavelengths for specific applications making use of combined hyperspectral and polarization measurements. In this paper, we compare the sensitivity of the total (including surface and subsurface components) and subsurface reflectance responses of C3 and C4 plants to different spectral and geometrical light incidence conditions. This investigation is supported by measured biophysical data and predictive light transport simulations. The results of our comparisons indicate that the total and subsurface reflectance responses of C3 and C4 plants depict well-defined patterns of sensitivity for varying illumination conditions. We believe that these patterns should be considered in the design of high-fidelity crop discrimination and monitoring procedures.

Nonintrusive measurement of the liquid refractive index by using properties of the cuvette wall.

PubMed

Xu, Ming; Ren, Junpeng; Miao, Runcai; Zhang, Zongquan

2016-10-01

We present a method of nonintrusive measurement of the refractive index of a liquid in a glass cuvette, which uses some optical properties of the cuvette wall and the principle of total internal reflection. By coating a transmission-scattering paint layer on the outer surface of the cuvette, we transform an incident laser beam into a transmitted scattered light. When the transmitted scattered light reaches the interface between the container wall and the liquid inside, the light beams satisfying the condition of total internal reflection are reflected to the coating layer, automatically forming a circular dark pattern that is related to the refractive index of the liquid. Based on an analytic relation between the diameter of the circular dark pattern and the refractive index of the liquid, we devised a method of in situ nonintrusive refractive index measurement. We tested the effect of several parameters on the measuring accuracy and found that the optimal thickness of the transmission-scattering layer is in the range of 50-70 μm, and the aperture of the diaphragm should be in the range of 0.7-1.0 mm. We measured the refractive indices of ethanol, Coca Cola, and red wine, and achieved an accuracy of ±3×10^-4  RIU (refractive index unit).

Imaging 2D optical diffuse reflectance in skeletal muscle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranasinghesagara, Janaka; Yao, Gang

2007-04-01

We discovered a unique pattern of optical reflectance from fresh prerigor skeletal muscles, which can not be described using existing theories. A numerical fitting function was developed to quantify the equiintensity contours of acquired reflectance images. Using this model, we studied the changes of reflectance profile during stretching and rigor process. We found that the prominent anisotropic features diminished after rigor completion. These results suggested that muscle sarcomere structures played important roles in modulating light propagation in whole muscle. When incorporating the sarcomere diffraction in a Monte Carlo model, we showed that the resulting reflectance profiles quantitatively resembled the experimental observation.

Faraday-Active Fabry-Perot Resonator: Transmission, Reflection, and Emissivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liptuga, Anatoliy; Morozhenko, Vasyl; Pipa, Viktor; Venger, Evgen; Kostiuk, Theodor

2011-01-01

The propagation of light within a semiconductor Faraday-active Fabry-Perot resonator (FAFR) is investigated theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that an external magnetic field radically changes the angular and spectral characteristics of transmission, reflection and emissivity of the resonator not only for polarized, but also for unpolarized light. Suppression of interference patterns and phase inversion of the interference extrema were observed in both monochromatic and polychromatic light. The investigations were carried out for the plane-parallel plates of n-InAs in the spectral range of free charge carrier absorption. The results can be used to create new controllable optical and spectroscopic devices for investigation of Faraday-active material properties and for control of parameters of plane-parallel layers and structures.

Isochromatic photoelasticity fringe patterns of PMMA in various shapes and stress applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manjit, Y.; Limpichaipanit, A.; Ngamjarurojana, A.

2018-03-01

The research focuses on isochromatic photoelastic fringe patterns in solid materials by using reflection mode in dark field polariscope. The optical setup consists of light source, polarizers, quarter wave plates, 577 nm optical pass filter, compensator and digital camera system. The fringe patterns were produced on the sample and fractional / integer number of fringe order was observed using Babinet compensator and digital camera system. The samples were circular and rectangular shape of PMMA coated with silver spray and compressed by hydraulic system at the top and the bottom. The results of the isochromatic fringe pattern were analyzed in horizontal and vertical positions. It was found that force and the number of isochromatic photoelastic fringe order depended on shape of sample, which reflects stress distribution behavior.

Reflection characterization of nano-sized dielectric structure in Morpho butterfly wings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Dong

2017-10-01

Morpho butterflies living in Central and South America are well-known for their structural-colored blue wings. The blue coloring originates from the interaction of light with nano-sized dielectric structures that are equipped on the external surface of scales covering over their wings. The high-accuracy nonstandard finite-difference time domain (NS-FDTD) method is used to investigate the reflection characterization from the nanostructures. In the NS-FDTD calculation, a computational model is built to mimic the actual tree-like multilayered structures wherever possible using the hyperbolic tangent functions. It is generally known that both multilayer interference and diffraction grating phenomena can occur when light enters the nano-sized multilayered structure. To answer the question that which phenomenon is mainly responsible for the blue coloring, the NS-FDTD calculation is performed under various incidence angles at wavelengths from 360 to 500 nm. The calculated results at one incident wavelength under different incidence angles are visualized in a two-dimensional mapping image, where horizontal and vertical axes are incidence and reflection angles, respectively. The images demonstrate a remarkable transition from a ring-like pattern at shorter wavelengths to a retro-reflection pattern at longer wavelengths. To clarify the origin of the pattern transition, the model is separated into several simpler parts and compared their mapping images with the theoretical diffraction calculations. It can be concluded that the blue coloring at longer wavelengths is mainly caused by the cooperation of multilayer interference and retro-reflection while the effect of diffraction grating is predominant at shorter wavelengths.

Optical properties of micromachined polysilicon reflective surfaces with etching holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, Jun; Byrne, Colin; Liu, Chang; Brady, David J.

1998-08-01

MUMPS (Multi-User MEMS Process) is receiving increasingly wide use in micro optics. We have investigated the optical properties of the polysilicon reflective surface in a typical MUMPS chip within the visible light spectrum. The effect of etching holes on the reflected laser beam is studied. The reflectivity and diffraction patterns at five different wavelengths have been measured. The optical properties of the polysilicon reflective surface are greatly affected by the surface roughness, the etching holes, as well as the material. The etching holes contribute to diffraction and reduction of reflectivity. This study provides a basis for optimal design of micromachined free-space optical systems.

Concentration solar power optimization system and method of using the same

DOEpatents

Andraka, Charles E

2014-03-18

A system and method for optimizing at least one mirror of at least one CSP system is provided. The system has a screen for displaying light patterns for reflection by the mirror, a camera for receiving a reflection of the light patterns from the mirror, and a solar characterization tool. The solar characterization tool has a characterizing unit for determining at least one mirror parameter of the mirror based on an initial position of the camera and the screen, and a refinement unit for refining the determined parameter(s) based on an adjusted position of the camera and screen whereby the mirror is characterized. The system may also be provided with a solar alignment tool for comparing at least one mirror parameter of the mirror to a design geometry whereby an alignment error is defined, and at least one alignment unit for adjusting the mirror to reduce the alignment error.

Spatial light modulator array with heat minimization and image enhancement features

DOEpatents

Jain, Kanti [Briarcliff Manor, NY; Sweatt, William C [Albuquerque, NM; Zemel, Marc [New Rochelle, NY

2007-01-30

An enhanced spatial light modulator (ESLM) array, a microelectronics patterning system and a projection display system using such an ESLM for heat-minimization and resolution enhancement during imaging, and the method for fabricating such an ESLM array. The ESLM array includes, in each individual pixel element, a small pixel mirror (reflective region) and a much larger pixel surround. Each pixel surround includes diffraction-grating regions and resolution-enhancement regions. During imaging, a selected pixel mirror reflects a selected-pixel beamlet into the capture angle of a projection lens, while the diffraction grating of the pixel surround redirects heat-producing unused radiation away from the projection lens. The resolution-enhancement regions of selected pixels provide phase shifts that increase effective modulation-transfer function in imaging. All of the non-selected pixel surrounds redirect all radiation energy away from the projection lens. All elements of the ESLM are fabricated by deposition, patterning, etching and other microelectronic process technologies.

Customized color patterning of photovoltaic cells

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

Cruz-Campa, Jose Luis; Nielson, Gregory N.; Okandan, Murat

Photovoltaic cells and photovoltaic modules, as well as methods of making and using such photovoltaic cells and photovoltaic modules, are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the photovoltaic cells selectively reflect visible light to provide the photovoltaic cells with a colorized appearance. Photovoltaic modules combining colorized photovoltaic cells may be used to harvest solar energy while providing a customized appearance, e.g., an image or pattern.

Social Change, Competition and Inequality: Macro Societal Patterns Reflected in Curriculum Practices of Turkish Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Somel, Rahsan Nazli; Nohl, Arnd-Michael

2015-01-01

Curriculum reforms provide a unique opportunity to investigate how in times of social change education is not only influenced by, but also itself a driver of, competition and inequality. This article sheds light on a specific instance of how macro-societal patterns in education intermingle in twenty-first century Turkey by inquiring into a major…

High resolution non-contact interior profilometer

DOEpatents

Piltch, Martin S.; Patterson, R. Alan; Leeches, Gerald W.; Nierop, John Van; Teti, John J.

2001-01-01

Apparatus and method for inspecting the interior surfaces of devices such as vessels having a single entry port. Laser energy is launched into the vessel, and the light reflected from the interior surfaces is interfered with reference laser energy to produce an interference pattern. This interference pattern is analyzed to reveal information about the condition of the interior surfaces of the device inspected.

Robust sensor for turbidity measurement from light scattering and absorbing liquids.

PubMed

Kontturi, Ville; Turunen, Petri; Uozumi, Jun; Peiponen, Kai-Erik

2009-12-01

Internationally standardized turbidity measurements for probing solid particles in liquid are problematic in the case of simultaneous light scattering and absorption. A method and a sensor to determine the turbidity in the presence of light absorption are presented. The developed sensor makes use of the total internal reflection of a laser beam at the liquid-prism interface, and the turbidity is assessed using the concept of laser speckle pattern. Using average filtering in speckle data analyzing the observed dynamic speckle pattern, which is due to light scattering from particles and the static speckle due to stray light of the sensor, can be separated from each other. Good correlation between the standard deviation of dynamic speckle and turbidity value for nonabsorbing and for absorbing liquids was observed. The sensor is suggested, for instance, for the measurement of ill-behaved as well as small-volume turbid liquids in both medicine and process industry.

Air-void embedded GaN-based light-emitting diodes grown on laser drilling patterned sapphire substrates

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

Liu, Hao; Li, Yufeng; Wang, Shuai

Air-void structure was introduced in GaN-based blue light-emitting diodes (LED) with one-step growth on periodic laser drilling patterned sapphire substrate, which free of any photolithography or wet/dry etching process. The influence of filling factors (FF) of air-void on crystal quality and optical performance were investigate. Transmission electron microscopy images and micro-Raman spectroscopy indicated that the dislocation was bended and the partially compressed strain was released. When FF was 55.43%, compared with the LED structure grown on flat sapphire substrate, the incorporation of air-void was observed to reduce the compressed stress of ∼20% and the luminance intensity has improved by 128%.more » Together with the simulated reflection intensity enhancement by finite difference time-domain (FDTD) method, we attribute the enhanced optical performance to the combined contribution of strong back-side light reflection of air-void and better GaN epitaxial quality. This approach provides a simple replacement to the conventional air-void embedded LED process.« less

Surface-plasmon enhanced photoemission of a silver nano-patterned photocathode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Z.; Li, R.; To, H.; Andonian, G.; Pirez, E.; Meade, D.; Maxson, J.; Musumeci, P.

2017-09-01

Nano-patterned photocathodes (NPC) take advantage of plasmonic effects to resonantly increase absorption of light and localize electromagnetic field intensity on metal surfaces leading to surface-plasmon enhanced photoemission. In this paper, we report the status of NPC research at UCLA including in particular the optimization of the dimensions of a nanohole array on a silver wafer to enhance plasmonic response at 800 nm light, the development of a spectrally-resolved reflectivity measurement setup for quick nanopattern validation, and of a novel cathode plug to enable high power tests of NPCs on single crystal substrates in a high gradient radiofrequency gun.

High efficient OLED displays prepared with the air-gapped bridges on quantum dot patterns for optical recycling

PubMed Central

Kim, Hyo-Jun; Shin, Min-Ho; Kim, Joo-Suc; Kim, Se-Eun; Kim, Young-Joo

2017-01-01

An optically efficient structure was proposed and fabricated to realize high brightness organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays based on a white OLED prepared with the air-gapped bridges on the quantum dot (QD) patterns. Compared with a conventional white OLED display, in our experiments, the optical intensity of the proposed OLED display shows the enhancement of 58.2% in the red color and 16.8% in the green color after applying the air-gapped bridge structure on QD patterns of 20 wt% concentration. This enhancement comes from the two facts that the QD patterns downconvert unnecessary blue or blue/green light to the required green or red light and the air-gapped bridges increase the color conversion efficiency of QDs by optical recycling using total internal reflection (TIR) at the interface. In addition, the color gamut of the proposed OLED display increases from 65.5 to 75.9% (NTSC x, y ratio) due to the narrow emission spectra of QDs. PMID:28211516

High efficient OLED displays prepared with the air-gapped bridges on quantum dot patterns for optical recycling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyo-Jun; Shin, Min-Ho; Kim, Joo-Suc; Kim, Se-Eun; Kim, Young-Joo

2017-02-01

An optically efficient structure was proposed and fabricated to realize high brightness organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays based on a white OLED prepared with the air-gapped bridges on the quantum dot (QD) patterns. Compared with a conventional white OLED display, in our experiments, the optical intensity of the proposed OLED display shows the enhancement of 58.2% in the red color and 16.8% in the green color after applying the air-gapped bridge structure on QD patterns of 20 wt% concentration. This enhancement comes from the two facts that the QD patterns downconvert unnecessary blue or blue/green light to the required green or red light and the air-gapped bridges increase the color conversion efficiency of QDs by optical recycling using total internal reflection (TIR) at the interface. In addition, the color gamut of the proposed OLED display increases from 65.5 to 75.9% (NTSC x, y ratio) due to the narrow emission spectra of QDs.

High efficient OLED displays prepared with the air-gapped bridges on quantum dot patterns for optical recycling.

PubMed

Kim, Hyo-Jun; Shin, Min-Ho; Kim, Joo-Suc; Kim, Se-Eun; Kim, Young-Joo

2017-02-17

An optically efficient structure was proposed and fabricated to realize high brightness organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays based on a white OLED prepared with the air-gapped bridges on the quantum dot (QD) patterns. Compared with a conventional white OLED display, in our experiments, the optical intensity of the proposed OLED display shows the enhancement of 58.2% in the red color and 16.8% in the green color after applying the air-gapped bridge structure on QD patterns of 20 wt% concentration. This enhancement comes from the two facts that the QD patterns downconvert unnecessary blue or blue/green light to the required green or red light and the air-gapped bridges increase the color conversion efficiency of QDs by optical recycling using total internal reflection (TIR) at the interface. In addition, the color gamut of the proposed OLED display increases from 65.5 to 75.9% (NTSC x, y ratio) due to the narrow emission spectra of QDs.

Method of making and structure for monolithic optical circuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Evanchuk, Vincent L. (Inventor)

1983-01-01

A method for making monolithic optical circuits, with related optical devices as required or desired, on a supporting surface (10) consists of coating the supporting surface with reflecting metal or cladding resin, spreading a layer of liquid radiation senstivie plastic (12) on the surface, exposing the liquid plastic with a mask (14) to cure it in a desired pattern of light conductors (16, 18, 20), washing away the unexposed liquid plastic, and coating the conductors thus formed with reflective metal or cladding resin. The index of refraction for the cladding (22) is selected to be lower than for the conductors so that light in the conductors will be reflected by the interface with the cladding. For multiple level conductors, as where one conductor must cross over another, the process may be repeated to fabricate a bridge with columns (24, 26) of conductors to the next level, and conductor (28) between the columns. For more efficient transfer of energy over the bridge, faces at 45.degree. may be formed to reflect light up and across the bridge.

High dynamic range fringe acquisition: A novel 3-D scanning technique for high-reflective surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Hongzhi; Zhao, Huijie; Li, Xudong

2012-10-01

This paper presents a novel 3-D scanning technique for high-reflective surfaces based on phase-shifting fringe projection method. High dynamic range fringe acquisition (HDRFA) technique is developed to process the fringe images reflected from the shiny surfaces, and generates a synthetic fringe image by fusing the raw fringe patterns, acquired with different camera exposure time and the illumination fringe intensity from the projector. Fringe image fusion algorithm is introduced to avoid saturation and under-illumination phenomenon by choosing the pixels in the raw fringes with the highest fringe modulation intensity. A method of auto-selection of HDRFA parameters is developed and largely increases the measurement automation. The synthetic fringes have higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) under ambient light by optimizing HDRFA parameters. Experimental results show that the proposed technique can successfully measure objects with high-reflective surfaces and is insensitive to ambient light.

A numerical experiment on light pollution from distant sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kocifaj, M.

2011-08-01

To predict the light pollution of the night-time sky realistically over any location or measuring point on the ground presents quite a difficult calculation task. Light pollution of the local atmosphere is caused by stray light, light loss or reflection of artificially illuminated ground objects or surfaces such as streets, advertisement boards or building interiors. Thus it depends on the size, shape, spatial distribution, radiative pattern and spectral characteristics of many neighbouring light sources. The actual state of the atmospheric environment and the orography of the surrounding terrain are also relevant. All of these factors together influence the spectral sky radiance/luminance in a complex manner. Knowledge of the directional behaviour of light pollution is especially important for the correct interpretation of astronomical observations. From a mathematical point of view, the light noise or veil luminance of a specific sky element is given by a superposition of scattered light beams. Theoretical models that simulate light pollution typically take into account all ground-based light sources, thus imposing great requirements on CPU and MEM. As shown in this paper, a contribution of distant sources to the light pollution might be essential under specific conditions of low turbidity and/or Garstang-like radiative patterns. To evaluate the convergence of the theoretical model, numerical experiments are made for different light sources, spectral bands and atmospheric conditions. It is shown that in the worst case the integration limit is approximately 100 km, but it can be significantly shortened for light sources with cosine-like radiative patterns.

Absorption and Reflection Experiments on High-Mobility 2DEGs in the Regime of Microwave-Induced Resistance Oscillations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Studenikin, S. A.; Potemski, M.; Sachrajda, A. S.; Hilke, M.; Pfeiffer, L. N.; West, K. W.

2005-04-01

We have performed microwave absorption and near-field reflection experiments on a high mobility GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure for the same conditions for which Microwave-Induced Resistance Oscillations (MIROs) are observed. It is shown that the electrodynamic aspect of the problem is important in these experiments. In the absorption experiments a broad CR line was observed due to a large reflection from the highly conductive electron gas. There were no additional features observed related to absorption at harmonics of the cyclotron resonance. In near-field reflection experiments a very different oscillation pattern was revealed when compared to MIROs. The oscillation pattern observed in the reflection experiments is probably due to plasma effects occurring in a finite-size sample. The whole microscopic picture of MIROs is more complicated than simply a resonant absorption at harmonics of the cyclotron resonance. Nevertheless, the experimental observations are in good agreement with the model by Durst et al. involving the photo-assisted scattering in the presence of a crossed magnetic field and dc bias. The observed damping factor of MIROs may be attributed to a change in the electron mobility as a function of temperature. MIROs may be considered as a light-induced drift effect, a broad class of phenomena associated with a light-induced asymmetry in the velocity distribution function.

Absorption and Reflection Experiments on High-Mobility 2DEGs in the Regime of Microwave-Induced Resistance Oscillations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Studenikin, S. A.; Potemski, M.; Sachrajda, A. S.; Hilke, M.; Pfeiffer, L. N.; West, K. W.

We have performed microwave absorption and near-field reflection experiments on a high mobility GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure for the same conditions for which Microwave-Induced Resistance Oscillations (MIROs) are observed. It is shown that the electrodynamic aspect of the problem is important in these experiments. In the absorption experiments a broad CR line was observed due to a large reflection from the highly conductive electron gas. There were no additional features observed related to absorption at harmonics of the cyclotron resonance. In near-field reflection experiments a very different oscillation pattern was revealed when compared to MIROs. The oscillation pattern observed in the reflection experiments is probably due to plasma effects occurring in a finite-size sample. The whole microscopic picture of MIROs is more complicated than simply a resonant absorption at harmonics of the cyclotron resonance. Nevertheless, the experimental observations are in good agreement with the model by Durst et al. involving the photo-assisted scattering in the presence of a crossed magnetic field and dc bias. The observed damping factor of MIROs may be attributed to a change in the electron mobility as a function of temperature. MIROs may be considered as a light-induced drift effect, a broad class of phenomena associated with a light-induced asymmetry in the velocity distribution function.

Application of spatially modulated near-infrared structured light to study changes in optical properties of mouse brain tissue during heatstress.

PubMed

Shaul, Oren; Fanrazi-Kahana, Michal; Meitav, Omri; Pinhasi, Gad A; Abookasis, David

2017-11-10

Heat stress (HS) is a medical emergency defined by abnormally elevated body temperature that causes biochemical, physiological, and hematological changes. The goal of the present research was to detect variations in optical properties (absorption, reduced scattering, and refractive index coefficients) of mouse brain tissue during HS by using near-infrared (NIR) spatial light modulation. NIR spatial patterns with different spatial phases were used to differentiate the effects of tissue scattering from those of absorption. Decoupling optical scattering from absorption enabled the quantification of a tissue's chemical constituents (related to light absorption) and structural properties (related to light scattering). Technically, structured light patterns at low and high spatial frequencies of six wavelengths ranging between 690 and 970 nm were projected onto the mouse scalp surface while diffuse reflected light was recorded by a CCD camera positioned perpendicular to the mouse scalp. Concurrently to pattern projection, brain temperature was measured with a thermal camera positioned slightly off angle from the mouse head while core body temperature was monitored by thermocouple probe. Data analysis demonstrated variations from baseline measurements in a battery of intrinsic brain properties following HS.

Optical bandgap modelling from the structural arrangement of carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Butler, Timothy P; Rashid, Ijaz; Montelongo, Yunuen; Amaratunga, Gehan A J; Butt, Haider

2018-06-14

The optical bandgap properties of vertically-aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays were probed through their interaction with white light, with the light reflected from the rotating arrays measured with a spectrometer. The precise deterministic control over the structure of vertically-aligned carbon nanotube arrays through electron beam lithography and well-controlled growth conditions brings with it the ability to produce exotic photonic crystals over a relatively large area. The characterisation of the behaviour of these materials in the presence of light is a necessary first step toward application. Relatively large area array structures of high-quality VACNTs were fabricated in square, hexagonal, circular and pseudorandom patterned arrays with length scales on the order of those of visible light for the purpose of investigating how they may be used to manipulate an impinging light beam. In order to investigate the optical properties of these arrays a set of measurement apparatus was designed which allowed the accurate measurement of their optical bandgap characteristics. The patterned samples were rotated under the illuminating white light beam, revealing interesting optical bandgap results caused by the changing patterns and relative positions of the scattering elements (VACNTs).

Transparent Electrochemical Gratings from a Patterned Bistable Silver Mirror.

PubMed

Park, Chihyun; Na, Jongbeom; Han, Minsu; Kim, Eunkyoung

2017-07-25

Silver mirror patterns were formed reversibly on a polystyrene (PS)-patterned electrode to produce gratings through the electrochemical reduction of silver ions. The electrochemical gratings exhibited high transparency (T > 95%), similar to a see-through window, by matching the refractive index of the grating pattern with the surrounding medium. The gratings switch to a diffractive state upon the formation of a mirror pattern (T < 5%) with a high diffraction efficiency up to 40%, providing reversible diffractive gratings. The diffraction state was maintained in the voltage-off state (V-off) for 40 min, which demonstrated bistable reversible electrochemical grating (BREG) behavior. By carefully combining the BREGs through period matching, dual-color switching was achieved within the full color region, which exhibited three distinct optical switching states between -2.5, 0, and +2.5 V. The wide range of light tenability using the metallic BREGs developed herein enabled IR modulation, NIR light reflection, and on-demand heat transfer.

Distinguishing the albedo of exoplanets from stellar activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serrano, L. M.; Barros, S. C. C.; Oshagh, M.; Santos, N. C.; Faria, J. P.; Demangeon, O.; Sousa, S. G.; Lendl, M.

2018-03-01

Context. Light curves show the flux variation from the target star and its orbiting planets as a function of time. In addition to the transit features created by the planets, the flux also includes the reflected light component of each planet, which depends on the planetary albedo. This signal is typically referred to as phase curve and could be easily identified if there were no additional noise. As well as instrumental noise, stellar activity, such as spots, can create a modulation in the data, which may be very difficult to distinguish from the planetary signal. Aims: We analyze the limitations imposed by the stellar activity on the detection of the planetary albedo, considering the limitations imposed by the predicted level of instrumental noise and the short duration of the obervations planned in the context of the CHEOPS mission. Methods: As initial condition, we have assumed that each star is characterized by just one orbiting planet. We built mock light curves that included a realistic stellar activity pattern, the reflected light component of the planet and an instrumental noise level, which we have chosen to be at the same level as predicted for CHEOPS. We then fit these light curves to try to recover the reflected light component, assuming the activity patterns can be modeled with a Gaussian process. Results: We estimate that at least one full stellar rotation is necessary to obtain a reliable detection of the planetary albedo. This result is independent of the level of noise, but it depends on the limitation of the Gaussian process to describe the stellar activity when the light curve time-span is shorter than the stellar rotation. As an additional result, we found that with a 6.5 magnitude star and the noise level of CHEOPS, it is possible to detect the planetary albedo up to a lower limit of Rp = 0.03 R*. Finally, in presence of typical CHEOPS gaps in the simulations, we confirm that it is still possible to obtain a reliable albedo.

Design principles for morphologies of antireflection patterns for solar absorbing applications.

PubMed

Moon, Yoon-Jong; Na, Jin-Young; Kim, Sun-Kyung

2015-07-01

Two-dimensional surface texturing is a widespread technology for imparting broadband antireflection, yet its design rules are not completely understood. The dependence of the reflectance spectrum of a periodically patterned glass film on various structural parameters (e.g., pitch, height, shape, and fill factor) has been investigated by means of full-vectorial numerical simulations. An average weighted reflectivity accounting for the AM1.5G solar spectrum (λ=300-1000  nm) was sinusoidally modulated by a rod pattern's height, and was minimized for pitches of 400-600 nm. When a rationally optimized cone pattern was used, the average weighted reflectivity was less than 0.5%, for incident angles of up to 40° off normal. The broadband antireflection of a cone pattern was reproduced well by a graded refractive index film model corresponding to its geometry, with the addition of a diffraction effect resulting from its periodicity. The broadband antireflection ability of optimized cone patterns is not limited to the glass material, but rather is generically applicable to other semiconductor materials, including Si and GaAs. The design rules developed herein represent a key step in the development of light-absorbing devices, such as solar cells.

Submicrometer Metallic Barcodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicewarner-Peña, Sheila R.; Freeman, R. Griffith; Reiss, Brian D.; He, Lin; Peña, David J.; Walton, Ian D.; Cromer, Remy; Keating, Christine D.; Natan, Michael J.

2001-10-01

We synthesized multimetal microrods intrinsically encoded with submicrometer stripes. Complex striping patterns are readily prepared by sequential electrochemical deposition of metal ions into templates with uniformly sized pores. The differential reflectivity of adjacent stripes enables identification of the striping patterns by conventional light microscopy. This readout mechanism does not interfere with the use of fluorescence for detection of analytes bound to particles by affinity capture, as demonstrated by DNA and protein bioassays.

Reflected scatterometry for noninvasive interrogation of bacterial colonies

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A phenotyping of bacterial colonies on agar plates using forward-scattering diffraction-pattern analysis provided promising classification of several different bacteria such as Salmonella, Vibrio, Listeria, and E. coli. Since the technique is based on forward-scattering phenomena, light transmittanc...

Surface-plasmon enhanced photoemission of a silver nano-patterned photocathode

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Z.; Li, R.; To, H.; ...

2016-11-22

Here, nano-patterned photocathodes (NPC) take advantage of plasmonic effects to resonantly increase absorption of light and localize electromagnetic field intensity on metal surfaces leading to surface-plasmon enhanced photoemission. In this paper, we report the status of NPC research at UCLA including in particular the optimization of the dimensions of a nanohole array on a silver wafer to enhance plasmonic response at 800 nm light, the development of a spectrally-resolved reflectivity measurement setup for quick nanopattern validation, and of a novel cathode plug to enable high power tests of NPCs on single crystal substrates in a high gradient radiofrequency gun.

Surface-plasmon enhanced photoemission of a silver nano-patterned photocathode

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

Zhang, Z.; Li, R.; To, H.

Here, nano-patterned photocathodes (NPC) take advantage of plasmonic effects to resonantly increase absorption of light and localize electromagnetic field intensity on metal surfaces leading to surface-plasmon enhanced photoemission. In this paper, we report the status of NPC research at UCLA including in particular the optimization of the dimensions of a nanohole array on a silver wafer to enhance plasmonic response at 800 nm light, the development of a spectrally-resolved reflectivity measurement setup for quick nanopattern validation, and of a novel cathode plug to enable high power tests of NPCs on single crystal substrates in a high gradient radiofrequency gun.

Detection of deoxynivalenol using biolayer interferometry

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Biolayer interferometry allows for the real time monitoring of the interactions between molecules without the need for reagents with enzymatic, fluorescent, or radioactive labels. The technology is based upon the changes in interference pattern of light reflected from the surface of an optical fiber...

High extraction efficiency GaN-based light-emitting diodes on embedded SiO2 nanorod array and nanoscale patterned sapphire substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Hung-Wen; Huang, Jhi-Kai; Kuo, Shou-Yi; Lee, Kang-Yuan; Kuo, Hao-Chung

2010-06-01

In this paper, GaN-based LEDs with a nanoscale patterned sapphire substrate (NPSS) and a SiO2 photonic quasicrystal (PQC) structure on an n-GaN layer using nanoimprint lithography are fabricated and investigated. The light output power of LED with a NPSS and a SiO2 PQC structure on an n-GaN layer was 48% greater than that of conventional LED. Strong enhancement in output power is attributed to better epitaxial quality and higher reflectance resulted from NPSS and PQC structures. Transmission electron microscopy images reveal that threading dislocations are blocked or bended in the vicinities of NPSS layer. These results provide promising potential to increase output power for commercial light emitting devices.

Biomimetic artificial Si compound eye surface structures with broadband and wide-angle antireflection properties for Si-based optoelectronic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leem, Jung Woo; Song, Young Min; Yu, Jae Su

2013-10-01

We report the biomimetic artificial silicon (Si) compound eye structures for broadband and wide-angle antireflection by integrating nanostructures (NSs) into periodically patterned microstructures (p-MSs) via thermal dewetting of gold and subsequent dry etching. The truncated cone microstructures with a two-dimensional hexagonal symmetry pattern were fabricated by photolithography and dry etching processes. The desirable shape and density of the nanostructures were obtained by controlled dewetting. The incorporation of p-MSs into the NS/Si surface further reduced the surface total reflectance over a wide wavelength range of 300-1030 nm at near normal incidence, indicating the average reflectance (Ravg) and solar weighted reflectance (RSWR) values of ~2.5% and 2%, respectively, compared to the only NSs on the flat Si surface (i.e., Ravg ~ 4.9% and RSWR ~ 4.5%). Additionally, the resulting structure improved the angle-dependent antireflection property due to its relatively omnidirectional shape, which exhibited the Ravg < 4.3% and RSWR < 3.7% in the wavelength region of 300-1100 nm even at a high incident light angle of 70° in the specular reflectance.We report the biomimetic artificial silicon (Si) compound eye structures for broadband and wide-angle antireflection by integrating nanostructures (NSs) into periodically patterned microstructures (p-MSs) via thermal dewetting of gold and subsequent dry etching. The truncated cone microstructures with a two-dimensional hexagonal symmetry pattern were fabricated by photolithography and dry etching processes. The desirable shape and density of the nanostructures were obtained by controlled dewetting. The incorporation of p-MSs into the NS/Si surface further reduced the surface total reflectance over a wide wavelength range of 300-1030 nm at near normal incidence, indicating the average reflectance (Ravg) and solar weighted reflectance (RSWR) values of ~2.5% and 2%, respectively, compared to the only NSs on the flat Si surface (i.e., Ravg ~ 4.9% and RSWR ~ 4.5%). Additionally, the resulting structure improved the angle-dependent antireflection property due to its relatively omnidirectional shape, which exhibited the Ravg < 4.3% and RSWR < 3.7% in the wavelength region of 300-1100 nm even at a high incident light angle of 70° in the specular reflectance. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr02806b

Reflective Light Modulation by Cephalopods in Shallow Nearshore Habitats

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

changeable camouflage patterns known in biology. Fish and insects are studied comparatively. APPROACH High-resolution digital still images (Canon EOS 1Ds...quantified in the digital images. HDTV video is used to follow foraging cephalopods and fish to document (a) speed of body patterning changes and (b...images of cephalopods and fishes . Briefly, the breakdown is as follows. (1) Izmir, Turkey, March 2008, to photograph the common European cuttlefish

Curcumin as a positive resist dye optimized for g- and h-line exposure

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

Renschler, C.L.; Stiefeld, R.E.; Rodriguez, J.L.

1987-06-01

It has now been firmly established, both theoretically and experimentally, that the addition of a non-bleachable absorber (or dye) to photoresist can reduce notching and other linewidth control variations associated with the patterning of reflective surfaces. Such variations are due to two separate, but closely related, effects. The first of these effects is reflection of light off scattering centers on the substrate at angles other than surface-normal.

Surface optical vortices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lembessis, V. E.; Babiker, M.; Andrews, D. L.

2009-01-01

It is shown how the total internal reflection of orbital-angular-momentum-endowed light can lead to the generation of evanescent light possessing rotational properties in which the intensity distribution is firmly localized in the vicinity of the surface. The characteristics of these surface optical vortices depend on the form of the incident light and on the dielectric mismatch of the two media. The interference of surface optical vortices is shown to give rise to interesting phenomena, including pattern rotation akin to a surface optical Ferris wheel. Applications are envisaged to be in atom lithography, optical surface tweezers, and spanners.

Establishing the behavioural limits for countershaded camouflage.

PubMed

Penacchio, Olivier; Harris, Julie M; Lovell, P George

2017-10-20

Countershading is a ubiquitous patterning of animals whereby the side that typically faces the highest illumination is darker. When tuned to specific lighting conditions and body orientation with respect to the light field, countershading minimizes the gradient of light the body reflects by counterbalancing shadowing due to illumination, and has therefore classically been thought of as an adaptation for visual camouflage. However, whether and how crypsis degrades when body orientation with respect to the light field is non-optimal has never been studied. We tested the behavioural limits on body orientation for countershading to deliver effective visual camouflage. We asked human participants to detect a countershaded target in a simulated three-dimensional environment. The target was optimally coloured for crypsis in a reference orientation and was displayed at different orientations. Search performance dramatically improved for deviations beyond 15 degrees. Detection time was significantly shorter and accuracy significantly higher than when the target orientation matched the countershading pattern. This work demonstrates the importance of maintaining body orientation appropriate for the displayed camouflage pattern, suggesting a possible selective pressure for animals to orient themselves appropriately to enhance crypsis.

Visualizing Nanoscopic Topography and Patterns in Freely Standing Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Vivek; Zhang, Yiran; Yilixiati, Subinuer

Thin liquid films containing micelles, nanoparticles, polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes and smectic liquid crystals undergo thinning in a discontinuous, step-wise fashion. The discontinuous jumps in thickness are often characterized by quantifying changes in the intensity of reflected monochromatic light, modulated by thin film interference from a region of interest. Stratifying thin films exhibit a mosaic pattern in reflected white light microscopy, attributed to the coexistence of domains with various thicknesses, separated by steps. Using Interferometry Digital Imaging Optical Microscopy (IDIOM) protocols developed in the course of this study, we spatially resolve for the first time, the landscape of stratifying freely standing thin films. We distinguish nanoscopic rims, mesas and craters, and follow their emergence and growth. In particular, for thin films containing micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), these topological features involve discontinuous, thickness transitions with concentration-dependent steps of 5-25 nm. These non-flat features result from oscillatory, periodic, supramolecular structural forces that arise in confined fluids, and arise due to complex coupling of hydrodynamic and thermodynamic effects at the nanoscale.

Visualizing Nanoscopic Topography and Patterns in Freely Standing Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yilixiati, Subinuer; Zhang, Yiran; Pearsall, Collin; Sharma, Vivek

Thin liquid films containing micelles, nanoparticles, polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes and smectic liquid crystals undergo thinning in a discontinuous, step-wise fashion. The discontinuous jumps in thickness are often characterized by quantifying changes in the intensity of reflected monochromatic light, modulated by thin film interference from a region of interest. Stratifying thin films exhibit a mosaic pattern in reflected white light microscopy, attributed to the coexistence of domains with various thicknesses, separated by steps. Using Interferometry Digital Imaging Optical Microscopy (IDIOM) protocols developed in the course of this study, we spatially resolve for the first time, the landscape of stratifying freestanding thin films. In particular, for thin films containing micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), discontinuous, thickness transitions with concentration-dependent steps of 5-25 nm are visualized and analyzed using IDIOM protocols. We distinguish nanoscopic rims, mesas and craters and show that the non-flat features are sculpted by oscillatory, periodic, supramolecular structural forces that arise in confined fluids

Pattern Inspection of EUV Masks Using DUV Light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Ted; Tejnil, Edita; Stivers, Alan R.

2002-12-01

Inspection of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography masks requires reflected light and this poses special challenges for inspection tool suppliers as well as for mask makers. Inspection must detect all the printable defects in the absorber pattern as well as printable process-related defects. Progress has been made under the NIST ATP project on "Intelligent Mask Inspection Systems for Next Generation Lithography" in assessing the factors that impact the inspection tool sensitivity. We report in this paper the inspection of EUV masks with programmed absorber defects using 257nm light. All the materials of interests for masks are highly absorptive to EUV light as compared to deep ultraviolet (DUV) light. Residues and contamination from mask fabrication process and handling are prone to be printable. Therefore, it is critical to understand their EUV printability and optical inspectability. Process related defects may include residual buffer layer such as oxide, organic contaminants and possible over-etch to the multilayer surface. Both simulation and experimental results will be presented in this paper.

Multi-spot porous silicon chip prepared from asymmetric electrochemical etching for human immunoglobin G sensor.

PubMed

Um, Sungyong; Cho, Bomin; Woo, Hee-Gweon; Sohn, Honglae

2011-08-01

Multi-spot porous silicon (MSPS)-based optical biosensor was developed to specify the biomolecules. MSPS chip was generated by an electrochemical etching of silicon wafer using an asymmetric electrode configuration in aqueous ethanolic HF solution and constituted with nine arrayed porous silicon. MSPS prepared from anisotropic etching conditions displayed the Fabry-Pérot fringe patterns which varied spatially across the porous silicon (PS). Each spot displayed different reflection resonances and different pore characteristics as a function of the lateral distance from the Pt counter electrode. The sensor system consists of the 3 x 3 spot array of porous silicon modified with Protein A. The system was probed with various fragments of an aqueous Human Immunoglobin G (Ig G) analyte. The sensor operated by measurement of the reflection patterns in the white light reflection spectrum of MSPS. Molecular binding and specificity was detected as a shift in wavelength of these Fabry-Pérot fringe patterns.

Reflectance spectra of subarctic lichens

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petzold, Donald E.; Goward, Samuel N.

1988-01-01

Lichens constitute a major portion of the ground cover of high latitude environments, but little has been reported concerning their in situ solar spectral reflectance properties. Knowledge of these properties is important for the interpretation of remotely sensed observations from high latitude regions, as well as in studies of high latitude ecology and energy balance climatology. The spectral reflectance of common boreal vascular plants is similar to that of vascular plants of the midlatitudes. The dominant lichens, in contrast, display variable reflectance patterns in visible wavelengths. The relative reflectance peak at 0.55 microns, common to green vegetation, is absent or indistinct in spectra of pervasive boreal forest and tundra lichens, despite the presence of chlorophyll in the inner algal cells. Lichens of the dominant genus, Cladina, display strong absorption of ultraviolet energy and short-wavelength blue light relative to their absorption in other visible wavelengths. Since the Cladinae dominate both the surface vegetation in open woodlands of the boreal forest and the low arctic tundra, their unusual spectral reflectance patterns will enable accurate monitoring of the boreal forest-tundra ecotone and detection of its vigor and movement in the future.

Iridescence and spectral filtering of the gyroid-type photonic crystals in Parides sesostris wing scales

PubMed Central

Wilts, Bodo D.; Michielsen, Kristel; De Raedt, Hans; Stavenga, Doekele G.

2012-01-01

The cover scales on the wing of the Emerald-patched Cattleheart butterfly, Parides sesostris, contain gyroid-type biological photonic crystals that brightly reflect green light. A pigment, which absorbs maximally at approximately 395 nm, is immersed predominantly throughout the elaborate upper lamina. This pigment acts as a long-pass filter shaping the reflectance spectrum of the underlying photonic crystals. The additional effect of the filtering is that the spatial distribution of the scale reflectance is approximately angle-independent, leading to a stable wing pattern contrast. The spectral tuning of the original reflectance is verified by photonic band structure modelling. PMID:24098853

Bragg-Berry mirrors: reflective broadband q-plates.

PubMed

Rafayelyan, Mushegh; Brasselet, Etienne

2016-09-01

We report on the experimental realization of flat mirrors enabling the broadband generation of optical vortices upon reflection. The effect is based on the geometric Berry phase associated with the circular Bragg reflection phenomenon from chiral uniaxial media. We show the reflective optical vortex generation from both diffractive and nondiffractive paraxial light beams using spatially patterned chiral liquid crystal films. The intrinsic spectrally broadband character of spin-orbit generation of optical phase singularities is demonstrated over the full visible domain. Our results do not rely on any birefringent retardation requirement and, consequently, foster the development of a novel generation of robust optical elements for spin-orbit photonic technologies.

Earth observation

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-09-06

ISS040-E-124198 (6 Sept. 2014) --- Puget Sound is partly reflecting the sun in this detailed image taken by an Expedition 40 crew member on the International Space Station. Patterns of boat wakes are prominent in the sun’s partial reflection zone. The difference between the boat wakes in this view relates to the speed of the boat and the particular patterns (of several) that happen to be captured in the specific light reflection angles at the time the image was taken. The land areas show parts of Seattle. The darkest areas with rectangular grids are suburbs richly covered with trees. The broadly gray zones of the central city (bottom center) are brighter where structures are lower, as in the harbor zone (Harbor Island), and darker where the shadows of high-rise buildings downtown cast black shadows. Interstate Highway 5 bisects downtown.

Implementation of cost-effective diffuse light source mechanism to reduce specular reflection and halo effects for resistor-image processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yung-Sheng; Wang, Jeng-Yau

2015-09-01

Light source plays a significant role to acquire a qualified image from objects for facilitating the image processing and pattern recognition. For objects possessing specular surface, the phenomena of reflection and halo appearing in the acquired image will increase the difficulty of information processing. Such a situation may be improved by the assistance of valuable diffuse light source. Consider reading resistor via computer vision, due to the resistor's specular reflective surface it will face with a severe non-uniform luminous intensity on image yielding a higher error rate in recognition without a well-controlled light source. A measurement system including mainly a digital microscope embedded in a replaceable diffuse cover, a ring-type LED embedded onto a small pad carrying a resistor for evaluation, and Arduino microcontrollers connected with PC, is presented in this paper. Several replaceable cost-effective diffuse covers made by paper bowl, cup and box inside pasted with white paper are presented for reducing specular reflection and halo effects and compared with a commercial diffuse some. The ring-type LED can be flexibly configured to be a full or partial lighting based on the application. For each self-made diffuse cover, a set of resistors with 4 or 5 color bands are captured via digital microscope for experiments. The signal-to-noise ratio from the segmented resistor-image is used for performance evaluation. The detected principal axis of resistor body is used for the partial LED configuration to further improve the lighting condition. Experimental results confirm that the proposed mechanism can not only evaluate the cost-effective diffuse light source but also be extended as an automatic recognition system for resistor reading.

Novel EUV mask black border and its impact on wafer imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kodera, Yutaka; Fukugami, Norihito; Komizo, Toru; Watanabe, Genta; Ito, Shin; Yoshida, Itaru; Maruyama, Shingo; Kotani, Jun; Konishi, Toshio; Haraguchi, Takashi

2016-03-01

EUV lithography is the most promising technology for semiconductor device manufacturing of the 10nm node and beyond. The EUV mask is a key element in the lithographic scanner optical path. The image border is a pattern free dark area around the die on the photomask serving as transition area between the parts of the mask that is shielded from the exposure light by the Reticle Masking (REMA) blades and the die. When printing a die at dense spacing on an EUV scanner, the EUV light reflection from the image border overlaps edges of neighboring dies, affecting CD and contrast in this area. To reduce this effect an etched multilayer type black border was developed, and it was demonstrated that CD impact at the edge of a die is strongly reduced with this type of the black border (BB). However, wafer printing result still showed some CD change influenced by the black border reflection. It was proven that the CD shift was caused by DUV Out of Band (OOB) light which is emitted from EUV light source. New types of a multilayer etched BB were evaluated and showed a good potential for DUV light suppression. In this study, a novel black border called Hybrid Black Border has been developed which allows to eliminate EUV and DUV OOB light reflection. Direct measurements of OOB light from HBB and Normal BB are performed on NXE:3300B ASML EUV scanner; it is shown that HBB OOB reflection is 3x lower than that of Normal BB. Finally, we state that HBB is a promising technology allowing for CD control at die edges.

Demonstration of UV LED versatility when paired with molded UV transmitting glass optics to produce unique irradiance patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jasenak, Brian

2017-02-01

Ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) adoption is accelerating; they are being used in new applications such as UV curing, germicidal irradiation, nondestructive testing, and forensic analysis. In many of these applications, it is critically important to produce a uniform light distribution and consistent surface irradiance. Flat panes of fused quartz, silica, or glass are commonly used to cover and protect UV LED arrays. However, they don't offer the advantages of an optical lens design. An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of a secondary glass optic on the uniformity of the light distribution and irradiance. Glass optics capable of transmitting UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C wavelengths can improve light distribution, uniformity, and intensity. In this work, two simulation studies were created to illustrate distinct irradiance patterns desirable for potential real world applications. The first study investigates the use of a multi-UV LED array and optic to create a uniform irradiance pattern on the flat two dimensional (2D) target surface. The uniformity was improved by designing both the LED array and molded optic to produce a homogenous pattern. The second study investigated the use of an LED light source and molded optic to improve the light uniformity on the inside of a canister. The case study illustrates the requirements for careful selection of LED based on light distribution and subsequent design of optics. The optic utilizes total internal reflection to create optimized light distribution. The combination of the LED and molded optic showed significant improvement in uniformity on the inner surface of the canister. The simulations illustrate how the application of optics can significantly improve UV light distribution which can be critical in applications such as UV curing and sterilization.

Dual light field and polarization imaging using CMOS diffractive image sensors.

PubMed

Jayasuriya, Suren; Sivaramakrishnan, Sriram; Chuang, Ellen; Guruaribam, Debashree; Wang, Albert; Molnar, Alyosha

2015-05-15

In this Letter we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first integrated CMOS image sensor that can simultaneously perform light field and polarization imaging without the use of external filters or additional optical elements. Previous work has shown how photodetectors with two stacks of integrated metal gratings above them (called angle sensitive pixels) diffract light in a Talbot pattern to capture four-dimensional light fields. We show, in addition to diffractive imaging, that these gratings polarize incoming light and characterize the response of these sensors to polarization and incidence angle. Finally, we show two applications of polarization imaging: imaging stress-induced birefringence and identifying specular reflections in scenes to improve light field algorithms for these scenes.

Suomi satellite brings to light a unique frontier of nighttime environmental sensing capabilities

PubMed Central

Miller, Steven D.; Mills, Stephen P.; Elvidge, Christopher D.; Lindsey, Daniel T.; Lee, Thomas F.; Hawkins, Jeffrey D.

2012-01-01

Most environmental satellite radiometers use solar reflectance information when it is available during the day but must resort at night to emission signals from infrared bands, which offer poor sensitivity to low-level clouds and surface features. A few sensors can take advantage of moonlight, but the inconsistent availability of the lunar source limits measurement utility. Here we show that the Day/Night Band (DNB) low-light visible sensor on the recently launched Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite has the unique ability to image cloud and surface features by way of reflected airglow, starlight, and zodiacal light illumination. Examples collected during new moon reveal not only meteorological and surface features, but also the direct emission of airglow structures in the mesosphere, including expansive regions of diffuse glow and wave patterns forced by tropospheric convection. The ability to leverage diffuse illumination sources for nocturnal environmental sensing applications extends the advantages of visible-light information to moonless nights. PMID:22984179

Long time-series of turbid coastal water using AVHRR: An example from Florida Bay, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stumpf, R.P.; Frayer, M.L.

1997-01-01

The AVHRR can provide information on the reflectance of turbid case II water, permitting examination of large estuaries and plumes from major rivers. The AVHRR has been onboard several NOAA satellites, with afternoon overpasses since 1981, offering a long time-series to examine changes in coastal water. We are using AVHRR data starting in December 1989, to examine water clarity in Florida Bay, which has undergone a decline since the late 1980's. The processing involves obtaining a nominal reflectance for red light with standard corrections including those for Rayleigh and aerosol path radiances. Established relationships between reflectance and the water properties being measured in the Bay provide estimates of diffuse attenuation and light limitation for phytoplankton and seagrass productivity studies. Processing also includes monthly averages of reflectance and attenuation. The AVHRR data set describes spatial and temporal patterns, including resuspension of bottom sediments in the winter, and changes in water clarity. The AVHRR also indicates that Florida Bay has much higher reflectivity relative to attenuation than other southeastern US estuaries. ??2005 Copyright SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.

Long time-series of turbid coastal water using AVHRR: an example from Florida Bay, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stumpf, Richard P.; Frayer, M. L.

1997-02-01

The AVHRR can provide information on the reflectance of turbid case II water, permitting examination of large estuaries and plumes from major rivers. The AVHRR has been onboard several NOAA satellites, with afternoon overpasses since 1981, offering a long time-series to examine changes in coastal water. We are using AVHRR data starting in December 1989, to examine water clarity in Florida Bay, which has undergone a decline since the late 1980's. The processing involves obtaining a nominal reflectance for red light with standard corrections including those for Rayleigh and aerosol path radiances. Established relationships between reflectance and the water properties being measured in the Bay provide estimates of diffuse attenuation and light limitation for phytoplankton and seagrass productivity studies. Processing also includes monthly averages of reflectance and attenuation. The AVHRR data set describes spatial and temporal patterns, including resuspension of bottom sediments in the winter, and changes in water clarity. The AVHRR also indicates that Florida Bay has much higher reflectivity relative to attenuation than other southeastern US estuaries.

Uric Acid Spherulites in the Reflector Layer of Firefly Light Organ

PubMed Central

Goh, King-Siang; Sheu, Hwo-Shuenn; Hua, Tzu-En; Kang, Mei-Hua; Li, Chia-Wei

2013-01-01

Background In firefly light organs, reflector layer is a specialized tissue which is believed to play a key role for increasing the bioluminescence intensity through reflection. However, the nature of this unique tissue remains elusive. In this report, we investigated the role, fine structure and nature of the reflector layer in the light organ of adult Luciola cerata. Principal Findings Our results indicated that the reflector layer is capable of reflecting bioluminescence, and contains abundant uric acid. Electron microscopy (EM) demonstrated that the cytosol of the reflector layer's cells is filled with densely packed spherical granules, which should be the uric acid granules. These granules are highly regular in size (∼700 nm in diameter), and exhibit a radial internal structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that an intense single peak pattern with a d-spacing value of 0.320 nm is specifically detected in the light organ, and is highly similar to the diffraction peak pattern and d-spacing value of needle-formed crystals of monosodium urate monohydrate. However, the molar ratio evaluation of uric acid to various cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) in the light organ deduced that only a few uric acid molecules were in the form of urate salts. Thus, non-salt uric acid should be the source of the diffraction signal detected in the light organ. Conclusions In the light organ, the intense single peak diffraction signal might come from a unique needle-like uric acid form, which is different from other known structures of non-salt uric acid form. The finding of a radial structure in the granules of reflector layer implies that the spherical uric acid granules might be formed by the radial arrangement of needle-formed packing matter. PMID:23441187

Method for detection of dental caries and periodontal disease using optical imaging

DOEpatents

Nathel, Howard; Kinney, John H.; Otis, Linda L.

1996-01-01

A method for detecting the presence of active and inactive caries in teeth and diagnosing periodontal disease uses non-ionizing radiation with techniques for reducing interference from scattered light. A beam of non-ionizing radiation is divided into sample and reference beams. The region to be examined is illuminated by the sample beam, and reflected or transmitted radiation from the sample is recombined with the reference beam to form an interference pattern on a detector. The length of the reference beam path is adjustable, allowing the operator to select the reflected or transmitted sample photons that recombine with the reference photons. Thus radiation scattered by the dental or periodontal tissue can be prevented from obscuring the interference pattern. A series of interference patterns may be generated and interpreted to locate dental caries and periodontal tissue interfaces.

Novel wearable-type biometric devices based on skin tissue optics with multispectral LED-photodiode matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, Young Chang; Kim, Hae Na; Kang, Jae Hwan; Hong, Hyuck Ki; Choi, Yeon Shik; Jung, Suk Won; Kim, Sung Phil

2017-04-01

In this study, we examined the possibility of using a multispectral skin photomatrix (MSP) module as a novel biometric device. The MSP device measures optical patterns of the wrist skin tissue. Optical patterns consist of 2 × 8 photocurrent intensities of photodiode arrays, which are generated by optical transmission and diffuse reflection of photons from LED light sources with variable wavelengths into the wrist skin tissue. Optical patterns detected by the MSP device provide information on both the surface and subsurface characteristics of the human skin tissue. We found that in the 21 subjects we studied, they showed their unique characteristics, as determined using several wavelengths of light. The experimental results show that the best personal identification accuracy can be acquired using a combination of infrared light and yellow light. This novel biometric device, the MSP module, exhibited an excellent false acceptance rate (FAR) of 0.3% and a false rejection rate (FRR) of 0.0%, which are better than those of commercialized biometric devices such as a fingerprint biometric system. From these experimental results, we found that people exhibit unique optical patterns of their inner-wrist skin tissue and this uniqueness could be used for developing novel high-accuracy personal identification devices.

Silver free III-nitride flip chip light-emitting-diode with wall plug efficiency over 70% utilizing a GaN tunnel junction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yonkee, B. P.; Young, E. C.; DenBaars, S. P.; Nakamura, S.; Speck, J. S.

2016-11-01

A molecular beam epitaxy regrowth technique was demonstrated on standard industrial patterned sapphire substrate light-emitting diode (LED) epitaxial wafers emitting at 455 nm to form a GaN tunnel junction. By using an HF pretreatment on the wafers before regrowth, a voltage of 3.08 V at 20 A/cm2 was achieved on small area devices. A high extraction package was developed for comparison with flip chip devices which utilize an LED floating in silicone over a BaSO4 coated header and produced a peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 78%. A high reflectivity mirror was designed using a seven-layer dielectric coating backed by aluminum which has a calculated angular averaged reflectivity over 98% between 400 and 500 nm. This was utilized to fabricate a flip chip LED which had a peak EQE and wall plug efficiency of 76% and 73%, respectively. This flip chip could increase light extraction over a traditional flip chip LED due to the increased reflectivity of the dielectric based mirror.

Mechanisms and behavioural functions of structural coloration in cephalopods

PubMed Central

Mäthger, Lydia M.; Denton, Eric J.; Marshall, N. Justin; Hanlon, Roger T.

2008-01-01

Octopus, squid and cuttlefish are renowned for rapid adaptive coloration that is used for a wide range of communication and camouflage. Structural coloration plays a key role in augmenting the skin patterning that is produced largely by neurally controlled pigmented chromatophore organs. While most iridescence and white scattering is produced by passive reflectance or diffusion, some iridophores in squid are actively controlled via a unique cholinergic, non-synaptic neural system. We review the recent anatomical and experimental evidence regarding the mechanisms of reflection and diffusion of light by the different cell types (iridophores and leucophores) of various cephalopod species. The structures that are responsible for the optical effects of some iridophores and leucophores have recently been shown to be proteins. Optical interactions with the overlying pigmented chromatophores are complex, and the recent measurements are presented and synthesized. Polarized light reflected from iridophores can be passed through the chromatophores, thus enabling the use of a discrete communication channel, because cephalopods are especially sensitive to polarized light. We illustrate how structural coloration contributes to the overall appearance of the cephalopods during intra- and interspecific behavioural interactions including camouflage. PMID:19091688

A Simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes.

PubMed

Ishmukhametov, Robert R; Russell, Aidan N; Wheeler, Richard J; Nord, Ashley L; Berry, Richard M

2016-02-08

Back-scattering darkfield (BSDF), epi-fluorescence (EF), interference reflection contrast (IRC), and darkfield surface reflection (DFSR) are advanced but expensive light microscopy techniques with limited availability. Here we show a simple optical design that combines these four techniques in a simple low-cost miniature epi-illuminator, which inserts into the differential interference-contrast (DIC) slider bay of a commercial microscope, without further additions required. We demonstrate with this device: 1) BSDF-based detection of Malarial parasites inside unstained human erythrocytes; 2) EF imaging with and without dichroic components, including detection of DAPI-stained Leishmania parasite without using excitation or emission filters; 3) RIC of black lipid membranes and other thin films, and 4) DFSR of patterned opaque and transparent surfaces. We believe that our design can expand the functionality of commercial bright field microscopes, provide easy field detection of parasites and be of interest to many users of light microscopy.

A Simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishmukhametov, Robert R.; Russell, Aidan N.; Wheeler, Richard J.; Nord, Ashley L.; Berry, Richard M.

2016-02-01

Back-scattering darkfield (BSDF), epi-fluorescence (EF), interference reflection contrast (IRC), and darkfield surface reflection (DFSR) are advanced but expensive light microscopy techniques with limited availability. Here we show a simple optical design that combines these four techniques in a simple low-cost miniature epi-illuminator, which inserts into the differential interference-contrast (DIC) slider bay of a commercial microscope, without further additions required. We demonstrate with this device: 1) BSDF-based detection of Malarial parasites inside unstained human erythrocytes; 2) EF imaging with and without dichroic components, including detection of DAPI-stained Leishmania parasite without using excitation or emission filters; 3) RIC of black lipid membranes and other thin films, and 4) DFSR of patterned opaque and transparent surfaces. We believe that our design can expand the functionality of commercial bright field microscopes, provide easy field detection of parasites and be of interest to many users of light microscopy.

Toward optimized light utilization in nanowire arrays using scalable nanosphere lithography and selected area growth.

PubMed

Madaria, Anuj R; Yao, Maoqing; Chi, Chunyung; Huang, Ningfeng; Lin, Chenxi; Li, Ruijuan; Povinelli, Michelle L; Dapkus, P Daniel; Zhou, Chongwu

2012-06-13

Vertically aligned, catalyst-free semiconducting nanowires hold great potential for photovoltaic applications, in which achieving scalable synthesis and optimized optical absorption simultaneously is critical. Here, we report combining nanosphere lithography (NSL) and selected area metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (SA-MOCVD) for the first time for scalable synthesis of vertically aligned gallium arsenide nanowire arrays, and surprisingly, we show that such nanowire arrays with patterning defects due to NSL can be as good as highly ordered nanowire arrays in terms of optical absorption and reflection. Wafer-scale patterning for nanowire synthesis was done using a polystyrene nanosphere template as a mask. Nanowires grown from substrates patterned by NSL show similar structural features to those patterned using electron beam lithography (EBL). Reflection of photons from the NSL-patterned nanowire array was used as a measure of the effect of defects present in the structure. Experimentally, we show that GaAs nanowires as short as 130 nm show reflection of <10% over the visible range of the solar spectrum. Our results indicate that a highly ordered nanowire structure is not necessary: despite the "defects" present in NSL-patterned nanowire arrays, their optical performance is similar to "defect-free" structures patterned by more costly, time-consuming EBL methods. Our scalable approach for synthesis of vertical semiconducting nanowires can have application in high-throughput and low-cost optoelectronic devices, including solar cells.

Shape from Shading in Pigeons

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cook, Robert G.; Qadri, Muhammad A. J.; Kieres, Art; Commons-Miller, Nicholas

2012-01-01

Light is the origin of vision. The pattern of shading reflected from object surfaces is one of several optical features that provide fundamental information about shape and surface orientation. To understand how surface and object shading is processed by birds, six pigeons were tested with differentially illuminated convex and concave curved…

Visually Inexperienced Chicks Exhibit Spontaneous Preference for Biological Motion Patterns

PubMed Central

Regolin, Lucia; Marconato, Fabio

2005-01-01

When only a small number of points of light attached to the torso and limbs of a moving organism are visible, the animation correctly conveys the animal's activity. Here we report that newly hatched chicks, reared and hatched in darkness, at their first exposure to point-light animation sequences, exhibit a spontaneous preference to approach biological motion patterns. Intriguingly, this predisposition is not specific for the motion of a hen, but extends to the pattern of motion of other vertebrates, even to that of a potential predator such as a cat. The predisposition seems to reflect the existence of a mechanism in the brain aimed at orienting the young animal towards objects that move semi-rigidly (as vertebrate animals do), thus facilitating learning, i.e., through imprinting, about their more specific features of motion. PMID:15934787

Interferometric rotation sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walsh, T. M. (Inventor)

1973-01-01

An interferometric rotation sensor and control system is provided which includes a compound prism interferometer and an associated direction control system. Light entering the interferometer is split into two paths with the light in the respective paths being reflected an unequal number of times, and then being recombined at an exit aperture in phase differing relationships. Incoming light is deviated from the optical axis of the device by an angle, alpha. The angle causes a similar displacement of the two component images at the exit aperture which results in a fringe pattern. Fringe numbers are directly related to angle alpha. Various control systems of the interferometer are given.

Dim artificial light at night affects mating, reproductive output, and reactive oxygen species in Drosophila melanogaster.

PubMed

McLay, Lucy Katherine; Nagarajan-Radha, Venkatesh; Green, Mark Philip; Jones, Therésa Melanie

2018-05-07

Humans are lighting the night-time environment with ever increasing extent and intensity, resulting in a variety of negative ecological effects in individuals and populations. Effects of light at night on reproductive fitness traits are demonstrated across taxa however, the mechanisms underlying these effects are largely untested. One possible mechanism is that light at night may result in perturbed reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress levels. Here, we reared Drosophila melanogaster under either dim (10 lx) light or no light (0 lx) at night for three generations and then compared mating and lifetime oviposition patterns. In a second experiment, we explored whether exposure to light at night treatments resulted in variation in ROS levels in the heads and ovaries of six, 23- and 36-day-old females. We demonstrate that dim light at night affects mating and reproductive output: 10 lx flies courted for longer prior to mating, and female oviposition patterns differed to 0 lx females. ROS levels were lower in the ovaries but not heads, of 10 lx compared with 0 lx females. We suggest that reduced ROS levels may reflect changes in ovarian physiology and cell signaling, which may be related to the differences observed in oviposition patterns. Taken together, our results indicate negative consequences for invertebrates under more stressful, urban, lit conditions and further investigation into the mechanisms driving these changes is warranted to manage invertebrate communities in a brighter future. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Grid point extraction and coding for structured light system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Zhan; Chung, Ronald

2011-09-01

A structured light system simplifies three-dimensional reconstruction by illuminating a specially designed pattern to the target object, thereby generating a distinct texture on it for imaging and further processing. Success of the system hinges upon what features are to be coded in the projected pattern, extracted in the captured image, and matched between the projector's display panel and the camera's image plane. The codes have to be such that they are largely preserved in the image data upon illumination from the projector, reflection from the target object, and projective distortion in the imaging process. The features also need to be reliably extracted in the image domain. In this article, a two-dimensional pseudorandom pattern consisting of rhombic color elements is proposed, and the grid points between the pattern elements are chosen as the feature points. We describe how a type classification of the grid points plus the pseudorandomness of the projected pattern can equip each grid point with a unique label that is preserved in the captured image. We also present a grid point detector that extracts the grid points without the need of segmenting the pattern elements, and that localizes the grid points in subpixel accuracy. Extensive experiments are presented to illustrate that, with the proposed pattern feature definition and feature detector, more features points in higher accuracy can be reconstructed in comparison with the existing pseudorandomly encoded structured light systems.

Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings (9th) Held in Austin, Texas on August 10-12 1998

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-08-01

both in-plane and out-of-plane, alter the path length of the light reflected from the region, immediately creating a pattern of optical interference ...fringes on the hologram. The interference fringe pattern can then be analyzed to determine the residual stresses that existed prior to the...of the final shape for each surface. In additive/subtractive SFF, geometry simplification due to decomposition avoids most of the tool interference

Circadian Rhythms Differ between Sexes and Closely Related Species of Nasonia Wasps

PubMed Central

Bertossa, Rinaldo C.; van Dijk, Jeroen; Diao, Wenwen; Saunders, David; Beukeboom, Leo W.; Beersma, Domien G. M.

2013-01-01

Activity rhythms in 24 h light-dark cycles, constant darkness, and constant light conditions were analyzed in four different Nasonia species for each sex separately. Besides similarities, clear differences are evident among and within Nasonia species as well as between sexes. In all species, activity in a light-dark cycle is concentrated in the photophase, typical for diurnal organisms. Contrary to most diurnal insect species so far studied, Nasonia follows Aschoff's rule by displaying long (>24 h) internal rhythms in constant darkness but short (<24 h) in constant light. In constant light, N. vitripennis males display robust circadian activity rhythms, whereas females are usually arrhythmic. In contrast to other Nasonia species, N. longicornis males display anticipatory activity, i.e. activity shortly before light-on in a light-dark cycle. As expected, N. oneida shows activity patterns similar to those of N. giraulti but with important differences in key circadian parameters. Differences in circadian activity patterns and parameters between species may reflect synchronization of specific life-history traits to environmental conditions. Scheduling mating or dispersion to a specific time of the day could be a strategy to avoid interspecific hybridization in Nasonia species that live in sympatry. PMID:23555911

Real and virtual worlds alike: Adolescents' psychopathology is reflected in their videogame virtual behaviors.

PubMed

Segev, Aviv; Gabay-Weschler, Hila; Naar, Yossi; Maoz, Hagai; Bloch, Yuval

2017-01-01

Current research refers to videogames as a constant variable. However, games today are designed to be highly interactive and versatile: two players may be using the same videogame, but as a result of different using patterns, the game will not necessarily encompass the same content and gameplay. The current study examined the possible relationship between psychopathology and in-game playing patterns. We hypothesized that adolescents would play videogames differently, in a manner that would reflect their particular psychopathologies. We examined 47 male adolescents from three diagnostic groups: those suffering from externalizing psychopathologies, internalizing psychopathologies and controls. We performed a high-resolution examination of their gameplay, using in-game quantitative statistics mechanisms of two fundamentally different games, a structured racing game and an unstructured adventure game. While there was no difference in the groups' using patterns of the structured game, there was a high variability between the groups' using patterns when they were using a non-structured game. These findings suggest that virtual behavior in unstructured games is reflective of adolescent-players psychopathology, and might shed light on an unexplored facet of videogames research. Possible implications are discussed.

Real and virtual worlds alike: Adolescents' psychopathology is reflected in their videogame virtual behaviors

PubMed Central

Gabay-Weschler, Hila; Naar, Yossi; Maoz, Hagai; Bloch, Yuval

2017-01-01

Current research refers to videogames as a constant variable. However, games today are designed to be highly interactive and versatile: two players may be using the same videogame, but as a result of different using patterns, the game will not necessarily encompass the same content and gameplay. The current study examined the possible relationship between psychopathology and in-game playing patterns. We hypothesized that adolescents would play videogames differently, in a manner that would reflect their particular psychopathologies. We examined 47 male adolescents from three diagnostic groups: those suffering from externalizing psychopathologies, internalizing psychopathologies and controls. We performed a high-resolution examination of their gameplay, using in-game quantitative statistics mechanisms of two fundamentally different games, a structured racing game and an unstructured adventure game. While there was no difference in the groups' using patterns of the structured game, there was a high variability between the groups' using patterns when they were using a non-structured game. These findings suggest that virtual behavior in unstructured games is reflective of adolescent-players psychopathology, and might shed light on an unexplored facet of videogames research. Possible implications are discussed. PMID:28708879

Multiple LEDs luminous system in capsule endoscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mang, Ou-Yang; Huang, Shih-Wei; Lee, Hsin-Hung; Chen, Yung-Lin; Huang, Ko-Chih; Kuo, Yi-Ting

2007-02-01

Developing the luminous system in a capsule endoscope, it is difficult to obtain an uniform illumination[1] on the observed object because of several reasons: the light pattern of LED is sensitively depend on the driving current, location and projective angles; the optical path of LED light source is not parallel to the optical axis of the nearby imaging lenses; the strong reflection from the inner surface of the dome may saturate the CMOS sensors; the object plane of the observed intestine is not flat. Those reasons induce the over-blooming and deep-dark contrast in a picture and distort the original image strongly. The purpose of the article is to construct a photometric model to analyze the LED projection light pattern, and, furthermore, design a novel multiple LEDs luminous system for obtaining an uniform-brightness image. Several key parameters resulting as illumination uniformity has been taken under the model consideration and proven by experimental results. Those parameters include LED light pattern accuracy, choosing LED position relative to the imaging optical axis, LED numbers, arrangement, and the inner curvature of the dome. The novel structure improves the uniformity from 41% to 71% and reduces the light energy loss under 2%. The progress will help medical professionals to diagnose diseases and give treatment precisely based on the vivid image.

High-speed mapping of grown-in defects and their influence in large-area silicon photovoltaic devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sopori, Bhushan; Wei, Chen; Yi, Zhang; Madjdpour, Jamal

2000-03-01

A scanning system for mapping defects, and for measuring their influence on the photovoltaic of Si solar cells, is described. The system uses optical scattering patterns to identify the nature of defects. The local density of the defects is statistically determined from the integrated scattered light. The optical system can also measure the reflectance and the light-induced current which is then used to yield maps of the internal photoresponse of the device.

Optical anisotropy in micromechanically rolled carbon nanotube forest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razib, Mohd Asyraf bin Mohd; Rana, Masud; Saleh, Tanveer; Fan, Harrison; Koch, Andrew; Nojeh, Alireza; Takahata, Kenichi; Muthalif, Asan Gani Bin Abdul

2017-09-01

The bulk appearance of arrays of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT arrays or CNT forests) is dark as they absorb most of the incident light. In this paper, two postprocessing techniques have been described where the CNT forest can be patterned by selective bending of the tips of the nanotubes using a rigid cylindrical tool. A tungsten tool was used to bend the vertical structure of CNTs with predefined parameters in two different ways as stated above: bending using the bottom surface of the tool (micromechanical bending (M2B)) and rolling using the side of the tool (micromechanical rolling (M2R)). The processed zone was investigated using a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and optical setup to reveal the surface morphology and optical characteristics of the patterned CNTs on the substrate. Interestingly, the polarized optical reflection from the micromechanical rolled (M2R) sample was found to be significantly influenced by the rotation of the sample. It was observed that, if the polarization of the light is parallel to the alignment of the CNTs, the reflectance is at least 2 x higher than for the perpendicular direction. Furthermore, the reflectance varied almost linearly with good repeatability ( 10%) as the processed CNT forest sample was rotated from 0° to 90°. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Short-range/Long-range Integrated Target (SLIT) for Video Guidance Sensor Rendezvous and Docking

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roe, Fred D. (Inventor); Bryan, Thomas C. (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A laser target reflector assembly for mounting upon spacecraft having a long-range reflector array formed from a plurality of unfiltered light reflectors embedded in an array pattern upon a hemispherical reflector disposed upon a mounting plate. The reflector assembly also includes a short-range reflector array positioned upon the mounting body proximate to the long-range reflector array. The short-range reflector array includes three filtered light reflectors positioned upon extensions from the mounting body. The three filtered light reflectors retro-reflect substantially all incident light rays that are transmissive by their monochromatic filters and received by the three filtered light reflectors. In one embodiment the short-range reflector array is embedded within the hemispherical reflector,

Modeling apparent color for visual evaluation of camouflage fabrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramsey, S.; Mayo, T.; Shabaev, A.; Lambrakos, S. G.

2017-08-01

As the U.S. Navy, Army, and Special Operations Forces progress towards fielding more advanced uniforms with multi-colored and highly detailed camouflage patterning, additional test methodologies are necessary in evaluating color in these types of camouflage textiles. The apparent color is the combination of all visible wavelengths (380-760 nm) of light reflected from large (>=1m2 ) fabric sample sizes for a given standoff distance (10-25ft). Camouflage patterns lose resolution with increasing standoff distance, and eventually all colors within the pattern appear monotone (the "apparent color" of the pattern). This paper presents an apparent color prediction model that can be used for evaluation of camouflage fabrics.

Pterin pigment granules are responsible for both broadband light scattering and wavelength selective absorption in the wing scales of pierid butterflies

PubMed Central

Morehouse, Nathan I; Vukusic, Peter; Rutowski, Ron

2006-01-01

A small but growing literature indicates that many animal colours are produced by combinations of structural and pigmentary mechanisms. We investigated one such complex colour phenotype: the highly chromatic wing colours of pierid butterflies including oranges, yellows and patterns which appear white to the human eye, but strongly absorb the ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths visible to butterflies. Pierids produce these bright colours using wing scales that contain collections of minute granules. However, to date, no work has directly characterized the molecular composition or optical properties of these granules. We present results that indicate these granules contain pterin pigments. We also find that pterin granules increase light reflection from single wing scales, such that wing scales containing denser granule arrays reflect more light than those with less dense granule collections. As male wing scales contain more pterin granules than those of females, the sexual dichromatism found in many pierid species can be explained by differences in wing scale pterin deposition. Additionally, the colour pattern elements produced by these pterins are known to be important during mating interactions in a number of pierid species. Therefore, we discuss the potential relevance of our results within the framework of sexual selection and colour signal evolution. PMID:17164199

Method for detection of dental caries and periodontal disease using optical imaging

DOEpatents

Nathel, H.; Kinney, J.H.; Otis, L.L.

1996-10-29

A method is disclosed for detecting the presence of active and inactive caries in teeth and diagnosing periodontal disease uses non-ionizing radiation with techniques for reducing interference from scattered light. A beam of non-ionizing radiation is divided into sample and reference beams. The region to be examined is illuminated by the sample beam, and reflected or transmitted radiation from the sample is recombined with the reference beam to form an interference pattern on a detector. The length of the reference beam path is adjustable, allowing the operator to select the reflected or transmitted sample photons that recombine with the reference photons. Thus radiation scattered by the dental or periodontal tissue can be prevented from obscuring the interference pattern. A series of interference patterns may be generated and interpreted to locate dental caries and periodontal tissue interfaces. 7 figs.

Dual beam optical interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gutierrez, Roman C. (Inventor)

2003-01-01

A dual beam interferometer device is disclosed that enables moving an optics module in a direction, which changes the path lengths of two beams of light. The two beams reflect off a surface of an object and generate different speckle patterns detected by an element, such as a camera. The camera detects a characteristic of the surface.

Learning Different Light Prior Distributions for Different Contexts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kerrigan, Iona S.; Adams, Wendy J.

2013-01-01

The pattern of shading across an image can provide a rich sense of object shape. Our ability to use shading information is remarkable given the infinite possible combinations of illumination, shape and reflectance that could have produced any given image. Illumination can change dramatically across environments (e.g. indoor vs. outdoor) and times…

Dual-mode optical microscope based on single-pixel imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodríguez, A. D.; Clemente, P.; Tajahuerce, E.; Lancis, J.

2016-07-01

We demonstrate an inverted microscope that can image specimens in both reflection and transmission modes simultaneously with a single light source. The microscope utilizes a digital micromirror device (DMD) for patterned illumination altogether with two single-pixel photosensors for efficient light detection. The system, a scan-less device with no moving parts, works by sequential projection of a set of binary intensity patterns onto the sample that are codified onto a modified commercial DMD. Data to be displayed are geometrically transformed before written into a memory cell to cancel optical artifacts coming from the diamond-like shaped structure of the micromirror array. The 24-bit color depth of the display is fully exploited to increase the frame rate by a factor of 24, which makes the technique practicable for real samples. Our commercial DMD-based LED-illumination is cost effective and can be easily coupled as an add-on module for already existing inverted microscopes. The reflection and transmission information provided by our dual microscope complement each other and can be useful for imaging non-uniform samples and to prevent self-shadowing effects.

Analysis of periodically patterned metallic nanostructures for infrared absorber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Sha; Yuan, Ying; Long, Huabao; Liu, Runhan; Wei, Dong; Zhang, Xinyu; Wang, Haiwei; Xie, Changsheng

2018-02-01

With rapid advancement of infrared detecting technology in both military and civil domains, the photo-electronic performances of near-infrared detectors have been widely concerned. Currently, near-infrared detectors demonstrate some problems such as low sensitivity, low detectivity, and relatively small array scale. The current studies show that surface plasmons (SPs) stimulated over the surface of metallic nanostructures by incident light can be used to break the diffraction limit and thus concentrate light into sub-wavelength scale, so as to indicate a method to develop a new type of infrared absorber or detector with very large array. In this paper, we present the design and characterization of periodically patterned metallic nanostructures that combine nanometer thickness aluminum film with silicon wafer. Numerical computations show that there are some valleys caused by surface plasmons in the reflection spectrum in the infrared region, and both red shift and blue shift of the reflection spectrum were observed through changing the nanostructural parameters such as angle α and diameters D. Moreover, the strong E-field intensity is located at the sharp corner of the nano-structures.

Fringing in MonoCam Y4 filter images

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

Brooks, J.; Fisher-Levine, M.; Nomerotski, A.

Here, we study the fringing patterns observed in MonoCam, a camera with a single Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) CCD sensor. Images were taken at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona (NOFS) employing its 1.3 m telescope and an LSST y4 filter. Fringing occurs due to the reflection of infrared light (700 nm or larger) from the bottom surface of the CCD which constructively or destructively interferes with the incident light to produce a net "fringe" pattern which is superimposed on all images taken. Emission lines from the atmosphere, dominated by hydroxyl (OH) spectra, can change in their relativemore » intensities as the night goes on, producing different fringe patterns in the images taken. We found through several methods that the general shape of the fringe patterns remained constant, though with slight changes in the amplitude and phase of the fringes. Lastly, we also found that a superposition of fringes from two monochromatic lines taken in the lab offered a reasonable description of the sky data.« less

Fringing in MonoCam Y4 filter images

DOE PAGES

Brooks, J.; Fisher-Levine, M.; Nomerotski, A.

2017-05-05

Here, we study the fringing patterns observed in MonoCam, a camera with a single Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) CCD sensor. Images were taken at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona (NOFS) employing its 1.3 m telescope and an LSST y4 filter. Fringing occurs due to the reflection of infrared light (700 nm or larger) from the bottom surface of the CCD which constructively or destructively interferes with the incident light to produce a net "fringe" pattern which is superimposed on all images taken. Emission lines from the atmosphere, dominated by hydroxyl (OH) spectra, can change in their relativemore » intensities as the night goes on, producing different fringe patterns in the images taken. We found through several methods that the general shape of the fringe patterns remained constant, though with slight changes in the amplitude and phase of the fringes. Lastly, we also found that a superposition of fringes from two monochromatic lines taken in the lab offered a reasonable description of the sky data.« less

Visible diffraction from quasi-crystalline arrays of carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butler, Timothy P.; Butt, Haider; Wilkinson, Timothy D.; Amaratunga, Gehan A. J.

2015-08-01

Large area arrays of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) are patterned in a quasi-crystalline Penrose tile arrangement through electron beam lithography definition of Ni catalyst dots and subsequent nanotube growth by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition. When illuminated with a 532 nm laser beam high-quality and remarkable diffraction patterns are seen. The diffraction is well matched to theoretical calculations which assume apertures to be present at the location of the VACNTs for transmitted light. The results show that VACNTs act as diffractive elements in reflection and can be used as spatially phased arrays for producing tailored diffraction patterns.

Holographic studies of shock waves within transonic fan rotors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Benser, W. A.; Bailey, E. E.; Gelder, T. F.

1974-01-01

NASA has funded two separate contracts to apply pulsed laser holographic interferometry to the detection of shock patterns in the outer span regions of high tip speed transonic rotors. The first holographic approach used ruby laser light reflected from a portion of the centerbody just ahead of the rotor. These holograms showed the bow wave patterns upstream of the rotor and the shock patterns just inside the blade row near the tip. The second holographic approach, on a different rotor, used light transmitted diagonally across the inlet annulus past the centerbody. This approach gave a more extensive view of the region bounded by the blade leading and trailing edges, by the part span shroud and by the blade tip. These holograms showed the passage shock emanating from the blade leading edge and a moderately strong conical shock originating at the intersection of the part span shroud leading edge and the blade suction surface.

Three-dimensional electron diffraction of plant light-harvesting complex

PubMed Central

Wang, Da Neng; Kühlbrandt, Werner

1992-01-01

Electron diffraction patterns of two-dimensional crystals of light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein complex (LHC-II) from photosynthetic membranes of pea chloroplasts, tilted at different angles up to 60°, were collected to 3.2 Å resolution at -125°C. The reflection intensities were merged into a three-dimensional data set. The Friedel R-factor and the merging R-factor were 21.8 and 27.6%, respectively. Specimen flatness and crystal size were critical for recording electron diffraction patterns from crystals at high tilts. The principal sources of experimental error were attributed to limitations of the number of unit cells contributing to an electron diffraction pattern, and to the critical electron dose. The distribution of strong diffraction spots indicated that the three-dimensional structure of LHC-II is less regular than that of other known membrane proteins and is not dominated by a particular feature of secondary structure. ImagesFIGURE 1FIGURE 2 PMID:19431817

LED-based interference-reflection microscopy combined with optical tweezers for quantitative three-dimensional microtubule imaging.

PubMed

Simmert, Steve; Abdosamadi, Mohammad Kazem; Hermsdorf, Gero; Schäffer, Erik

2018-05-28

Optical tweezers combined with various microscopy techniques are a versatile tool for single-molecule force spectroscopy. However, some combinations may compromise measurements. Here, we combined optical tweezers with total-internal-reflection-fluorescence (TIRF) and interference-reflection microscopy (IRM). Using a light-emitting diode (LED) for IRM illumination, we show that single microtubules can be imaged with high contrast. Furthermore, we converted the IRM interference pattern of an upward bent microtubule to its three-dimensional (3D) profile calibrated against the optical tweezers and evanescent TIRF field. In general, LED-based IRM is a powerful method for high-contrast 3D microscopy.

LORETA indicates frequency-specific suppressions of current sources within the cerebrums of blindfolded subjects from patterns of blue light flashes applied over the skull.

PubMed

Karbowski, Lukasz M; Saroka, Kevin S; Murugan, Nirosha J; Persinger, Michael A

2015-10-01

An array of eight cloistered (completely covered) 470-nm LEDs was attached to the right caudal scalp of subjects while each sat blindfolded within a darkened chamber. The LEDs were activated by a computer-generated complex (frequency-modulated) temporal pattern that, when applied as weak magnetic fields, has elicited sensed presences and changes in LORETA (low-resolution electromagnetic tomography) configurations. Serial 5-min on to 5-min off presentations of the blue light (10,000lx) resulted in suppression of gamma activity within the right cuneus (including the extrastriate area), beta activity within the left angular and right superior temporal regions, and alpha power within the right parahippocampal region. The effect required about 5min to emerge followed by a transient asymptote for about 15 to 20min when diminished current source density was evident even during no light conditions. Subjective experiences, as measured by our standard exit questionnaire, reflected sensations similar to those reported when the pattern was presented as a weak magnetic field. Given previous evidence that photon flux density of this magnitude can penetrate the skull, these results suggest that properly configured LEDs that generate physiologically patterned light sequences might be employed as noninvasive methods to explore the dynamic characteristics of cerebral activity in epileptic and nonepileptic brains. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optical method for the characterization of laterally-patterned samples in integrated circuits

DOEpatents

Maris, Humphrey J.

2001-01-01

Disclosed is a method for characterizing a sample having a structure disposed on or within the sample, comprising the steps of applying a first pulse of light to a surface of the sample for creating a propagating strain pulse in the sample, applying a second pulse of light to the surface so that the second pulse of light interacts with the propagating strain pulse in the sample, sensing from a reflection of the second pulse a change in optical response of the sample, and relating a time of occurrence of the change in optical response to at least one dimension of the structure.

Optical method and system for the characterization of laterally-patterned samples in integrated circuits

DOEpatents

Maris, Humphrey J.

2008-03-04

Disclosed is a method for characterizing a sample having a structure disposed on or within the sample, comprising the steps of applying a first pulse of light to a surface of the sample for creating a propagating strain pulse in the sample, applying a second pulse of light to the surface so that the second pulse of light interacts with the propagating strain pulse in the sample, sensing from a reflection of the second pulse a change in optical response of the sample, and relating a time of occurrence of the change in optical response to at least one dimension of the structure.

Optical method for the characterization of laterally-patterned samples in integrated circuits

DOEpatents

Maris, Humphrey J.

2010-08-24

Disclosed is a method for characterizing a sample having a structure disposed on or within the sample, comprising the steps of applying a first pulse of light to a surface of the sample for creating a propagating strain pulse in the sample, applying a second pulse of light to the surface so that the second pulse of light interacts with the propagating strain pulse in the sample, sensing from a reflection of the second pulse a change in optical response of the sample, and relating a time of occurrence of the change in optical response to at least one dimension of the structure.

Optical method for the characterization of laterally patterned samples in integrated circuits

DOEpatents

Maris, Humphrey J [Barrington, RI

2009-03-17

Disclosed is a method for characterizing a sample having a structure disposed on or within the sample, comprising the steps of applying a first pulse of light to a surface of the sample for creating a propagating strain pulse in the sample, applying a second pulse of light to the surface so that the second pulse of light interacts with the propagating strain pulse in the sample, sensing from a reflection of the second pulse a change in optical response of the sample, and relating a time of occurrence of the change in optical response to at least one dimension of the structure.

Optical method and system for the characterization of laterally-patterned samples in integrated circuits

DOEpatents

Maris, Humphrey J [Barrington, RI

2011-02-22

Disclosed is a method for characterizing a sample having a structure disposed on or within the sample, comprising the steps of applying a first pulse of light to a surface of the sample for creating a propagating strain pulse in the sample, applying a second pulse of light to the surface so that the second pulse of light interacts with the propagating strain pulse in the sample, sensing from a reflection of the second pulse a change in optical response of the sample, and relating a time of occurrence of the change in optical response to at least one dimension of the structure.

Emissive and reflective properties of curved displays in relation to image quality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boher, Pierre; Leroux, Thierry; Bignon, Thibault; Collomb-Patton, Véronique; Blanc, Pierre; Sandré-Chardonnal, Etienne

2016-03-01

Different aspects of the characterization of curved displays are presented. The limit of validity of viewing angle measurements without angular distortion on such displays using goniometer or Fourier optics viewing angle instrument is given. If the condition cannot be fulfilled the measurement can be corrected using a general angular distortion formula as demonstrated experimentally using a Samsung Galaxy S6 edge phone display. The reflective properties of the display are characterized by measuring the spectral BRDF using a multispectral Fourier optics viewing angle system. The surface of a curved OLED TV has been measured. The BDRF patterns show a mirror like behavior with and additional strong diffraction along the pixels lines and columns that affect the quality of the display when observed with parasitic lighting. These diffraction effects are very common on OLED surfaces. We finally introduce a commercial ray tracing software that can use directly the measured emissive and reflective properties of the display to make realistic simulation under any lighting environment.

FPGA Based Adaptive Rate and Manifold Pattern Projection for Structured Light 3D Camera System †

PubMed Central

Lee, Sukhan

2018-01-01

The quality of the captured point cloud and the scanning speed of a structured light 3D camera system depend upon their capability of handling the object surface of a large reflectance variation in the trade-off of the required number of patterns to be projected. In this paper, we propose and implement a flexible embedded framework that is capable of triggering the camera single or multiple times for capturing single or multiple projections within a single camera exposure setting. This allows the 3D camera system to synchronize the camera and projector even for miss-matched frame rates such that the system is capable of projecting different types of patterns for different scan speed applications. This makes the system capturing a high quality of 3D point cloud even for the surface of a large reflectance variation while achieving a high scan speed. The proposed framework is implemented on the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), where the camera trigger is adaptively generated in such a way that the position and the number of triggers are automatically determined according to camera exposure settings. In other words, the projection frequency is adaptive to different scanning applications without altering the architecture. In addition, the proposed framework is unique as it does not require any external memory for storage because pattern pixels are generated in real-time, which minimizes the complexity and size of the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design and implementation. PMID:29642506

Effects of light wavelength and coherence in structured light sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harding, Kevin; Ramamurthy, Rajesh; Zhai, Zirong; Han, Jie; Yang, Dongmin

2016-05-01

Structured light methods are used by many commercial products on the market today. Many such systems using white light projectors while many line gages use standard red laser diodes. However, in recent years there has been much claimed about using blue light, polarized light and partially coherent systems to obtain better performance. Unlike interferometers, moving from red to blue light for a system using only geometric shape information does not gain an automatic advantage from the shorter wavelength. The sensitivity metric does not have a wavelength component to it. But there are other factors that can improve gage performance. The ability to measure some feature is also a function of other parameters such as signal to noise ratio, reflectivity variations, and depth-of-field over which a clear pattern can be seen. This paper will explore the theoretical and experimental data relating to what works and what can be expected from variations on the old methods.

Image quality degradation by light-scattering processes in high-performance display devices for medical imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badano, Aldo

1999-11-01

This thesis addresses the characterization of light scattering processes that degrade image quality in high performance electronic display devices for digital radiography. Using novel experimental and computational tools, we study the lateral diffusion of light in emissive display devices that causes extensive veiling glare and significant reduction of the physical contrast. In addition, we examine the deleterious effects of ambient light reflections that affect the contrast of low luminance regions, and superimpose unwanted structured signal. The analysis begins by introducing the performance limitations of the human visual system to define high fidelity requirements. It is noted that current devices severely suffer from image quality degradation due to optical transport processes. To model the veiling glare and reflectance characteristics of display devices, we introduce a Monte Carlo light transport simulation code, DETECT-II, that tracks individual photons through multiple scattering events. The simulation accounts for the photon polarization state at each scattering event, and provides descriptions for rough surfaces and thin film coatings. A new experimental method to measure veiling glare is described next, based on a conic collimated probe that minimizes contamination from bright areas. The measured veiling glare ratio is taken to be the luminance in the surrounding bright field divided by the luminance in the dark circle. We show that veiling glare ratios in the order of a few hundreds can be measured with an uncertainty of a few percent. The veiling glare response function is obtained by measuring the small spot contrast ratio of test patterns having varying dark spot radius. Using DETECT-II, we then estimate the ring response functions for a high performance medical imaging monitor of current design, and compare the predictions of the model with the experimentally measured response function. The data presented in this thesis demonstrate that although absorption in the faceplate of high performance monochrome cathode-ray tube monitors have reduced glare, a black matrix design is needed for high fidelity applications. For a high performance medical imaging monitor with anti-reflective coating, the glare ratio for a 1 cm diameter dark spot was measured to be 240. Finally, we introduce experimental techniques for measurements of specular and diffuse display reflectance, and we compare measured reflection coefficients with Monte Carlo estimates. A specular reflection coefficient of 0.0012, and a diffuse coefficient of 0.005 nits/lux are required to minimize degradation from ambient light in rooms with 100 lux illumination. In spite of having comparable reflection coefficients, the low maximum luminance of current devices worsens the effect of ambient light reflections when compared to radiographic film. Flat panel technologies with optimized designs can perform even better than film due to a thin faceplate, increased light absorption, and high brightness.

Ultrafast laser direct hard-mask writing for high efficiency c-Si texture designs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Kitty; Lee, Kenneth K. C.; Nogami, Jun; Herman, Peter R.; Kherani, Nazir P.

2013-03-01

This study reports a high-resolution hard-mask laser writing technique to facilitate the selective etching of crystalline silicon (c-Si) into an inverted-pyramidal texture with feature size and periodicity on the order of the wavelength which, thus, provides for both anti-reflection and effective light-trapping of infrared and visible light. The process also enables engineered positional placement of the inverted-pyramid thereby providing another parameter for optimal design of an optically efficient pattern. The proposed technique, a non-cleanroom process, is scalable for large area micro-fabrication of high-efficiency thin c-Si photovoltaics. Optical wave simulations suggest the fabricated textured surface with 1.3 μm inverted-pyramids and a single anti-reflective coating increases the relative energy conversion efficiency by 11% compared to the PERL-cell texture with 9 μm inverted pyramids on a 400 μm thick wafer. This efficiency gain is anticipated to improve further for thinner wafers due to enhanced diffractive light trapping effects.

Target Recognition Using Neural Networks for Model Deformation Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ross, Richard W.; Hibler, David L.

1999-01-01

Optical measurements provide a non-invasive method for measuring deformation of wind tunnel models. Model deformation systems use targets mounted or painted on the surface of the model to identify known positions, and photogrammetric methods are used to calculate 3-D positions of the targets on the model from digital 2-D images. Under ideal conditions, the reflective targets are placed against a dark background and provide high-contrast images, aiding in target recognition. However, glints of light reflecting from the model surface, or reduced contrast caused by light source or model smoothness constraints, can compromise accurate target determination using current algorithmic methods. This paper describes a technique using a neural network and image processing technologies which increases the reliability of target recognition systems. Unlike algorithmic methods, the neural network can be trained to identify the characteristic patterns that distinguish targets from other objects of similar size and appearance and can adapt to changes in lighting and environmental conditions.

A stellar fingerprint

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-02-29

Showcased at the centre of this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is an emission-line star known as IRAS 12196-6300. Located just under 2300 light-years from Earth, this star displays prominent emission lines, meaning that the star’s light, dispersed into a spectrum, shows up as a rainbow of colours marked with a characteristic pattern of dark and bright lines. The characteristics of these lines, when compared to the “fingerprints” left by particular atoms and molecules, can be used to reveal IRAS 12196-6300’s chemical composition. Under 10 million years old and not yet burning hydrogen at its core, unlike the Sun, this star is still in its infancy. Further evidence of IRAS 12196-6300’s youth is provided by the presence of reflection nebulae. These hazy clouds, pictured floating above and below IRAS 12196-6300, are created when light from a star reflects off a high concentration of nearby dust, such as the dusty material still remaining from IRAS 12196-6300’s formation.

Courtship display dynamics, iridescent structural color and nanostructural pattern formation in ocellated pheasants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kane, Suzanne Amador; Dakin, Roslyn; Fang, Rui; Lu, Yabin

Peacocks court females by tilting a fan-like array of feathers decorated with multicolored eyespots (ocelli). Previous research has shown that half of the variation in peacock mating success can be attributed to eyespot iridescence. Several closely-related pheasant species perform similar, but less complex, courtship displays using ocellated feathers with less complex coloration, patterns and underlying nanostructures. This study explores the relationship between the dynamics of male courtship behavior and optical properties and nanostructure of each species' iridescent feather ornaments. In particular, we examined videos of courting males and of individual feathers to measure how the angles used during displays compared to those corresponding to optimal eyespot reflected intensity and iridescent contrast. Bidirectional reflectance spectroscopy was used to measure how the spectrum of reflected light depends on the characteristic angles used during displays, and hence how displays stimulate the four classes of cones found in the color vision systems of these birds. This work reveals a close correlation between the complexity of the angular dependence of iridescent feather reflectance properties and that of the motions used by males of each species.

Assessment of tissue viability by polarization spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nilsson, G.; Anderson, C.; Henricson, J.; Leahy, M.; O'Doherty, J.; Sjöberg, F.

2008-09-01

A new and versatile method for tissue viability imaging based on polarization spectroscopy of blood in superficial tissue structures such as the skin is presented in this paper. Linearly polarized light in the visible wavelength region is partly reflected directly by the skin surface and partly diffusely backscattered from the dermal tissue matrix. Most of the directly reflected light preserves its polarization state while the light returning from the deeper tissue layers is depolarized. By the use of a polarization filter positioned in front of a sensitive CCD-array, the light directly reflected from the tissue surface is blocked, while the depolarized light returning from the deeper tissue layers reaches the detector array. By separating the colour planes of the detected image, spectroscopic information about the amount of red blood cells (RBCs) in the microvascular network of the tissue under investigation can be derived. A theory that utilizes the differences in light absorption of RBCs and bloodless tissue in the red and green wavelength region forms the basis of an algorithm for displaying a colour coded map of the RBC distribution in a tissue. Using a fluid model, a linear relationship (cc. = 0.99) between RBC concentration and the output signal was demonstrated within the physiological range 0-4%. In-vivo evaluation using transepidermal application of acetylcholine by the way of iontophoresis displayed the heterogeneity pattern of the vasodilatation produced by the vasoactive agent. Applications of this novel technology are likely to be found in drug and skin care product development as well as in the assessment of skin irritation and tissue repair processes and even ultimately in a clinic case situation.

Formation of star tracking reticles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, W. O.; Toft, A. R. (Inventor)

1974-01-01

The present application is directed towards a process for producing high resolution, substantially non-reflective reticles or choppers suitable for use for transmitting in both the visible and near ultra-violet regions, able to withstand reasonable handling and extreme environmental conditions, and capable of operating at speeds of from 2800 to about 9000 revolutions per minute without distortion. In particular, the present invention is directed towards the production or reticles having a quartz base vacuum coated with chromium, chromium-silver alloy, and silver with electrodeposited copper and black chromium thereon, respectively, in the form of a reticle pattern. The quartz permits the transmission of light while the pattern is opaque to light. The reticles of the present invention are intended for use in optical trackers, such as star trackers used in outer space.

Measurement of an Evaporating Drop on a Reflective Substrate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chao, David F.; Zhang, Nengli

2004-01-01

A figure depicts an apparatus that simultaneously records magnified ordinary top-view video images and laser shadowgraph video images of a sessile drop on a flat, horizontal substrate that can be opaque or translucent and is at least partially specularly reflective. The diameter, contact angle, and rate of evaporation of the drop as functions of time can be calculated from the apparent diameters of the drop in sequences of the images acquired at known time intervals, and the shadowgrams that contain flow patterns indicative of thermocapillary convection (if any) within the drop. These time-dependent parameters and flow patterns are important for understanding the physical processes involved in the spreading and evaporation of drops. The apparatus includes a source of white light and a laser (both omitted from the figure), which are used to form the ordinary image and the shadowgram, respectively. Charge-coupled-device (CCD) camera 1 (with zoom) acquires the ordinary video images, while CCD camera 2 acquires the shadowgrams. With respect to the portion of laser light specularly reflected from the substrate, the drop acts as a plano-convex lens, focusing the laser beam to a shadowgram on the projection screen in front of CCD camera 2. The equations for calculating the diameter, contact angle, and rate of evaporation of the drop are readily derived on the basis of Snell s law of refraction and the geometry of the optics.

Optical imaging of the ventral medullary surface of developing kittens during ventilatory challenges.

PubMed

Gozal, D; Dong, X W; Rector, D M; Harper, R K; Harper, R M

1996-01-01

We used large-array optical recording procedures to examine maturation of regional neural activity within the ventral medullary surface (VMS) of anaesthetized kittens during graded hypercapnic and hypoxic challenges. The VMS was exposed through a ventral surgical approach in 10, 20, 30, and 45-day-old kittens and in adult cats under sodium pentobarbital anaesthesia. Arterial pressure, costal diaphragmatic EMG, and ECG were continuously monitored. A coherent image conduit with 12 mu fibre resolution was attached to a charge-coupled-device camera and positioned over the VMS. Reflected 660 nm light was digitized continuously at 2-s intervals during a baseline period, hyperoxic hypercapnia, (3, 5, and 10% CO2 in O2), and poikylocapnic hypoxia (6%, 9%, and 12% O2 in N2), and recovery. Sixty to seventy-five images within each epoch were averaged, and subtracted from baseline. Regional differences within the image were determined by ANOVA procedures (alpha = 0.05). During hypercapnia, an overall decrease in neural activity (increase in scattered light) occurred, which was marginally age-dependent. By 30 days, regional bidirectional reflectance changes in response to CO2 emerged in a small proportion of animals, and were similar to adult responses. Hypoxia induced a dose- and age-dependent decrease in overall scattered light. Transient "on" and "off" responses were common under both ventilatory stimuli. In 20-30-day kittens, marked rebound responses in reflectance accompanied cessation of hypoxic stimuli; such patterns were absent at other ages. At 30 days, a caudal-rostral bidirectionality in response to mild hypoxia (12% O2) began to emerge in a subset of animals. We conclude that dose-dependent response to ventilatory stimuli occur in the VMS at all post-natal ages of the kitten; however, in hypoxia, the magnitude of the overall reflectance changes is diminished relative to adult patterns. Rebound responses to hypoxia are present at particular ages, and older kittens begin to show a topographical organization of neural activation.

Waddling on the Dark Side: Ambient Light Affects Attendance Behavior of Little Penguins.

PubMed

Rodríguez, Airam; Chiaradia, André; Wasiak, Paula; Renwick, Leanne; Dann, Peter

2016-04-01

Visible light on Earth largely comes from the sun, including light reflected from the moon. Predation risk is strongly determined by light conditions, and some animals are nocturnal to reduce predation. Artificial lights and its consequent light pollution may disrupt this natural behavior. Here, we used 13 years of attendance data to study the effects of sun, moon, and artificial light on the attendance pattern of a nocturnal seabird, the little penguin Eudyptula minor at Phillip Island, Australia. The little penguin is the smallest and the only penguin species whose activity on land is strictly nocturnal. Automated monitoring systems recorded individually marked penguins every time they arrived (after sunset) at or departed (before sunrise) from 2 colonies under different lighting conditions: natural night skylight and artificial lights (around 3 lux) used to enhance penguin viewing for ecotourism around sunset. Sunlight had a strong effect on attendance as penguins arrived on average around 81 min after sunset and departed around 92 min before sunrise. The effect of moonlight was also strong, varying according to moon phase. Fewer penguins came ashore during full moon nights. Moon phase effect was stronger on departure than arrival times. Thus, during nights between full moon and last quarter, arrival times (after sunset) were delayed, even though moonlight levels were low, while departure times (before sunrise) were earlier, coinciding with high moonlight levels. Cyclic patterns of moon effect were slightly out of phase but significantly between 2 colonies, which could be due to site-specific differences or presence/absence of artificial lights. Moonlight could be overridden by artificial light at our artificially lit colony, but the similar amplitude of attendance patterns between colonies suggests that artificial light did not mask the moonlight effect. Further research is indeed necessary to understand how seabirds respond to the increasing artificial night light levels. © 2016 The Author(s).

Biomimetic Moth-eye Nanofabrication: Enhanced Antireflection with Superior Self-cleaning Characteristic.

PubMed

Sun, Jingyao; Wang, Xiaobing; Wu, Jinghua; Jiang, Chong; Shen, Jingjing; Cooper, Merideth A; Zheng, Xiuting; Liu, Ying; Yang, Zhaogang; Wu, Daming

2018-04-03

Sub-wavelength antireflection moth-eye structures were fabricated with Nickel mold using Roll-to-Plate (R2P) ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) on transparent polycarbonate (PC) substrates. Samples with well replicated patterns established an average reflection of 1.21% in the visible light range, 380 to 760 nm, at normal incidence. An excellent antireflection property of a wide range of incidence angles was shown with the average reflection below 4% at 50°. Compared with the unpatterned ultraviolet-curable resin coating, the resulting sub-wavelength moth-eye structure also exhibited increased hydrophobicity in addition to antireflection. This R2P method is especially suitable for large-area product preparation and the biomimetic moth-eye structure with multiple performances can be applied to optical devices such as display screens, solar cells, or light emitting diodes.

Optical system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Breckinridge, J. B.; Page, N. A.; Shack, R. V.; Shannon, R. R. (Inventor)

1985-01-01

Disclosed is an otpical system used in a spacecraft to observe a remote surface and provide a spatial and spectral image of this surface. The optical system includes aspheric and spherical mirrors aligned to focus at a first focal plane an image of the surface, and a mirror at this first focal plane which reflects light back on to the spherical mirror. This spherical mirror collimates the light and directs it through a prism which disperses it. The dispersed light is then focused on an array of light responsive elements disposed at a second focal plane. The prism is designed such that it disperses light into components of different wavelengths, with the components of shorter wavelengths being dispersed more than the components of longer wavelengths to present at the second focal plane a distribution pattern in which preselected groupings of the components are dispersed over essentially equal spacing intervals.

Exploring the Relationship of Task Performance and Physical and Cognitive Fatigue During a Daylong Light Precision Task.

PubMed

Yung, Marcus; Manji, Rahim; Wells, Richard P

2017-11-01

Our aim was to explore the relationship between fatigue and operation system performance during a simulated light precision task over an 8-hr period using a battery of physical (central and peripheral) and cognitive measures. Fatigue may play an important role in the relationship between poor ergonomics and deficits in quality and productivity. However, well-controlled laboratory studies in this area have several limitations, including the lack of work relevance of fatigue exposures and lack of both physical and cognitive measures. There remains a need to understand the relationship between physical and cognitive fatigue and task performance at exposure levels relevant to realistic production or light precision work. Errors and fatigue measures were tracked over the course of a micropipetting task. Fatigue responses from 10 measures and errors in pipetting technique, precision, and targeting were submitted to principal component analysis to descriptively analyze features and patterns. Fatigue responses and error rates contributed to three principal components (PCs), accounting for 50.9% of total variance. Fatigue responses grouped within the three PCs reflected central and peripheral upper extremity fatigue, postural sway, and changes in oculomotor behavior. In an 8-hr light precision task, error rates shared similar patterns to both physical and cognitive fatigue responses, and/or increases in arousal level. The findings provide insight toward the relationship between fatigue and operation system performance (e.g., errors). This study contributes to a body of literature documenting task errors and fatigue, reflecting physical (both central and peripheral) and cognitive processes.

Current Foreign Aid Patterns and Policies on Education in Developing Countries among Like-Minded Nations: Some Key Issues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buchert, Lene

1995-01-01

Issues in the provision of educational assistance in the 1990s by Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands are discussed in light of the change of the international climate toward developing countries. The changing approaches of these countries reflect new thinking that developing countries need to adapt to the Western industrial world. (SLD)

Holographic studies of shock waves within transonic fan rotors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Benser, W. A.; Bailey, E. E.; Gelder, T. F.

1973-01-01

Pulsed laser holographic interferometry has been applied to the detection of shock patterns in the outer span regions of high tip speed transonic rotors. The first holographic approach used ruby laser light reflected from a portion of the centerbody just ahead of the rotor. These holograms showed the bow wave patterns upstream of the rotor and the shock patterns just inside the blade row near the tip. Much of the region of interest was in the shadow of the blade leading edge and could not be visualized. The second holographic approach, on a different rotor, used light transmitted diagonally across the inlet annulus past the centerbody. This approach gave a more extensive view of the region bounded by the blade leading and trailing edges, by the part span shroud and by the blade tip. These holograms showed the passage shock emanating from the blade leading edge and a moderately strong conical shock originating at the intersection of the part span shroud leading edge and the blade suction surface. Reasonable details of the shock patterns were obtained from holograms which were made without extensive rig modifications.

Built-in hyperspectral camera for smartphone in visible, near-infrared and middle-infrared lights region (second report): sensitivity improvement of Fourier-spectroscopic imaging to detect diffuse reflection lights from internal human tissues for healthcare sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawashima, Natsumi; Hosono, Satsuki; Ishimaru, Ichiro

2016-05-01

We proposed the snapshot-type Fourier spectroscopic imaging for smartphone that was mentioned in 1st. report in this conference. For spectroscopic components analysis, such as non-invasive blood glucose sensors, the diffuse reflection lights from internal human skins are very weak for conventional hyperspectral cameras, such as AOTF (Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter) type. Furthermore, it is well known that the spectral absorption of mid-infrared lights or Raman spectroscopy especially in long wavelength region is effective to distinguish specific biomedical components quantitatively, such as glucose concentration. But the main issue was that photon energies of middle infrared lights and light intensities of Raman scattering are extremely weak. For improving sensitivity of our spectroscopic imager, the wide-field-stop & beam-expansion method was proposed. Our line spectroscopic imager introduced a single slit for field stop on the conjugate objective plane. Obviously to increase detected light intensities, the wider slit width of the field stop makes light intensities higher, regardless of deterioration of spatial resolutions. Because our method is based on wavefront-division interferometry, it becomes problems that the wider width of single slit makes the diffraction angle narrower. This means that the narrower diameter of collimated objective beams deteriorates visibilities of interferograms. By installing the relative inclined phaseshifter onto optical Fourier transform plane of infinity corrected optical systems, the collimated half flux of objective beams derived from single-bright points on objective surface penetrate through the wedge prism and the cuboid glass respectively. These two beams interfere each other and form the infererogram as spatial fringe patterns. Thus, we installed concave-cylindrical lens between the wider slit and objective lens as a beam expander. We successfully obtained the spectroscopic characters of hemoglobin from reflected lights from human fingers.

Circularly-polarized, semitransparent and double-sided holograms based on helical photonic structures.

PubMed

Kobashi, Junji; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Ozaki, Masanori

2017-11-28

Recent advances in nanofabrication techniques are opening new frontiers in holographic devices, with the capability to integrate various optical functions in a single device. However, while most efficient holograms are achieved in reflection-mode configurations, they are in general opaque because of the reflective substrate that must be used, and therefore, have limited applicability. Here, we present a semi-transparent, reflective computer-generated hologram that is circularly-polarization dependent, and reconstructs different wavefronts when viewed from different sides. The integrated functionality is realized using a single thin-film of liquid crystal with a self-organized helical structure that Bragg reflects circularly-polarized light over a certain band of wavelengths. Asymmetry depending on the viewing side is achieved by exploiting the limited penetration depth of light in the helical structure as well as the nature of liquid crystals to conform to different orientational patterns imprinted on the two substrates sandwiching the material. Also, because the operation wavelength is determined by the reflection band position, pseudo-color holograms can be made by simply stacking layers with different designs. The unique characteristics of this hologram may find applications in polarization-encoded security holograms and see-through holographic signage where different information need to be displayed depending on the viewing direction.

Discriminative illumination: per-pixel classification of raw materials based on optimal projections of spectral BRDF.

PubMed

Liu, Chao; Gu, Jinwei

2014-01-01

Classifying raw, unpainted materials--metal, plastic, ceramic, fabric, and so on--is an important yet challenging task for computer vision. Previous works measure subsets of surface spectral reflectance as features for classification. However, acquiring the full spectral reflectance is time consuming and error-prone. In this paper, we propose to use coded illumination to directly measure discriminative features for material classification. Optimal illumination patterns--which we call "discriminative illumination"--are learned from training samples, after projecting to which the spectral reflectance of different materials are maximally separated. This projection is automatically realized by the integration of incident light for surface reflection. While a single discriminative illumination is capable of linear, two-class classification, we show that multiple discriminative illuminations can be used for nonlinear and multiclass classification. We also show theoretically that the proposed method has higher signal-to-noise ratio than previous methods due to light multiplexing. Finally, we construct an LED-based multispectral dome and use the discriminative illumination method for classifying a variety of raw materials, including metal (aluminum, alloy, steel, stainless steel, brass, and copper), plastic, ceramic, fabric, and wood. Experimental results demonstrate its effectiveness.

Recent volcanic activity on Venus - Evidence from radiothermal emissivity measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robinson, Cordula A.; Wood, John A.

1993-01-01

Radiothermal emissivity measurements are analyzed in order to study large volcanic constructs on Venus and to correlate details of the reflectivity/emissivity patterns with geological landforms and stratigraphy visible in corresponding SAR images. There appears to be a correlation between locations on Venus where high emissivity at high altitudes and low emissivity at low altitudes are observed. These phenomena are attributed here to relatively recent volcanic activity: the former to summit eruptions that have not had time to weather to the low-emissivity state, the latter to continuing emission of volcanic gases from neighboring small plains volcanoes. The pattern of reflectivity and emissivity on Maat Mons is examined in the light of these findings. It is concluded that Maat Mons has undergone the most recent episode of volcanic activity of all the volcanoes studied here.

Harnessing speckle for a sub-femtometre resolved broadband wavemeter and laser stabilization

PubMed Central

Metzger, Nikolaus Klaus; Spesyvtsev, Roman; Bruce, Graham D.; Miller, Bill; Maker, Gareth T.; Malcolm, Graeme; Mazilu, Michael; Dholakia, Kishan

2017-01-01

The accurate determination and control of the wavelength of light is fundamental to many fields of science. Speckle patterns resulting from the interference of multiple reflections in disordered media are well-known to scramble the information content of light by complex but linear processes. However, these patterns are, in fact, exceptionally rich in information about the illuminating source. We use a fibre-coupled integrating sphere to generate wavelength-dependent speckle patterns, in combination with algorithms based on the transmission matrix method and principal component analysis, to realize a broadband and sensitive wavemeter. We demonstrate sub-femtometre wavelength resolution at a centre wavelength of 780 nm, and a broad calibrated measurement range from 488 to 1,064 nm. This compares favourably to the performance of conventional wavemeters. Using this speckle wavemeter as part of a feedback loop, we stabilize a 780 nm diode laser to achieve a linewidth better than 1 MHz. PMID:28580938

Polluted and turbid water masses in Osaka Bay and its vicinity revealed with ERTS-A imageries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watanabe, K.

1973-01-01

ERTS-1 took very valuable MSS imageries of Osaka Bay and its vicinity on October 24, 1972. In the MSS-4 and MSS-5 imageries a complex grey pattern of water masses can be seen. Though some of grey colored patterns seen in black and white prints of the MSS-4 and MSS-5 imageries are easily identified from their shapes as cloud covers or polluted water masses characterized by their color tone in longer wavelengths in the visible region, any correct distribution pattern of polluted or turbid water masses can be hardly detected separately from thin cloud covers in a quick look analysis. In the present investigation, a simple photographic technique was applied using the fact that reflected sun light from cloud including smog and inclined water surfaces of wave have a certain component in the near infrared region, that MSS-7, whereas the light scattered from fine materials suspended in the sea water has nearly no component sensible in MSS-4 and MSS-5 channels.

Stable structural color patterns displayed on transparent insect wings.

PubMed

Shevtsova, Ekaterina; Hansson, Christer; Janzen, Daniel H; Kjærandsen, Jostein

2011-01-11

Color patterns play central roles in the behavior of insects, and are important traits for taxonomic studies. Here we report striking and stable structural color patterns--wing interference patterns (WIPs)--in the transparent wings of small Hymenoptera and Diptera, patterns that have been largely overlooked by biologists. These extremely thin wings reflect vivid color patterns caused by thin film interference. The visibility of these patterns is affected by the way the insects display their wings against various backgrounds with different light properties. The specific color sequence displayed lacks pure red and matches the color vision of most insects, strongly suggesting that the biological significance of WIPs lies in visual signaling. Taxon-specific color patterns are formed by uneven membrane thickness, pigmentation, venation, and hair placement. The optically refracted pattern is also stabilized by microstructures of the wing such as membrane corrugations and spherical cell structures that reinforce the pattern and make it essentially noniridescent over a large range of light incidences. WIPs can be applied to map the micromorphology of wings through direct observation and are useful in several fields of biology. We demonstrate their usefulness as identification patterns to solve cases of cryptic species complexes in tiny parasitic wasps, and indicate their potentials for research on the genetic control of wing development through direct links between the transregulatory wing landscape and interference patterns we observe in Drosophila model species. Some species display sexually dimorphic WIPs, suggesting sexual selection as one of the driving forces for their evolution.

Reduction of parasitic interferences in digital holographic microscopy by numerically decreased coherence length

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosmeier, S.; Langehanenberg, P.; von Bally, G.; Kemper, B.

2012-01-01

Due to the large coherence length of laser light, optical path length (OPL) resolution in laser based digital holographic microscopy suffers from parasitic interferences caused by multiple reflections within the experimental setup. Use of partially coherent light reduces this drawback but requires precise and stable matching of object and reference arm's OPLs and limits the spatial frequency of the interference pattern in off-axis holography. Here, we investigate if the noise properties of spectrally broadened light sources can be generated numerically. Therefore, holograms are coherently captured at different laser wavelengths and the corresponding reconstructed wave fields are numerically superimposed utilizing variable weightings. Gaussian and rectangular spectral shapes of the so synthesized field are analyzed with respect to the resulting noise level, which is quantified in OPL distributions of a reflective test target. Utilizing a Gaussian weighting, the noise level is found to be similar to the one obtained with the partially coherent light of a superluminescent diode. With a rectangular shaped synthesized spectrum, noise is reduced more efficient than with a Gaussian one. The applicability of the method in label-free cell analysis is demonstrated by quantitative phase contrast images obtained from living cancer cells.

Are thoughtful people more utilitarian? CRT as a unique predictor of moral minimalism in the dilemmatic context.

PubMed

Royzman, Edward B; Landy, Justin F; Leeman, Robert F

2015-03-01

Recent theorizing about the cognitive underpinnings of dilemmatic moral judgment has equated slow, deliberative thinking with the utilitarian disposition and fast, automatic thinking with the deontological disposition. However, evidence for the reflective utilitarian hypothesis-the hypothesized link between utilitarian judgment and individual differences in the capacity for rational reflection (gauged here by the Cognitive Reflection Test [CRT; Frederick, 2005]) has been inconsistent and difficult to interpret in light of several design flaws. In two studies aimed at addressing some of the flaws, we found robust evidence for a reflective minimalist hypothesis-high CRT performers' tendency to regard utility-optimizing acts as largely a matter of personal prerogative, permissible both to perform and to leave undone. This relationship between CRT and the "minimalist" orientation remained intact after controlling for age, sex, trait affect, social desirability, and educational attainment. No significant association was found between CRT and the strict utilitarian response pattern or CRT and the strict deontological response pattern, nor did we find any significant association between CRT and willingness to act in the utility-optimizing manner. However, we found an inverse association between empathic concern and a willingness to act in the utility-optimizing manner, but there was no comparable association between empathic concern and the deontological judgment pattern. Theoretical, methodological, and normative implications of the findings are discussed. Copyright © 2014 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.

Why do red and dark-coloured cars lure aquatic insects? The attraction of water insects to car paintwork explained by reflection–polarization signals

PubMed Central

Kriska, György; Csabai, Zoltán; Boda, Pál; Malik, Péter; Horváth, Gábor

2006-01-01

We reveal here the visual ecological reasons for the phenomenon that aquatic insects often land on red, black and dark-coloured cars. Monitoring the numbers of aquatic beetles and bugs attracted to shiny black, white, red and yellow horizontal plastic sheets, we found that red and black reflectors are equally highly attractive to water insects, while yellow and white reflectors are unattractive. The reflection–polarization patterns of black, white, red and yellow cars were measured in the red, green and blue parts of the spectrum. In the blue and green, the degree of linear polarization p of light reflected from red and black cars is high and the direction of polarization of light reflected from red and black car roofs, bonnets and boots is nearly horizontal. Thus, the horizontal surfaces of red and black cars are highly attractive to red-blind polarotactic water insects. The p of light reflected from the horizontal surfaces of yellow and white cars is low and its direction of polarization is usually not horizontal. Consequently, yellow and white cars are unattractive to polarotactic water insects. The visual deception of aquatic insects by cars can be explained solely by the reflection–polarizational characteristics of the car paintwork. PMID:16769639

Fabrication of hexagonal star-shaped and ring-shaped patterns arrays by Mie resonance sphere-lens-lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xianchao; Wang, Jun; Li, Ling; Gou, Jun; Zheng, Jie; Huang, Zehua; Pan, Rui

2018-05-01

Mie resonance sphere-lens-lithography has proved to be a good candidate for fabrication of large-area tunable surface nanopattern arrays. Different patterns on photoresist surface are obtained theoretically by adjusting optical coupling among neighboring spheres with different gap sizes. The effect of light reflection from the substrate on the pattern produced on the photoresist with a thin thickness is also discussed. Sub-micron hexagonal star-shaped and ring-shaped patterns arrays are achieved with close-packed spheres arrays and spheres arrays with big gaps, respectively. Changing of star-shaped vertices is induced by different polarization of illumination. Experimental results agree well with the simulation. By using smaller resonance spheres, sub-400 nm star-shaped and ring-shaped patterns can be realized. These tunable patterns are different from results of previous reports and have enriched pattern morphology fabricated by sphere-lens-lithography, which can find application in biosensor and optic devices.

Method and apparatus for removing unwanted reflections from an interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steimle, Lawrence J. (Inventor); Thiessen, David L. (Inventor)

1994-01-01

A device for eliminating unwanted reflections from refractive optical elements in an optical system is provided. The device operates to prevent desired multiple fringe patterns from being obscured by reflections from refractive elements positioned in proximity to a focal plane of the system. The problem occurs when an optical beam is projected into, and reflected back out of, the optical system. Surfaces of the refractive elements reflect portions of the beam which interfere with portions of the beam which are transmitted through the refractive elements. Interference between the reflected and transmitted portions of the beam produce multiple fringe sets which tend to obscure desired interference fringes. With the refractive optical element in close proximity to the focal plane of the system, the undesired reflected light reflects at an angle 180 degrees opposite from the desired transmitted beam. The device exploits the 180-degree offset, or rotational shear, of the undesired reflected light by providing an optical stop for blocking one-half of the cross-section of the test beam. By blocking one-half of the test beam, the undesired offset beam is blocked, while the returning transmitted beam passes into the optical system unaffected. An image is thereby produced from only the desired transmitted beam. In one configuration, the blocking device includes a semicircular aperture which is caused to rotate about the axis of the test beam. By rotating, all portions of the test beam are cyclically projected into the optical system to thereby produce a complete test image. The rotating optical stop is preferably caused to rotate rapidly to eliminate flicker in the resulting image.

Self-organized broadband light trapping in thin film amorphous silicon solar cells.

PubMed

Martella, C; Chiappe, D; Delli Veneri, P; Mercaldo, L V; Usatii, I; Buatier de Mongeot, F

2013-06-07

Nanostructured glass substrates endowed with high aspect ratio one-dimensional corrugations are prepared by defocused ion beam erosion through a self-organized gold (Au) stencil mask. The shielding action of the stencil mask is amplified by co-deposition of gold atoms during ion bombardment. The resulting glass nanostructures enable broadband anti-reflection functionality and at the same time ensure a high efficiency for diffuse light scattering (Haze). It is demonstrated that the patterned glass substrates exhibit a better photon harvesting than the flat glass substrate in p-i-n type thin film a-Si:H solar cells.

Mode power distribution effect in white-light multimode fiber extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensor systems.

PubMed

Han, Ming; Wang, Anbo

2006-05-01

Theoretical and experimental results have shown that mode power distribution (MPD) variations could significantly vary the phase of spectral fringes from multimode fiber extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (MMF-EFPI) sensor systems, owing to the fact that different modes introduce different extra phase shifts resulting from the coupling of modes reflected at the second surface to the lead-in fiber end. This dependence of fringe pattern on MPD could cause measurement errors in signal demodulation methods of white-light MMF-EFPI sensors that implement the phase information of the fringes.

Comparison of real and computer-simulated outcomes of LASIK refractive surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cano, Daniel; Barbero, Sergio; Marcos, Susana

2004-06-01

Computer simulations of alternative LASIK ablation patterns were performed for corneal elevation maps of 13 real myopic corneas (range of myopia, -2.0 to -11.5 D). The computationally simulated ablation patterns were designed with biconic surfaces (standard Munnerlyn pattern, parabolic pattern, and biconic pattern) or with aberrometry measurements (customized pattern). Simulated results were compared with real postoperative outcomes. Standard LASIK refractive surgery for myopia increased corneal asphericity and spherical aberration. Computations with the theoretical Munnerlyn ablation pattern did not increase the corneal asphericity and spherical aberration. The theoretical parabolic pattern induced a slight increase of asphericity and spherical aberration, explaining only 40% of the clinically found increase. The theoretical biconic pattern controlled corneal spherical aberration. Computations showed that the theoretical customized pattern can correct high-order asymmetric aberrations. Simulations of changes in efficiency due to reflection and nonnormal incidence of the laser light showed a further increase in corneal asphericity. Consideration of these effects with a parabolic pattern accounts for 70% of the clinical increase in asphericity.

Stable structural color patterns displayed on transparent insect wings

PubMed Central

Shevtsova, Ekaterina; Hansson, Christer; Janzen, Daniel H.; Kjærandsen, Jostein

2011-01-01

Color patterns play central roles in the behavior of insects, and are important traits for taxonomic studies. Here we report striking and stable structural color patterns—wing interference patterns (WIPs)—in the transparent wings of small Hymenoptera and Diptera, patterns that have been largely overlooked by biologists. These extremely thin wings reflect vivid color patterns caused by thin film interference. The visibility of these patterns is affected by the way the insects display their wings against various backgrounds with different light properties. The specific color sequence displayed lacks pure red and matches the color vision of most insects, strongly suggesting that the biological significance of WIPs lies in visual signaling. Taxon-specific color patterns are formed by uneven membrane thickness, pigmentation, venation, and hair placement. The optically refracted pattern is also stabilized by microstructures of the wing such as membrane corrugations and spherical cell structures that reinforce the pattern and make it essentially noniridescent over a large range of light incidences. WIPs can be applied to map the micromorphology of wings through direct observation and are useful in several fields of biology. We demonstrate their usefulness as identification patterns to solve cases of cryptic species complexes in tiny parasitic wasps, and indicate their potentials for research on the genetic control of wing development through direct links between the transregulatory wing landscape and interference patterns we observe in Drosophila model species. Some species display sexually dimorphic WIPs, suggesting sexual selection as one of the driving forces for their evolution. PMID:21199954

Analysis of XFEL serial diffraction data from individual crystalline fibrils

PubMed Central

Wojtas, David H.; Ayyer, Kartik; Liang, Mengning; Mossou, Estelle; Romoli, Filippo; Seuring, Carolin; Beyerlein, Kenneth R.; Bean, Richard J.; Morgan, Andrew J.; Oberthuer, Dominik; Fleckenstein, Holger; Heymann, Michael; Gati, Cornelius; Yefanov, Oleksandr; Barthelmess, Miriam; Ornithopoulou, Eirini; Galli, Lorenzo; Xavier, P. Lourdu; Ling, Wai Li; Frank, Matthias; Yoon, Chun Hong; White, Thomas A.; Bajt, Saša; Mitraki, Anna; Boutet, Sebastien; Aquila, Andrew; Barty, Anton; Forsyth, V. Trevor; Chapman, Henry N.; Millane, Rick P.

2017-01-01

Serial diffraction data collected at the Linac Coherent Light Source from crystalline amyloid fibrils delivered in a liquid jet show that the fibrils are well oriented in the jet. At low fibril concentrations, diffraction patterns are recorded from single fibrils; these patterns are weak and contain only a few reflections. Methods are developed for determining the orientation of patterns in reciprocal space and merging them in three dimensions. This allows the individual structure amplitudes to be calculated, thus overcoming the limitations of orientation and cylindrical averaging in conventional fibre diffraction analysis. The advantages of this technique should allow structural studies of fibrous systems in biology that are inaccessible using existing techniques. PMID:29123682

The effect of skin reflectance on thermal traits in a small heliothermic ectotherm.

PubMed

Matthews, Genevieve; Goulet, Celine T; Delhey, Kaspar; Chapple, David G

2016-08-01

Variation in colour patterning is prevalent among and within species. A number of theories have been proposed in explaining its evolution. Because solar radiation interacts with the pigmentation of the integument causing light to either be reflected or absorbed into the body, thermoregulation has been considered to be a primary selective agent, particularly among ectotherms. Accordingly, the colour-mediated thermoregulatory hypothesis states that darker individuals will heat faster and reach higher thermal equilibria while paler individuals will have the opposite traits. It was further predicted that dark colouration would promote slower cooling rates and higher thermal performance temperatures. To test these hypotheses we quantified the reflectance, selected body temperatures, performance optima, as well as heating and cooling rates of an ectothermic vertebrate, Lampropholis delicata. Our results indicated that colour had no influence on thermal physiology, as all thermal traits were uncorrelated with reflectance. We suggest that crypsis may instead be the stronger selective agent as it may have a more direct impact on fitness. Our study has improved our knowledge of the functional differences among individuals with different colour patterns, and the evolutionary significance of morphological variation within species. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AY 2002-2003 Industry Study: Final Report Strategic Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-01

Morphing Wing Project;[38] 2) an environmentally friendly, allergy-free fiber for vehicle seats patterned after the light reflection capability of the...Amazon butterfly ;[39] and 3) a camouflage net that changes color in response to its environment inspired by observations of the cuttlefish.[40] These...Biotechnology. The application of molecular level nanocircuits and nanomaterials has great potential in many areas. However, it will be

Reflective Light Modulation by Cephalopods and Fishes in Shallow Nearshore Habitats

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

cephalopods and fish to document (a) speed of body patterning changes and (b) the range of microhabitats that they encounter 1 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A...Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Report Documentation Page Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the...11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT NUMBER(S) 12. DISTRIBUTION /AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release; distribution unlimited 13

Ocean Color Data at the Goddard DAAC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

The apparent color of the ocean is determined by the interactions of incident light with substances or particles present in the water. The most significant constituents are free-floating photosynthetic organisms (phytoplankton) and inorganic particulates. Phytoplankton contain chlorophyll, which absorbs light at blue and red wavelengths and transmits in the green. Particulate matter can reflect and absorb light, which reduces the clarity (light transmission) of the water. Substances dissolved in water can also affect its color. Observations of ocean color from space, utilizing sensors specially designed to detect the small amount of light radiating from the sea surface, provide a global picture of the patterns of biological productivity in the world's oceans. For that reason, ocean color remote sensing data is a vital resource for biological oceanography. Unlike the limited area of the ocean that can be investigated from a research ship, data from a satellite sensor covers a large region and provides a comprehensive view of the marine environment.

Aroma content of fresh basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves is affected by light reflected from colored mulches.

PubMed

Loughrin, John H; Kasperbauer, Michael J

2003-04-09

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an herb that is used to add a distinct aroma and flavor to food. Volatile compounds emitted from fully expanded fresh leaves grown in drip-irrigated plots that were covered with six colors of mulch were compared. The colors reflected a range of photosynthetic photon flux, far-red, red, and blue light from the soil surface to developing leaves. Our objective was to determine whether reflection from the different colors could influence concentrations of volatile compounds emitted from the fresh leaves. Volatile compounds were isolated by headspace sampling and quantified by gas chromatography. Twenty-six compounds were identified, of which the terpenoids linalool and 1,8-cineole comprised more than 50% of the total yield. Concentrations of volatile compounds from leaves that developed over green, blue, yellow, white, and red mulches followed the same patterns as they did for air-dried leaves of the same cultivar. However, the concentration of volatile compounds from fresh leaves was about 50-fold higher than those found in the previous study of air-dried leaves.

Seasonal variation in the structure of red reflectance of leaves from yellow poplar, red oak, and red maple

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brakke, Thomas W.; Wergin, William P.; Erbe, Eric F.; Harnden, Joann M.

1993-01-01

The light scattered from leaves was measured as a function of view angle in the principal plane for yellow poplar, red oak, and red maple. The source was a parallel-polarized helium-neon laser. Yellow poplar leaves had the highest reflectance of the three species, which may have been due to its shorter palisade cells and more extensive spongy mesophyll. Prior to senescence, there was a significant decrease, but not total extinction, in the reflectance of the beam incident at 60 deg from nadir on the adaxial side of the leaves of all three species. Low-temperature SEM observations showed differences in the surface wax patterns among the three species but did not indicate a cause of the reflectance changes other than possibly the accumulation and aging of the wax.

Value of Reflected Light Microscopy in Teaching.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pasteris, Jill Dill

1983-01-01

Briefly reviews some optical and other physical properties of minerals that can be determined in reflected/incident light. Topics include optical properties of minerals, reflectance, internal reflections, color, bireflectance and reflection pleochroism, anisotropism, zonation, and reflected light microscopy as a teaching tool in undergraduate…

Dual multispectral and 3D structured light laparoscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clancy, Neil T.; Lin, Jianyu; Arya, Shobhit; Hanna, George B.; Elson, Daniel S.

2015-03-01

Intraoperative feedback on tissue function, such as blood volume and oxygenation would be useful to the surgeon in cases where current clinical practice relies on subjective measures, such as identification of ischaemic bowel or tissue viability during anastomosis formation. Also, tissue surface profiling may be used to detect and identify certain pathologies, as well as diagnosing aspects of tissue health such as gut motility. In this paper a dual modality laparoscopic system is presented that combines multispectral reflectance and 3D surface imaging. White light illumination from a xenon source is detected by a laparoscope-mounted fast filter wheel camera to assemble a multispectral image (MSI) cube. Surface shape is then calculated using a spectrally-encoded structured light (SL) pattern detected by the same camera and triangulated using an active stereo technique. Images of porcine small bowel were acquired during open surgery. Tissue reflectance spectra were acquired and blood volume was calculated at each spatial pixel across the bowel wall and mesentery. SL features were segmented and identified using a `normalised cut' algoritm and the colour vector of each spot. Using the 3D geometry defined by the camera coordinate system the multispectral data could be overlaid onto the surface mesh. Dual MSI and SL imaging has the potential to provide augmented views to the surgeon supplying diagnostic information related to blood supply health and organ function. Future work on this system will include filter optimisation to reduce noise in tissue optical property measurement, and minimise spot identification errors in the SL pattern.

Nonimaging Optical Illumination System

DOEpatents

Winston, Roland

1994-08-02

A nonimaging illumination optical device for producing selected intensity output over an angular range. The device includes a light reflecting surface (24, 26) around a light source (22) which is disposed opposite the aperture opening of the light reflecting surface (24, 26). The light source (22) has a characteristic dimension which is small relative to one or more of the distance from the light source (22) to the light reflecting surface (24, 26) or the angle subtended by the light source (22) at the light reflecting surface (24, 26).

Photovoltaic module with light reflecting backskin

DOEpatents

Gonsiorawski, Ronald C [Danvers, MA

2007-07-03

A photovoltaic module comprises electrically interconnected and mutually spaced photovoltaic cells that are encapsulated by a light-transmitting encapsulant between a light-transparent front cover and a back cover, with the back cover sheet being an ionomer/nylon alloy embossed with V-shaped grooves running in at least two directions and coated with a light reflecting medium so as to provide light-reflecting facets that are aligned with the spaces between adjacent cells and oriented so as to reflect light falling in those spaces back toward said transparent front cover for further internal reflection onto the solar cells, whereby substantially all of the reflected light will be internally reflected from said cover sheet back to the photovoltaic cells, thereby increasing the current output of the module. The internal reflector improves power output by as much as 67%.

Ultraviolet Patterns on Rear of Flowers: Basis of Disparity of Buds and Blossoms

PubMed Central

Eisner, Thomas; Eisner, Maria; Aneshansley, D.

1973-01-01

Flowers of Jasminium primulinum and Hypericum spp. have ultraviolet patterns on the reverse surface of the corolla. Those areas of the surface that are exposed to the outside in the bud are ultraviolet absorbent, whereas the portions that come into view at maturity in the open blossom are ultraviolet reflectant. Buds and blossoms, as a result, appear different in color to insects sensitive to ultraviolet light. Experimental evidence indicates that the ultraviolet-absorbent quality of the outer surface of the bud is a consequence of exposure itself, attributable possibly to a “sun tanning” effect. Images PMID:16592074

Analysis of Human Activities in Nature Reserves Based on Nighttime Light Remote Sensing and Microblogging Data - by the Case of National Nature Reserves in Jiangxi Province

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, F.; Li, X.; Xu, H.

2017-09-01

The study used the mainstream social media in china - Sina microblogging data combined with nighttime light remote sensing and various geographical data to reveal the pattern of human activities and light pollution of the Jiangxi Provincial National Nature Reserves. Firstly, we performed statistical analysis based on both functional areas and km-grid from the perspective of space and time, and selected the key areas for in-depth study. Secondly, the relationship between microblogging data and nighttime light remote sensing, population, GDP, road coverage, road distance and road type in nature reserves was analyzed by Spearman correlation coefficient method, so the distribution pattern and influencing factors of the microblogging data were explored. Thirdly, a region where the luminance value was greater than 0.2 was defined as a light region. We evaluated the management status by analyzing the distribution of microblogging data in both light area and non-light area. Final results showed that in all nature reserves, the top three were the Lushan Nature Reserve, the Jinggangshan Nature Reserve, the Taohongling National Nature Reserve of Sikas both on the total number and density of microblogging ; microblogging had a significant correlation with nighttime light remote sensing , the GDP, population, road and other factors; the distribution of microblogging near roads in protected area followed power laws; luminous radiance of Lushan Nature Reserve was the highest, with 43 percent of region was light at night; analysis combining nighttime light remote sensing with microblogging data reflected the status of management of nature reserves.

Optical based tactile shear and normal load sensor

DOEpatents

Salisbury, Curt Michael

2015-06-09

Various technologies described herein pertain to a tactile sensor that senses normal load and/or shear load. The tactile sensor includes a first layer and an optically transparent layer bonded together. At least a portion of the first layer is made of optically reflective material. The optically transparent layer is made of resilient material (e.g., clear silicone rubber). The tactile sensor includes light emitter/light detector pair(s), which respectively detect either normal load or shear load. Light emitter(s) emit light that traverses through the optically transparent layer and reflects off optically reflective material of the first layer, and light detector(s) detect and measure intensity of reflected light. When a normal load is applied, the optically transparent layer compresses, causing a change in reflected light intensity. When shear load is applied, a boundary between optically reflective material and optically absorptive material is laterally displaced, causing a change in reflected light intensity.

Ocular media transmission of coral reef fish--can coral reef fish see ultraviolet light?

PubMed

Siebeck, U E; Marshall, N J

2001-01-15

Many coral reef fish are beautifully coloured and the reflectance spectra of their colour patterns may include UVa wavelengths (315-400 nm) that are largely invisible to the human eye (Losey, G. S., Cronin, T. W., Goldsmith, T. H., David, H., Marshall, N. J., & McFarland, W.N. (1999). The uv visual world of fishes: a review. Journal of Fish Biology, 54, 921-943; Marshall, N. J. & Oberwinkler, J. (1999). The colourful world of the mantis shrimp. Nature, 401, 873-874). Before the possible functional significance of UV patterns can be investigated, it is of course essential to establish whether coral reef fishes can see ultraviolet light. As a means of tackling this question, in this study the transmittance of the ocular media of 211 coral reef fish species was measured. It was found that the ocular media of 50.2% of the examined species strongly absorb light of wavelengths below 400 nm, which makes the perception of UV in these fish very unlikely. The remaining 49.8% of the species studied possess ocular media that do transmit UV light, making the perception of UV possible.

The tunable optical magneto-electric effect in patterned manganese oxide superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pei, H. Y.; Zhang, Y. J.; Guo, S. J.; Ren, L. X.; Yan, H.; Chen, C. L.; Jin, K. X.; Luo, B. C.

2018-05-01

The optical magneto-electric (OME) effect has been widely investigated in magnetic materials, but obtaining the large and tunable OME effect is an ongoing challenge. We here design a tri-color superlattice composed of manganese oxides, Pr0.9Ca0.1MnO3, La0.9Sr0.1MnO3, and La0.9Sb0.1MnO3, where the space-inversion and time-reversal symmetries are broken. With the aid of the grating structure, the OME effect for near-infrared light in tri-color superlattices is investigated systematically through the Bragg diffraction method. The relative change of diffracted light intensity of the order n = ±1 has a strong dependence on the magnetization and polarization of the tri-color superlattice, whether the superlattice is irradiated in reflection or transmission geometries. Otherwise, the relative change of diffracted light intensity increases with the increase in the superlattice period and with the decrease in the grating period. The maximum relative change of diffracted light intensity in tri-color superlattices with the grating structure patterned is as large as 8.27%. These results pave the way for designing next-generation OME devices based on manganese oxides.

Lobular and cellular patterns of early hepatic glycogen deposition in the rat as observed by light and electron microscopic radioautography after injection of /sup 3/H-galactose

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

Michaels, J.E.; Hung, J.T.; Garfield, S.A.

1984-05-01

Very low hepatic glycogen levels are achieved by overnight fasting of adrenalectomized (ADX) rats. Subsequent injection of dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, stimulates marked increases in glycogen synthesis. Using this system and injecting /sup 3/H-galactose as a glycogen precursor 1 hr prior to sacrifice, the intralobular and intracellular patterns of labeled glycogen deposition were studied by light (LM) and electron (EM) microscopic radioautography. LM radioautography revealed that 1 hr after DEX treatment, labeling patterns for both periportal and centrilobular hepatocytes resembled those in rats with no DEX treatment: 18% of the hepatocytes were unlabeled, and 82% showed light labeling. Twomore » hours after treatment with DEX, 14% of the hepatocytes remained unlabeled, and 78% were lightly labeled; however, 8% of the cells, located randomly throughout the lobule, were intensely labeled. An increased number of heavily labeled cells (26%) appeared 3 hr after DEX treatment; and by 5 hr 91% of the hepatocytes were intensely labeled. Label over the periportal cells at this time was aggregated, whereas centrilobular cells displayed dispersed label. EM radioautographs showed that 2 to 3 hr after DEX injection initial labeling of hepatocytes, regardless of their intralobular location, occurred over foci of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) and small electron-dense particles of presumptive glycogen, and in areas of SER and distinct glycogen particles. After 5 hrs of treatment with DEX, the intracellular distribution of label reflected the glycogen patterns characteristic of periportal or centrilobular regions.« less

Ellipsoidal cell flow system

DOEpatents

Salzman, Gary C.; Mullaney, Paul F.

1976-01-01

The disclosure relates to a system incorporating an ellipsoidal flow chamber having light reflective walls for low level light detection in practicing cellular analysis. The system increases signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of ten over prior art systems. In operation, laser light passes through the primary focus of the ellipsoid. A controlled flow of cells simultaneously passes through this focus so that the laser light impinges on the cells and is modulated by the cells. The reflective walls of the ellipsoid reflect the cell-modulated light to the secondary focus of the ellipsoid. A tapered light guide at the secondary focus picks up a substantial portion of modulated reflective light and directs it onto a light detector to produce a signal. The signal is processed to obtain the intensity distribution of the modulated light and hence sought after characteristics of the cells. In addition, cells may be dyed so as to fluoresce in response to the laser light and their fluorescence may be processed as cell-modulated light above described. A light discriminating filter would be used to distinguish reflected modulated laser light from reflected fluorescent light.

Solar module having reflector between cells

DOEpatents

Kardauskas, Michael J.

1999-01-01

A photovoltaic module comprising an array of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells disposed in a planar and mutually spaced relationship between a light-transparent front cover member in sheet form and a back sheet structure is provided with a novel light-reflecting means disposed between adjacent cells for reflecting light falling in the areas between cells back toward said transparent cover member for further internal reflection onto the solar cells. The light-reflecting comprises a flexible plastic film that has been embossed so as to have a plurality of small V-shaped grooves in its front surface, and a thin light-reflecting coating on said front surface, the portions of said coating along the sides of said grooves forming light-reflecting facets, said grooves being formed so that said facets will reflect light impinging thereon back into said transparent cover sheet with an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle, whereby substantially all of the reflected light will be internally reflected from said cover sheet back to said solar modules, thereby increasing the current output of the module.

Wave interference: mechanics of the standing wave component and the illusion of "which way" information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hudgins, W. R.; Meulenberg, A.; Penland, R. F.

2015-09-01

Two adjacent coherent light beams, 180° out of phase and traveling on adjacent, parallel paths, remain visibly separated by the null (dark) zone from their mutual interference pattern as they merge. Each half of the pattern can be traced to one of the beams. Does such an experiment provide both "which way" and momentum knowledge? To answer this question, we demonstrate, by examining behavior of wave momentum and energy in a medium, that interfering waves interact. Central to the mechanism of interference is a standing wave component resulting from the combination of coherent waves. We show the mathematics for the formation of the standing wave component and for wave momentum involved in the waves' interaction. In water and in open coaxial cable, we observe that standing waves form cells bounded "reflection zones" where wave momentum from adjacent cells is reversed, confining oscillating energy to each cell. Applying principles observed in standing waves in media to the standing wave component of interfering light beams, we identify dark (null) regions to be the reflection zones. Each part of the interference pattern is affected by interactions between other parts, obscuring "which-way" information. We demonstrated physical interaction experimentally using two beams interfering slightly with one dark zone between them. Blocking one beam "downstream" from the interference region removed the null zone and allowed the remaining beam to evolve to a footprint of a single beam.

The nature of instructional effects in color constancy.

PubMed

Radonjić, Ana; Brainard, David H

2016-06-01

The instructions subjects receive can have a large effect on experimentally measured color constancy, but the nature of these effects and how their existence should inform our understanding of color perception remains unclear. We used a factorial design to measure how instructional effects on constancy vary with experimental task and stimulus set. In each of 2 experiments, we employed both a classic adjustment-based asymmetric matching task and a novel color selection task. Four groups of naive subjects were instructed to make adjustments/selections based on (a) color (neutral instructions); (b) the light reaching the eye (physical spectrum instructions); (c) the actual surface reflectance of an object (objective reflectance instructions); or (d) the apparent surface reflectance of an object (apparent reflectance instructions). Across the 2 experiments we varied the naturalness of the stimuli. We find clear interactions between instructions, task, and stimuli. With simplified stimuli (Experiment 1), instructional effects were large and the data revealed 2 instruction-dependent patterns. In 1 (neutral and physical spectrum instructions) constancy was low, intersubject variability was also low, and adjustment-based and selection-based constancy were in agreement. In the other (reflectance instructions) constancy was high, intersubject variability was large, adjustment-based constancy deviated from selection-based constancy and for some subjects selection-based constancy increased across sessions. Similar patterns held for naturalistic stimuli (Experiment 2), although instructional effects were smaller. We interpret these 2 patterns as signatures of distinct task strategies-1 is perceptual, with judgments based primarily on the perceptual representation of color; the other involves explicit instruction-driven reasoning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Apparatus for and method of correcting for astigmatism in a light beam reflected off of a light reflecting surface

DOEpatents

Sawicki, R.H.; Sweatt, W.

1985-11-21

A technique for adjustably correcting for astigmatism in a light beam is disclosed herein. This technique defines a flat, rectangular light reflecting surface having opposite reinforced side edges and which is resiliently bendable, to a limited extent, into different concave and/or convex cylindrical curvatures about a particular axis and provides for adjustably bending the light reflecting surface into one of different curvatures depending upon the astigmatism to be corrected and for fixedly maintaining the curvature selected. In the embodiment disclosed, the light reflecting surface is adjustably bendable into the selected cylindrical curvature by application of a particular bending moment to the reinforced side edges of the light reflecting surface.

Apparatus for and method of correcting for astigmatism in a light beam reflected off of a light reflecting surface

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

Sawicki, R.H.; Sweatt, W.

1985-11-21

A technique for adjustably correcting for astigmatism in a light beam is disclosed herein. This technique defines a flat, rectangular light reflecting surface having opposite reinforced side edges and which is resiliently bendable, to a limited extent, into different concave and/or convex cylindrical curvatures about a particular axis and provides for adjustably bending the light reflecting surface into one of different curvatures depending upon the astigmatism to be corrected and for fixedly maintaining the curvature selected. In the embodiment disclosed, the light reflecting surface is adjustably bendable into the selected cylindrical curvature by application of a particular bending moment tomore » the reinforced side edges of the light reflecting surface.« less

Optical nulling apparatus and method for testing an optical surface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Olczak, Eugene (Inventor); Hannon, John J. (Inventor); Dey, Thomas W. (Inventor); Jensen, Arthur E. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

An optical nulling apparatus for testing an optical surface includes an aspheric mirror having a reflecting surface for imaging light near or onto the optical surface under test, where the aspheric mirror is configured to reduce spherical aberration of the optical surface under test. The apparatus includes a light source for emitting light toward the aspheric mirror, the light source longitudinally aligned with the aspheric mirror and the optical surface under test. The aspheric mirror is disposed between the light source and the optical surface under test, and the emitted light is reflected off the reflecting surface of the aspheric mirror and imaged near or onto the optical surface under test. An optical measuring device is disposed between the light source and the aspheric mirror, where light reflected from the optical surface under test enters the optical measuring device. An imaging mirror is disposed longitudinally between the light source and the aspheric mirror, and the imaging mirror is configured to again reflect light, which is first reflected from the reflecting surface of the aspheric mirror, onto the optical surface under test.

Color Constancy of Red-Green Dichromats and Anomalous Trichromats

PubMed Central

Foster, David H.; Amano, Kinjiro; Nascimento, Sérgio M. C.

2010-01-01

Purpose. Color-vision deficiency is associated with abnormalities in color matching and color discrimination, but its impact on the ability of people to judge the constancy of surface colors under different lights (color constancy) is less clear. This work had two aims: first, to quantify the degree of color constancy in subjects with congenital red-green color deficiency; second, to test whether the degree of color constancy in anomalous trichromats can be predicted from their Rayleigh anomaloscope matches. Methods. Color constancy of red-green color-deficient subjects was tested in a task requiring the discrimination of illuminant changes from surface-reflectance changes. Mondrian-like colored patterns, generated on the screen of a computer monitor, were used as stimuli to avoid the spatial cues provided by natural objects and scenes. Spectral reflectances were taken from the Munsell Book of Color and from natural scenes. Illuminants were taken from the daylight locus. Results. Protanopes and deuteranopes performed more poorly than normal trichromats with Munsell spectral reflectances but were less impaired with natural spectral reflectances. Protanomalous and deuteranomalous trichromats performed as well as, or almost as well as, normal trichromats, independent of the type of reflectance. Individual differences were not correlated with Rayleigh anomaloscope matches. Conclusions. Despite the evidence of clinical color-vision tests, red-green color-deficient persons are less disadvantaged than might be expected in their judgments of surface colors under different lights. PMID:19892868

Night Time Light Satellite Data for Evaluating the Socioeconomics in Central Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, S.; Zhang, T.; Yang, Z.; Li, X.; Xu, H.

2017-09-01

Using nighttime lights data combined with LandScan population counts and socioeconomic statistics, dynamic change was monitored in the social economy of the five countries in Central Asia, from 1993 to 2012. In addition, the spatial pattern of regional historical development was analyzed, using this data. The countries included in this study were Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The economic development in these five Central Asian countries, the movement of the economic center, the distribution of poor areas and the night light development index (NLDI) were studied at a relatively fine spatial scale. In addition, we studied the relationship between the per capita lighting and per capita GDP at the national scale, finding that the per capital lighting correlated with per capita GDP. The results of this study reflect the socioeconomic development of Central Asia but more importantly, show that nighttime light satellite images are an effective tool for monitoring spatial and temporal social economic parameters.

SS Bootis - A totally eclipsing binary of the RS CVn type

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vaucher, C. A.; Africano, J. L.; Henry, G. W.; Hall, D. S.; Wilson, J. W.

1983-01-01

Photoelectric photometry gathered for SS Bootis over the 1976-1981 period shows a distortion wave amplitude variation from 0.05 to 0.20 mag, with no apparent pattern. From the rectified light curve, a new time of midprimary eclipse was found to be 2444332.0335 + or - 0.0005 days. Solutions of the primary eclipse data, rectified for star spots as well as for ellipticity and reflection, are presented.

High Information Capacity Quantum Imaging

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-19

single-pixel camera [41, 75]. An object is imaged onto a Digital Micromirror device ( DMD ), a 2D binary array of individually-addressable mirrors that...reflect light either to a single detector or a dump. Rows of the sensing matrix A consist of random, binary patterns placed sequentially on the DMD ...The single-pixel camera concept naturally adapts to imaging correlations by adding a second detector. Consider placing separate DMDs in the near-field

Reality and Surreality of 3-D Displays: Holodeck and Beyond

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-01-01

are 2-D interference patterns and may, in principal, be written on a 2-D recording medium whose response is a function of intensity (e.g. photographic...devices based on reflective digital micromirror devices ( DMD ), or 1-D grading light valves. Photorefractive crystals include tantalum dioxide, lithium...Hologram readout is a diffractive interference phenomenon, which becomes significant when electromagnetic radiation encounters structures (e.g. pixels of

Reflective Light Modulation by Cephalopods and Fishes in Shallow Nearshore Habitats

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-30

cephalopods ( octopus , cuttlefish and squid) because they have the most diverse and changeable camouflage patterns known in biology. Several fishes...breakdown is as follows: (1) Puerto Rico, December 2010, to film Octopus vulgaris using camouflage in various habitats, including seagrass, soft corals...patch reefs, and fully developed coral reefs with soft and hard corals; (2) Monterey, California, Hopkins Marine Station, to film Octopus rubescens, a

Two-Dimensional Laser-Speckle Surface-Strain Gauge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barranger, John P.; Lant, Christian

1992-01-01

Extension of Yamaguchi's laser-speckle surface-strain-gauge method yields data on two-dimensional surface strains in times as short as fractions of second. Laser beams probe rough spot on surface of specimen before and after processing. Changes in speckle pattern of laser light reflected from spot indicative of changes in surface strains during processing. Used to monitor strains and changes in strains induced by hot-forming and subsequent cooling of steel.

Front lighted optical tooling method and apparatus

DOEpatents

Stone, W.J.

1983-06-30

An optical tooling method and apparatus uses a front lighted shadowgraphic technique to enhance visual contrast of reflected light. The apparatus includes an optical assembly including a fiducial mark, such as cross hairs, reflecting polarized light with a first polarization, a polarizing element backing the fiducial mark and a reflective surface backing the polarizing element for reflecting polarized light bypassing the fiducial mark and traveling through the polarizing element. The light reflected by the reflecting surface is directed through a second pass of the polarizing element toward the frontal direction with a polarization differing from the polarization of the light reflected by the fiducial mark. When used as a tooling target, the optical assembly may be mounted directly to a reference surface or may be secured in a mounting, such as a magnetic mounting. The optical assembly may also be mounted in a plane defining structure and used as a spherometer in conjunction with an optical depth measuring instrument.

Apparatus for and method of correcting for astigmatism in a light beam reflected off of a light reflecting surface

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

Sawicki, R.H.; Sweatt, W.

1987-03-03

An apparatus is described for correcting for astigmatism in a light beam reflected off of a light reflecting surface, comprising: (a) a first means defining a flat, rectangular light reflecting surface which is resiliently bendable, to a limited extent, into different concave and/or convex cylindrical curvatures about a particular axis. The first means is configured so that the light reflecting surface can be adjustably bent into the selected cylindrical curvature by applying a particular bending moment to the first means with respect to the surface, depending upon the curvature desired. The first means includes an integrally formed body member havingmore » a main plate-like segment including a front fact defining the light reflecting surface and a pair of spaced-apart flange segments extending rearwardly of the main segment; and (b) second means acting on the first means for adjustably bending the light reflecting surface into a particular selected one of the different cylindrical curvatures, depending upon the astigmatism to be corrected for.« less

Neural coding underlying the cue preference for celestial orientation

PubMed Central

el Jundi, Basil; Warrant, Eric J.; Byrne, Marcus J.; Khaldy, Lana; Baird, Emily; Smolka, Jochen; Dacke, Marie

2015-01-01

Diurnal and nocturnal African dung beetles use celestial cues, such as the sun, the moon, and the polarization pattern, to roll dung balls along straight paths across the savanna. Although nocturnal beetles move in the same manner through the same environment as their diurnal relatives, they do so when light conditions are at least 1 million-fold dimmer. Here, we show, for the first time to our knowledge, that the celestial cue preference differs between nocturnal and diurnal beetles in a manner that reflects their contrasting visual ecologies. We also demonstrate how these cue preferences are reflected in the activity of compass neurons in the brain. At night, polarized skylight is the dominant orientation cue for nocturnal beetles. However, if we coerce them to roll during the day, they instead use a celestial body (the sun) as their primary orientation cue. Diurnal beetles, however, persist in using a celestial body for their compass, day or night. Compass neurons in the central complex of diurnal beetles are tuned only to the sun, whereas the same neurons in the nocturnal species switch exclusively to polarized light at lunar light intensities. Thus, these neurons encode the preferences for particular celestial cues and alter their weighting according to ambient light conditions. This flexible encoding of celestial cue preferences relative to the prevailing visual scenery provides a simple, yet effective, mechanism for enabling visual orientation at any light intensity. PMID:26305929

Neural coding underlying the cue preference for celestial orientation.

PubMed

el Jundi, Basil; Warrant, Eric J; Byrne, Marcus J; Khaldy, Lana; Baird, Emily; Smolka, Jochen; Dacke, Marie

2015-09-08

Diurnal and nocturnal African dung beetles use celestial cues, such as the sun, the moon, and the polarization pattern, to roll dung balls along straight paths across the savanna. Although nocturnal beetles move in the same manner through the same environment as their diurnal relatives, they do so when light conditions are at least 1 million-fold dimmer. Here, we show, for the first time to our knowledge, that the celestial cue preference differs between nocturnal and diurnal beetles in a manner that reflects their contrasting visual ecologies. We also demonstrate how these cue preferences are reflected in the activity of compass neurons in the brain. At night, polarized skylight is the dominant orientation cue for nocturnal beetles. However, if we coerce them to roll during the day, they instead use a celestial body (the sun) as their primary orientation cue. Diurnal beetles, however, persist in using a celestial body for their compass, day or night. Compass neurons in the central complex of diurnal beetles are tuned only to the sun, whereas the same neurons in the nocturnal species switch exclusively to polarized light at lunar light intensities. Thus, these neurons encode the preferences for particular celestial cues and alter their weighting according to ambient light conditions. This flexible encoding of celestial cue preferences relative to the prevailing visual scenery provides a simple, yet effective, mechanism for enabling visual orientation at any light intensity.

Capturing latent fingerprints from metallic painted surfaces using UV-VIS spectroscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makrushin, Andrey; Scheidat, Tobias; Vielhauer, Claus

2015-03-01

In digital crime scene forensics, contactless non-destructive detection and acquisition of latent fingerprints by means of optical devices such as a high-resolution digital camera, confocal microscope, or chromatic white-light sensor is the initial step prior to destructive chemical development. The applicability of an optical sensor to digitalize latent fingerprints primarily depends on reflection properties of a substrate. Metallic painted surfaces, for instance, pose a problem for conventional sensors which make use of visible light. Since metallic paint is a semi-transparent layer on top of the surface, visible light penetrates it and is reflected off of the metallic flakes randomly disposed in the paint. Fingerprint residues do not impede light beams making ridges invisible. Latent fingerprints can be revealed, however, using ultraviolet light which does not penetrate the paint. We apply a UV-VIS spectroscope that is capable of capturing images within the range from 163 to 844 nm using 2048 discrete levels. We empirically show that latent fingerprints left behind on metallic painted surfaces become clearly visible within the range from 205 to 385 nm. Our proposed streakiness score feature determining the proportion of a ridge-valley pattern in an image is applied for automatic assessment of a fingerprint's visibility and distinguishing between fingerprint and empty regions. The experiments are carried out with 100 fingerprint and 100 non-fingerprint samples.

Security System Responsive to Optical Fiber Having Bragg Grating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gary, Charles K. (Inventor); Ozcan, Meric (Inventor)

1997-01-01

An optically responsive electronic lock is disclosed comprising an optical fiber serving as a key and having Bragg gratings placed therein. Further, an identification system is disclosed which has the optical fiber serving as means for tagging and identifying an object. The key or tagged object is inserted into a respective receptacle and the Bragg gratings cause the optical fiber to reflect a predetermined frequency spectra pattern of incident light which is detected by a decoder and compared against a predetermined spectrum to determine if an electrical signal is generated to either operate the lock or light a display of an authentication panel.

Cross correlation anomaly detection system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Micka, E. Z. (Inventor)

1975-01-01

This invention provides a method for automatically inspecting the surface of an object, such as an integrated circuit chip, whereby the data obtained by the light reflected from the surface, caused by a scanning light beam, is automatically compared with data representing acceptable values for each unique surface. A signal output provided indicated of acceptance or rejection of the chip. Acceptance is based on predetermined statistical confidence intervals calculated from known good regions of the object being tested, or their representative values. The method can utilize a known good chip, a photographic mask from which the I.C. was fabricated, or a computer stored replica of each pattern being tested.

Instruments for Reading Direct-Marked Data-Matrix Symbols

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schramm, Harry F.; Corder, Eric L.

2006-01-01

Improved optoelectronic instruments (specially configured digital cameras) for reading direct-marked data-matrix symbols on the surfaces of optically reflective objects (including specularly reflective ones) are undergoing development. Data-matrix symbols are two-dimensional binary patterns that are used, like common bar codes, for automated identification of objects. The first data-matrix symbols were checkerboard-like patterns of black-and-white rectangles, typically existing in the forms of paint, ink, or detachable labels. The major advantage of direct marking (the marks are more durable than are painted or printed symbols or detachable labels) is offset by a major disadvantage (the marks generated by some marking methods do not provide sufficient contrast to be readable by optoelectronic instruments designed to read black-and-white data-matrix symbols). Heretofore, elaborate lighting, lensing, and software schemes have been tried in efforts to solve the contrast problem in direct-mark matrix- symbol readers. In comparison with prior readers based on those schemes, the readers now undergoing development are expected to be more effective while costing less. All of the prior direct-mark matrix-symbol readers are designed to be aimed perpendicularly to marked target surfaces, and they tolerate very little angular offset. However, the reader now undergoing development not only tolerates angular offset but depends on angular offset as a means of obtaining the needed contrast, as described below. The prototype reader (see Figure 1) includes an electronic camera in the form of a charge-coupled-device (CCD) image detector equipped with a telecentric lens. It also includes a source of collimated visible light and a source of collimated infrared light for illuminating a target. The visible and infrared illumination complement each other: the visible illumination is more useful for aiming the reader toward a target, while the infrared illumination is more useful for reading symbols on highly reflective surfaces. By use of beam splitters, the visible and infrared collimated lights are introduced along the optical path of the telecentric lens, so that the target is illuminated and viewed from the same direction.

Analysis of XFEL serial diffraction data from individual crystalline fibrils

DOE PAGES

Wojtas, David H.; Ayyer, Kartik; Liang, Mengning; ...

2017-10-20

Serial diffraction data collected at the Linac Coherent Light Source from crystalline amyloid fibrils delivered in a liquid jet show that the fibrils are well oriented in the jet. At low fibril concentrations, diffraction patterns are recorded from single fibrils; these patterns are weak and contain only a few reflections. Methods are developed for determining the orientation of patterns in reciprocal space and merging them in three dimensions. This allows the individual structure amplitudes to be calculated, thus overcoming the limitations of orientation and cylindrical averaging in conventional fibre diffraction analysis. In conclusion, the advantages of this technique should allowmore » structural studies of fibrous systems in biology that are inaccessible using existing techniques.« less

Analysis of XFEL serial diffraction data from individual crystalline fibrils

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

Wojtas, David H.; Ayyer, Kartik; Liang, Mengning

Serial diffraction data collected at the Linac Coherent Light Source from crystalline amyloid fibrils delivered in a liquid jet show that the fibrils are well oriented in the jet. At low fibril concentrations, diffraction patterns are recorded from single fibrils; these patterns are weak and contain only a few reflections. Methods are developed for determining the orientation of patterns in reciprocal space and merging them in three dimensions. This allows the individual structure amplitudes to be calculated, thus overcoming the limitations of orientation and cylindrical averaging in conventional fibre diffraction analysis. In conclusion, the advantages of this technique should allowmore » structural studies of fibrous systems in biology that are inaccessible using existing techniques.« less

Spatial filtering, color constancy, and the color-changing dress.

PubMed

Dixon, Erica L; Shapiro, Arthur G

2017-03-01

The color-changing dress is a 2015 Internet phenomenon in which the colors in a picture of a dress are reported as blue-black by some observers and white-gold by others. The standard explanation is that observers make different inferences about the lighting (is the dress in shadow or bright yellow light?); based on these inferences, observers make a best guess about the reflectance of the dress. The assumption underlying this explanation is that reflectance is the key to color constancy because reflectance alone remains invariant under changes in lighting conditions. Here, we demonstrate an alternative type of invariance across illumination conditions: An object that appears to vary in color under blue, white, or yellow illumination does not change color in the high spatial frequency region. A first approximation to color constancy can therefore be accomplished by a high-pass filter that retains enough low spatial frequency content so as to not to completely desaturate the object. We demonstrate the implications of this idea on the Rubik's cube illusion; on a shirt placed under white, yellow, and blue illuminants; and on spatially filtered images of the dress. We hypothesize that observer perceptions of the dress's color vary because of individual differences in how the visual system extracts high and low spatial frequency color content from the environment, and we demonstrate cross-group differences in average sensitivity to low spatial frequency patterns.

Nonimaging Optical Illumination System

DOEpatents

Winston, Roland

1994-02-22

A nonimaging illumination or concentration optical device. An optical device is provided having a light source, a light reflecting surface with an opening and positioned partially around the light source which is opposite the opening of the light reflecting surface. The light reflecting surface is disposed to produce a substantially uniform intensity output with the reflecting surface defined in terms of a radius vector R.sub.i in conjunction with an angle .phi..sub.i between R.sub.i, a direction from the source and an angle .theta..sub.i between direct forward illumination and the light ray reflected once from the reflecting surface. R.sub.i varies as the exponential of tan (.phi..sub.i -.theta..sub.i)/2 integrated over .phi..sub.i.

Apparatus for and method of correcting for astigmatism in a light beam reflected off of a light reflecting surface

DOEpatents

Sawicki, Richard H.; Sweatt, William

1987-01-01

A technique for adjustably correcting for astigmatism in a light beam is disclosed herein. This technique utilizes first means which defines a flat, rectangular light reflecting surface having opposite reinforced side edges and which is resiliently bendable, to a limited extent, into different concave and/or convex cylindrical curvatures about a particular axis and second means acting on the first means for adjustably bending the light reflecting surface into a particular selected one of the different curvatures depending upon the astigmatism to be corrected for and for fixedly maintaining the curvature selected. In the embodiment disclosed, the light reflecting surface is adjustably bendable into the selected cylindrical curvature by application of a particular bending moment to the reinforced side edges of the light reflecting surface.

Coding and decoding in a point-to-point communication using the polarization of the light beam.

PubMed

Kavehvash, Z; Massoumian, F

2008-05-10

A new technique for coding and decoding of optical signals through the use of polarization is described. In this technique the concept of coding is translated to polarization. In other words, coding is done in such a way that each code represents a unique polarization. This is done by implementing a binary pattern on a spatial light modulator in such a way that the reflected light has the required polarization. Decoding is done by the detection of the received beam's polarization. By linking the concept of coding to polarization we can use each of these concepts in measuring the other one, attaining some gains. In this paper the construction of a simple point-to-point communication where coding and decoding is done through polarization will be discussed.

Wide-angle light-trapping electrode for photovoltaic cells.

PubMed

Omelyanovich, Mikhail M; Simovski, Constantin R

2017-10-01

In this Letter, we experimentally show that a submicron layer of a transparent conducting oxide that may serve a top electrode of a photovoltaic cell based on amorphous silicon when properly patterned by notches becomes an efficient light-trapping structure. This is so for amorphous silicon thin-film solar cells with properly chosen thicknesses of the active layers (p-i-n structure with optimal thicknesses of intrinsic and doped layers). The nanopatterned layer of transparent conducting oxide reduces both the light reflectance from the photovoltaic cell and transmittance through the photovoltaic layers for normal incidence and for all incidence angles. We explain the physical mechanism of our light-trapping effect, prove that this mechanism is realized in our structure, and show that the nanopatterning is achievable in a rather easy and affordable way that makes our method of solar cell enhancement attractive for industrial adaptations.

One piece microwave container screens for electrodeless lamps

DOEpatents

Turner, Brian; Ury, Michael

1998-01-01

A microwave powered electrodeless lamp includes an improved screen unit having mesh and solid sections with an internal reflector to reflect light into a light-transmitting chamber defined in the lamp microwave cavity by the reflector and the mesh section. A discharge envelope of a bulb is disposed in the light-transmitting chamber. Light emitted from the envelope is prevented by the reflector from entering the cavity portion bounded by the solid section of the screen. Replacing mesh material by solid metal material as part of the screen unit significantly reduces leakage of microwave energy from the lamp. The solid section has multiple compliant fingers defined therein for engaging the periphery of a flange on the waveguide unit so that a hose clamp can easily secure the screen to the assembly. Screen units of this type having different mesh section configurations can be interchanged in the lamp assembly to produce different respective illumination patterns.

On the decomposition of foliar hyperspectral signatures for the high-fidelity discrimination and monitoring of crops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baranoski, Gladimir V. G.; Van Leeuwen, Spencer; Chen, Tenn F.

2016-04-01

Hyperspectral technologies are being increasingly employed in precision agriculture. By separating the surface and subsurface components of foliar hyperspectral signatures using polarization optics, it is possible to enhance the remote discrimination of different plant species and optimize the assessment of different factors associated with the crops' health status such as chlorophyll levels and water content. These initiatives, in turn, can lead to higher crop yield and lower environmental impact through a more effective use of freshwater supplies and fertilizers (reducing the risk of nitrogen leaching). It is important to consider, however, that the main varieties of crops, represented by C3 (e.g., soy) and C4 (e.g., maize) plants, have markedly distinct morphological characteristics. Accordingly, the influence of these characteristics on their interactions with impinging light may affect the selection of optimal probe wavelengths for specific applications making use of combined hyperspectral and polarization measurements. In this work, we compare the sensitivity of the surface and subsurface reflectance responses of C3 and C4 plants to different spectral and geometrical light incidence conditions. In our comparisons, we also consider intra- species variability with respect to specimen characterization data. This investigation is supported by measured biophysical data and predictive light transport simulations. The results of our comparisons indicate that the surface and subsurface reflectance responses of C3 and C4 plants depict well-defined patterns of sensitivity to varying illumination conditions. We believe that these patterns should be considered in the design of new high-fidelity crop discrimination and monitoring procedures.

Computational ghost imaging using deep learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimobaba, Tomoyoshi; Endo, Yutaka; Nishitsuji, Takashi; Takahashi, Takayuki; Nagahama, Yuki; Hasegawa, Satoki; Sano, Marie; Hirayama, Ryuji; Kakue, Takashi; Shiraki, Atsushi; Ito, Tomoyoshi

2018-04-01

Computational ghost imaging (CGI) is a single-pixel imaging technique that exploits the correlation between known random patterns and the measured intensity of light transmitted (or reflected) by an object. Although CGI can obtain two- or three-dimensional images with a single or a few bucket detectors, the quality of the reconstructed images is reduced by noise due to the reconstruction of images from random patterns. In this study, we improve the quality of CGI images using deep learning. A deep neural network is used to automatically learn the features of noise-contaminated CGI images. After training, the network is able to predict low-noise images from new noise-contaminated CGI images.

The Quantized Geometry of Visual Space: The Coherent Computation of Depth, Form, and Lightness. Revised Version.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-08-01

of sensitivity with background luminance, and the finitE capacity of visual short term memory are discussed in terms of a small set of ...binocular rivalry, reflectance rivalry, Fechner’s paradox, decrease of threshold contrast with increased number of cycles in a grating pattern, hysteresis...adaptation level tuning, Weber law modulation, shift of sensitivity with background luminance, and the finite capacity of visual

Phytochrome-Mediated Detection of Changes in Reflected Light

PubMed Central

Mancinelli, Alberto L.

1991-01-01

Measurements of phytochrome photoequilibria and photoconversion rates in vivo, in seedlings of Cucurbita pepo L. exposed to light in growth chambers, indicate that significant changes in the state of phytochrome can be brought about by changes in the quality and quantity of the light reflected from the walls of the growth chambers. The changes in reflected light, although large, were small in terms of the total radiation (direct light from the lamps plus wall-reflected light) to which the seedlings were exposed. The conditions used were approximate simulations of direct and reflected sunlight conditions in the natural environment. Keeping in mind the limitations imposed by the approximation of the simulations, the results from this study are consistent with the hypothesis that, in the natural environment, a plant might be capable of detecting the presence of nearby plants, before being shaded by them, through the phytochrome-mediated perception of changes in reflected light. PMID:16667942

Free-form surface design method for a collimator TIR lens.

PubMed

Tsai, Chung-Yu

2016-04-01

A free-form (FF) surface design method is proposed for a general axial-symmetrical collimator system consisting of a light source and a total internal reflection lens with two coupled FF boundary surfaces. The profiles of the boundary surfaces are designed using a FF surface construction method such that each incident ray is directed (refracted and reflected) in such a way as to form a specified image pattern on the target plane. The light ray paths within the system are analyzed using an exact analytical model and a skew-ray tracing approach. In addition, the validity of the proposed FF design method is demonstrated by means of ZEMAX simulations. It is shown that the illumination distribution formed on the target plane is in good agreement with that specified by the user. The proposed surface construction method is mathematically straightforward and easily implemented in computer code. As such, it provides a useful tool for the design and analysis of general axial-symmetrical optical systems.

Visible light driven photocatalyst of vanadium (V3+) doped TiO2 synthesized using sonochemical method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aini, N.; Ningsih, R.; Maulina, D.; Lami’, F. F.; Chasanah, S. N.

2018-03-01

TiO2 has been widely investigated due to its superior photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet irradiation among the photocatalyst materials. In this research, vanadium (V3+) was doped into TiO2 to enhance its light response under visible irradiation for wider application. Vanadium was introduced into TiO2 lattice at various concentration respectively 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9% using simple and fast sonochemical method. X-Ray Diffraction data show that vanadium doped TiO2 crystallized in anatase phase with I41amd space group. X-Ray Diffraction pattern shifted to lower value of 2θ due to vanadium dopant. It indicated that V3+ was incorporated into anatase lattice. UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectra was revealed that the doped TiO2 has lowered reflectance and enhanced absorption coefficient in visible region than undoped TiO2 and commercial anatase TiO2. Band gap energy for undoped and doped TiO2 were respectively 3.22, 3.05, 2.93, 3.03 and 2.40 eV. Therefore vanadium doped TiO2 had potential to be applied under visible light.

Disrupting neural activity related to awake-state sharp wave-ripple complexes prevents hippocampal learning.

PubMed

Nokia, Miriam S; Mikkonen, Jarno E; Penttonen, Markku; Wikgren, Jan

2012-01-01

Oscillations in hippocampal local-field potentials (LFPs) reflect the crucial involvement of the hippocampus in memory trace formation: theta (4-8 Hz) oscillations and ripples (~200 Hz) occurring during sharp waves are thought to mediate encoding and consolidation, respectively. During sharp wave-ripple complexes (SPW-Rs), hippocampal cell firing closely follows the pattern that took place during the initial experience, most likely reflecting replay of that event. Disrupting hippocampal ripples using electrical stimulation either during training in awake animals or during sleep after training retards spatial learning. Here, adult rabbits were trained in trace eyeblink conditioning, a hippocampus-dependent associative learning task. A bright light was presented to the animals during the inter-trial interval (ITI), when awake, either during SPW-Rs or irrespective of their neural state. Learning was particularly poor when the light was presented following SPW-Rs. While the light did not disrupt the ripple itself, it elicited a theta-band oscillation, a state that does not usually coincide with SPW-Rs. Thus, it seems that consolidation depends on neuronal activity within and beyond the hippocampus taking place immediately after, but by no means limited to, hippocampal SPW-Rs.

Use of analyte-modulated modal power distribution in multimode optical fibers for simultaneous single-wavelength evanescent-wave refractometry and spectrometry.

PubMed

Potyrailo, R A; Ruddy, V P; Hieftje, G M

1999-11-01

A new method is described for the simultaneous determination of absorbance and refractive index of a sample medium. The method is based on measurement of the analyte-modulated modal power distribution (MPD) in a multimode waveguide. In turn, the MPD is quantified by the far-field spatial pattern and intensity of light, i.e., the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern (registered on a CCD camera), that emerges from a multimode optical fiber. Operationally, light that is sent down the fiber interacts with the surrounding analyte-containing medium by means of the evanescent wave at the fiber boundary. The light flux in the propagating beam and the internal reflection angles within the fiber are both affected by optical absorption connected with the analyte and by the refractive index of the analyte-containing medium. In turn, these angles are reflected in the angular divergence of the beam as it leaves the fiber. As a result, the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of that beam yields two parameters that can, together, be used to deduce refractive index and absorbance. This MPD based detection offers important advantages over traditional evanescent-wave detection strategies which rely on recording only the total transmitted optical power or its lost fraction. First, simultaneous determination of sample refractive index and absorbance is possible at a single probe wavelength. Second, the sensitivity of refractometric and absorption measurements can be controlled simply, either by adjusting the distance between the end face of the fiber and the CCD detector or by monitoring selected modal groups at the fiber output. As a demonstration of these capabilities, several weakly absorbing solutions were examined, with refractive indices in the range from 1.3330 to 1.4553 and with absorption coefficients in the range 0-16 cm-1. The new detection strategy is likely to be important in applications in which sample coloration varies and when it is necessary to compensate for variations in the refractive index of a sample.

Optical Biopsy: A New Frontier in Endoscopic Detection and Diagnosis

PubMed Central

WANG, THOMAS D.; VAN DAM, JACQUES

2007-01-01

Endoscopic diagnosis currently relies on the ability of the operator to visualize abnormal patterns in the image created by light reflected from the mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal tract. Advances in fiber optics, light sources, detectors, and molecular biology have led to the development of several novel methods for tissue evaluation in situ. The term “optical biopsy” refers to methods that use the properties of light to enable the operator to make an instant diagnosis at endoscopy, previously possible only by using histological or cytological analysis. Promising imaging techniques include fluorescence endoscopy, optical coherence tomography, confocal microendoscopy, and molecular imaging. Point detection schemes under development include light scattering and Raman spectroscopy. Such advanced diagnostic methods go beyond standard endoscopic techniques by offering improved image resolution, contrast, and tissue penetration and providing biochemical and molecular information about mucosal disease. This review describes the basic biophysics of light-tissue interactions, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each method, and examines clinical and preclinical evidence for each approach. PMID:15354274

Effect of atmospheric refraction on radiative transfer in visible and near-infrared band: Model development, validation, and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Shuai; Gao, Tai-chang; Li, Hao; Liu, Lei; Liu, Xi-chuan; Zhang, Ting; Cheng, Tian-ji; Li, Wan-tong; Dai, Zhong-hua; Su, Xiaojian

2016-03-01

Refraction is an important factor influencing radiative transfer since it can modify the propagation trajectory and polarization states of lights; therefore, it is necessary to quantitively evaluate the effect of atmospheric refraction on radiative transfer process. To this end, a new atmospheric radiative transfer model including refraction process is proposed. The model accuracy is validated against benchmark results, literature results, and well-tested radiative transfer models such as discrete coordinate method and RT3/PolRadtran. The impact of atmospheric refraction on both polarized radiance and fluxes is discussed for pure Rayleigh scattering atmosphere, atmosphere with aerosol, and cloud. The results show that atmospheric refraction has a significant influence on both the radiance and polarization states of diffuse light, where the relative change of the radiance of reflected light and transmitted light due to refraction can achieve 6.3% and 7.4% for Rayleigh scattering atmosphere, 7.2% and 7.8% for atmosphere with aerosol, and 6.2% and 6.8% for cloudy atmosphere, respectively. The relative change of the degree of polarization ranges from near zero in the horizon to 9.5% near neutral points. The angular distribution pattern of the relative change of the radiance for atmosphere with aerosol and cloud is very similar to that for pure Rayleigh scattering case, where its magnitude decreases gradually with the increasing of zenith angle for reflected light; but for transmitted light, the variation characteristics is opposite. The impact of refraction is gradually enhanced with the increasing of solar zenith angles and the optical depth of aerosol and cloud. As the wavelength of incident light increases, the impact declines rapidly for Rayleigh scattering medium. The relative change of the fluxes due to refraction is most notable for Middle Latitude Winter profile (about 8.2043% and 7.3225% for the transmitted and reflected light, respectively, at 0.35 µm). With increasing the optical depth of aerosol, the influence of refraction on the fluxes is gradually enhanced. For cloudy atmosphere, the relative changes of the fluxes due to refraction are not very sensitive to the variation of cloud optical depth and effective radius of cloud drops.

Light reflecting apparatus including a multi-aberration light reflecting surface

DOEpatents

Sawicki, Richard H.; Sweatt, William

1987-01-01

A light reflecting apparatus including a multi-aberration bendable light reflecting surface is disclosed herein. This apparatus includes a structural assembly comprised of a rectangular plate which is resiliently bendable, to a limited extent, and which has a front side defining the multi-aberration light reflecting surface and an opposite back side, and a plurality of straight leg members rigidly connected with the back side of the plate and extending rearwardly therefrom. The apparatus also includes a number of different adjustment mechanisms, each of which is connected with specific ones of the leg members. These mechanisms are adjustably movable in different ways for applying corresponding forces to the leg members in order to bend the rectangular plate and light reflecting surface into different predetermined curvatures and which specifically include quadratic and cubic curvatures corresponding to different optical aberrations.

A light reflecting apparatus including a multi-aberration light reflecting surface

DOEpatents

Sawicki, R.H.; Sweatt, W.

1985-11-21

A light reflecting apparatus including a multi-aberration bendable light reflecting surface is disclosed herein. This apparatus includes a structural assembly comprised of a rectangular plate which is resiliently bendable, to a limited extent, and which has a front side defining the multi-aberration light reflecting surface and an opposite back side, and a plurality of straight leg members rigidly connected with the back side of the plate and extending rearwardly therefrom. The apparatus also includes a number of different adjustment mechanisms, each of which is connected with specific ones of the leg members. These mechanisms are adjustably movable in different ways for applying corresponding forces to the leg members in order to bend the rectangular plate and light reflecting surface into different predetermined curvatures and which specifically include quadratic and cubic curvatures corresponding to different optical aberrations.

Effects of Drought, Pest Pressure and Light Availability on Seedling Establishment and Growth: Their Role for Distribution of Tree Species across a Tropical Rainfall Gradient

PubMed Central

Gaviria, Julian; Engelbrecht, Bettina M. J.

2015-01-01

Tree species distributions associated with rainfall are among the most prominent patterns in tropical forests. Understanding the mechanisms shaping these patterns is important to project impacts of global climate change on tree distributions and diversity in the tropics. Beside direct effects of water availability, additional factors co-varying with rainfall have been hypothesized to play an important role, including pest pressure and light availability. While low water availability is expected to exclude drought-intolerant wet forest species from drier forests (physiological tolerance hypothesis), high pest pressure or low light availability are hypothesized to exclude dry forest species from wetter forests (pest pressure gradient and light availability hypothesis, respectively). To test these hypotheses at the seed-to-seedling transition, the potentially most critical stage for species discrimination, we conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment combined with a pest exclosure treatment at a wet and a dry forest site in Panama with seeds of 26 species with contrasting origin. Establishment success after one year did not reflect species distribution patterns. However, in the wet forest, wet origin species had a home advantage over dry forest species through higher growth rates. At the same time, drought limited survival of wet origin species in the dry forest, supporting the physiological tolerance hypothesis. Together these processes sort species over longer time frames, and exclude species outside their respective home range. Although we found pronounced effects of pests and some effects of light availability on the seedlings, they did not corroborate the pest pressure nor light availability hypotheses at the seed-to-seedling transition. Our results underline that changes in water availability due to climate change will have direct consequences on tree regeneration and distributions along tropical rainfall gradients, while indirect effects of light and pests are less important. PMID:26619138

Polymer-cholesteric liquid-crystalline composites with a broad light reflection band

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitov, Michel

2016-05-01

Cholesteric liquid crystals selectively reflect the light. The reflection bandgap is typically limited to 100 nm in the visible spectrum and, at the best, 50% of the unpolarized incident light is reflected. Solutions are found in biopolymers and polymer-liquid crystal composite materials to go beyond these limits.

Epithelial cancers and photon migration: Monte Carlo simulations and diffuse reflectance measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tubiana, Jerome; Kass, Alex J.; Newman, Maya Y.; Levitz, David

2015-07-01

Detecting pre-cancer in epithelial tissues such as the cervix is a challenging task in low-resources settings. In an effort to achieve low cost cervical cancer screening and diagnostic method for use in low resource settings, mobile colposcopes that use a smartphone as their engine have been developed. Designing image analysis software suited for this task requires proper modeling of light propagation from the abnormalities inside tissues to the camera of the smartphones. Different simulation methods have been developed in the past, by solving light diffusion equations, or running Monte Carlo simulations. Several algorithms exist for the latter, including MCML and the recently developed MCX. For imaging purpose, the observable parameter of interest is the reflectance profile of a tissue under some specific pattern of illumination and optical setup. Extensions of the MCX algorithm to simulate this observable under these conditions were developed. These extensions were validated against MCML and diffusion theory for the simple case of contact measurements, and reflectance profiles under colposcopy imaging geometry were also simulated. To validate this model, the diffuse reflectance profiles of tissue phantoms were measured with a spectrometer under several illumination and optical settings for various homogeneous tissues phantoms. The measured reflectance profiles showed a non-trivial deviation across the spectrum. Measurements of an added absorber experiment on a series of phantoms showed that absorption of dye scales linearly when fit to both MCX and diffusion models. More work is needed to integrate a pupil into the experiment.

Optics: Light, Color, and Their Uses. An Educator's Guide with Activities in Science and Mathematics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Huntsville, AL. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.

This educator's guide from discusses optics, light, color and their uses. Activities include: (1) "Reflection of Light with a Plane (Flat) Mirror--Trace a Star"; (2) "Reflection of Light with Two Plane Mirrors--Double Mirrors Placed at a 90-Degree Angle"; (3) "Reflection of Light with Two Plane Mirrors--Double Mirrors Placed at a Number of…

Modelling the circular polarisation of Earth-like exoplanets: constraints on detecting homochirality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hogenboom, Michael; Stam, Daphne; Rossi, Loic; Snik, Frans

2016-04-01

The circular polarisation of light is a property of electromagnetic radiation from which extensive information can be extracted. It is oft-neglected due to its small signal relative to linear polarisation and the need for advanced instrumentation in measuring it. Additionally, numerical modelling is complex as the full Stokes vector must always be computed. Circular polarisation is commonly induced through the multiple scattering of light by aerosols te{hansen} and multiple reflections of light by rough surfaces te{circplanets}. Most interestingly, distinctive spectral circular polarimetric behaviour is exhibited by light reflected by organisms due to the homochiral molecular structure of all known organisms te{chiralbailey}. Especially fascinating is the unique circular polarimetric behaviour of light reflected by photosynthesising organisms at the absorption wavelength of the chlorophyll pigment te{circpolchar}. This presents the previously unexplored possibility of circular polarimetry as a method for identifying and characterising the presence of organisms, a method which could be applied in the hunt for extraterrestrial life. To date, few telescopes exist that measure circular polarisation and none that have been deployed in space. Observations of the circular polarisation reflected by other planets in the solar system have been made with ground-based telescopes, with significant results te{circplanets}. However, none of these observations have been made at the phase angles at which exoplanets will be observed. Also, none have been made of the Earth, which is the logical starting point for the study of biologically induced circular polarisation signals. This introduces the need for numerical modelling to determine the extent to which circular polarisation is present in light reflected by exoplanets or the Earth. In this study, we model the multiple scattering and reflection of light using the doubling-adding method te{dehaan}. We will present circular polarisation signals for both spatially resolved and spatially unresolved planets, using various atmospheric and surface properties and across a range of phase angles. As a test, the calculated degree of circular polarisation resulting from the multiple scattering of light in an atmosphere with varying properties was compared with results presented by Kawata te{circatmos} and was found to be in agreement. Initial modelling of the atmospheric scattering of light by a planetary disk has shown a presence of degree of circular polarisation in the order of 10-4. This represents a static case with one cloudy hemisphere, one cloudless hemisphere and a Lambertian surface. Results containing varied patchy cloud patterns shall also be presented in a bid to reflect the random nature of planetary cloud cover. We will also present the calculated degree of circular polarisation of planets with various cloud coverage and a circularly polarising surface in order to discover the influence of organisms on the numerical results. {1} {hansen} J. E. {Hansen} and L. D. {Travis}. {Light scattering in planetary atmospheres}. {Space Science Reviews}, 16:527-610, October 1974. {circplanets} J. C. {Kemp} and R. D. {Wolstencroft}. {Circular Polarization: Jupiter and Other Planets}. {Nature}, 232:165-168, July 1971. {chiralbailey} J. {Bailey}. {Circular Polarization and the Origin of Biomolecular Homochirality}. In G. {Lemarchand} and K. {Meech}, editors, {Bioastronomy 99}, volume 213 of {Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series}, 2000. {circpolchar} L. {Nagdimunov}, L. {Kolokolova}, and D. {Mackowski}. {Characterization and remote sensing of biological particles using circular polarization}. {Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer}, 131:59-65, December 2013. dehaan} J. F. {de Haan}, P. B. {Bosma}, and J. W. {Hovenier}. {The adding method for multiple scattering calculations of polarized light}. {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, 183:371-391, September 1987. {circatmos} Y. {Kawata}. {Circular polarization of sunlight reflected by planetary atmospheres}. {Icarus}, 33:217-232, January 1978.

Analytic reflected light curves for exoplanets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haggard, Hal M.; Cowan, Nicolas B.

2018-07-01

The disc-integrated reflected brightness of an exoplanet changes as a function of time due to orbital and rotational motions coupled with an inhomogeneous albedo map. We have previously derived analytic reflected light curves for spherical harmonic albedo maps in the special case of a synchronously rotating planet on an edge-on orbit (Cowan, Fuentes & Haggard). In this paper, we present analytic reflected light curves for the general case of a planet on an inclined orbit, with arbitrary spin period and non-zero obliquity. We do so for two different albedo basis maps: bright points (δ-maps), and spherical harmonics (Y_ l^m-maps). In particular, we use Wigner D-matrices to express an harmonic light curve for an arbitrary viewing geometry as a non-linear combination of harmonic light curves for the simpler edge-on, synchronously rotating geometry. These solutions will enable future exploration of the degeneracies and information content of reflected light curves, as well as fast calculation of light curves for mapping exoplanets based on time-resolved photometry. To these ends, we make available Exoplanet Analytic Reflected Lightcurves, a simple open-source code that allows rapid computation of reflected light curves.

Advances in Measurement of Skin Friction in Airflow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, James L.; Naughton, Jonathan W.

2006-01-01

The surface interferometric skin-friction (SISF) measurement system is an instrument for determining the distribution of surface shear stress (skin friction) on a wind-tunnel model. The SISF system utilizes the established oil-film interference method, along with advanced image-data-processing techniques and mathematical models that express the relationship between interferograms and skin friction, to determine the distribution of skin friction over an observed region of the surface of a model during a single wind-tunnel test. In the oil-film interference method, a wind-tunnel model is coated with a thin film of oil of known viscosity and is illuminated with quasi-monochromatic, collimated light, typically from a mercury lamp. The light reflected from the outer surface of the oil film interferes with the light reflected from the oil-covered surface of the model. In the present version of the oil-film interference method, a camera captures an image of the illuminated model and the image in the camera is modulated by the interference pattern. The interference pattern depends on the oil-thickness distribution on the observed surface, and this distribution can be extracted through analysis of the image acquired by the camera. The oil-film technique is augmented by a tracer technique for observing the streamline pattern. To make the streamlines visible, small dots of fluorescentchalk/oil mixture are placed on the model just before a test. During the test, the chalk particles are embedded in the oil flow and produce chalk streaks that mark the streamlines. The instantaneous rate of thinning of the oil film at a given position on the surface of the model can be expressed as a function of the instantaneous thickness, the skin-friction distribution on the surface, and the streamline pattern on the surface; the functional relationship is expressed by a mathematical model that is nonlinear in the oil-film thickness and is known simply as the thin-oil-film equation. From the image data acquired as described, the time-dependent oil-thickness distribution and streamline pattern are extracted and by inversion of the thin-oil-film equation it is then possible to determine the skin-friction distribution. In addition to a quasi-monochromatic light source, the SISF system includes a beam splitter and two video cameras equipped with filters for observing the same area on a model in different wavelength ranges, plus a frame grabber and a computer for digitizing the video images and processing the image data. One video camera acquires the interference pattern in a narrow wavelength range of the quasi-monochromatic source. The other video camera acquires the streamline image of fluorescence from the chalk in a nearby but wider wavelength range. The interference- pattern and fluorescence images are digitized, and the resulting data are processed by an algorithm that inverts the thin-oil-film equation to find the skin-friction distribution.

Differential high-speed digital micromirror device based fluorescence speckle confocal microscopy.

PubMed

Jiang, Shihong; Walker, John

2010-01-20

We report a differential fluorescence speckle confocal microscope that acquires an image in a fraction of a second by exploiting the very high frame rate of modern digital micromirror devices (DMDs). The DMD projects a sequence of predefined binary speckle patterns to the sample and modulates the intensity of the returning fluorescent light simultaneously. The fluorescent light reflecting from the DMD's "on" and "off" pixels is modulated by correlated speckle and anticorrelated speckle, respectively, to form two images on two CCD cameras in parallel. The sum of the two images recovers a widefield image, but their difference gives a near-confocal image in real time. Experimental results for both low and high numerical apertures are shown.

Authentication via wavefront-shaped optical responses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eilers, Hergen; Anderson, Benjamin R.; Gunawidjaja, Ray

2018-02-01

Authentication/tamper-indication is required in a wide range of applications, including nuclear materials management and product counterfeit detection. State-of-the-art techniques include reflective particle tags, laser speckle authentication, and birefringent seals. Each of these passive techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages, including the need for complex image comparisons, limited flexibility, sensitivity to environmental conditions, limited functionality, etc. We have developed a new active approach to address some of these short-comings. The use of an active characterization technique adds more flexibility and additional layers of security over current techniques. Our approach uses randomly-distributed nanoparticles embedded in a polymer matrix (tag/seal) which is attached to the item to be secured. A spatial light modulator is used to adjust the wavefront of a laser which interacts with the tag/seal, and a detector is used to monitor this interaction. The interaction can occur in various ways, including transmittance, reflectance, fluorescence, random lasing, etc. For example, at the time of origination, the wavefront-shaped reflectance from a tag/seal can be adjusted to result in a specific pattern (symbol, words, etc.) Any tampering with the tag/seal would results in a disturbance of the random orientation of the nanoparticles and thus distort the reflectance pattern. A holographic waveplate could be inserted into the laser beam for verification. The absence/distortion of the original pattern would then indicate that tampering has occurred. We have tested the tag/seal's and authentication method's tamper-indicating ability using various attack methods, including mechanical, thermal, and chemical attacks, and have verified our material/method's robust tamper-indicating ability.

Modern sedimentary environments in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts

USGS Publications Warehouse

Knebel, H.J.; Rendigs, R. R.; Bothner, Michael H.

1991-01-01

Analyses of sidescan-sonar records supplemented by available bathymetric, sedimentary, subbottom, and bottom-current data reveal the distributions of the following three categories of sedimentary environments within the glaciated, topographically complex Boston Harbor estuary in Massachusetts. 1) Environments of erosion appear on the sonographs either as patterns with isolated strong reflections or as uniform patterns of strong reflectivity. These patterns define outcrops of bedrock or till and coarse lag deposits that are being scoured and winnowed by tidal- and wave-induced currents. Erosional areas are located primarily along mainland and insular shores, within large channels that have strong tidal currents, atop submerged ridges and knolls, and across much of the harbor entrance. 2) Environments of deposition are depicted on the sidescan-sonar records as smooth, featureless surfaces that have low to moderate reflectivity. Depositional environments are found predominantly over shallow subtidal flats and in broad bathymetric lows where tidal currents are weak. Sediments within depositional areas are organic-rich sandy and clayey silts that are accumulating at rates ranging from 0.01 to 0.11 g/cm 2 /yr or 4000 to 46,100 metric tons/yr. The cumulative mass of modern mud in harbor depocenters is 24.3 million metric tons. 3) Environments of sediment reworking constitute areas affected by a combination of erosional and depositional processes. They are characterized on the sonographs by mosaics of light and dark patches produced by relatively subtle and gradational changes in reflectivity. Reworked sediments have diverse grain sizes that overlap and are transitional between those of the other two sedimentary environments, and they are indicative of highly variable bottom currents.

Desert camouflage and what wildlife see

DOE PAGES

Kuhne, Wendy W.; Duff, Martine C.; Salvaggio, Katie; ...

2017-10-26

Desert, desert-scrub, savanna and sandy beach and lakeshore environments can be particularly tricky in terms of camouflage selection due to their low vegetative density. Therefore many companies focus on the development of paint color schemes that match the vegetation and the desert soils/sands. However another factor in the consideration of which camouflage to purchase may lie in what the animal can see. White-tailed deer and similar large mammals have been shown to have three classes of photo pigments that are sensitive to the range of blue to yellowgreen during day light hours and blue to blue-green at night. Six commercially-availablemore » camouflage patterns were investigated to determine if the reflectance characteristics measured in the laboratory and under field conditions were elevated in the blue range and perhaps more likely to be seen by wildlife. The camouflage patterns were evaluated against standard vegetation indices including NDVI, SAVI, EVI, and SR. Only two of the patterns (S4 and S5) possessed a reflectance more like vegetation. Patterns S4, S6, S3, and S2 all showed only slight elevations in the blue wavelength range which could only have been detected by NIR measurements instead of visual observation by the human eye.« less

Desert camouflage and what wildlife see

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

Kuhne, Wendy W.; Duff, Martine C.; Salvaggio, Katie

Desert, desert-scrub, savanna and sandy beach and lakeshore environments can be particularly tricky in terms of camouflage selection due to their low vegetative density. Therefore many companies focus on the development of paint color schemes that match the vegetation and the desert soils/sands. However another factor in the consideration of which camouflage to purchase may lie in what the animal can see. White-tailed deer and similar large mammals have been shown to have three classes of photo pigments that are sensitive to the range of blue to yellowgreen during day light hours and blue to blue-green at night. Six commercially-availablemore » camouflage patterns were investigated to determine if the reflectance characteristics measured in the laboratory and under field conditions were elevated in the blue range and perhaps more likely to be seen by wildlife. The camouflage patterns were evaluated against standard vegetation indices including NDVI, SAVI, EVI, and SR. Only two of the patterns (S4 and S5) possessed a reflectance more like vegetation. Patterns S4, S6, S3, and S2 all showed only slight elevations in the blue wavelength range which could only have been detected by NIR measurements instead of visual observation by the human eye.« less

Simulating and discussion on surface plasmon typical optical properties of patterned periodic metallic nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Runhan; Yuan, Ying; Long, Huabao; Peng, Sha; Wei, Dong; Zhang, Xinyu; Wang, Haiwei; Xie, Changsheng

2018-02-01

The intense surface plasmons (SPs) can be generated by patterned metal nano-structure arrays, through coupling incident light onto the functioned metal surface, so as to construct highly constrained surface electromagnetic modes. Therefore, a localized micro-nano-field array with a highly compressed surface electron distribution, can also be shaped and even nano-focused over the surface, which will lead to a lot of special physical effects such as anti-reflection effect, and thus indicate many new potential applications in the field of nano-photonics and -optoelectronics. In this paper, several typical patterned sub-wavelength metal nano-structure arrays were designed according to the process, in which common silicon wafer was employed as the substrate material and aluminum as the metal film with different structural size and arrangement circle. In addition, by adjusting the dielectric constant of metal material appropriately, the power control effect on metallic nanostructure was simulated. The key properties such as the excitation intensity of the surface plasmons were studied by simulating the reflectivity characteristic curves and the electric field distribution of the nanostructure excited by incident infrared beams. It is found that the angle of corners, the arrangement cycle and the metal material properties of the patterned nano-structures can be utilized as key factors to control the excitation intensity of surface plasmons.

Liquid crystal devices based on photoalignment and photopatterning materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chigrinov, Vladimir

2014-02-01

Liquid crystal (LC) display and photonics devices based on photo-alignment and photo-patterning LC cells are developed. A fast switchable grating based on ferroelectric liquid crystals and orthogonal planar alignment by means of photo alignments. Both 1D and 2D gratings have been constructed. The proposed diffracting element provides fast response time of around 20 μs, contrast of 7000:1 and high diffraction efficiency, at the electric field of 6V/μm. A switchable LC Fresnel zone lens was also developed with the efficiency of ~42% that can be further improved, and the switching time for the 3 μm thick cell is ~6.7 ms which is relatively fast in comparison of existing devices. Thus, because of the photoalignment technology the fabrication of Fresnel lens became considerably simpler than others. A thin high spatial resolution, photo-patterned micropolarizer array for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors was implemented for the complete optical visualization of so called "invisible" objects, which are completely transparent (reflective) and colorless. Four Stokes parameters, which fully characterized the reflected light beam can be simultaneously detected using the array of photo-patterned polarizers on CMOS sensor plate. The cheap, high resolution photo-patterned LC matrix sensor was developed to be able successfully compete with the expensive and low reliable wire grid polarizer patterned arrays currently used for the purpose.

Study the effects of varying interference upon the optical properties of turbid samples using NIR spatial light modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaul, Oren; Fanrazi-Kahana, Michal; Meitav, Omri; Pinhasi, Gad A.; Abookasis, David

2018-03-01

Optical properties of biological tissues are valuable diagnostic parameters which can provide necessary information regarding tissue state during disease pathogenesis and therapy. However, different sources of interference, such as temperature changes may modify these properties, introducing confounding factors and artifacts to data, consequently skewing their interpretation and misinforming clinical decision-making. In the current study, we apply spatial light modulation, a type of diffuse reflectance hyperspectral imaging technique, to monitor the variation in optical properties of highly scattering turbid media in the presence varying levels of the following sources of interference: scattering concentration, temperature, and pressure. Spatial near-infrared (NIR) light modulation is a wide-field, non-contact emerging optical imaging platform capable of separating the effects of tissue scattering from those of absorption, thereby accurately estimating both parameters. With this technique, periodic NIR illumination patterns at alternately low and high spatial frequencies, at six discrete wavelengths between 690 to 970 nm, were sequentially projected upon the medium while a CCD camera collects the diffusely reflected light. Data analysis based assumptions is then performed off-line to recover the medium's optical properties. We conducted a series of experiments demonstrating the changes in absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of commercially available fresh milk and chicken breast tissue under different interference conditions. In addition, information on the refractive index was study under increased pressure. This work demonstrates the utility of NIR spatial light modulation to detect varying sources of interference upon the optical properties of biological samples.

Near perfect light trapping in 2D metal nanotrench gratings and its application for sensing (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Junpeng; Guo, Hong; Li, Zhitong

2016-09-01

In this work, a 2D metallic nano-trench array was fabricated on gold metal surface by using an e-beam lithography patterning and etching process. Optical reflectance from the device was measured at oblique angles of incidence for TE and TM polarization. Near perfect light trapping was observed at different wavelengths for TE and TM polarization at oblique angle of incidence. As angle of incidence increases, light trapping wavelength has a red-shift for TM polarization and blue shift for TE polarization. The fabricated nano-trench device was also investigated for chemical sensor application. It was found that by varying the angle of incidence, the sensitivity changes with opposite trends for TE and TM polarization. Sensor sensitivity increases for TM polarization and decreases for TE polarization with increase of the oblique incident angle.

Electrically switchable photonic liquid crystal devices for routing of a polarized light wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rushnova, Irina I.; Melnikova, Elena A.; Tolstik, Alexei L.; Muravsky, Alexander A.

2018-04-01

The new mode of LC alignment based on photoalignment AtA-2 azo dye where the refractive interface between orthogonal orientations of the LC director exists without voltage and disappeared or changed with critical voltage has been proposed. The technology to fabricate electrically controlled liquid crystal elements for spatial separation and switching of linearly polarized light beams on the basis of the total internal reflection effect has been significantly improved. Its distinctive feature is the application of a composite alignment material comprising two sublayers of Nylon-6 and AtA-2 photoalignment azo dye offering patterned liquid crystal director orientation with high alignment quality value q = 0 . 998. The fabricated electrically controlled spatially structured liquid crystal devices enable implementation of propagation directions separation for orthogonally polarized light beams and their switching with minimal crosstalk.

Tandem resonator reflectance modulator

DOEpatents

Fritz, I.J.; Wendt, J.R.

1994-09-06

A wide band optical modulator is grown on a substrate as tandem Fabry-Perot resonators including three mirrors spaced by two cavities. The absorption of one cavity is changed relative to the absorption of the other cavity by an applied electric field, to cause a change in total reflected light, as light reflecting from the outer mirrors is in phase and light reflecting from the inner mirror is out of phase with light from the outer mirrors. 8 figs.

Time-course variation of statistics embedded in music: Corpus study on implicit learning and knowledge.

PubMed

Daikoku, Tatsuya

2018-01-01

Learning and knowledge of transitional probability in sequences like music, called statistical learning and knowledge, are considered implicit processes that occur without intention to learn and awareness of what one knows. This implicit statistical knowledge can be alternatively expressed via abstract medium such as musical melody, which suggests this knowledge is reflected in melodies written by a composer. This study investigates how statistics in music vary over a composer's lifetime. Transitional probabilities of highest-pitch sequences in Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata were calculated based on different hierarchical Markov models. Each interval pattern was ordered based on the sonata opus number. The transitional probabilities of sequential patterns that are musical universal in music gradually decreased, suggesting that time-course variations of statistics in music reflect time-course variations of a composer's statistical knowledge. This study sheds new light on novel methodologies that may be able to evaluate the time-course variation of composer's implicit knowledge using musical scores.

3D shape measurement with thermal pattern projection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brahm, Anika; Reetz, Edgar; Schindwolf, Simon; Correns, Martin; Kühmstedt, Peter; Notni, Gunther

2016-12-01

Structured light projection techniques are well-established optical methods for contactless and nondestructive three-dimensional (3D) measurements. Most systems operate in the visible wavelength range (VIS) due to commercially available projection and detection technology. For example, the 3D reconstruction can be done with a stereo-vision setup by finding corresponding pixels in both cameras followed by triangulation. Problems occur, if the properties of object materials disturb the measurements, which are based on the measurement of diffuse light reflections. For example, there are existing materials in the VIS range that are too transparent, translucent, high absorbent, or reflective and cannot be recorded properly. To overcome these challenges, we present an alternative thermal approach that operates in the infrared (IR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. For this purpose, we used two cooled mid-wave (MWIR) cameras (3-5 μm) to detect emitted heat patterns, which were introduced by a CO2 laser. We present a thermal 3D system based on a GOBO (GOes Before Optics) wheel projection unit and first 3D analyses for different system parameters and samples. We also show a second alternative approach based on an incoherent (heat) source, to overcome typical disadvantages of high-power laser-based systems, such as industrial health and safety considerations, as well as high investment costs. Thus, materials like glass or fiber-reinforced composites can be measured contactless and without the need of additional paintings.

Evaluation of photostability of solid-state nicardipine hydrochloride polymorphs by using Fourier-transformed reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy - effect of grinding on the photostability of crystal form.

PubMed

Teraoka, Reiko; Otsuka, Makoto; Matsuda, Yoshihisa

2004-11-22

Photostability and physicochemical properties of nicardipine hydrochloride polymorphs (alpha- and beta-form) were studied by using Fourier-transformed reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR-RAS) of the tablets, X-ray powder diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and color difference measurement. It was clear from the results of FT-IR-RAS spectra after irradiation that nicardipine hydrochloride in the solid state decomposed to its pyridine derivative when exposed to light. The photostability of the ground samples of two forms was also measured in the same manner. The two crystalline forms of the drug changed to nearly amorphous form after 150 min grinding in a mixer mill. X-ray powder diffraction patterns of those ground samples showed almost halo patterns. The nicardipine hydrochloride content on the surface of the tablet was determined based on the absorbance at 1700 cm(-1) attributable to the C=O stretch vibration in FT-IR-RAS spectra before and after irradiation by fluorescent lamp (3500 lx). The photodegradation followed apparently the first-order kinetics for any sample. The apparent photodegradation rate constant of beta-form was greater than that of alpha-form. The ground samples decomposed rapidly under the same light irradiation as compared with the intact crystalline forms. The photodegradation rate constant decreased with increase of the heat of fusion. copyright 2004 Elsevier B.V.

Effective light coupling in reflective fiber optic distance sensors using a double-clad fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werzinger, Stefan; Härteis, Lisa; Köhler, Aaron; Engelbrecht, Rainer; Schmauss, Bernhard

2017-04-01

Many fiber optic distance sensors use a reflective configuration, where a light beam is launched from an optical fiber, reflected from a target and coupled back into the fiber. While singlemode fibers (SMF) provide low-loss, high-performance components and a well-defined output beam, the coupling of the reflected light into the SMF is very sensitive to mechanical misalignments and scattering at the reflecting target. In this paper we use a double-clad fiber (DCF) and a DCF coupler to obtain an enhanced multimodal coupling of reflected light into the fiber. Increased power levels and robustness are achieved compared to a pure SMF configuration.

Smart Optical Material Characterization System and Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choi, Sang Hyouk (Inventor); Park, Yeonjoon (Inventor)

2015-01-01

Disclosed is a system and method for characterizing optical materials, using steps and equipment for generating a coherent laser light, filtering the light to remove high order spatial components, collecting the filtered light and forming a parallel light beam, splitting the parallel beam into a first direction and a second direction wherein the parallel beam travelling in the second direction travels toward the material sample so that the parallel beam passes through the sample, applying various physical quantities to the sample, reflecting the beam travelling in the first direction to produce a first reflected beam, reflecting the beam that passes through the sample to produce a second reflected beam that travels back through the sample, combining the second reflected beam after it travels back though the sample with the first reflected beam, sensing the light beam produced by combining the first and second reflected beams, and processing the sensed beam to determine sample characteristics and properties.

Investigation of multimodal forward scatter phenotyping from bacterial colonies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Huisung

A rapid, label-free, and elastic light scattering (ELS) based bacterial colony phenotyping technology, bacterial rapid detection using optical scattering technology (BARDOT) provides a successful classification of several bacterial genus and species. For a thorough understanding of the phenomena and overcoming the limitations of the previous design, five additional modalities from a bacterial colony: 3D morphology, spatial optical density (OD) distribution, spectral forward scattering pattern, spectral OD, and surface backward reflection pattern are proposed to enhance the classification/identification ratio, and the feasibilities of each modality are verified. For the verification, three different instruments: integrated colony morphology analyzer (ICMA), multi-spectral BARDOT (MS-BARDOT) , and multi-modal BARDOT (MM-BARDOT) are proposed and developed. The ICMA can measure 3D morphology and spatial OD distribution of the colony simultaneously. A commercialized confocal displacement meter is used to measure the profiles of the bacterial colonies, together with a custom built optical density measurement unit to interrogate the biophysics behind the collective behavior of a bacterial colony. The system delivers essential information related to the quantitative growth dynamics (height, diameter, aspect ratio, optical density) of the bacterial colony, as well as, a relationship in between the morphological characteristics of the bacterial colony and its forward scattering pattern. Two different genera: Escherichia coli O157:H7 EDL933, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 are selected for the analysis of the spatially resolved growth dynamics, while, Bacillus spp. such as B. subtilis ATCC 6633, B. cereus ATCC 14579, B. thuringiensis DUP6044, B. polymyxa B719W, and B. megaterium DSP 81319, are interrogated since some of the Bacillus spp. provides strikingly different characteristics of ELS patterns, and the origin of the speckle patterns are successfully correlated with the 2-D spatial density map from the ICMA. The MS-BARDOT can measure multispectral elastic-light-scatter patterns of the bacterial colony and its spectral OD to overcome the inherent limits of the single-wavelength BARDOT. A theoretical model for spectral forward scatter patterns from a bacterial colony based on elastic light scatter is presented. The spectral forward scatter patterns are computed by scalar diffraction theory, and compared with experimental results of three discrete wavelengths (405 nm, 635 nm, and 904 nm). Both model and experiment results show an excellent agreement; a longer wavelength induces a wider ring width, a wider ring gap, a smaller pattern size, and smaller numbers of rings. Further analysis using spatial fast Fourier transform (SFFT) shows a good agreement; the spatial frequencies are increasing towards the inward direction, and the slope is inversely proportional to the incoming wavelength. Four major pathogenic bacterial genera (Escherichia coli O157:H7 EDL933, Listeria monocytogenes F4244, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis PT21, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) and the seven major Escherichia coli serovar (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157) with 3-4 strains each are measured and analyzed with the proposed instrument and algorithm. The MM-BARDOT can measure six different modalities: 1) light microscopy, 2) 3D morphology map from confocal microscopy, 3) 3D optical density map, 4) spectral forward scattering pattern, 5) spectral OD, 6) surface backward reflection pattern, and 7) fluorescence of a bacterial colony without moving the specimen. A custom-built confocal microscope with a controller which can be easily attached to an infinity-corrected commercial microscope is designed and built. Since the current BARDOT needs additional information from a bacterial colony to enhance the identification/classification ratio for a lower hierarchy of bacterial taxonomy such as serovar or strain level, the approach can offer a series of coordinates matched and correlated bio-optical characteristics of a colony and enhance the classification accuracy of the previously introduced BARDOT system. Four major pathogenic bacterial genera: Escherichia coli O157:H7 EDL933, Listeria monocytogenes F4244, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis PT21, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 are measured and analyzed with the proposed instrument and algorithm. Also, a feasibility test for a smaller colony (up to 500 mum) classification utilizing a surface backward reflection pattern from the measurement is done, and shows a potential as an additional modality for the bacterial phenotyping.

Coherent noise reduction in digital holographic microscopy by averaging multiple holograms recorded with a multimode laser.

PubMed

Pan, Feng; Yang, Lizhi; Xiao, Wen

2017-09-04

In digital holographic microscopy (DHM), it is undesirable to observe coherent noise in the reconstructed images. The sources of the noise are mainly the parasitic interference fringes caused by multiple reflections and the speckle pattern caused by the optical scattering on the object surface. Here we propose a noise reduction approach in DHM by averaging multiple holograms recorded with a multimode laser. Based on the periodicity of the temporal coherence of a multimode semiconductor laser, we acquire a series of holograms by changing the optical path length difference between the reference beam and object beam. Because of the use of low coherence light, we can remove the parasitic interference fringes caused by multiple reflections in the holograms. In addition, the coherent noise patterns change in this process due to the different optical paths. Therefore, the coherent noise can be reduced by averaging the multiple reconstructions with uncorrelated noise patterns. Several experiments have been carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for coherent noise reduction in DHM. It is shown a remarkable improvement both in amplitude imaging quality and phase measurement accuracy.

Optical assessment of nonimaging concentrators.

PubMed

Timinger, A; Kribus, A; Ries, H; Smith, T; Walther, M

2000-11-01

An optical measurement method for nonimaging radiation concentrators is proposed. A Lambertian light source is placed in the exit aperture of the concentrator. Looking into the concentrator's entrance aperture from a remote position, one can photograph the transmission patterns. The patterns show the transmission of radiation through the concentrator with the full resolution of the four-dimensional phase space of geometric optics. By matching ray-tracing simulations to the measurement, one can achieve detailed and accurate information about the geometry of the concentrator. This is a remote, noncontact measurement and can be performed in situ for installed concentrators. Additional information regarding small-scale reflector waviness and surface reflectivity can also be obtained from the same measurement with additional analysis.

Bidirectional reflectance distribution function of Spectralon white reflectance standard illuminated by incoherent unpolarized and plane-polarized light.

PubMed

Bhandari, Anak; Hamre, Børge; Frette, Øvynd; Zhao, Lu; Stamnes, Jakob J; Kildemo, Morten

2011-06-01

A Lambert surface would appear equally bright from all observation directions regardless of the illumination direction. However, the reflection from a randomly scattering object generally has directional variation, which can be described in terms of the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). We measured the BRDF of a Spectralon white reflectance standard for incoherent illumination at 405 and 680 nm with unpolarized and plane-polarized light from different directions of incidence. Our measurements show deviations of the BRDF for the Spectralon white reflectance standard from that of a Lambertian reflector that depend both on the angle of incidence and the polarization states of the incident light and detected light. The non-Lambertian reflection characteristics were found to increase more toward the direction of specular reflection as the angle of incidence gets larger.

Light Reflector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1988-01-01

Ultra Sales, Inc.'s fluorescent lighting fixture gets a boost in reflectivity through installation of Lightdriver, a thin tough thermoplastic film plated with aluminum, capable of reflecting 95 percent of visible light striking it. Lightdriver increases brightness without adding bulbs, and allows energy savings by removing some bulbs because the mirrorlike surface cuts light loss generally occasioned by conventional low reflectivity white painted surface above the bulbs in many fluorescent fixtures. Forty-five percent reduction in lighting electricity is attainable.

Optomechanics of two- and three-dimensional soft photonic crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishnan, Dwarak

Soft photonic crystals are a class of periodic dielectric structures that undergo highly nonlinear deformation due to strain or other external stimulus such as temperature, pH etc. This can in turn dramatically affect optical properties such as light transmittance. Moreover certain classes of lithographically fabricated structures undergo some structural distortion due to the effects of processing, eventually affecting the optical properties of the final photonic crystal. In this work, we study the deformation mechanics of soft photonic crystal structures using realistic physics-based models and leverage that understanding to explain the optomechanics of actual 2-D and 3-D soft photonic crystals undergoing similar symmetry breaking nonlinear deformations. We first study the optomechanics of two classes of 3-D soft photonic crystals: (1) hydrogel and (2) elastomer based material systems. The hydrogel based inverse face-centered-cubic structure undergoes swelling with change in pH of the surrounding fluid. The inverse structure is a network of bulky domains with thin ligament-like connections, and it undergoes a pattern transformation from FCC to L11 as a result of swelling. A continuum scale poroelasticity based coupled fluid-diffusion FEM model is developed to accurately predict this mechanical behavior. Light transmittance simulation results qualitatively explain the experimentally observed trends in the optical behavior with pH change. The elastomer based, lithographically fabricated material experiences shrinkage induced distortion upon processing. This behavior is modeled using FEM with the material represented by a neo-Hookean constitutive law. The light transmittance calculations for normal incidence are carried out using the transfer matrix method and a good comparison is obtained for the positions of first and second order reflectance peaks. A unit cell based approach is taken to compute the photonic bandstructure to estimate light propagation through the structure for other angles of light incidence. To obtain a detailed picture of the change in optical properties due to a pattern transformation, we study simple 2-D elastomer photonic crystals which undergo an interesting structural pattern transformation from simple circular holes to alternately oriented ellipses in a square lattice due to uniaxial compression. The incident light does not have any effect on the properties of the elastomer material. A decomposition of the deformation gradient quickly shows that the pattern transformation is induced by alternating rotations of the interstitial regions and the bending of interconnecting ligaments. Numerical simulations of light transmittance using vector element based FEM analysis of Maxwells equations shows changes in the light energy localization within the material especially in the high energy/low wavelength regions of the spectra. Additionally, with bandstructure calculations on a unit cell of the structure, the optomechanical behavior is completely explained. Finally, computational evidence is provided for a hypothetical 2-D photonic crystal made of a light-sensitive material, which undergoes a structural pattern transformation primarily due to the effect of incident light. The model takes into account the order kinetics of optically induced isomerization (of trans to cis configuration) in the azobenzene-liquid crystal elastomer to compute the transformational strain. This strain, in turn, deforms the structure and hence changes its periodicity and dielectric properties and thus affects the manner in which light gets localized within the material system. This consequently changes the profile of the imposed transformational strain on the deformed structure. The macroscopic strain history shows that prior to the mechanical instability that causes the pattern transformation, there is a period of structural relaxation which initiates the pattern transformation. After the symmetry breaking pattern transformation, the photonic bandstructure is altered significantly. Light does not get localized in the spot regions anymore and stress relaxation dominates. Due to this, the compressive macroscopic strain of the pattern transformed structure starts to decrease indicating a possible cyclical behavior.

Modeling of thermomechanical changes of extreme-ultraviolet mask and their dependence on absorber variation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ban, Chung-Hyun; Park, Eun-Sang; Park, Jae-Hun; Oh, Hye-Keun

2018-06-01

Thermal and structural deformation of extreme-ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) masks during the exposure process may become important issues as these masks are subject to rigorous image placement and flatness requirements. The reflective masks used for EUVL absorb energy during exposure, and the temperature of the masks rises as a result. This can cause thermomechanical deformation that can reduce the pattern quality. The use of very thick low-thermal-expansion substrate materials (LTEMs) may reduce energy absorption, but they do not completely eliminate mask deformation. Therefore, it is necessary to predict and optimize the effects of energy transferred from the extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) light source and the resultant patterns of structured EUV masks with complex multilayers. Our study shows that heat accumulates in the masks as exposure progresses. It has been found that a higher absorber ratio (pattern density) applied to the patterning of EUV masks exacerbates the problem, especially in masks with more complex patterns.

Integrated Emissivity And Temperature Measurement

DOEpatents

Poulsen, Peter

2005-11-08

A multi-channel spectrometer and a light source are used to measure both the emitted and the reflected light from a surface which is at an elevated temperature relative to its environment. In a first method, the temperature of the surface and emissivity in each wavelength is calculated from a knowledge of the spectrum and the measurement of the incident and reflected light. In the second method, the reflected light is measured from a reference surface having a known reflectivity and the same geometry as the surface of interest and the emitted and the reflected light are measured for the surface of interest. These measurements permit the computation of the emissivity in each channel of the spectrometer and the temperature of the surface of interest.

Surface profilometry using the incoherent self-imaging technique in reflection mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassani, Khosrow; Nahal, Arashmid; Tirandazi, Negin

2018-01-01

In this paper, we introduce a highly sensitive and cost-effective surface profilometry technique based on the Lau self-imaging phenomenon in reflection mode, combined with the Moiré technique. Standard incoherent grating imaging with two Ronchi rulings is deployed to produce localized Fresnel pseudoimages, except that the light wavefront gets modulated after reflecting off the surface under test and before the final image forms. A third grating is superimposed on the pseudoimage to take advantage of the magnification property of the Moiré fringes and enhance the surface-induced modulations. A five-step phase-shifting technique is used to extract the 2D surface profile of the sample from the recorded Moiré patterns. To demonstrate our technique, we measure the profile of a 250 nm step-like metallic sample. The results show a few nanometer uncertainties, very good reproducibility, and agreement with other known optical and mechanical surface profilometry methods.

An analysis of the moon's surface using reflected illumination from the earth during a waning crescent lunar phase

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hammond, Ernest C., Jr.; Linton-Petza, Maggie

1989-01-01

There have been many articles written concerning the lunar after-glow, the spectacular reflection from the moon's surface, and the possible observation of luminescence on the dark side of the moon. The researcher, using a 600 mm cassegrain telescope lense and Kodak 400 ASA T-Max film, photographed the crescent moon whose dark side was clearly visible by the reflected light from earth. The film was digitized to a Perkin-Elmer 1010M microdensitometer for enhancement and enlargement. The resulting pictures indicate a completely different land pattern formation than observed during a full moon. An attempt is made to analyze the observed structures and to compare them to the pictures observed during the normal full moon. There are boundaries on the digitized dark section of the moon that can be identified with structures seen during the normal full moon. But, these variations do change considerably under enhancement.

Wide acceptance angle, high concentration ratio, optical collector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kruer, Mark A. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

A cassegrain optical system provides improved collection of off-axis light yet is still characterized by a high concentration ratio. The optical system includes a primary mirror for collecting incoming light and reflecting the light to a secondary mirror which, in turn, reflects the light to a solar cell or other radiation collection device. The primary mirror reflects incoming on-axis light onto an annular section of the secondary mirror and results in the reflection of a substantial amount of incoming off-axis light onto the remainder of the secondary mirror. Thus light which would otherwise be lost to the system will be captured by the collector. Furthermore, the off-axis sections of the secondary mirror may be of a different geometrical shape than the on-axis annular section so as to optimize the amount of off-axis light collected.

Apparatus and method for a light direction sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leviton, Douglas B. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

The present invention provides a light direction sensor for determining the direction of a light source. The system includes an image sensor; a spacer attached to the image sensor, and a pattern mask attached to said spacer. The pattern mask has a slit pattern that as light passes through the slit pattern it casts a diffraction pattern onto the image sensor. The method operates by receiving a beam of light onto a patterned mask, wherein the patterned mask as a plurality of a slit segments. Then, diffusing the beam of light onto an image sensor and determining the direction of the light source.

Reflective Optics Design for an LED High Beam Headlamp of Motorbikes

PubMed Central

Ge, Peng; Wang, Xiang; Li, Yang; Wang, Hong

2015-01-01

We propose a reflective optics design for an LED motorbike high beam lamp. We set the measuring screen as an elliptical zone and divide it into many small lattices and divide the spatial angle of the LED source into many parts and make relationships between them. According to the conservation law of energy and the Snell's law, the reflector is generated by freeform optics design method. Then the optical system is simulated by Monte Carlo method using ASAP software. Light pattern of simulation could meet the standard. The high beam headlamp is finally fabricated and assembled into a physical object. Experiment results can fully comply with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) vehicle regulations R113 revision 2 (Class C). PMID:25961073

Reflective optics design for an LED high beam headlamp of motorbikes.

PubMed

Ge, Peng; Wang, Xiang; Li, Yang; Wang, Hong

2015-01-01

We propose a reflective optics design for an LED motorbike high beam lamp. We set the measuring screen as an elliptical zone and divide it into many small lattices and divide the spatial angle of the LED source into many parts and make relationships between them. According to the conservation law of energy and the Snell's law, the reflector is generated by freeform optics design method. Then the optical system is simulated by Monte Carlo method using ASAP software. Light pattern of simulation could meet the standard. The high beam headlamp is finally fabricated and assembled into a physical object. Experiment results can fully comply with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) vehicle regulations R113 revision 2 (Class C).

Dawn's Early Light

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-07-10

The light of a new day on Saturn illuminates the planet's wavy cloud patterns and the smooth arcs of the vast rings. The light has traveled around 80 minutes since it left the sun's surface by the time it reaches Saturn. The illumination it provides is feeble; Earth gets 100 times the intensity since it's roughly ten times closer to the sun. Yet compared to the deep blackness of space, everything at Saturn still shines bright in the sunlight, be it direct or reflected. This view looks toward the sunlit side of the rings from about 10 degrees above the ring plane. The image was taken with the Cassini spacecraft wide-angle camera on Feb. 25, 2017 using a spectral filter which preferentially admits wavelengths of near-infrared light centered at 939 nanometers. The view was obtained at a distance of approximately 762,000 miles (1.23 million kilometers) from Saturn. Image scale is 45 miles (73 kilometers) per pixel. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21336

Electrowetting-actuated optical switch based on total internal reflection.

PubMed

Liu, Chao; Wang, Di; Yao, Li-Xiao; Li, Lei; Wang, Qiong-Hua

2015-04-01

In this paper we demonstrate a liquid optical switch based on total internal reflection. Two indium tin oxide electrodes are fabricated on the bottom substrate. A conductive liquid (Liquid 1) is placed on one side of the chamber and surrounded by a density-matched silicone oil (Liquid 2). In initial state, when the light beam illuminates the interface of the two liquids, it just meets the conditions of total internal reflection. The light is totally reflected by Liquid 2, and the device shows light-off state. When we apply a voltage to the other side of the indium tin oxide electrode, Liquid 1 stretched towards this side of the substrate and the curvature of the liquid-liquid interface changes. The light beam is refracted by Liquid 1 and the device shows light-on state. So the device can achieve the functions of an optical switch. Because the light beam can be totally reflected by the liquid, the device can attain 100% light intensity attenuation. Our experiments show that the response time from light-on (off) to light-off (on) are 130 and 132 ms, respectively. The proposed optical switch has potential applications in variable optical attenuators, information displays, and light shutters.

Light reflection models for computer graphics.

PubMed

Greenberg, D P

1989-04-14

During the past 20 years, computer graphic techniques for simulating the reflection of light have progressed so that today images of photorealistic quality can be produced. Early algorithms considered direct lighting only, but global illumination phenomena with indirect lighting, surface interreflections, and shadows can now be modeled with ray tracing, radiosity, and Monte Carlo simulations. This article describes the historical development of computer graphic algorithms for light reflection and pictorially illustrates what will be commonly available in the near future.

Catheter based mid-infrared reflectance and reflectance generated absorption spectroscopy

DOEpatents

Holman, Hoi-Ying N

2013-10-29

A method of characterizing conditions in a tissue, by (a) providing a catheter that has a light source that emits light in selected wavenumbers within the range of mid-IR spectrum; (b) directing the light from the catheter to an area of tissue at a location inside a blood vessel of a subject; (c) collecting light reflected from the location and generating a reflectance spectra; and (d) comparing the reflectance spectra to a reference spectra of normal tissue, whereby a location having an increased number of absorbance peaks at said selected wavenumbers indicates a tissue inside the blood vessel containing a physiological marker for atherosclerosis.

Single-lens computed tomography imaging spectrometer and method of capturing spatial and spectral information

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, Daniel W. (Inventor); Johnson, William R. (Inventor); Bearman, Gregory H. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

Computed tomography imaging spectrometers ("CTISs") employing a single lens are provided. The CTISs may be either transmissive or reflective, and the single lens is either configured to transmit and receive uncollimated light (in transmissive systems), or is configured to reflect and receive uncollimated light (in reflective systems). An exemplary transmissive CTIS includes a focal plane array detector, a single lens configured to transmit and receive uncollimated light, a two-dimensional grating, and a field stop aperture. An exemplary reflective CTIS includes a focal plane array detector, a single mirror configured to reflect and receive uncollimated light, a two-dimensional grating, and a field stop aperture.

Wing Scale Orientation Alters Reflection Directions in the Green Hairstreak Chrysozephyrus smaragdinus (Lycaenidae; Lepidoptera).

PubMed

Imafuku, Michio; Ogihara, Naomichi

2016-12-01

There have been only a few reports on the directional reflection of light by butterfly wings. Here, we systematically investigated this phenomenon in a lycaenid butterfly, Chrysozephyrus smaragdinus,in which males have bright green wings based on structural coloration. We used a device that measures intensities of light in hemispherical space by vertical shifting of a sensor and horizontal rotation of the stage carrying the wing, which is illuminated from the top, to determine the direction of light reflected by the fore- and hindwings. The orientation and curvature of wing scales were also examined microscopically. The forewing of this species reflected light shone from the top largely forward, whereas the hindwing reflected it slightly forward. This difference was attributed to the tilt angles of the wing scales. Light reflection by the forewing was relatively weak, and widely scattered, whereas that by the hindwing was rather concentrated, resulting in higher reflectance. This difference was attributed to difference in the curvature of the wing scales on the two wings.

Apparatus for and method of correcting for aberrations in a light beam

DOEpatents

Sawicki, Richard H.

1996-01-01

A technique for adjustably correcting for aberrations in a light beam is disclosed herein. This technique utilizes first means which defines a flat, circular light reflecting surface having opposite reinforced circumferential edges and a central post and which is resiliently distortable, to a limited extent, into different concave and/or convex curvatures, which may be Gaussian-like, about the central axis, and second means acting on the first means for adjustably distorting the light reflecting surface into a particular selected one of the different curvatures depending upon the aberrations to be corrected for and for fixedly maintaining the curvature selected. In the embodiment disclosed, the light reflecting surface is adjustably distorted into the selected curvature by application of particular axial moments to the central post on the opposite side from the light reflecting surface and lateral moments to the circumference of the reflecting surface.

Apparatus for and method of correcting for aberrations in a light beam

DOEpatents

Sawicki, R.H.

1996-09-17

A technique for adjustably correcting for aberrations in a light beam is disclosed herein. This technique utilizes first means which defines a flat, circular light reflecting surface having opposite reinforced circumferential edges and a central post and which is resiliently distortable, to a limited extent, into different concave and/or convex curvatures, which may be Gaussian-like, about the central axis, and second means acting on the first means for adjustably distorting the light reflecting surface into a particular selected one of the different curvatures depending upon the aberrations to be corrected for and for fixedly maintaining the curvature selected. In the embodiment disclosed, the light reflecting surface is adjustably distorted into the selected curvature by application of particular axial moments to the central post on the opposite side from the light reflecting surface and lateral moments to the circumference of the reflecting surface. 8 figs.

Lamp method and apparatus using multiple reflections

DOEpatents

MacLennan, Donald A.; Turner, Brian; Kipling, Kent

1999-01-01

A method wherein the light in a sulfur or selenium lamp is reflected through the fill a multiplicity of times to convert ultraviolet radiation to visible. A light emitting device comprised of an electrodeless envelope which bears a light reflecting covering around a first portion which does not crack due to differential thermal expansion and which has a second portion which comprises a light transmissive aperture.

Theory of tailorable optical response of two-dimensional arrays of plasmonic nanoparticles at dielectric interfaces.

PubMed

Sikdar, Debabrata; Kornyshev, Alexei A

2016-09-22

Two-dimensional arrays of plasmonic nanoparticles at interfaces are promising candidates for novel optical metamaterials. Such systems materialise from 'top-down' patterning or 'bottom-up' self-assembly of nanoparticles at liquid/liquid or liquid/solid interfaces. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of an extended effective quasi-static four-layer-stack model for the description of plasmon-resonance-enhanced optical responses of such systems. We investigate in detail the effects of the size of nanoparticles, average interparticle separation, dielectric constants of the media constituting the interface, and the nanoparticle position relative to the interface. Interesting interplays of these different factors are explored first for normally incident light. For off-normal incidence, the strong effects of the polarisation of light are found at large incident angles, which allows to dynamically tune the reflectance spectra. All the predictions of the theory are tested against full-wave simulations, proving this simplistic model to be adequate within the quasi-static limit. The model takes seconds to calculate the system's optical response and makes it easy to unravel the effect of each system parameter. This helps rapid rationalization of experimental data and understanding of the optical signals from these novel 'metamaterials', optimised for light reflection or harvesting.

Theory of tailorable optical response of two-dimensional arrays of plasmonic nanoparticles at dielectric interfaces

PubMed Central

Sikdar, Debabrata; Kornyshev, Alexei A.

2016-01-01

Two-dimensional arrays of plasmonic nanoparticles at interfaces are promising candidates for novel optical metamaterials. Such systems materialise from ‘top–down’ patterning or ‘bottom–up’ self-assembly of nanoparticles at liquid/liquid or liquid/solid interfaces. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of an extended effective quasi-static four-layer-stack model for the description of plasmon-resonance-enhanced optical responses of such systems. We investigate in detail the effects of the size of nanoparticles, average interparticle separation, dielectric constants of the media constituting the interface, and the nanoparticle position relative to the interface. Interesting interplays of these different factors are explored first for normally incident light. For off-normal incidence, the strong effects of the polarisation of light are found at large incident angles, which allows to dynamically tune the reflectance spectra. All the predictions of the theory are tested against full-wave simulations, proving this simplistic model to be adequate within the quasi-static limit. The model takes seconds to calculate the system’s optical response and makes it easy to unravel the effect of each system parameter. This helps rapid rationalization of experimental data and understanding of the optical signals from these novel ‘metamaterials’, optimised for light reflection or harvesting. PMID:27652788

Sonification of Kepler Field SU UMa Cataclysmic Variable Stars V344 Lyr and V1504 Cyg

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tutchton, Roxanne M.; Wood, Matt A.; Still, Martin D.; Howell, Steve B.; Cannizzo, John K.; Smale, Alan P.

2012-01-01

Sonification is the conversion of quantitative data into sound. In this work we explain the methods used in the sonification of light curves provided by the Kepler instrument from Q2 through Q6 for the cataclysmic variable systems V344 Lyr and V1504 Cyg . Both systems are SU UMa stars showing dwarf nova outbursts and superoutbursts as well as positive and negative superhumps. Focused sonifications were done from average pulse shapes of each superhump, and separate sonifications of the full, residual light curves were done for both stars. The audio of these data reflected distinct patterns within the evolutions of supercycles and superhumps that matched pervious observations and proved to be effective aids in data analysis.

Determining biological tissue optical properties via integrating sphere spatial measurements

DOEpatents

Baba, Justin S [Knoxville, TN; Letzen, Brian S [Coral Springs, FL

2011-01-11

An optical sample is mounted on a spatial-acquisition apparatus that is placed in or on an enclosure. An incident beam is irradiated on a surface of the sample and the specular reflection is allowed to escape from the enclosure through an opening. The spatial-acquisition apparatus is provided with a light-occluding slider that moves in front of the sample to block portions of diffuse scattering from the sample. As the light-occluding slider moves across the front of the sample, diffuse light scattered into the area of the backside of the light-occluding slider is absorbed by back side surface of the light-occluding slider. By measuring a baseline diffuse reflectance without a light-occluding slider and subtracting measured diffuse reflectance with a light-occluding slider therefrom, diffuse reflectance for the area blocked by the light-occluding slider can be calculated.

Method of Detecting Coliform Bacteria and Escherichia Coli Bacteria from Reflected Light

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vincent, Robert (Inventor)

2013-01-01

The present invention relates to a method of detecting coliform bacteria in water from reflected light and a method of detecting Eschericha Coli bacteria in water from reflected light, and also includes devices for the measurement, calculation and transmission of data relating to that method.

Systems and Methods for Integrated Emissivity and Temperature Measurement of a Surface

DOEpatents

Poulsen, Peter

2005-11-08

A multi-channel spectrometer and a light source are used to measure both the emitted and the reflected light from a surface which is at an elevated temperature relative to its environment. In a first method, the temperature of the surface and emissivity in each wavelength is calculated from a knowledge of the spectrum and the measurement of the incident and reflected light. In the second method, the reflected light is measured from a reference surface having a known reflectivity and the same geometry as the surface of interest and the emitted and the reflected light are measured for the surface of interest. These measurements permit the computation of the emissivity in each channel of the spectrometer and the temperature of the surface of interest.

Camouflage Visualization

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-04-07

reflected light seen by the viewer does not depend on the viewer’s position. Such surfaces are dull or matte and the luminance of the diffuse reflected light...vegetation and reflect only the skylight . Generally, the reflectance of the ambient light is approximately represented as a global value, constant over all the...allowing the ambient contribution provided by skylight to vary with the orientation of the surface relative to zenith. This approximation takes into

Mobile Bay, Alabama area seen in Skylab 4 Earth Resources Experiment Package

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

A near vertical view of the Mobile Bay, Alabama area seen in this Skylab 4 Earth Resources Experiment Package S190-B (five-inch earth terrain camera) photograph taken from the Skylab space station in earth orbit. North of Mobile the Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers join to form the Mobile River. Detailed configuration of the individual stream channels and boundaries can be defined as the Mobile River flows into Mobile Bay and into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mobile River Valley with its numerous stream channels is a distinct light shade in contrast to the dark green shade of the adjacent areas. The red coloration of Mobile Bay reflects the sediment load carried into the bay by the rivers. The westerly movement of the shore currents at the mouth of Mobile Bay is shown by the contrasting light blue of the sediment-laden current the the blue of the Gulf. Agricultural areas east and west of Mobile Bay are characterized by a rectangular pattern in green to white shades. Color variations may reflect

Lamp method and apparatus using multiple reflections

DOEpatents

MacLennan, D.A.; Turner, B.; Kipling, K.

1999-05-11

A method wherein the light in a sulfur or selenium lamp is reflected through the fill a multiplicity of times to convert ultraviolet radiation to visible is disclosed. A light emitting device comprised of an electrodeless envelope which bears a light reflecting covering around a first portion which does not crack due to differential thermal expansion and which has a second portion which comprises a light transmissive aperture. 20 figs.

Benthic communities at two remote Pacific coral reefs: effects of reef habitat, depth, and wave energy gradients on spatial patterns.

PubMed

Williams, Gareth J; Smith, Jennifer E; Conklin, Eric J; Gove, Jamison M; Sala, Enric; Sandin, Stuart A

2013-01-01

Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll in the central Pacific are among the most remote coral reefs on the planet. Here we describe spatial patterns in their benthic communities across reef habitats and depths, and consider these in the context of oceanographic gradients. Benthic communities at both locations were dominated by calcifying organisms (54-86% cover), namely hard corals (20-74%) and crustose coralline algae (CCA) (10-36%). While turf algae were relatively common at both locations (8-22%), larger fleshy macroalgae were virtually absent at Kingman (<1%) and rare at Palmyra (0.7-9.3%). Hard coral cover was higher, but with low diversity, in more sheltered habitats such as Palmyra's backreef and Kingman's patch reefs. Almost exclusive dominance by slow-growing Porites on Kingman's patch reefs provides indirect evidence of competitive exclusion, probably late in a successional sequence. In contrast, the more exposed forereef habitats at both Kingman and Palmyra had higher coral diversity and were characterized by fast-growing corals (e.g., Acropora and Pocillopora), indicative of more dynamic environments. In general at both locations, soft coral cover increased with depth, likely reflecting increasingly efficient heterotrophic abilities. CCA and fleshy macroalgae cover decreased with depth, likely due to reduced light. Cover of other calcified macroalgae, predominantly Halimeda, increased with depth. This likely reflects the ability of many calcifying macroalgae to efficiently harvest light at deeper depths, in combination with an increased nutrient supply from upwelling promoting growth. At Palmyra, patterns of hard coral cover with depth were inconsistent, but cover peaked at mid-depths at Kingman. On Kingman's forereef, benthic community composition was strongly related to wave energy, with hard coral cover decreasing and becoming more spatially clustered with increased wave energy, likely as a result of physical damage leading to patches of coral in localized shelter. In contrast, the cover of turf algae at Kingman was positively related to wave energy, reflecting their ability to rapidly colonize newly available space. No significant patterns with wave energy were observed on Palmyra's forereef, suggesting that a more detailed model is required to study biophysical coupling there. Kingman, Palmyra, and other remote oceanic reefs provide interesting case studies to explore biophysical influences on benthic ecology and dynamics.

Benthic communities at two remote Pacific coral reefs: effects of reef habitat, depth, and wave energy gradients on spatial patterns

PubMed Central

Conklin, Eric J.; Gove, Jamison M.; Sala, Enric; Sandin, Stuart A.

2013-01-01

Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll in the central Pacific are among the most remote coral reefs on the planet. Here we describe spatial patterns in their benthic communities across reef habitats and depths, and consider these in the context of oceanographic gradients. Benthic communities at both locations were dominated by calcifying organisms (54–86% cover), namely hard corals (20–74%) and crustose coralline algae (CCA) (10–36%). While turf algae were relatively common at both locations (8–22%), larger fleshy macroalgae were virtually absent at Kingman (<1%) and rare at Palmyra (0.7–9.3%). Hard coral cover was higher, but with low diversity, in more sheltered habitats such as Palmyra’s backreef and Kingman’s patch reefs. Almost exclusive dominance by slow-growing Porites on Kingman’s patch reefs provides indirect evidence of competitive exclusion, probably late in a successional sequence. In contrast, the more exposed forereef habitats at both Kingman and Palmyra had higher coral diversity and were characterized by fast-growing corals (e.g., Acropora and Pocillopora), indicative of more dynamic environments. In general at both locations, soft coral cover increased with depth, likely reflecting increasingly efficient heterotrophic abilities. CCA and fleshy macroalgae cover decreased with depth, likely due to reduced light. Cover of other calcified macroalgae, predominantly Halimeda, increased with depth. This likely reflects the ability of many calcifying macroalgae to efficiently harvest light at deeper depths, in combination with an increased nutrient supply from upwelling promoting growth. At Palmyra, patterns of hard coral cover with depth were inconsistent, but cover peaked at mid-depths at Kingman. On Kingman’s forereef, benthic community composition was strongly related to wave energy, with hard coral cover decreasing and becoming more spatially clustered with increased wave energy, likely as a result of physical damage leading to patches of coral in localized shelter. In contrast, the cover of turf algae at Kingman was positively related to wave energy, reflecting their ability to rapidly colonize newly available space. No significant patterns with wave energy were observed on Palmyra’s forereef, suggesting that a more detailed model is required to study biophysical coupling there. Kingman, Palmyra, and other remote oceanic reefs provide interesting case studies to explore biophysical influences on benthic ecology and dynamics. PMID:23734341

Innovations in LED lighting for reduced-ESM crop production in space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Massa, Gioia; Mitchell, Cary; Bourget, C. Michael; Morrow, Robert

In controlled-environment crop production such as will be practiced at the lunar outpost and Mars base, the single most energy-demanding aspect is electric lighting for plant growth, including energy costs for energizing lamps as well as for removing excess heat. For a variety of reasons, sunlight may not be a viable option as the main source of crop lighting off-Earth and traditional electric lamps for crop lighting have numerous drawbacks for use in a space environment. A collaborative research venture between the Advanced Life Support Crops Group at Purdue University and the Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) has led to the development of efficient, reconfigurable LED lighting technologies for crop growth in an ALSS. The light sources use printed-circuit red and blue LEDs, which are individually tunable for a range of photosynthetic photon fluxes and photomorphogenic plant responses. Initial lighting arrays have LEDs that can be energized from the bottom upward when deployed in a vertical, intracanopy configuration, allowing the illumination to be tailored for stand height throughout the cropping cycle. Preliminary testing with the planophile crop cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp, breeding line IT87D-941-1), resulted in optimizing internal reflectance of growth compartments by lining walls, floor, and a movable ceiling with white Poly film, as well as by determining optimal planting density and plant positioning. Additionally, these light strips, called "lightsicles", can be configured into an overhead plane of light engines. When intracanopy and overhead-LED-lit cowpea crop production was compared, cowpea plants grown with intracanopy lighting had much greater understory leaf retention and produced more dry biomass per kilowatt-hour of lighting energy than did overhead-lit plants. The efficiency of light capture is reduced in overhead-lit scenarios due to mutual shading of lower leaves by upper leaves in closed canopies leading to premature abscission of lower leaves. One system modification has led to lightsicles of different lengths, allowing a wider array of intracanopy lighting configurations. Another development is an adaptive system in which each light engine can be operated independently, and photodiodes can detect reflectance patterns off of leaves from flashing green LEDs, thereby indicating positions of leaves within the foliar canopy relative to any given light engine on a lightsicle. When this advanced hardware is coupled to tailored software, the reflectance can be used to auto-detect changes in plant growth and adjust the lighting accordingly. These lighting systems have been tested with cowpea, pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Triton) and Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Waldmanns Green) with limited testing of other ALS candidate crop species. The versatility of these LED lighting systems will allow energy-efficient light delivery to a wide variety of crops with different growth habits, including planophile, erectophile, and rosette species. This research has been supported by NASA grants NAG5-12686 (NSCORT) and NNK05OA20C (SBIR Phase 1) and NNK06OM01C (SBIR Phase 2).

Speckle-based three-dimensional velocity measurement using spatial filtering velocimetry.

PubMed

Iversen, Theis F Q; Jakobsen, Michael L; Hanson, Steen G

2011-04-10

We present an optical method for measuring the real-time three-dimensional (3D) translational velocity of a diffusely scattering rigid object observed through an imaging system. The method is based on a combination of the motion of random speckle patterns and regular fringe patterns. The speckle pattern is formed in the observation plane of the imaging system due to reflection from an area of the object illuminated by a coherent light source. The speckle pattern translates in response to in-plane translation of the object, and the presence of an angular offset reference wave coinciding with the speckle pattern in the observation plane gives rise to interference, resulting in a fringe pattern that translates in response to the out-of-plane translation of the object. Numerical calculations are performed to evaluate the dynamic properties of the intensity distribution and the response of realistic spatial filters designed to measure the three components of the object's translational velocity. Furthermore, experimental data are presented that demonstrate full 3D velocity measurement. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Laser shock wave assisted patterning on NiTi shape memory alloy surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seyitliyev, Dovletgeldi; Li, Peizhen; Kholikov, Khomidkhodza; Grant, Byron; Karaca, Haluk E.; Er, Ali O.

2017-02-01

An advanced direct imprinting method with low cost, quick, and less environmental impact to create thermally controllable surface pattern using the laser pulses is reported. Patterned micro indents were generated on Ni50Ti50 shape memory alloys (SMA) using an Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm combined with suitable transparent overlay, a sacrificial layer of graphite, and copper grid. Laser pulses at different energy densities which generates pressure pulses up to 10 GPa on the surface was focused through the confinement medium, ablating the copper grid to create plasma and transferring the grid pattern onto the NiTi surface. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope images of square pattern with different sizes were studied. One dimensional profile analysis shows that the depth of the patterned sample initially increase linearly with the laser energy until 125 mJ/pulse where the plasma further absorbs and reflects the laser beam. In addition, light the microscope image show that the surface of NiTi alloy was damaged due to the high power laser energy which removes the graphite layer.

Projection screen having reduced ambient light scattering

DOEpatents

Sweatt, William C [Albuquerque, NM

2010-05-11

An apparatus and method for improving the contrast between incident projected light and ambient light reflected from a projection screen are described. The efficiency of the projection screen for reflection of the projected light remains high, while permitting the projection screen to be utilized in a brightly lighted room. Light power requirements from the projection system utilized may be reduced.

Microphytobenthos primary production estimated by hyperspectral reflectance

PubMed Central

Jesus, Bruno; Barnett, Alexandre; Barillé, Laurent; Lavaud, Johann

2018-01-01

The use of remote sensing techniques allows monitoring of photosynthesis at the ecosystem level and improves our knowledge of plant primary productivity. The main objective of the current study was to develop a remote sensing based method to measure microphytobenthos (MPB) primary production from intertidal mudflats. This was achieved by coupling hyperspectral radiometry (reflectance, ρ and second derivative, δδ) and PAM-fluorometry (non-sequential light curves, NSLC) measurements. The latter allowed the estimation of primary production using a light use efficiency parameter (LUE) and electron transport rates (ETR) whereas ρ allowed to estimate pigment composition and optical absorption cross-section (a*). Five MPB species representative of the main growth forms: epipelic (benthic motile), epipsammic (benthic motile and non motile) and tychoplanktonic (temporarily resuspended in the water column) were submitted to increasing light intensities from dark to 1950 μmol photons.m-2.s-1. Different fluorescence patterns were observed for the three growth-forms and were linked to their xanthophyll cycle (de-epoxydation state). After spectral reflectance measurements, a* was retrieved using a radiative transfer model and several radiometric indices were tested for their capacity to predict LUE and ETR measured by PAM-fluorometry. Only one radiometric index was not species or growth-form specific, i.e. δδ496/508. This index was named MPBLUE and could be used to predict LUE and ETR. The applicability of this index was tested with simulated bands of a wide variety of hyperspectral sensors at spectral resolutions between 3 and 15 nm of Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM). PMID:29758047

Touch Sensor Responds to Contact Pressure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bejczy, A. K.

1982-01-01

Optical tactile sensor for mechanical hands senses contact pressure via change in light reflected from an elastic covering. Pressure against a cell cover causes distortion, which changes internal reflection of light. Change is sensed by detector, and output signal informs operator of contact. The greater the pressure and distortion, the greater the change in light reflection.

Reflector system for a lighting fixture

DOEpatents

Siminovitch, Michael J.; Page, Erik; Gould, Carl T.

1998-01-01

Disclosed herein is a reflector system for a lighting fixture having a illumination source surrounded by an envelope. The reflector system includes a first reflector surrounding the illumination source. The reflector system also includes a second reflector which is non-contiguous with the first reflector and which surrounds the illumination source. The illumination source creates light rays which are reflected by the first and second reflectors. The first reflector directs light rays toward the center line of the fixture. However, the reflected rays despite being so reflected do not substantially intersect the envelope. The reflected light rays from the second reflector being directed so that they diverge from the center line of the fixture avoiding intersection with the semi-transparent envelope.

Reflector system for a lighting fixture

DOEpatents

Siminovitch, Michael J.; Page, Erik; Gould, Carl T.

2001-01-01

Disclosed herein is a reflector system for a lighting fixture having a illumination source surrounded by an envelope. The reflector system includes a first reflector surrounding the illumination source. The reflector system also includes a second reflector which is non-contiguous with the first reflector and which surrounds the illumination source. The illumination source creates light rays which are reflected by the first and second reflectors. The first reflector directs light rays toward the center line of the fixture. However, the reflected rays despite being so reflected do not substantially intersect the envelope. The reflected light rays from the second reflector being directed so that they diverge from the center line of the fixture avoiding intersection with the semi-transparent envelope.

A theory of photometric stereo for a class of diffuse non-Lambertian surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tagare, Hemant D.; Defigueiredo, Rui J. P.

1991-01-01

A theory of photometric stereo is proposed for a large class of non-Lambertian reflectance maps. The authors review the different reflectance maps proposed in the literature for modeling reflection from real-world surfaces. From this, they obtain a mathematical class of reflectance maps to which the maps belong. They show that three lights can be sufficient for a unique inversion of the photometric stereo equation for the entire class of reflectance maps. They also obtain a constraint on the positions of light sources for obtaining this solution. They investigate the sufficiency of three light sources to estimate the surface normal and the illuminant strength. The issue of completeness of reconstruction is addressed. They shown that if k lights are sufficient for a unique inversion, 2k lights are necessary for a complete inversion.

Effects on biological systems of reflected light from a satellite power system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, M.

1981-01-01

Light reflection produced by the satellite power system and the possible effects of that light on the human eye, plants, and animals were studied. For the human eye, two cases of reflected light, might cause eye damage if viewed for too long. These cases are: (1) if, while in low Earth orbit, the orbital transfer vehicle is misaligned to reflect the Sun to Earth there exists a maximum safe fixation time for the naked eye of 42.4 secs; (2) reflection from the aluminum paint on the back of the orbital transfer vehicle, while in or near low Earth orbit, can be safely viewed by the naked eye for 129 sec. For plants and animals the intensity and timing of light are not a major problem. Ways for reducing and/or eliminating the irradiances are proposed.

Process solutions for reducing PR residue over non-planar wafer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, C. H.; Huang, C. H.; Yang, Elvis; Yang, T. H.; Chen, K. C.; Lu, Chih-Yuan

2011-03-01

SAS (Self-Aligned Source) process has been widely adopted on manufacturing NOR Flash devices. To form the SAS structure, the compromise between small space patterning and sufficiently removing photo resist residue in topographical substrate has been a critical challenge as the device scaling down. In this study, photo simulation, layout optimization, resist processing and tri-layer materials were evaluated to form defect-free and highly extendible SAS structure for NOR Flash devices. Photo simulation suggested more coherent light source allowed the incident light to reach the trench bottom that facilitates the removal of photo resist. Mask bias also benefited the process latitude extension for residue-free SAS printing. In the photo resist processing, both lowering the SB (Soft Bake) and raising PEB (Post-Exposure Bake) temperature of photo resist were helpful to broaden the process window but the final pattern profile was not good enough. Thermal flow for pos-exposure pattern shrinkage achieved small CD (Critical Dimension) patterning with residue-free, however the materials loading effect is another issue to be addressed at memory array boundary. Tri-layer scheme demonstrated good results in terms of free from residue, better substrate reflectivity control, enabling smaller space printing to loosen overlay specification and minimizing the poly gate clipping defect. It was finally proposed to combine with etch effort to from the SAS structure. Besides it is also promising to extend to even smaller technology nodes.

NASA's Black Marble Nighttime Lights Product Suite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Zhuosen; Sun, Qingsong; Seto, Karen C.; Oda, Tomohiro; Wolfe, Robert E.; Sarkar, Sudipta; Stevens, Joshua; Ramos Gonzalez, Olga M.; Detres, Yasmin; Esch, Thomas;

[Sleep problems explainable by elements of cybernetic culture].

PubMed

Cipollina Mangiameli, G

1980-04-28

A study of sleep in the light of Pavlovian conditioned reflexes is proposed. Sleep and its disturbances would appear to reflect different cell metabolic biorhythms, coinciding with intracellular states interdependent of extracellular chemical and physical values and strictly determined by reflexological factors. Reference is made to a personal paper ("Metodica psicoterapica su elementi di cultura cibernetica") for the view that the DNA memorising function, which is responsible for conditioned reflex patterns, genetic metabolism and new valid or non-valid metabolic equilibria via the synapses, could, by conditioning, lead to normal, eurhythmic sleep in terms of the subject's own pattern or that of the statistical mean of the population to which he belongs. Reharmonisation of subjectively disturbed sleep rhythms by new hetero- or autoinduced conditioning is suggested.

Sleepless in Town – Drivers of the Temporal Shift in Dawn Song in Urban European Blackbirds

PubMed Central

Nordt, Anja; Klenke, Reinhard

2013-01-01

Organisms living in urban environments are exposed to different environmental conditions compared to their rural conspecifics. Especially anthropogenic noise and artificial night light are closely linked to urbanization and pose new challenges to urban species. Songbirds are particularly affected by these factors, because they rely on the spread of acoustic information and adjust their behaviour to the rhythm of night and day, e.g. time their dawn song according to changing light intensities. Our aim was to clarify the specific contributions of artificial night light and traffic noise on the timing of dawn song of urban European Blackbirds (Turdus merula). We investigated the onset of blackbird dawn song along a steep urban gradient ranging from an urban forest to the city centre of Leipzig, Germany. This gradient of anthropogenic noise and artificial night light was reflected in the timing of dawn song. In the city centre, blackbirds started their dawn song up to 5 hours earlier compared to those in semi-natural habitats. We found traffic noise to be the driving factor of the shift of dawn song into true night, although it was not completely separable from the effects of ambient night light. We additionally included meteorological conditions into the analysis and found an effect on the song onset. Cloudy and cold weather delayed the onset, but cloud cover was assumed to reflect night light emissions, thus, amplified sky luminance and increased the effect of artificial night light. Beside these temporal effects, we also found differences in the spatial autocorrelation of dawn song onset showing a much higher variability in noisy city areas than in rural parks and forests. These findings indicate that urban hazards such as ambient noise and light pollution show a manifold interference with naturally evolved cycles and have significant effects on the activity patterns of urban blackbirds. PMID:23940759

Modern sedimentary environments on the Rhode Island inner shelf, off the eastern United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Knebel, H.J.; Needell, S. W.; O'Hara, C. J.

1982-01-01

Analyses of side-scan sonar records along with previously published bathymetric, textural and subbottom data reveal the sedimentary environments on the inner Continental Shelf south of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The bottom topography in this area is characterized by a broad central depression bordered by shallow, irregular sea floor on the north and east and by a discontinuous, curvilinear ridge on the south and west. Four distinct environments were identified: 1. (1) Pre-Mesozoic coastal rocks are exposed on the sea floor at isolated locations near the shore (waterdepths <32 m). These exposures have pronounced, irregular topographic relief and produce blotchy patterns on side-scan sonographs. 2. (2) Glacial moraine deposits form the discontinuous offshore ridge. These deposits have hummocky sea-floor relief, are covered by lag gravel and boudlers, and appear as predominantly black (strongly reflective) patterns on the side-scan records. 3. (3) Over most of the shallow, irregular bottom in the northeast, on the flanks of the morainal ridge, and atop bathymetric highs, the sea floor is characterized as a mosaic of light and dark patches and lineations. The dark (more reflective) zones are areas of coarse sands and megaripples (wavelengths = 0.8-1.2 m that either have no detectable relief or are slightly depressed relative to surrounding (light) areas of finer-grained sands. 4. (4) Smooth beds that produce nearly featureless patterns on the sonographs occupy the broad central bathymetric depression as well as smaller depressions north and east of Block Island. Within the broad depression, sonographs having practically no shading indicate a central zone of modern sandy silt, whereas records having moderate tonality define a peripheral belt of silty sand. The sedimentary environments that are outlined range from erosional or non-depositional (bedrock, glacial moraine) to depositional (featureless beds), and include areas that may reflect a combination of erosional and depositional processes (textural patchiness). The distribution and characteristics of the environments reveal the general post-glacial sedimentary history of this area and provide a guide to future utilization of the shelf surface. ?? 1982.

The effect of geometric and electric constraints on the performance of polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals with a double-handed circularly polarized light reflection band

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Relaix, Sabrina; Mitov, Michel

2008-08-01

Polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs) with a double-handed circularly polarized reflection band are fabricated. The geometric and electric constraints appear to be relevant parameters in obtaining a single-layer CLC structure with a clear-cut double-handed circularly polarized reflection band since light scattering phenomena can alter the reflection properties when the PSCLC is cooled from the elaboration temperature to the operating one. A compromise needs to be found between the LC molecule populations, which are bound to the polymer network due to strong surface effects or not. Besides, a monodomain texture is preserved if the PSCLC is subjected to an electric field at the same time as the thermal process intrinsic to the elaboration process. As a consequence, the light scattering is reduced and both kinds of circularly polarized reflected light beams are put in evidence. Related potential applications are smart reflective windows for the solar light management or reflective polarizer-free displays with higher brightness.

Front lighted optical tooling method and apparatus

DOEpatents

Stone, William J.

1985-06-18

An optical tooling method and apparatus uses a front lighted shadowgraphic technique to enhance visual contrast of reflected light. The apparatus includes an optical assembly including a fiducial mark, such as cross hairs, reflecting polarized light with a first polarization, a polarizing element backing the fiducial mark and a reflective surface backing the polarizing element for reflecting polarized light bypassing the fiducial mark and traveling through the polarizing element. The light reflected by the reflecting surface is directed through a second pass of the polarizing element toward the frontal direction with a polarization differing from the polarization of the light reflected by the fiducial mark. When used as a tooling target, the optical assembly may be mounted directly to a reference surface or may be secured in a mounting, such as a magnetic mounting. The optical assembly may also be mounted in a plane defining structure and used as a spherometer in conjunction with an optical depth measuring instrument. A method of measuring a radius of curvature of an unknown surface includes positioning the spherometer on a surface between the surface and a depth measuring optical instrument. As the spherometer is frontally illuminated, the distance from the depth measuring instrument to the fiducial mark and the underlying surface are alternately measured and the difference in these measurements is used as the sagittal height to calculate a radius of curvature.

Optical Reflectance Measurements for Commonly Used Reflectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janecek, Martin; Moses, William W.

2008-08-01

When simulating light collection in scintillators, modeling the angular distribution of optical light reflectance from surfaces is very important. Since light reflectance is poorly understood, either purely specular or purely diffuse reflectance is generally assumed. In this paper we measure the optical reflectance distribution for eleven commonly used reflectors. A 440 nm, output power stabilized, un-polarized laser is shone onto a reflector at a fixed angle of incidence. The reflected light's angular distribution is measured by an array of silicon photodiodes. The photodiodes are movable to cover 2pi of solid angle. The light-induced current is, through a multiplexer, read out with a digital multimeter. A LabVIEW program controls the motion of the laser and the photodiode array, the multiplexer, and the data collection. The laser can be positioned at any angle with a position accuracy of 10 arc minutes. Each photodiode subtends 6.3deg, and the photodiode array can be positioned at any angle with up to 10 arc minute angular resolution. The dynamic range for the current measurements is 10 5:1. The measured light reflectance distribution was measured to be specular for several ESR films as well as for aluminum foil, mostly diffuse for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape and titanium dioxide paint, and neither specular nor diffuse for Lumirrorreg, Melinexreg and Tyvekreg. Instead, a more complicated light distribution was measured for these three materials.

Pattern-Directed Ordering of Spin-Dewetted Liquid Crystal Micro- or Nanodroplets as Pixelated Light Reflectors and Locomotives.

PubMed

Ravi, Bolleddu; Chakraborty, Snigdha; Bhattacharjee, Mitradip; Mitra, Shirsendu; Ghosh, Abir; Gooh Pattader, Partho Sarathi; Bandyopadhyay, Dipankar

2017-01-11

Chemical pattern directed spin-dewetting of a macroscopic droplet composed of a dilute organic solution of liquid crystal (LC) formed an ordered array of micro- and nanoscale LC droplets. Controlled evaporation of the spin-dewetted droplets through vacuum drying could further miniaturize the size to the level of ∼90 nm. The size, periodicity, and spacing of these mesoscale droplets could be tuned with the variations in the initial loading of LC in the organic solution, the strength of the centripetal force on the droplet, and the duration of the evaporation. A simple theoretical model was developed to predict the spacing between the spin-dewetted droplets. The patterned LC droplets showed a reversible phase transition from nematic to isotropic and vice versa with the periodic exposure of a solvent vapor and its removal. A similar phase transition behavior was also observed with the periodic increase or reduction of temperature, suggesting their usefulness as vapor or temperature sensors. Interestingly, when the spin-dewetted droplets were confined between a pair of electrodes and an external electric field was applied, the droplets situated at the hydrophobic patches showed light-reflecting properties under the polarization microscopy highlighting their importance in the development of micro- or nanoscale LC displays. The digitized LC droplets, which were stationary otherwise, showed dielectrophoretic locomotion under the guidance of the external electric field beyond a threshold intensity of the field. Remarkably, the motion of these droplets could be restricted to the hydrophilic zones, which were confined between the hydrophobic patches of the chemically patterned surface. The findings could significantly contribute in the development of futuristic vapor or temperature sensors, light reflectors, and self-propellers using the micro- or nanoscale digitized LC droplets.

Improved Phase-Mask Fabrication of Fiber Bragg Gratings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, Joseph; Wang, Ying; Sharma, Anup

2004-01-01

An improved method of fabrication of Bragg gratings in optical fibers combines the best features of two prior methods: one that involves the use of a phase mask and one that involves interference between the two coherent laser beams. The improved method affords flexibility for tailoring Bragg wavelengths and bandwidths over wide ranges. A Bragg grating in an optical fiber is a periodic longitudinal variation in the index of refraction of the fiber core. The spatial period (Bragg wavelength) is chosen to obtain enhanced reflection of light of a given wavelength that would otherwise propagate relatively unimpeded along the core. Optionally, the spatial period of the index modulation can be made to vary gradually along the grating (such a grating is said to be chirped ) in order to obtain enhanced reflection across a wavelength band, the width of which is determined by the difference between the maximum and minimum Bragg wavelengths. In the present method as in both prior methods, a Bragg grating is formed by exposing an optical fiber to an ultraviolet-light interference field. The Bragg grating coincides with the pattern of exposure of the fiber core to ultraviolet light; in other words, the Bragg grating coincides with the interference fringes. Hence, the problem of tailoring the Bragg wavelength and bandwidth is largely one of tailoring the interference pattern and the placement of the fiber in the interference pattern. In the prior two-beam interferometric method, a single laser beam is split into two beams, which are subsequently recombined to produce an interference pattern at the location of an optical fiber. In the prior phase-mask method, a phase mask is used to diffract a laser beam mainly into two first orders, the interference between which creates the pattern to which an optical fiber is exposed. The prior two-beam interferometric method offers the advantage that the period of the interference pattern can be adjusted to produce gratings over a wide range of Bragg wavelengths, but offers the disadvantage that success depends on precise alignment and high mechanical stability. The prior phase-mask method affords the advantages of compactness of equipment and relative insensitivity to both misalignment and vibration, but does not afford adjustability of the Bragg wavelength. The present method affords both the flexibility of the prior two-beam interferometric method and the compactness and stability of the prior phase-mask method. In this method (see figure), a laser beam propagating along the x axis is normally incident on a phase mask that lies in the (y,z) plane. The phase of light propagating through the mask is modulated with a spatial periodicity, p, along the y axis chosen to diffract the laser light primarily to first order at the angle . (The zero-order laser light propagating along the x axis can be used for alignment and thereafter suppressed during exposure of the fiber.) The diffracted light passes through a concave cylindrical lens, which converts the flat diffracted wave fronts to cylindrical ones, as though the light emanated from a line source. Then two parallel flat mirrors recombine the diffracted beams to form an interference field equivalent to that of two coherent line sources at positions A and B (virtual sources). The interference pattern is a known function of the parameters of the apparatus and of position (x,y) in the interference field. Hence, the tilt, wavelength, and chirp of the Bragg grating can be chosen through suitable adjustments of the apparatus and/or of the position and orientation of the optical fiber. In particular, the Bragg wavelength can be adjusted by moving the fiber along the x axis, and the bandwidth can be modified over a wide range by changing the fiber tilt angle or by moving the phase mask and/or the fiber. Alignment is easy because the zero-order beam defines the x axis. The interference is relatively stable and insensitive to the mechanical vibration because of the gh symmetry and compactness of the apparatus, the fixed positions of the mirrors and lens, and the consequent fixed positions of the two virtual line sources, which are independent of the translations of the phase mask and the laser relative to the lens.

Light reflection by the cuticle of C. aurigans scarabs: a biological broadband reflector of left handed circularly polarized light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Libby, E.; Azofeifa, D. E.; Hernández-Jiménez, M.; Barboza-Aguilar, C.; Solís, A.; García-Aguilar, I.; Arce-Marenco, L.; Hernández, A.; Vargas, W. E.

2014-08-01

Measured reflection spectra from elytra of Chrysina aurigans scarabs are reported. They show a broad reflection band for wavelengths from 0.525 to 1.0 μm with a sequence of maxima and minima reflection values superimposed on a mean value of around 40% for the high reflection band. Different mechanisms contributing to the reflection spectra have been considered, with the dominant effect, reflection of left handed circularly polarized light, being produced by a laminated left handed twisted structure whose pitch changes with depth through the procuticle in a more complex way than that characterizing broad band circular polarizers based on cholesteric liquid crystals.

Alignment of optical system components using an ADM beam through a null assembly

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayden, Joseph E. (Inventor); Olczak, Eugene G. (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A system for testing an optical surface includes a rangefinder configured to emit a light beam and a null assembly located between the rangefinder and the optical surface. The null assembly is configured to receive and to reflect the emitted light beam toward the optical surface. The light beam reflected from the null assembly is further reflected back from the optical surface toward the null assembly as a return light beam. The rangefinder is configured to measure a distance to the optical surface using the return light beam.

INTEGRATED AND FIBER OPTICS: Anomalous reflection of light from the surface of an amplifying corrugated waveguide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avrutskiĭ, I. A.; Sychugov, V. A.

1989-02-01

The problem of reflection of light from the surface of an amplifying corrugated waveguide is solved. An increase in the waveguide gain increases considerably the reflection coefficient and reduces the spectral width of the reflection peak.

Method and apparatus for synthesis of arrays of DNA probes

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

Cerrina, Francesco; Sussman, Michael R.; Blattner, Frederick R.

The synthesis of arrays of DNA probes sequences, polypeptides, and the like is carried out using a patterning process on an active surface of a substrate. An image is projected onto the active surface of the substrate utilizing an image former that includes a light source that provides light to a micromirror device comprising an array of electronically addressable micromirrors, each of which can be selectively tilted between one of at least two positions. Projection optics receives the light reflected from the micromirrors along an optical axis and precisely images the micromirrors onto the active surface of the substrate, whichmore » may be used to activate the surface of the substrate. The first level of bases may then be applied to the substrate, followed by development steps, and subsequent exposure of the substrate utilizing a different pattern of micromirrors, with further repeats until the elements of a two dimensional array on the substrate surface have an appropriate base bound thereto. The micromirror array can be controlled in conjunction with a DNA synthesizer supplying appropriate reagents to a flow cell containing the active substrate to control the sequencing of images presented by the micromirror array in coordination of the reagents provided to the substrate.« less

Super-resolution structured illumination in optically thick specimens without fluorescent tagging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffman, Zachary R.; DiMarzio, Charles A.

2017-11-01

This research extends the work of Hoffman et al. to provide both sectioning and super-resolution using random patterns within thick specimens. Two methods of processing structured illumination in reflectance have been developed without the need for a priori knowledge of either the optical system or the modulation patterns. We explore the use of two deconvolution algorithms that assume either Gaussian or sparse priors. This paper will show that while both methods accomplish their intended objective, the sparse priors method provides superior resolution and contrast against all tested targets, providing anywhere from ˜1.6× to ˜2× resolution enhancement. The methods developed here can reasonably be implemented to work without a priori knowledge about the patterns or point spread function. Further, all experiments are run using an incoherent light source, unknown random modulation patterns, and without the use of fluorescent tagging. These additional modifications are challenging, but the generalization of these methods makes them prime candidates for clinical application, providing super-resolved noninvasive sectioning in vivo.

Plant chlorophyll content meter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spiering, Bruce A. (Inventor); Carter, Gregory A. (Inventor)

2000-01-01

A plant chlorophyll content meter is described which collects light reflected from a target plant and separates the collected light into two different wavelength bands. These wavelength bands, or channels, are described as having center wavelengths of 700 nm and 840 nm. The light collected in these two channels are processed using photo detectors and amplifiers. An analog to digital converter is described which provides a digital representation of the level of light collected by the lens and falling within the two channels. A controller provided in the meter device compares the level of light reflected from a target plant with a level of light detected from a light source, such as light reflected by a target having 100% reflectance, or transmitted through a diffusion receptor. The percent of reflection in the two separate wavelength bands from a target plant are compared to provide a ratio which indicates a relative level of plant physiological stress. A method of compensating for electronic drift is described where a sample is taken when a collection lens is covered to prevent light from entering the device. This compensation method allows for a more accurate reading by reducing error contributions due to electronic drift from environmental conditions at the location where a hand-held unit is used.

Reflector system for a lighting fixture

DOEpatents

Siminovitch, M.J.; Page, E.; Gould, C.T.

1998-09-08

Disclosed herein is a reflector system for a lighting fixture having a illumination source surrounded by an envelope. The reflector system includes a first reflector surrounding the illumination source. The reflector system also includes a second reflector which is non-contiguous with the first reflector and which surrounds the illumination source. The illumination source creates light rays which are reflected by the first and second reflectors. The first reflector directs light rays toward the center line of the fixture. However, the reflected rays despite being so reflected do not substantially intersect the envelope. The reflected light rays from the second reflector being directed so that they diverge from the center line of the fixture avoiding intersection with the semi-transparent envelope. 5 figs.

Reflective and refractive objects for mixed reality.

PubMed

Knecht, Martin; Traxler, Christoph; Winklhofer, Christoph; Wimmer, Michael

2013-04-01

In this paper, we present a novel rendering method which integrates reflective or refractive objects into a differential instant radiosity (DIR) framework usable for mixed-reality (MR) applications. This kind of objects are very special from the light interaction point of view, as they reflect and refract incident rays. Therefore they may cause high-frequency lighting effects known as caustics. Using instant-radiosity (IR) methods to approximate these high-frequency lighting effects would require a large amount of virtual point lights (VPLs) and is therefore not desirable due to real-time constraints. Instead, our approach combines differential instant radiosity with three other methods. One method handles more accurate reflections compared to simple cubemaps by using impostors. Another method is able to calculate two refractions in real-time, and the third method uses small quads to create caustic effects. Our proposed method replaces parts in light paths that belong to reflective or refractive objects using these three methods and thus tightly integrates into DIR. In contrast to previous methods which introduce reflective or refractive objects into MR scenarios, our method produces caustics that also emit additional indirect light. The method runs at real-time frame rates, and the results show that reflective and refractive objects with caustics improve the overall impression for MR scenarios.

Sea Ice Flows, Sea of Okhotsk, CIS

NASA Image and Video Library

1991-05-06

STS039-84-29AL (28 April-6 May 1991) --- This nearly vertical photograph of the North Atlantic, taken outside of the sunglint pattern, illustrates the extreme contrast between highly reflective ice, having a large percentage of between-crystal air space, and the low-reflectance water, which absorbs most of the light that propagates into it from the air. The ice drifts along with the surface currents and wind and may therefore be used as a natural Langranian* tracer. Photographs such as this, taken several times over the course of a mission, may be used to investigate near-surface circulation in high-latitude oceans. *A Langranian tracer is anything that can be tracked as it drifts along with the water, as opposed to staying in one position and measuring how fast the water goes by.

Polarization selecting optical element using a porro prism incorporating a thin film polarizer in a single element

DOEpatents

Hendrix, James Lee

2001-05-08

A Porro prism and a light polarizer are combined in a single optical element termed a Hendrix Prism. The design provides retro-reflection of incoming light of a predetermined polarization in a direction anti-parallel to the direction of light incidence, while reflecting undesired light, i.e., that having a polarization orthogonal to the predetermined polarization, from the surface of the light polarizer. The undesired light is reflected in a direction that does not interfere with the intended operation of the device in which the Hendrix Prism is installed yet provides feedback to the system in which it is used.

Study on the fabrication of back surface reflectors in nano-crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells by using random texturing aluminum anodization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Kang Sik; Jang, Eunseok; Cho, Jun-Sik; Yoo, Jinsu; Park, Joo Hyung; Byungsung, O.

2015-09-01

In recent decades, researchers have improved the efficiency of amorphous silicon solar cells in many ways. One of the easiest and most practical methods to improve solar-cell efficiency is adopting a back surface reflector (BSR) as the bottom layer or as the substrate. The BSR reflects the incident light back to the absorber layer in a solar cell, thus elongating the light path and causing the so-called "light trapping effect". The elongation of the light path in certain wavelength ranges can be enhanced with the proper scale of BSR surface structure or morphology. An aluminum substrate with a surface modified by aluminum anodizing is used to improve the optical properties for applications in amorphous silicon solar cells as a BSR in this research due to the high reflectivity and the low material cost. The solar cells with a BSR were formed and analyzed by using the following procedures: First, the surface of the aluminum substrate was degreased by using acetone, ethanol and distilled water, and it was chemically polished in a dilute alkali solution. After the cleaning process, the aluminum surface's morphology was modified by using a controlled anodization in a dilute acid solution to form oxide on the surface. The oxidized film was etched off by using an alkali solution to leave an aluminum surface with randomly-ordered dimple-patterns of approximately one micrometer in size. The anodizing conditions and the anodized aluminum surfaces after the oxide layer had been removed were systematically investigated according to the applied voltage. Finally, amorphous silicon solar cells were deposited on a modified aluminum plate by using dc magnetron sputtering. The surfaces of the anodized aluminum were observed by using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The total and the diffuse reflectances of the surface-modified aluminum sheets were measured by using UV spectroscopy. We observed that the diffuse reflectances increased with increasing anodizing voltage. The properties of the solar cells on anodized aluminum substrates were analyzed by using a solar simulator.

Phase-Controlled Magnetic Mirror for Wavefront Correction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagopian, John; Wollack, Edward

2011-01-01

Typically, light interacts with matter via the electric field and interaction with weakly bound electrons. In a magnetic mirror, a patterned nanowire is fabricated over a metallic layer with a dielectric layer in between. Oscillation of the electrons in the nanowires in response to the magnetic field of incident photons causes a re-emission of photons and operation as a "magnetic mirror." By controlling the index of refraction in the dielectric layer using a local applied voltage, the phase of the emitted radiation can be controlled. This allows electrical modification of the reflected wavefront, resulting in a deformable mirror that can be used for wavefront control. Certain applications require wavefront quality in the few-nanometer regime, which is a major challenge for optical fabrication and alignment of mirrors or lenses. The use of a deformable magnetic mirror allows for a device with no moving parts that can modify the phase of incident light over many spatial scales, potentially with higher resolution than current approaches. Current deformable mirrors modify the incident wavefront by using nano-actuation of a substrate to physically bend the mirror to a desired shape. The purpose of the innovation is to modify the incident wavefront for the purpose of correction of fabrication and alignment-induced wavefront errors at the system level. The advanced degree of precision required for some applications such as gravity wave detection (LISA - Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) or planet finding (FKSI - Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer) requires wavefront control at the limits of the current state of the art. All the steps required to fabricate a magnetic mirror have been demonstrated. The modification is to apply a bias voltage to the dielectric layer so as to change the index of refraction and modify the phase of the reflected radiation. Light is reflected off the device and collected by a phase-sensing interferometer. The interferometer determines the initial wavefront of the device and fore optics. A wavefront correction is calculated, and voltage profile for each nanowire strip is determined. The voltage is applied, modifying the local index of refraction of the dielectric under the nanowire strip. This modifies the phase of the reflected light to allow wavefront correction.

Nonimaging light concentrator with uniform irradiance

DOEpatents

Winston, Roland; Gee, Randy C.

2003-04-01

A nonimaging light concentrator system including a primary collector of light, an optical mixer disposed near the focal zone for collecting light from the primary collector, the optical mixer having a transparent entrance aperture, an internally reflective housing for substantially total internal reflection of light, a transparent exit aperture and an array of photovoltaic cells disposed near the transparent exit aperture.

Laser-scanned fluorescence of nonlased/normal, lased/normal, nonlased/carious, and lased/carious enamel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakariasen, Kenneth L.; Barron, Joseph R.; Paton, Barry E.

1992-06-01

Research has shown that low levels of CO2 laser irradiation raise enamel resistance to sub-surface demineralization. Additionally, laser scanned fluorescence analysis of enamel, as well a laser and white light reflection studies, have potential for both clinical diagnosis and comparative research investigations of the caries process. This study was designed to compare laser fluorescence and laser/white light reflection of (1) non-lased/normal with lased/normal enamel and (2) non-lased/normal with non-lased/carious and lased/carious enamel. Specimens were buccal surfaces of extracted third molars, coated with acid resistant varnish except for either two or three 2.25 mm2 windows (two window specimens: non-lased/normal, lased/normal--three window specimens: non-lased/normal, non-lased carious, lased/carious). Teeth exhibiting carious windows were immersed in a demineralizing solution for twelve days. Non-carious windows were covered with wax during immersion. Following immersion, the wax was removed, and fluorescence and laser/white light reflection analyses were performed on all windows utilizing a custom scanning laser fluorescence spectrometer which focuses light from a 25 mWatt He-Cd laser at 442 nm through an objective lens onto a cross-section >= 3 (mu) in diameter. For laser/white light reflection analyses, reflected light intensities were measured. A HeNe laser was used for laser light reflection studies. Following analyses, the teeth are sectioned bucco-lingually into 80 micrometers sections, examined under polarized light microscopy, and the lesions photographed. This permits comparison between fluorescence/reflected light values and the visualized decalcification areas for each section, and thus comparisons between various enamel treatments and normal enamel. The enamel specimens are currently being analyzed.

Compact reflective imaging spectrometer utilizing immersed gratings

DOEpatents

Chrisp, Michael P [Danville, CA

2006-05-09

A compact imaging spectrometer comprising an entrance slit for directing light, a first mirror that receives said light and reflects said light, an immersive diffraction grating that diffracts said light, a second mirror that focuses said light, and a detector array that receives said focused light. The compact imaging spectrometer can be utilized for remote sensing imaging spectrometers where size and weight are of primary importance.

Hollow lensing duct

DOEpatents

Beach, Raymond J.; Honea, Eric C.; Bibeau, Camille; Mitchell, Scott; Lang, John; Maderas, Dennis; Speth, Joel; Payne, Stephen A.

2000-01-01

A hollow lensing duct to condense (intensify) light using a combination of focusing using a spherical or cylindrical lens followed by reflective waveguiding. The hollow duct tapers down from a wide input side to a narrow output side, with the input side consisting of a lens that may be coated with an antireflective coating for more efficient transmission into the duct. The inside surfaces of the hollow lens duct are appropriately coated to be reflective, preventing light from escaping by reflection as it travels along the duct (reflective waveguiding). The hollow duct has various applications for intensifying light, such as in the coupling of diode array pump light to solid state lasing materials.

Nanostructured Antireflective and Thermoisolative Cicada Wings.

PubMed

Morikawa, Junko; Ryu, Meguya; Seniutinas, Gediminas; Balčytis, Armandas; Maximova, Ksenia; Wang, Xuewen; Zamengo, Massimiliano; Ivanova, Elena P; Juodkazis, Saulius

2016-05-10

Inter-related mechanical, thermal, and optical macroscopic properties of biomaterials are defined at the nanoscale by their constituent structures and patterns, which underpin complex functions of an entire bio-object. Here, the temperature diffusivity of a cicada (Cyclochila australasiae) wing with nanotextured surfaces was measured using two complementary techniques: a direct contact method and IR imaging. The 4-6-μm-thick wing section was shown to have a thermal diffusivity of α⊥ = (0.71 ± 0.15) × 10(-7) m(2)/s, as measured by the contact temperature wave method along the thickness of the wing; it corresponds to the inherent thermal property of the cuticle. The in-plane thermal diffusivity value of the wing was determined by IR imaging and was considerably larger at α∥ = (3.6 ± 0.2) × 10(-7) m(2)/s as a result of heat transport via air. Optical properties of wings covered with nanospikes were numerically simulated using an accurate 3D model of the wing pattern and showed that light is concentrated between spikes where intensity is enhanced by up to 3- to 4-fold. The closely packed pattern of nanospikes reduces the reflectivity of the wing throughout the visible light spectrum and over a wide range of incident angles, hence acting as an antireflection coating.

Light scattering by randomly oriented cubes and parallelepipeds. [for interpretation of observed data from planetary atmospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liou, K. N.; Cai, Q.; Pollack, J. B.; Cuzzi, J. N.

1983-01-01

In this paper, the geometric ray tracing theory for the scattering of light by hexagonal cylinders to cubes and parallelepipeds has been modified. Effects of the real and imaginary parts of the refractive index and aspect ratio of the particle on the scattering phase function and the degree of linear polarization are investigated. Causes of the physical features in the scattering polarization patterns are identified in terms of the scattering contribution due to geometric reflections and refractions. The single-scattering phase function and polarization data presented in this paper should be of some use for the interpretation of observed scattering and polarization data from planetary atmospheres and for the physical understanding of the transfer of radiation in an atmosphere containing nonspherical particles.

Vision requirements for Space Station applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crouse, K. R.

1985-01-01

Problems which will be encountered by computer vision systems in Space Station operations are discussed, along with solutions be examined at Johnson Space Station. Lighting cannot be controlled in space, nor can the random presence of reflective surfaces. Task-oriented capabilities are to include docking to moving objects, identification of unexpected objects during autonomous flights to different orbits, and diagnoses of damage and repair requirements for autonomous Space Station inspection robots. The approaches being examined to provide these and other capabilities are television IR sensors, advanced pattern recognition programs feeding on data from laser probes, laser radar for robot eyesight and arrays of SMART sensors for automated location and tracking of target objects. Attention is also being given to liquid crystal light valves for optical processing of images for comparisons with on-board electronic libraries of images.

Transparent conductor-embedding nanocones for selective emitters: optical and electrical improvements of Si solar cells

PubMed Central

Kim, Joondong; Yun, Ju-Hyung; Kim, Hyunyub; Cho, Yunae; Park, Hyeong-Ho; Kumar, M. Melvin David; Yi, Junsin; Anderson, Wayne A.; Kim, Dong-Wook

2015-01-01

Periodical nanocone-arrays were employed in an emitter region for high efficient Si solar cells. Conventional wet-etching process was performed to form the nanocone-arrays for a large area, which spontaneously provides the graded doping features for a selective emitter. This enables to lower the electrical contact resistance and enhances the carrier collection due to the high electric field distribution through a nanocone. Optically, the convex-shaped nanocones efficiently reduce light-reflection and the incident light is effectively focused into Si via nanocone structure, resulting in an extremely improved the carrier collection performances. This nanocone-arrayed selective emitter simultaneously satisfies optical and electrical improvement. We report the record high efficiency of 16.3% for the periodically nanoscale patterned emitter Si solar cell. PMID:25787933

Transparent conductor-embedding nanocones for selective emitters: optical and electrical improvements of Si solar cells.

PubMed

Kim, Joondong; Yun, Ju-Hyung; Kim, Hyunyub; Cho, Yunae; Park, Hyeong-Ho; Kumar, M Melvin David; Yi, Junsin; Anderson, Wayne A; Kim, Dong-Wook

2015-03-19

Periodical nanocone-arrays were employed in an emitter region for high efficient Si solar cells. Conventional wet-etching process was performed to form the nanocone-arrays for a large area, which spontaneously provides the graded doping features for a selective emitter. This enables to lower the electrical contact resistance and enhances the carrier collection due to the high electric field distribution through a nanocone. Optically, the convex-shaped nanocones efficiently reduce light-reflection and the incident light is effectively focused into Si via nanocone structure, resulting in an extremely improved the carrier collection performances. This nanocone-arrayed selective emitter simultaneously satisfies optical and electrical improvement. We report the record high efficiency of 16.3% for the periodically nanoscale patterned emitter Si solar cell.

Simultaneous measurements of absorption spectrum and refractive index in a microfluidic system.

PubMed

Helseth, Lars Egil

2012-02-13

The characterization of dyes in various solvents requires determination of the absorption spectrum of the dye as well as the refractive index of the solvent. Typically, the refractive index of the solvent and the absorption spectrum of the solute are measured using separate experimental setups where significant liquid volumes are required. In this work the first optical measurement system that is able to do simultaneous measurements of the refractive index of the solvent and the spectral properties of the solute in a microscopic volume is presented. The laser dye Rhodamine 6G in glycerol is investigated, and the refractive index of the solution is monitored using the interference pattern of the light scattered off the channel, while its spectral properties is found by monitoring reflected light from the channel.

Thin-film thickness measurement method based on the reflection interference spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Li Na; Feng, Gao; Shu, Zhang

2012-09-01

A method is introduced to measure the thin-film thickness, refractive index and other optical constants. When a beam of white light shines on the surface of the sample film, the reflected lights of the upper and the lower surface of the thin-film will interfere with each other and reflectivity of the film will fluctuate with light wavelength. The reflection interference spectrum is analyzed with software according to the database, while the thickness and refractive index of the thin-film is measured.

Polarization-balanced beamsplitter

DOEpatents

Decker, D.E.

1998-02-17

A beamsplitter assembly is disclosed that includes several beamsplitter cubes arranged to define a plurality of polarization-balanced light paths. Each polarization-balanced light path contains one or more balanced pairs of light paths, where each balanced pair of light paths includes either two transmission light paths with orthogonal polarization effects or two reflection light paths with orthogonal polarization effects. The orthogonal pairing of said transmission and reflection light paths cancels polarization effects otherwise caused by beamsplitting. 10 figs.

LASER APPLICATIONS AND OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Selective reflection of obliquely incident polarised light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fofanov, Ya A.

2009-06-01

A series of reflection resonances formed by the hyperfine components of the D2-lines in the spectrum of the natural mixture of rubidium isotopes is studied. Passages from resonantly frustrated total internal reflection to resonance Brewster reflection caused by the frequency tuning of the incident light are demonstrated experimentally. The contrast of the strongest refection resonances exceeds 500% at the moderate heating of reflecting cells. The intensity of the reflected light changes in this case by more than 20 times. A theory is developed which is based on a two-level model for resonance atoms and Fresnel formulas for reflection coefficients. Numerical calculations based on the proposed theory confirm main experimental results.

Representations and uses of light distribution functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lalonde, Paul Albert

1998-11-01

At their lowest level, all rendering algorithms depend on models of local illumination to define the interplay of light with the surfaces being rendered. These models depend both on the representations of light scattering at a surface due to reflection and to an equal extent on the representation of light sources and light fields. Both emission and reflection have in common that they describe how light leaves a surface as a function of direction. Reflection also depends on an incident light direction. Emission can depend on the position on the light source We call the functions representing emission and reflection light distribution functions (LDF's). There are some difficulties to using measured light distribution functions. The data sets are very large-the size of the data grows with the fourth power of the sampling resolution. For example, a bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) sampled at five degrees angular resolution, which is arguably insufficient to capture highlights and other high frequency effects in the reflection, can easily require one and a half million samples. Once acquired this data requires some form of interpolation to use them. Any compression method used must be efficient, both in space and in the time required to evaluate the function at a point or over a range of points. This dissertation examines a wavelet representation of light distribution functions that addresses these issues. A data structure is presented that allows efficient reconstruction of LDFs for a given set of parameters, making the wavelet representation feasible for rendering tasks. Texture mapping methods that take advantage of our LDF representations are examined, as well as techniques for filtering LDFs, and methods for using wavelet compressed bidirection reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs) and light sources with Monte Carlo path tracing algorithms. The wavelet representation effectively compresses BRDF and emission data while inducing only a small error in the reconstructed signal. The representation can be used to evaluate efficiently some integrals that appear in shading computation which allows fast, accurate computation of local shading. The representation can be used to represent light fields and is used to reconstruct views of environments interactively from a precomputed set of views. The representation of the BRDF also allows the efficient generation of reflected directions for Monte Carlo array tracing applications. The method can be integrated into many different global illumination algorithms, including ray tracers and wavelet radiosity systems.

Implicit and Explicit Evaluation of Visual Symmetry as a Function of Art Expertise.

PubMed

Weichselbaum, Hanna; Leder, Helmut; Ansorge, Ulrich

2018-01-01

In perception, humans typically prefer symmetrical over asymmetrical patterns. Yet, little is known about differences in symmetry preferences depending on individuals' different past histories of actively reflecting upon pictures and patterns. To address this question, we tested the generality of the symmetry preference for different levels of individual art expertise. The preference for symmetrical versus asymmetrical abstract patterns was measured implicitly, by an Implicit Association Test (IAT), and explicitly, by a rating scale asking participants to evaluate pattern beauty. Participants were art history and psychology students. Art expertise was measured using a questionnaire. In the IAT, art expertise did not alter the preference for symmetrical over asymmetrical patterns. In contrast, the explicit rating scale showed that with higher art expertise, the ratings for the beauty of asymmetrical patterns significantly increased, but, again, participants preferred symmetrical over asymmetrical patterns. The results are discussed in light of different theories on the origins of symmetry preference. Evolutionary adaptation might play a role in symmetry preferences for art experts similarly to nonexperts, but experts tend to emphasize the beauty of asymmetrical depictions, eventually considering different criteria, when asked explicitly to indicate their preferences.

Implicit and Explicit Evaluation of Visual Symmetry as a Function of Art Expertise

PubMed Central

Leder, Helmut; Ansorge, Ulrich

2018-01-01

In perception, humans typically prefer symmetrical over asymmetrical patterns. Yet, little is known about differences in symmetry preferences depending on individuals’ different past histories of actively reflecting upon pictures and patterns. To address this question, we tested the generality of the symmetry preference for different levels of individual art expertise. The preference for symmetrical versus asymmetrical abstract patterns was measured implicitly, by an Implicit Association Test (IAT), and explicitly, by a rating scale asking participants to evaluate pattern beauty. Participants were art history and psychology students. Art expertise was measured using a questionnaire. In the IAT, art expertise did not alter the preference for symmetrical over asymmetrical patterns. In contrast, the explicit rating scale showed that with higher art expertise, the ratings for the beauty of asymmetrical patterns significantly increased, but, again, participants preferred symmetrical over asymmetrical patterns. The results are discussed in light of different theories on the origins of symmetry preference. Evolutionary adaptation might play a role in symmetry preferences for art experts similarly to nonexperts, but experts tend to emphasize the beauty of asymmetrical depictions, eventually considering different criteria, when asked explicitly to indicate their preferences. PMID:29755722

Effect of etching parameters on antireflection properties of Si subwavelength grating structures for solar cell applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leem, J. W.; Song, Y. M.; Lee, Y. T.; Yu, J. S.

2010-09-01

Silicon (Si) subwavelength grating (SWG) structures were fabricated on Si substrates by holographic lithography and subsequent inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching process using SiCl4 with or without Ar addition for solar cell applications. To ensure a good nanosized pattern transfer into the underlying Si layer, the etch selectivity of Si over the photoresist mask is optimized by varying the etching parameters, thus improving antireflection characteristics. For antireflection analysis of Si SWG surfaces, the optical reflectivity is measured experimentally and it is also calculated theoretically by a rigorous coupled-wave analysis. The reflectance depends on the height, period, and shape of two-dimensional periodic Si subwavelength structures, correlated with ICP etching parameters. The optimized Si SWG structure exhibits a dramatic decrease in optical reflection of the Si surface over a wide angle of incident light ( θ i ), i.e. less than 5% at wavelengths of 300-1100 nm, leading to good wide-angle antireflection characteristics (i.e. solar-weighted reflection of 1.7-4.9% at θ i <50°) of Si solar cells.

Forensic photography. Ultraviolet imaging of wounds on skin.

PubMed

Barsley, R E; West, M H; Fair, J A

1990-12-01

The use of ultraviolet light (UVL) to study and document patterned injuries on human skin has opened a new frontier for law enforcement. This article discusses the photographic techniques involved in reflective and fluorescent UVL. Documentation of skin wounds via still photography and dynamic video photographic techniques, which utilize various methods of UV illumination, are covered. Techniques important for courtroom presentation of evidence gathered from lacerations, contusions, abrasions, and bite marks are presented through case studies and controlled experiments. Such injuries are common sequelae in the crimes of child abuse, rape, and assault.

Spider Silk: Mother Nature's Bio-Superlens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monks, James N.; Yan, Bing; Hawkins, Nicholas; Vollrath, Fritz; Wang, Zengbo

2016-09-01

This paper demonstrates a possible new microfiber bio near field lens that uses minor ampullate spider silk,spun from the Nephila edulis spider, to create a real time image of a surface using near field optical techniques. The microfiber bio lens is the world's first natural superlens created by exploring biological materials. The resolution of the surface image overcomes the diffraction limit, with the ability to resolve patterns at 100 nm under a standard white light source in reflection mode. This resolution offers further developments in superlens technology and paves the way for new bio optics.

Wafer-scale aluminum nano-plasmonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

George, Matthew C.; Nielson, Stew; Petrova, Rumyana; Frasier, James; Gardner, Eric

2014-09-01

The design, characterization, and optical modeling of aluminum nano-hole arrays are discussed for potential applications in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and surface-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy (SEFS). In addition, recently-commercialized work on narrow-band, cloaked wire grid polarizers composed of nano-stacked metal and dielectric layers patterned over 200 mm diameter wafers for projection display applications is reviewed. The stacked sub-wavelength nanowire grid results in a narrow-band reduction in reflectance by 1-2 orders of magnitude, which can be tuned throughout the visible spectrum for stray light control.

Goos-Hänchen shifts of partially coherent light beams from a cavity with a four-level Raman gain medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziauddin; Lee, Ray-Kuang; Qamar, Sajid

2016-09-01

We theoretically investigate spatial and angular Goos-Hänchen (GH) shifts (both negative and positive) in the reflected light for a partial coherent light incident on a cavity. A four-level Raman gain atomic medium is considered in a cavity. The effects of spatial coherence, beam width, and mode index of partial coherent light fields on spatial and angular GH shifts are studied. Our results reveal that a large magnitude of negative and positive GH shifts in the reflected light is achievable with the introduction of partial coherent light fields. Furthermore, the amplitude of spatial (negative and positive) GH shifts are sharply affected by the partial coherent light beam as compared to angular (negative and positive) GH shifts in the reflected light.

Extraordinary reflection and transmission with direction dependent wavelength selectivity based on parity-time-symmetric multilayers

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

Ding, Shulin; Wang, Guo Ping, E-mail: gpwang@szu.edu.cn; College of Electronic Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060

In this paper, we present a kind of periodical ternary parity-time (PT) -symmetric multilayers to realize nearly 100% reflectance and transmittance simultaneously when light is incident from a certain direction. This extraordinary reflection and transmission is original from unidirectional Bragg reflection of PT-symmetric systems as the symmetry spontaneous breaking happens at PT thresholds. The extra energy involved in reflection and transmission lights is obtained from pumping light to the gain regions of the structure. Moreover, we find that our PT-symmetric structure shows direction dependent wavelength selectivity. When the illumination light is incident from two opposite directions into the multilayer structure,more » such extraordinary reflection and transmission appear at visible and near-infrared wavelengths, respectively. Such distinguishing properties may provide these structures with attractive applications as beam splitters, laser mirrors, narrow band filters, and multiband PT-symmetric optical devices.« less

Optically Remote Noncontact Heart Rates Sensing Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thongkongoum, W.; Boonduang, S.; Limsuwan, P.

2017-09-01

Heart rate monitoring via optically remote noncontact technique was reported in this research. A green laser (5 mW, 532±10 nm) was projected onto the left carotid artery. The reflected laser light on the screen carried the deviation of the interference patterns. The interference patterns were recorded by the digital camera. The recorded videos of the interference patterns were frame by frame analysed by 2 standard digital image processing (DIP) techniques, block matching (BM) and optical flow (OF) techniques. The region of interest (ROI) pixels within the interference patterns were analysed for periodically changes of the interference patterns due to the heart pumping action. Both results of BM and OF techniques were compared with the reference medical heart rate monitoring device by which a contact measurement using pulse transit technique. The results obtained from BM technique was 74.67 bpm (beats per minute) and OF technique was 75.95 bpm. Those results when compared with the reference value of 75.43±1 bpm, the errors were found to be 1.01% and 0.69%, respectively.

Realization of 95% of the Rec. 2020 color gamut in a highly efficient LCD using a patterned quantum dot film.

PubMed

Kim, Hyo-Jun; Shin, Min-Ho; Lee, Jae-Yong; Kim, Ji-Hoon; Kim, Young-Joo

2017-05-15

An optically efficient liquid-crystal display (LCD) structure using a patterned quantum dot (QD) film and a short-pass filter (SPF) was proposed and fabricated. The patterned QD film contributed to the generation of 95% in the area ratio (or 90% in the coverage ratio) of the Rec. 2020 color gamut. This was achieved by avoiding the problem of interaction between white backlight and broad transmittance spectra of color filters (CFs) as seen in a conventional LCD with a mixed QD film as a reference. The patterned QD film can maintain the narrow bandwidth of the green and the red QD colors before passing through the CFs. Additionally, the optical intensities of the red, green, and blue spectra were enhanced to 1.63, 1.72, and 2.16 times the reference LCD values, respectively. This was a result of separated emission of the red and green patterned QD film and reflection of the red and green light to the forward direction by the SPF.

Schlieren optics for leak detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peale, Robert E.; Ruffin, Alranzo B.

1995-01-01

The purpose of this research was to develop an optical method of leak detection. Various modifications of schlieren optics were explored with initial emphasis on leak detection of the plumbing within the orbital maneuvering system of the space shuttle (OMS pod). The schlieren scheme envisioned for OMS pod leak detection was that of a high contrast pattern on flexible reflecting material imaged onto a negative of the same pattern. We find that the OMS pod geometry constrains the characteristic length scale of the pattern to the order of 0.001 inch. Our experiments suggest that optical modulation transfer efficiency will be very low for such patterns, which will limit the sensitivity of the technique. Optical elements which allow a negative of the scene to be reversibly recorded using light from the scene itself were explored for their potential in adaptive single-ended schlieren systems. Elements studied include photochromic glass, bacteriorhodopsin, and a transmissive liquid crystal display. The dynamics of writing and reading patterns were studied using intensity profiles from recorded images. Schlieren detection of index gradients in air was demonstrated.

Using Citizen Science Observations to Model Species Distributions Over Space, Through Time, and Across Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelling, S.

2017-12-01

The goal of Biodiversity research is to identify, explain, and predict why a species' distribution and abundance vary through time, space, and with features of the environment. Measuring these patterns and predicting their responses to change are not exercises in curiosity. Today, they are essential tasks for understanding the profound effects that humans have on earth's natural systems, and for developing science-based environmental policies. To gain insight about species' distribution patterns requires studying natural systems at appropriate scales, yet studies of ecological processes continue to be compromised by inadequate attention to scale issues. How spatial and temporal patterns in nature change with scale often reflects fundamental laws of physics, chemistry, or biology, and we can identify such basic, governing laws only by comparing patterns over a wide range of scales. This presentation will provide several examples that integrate bird observations made by volunteers, with NASA Earth Imagery using Big Data analysis techniques to analyze the temporal patterns of bird occurrence across scales—from hemisphere-wide views of bird distributions to the impact of powerful city lights on bird migration.

Differences in visible and near-infrared light reflectance between orange fruit and leaves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gausman, H. W.; Escobar, D. E.; Berumen, A.

1975-01-01

The objective was to find the best time during the season (April 26, 1972 to January 8, 1973) to distinguish orange fruit from leaves by spectrophotometrically determining at 10-day intervals when the difference in visible (550- and 650-nm wavelengths) and near-infrared (850-nm wavelength) light reflectance between fruit and nearby leaves was largest. December 5 to January 8 was the best time to distinguish fruit from leaves. During this period the fruit's color was rapidly changing from green to yellow, and the difference in visible light reflectance between fruit and leaves was largest. The difference in near-infrared reflectance between leaves and fruit remained essentially constant during ripening when the difference in visible light reflectance between leaves and fruit was largest.

Going beyond the reflectance limit of cholesteric liquid crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitov, Michel; Dessaud, Nathalie

2006-05-01

Cholesteric liquid-crystalline states of matter are abundant in nature: atherosclerosis, arthropod cuticles, condensed phases of DNA, plant cell walls, human compact bone osteon, and chiral biopolymers. The self-organized helical structure produces unique optical properties. Light is reflected when the wavelength matches the pitch (twice periodicity); cholesteric liquid crystals are not only coloured filters, but also reflectors and polarizers. But, in theory, the reflectance is limited to 50% of the ambient (unpolarized) light because circularly polarized light of the same handedness as the helix is reflected. Here we give details of a cholesteric medium for which the reflectance limit is exceeded. Photopolymerizable monomers are introduced into a cholesteric medium exhibiting a thermally induced helicity inversion, and the blend is then cured with ultraviolet light when the helix is right-handed. Because of memory effects attributable to the polymer network, the reflectance exceeds 50% when measured at the temperature assigned for a cholesteric helix with the same pitch but a left-handed sense before the reaction. As cholesteric materials are used as tunable bandpass filters, reflectors or polarizers and temperature or pressure sensors, novel opportunities to modulate the reflection over the whole light flux range, instead of only 50%, are offered.

A unified account of perceptual layering and surface appearance in terms of gamut relativity.

PubMed

Vladusich, Tony; McDonnell, Mark D

2014-01-01

When we look at the world--or a graphical depiction of the world--we perceive surface materials (e.g. a ceramic black and white checkerboard) independently of variations in illumination (e.g. shading or shadow) and atmospheric media (e.g. clouds or smoke). Such percepts are partly based on the way physical surfaces and media reflect and transmit light and partly on the way the human visual system processes the complex patterns of light reaching the eye. One way to understand how these percepts arise is to assume that the visual system parses patterns of light into layered perceptual representations of surfaces, illumination and atmospheric media, one seen through another. Despite a great deal of previous experimental and modelling work on layered representation, however, a unified computational model of key perceptual demonstrations is still lacking. Here we present the first general computational model of perceptual layering and surface appearance--based on a boarder theoretical framework called gamut relativity--that is consistent with these demonstrations. The model (a) qualitatively explains striking effects of perceptual transparency, figure-ground separation and lightness, (b) quantitatively accounts for the role of stimulus- and task-driven constraints on perceptual matching performance, and (c) unifies two prominent theoretical frameworks for understanding surface appearance. The model thereby provides novel insights into the remarkable capacity of the human visual system to represent and identify surface materials, illumination and atmospheric media, which can be exploited in computer graphics applications.

A Unified Account of Perceptual Layering and Surface Appearance in Terms of Gamut Relativity

PubMed Central

Vladusich, Tony; McDonnell, Mark D.

2014-01-01

When we look at the world—or a graphical depiction of the world—we perceive surface materials (e.g. a ceramic black and white checkerboard) independently of variations in illumination (e.g. shading or shadow) and atmospheric media (e.g. clouds or smoke). Such percepts are partly based on the way physical surfaces and media reflect and transmit light and partly on the way the human visual system processes the complex patterns of light reaching the eye. One way to understand how these percepts arise is to assume that the visual system parses patterns of light into layered perceptual representations of surfaces, illumination and atmospheric media, one seen through another. Despite a great deal of previous experimental and modelling work on layered representation, however, a unified computational model of key perceptual demonstrations is still lacking. Here we present the first general computational model of perceptual layering and surface appearance—based on a boarder theoretical framework called gamut relativity—that is consistent with these demonstrations. The model (a) qualitatively explains striking effects of perceptual transparency, figure-ground separation and lightness, (b) quantitatively accounts for the role of stimulus- and task-driven constraints on perceptual matching performance, and (c) unifies two prominent theoretical frameworks for understanding surface appearance. The model thereby provides novel insights into the remarkable capacity of the human visual system to represent and identify surface materials, illumination and atmospheric media, which can be exploited in computer graphics applications. PMID:25402466

Electro-optic study of PZT ferroelectric ceramics using modulation of reflected light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kniazkov, A. V.

2016-04-01

Electro-optic coefficients of variations in the refractive index of PZT and PLZT ceramic materials induced by ac electric field are estimated using modulation of reflected light. The electro-optic coefficients of PLZT ceramics measured with the aid of conventional birefringence using the phase shift of transmitted radiation and the proposed method of birefringence using the modulation of reflected light are compared.

Studies of the Reflection, Refraction and Internal Reflection of Light

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lanchester, P. C.

2014-01-01

An inexpensive apparatus and associated experiments are described for studying the basic laws of reflection and refraction of light at an air-glass interface, and multiple internal reflections within a glass block. In order to motivate students and encourage their active participation, a novel technique is described for determining the refractive…

Graphical Approach to Fresnel's Equations for Reflection and Refraction of Light.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doyle, William T.

1980-01-01

Develops a coordinate-free approach to Fresnel's equations for the reflection and refraction of light at a plane interface. Describes a graphical construction for finding the vector amplitudes of the reflected and transmitted waves. (Author/CS)

Reflection Matrix Method for Controlling Light After Reflection From a Diffuse Scattering Surface

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-22

reflective inverse diffusion, which was a proof-of-concept experiment that used phase modulation to shape the wavefront of a laser causing it to refocus...after reflection from a rough surface. By refocusing the light, reflective inverse diffusion has the potential to eliminate the complex radiometric model...photography. However, the initial reflective inverse diffusion experiments provided no mathematical background and were conducted under the premise that the

Cloud Imagers Offer New Details on Earth's Health

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2009-01-01

A stunning red sunset or purple sunrise is an aesthetic treat with a scientific explanation: The colors are a direct result of the absorption or reflectance of solar radiation by atmospheric aerosols, minute particles (either solid or liquid) in the Earth s atmosphere that occur both naturally and because of human activity. At the beginning or end of the day, the Sun s rays travel farther through the atmosphere to reach an observer s eyes and more green and yellow light is scattered, making the Sun appear red. Sunset and sunrise are especially colorful when the concentration of atmospheric particles is high. This ability of aerosols to absorb and reflect sunlight is not just pretty; it also determines the amount of radiation and heat that reaches the Earth s surface, and can profoundly affect climate. In the atmosphere, aerosols are also important as nuclei for the condensation of water droplets and ice crystals. Clouds with fewer aerosols cannot form as many water droplets (called cloud particles), and consequently, do not scatter light well. In this case, more sunlight reaches the Earth s surface. When aerosol levels in clouds are high, however, more nucleation points can form small liquid water droplets. These smaller cloud particles can reflect up to 90 percent of visible radiation to space, keeping the heat from ever reaching Earth s surface. The tendency for these particles to absorb or reflect the Sun s energy - called extinction by astronomers - depends on a number of factors, including chemical composition and the humidity and temperature in the surrounding air; because cloud particles are so small, they are affected quickly by minute changes in the atmosphere. Because of this sensitivity, atmospheric scientists study cloud particles to anticipate patterns and shifts in climate. Until recently, NASA s study of atmospheric aerosols and cloud particles has been focused primarily on satellite images, which, while granting large-scale atmospheric analysis, limited scientists ability to acquire detailed information about individual particles. Now, experiments with specialized equipment can be flown on standard jets, making it possible for researchers to monitor and more accurately anticipate changes in Earth s atmosphere and weather patterns.

Hubble and a Stellar Fingerprint

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-03-04

Showcased at the center of this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image is an emission-line star known as IRAS 12196-6300. Located just under 2,300 light-years from Earth, this star displays prominent emission lines, meaning that the star’s light, dispersed into a spectrum, shows up as a rainbow of colors marked with a characteristic pattern of dark and bright lines. The characteristics of these lines, when compared to the “fingerprints” left by particular atoms and molecules, can be used to reveal IRAS 12196-6300’s chemical composition. Under 10 million years old and not yet burning hydrogen at its core, unlike the sun, this star is still in its infancy. Further evidence of IRAS 12196-6300’s youth is provided by the presence of reflection nebulae. These hazy clouds, pictured floating above and below IRAS 12196-6300, are created when light from a star reflects off a high concentration of nearby dust, such as the dusty material still remaining from IRAS 12196-6300’s formation. Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Lamp method and apparatus using multiple reflections

DOEpatents

MacLennan, Donald A.; Turner, Brian P.

2001-01-01

An electrodeless microwave discharge lamp includes an envelope with a discharge forming fill disposed therein which emits light, the fill being capable of absorbing light at one wavelength and re-emitting the absorbed light at a different wavelength, the light emitted from the fill having a first spectral power distribution in the absence of reflection of light back into the fill, a source of microwave energy coupled to the fill to excite the fill and cause the fill to emit light, and a reflector disposed within the microwave cavity and configured to reflect at least some of the light emitted by the fill back into the fill while allowing some light to exit, the exiting light having a second spectral power distribution with proportionately more light in the visible region as compared to the first spectral power distribution, wherein the light re-emitted by the fill is shifted in wavelength with respect to the absorbed light and the magnitude of the shift is in relation to an effective optical path length.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 42 crew

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-02-11

ISS042E241898 (02/11/2015) --- Texas and the Gulf Coast at night as seen by the International Space Stations Earth observation cameras. This wide-angle, nighttime image was taken by astronauts looking out southeastward over the Gulf of Mexico. Lower center left shows the twin lights of San Antonio Texas with a short string of lights to Austin (further left). Houston, the home of the Johnson Space Center is the brightest directly above (Center left). Moonlight reflects diffusely off the waters of the gulf (image center left) making the largest but diffused illuminated area in the image. The sharp edge of light patterns of coastal cities trace out the long curve of the gulf shoreline—from New Orleans at the mouth of the Mississippi River, to Houston (both image left), to Brownsville (image center) in the westernmost gulf. City lights at great distances in Florida (image top left) and on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula (image center right) suggest the full extent of the gulf basin, more than 930 miles, from Brownsville to Florida.

Non-ARC solution to metal reflective notching: its evaluation and selection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buffat, Stephen J.

1997-07-01

Patterning photoresists on reflective topography such as aluminum is one of the more difficult problems in device manufacturing. Interference effects caused by reflected light from the substrate/photoresist interface and surface topography result in coupling of additional energy into the film. This leads to linewidth variation known as reflective notching which severely impacts process latitude and increases critical dimension variation. For many years, suppliers approached the problem by adding dyes that absorb in the actinic region to create a larger non-bleachable absorption. In recent years, strongly absorbing intermediate layers or ARC's, both organic and inorganic, have seen widespread implementation to control reflective notching. However, if a fab is not equipped to accommodate the required ARC process, the processing can be very time consuming, cumbersome and costly. This study was undertaken to determine if a non-ARC, i-line photoresist process could be developed to reduce or eliminate aluminum reflective notching and accompanying critical dimension variation. This study was designed to screen, identify, and characterize various resist chemistries. Based on the screening characterization, a final, cost effective resist chemistry without ARC was selected, fully characterized and transferred into production. The selected material is currently being used in a high volume 0.60 micrometers CMOS, 200 mm wafer manufacturing process.

Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas

DOEpatents

Benson, David K.; Bechinger, Clemens S.; Tracy, C. Edwin

1998-01-01

A fiber-optic device for sensing the presence of a gas in an environment is provided. The device comprises a light source for directing a light beam to a layer system having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface is exposable to the light beam and the second surface is exposable to the environment. A first light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence free from optical wave guide resonance phenomenon and the second light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence enabling an optical wave guide resonance phenomenon. The layer system is selected to reversibly react with the gas to be detected. The reaction between the gas and the material changes the material's optical properties and the wavelength at which the optical wave guide resonance occurs. Furthermore, a mechanism for measuring the intensity of the reflected first light portion relative to the reflected second light portion is provided with the ratio of the first and second light portions indicating the concentration of the gas presence in the environment.

Monitoring and Detecting the Cigarette Beetle (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) Using Ultraviolet (LED) Direct and Reflected Lights and/or Pheromone Traps in a Laboratory and a Storehouse.

PubMed

Miyatake, Takahisa; Yokoi, Tomoyuki; Fuchikawa, Taro; Korehisa, Nobuyoshi; Kamura, Toru; Nanba, Kana; Ryouji, Shinsuke; Kamioka, Nagisa; Hironaka, Mantaro; Osada, Midori; Hariyama, Takahiko; Sasaki, Rikiya; Shinoda, Kazutaka

2016-12-01

The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), is an important stored-product pest worldwide because it damages dry foods. Detection and removal of the female L. serricorne will help to facilitate the control of the insect by removal of the egg-laying populations. In this manuscript, we examined the responses by L. serricorne to direct and reflected light in transparent cube (50 m3) set in a chamber (200 m3) and a stored facility with both direct and reflected UV-LED lights. The study also examined the responses by the beetles to light in the presence or absence of pheromone in traps that are placed at different heights. Reflected light attracted more beetles than the direct light in the experimental chamber, but the direct light traps attracted more beetles than the reflected light traps in the storehouse. Pheromone traps attracted only males; UV-LED traps attracted both sexes. The UV-LED traps with a pheromone, i.e., combined trap, attracted more males than UV-LED light traps without a pheromone, whereas the attraction of UV-LED traps with and without the pheromone was similar in females. The results suggest that UV-LED light trap combined with a sex pheromone is the best solution for monitoring and controlling L. serricorne. © The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Using high haze (> 90%) light-trapping film to enhance the efficiency of a-Si:H solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Wei-Ping; Lin, Jian-Shian; Lin, Tien-Chai; Tsai, Yu-Sheng; Kuo, Chen-Wei; Chung, Ming-Hua; Hsieh, Tsung-Eong; Liu, Lung-Chang; Juang, Fuh-Shyang; Chen, Nien-Po

2012-07-01

The high haze light-trapping (LT) film offers enhanced scattering of light and is applied to a-Si:H solar cells. UV glue was spin coated on glass, and then the LT pattern was imprinted. Finally, a UV lamp was used to cure the UV glue on the glass. The LT film effectively increased the Haze ratio of glass and decreased the reflectance of a-Si:H solar cells. Therefore, the photon path length was increased to obtain maximum absorption by the absorber layer. High Haze LT film is able to enhance short circuit current density and efficiency of the device, as partial composite film generates broader scattering light, thereby causing shorter wave length light to be absorbed by the P layer so that the short circuit current density decreases. In case of lab-made a-Si:H thin film solar cells with v-shaped LT films, superior optoelectronic performances have been found (Voc = 0.74 V, Jsc = 15.62 mA/cm2, F.F. = 70%, and η = 8.09%). We observed ~ 35% enhancement of the short-circuit current density and ~ 31% enhancement of the conversion efficiency.

A fast method for optical simulation of flood maps of light-sharing detector modules.

PubMed

Shi, Han; Du, Dong; Xu, JianFeng; Moses, William W; Peng, Qiyu

2015-12-01

Optical simulation of the detector module level is highly desired for Position Emission Tomography (PET) system design. Commonly used simulation toolkits such as GATE are not efficient in the optical simulation of detector modules with complicated light-sharing configurations, where a vast amount of photons need to be tracked. We present a fast approach based on a simplified specular reflectance model and a structured light-tracking algorithm to speed up the photon tracking in detector modules constructed with polished finish and specular reflector materials. We simulated conventional block detector designs with different slotted light guide patterns using the new approach and compared the outcomes with those from GATE simulations. While the two approaches generated comparable flood maps, the new approach was more than 200-600 times faster. The new approach has also been validated by constructing a prototype detector and comparing the simulated flood map with the experimental flood map. The experimental flood map has nearly uniformly distributed spots similar to those in the simulated flood map. In conclusion, the new approach provides a fast and reliable simulation tool for assisting in the development of light-sharing-based detector modules with a polished surface finish and using specular reflector materials.

Correlation Analysis of Prompt Emission from Gamma Ray Bursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pothapragada, Sriharsha

Prompt emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) exhibits very rapid, complicated temporal and spectral evolution. This diverse variability in the light-curves reflects the complicated nature of the underlying physics, in which inter-penetrating relativistic shells in the outflow are believed to generate strong magnetic fields that vary over very small scales. We use the theory of jitter radiation to model the emission from such regions and the resulting overall prompt gamma ray emission from a series of relativistic collisionless shocks. We present simulated GRB light-curves developed as a series of "pulses" corresponding to instantaneously illuminated "thin-shell" regions emitting via the jitter radiation mechanism. The effects of various geometries, viewing angles, and bulk Lorentz factor profiles of the radiating outflow jets on the spectral features and evolution of these light-curves are explored. Our results demonstrate how an anisotropic jitter radiation pattern, in conjunction with relativistic shock kinematics, can produce certain features observed in the GRB prompt emission spectra, such as the occurrence of hard, synchrotron violating spectra, the "tracking" of observed flux with spectral parameters, and spectral softening below peak energy within individual episodes of the light curve. We highlight predictions in the light of recent advances in the observational sphere of GRBs.

Monte Carlo simulation of light reflection from cosmetic powders on the skin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okamoto, Takashi; Motoda, Masafumi; Igarashi, Takanori; Nakao, Keisuke

2011-07-01

The reflection and scattering properties of light incident on skin covered with powder particles have been investigated. A three-layer skin structure with a spot is modeled, and the propagation of light in the skin and the scattering of light by particles on the skin surface are simulated by means of a Monte Carlo method. Under the condition in which only single scattering of light occurs in the powder layer, the reflection spectra of light from the skin change dramatically with the size of powder particles. The color difference between normal skin and spots is found to diminish more when powder particles smaller than the wavelength of light are used. It is shown that particle polydispersity suppresses substantially the extreme spectral change caused by monodisperse particles with a size comparable to the light wavelength.

Determination of the complex refractive index segments of turbid sample with multispectral spatially modulated structured light and models approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meitav, Omri; Shaul, Oren; Abookasis, David

2017-09-01

Spectral data enabling the derivation of a biological tissue sample's complex refractive index (CRI) can provide a range of valuable information in the clinical and research contexts. Specifically, changes in the CRI reflect alterations in tissue morphology and chemical composition, enabling its use as an optical marker during diagnosis and treatment. In the present work, we report a method for estimating the real and imaginary parts of the CRI of a biological sample using Kramers-Kronig (KK) relations in the spatial frequency domain. In this method, phase-shifted sinusoidal patterns at single high spatial frequency are serially projected onto the sample surface at different near-infrared wavelengths while a camera mounted normal to the sample surface acquires the reflected diffuse light. In the offline analysis pipeline, recorded images at each wavelength are converted to spatial phase maps using KK analysis and are then calibrated against phase-models derived from diffusion approximation. The amplitude of the reflected light, together with phase data, is then introduced into Fresnel equations to resolve both real and imaginary segments of the CRI at each wavelength. The technique was validated in tissue-mimicking phantoms with known optical parameters and in mouse models of ischemic injury and heat stress. Experimental data obtained indicate variations in the CRI among brain tissue suffering from injury. CRI fluctuations correlated with alterations in the scattering and absorption coefficients of the injured tissue are demonstrated. This technique for deriving dynamic changes in the CRI of tissue may be further developed as a clinical diagnostic tool and for biomedical research applications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the estimation of the spectral CRI of a mouse head following injury obtained in the spatial frequency domain.

Noniterative algorithm for improving the accuracy of a multicolor-light-emitting-diode-based colorimeter.

PubMed

Yang, Pao-Keng

2012-05-01

We present a noniterative algorithm to reliably reconstruct the spectral reflectance from discrete reflectance values measured by using multicolor light emitting diodes (LEDs) as probing light sources. The proposed algorithm estimates the spectral reflectance by a linear combination of product functions of the detector's responsivity function and the LEDs' line-shape functions. After introducing suitable correction, the resulting spectral reflectance was found to be free from the spectral-broadening effect due to the finite bandwidth of LED. We analyzed the data for a real sample and found that spectral reflectance with enhanced resolution gives a more accurate prediction in the color measurement.

Noniterative algorithm for improving the accuracy of a multicolor-light-emitting-diode-based colorimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Pao-Keng

2012-05-01

We present a noniterative algorithm to reliably reconstruct the spectral reflectance from discrete reflectance values measured by using multicolor light emitting diodes (LEDs) as probing light sources. The proposed algorithm estimates the spectral reflectance by a linear combination of product functions of the detector's responsivity function and the LEDs' line-shape functions. After introducing suitable correction, the resulting spectral reflectance was found to be free from the spectral-broadening effect due to the finite bandwidth of LED. We analyzed the data for a real sample and found that spectral reflectance with enhanced resolution gives a more accurate prediction in the color measurement.

Independent Manipulation of Topological Charges and Polarization Patterns of Optical Vortices

PubMed Central

Yang, Ching-Han; Chen, Yuan-Di; Wu, Shing-Trong; Fuh, Andy Ying-Guey

2016-01-01

We present a simple and flexible method to generate various vectorial vortex beams (VVBs) with a Pancharatnam phase based on the scheme of double reflections from a single liquid crystal spatial light modulator (SLM). In this configuration, VVBs are constructed by the superposition of two orthogonally polarized orbital angular momentum (OAM) eigenstates. To verify the optical properties of the generated beams, Stokes polarimetry is developed to measure the states of polarization (SOP) over the transverse plane, while a Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor is used to measure the OAM charge of beams. It is shown that both the simulated and the experimental results are in good qualitative agreement. In addition, polarization patterns and OAM charges of generated beams can be controlled independently using the proposed method. PMID:27526858

Apparatus and method for phase fronts based on superluminal polarization current

DOEpatents

Singleton, John [Los Alamos, NM; Ardavan, Houshang [Cambridge, GB; Ardavan, Arzhang [Cambridge, GB

2012-02-28

An apparatus and method for a radiation source involving phase fronts emanating from an accelerated, oscillating polarization current whose distribution pattern moves superluminally (that is, faster than light in vacuo). Theoretical predictions and experimental measurements using an existing prototype superluminal source show that the phase fronts from such a source can be made to be very complex. Consequently, it will be very difficult for an aircraft imaged by such a radiation to detect where this radiation has come from. Moreover, the complexity of the phase fronts makes it almost impossible for electronics on an aircraft to synthesize a rogue reflection. A simple directional antenna and timing system should, on the other hand, be sufficient for the radar operators to locate the aircraft, given knowledge of their own source's speed and modulation pattern.

Light curing in orthodontics; should we be concerned?

PubMed

McCusker, Neil; Lee, Siu Man; Robinson, Stephen; Patel, Naresh; Sandy, Jonathan R; Ireland, Anthony J

2013-06-01

Light cured materials are increasingly used in orthodontic clinical practice and concurrent with developments in materials have been developments in light curing unit technology. In recent years the irradiances of these units have increased. The aim of this study was to determine the safe exposure times to both direct and reflected light. The weighted irradiance and safe exposure times of 11 dental curing lights (1 plasma arc, 2 halogen and 8 LED lights) were determined at 6 distances (2-60 cm) from the light guide tip using a spectroradiometer. In addition, using the single most powerful light, the same two parameters were determined for reflected light. This was done at a distance of 10 cm from the reflected light, but during simulated bonding of 8 different orthodontic brackets of three material types, namely stainless steel, ceramic and composite. The results indicate that the LED Fusion lamp had the highest weighted irradiance and the shortest safe exposure time. With this light the maximum safe exposure time without additional eye protection for the patient (at 10 cm), the operator (at 30 cm) and the assistant (at 60 cm) ranged from 2.5 min, 22.1 min and 88.8 min respectively. This indicates a relatively low short term risk during normal operation of dental curing lights. For reflected light at a distance of 10 cm the risk was even lower, but was affected by the material and shape of the orthodontic bracket under test. The short term risks associated with the use of dental curing lights, halogen, LED or plasma, appear to be low, particularly if as is the case adequate safety precautions are employed. The same is true for reflected light from orthodontic brackets during bonding. What is still unclear is the potential long term ocular effects of prolonged exposure to the blue light generated from dental curing lights. Copyright © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Active Beam Shaping System and Method Using Sequential Deformable Mirrors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pueyo, Laurent A. (Inventor); Norman, Colin A. (Inventor)

2015-01-01

An active optical beam shaping system includes a first deformable mirror arranged to at least partially intercept an entrance beam of light and to provide a first reflected beam of light, a second deformable mirror arranged to at least partially intercept the first reflected beam of light from the first deformable mirror and to provide a second reflected beam of light, and a signal processing and control system configured to communicate with the first and second deformable mirrors. The first deformable mirror, the second deformable mirror and the signal processing and control system together provide a large amplitude light modulation range to provide an actively shaped optical beam.

In-situ spectrophotometric probe

DOEpatents

Prather, William S.

1992-01-01

A spectrophotometric probe for in situ absorption spectra measurements comprising a first optical fiber carrying light from a remote light source, a second optical fiber carrying light to a remote spectrophotometer, the proximal ends of the first and second optical fibers parallel and coterminal, a planoconvex lens to collimate light from the first optical fiber, a reflecting grid positioned a short distance from the lens to reflect the collimated light back to the lens for focussing on the second optical fiber. The lens is positioned with the convex side toward the optical fibers. A substrate for absorbing analyte or an analyte and reagent mixture may be positioned between the lens and the reflecting grid.

Real time infrared aerosol analyzer

DOEpatents

Johnson, Stanley A.; Reedy, Gerald T.; Kumar, Romesh

1990-01-01

Apparatus for analyzing aerosols in essentially real time includes a virtual impactor which separates coarse particles from fine and ultrafine particles in an aerosol sample. The coarse and ultrafine particles are captured in PTFE filters, and the fine particles impact onto an internal light reflection element. The composition and quantity of the particles on the PTFE filter and on the internal reflection element are measured by alternately passing infrared light through the filter and the internal light reflection element, and analyzing the light through infrared spectrophotometry to identify the particles in the sample.

Reflection technique for thermal mapping of semiconductors

DOEpatents

Walter, Martin J.

1989-06-20

Semiconductors may be optically tested for their temperatures by illuminating them with tunable monochromatic electromagnetic radiation and observing the light reflected off of them. A transition point will occur when the wavelength of the light corresponds with the actual band gap energy of the semiconductor. At the transition point, the image of the semiconductor will appreciably darken as the light is transmitted through it, rather than being reflected off of it. The wavelength of the light at the transition point corresponds to the actual band gap energy and the actual temperature of the semiconductor.

Goniometric measurements of light scattered in the principal plane from leaves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brakke, Thomas W.

1992-01-01

A laboratory goniometer was designed and built by NASA for acquiring bidirectional scattering data in the principal plane from leaves. Goniometric measurements were taken on individual tree leaves of yellow poplar, red maple, and red oak. Reflectance measurements were taken every 5* and transmittance measurements every 10 in the principal plane. The results indicate that light reflected from leaves usually has a significant specular component. Reflectances measured for 60 incident angle were the most specular. The most isotropic scattering occurred with transmitted light and with 0 incident light reflected from the abaxial surface. The most significant difference observed between the species was due to the heavy wax layer found on the abaxial surface of red oak, which caused the abaxial reflectance to be more specular than it was in the other two species.

Ultra-Stable Laser Clock.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-03-01

43. L circumference of ring laser cavity 44. LF pathlength through Faraday rotator 45. 1 distance between resonator mirrors of linear laser 46. M...limited clock stability 68. q mode number 69. Ri reflectivity of mirror i 70. eF angle between magnetic field and direction of light propagation 71...containing low pressure methane. The light reflects off a mirror and passes back through the cell. Then the light reflects from the beam splitter into

Measurement and Validation of Bidirectional Reflectance of Space Shuttle and Space Station Materials for Computerized Lighting Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fletcher, Lauren E.; Aldridge, Ann M.; Wheelwright, Charles; Maida, James

1997-01-01

Task illumination has a major impact on human performance: What a person can perceive in his environment significantly affects his ability to perform tasks, especially in space's harsh environment. Training for lighting conditions in space has long depended on physical models and simulations to emulate the effect of lighting, but such tests are expensive and time-consuming. To evaluate lighting conditions not easily simulated on Earth, personnel at NASA Johnson Space Center's (JSC) Graphics Research and Analysis Facility (GRAF) have been developing computerized simulations of various illumination conditions using the ray-tracing program, Radiance, developed by Greg Ward at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Because these computer simulations are only as accurate as the data used, accurate information about the reflectance properties of materials and light distributions is needed. JSC's Lighting Environment Test Facility (LETF) personnel gathered material reflectance properties for a large number of paints, metals, and cloths used in the Space Shuttle and Space Station programs, and processed these data into reflectance parameters needed for the computer simulations. They also gathered lamp distribution data for most of the light sources used, and validated the ability to accurately simulate lighting levels by comparing predictions with measurements for several ground-based tests. The result of this study is a database of material reflectance properties for a wide variety of materials, and lighting information for most of the standard light sources used in the Shuttle/Station programs. The combination of the Radiance program and GRAF's graphics capability form a validated computerized lighting simulation capability for NASA.

Reconstruction of crimes by infrared photography.

PubMed

Sterzik, V; Bohnert, M

2016-09-01

Whenever blunt or sharp forces are used in a crime, analysis of bloodstain pattern distribution may provide important information for the reconstruction of happenings. Thereby, attention should be paid to both the crime scene and the clothes of everyone involved in the crime. On dark textiles, though, it is difficult or even impossible for the human eye to detect bloodstains because of the low contrast to the background. However, in the near infrared wavelength range, contrast is considerably higher. Many textiles reflect light beyond a wavelength of 830 nm and thus appear light-colored, whereas blood absorbs the light and appears dark. In our studies, a D7000 NIKON reflex camera modified for infrared photography produced high-resolution photographs visualizing even very small spatter stains on dark textiles. The equipment can be used at any crime scene or lab and provides immediately available and interpretable images. Thus, important findings can be obtained at an early stage of police investigations, as two examples (homicide and attempted homicide) illustrate.

Changes in hemodynamics and light scattering during cortical spreading depression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Pengcheng; Yang, Yuanyuan; Luo, Qingming

2005-01-01

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) has been known to play an important role in the mechanism of migraine, stroke and brain injure. Optical imaging of intrinsic signals has been shown a powerful method for characterizing the spatial and temporal pattern of the propagation of CSD. However, the possible physiological mechanisms underlying the intrinsic optical signal (IOS) during CSD still remain incompletely understood. In this study, a spectroscopic recording of the change in optical intrinsic signal during CSD was performed and an analysis method based on the modified Beer-Lambert law was used to estimate the changes in the concentration of HbO2 and Hb, and changes in light scattering from the spectra data. The CSD were induced by pinprick in 10 α-chloralose/urethane anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. In all experiments, four-phasic changes in optical reflectance were observed at 450 nm ~ 570 nm, and triphasic changes in optical reflectance were observed in the range of 570 nm ~750 nm. But at 750 nm ~ 850 nm, only biphasic changes of optical signal were detected. Converting the spectra data to the changes in light scattering and concentration of Hb and HbO2, we found that the CSD induced an initial increase in concentration of HbO2 (amplitude: 9.0+/-3.7%), which was 26.2+/-18.6 s earlier than the onset of increase of Hb concentration. Furthermore, the concentration of HbO2 showed a four-phasic change, whereas the concentration of Hb only showed a biphasic change. For the changes in light scattering during CSD, a triphasic change was observed.

Multi-functional optical signal processing using optical spectrum control circuit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayashi, Shuhei; Ikeda, Tatsuhiko; Mizuno, Takayuki; Takahashi, Hiroshi; Tsuda, Hiroyuki

2015-02-01

Processing ultra-fast optical signals without optical/electronic conversion is in demand and time-to-space conversion has been proposed as an effective solution. We have designed and fabricated an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) based optical spectrum control circuit (OSCC) using silica planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology. This device is composed of an AWG, tunable phase shifters and a mirror. The principle of signal processing is to spatially decompose the signal's frequency components by using the AWG. Then, the phase of each frequency component is controlled by the tunable phase shifters. Finally, the light is reflected back to the AWG by the mirror and synthesized. Amplitude of each frequency component can be controlled by distributing the power to high diffraction order light. The spectral controlling range of the OSCC is 100 GHz and its resolution is 1.67 GHz. This paper describes equipping the OSCC with optical coded division multiplex (OCDM) encoder/decoder functionality. The encoding principle is to apply certain phase patterns to the signal's frequency components and intentionally disperse the signal. The decoding principle is also to apply certain phase patterns to the frequency components at the receiving side. If the applied phase pattern compensates the intentional dispersion, the waveform is regenerated, but if the pattern is not appropriate, the waveform remains dispersed. We also propose an arbitrary filter function by exploiting the OSCC's amplitude and phase control attributes. For example, a filtered optical signal transmitted through multiple optical nodes that use the wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer can be equalized.

Digital polarization holography advancing geometrical phase optics.

PubMed

De Sio, Luciano; Roberts, David E; Liao, Zhi; Nersisyan, Sarik; Uskova, Olena; Wickboldt, Lloyd; Tabiryan, Nelson; Steeves, Diane M; Kimball, Brian R

2016-08-08

Geometrical phase or the fourth generation (4G) optics enables realization of optical components (lenses, prisms, gratings, spiral phase plates, etc.) by patterning the optical axis orientation in the plane of thin anisotropic films. Such components exhibit near 100% diffraction efficiency over a broadband of wavelengths. The films are obtained by coating liquid crystalline (LC) materials over substrates with patterned alignment conditions. Photo-anisotropic materials are used for producing desired alignment conditions at the substrate surface. We present and discuss here an opportunity of producing the widest variety of "free-form" 4G optical components with arbitrary spatial patterns of the optical anisotropy axis orientation with the aid of a digital spatial light polarization converter (DSLPC). The DSLPC is based on a reflective, high resolution spatial light modulator (SLM) combined with an "ad hoc" optical setup. The most attractive feature of the use of a DSLPC for photoalignment of nanometer thin photo-anisotropic coatings is that the orientation of the alignment layer, and therefore of the fabricated LC or LC polymer (LCP) components can be specified on a pixel-by-pixel basis with high spatial resolution. By varying the optical magnification or de-magnification the spatial resolution of the photoaligned layer can be adjusted to an optimum for each application. With a simple "click" it is possible to record different optical components as well as arbitrary patterns ranging from lenses to invisible labels and other transparent labels that reveal different images depending on the side from which they are viewed.

Image Tracking for the High Similarity Drug Tablets Based on Light Intensity Reflective Energy and Artificial Neural Network

PubMed Central

Liang, Zhongwei; Zhou, Liang; Liu, Xiaochu; Wang, Xiaogang

2014-01-01

It is obvious that tablet image tracking exerts a notable influence on the efficiency and reliability of high-speed drug mass production, and, simultaneously, it also emerges as a big difficult problem and targeted focus during production monitoring in recent years, due to the high similarity shape and random position distribution of those objectives to be searched for. For the purpose of tracking tablets accurately in random distribution, through using surface fitting approach and transitional vector determination, the calibrated surface of light intensity reflective energy can be established, describing the shape topology and topography details of objective tablet. On this basis, the mathematical properties of these established surfaces have been proposed, and thereafter artificial neural network (ANN) has been employed for classifying those moving targeted tablets by recognizing their different surface properties; therefore, the instantaneous coordinate positions of those drug tablets on one image frame can then be determined. By repeating identical pattern recognition on the next image frame, the real-time movements of objective tablet templates were successfully tracked in sequence. This paper provides reliable references and new research ideas for the real-time objective tracking in the case of drug production practices. PMID:25143781

Measurement of refractive indices of tunicates' tunics: light reflection of the transparent integuments in an ascidian Rhopalaea sp. and a salp Thetys vagina.

PubMed

Kakiuchida, Hiroshi; Sakai, Daisuke; Nishikawa, Jun; Hirose, Euichi

2017-01-01

Tunic is a cellulosic, integumentary matrix found in tunicates (Subphylum Tunicata or Urochordata). The tunics of some ascidian species and pelagic tunicates, such as salps, are nearly transparent, which is useful in predator avoidance. Transparent materials can be detected visually using light reflected from their surfaces, with the different refractive indices between two media, i.e., tunic and seawater, being the measure of reflectance. A larger difference in refractive indices thus provides a larger measure of reflectance. We measured the refractive indices of the transparent tunic of Thetys vagina (salp: Thaliacea) and Rhopalae a sp. (ascidian: Ascidiacea) using an Abbe refractometer and an ellipsometer to estimate the light reflection at the tunic surface and evaluate the anti-reflection effect of the nipple array structure on the tunic surface of T. vagina . At D-line light (λ = 589 nm), the refractive indices of the tunics were 0.002-0.004 greater than seawater in the measurements by Abbe refractometer, and 0.02-0.03 greater than seawater in the measurements by ellipsometer. The refractive indices of tunics were slightly higher than that of seawater. According to the simulation of light reflection based on rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA), light at a large angle of incidence will be completely reflected from a surface when its refractive indices are smaller than seawater. Therefore, the refractive index of integument is important for enabling transparent organisms to remain invisible in the water column. In order to minimize reflectance, the refractive index should be similar to, but never smaller than, that of the surrounding seawater. The simulation also indicated that the presence or absence of a nipple array does not cause significant difference in reflectance on the surface. The nipple array on the tunic of the diurnal salp may have another function, such as bubble repellence, other than anti-reflection.

Internal Mirror Optical Fiber Couplers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Jong-Dug

A fusion splicing technique has been used to produce angled dielectric mirrors in multimode and single-mode silica fibers. These mirrored fiber couplers serve as compact directional couplers with low excess optical loss (~0.2 dB for multimode and 0.5 dB for single mode at 1.3 μm) and excellent mechanical properties. The reflectance is found to be wavelength dependent and strongly polarization dependent, as expected. Far-field scans of the reflected output power measured with a white-light source show a pattern which is almost circularly symmetric. The splitting ratio in a multimode coupler measured with a laser source is much less dependent on input coupling conditions than in conventional fused biconical-taper couplers. Spectral properties of multilayer fiber mirrors have been investigated experimentally, and a matrix analysis has been used to explain the results.

Condenser for ring-field deep-ultraviolet and extreme-ultraviolet lithography

DOEpatents

Chapman, Henry N.; Nugent, Keith A.

2001-01-01

A condenser for use with a ring-field deep ultraviolet or extreme ultraviolet lithography system. A condenser includes a ripple-plate mirror which is illuminated by a collimated beam at grazing incidence. The ripple plate comprises a plate mirror into which is formed a series of channels along an axis of the mirror to produce a series of concave surfaces in an undulating pattern. Light incident along the channels of the mirror is reflected onto a series of cones. The distribution of slopes on the ripple plate leads to a distribution of angles of reflection of the incident beam. This distribution has the form of an arc, with the extremes of the arc given by the greatest slope in the ripple plate. An imaging mirror focuses this distribution to a ring-field arc at the mask plane.

Developmental and Individual Differences in the Neural Processing of Dynamic Expressions of Pain and Anger

PubMed Central

Missana, Manuela; Grigutsch, Maren; Grossmann, Tobias

2014-01-01

We examined the processing of facial expressions of pain and anger in 8-month-old infants and adults by measuring event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and frontal EEG alpha asymmetry. The ERP results revealed that while adults showed a late positive potential (LPP) to emotional expressions that was enhanced to pain expressions, reflecting increased evaluation and emotional arousal to pain expressions, infants showed a negative component (Nc) to emotional expressions that was enhanced to angry expressions, reflecting increased allocation of attention to angry faces. Moreover, infants and adults showed opposite patterns in their frontal asymmetry responses to pain and anger, suggesting developmental differences in the motivational processes engendered by these facial expressions. These findings are discussed in the light of associated individual differences in infant temperament and adult dispositional empathy. PMID:24705497

Concept for the fast modulation of light in amplitude and phase using analog tilt-mirror arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, Matthias; Heber, Jörg; Janschek, Klaus

2017-02-01

The full complex, spatial modulation of light at high frame rates is essential for a variety of applications. In particular, emerging techniques applied to scattering media, such as Digital Optical Phase Conjugation and Wavefront Shaping, request challenging performance parameters. They refer to imaging tasks inside biological media, whose characteristics concerning the transmission and reflection of scattered light may change over time within milliseconds. Thus, these methods call for frame rates in the kilohertz range. Existing solutions typically over frame rate capabilities below 100 Hz, since they rely on liquid crystal spatial light modulators (SLMs). We propose a diffractive MEMS optical system for this application range. It relies on an analog, tilt-type micro mirror array (MMA) based on an established SLM technology, where the standard application is grayscale amplitude control. The new MMA system design allows the phase manipulation at high-speed as well. The article studies properties of the appropriate optical setup by simulating the propagation of the light. Relevant test patterns and sensitivity parameters of the system will be analyzed. Our results illustrate the main opportunities of the concept with particular focus on the tilt mirror technology. They indicate a promising path to realize the complex light modulation at frame rates above 1 kHz and resolutions well beyond 10,000 complex pixels.

Low-temperature relative reflectivity measurements of reflective and scintillating foils used in rare event searches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langenkämper, A.; Ulrich, A.; Defay, X.; Feilitzsch, F. v.; Lanfranchi, J.-C.; Mondragón, E.; Münster, A.; Oppenheimer, C.; Potzel, W.; Roth, S.; Schönert, S.; Steiger, H.; Trinh Thi, H. H.; Wawoczny, S.; Willers, M.; Zöller, A.

2018-03-01

In this work we investigate the reflectivity of highly reflective multilayer polymer foils used in the CRESST experiment. The CRESST experiment searches directly for dark matter via operating scintillating CaWO4 crystals as targets for elastic dark matter-nucleon scattering. In order to suppress background events, the experiment employs the so-called phonon-light technique which is based on the simultaneous measurement of the heat signal in the main CaWO4 target crystal and of the emitted scintillation light with a separate cryogenic light detector. Both detectors are surrounded by a highly reflective and scintillating multilayer polymer foil to increase the light collection efficiency and to veto surface backgrounds. While this study is motivated by the CRESST experiment, the results are also relevant for other rare event searches using scintillating cryogenic bolometers in the field of the search of dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay (0 νββ). In this work a dedicated experiment has been set up to determine the relative reflectivity at 300 K and 20 K of three multilayer foils ("VM2000", "VM2002", "Vikuiti") produced by the company 3M. The intensity of a light beam reflected off the foil is measured with a CCD camera. The ratio of the intensities at 300 K and 20 K corresponds to the relative reflectivity change. The measurements performed in this work show no variation of the reflectivity with temperature at a level of ∼1%.

Physically-Based Models for the Reflection, Transmission and Subsurface Scattering of Light by Smooth and Rough Surfaces, with Applications to Realistic Image Synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Xiao Dong

This thesis studies light scattering processes off rough surfaces. Analytic models for reflection, transmission and subsurface scattering of light are developed. The results are applicable to realistic image generation in computer graphics. The investigation focuses on the basic issue of how light is scattered locally by general surfaces which are neither diffuse nor specular; Physical optics is employed to account for diffraction and interference which play a crucial role in the scattering of light for most surfaces. The thesis presents: (1) A new reflectance model; (2) A new transmittance model; (3) A new subsurface scattering model. All of these models are physically-based, depend on only physical parameters, apply to a wide range of materials and surface finishes and more importantly, provide a smooth transition from diffuse-like to specular reflection as the wavelength and incidence angle are increased or the surface roughness is decreased. The reflectance and transmittance models are based on the Kirchhoff Theory and the subsurface scattering model is based on Energy Transport Theory. They are valid only for surfaces with shallow slopes. The thesis shows that predicted reflectance distributions given by the reflectance model compare favorably with experiment. The thesis also investigates and implements fast ways of computing the reflectance and transmittance models. Furthermore, the thesis demonstrates that a high level of realistic image generation can be achieved due to the physically -correct treatment of the scattering processes by the reflectance model.

Optical device for measuring a surface characteristic of an object by multi-color interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meyer, William V. (Inventor); Smart, Anthony E. (Inventor)

2001-01-01

An interferometer having a light beam source that produces a plurality of separate and distinct wavelengths of light. Optic fibers are used to transport the wavelengths of light toward an object surface and to allow light reflected from the object to pass through a polarizer to improve the polarization ratio of the reflected light to determine a characteristic of the object surface.

Specimen illumination apparatus with optical cavity for dark field illumination

DOEpatents

Pinkel, Daniel; Sudar, Damir; Albertson, Donna

1999-01-01

An illumination apparatus with a specimen slide holder, an illumination source, an optical cavity producing multiple reflection of illumination light to a specimen comprising a first and a second reflective surface arranged to achieve multiple reflections of light to a specimen is provided. The apparatus can further include additional reflective surfaces to achieve the optical cavity, a slide for mounting the specimen, a coverslip which is a reflective component of the optical cavity, one or more prisms for directing light within the optical cavity, antifading solutions for improving the viewing properties of the specimen, an array of materials for analysis, fluorescent components, curved reflective surfaces as components of the optical cavity, specimen detection apparatus, optical detection equipment, computers for analysis of optical images, a plane polarizer, fiberoptics, light transmission apertures, microscopic components, lenses for viewing the specimen, and upper and lower mirrors above and below the specimen slide as components of the optical cavity. Methods of using the apparatus are also provided.

Removal of Surface-Reflected Light for the Measurement of Remote-Sensing Reflectance from an Above-Surface Platform

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-12-01

remote - sensing reflectance) can be highly inaccurate if a spectrally constant value is applied (although errors can be reduced by carefully filtering measured raw data). To remove surface-reflected light in field measurements of remote sensing reflectance, a spectral optimization approach was applied, with results compared with those from remote sensing models and from direct measurements. The agreement from different determinations suggests that reasonable results for remote sensing reflectance of clear

Removal of Surface-Reflected Light for the Measurement of Remote-Sensing Reflectance from an Above-Surface Platform

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-12-06

remote - sensing reflectance) can be highly inaccurate if a spectrally constant value is applied (although errors can be reduced by carefully filtering measured raw data). To remove surface-reflected light in field measurements of remote sensing reflectance, a spectral optimization approach was applied, with results compared with those from remote sensing models and from direct measurements. The agreement from different determinations suggests that reasonable results for remote sensing reflectance of clear

System for testing optical fibers

DOEpatents

Golob, John E. [Olathe, KS; Looney, Larry D. [Los Alamos, NM; Lyons, Peter B. [Los Alamos, NM; Nelson, Melvin A. [Santa Barbara, CA; Davies, Terence J. [Santa Barbara, CA

1980-07-15

A system for measuring a combination of optical transmission properties of fiber optic waveguides. A polarized light pulse probe is injected into one end of the optical fiber. Reflections from discontinuities within the fiber are unpolarized whereas reflections of the probe pulse incident to its injection remain polarized. The polarized reflections are prevented from reaching a light detector whereas reflections from the discontinuities reaches the detector.

The evolution of adult light emission color in North American fireflies

PubMed Central

Hall, David W.; Sander, Sarah E.; Pallansch, Jennifer C.; Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F.

2016-01-01

Firefly species (Lampyridae) vary in the color of their adult bioluminescence. It has been hypothesized that color is selected to enhance detection by conspecifics. One mechanism to improve visibility of the signal is to increase contrast against ambient light. High contrast implies that fireflies active early in the evening will emit yellower luminescence to contrast against ambient light reflected from green vegetation, especially in habitats with high vegetation cover. Another mechanism to improve visibility is to use reflection off the background to enhance the light signal. Reflectance predicts that sedentary females will produce greener light to maximize reflection off the green vegetation on which they signal. To test these predictions, we recorded over 7500 light emission spectra and determined peak emission wavelength for 675 males, representing 24 species, at 57 field sites across the Eastern United States. We found support for both hypotheses: males active early in more vegetated habitats produced yellower flashes in comparison to later-active males with greener flashes. Further, in 2 of the 8 species with female data, female light emissions were significantly greener as compared to males. PMID:27412777

Signal-enhancement reflective pulse oximeter with Fresnel lens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Shuang-Chao; Sun, Ching-Cherng

2016-09-01

In this paper, a new reflective pulse oximeter is proposed and demonstrated with implanting a Fresnel lens, which enhances the reflected signal. An optical simulation model incorporated with human skin characteristics is presented to evaluate the capability of the Fresnel lens. In addition, the distance between the light emitting diode and the photodiode is optimized. Compared with the other reflective oximeters, the reflected signal light detected by the photodiode is enhanced to more than 140%.

Removal of Surface-Reflected Light for the Measurement of Remote-Sensing Reflectance from an Above-Surface Platform

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-12-06

raw data). To remove surface-reflected light in field measurements of remote sensing reflectance, a spectral optimization approach was applied, with...results compared with those from remote - sensing models and from direct measurements. The agreement from different determinations suggests that...reasonable results for remote sensing reflectance of clear blue water to turbid brown water are obtainable from above-surface measurements, even under conditions of high waves.

BRDF invariant stereo using light transport constancy.

PubMed

Wang, Liang; Yang, Ruigang; Davis, James E

2007-09-01

Nearly all existing methods for stereo reconstruction assume that scene reflectance is Lambertian and make use of brightness constancy as a matching invariant. We introduce a new invariant for stereo reconstruction called light transport constancy (LTC), which allows completely arbitrary scene reflectance (bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDFs)). This invariant can be used to formulate a rank constraint on multiview stereo matching when the scene is observed by several lighting configurations in which only the lighting intensity varies. In addition, we show that this multiview constraint can be used with as few as two cameras and two lighting configurations. Unlike previous methods for BRDF invariant stereo, LTC does not require precisely configured or calibrated light sources or calibration objects in the scene. Importantly, the new constraint can be used to provide BRDF invariance to any existing stereo method whenever appropriate lighting variation is available.

BOREAS TE-9 In Situ Understory Spectral Reflectance Within the NSA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, Forrest G. (Editor); Curd, Shelaine (Editor); Supronowicz, Jan; Edwards, Geoffrey; Viau, Alain; Thomson, Keith

2000-01-01

The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmospheric Study (BOREAS) TE-9 (Terrestrial Ecology) team collected several data sets related to chemical and photosynthetic properties of leaves in boreal forest tree species. Spectral reflection coefficients of the forest understory at the ground level, in three boreal forest sites of Northern Manitoba (56 N latitude and 98 W longitude), were obtained and analyzed in 1994. In particular, angular variation of the reflection coefficients in the old jack pine and young jack pine forests, as well as nadir reflection coefficient in the young aspen forest, were investigated. The complexity of understory composition and the light patterns limited quantitative conclusions; however, a number of interesting trends in the behavior of the measured values can be inferred. In particular, the unique spectral profiles of lichens show very strongly in the old jack pine understory, yet are definitely less conspicuous for young jack pine, and virtually absent in the aspen forest. The angular variation of the reflection coefficient by the young pine understory seems to be significantly toned down by fine-structured branches and their shadows. Our study also indicates how difficult the ground reflection coefficient problem in a forest is, compared to certain previously investigated areas that have a more uniform appearance, such as prairie grassland, bare soil, or agricultural crops. This is due to several factors, generally typical of a forest environment, that may influence the overall understory reflection coefficient, including: (1) a strong diversity of the forest floor due to the presence of dead tree trunks, holes in the ground, patches of different types of vegetation or litter, etc.; (2) pronounced 3-D structures at the ground level, such as shrubs, bushes, and young trees; and (3) an irregular shadow mosaic, which not only varies with the time of the day, causing intensity variations, but likely also effectively modifies the spectrum of the illuminating light and hence the reflection coefficient signal as well The data are stored in tabular ASCII files. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884), or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).

Reflectance of polytetrafluoroethylene for xenon scintillation light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silva, C.; Pinto da Cunha, J.; Pereira, A.; Chepel, V.; Lopes, M. I.; Solovov, V.; Neves, F.

2010-03-01

Gaseous and liquid xenon particle detectors are being used in a number of applications including dark matter search and neutrino-less double beta decay experiments. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is often used in these detectors both as electrical insulator and as a light reflector to improve the efficiency of detection of scintillation photons. However, xenon emits in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) wavelength region (λ ≃175 nm) where the reflecting properties of PTFE are not sufficiently known. In this work, we report on measurements of PTFE reflectance, including its angular distribution, for the xenon scintillation light. Various samples of PTFE, manufactured by different processes (extruded, expanded, skived, and pressed) have been studied. The data were interpreted with a physical model comprising both specular and diffuse reflections. The reflectance obtained for these samples ranges from about 47% to 66% for VUV light. Other fluoropolymers, namely, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and perfluoro-alkoxyalkane (PFA) were also measured.

The advantages of wearable green reflected photoplethysmography.

PubMed

Maeda, Yuka; Sekine, Masaki; Tamura, Toshiyo

2011-10-01

This report evaluates the efficacy of reflected-type green light photoplethysmography (green light PPG). Transmitted infrared light was used for PPG and the arterial pulse was monitored transcutaneously. The reflected PPG signal contains AC components based on the heartbeat-related signal from the arterial blood flow and DC components, which include reflectance and scattering from tissue. Generally, changes in AC components are monitored, but the DC components play an important role during heat stress. In this study, we compared the signal of green light PPG to infrared PPG and ECG during heat stress. The wavelengths of the green and infrared light were 525 nm and 880 nm, respectively. Experiments were performed on young healthy subjects in cold (10°C), hot (45°C), and normal environments. The pulse rates were compared among three measurement devices and the AC and DC components of the PPG signal were evaluated during heat stress. The pulse rates obtained from green light PPG were strongly correlated with the R-R interval of an electrocardiogram in all environments, but those obtained from infrared light PPG displayed a weaker correlation with cold exposure. The AC components were of similar signal output for both wavelengths during heat stress. Also, the DC components for green light PPG were similar during heat stress, but showed less signal output for infrared light PPG during hot exposure. The main reason for the reduced DC components was speculated to be the increased blood flow at the vascular bed. Therefore, reflected green light PPG can be useful for pulse rate monitoring because it is less influenced by the tissue and vein region.

Levels and patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils after forest fires in South Korea.

PubMed

Kim, Eun Jung; Choi, Sung-Deuk; Chang, Yoon-Seok

2011-11-01

To investigate the influence of biomass burning on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils, temporal trends and profiles of 16 US Environmental Protection Agency priority PAHs were studied in soil and ash samples collected 1, 5, and 9 months after forest fires in South Korea. The levels of PAHs in the burnt soils 1 month after the forest fires (mean, 1,200 ng/g dry weight) were comparable with those of contaminated urban soils. However, 5 and 9 months after the forest fires, these levels decreased considerably to those of general forest soils (206 and 302 ng/g, respectively). The burnt soils and ash were characterized by higher levels of light PAHs with two to four rings, reflecting direct emissions from biomass burning. Five and 9 months after the forest fires, the presence of naphthalene decreased considerably, which indicates that light PAHs were rapidly volatilized or degraded from the burnt soils. The temporal trend and pattern of PAHs clearly suggests that soils in the forest-fire region can be contaminated by PAHs directly emitted from biomass burning. However, the fire-affected soils can return to the pre-fire conditions over time through the washout and wind dissipation of the ash with high content of PAHs as well as vaporization or degradation of light PAHs.

In-situ spectrophotometric probe

DOEpatents

Prather, W.S.

1992-12-15

A spectrophotometric probe is described for in situ absorption spectra measurements comprising a first optical fiber carrying light from a remote light source, a second optical fiber carrying light to a remote spectrophotometer, the proximal ends of the first and second optical fibers parallel and co-terminal, a planoconvex lens to collimate light from the first optical fiber, a reflecting grid positioned a short distance from the lens to reflect the collimated light back to the lens for focusing on the second optical fiber. The lens is positioned with the convex side toward the optical fibers. A substrate for absorbing analyte or an analyte and reagent mixture may be positioned between the lens and the reflecting grid. 5 figs.

Ultraviolet reflecting photonic microstructures in the King Penguin beak.

PubMed

Dresp, Birgitta; Jouventin, Pierre; Langley, Keith

2005-09-22

King and emperor penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus and Aptenodytes forsteri) are the only species of marine birds so far known to reflect ultraviolet (UV) light from their beaks. Unlike humans, most birds perceive UV light and several species communicate using the near UV spectrum. Indeed, UV reflectance in addition to the colour of songbird feathers has been recognized as an important signal when choosing a mate. The king penguin is endowed with several highly coloured ornaments, notably its beak horn and breast and auricular plumage, but only its beak reflects UV, a property considered to influence its sexual attraction. Because no avian UV-reflecting pigments have yet been identified, the origin of such reflections is probably structural. In an attempt to identify the structures that give rise to UV reflectance, we combined reflectance spectrophotometry and morphological analysis by both light and electron microscopy, after experimental removal of surface layers of the beak horn. Here, we characterize for the first time a multilayer reflector photonic microstructure that produces the UV reflections in the king penguin beak.

The effects of titanium dioxide coatings on light-derived heating and transdermal heat transfer in bovine skin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartle, S. J.; Thomson, D. U.; Gehring, R.; van der Merwe, D.

2017-11-01

The effects of titanium dioxide coatings of bovine hides on light absorption and transdermal transfer of light-derived heat were investigated. Four hair-on rug hides from Holstein cattle were purchased. Twelve samples about 20 cm on a side were cut from each hide; nine from the black-colored areas, and three from the white areas. Samples were randomized and assigned to four coating treatments: (1) white hide with no coating (White), (2) black hide with no coating (Black), (3) black hide with 50% coating (Mid), and (4) black hide with 100% coating (High). Coatings were applied to the black hide samples using a hand sprayer. Lux measurements were taken using a modified lux meter at three light intensities generated with a broad spectrum, cold halogen light source. Reflectance over a wavelength range of 380 to 900 nm was measured using a spectroradiometer. The transdermal transfer of heat derived from absorbed light was measured by applying a broad spectrum, cold halogen light source to the stratum corneum (coated) side of the sample and recording the temperature of the dermis-side using a thermal camera for 10 min at 30-s intervals. At the high light level, the White, Black, Mid, and High coating treatments had different ( P < 0.001) lux values of 64,945, 1741, 15,978, and 40,730 lx, respectively. In the visible wavelength range (400 to 750 nm), Black hides reflected 10 to 15% of the light energy, hides with the Mid coating treatment reflected 35 to 40%, and hides with the High coating treatment reflected 70 to 80% of the light energy. The natural White hide samples reflected 60 to 80% of the light energy. The average maximum temperatures at the dermis-side of the hides due to transferred heat were 34.5, 70.1, 55.0, and 31.7, for the White, Black, Mid, and High treatments, respectively. Reflective coatings containing titanium dioxide on cattle hides were effective in reducing light energy absorption and reduced light-derived heat transfer from the skin surface to deeper skin layers.

Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas

DOEpatents

Benson, D.K.; Bechinger, C.S.; Tracy, C.E.

1998-01-13

A fiber-optic device for sensing the presence of a gas in an environment is provided. The device comprises a light source for directing a light beam to a layer system having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface is exposable to the light beam and the second surface is exposable to the environment. A first light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence free from optical wave guide resonance phenomenon and the second light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence enabling an optical wave guide resonance phenomenon. The layer system is selected to reversibly react with the gas to be detected. The reaction between the gas and the material changes the material`s optical properties and the wavelength at which the optical wave guide resonance occurs. Furthermore, a mechanism for measuring the intensity of the reflected first light portion relative to the reflected second light portion is provided with the ratio of the first and second light portions indicating the concentration of the gas presence in the environment. 5 figs.

A comparison of CIE L*a*b* and spectral methods for the analysis of fading in sliced cured ham

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheridan, C.; O'Farrell, M.; Lewis, E.; Flanagan, C.; Kerry, J.; Jackman, N.

2007-06-01

In the modern retail environment, the appearance of a product is frequently the only quality indicator available to consumers. This is especially true of products such as sliced ham that have been sealed into packages to maintain product freshness. It has been shown that sliced ham products undergo discolouration from their original pink colour to a pale grey colour when exposed to a combination of oxygen and light. This is unappealing to consumers who expect a pink colour for sliced ham. An investigation is made into a sensor that would monitor the initial colour status of cured ham before packaging in order to determine the amount of time left before the ham fades to an unsatisfactory colour. For this sensor to operate, appropriate analysis of the appearance of the meat is required. Two methods for the measurement of the fading were investigated—CIE L*a*b* measurements and analysis of the spectral reflectance of the colour of the ham. Several sliced ham products with differing amounts of fading were examined using both methods. It was observed that the products used covered a wide range of variation in colour. Reproducibility of CIE L*a*b* values proved to be quite difficult and significant overlapping of the L* (lightness) and a* (redness) values measured for pink and grey coloured ham was observed. The variations in these values can be attributed to differences in the intensity of reflected light for different products. L*a*b* measurements are sensitive to light intensity and pigment concentration. Analysis of the spectral reflectance readings did not encounter these problems as the spectral response was normalized (to reduce intensity errors) before data analysis was carried out on the spectral shape or 'pattern' using principal component analysis (PCA) and artificial neural networks (ANN). A classifier based on PCA and ANN was successfully implemented that can discriminate different stages of fading for the ham slices. A case study was carried out on ham slices that had two different initial colours—light and dark. The results of the case study show that the sensor system can better discriminate between a light initial colour and a dark faded colour than the CIE L*a*b* colour measurement system.

Specular, diffuse and polarized imagery of an oat canopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanderbilt, Vern C.; De Venecia, Kurt J.

1988-01-01

Light, polarized by specular reflection, has been found to be an important part of the light scattered by several measured plant canopies. The authors investigate for one canopy the relative importance of specularly reflected sunlight, specularly reflected light from other sources including skylight, and diffusely upwelling light. Polarization images are used to gain increased understanding of the radiation transfer process in a plant canopy. Analysis of the results suggests that properly analyzed polarized remotely sensed data, acquired under specific atmospheric conditions by a specially designed sensor, potentially provide measures of physiological and morphological states of plants in a canopy.

Lensing duct

DOEpatents

Beach, R.J.; Benett, W.J.

1994-04-26

A lensing duct to condense (intensify) light using a combination of front surface lensing and reflective waveguiding is described. The duct tapers down from a wide input side to a narrow output side, with the input side being lens-shaped and coated with an antireflective coating for more efficient transmission into the duct. The four side surfaces are uncoated, preventing light from escaping by total internal reflection as it travels along the duct (reflective waveguiding). The duct has various applications for intensifying light, such as in the coupling of diode array pump light to solid state lasing materials, and can be fabricated from inexpensive glass and plastic. 3 figures.

Regional-scale drivers of forest structure and function in northwestern Amazonia.

PubMed

Higgins, Mark A; Asner, Gregory P; Anderson, Christopher B; Martin, Roberta E; Knapp, David E; Tupayachi, Raul; Perez, Eneas; Elespuru, Nydia; Alonso, Alfonso

2015-01-01

Field studies in Amazonia have found a relationship at continental scales between soil fertility and broad trends in forest structure and function. Little is known at regional scales, however, about how discrete patterns in forest structure or functional attributes map onto underlying edaphic or geological patterns. We collected airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data and VSWIR (Visible to Shortwave Infrared) imaging spectroscopy measurements over 600 km2 of northwestern Amazonian lowland forests. We also established 83 inventories of plant species composition and soil properties, distributed between two widespread geological formations. Using these data, we mapped forest structure and canopy reflectance, and compared them to patterns in plant species composition, soils, and underlying geology. We found that variations in soils and species composition explained up to 70% of variation in canopy height, and corresponded to profound changes in forest vertical profiles. We further found that soils and plant species composition explained more than 90% of the variation in canopy reflectance as measured by imaging spectroscopy, indicating edaphic and compositional control of canopy chemical properties. We last found that soils explained between 30% and 70% of the variation in gap frequency in these forests, depending on the height threshold used to define gaps. Our findings indicate that a relatively small number of edaphic and compositional variables, corresponding to underlying geology, may be responsible for variations in canopy structure and chemistry over large expanses of Amazonian forest.

Use of prismatic films to control light distribution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kneipp, K. G.

1994-01-01

Piping light for illumination purposes is a concept which has been around for a long time. In fact, it was the subject of an 1881 United States patent which proposed the use of mirrors inside a tube to reflect light from wall to wall down the tube. The use of conventional mirrors for this purpose, however, has not worked because mirrors do not reflect well enough. On the other hand, optical fibers composed of certain glasses or plastics are known to transport light much more efficiently. The light that enters is reflected back and forth within the walls of the fiber until it reaches the other end. This is possible by means of a principle known as 'total internal reflection'. No light escapes through the walls and very little is absorbed in the bulk of the fiber. However, while optical fibers are very efficient in transporting light, they are impractical for transporting large quantities of light. Lorne Whitehead, as a student at the University of British Columbia, recognized that prismatic materials could be used to create a 'prism light guide', a hollow structure that can efficiently transport large quantities of light. This invention is a pipe whose transparent walls are formed on the outside into precise prismatic facets. The facets are efficient total internal reflection mirrors which prevent light travelling down the guide from escaping. Very little light is absorbed by the pipe because light travels primarily in the air space within the hollow guide. And, because the guide is hollow, weight and cost factors are much more favorable than would be the case with very large solid fibers. Recent advances in precision micromachining, polymer processing, and certain other manufacturing technologies have made the development of OLF (Optical Lighting Film) possible. The process is referred to as 'microreplication' and has been found to have broad applicability in a number of diverse product areas.

Hewlett-Packard's Approaches to Full Color Reflective Displays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibson, Gary

2012-02-01

Reflective displays are desirable in applications requiring low power or daylight readability. However, commercial reflective displays are currently either monochrome or capable of only dim color gamuts. Low cost, high-quality color technology would be rapidly adopted in existing reflective display markets and would enable new solutions in areas such as retail pricing and outdoor digital signage. Technical breakthroughs are required to enable bright color gamuts at reasonable cost. Pixel architectures that rely on pure reflection from a single layer of side-by-side primary-color sub-pixels use only a fraction of the display area to reflect incident light of a given color and are, therefore, unacceptably dark. Reflective devices employing stacked color primaries offer the possibility of a somewhat brighter color gamut but can be more complex to manufacture. In this talk, we describe HP's successes in addressing these fundamental challenges and creating both high performance stacked-primary reflective color displays as well as inexpensive single layer prototypes that provide good color. Our stacked displays utilize a combination of careful light management techniques, proprietary high-contrast electro-optic shutters, and highly transparent active-matrix TFT arrays based on transparent metal oxides. They also offer the possibility of relatively low cost manufacturing through roll-to-roll processing on plastic webs. To create even lower cost color displays with acceptable brightness, we have developed means for utilizing photoluminescence to make more efficient use of ambient light in a single layer device. Existing reflective displays create a desired color by reflecting a portion of the incident spectrum while absorbing undesired wavelengths. We have developed methods for converting the otherwise-wasted absorbed light to desired wavelengths via tailored photoluminescent composites. Here we describe a single active layer prototype display that utilizes these materials along with an innovative optical out-coupling scheme. Further benefits of our approach include means for highly power-efficient back-lighting under low ambient light conditions and the possibility of video rate operation.

Nonimaging light concentration using total internal reflection films.

PubMed

Ouellette, G; Waltham, C E; Drees, R M; Poon, A; Schubank, R; Whitehead, L A

1992-05-01

We present a method of fabricating nonimaging light concentrators from total internal reflection film. A prototype has been made and tested and found to operate in agreement with predictions of ray-tracing codes. The performance of the prototype is comparable with that of concentrators made from specular reflecting materials.

Variable area light reflecting assembly

DOEpatents

Howard, T.C.

1986-12-23

Device is described for tracking daylight and projecting it into a building. The device tracks the sun and automatically adjusts both the orientation and area of the reflecting surface. The device may be mounted in either a wall or roof of a building. Additionally, multiple devices may be employed in a light shaft in a building, providing daylight to several different floors. The preferred embodiment employs a thin reflective film as the reflecting device. One edge of the reflective film is fixed, and the opposite end is attached to a spring-loaded take-up roller. As the sun moves across the sky, the take-up roller automatically adjusts the angle and surface area of the film. Additionally, louvers may be mounted at the light entrance to the device to reflect incoming daylight in an angle perpendicular to the device to provide maximum reflective capability when daylight enters the device at non-perpendicular angles. 9 figs.

Variable area light reflecting assembly

DOEpatents

Howard, Thomas C.

1986-01-01

Device for tracking daylight and projecting it into a building. The device tracks the sun and automatically adjusts both the orientation and area of the reflecting surface. The device may be mounted in either a wall or roof of a building. Additionally, multiple devices may be employed in a light shaft in a building, providing daylight to several different floors. The preferred embodiment employs a thin reflective film as the reflecting device. One edge of the reflective film is fixed, and the opposite end is attached to a spring-loaded take-up roller. As the sun moves across the sky, the take-up roller automatically adjusts the angle and surface area of the film. Additionally, louvers may be mounted at the light entrance to the device to reflect incoming daylight in an angle perpendicular to the device to provide maximum reflective capability when daylight enters the device at non-perpendicular angles.

Properties of light reflected from road signs in active imaging for driving safety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halstuch, Aviran; Yitzhaky, Yitzhak

2007-10-01

Night-vision systems in vehicles are a new emerging technology. A crucial problem in active (illumination-based) systems is distortion of images by saturation and blooming, due to strong retro-reflections from road signs. In this work we quantified this phenomenon. We measured the Mueller matrices and the polarization state of the reflected light from three different types of road signs commonly used. Measurements of the reflected intensity were taken also with respect to the angle of reflection. We found that different types of signs have different reflection properties. It is concluded from our measurements that the optimal solution for attenuating the retro-reflected intensity is using a linear horizontal polarized light source and a linear vertical polarizer. Unfortunately, while the performance of this solution is good for two types of road signs, it is less efficient for the third sign type.

Design method of freeform light distribution lens for LED automotive headlamp based on DMD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Jianshe; Huang, Jianwei; Su, Ping; Cui, Yao

2018-01-01

We propose a new method to design freeform light distribution lens for light-emitting diode (LED) automotive headlamp based on digital micro mirror device (DMD). With the Parallel optical path architecture, the exit pupil of the illuminating system is set in infinity. Thus the principal incident rays of micro lens in DMD is parallel. DMD is made of high speed digital optical reflection array, the function of distribution lens is to distribute the emergent parallel rays from DMD and get a lighting pattern that fully comply with the national regulation GB 25991-2010.We use DLP 4500 to design the light distribution lens, mesh the target plane regulated by the national regulation GB 25991-2010 and correlate the mesh grids with the active mirror array of DLP4500. With the mapping relations and the refraction law, we can build the mathematics model and get the parameters of freeform light distribution lens. Then we import its parameter into the three-dimensional (3D) software CATIA to construct its 3D model. The ray tracing results using Tracepro demonstrate that the Illumination value of target plane is easily adjustable and fully comply with the requirement of the national regulation GB 25991-2010 by adjusting the exit brightness value of DMD. The theoretical optical efficiencies of the light distribution lens designed using this method could be up to 92% without any other auxiliary lens.

VUV light reflectivity measurements from PTFE in Liquid Xenon for the LZ Dark Matter experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pushkin, Kirill; LZ Collaboration

2016-03-01

The LUX-Zeplin (LZ) collaboration is the next generation of the experiment to search for Dark Matter in the Universe with a dual-phase detector based on liquid xenon (LXe) with a target mass of 7 ton. LXe dual phase detectors are very sensitive probes to search for WIMP dark matter interactions. The LZ collaboration is conducting R&D to study VUV light reflectivity from PTFE (Teflon) in LXe. Teflon is used in dual phase detectors both as an electrical insulator and as reflector of VUV scintillation light (~175 nm) to improve photon detection with photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). However, experimental data for the reflectance of VUV light from PTFE in LXe is not sufficiently conclusive. We present a new technique of measuring the light reflectivity from PTFE by varying the fractional area of the PMT in the detector. PTFE reflectivity measurements were performed as a function of Teflon wall thickness in the range of 2 mm to 9.5 mm. The method, apparatus and experimental results will be presented.

An Arduino-based experiment designed to clarify the transition to total internal reflection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atkin, Keith

2018-03-01

The topic of refraction and reflection of light at the boundary of transparent media is a fundamentally important one. The special case of total internal reflection is however commonly misrepresented in elementary textbooks. This paper addresses the problem and describes an experimental procedure for measuring and displaying reflected and transmitted light intensities using readily available components and the Arduino microcontroller.

System for testing optical fibers

DOEpatents

Golob, J.E.; Looney, L.D.; Lyons, P.B.; Nelson, M.A.; Davies, T.J.

1980-07-15

A system for measuring a combination of optical transmission properties of fiber optic waveguides. A polarized light pulse probe is injected into one end of the optical fiber. Reflections from discontinuities within the fiber are unpolarized whereas reflections of the probe pulse incident to its injection remain polarized. The polarized reflections are prevented from reaching a light detector whereas reflections from the discontinuities reaches the detector. 2 figs.

Reflective diffraction grating

DOEpatents

Lamartine, Bruce C.

2003-06-24

Reflective diffraction grating. A focused ion beam (FIB) micromilling apparatus is used to store color images in a durable medium by milling away portions of the surface of the medium to produce a reflective diffraction grating with blazed pits. The images are retrieved by exposing the surface of the grating to polychromatic light from a particular incident bearing and observing the light reflected by the surface from specified reception bearing.

The production effect in long-list recall: In no particular order?

PubMed

Lambert, Angela M; Bodner, Glen E; Taikh, Alexander

2016-06-01

The production effect reflects a memory advantage for words read aloud versus silently. We investigated how production influences free recall of a single long list of words. In each of 4 experiments, a production effect occurred in a mixed-list group but not across pure-list groups. When compared to the pure-list groups, the mixed-list effects typically reflected a cost to silent words rather than a benefit to aloud words. This cost persisted when participants had to perform a generation or imagery task for the silent items, ruling out a lazy reading explanation. This recall pattern challenges both distinctiveness and strength accounts, but is consistent with an item-order account. By this account, the aloud words in a mixed list disrupt the encoding of item-order information for the silent words, thus impairing silent word recall. However, item-order measures and a forced-choice order test did not provide much evidence that recall was guided by retrieval of item-order information. We discuss our pattern of results in light of another recent study of the effects of production on long-list recall. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Experimental vizualization of 2D photonic crystal equi-frequency contours

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Senderakova, Dagmar; Drzik, Milan; Pisarcik, Matej

2017-12-01

Photonic crystals have been extensively studied for their unique optical properties that promise interesting novel devices. Our contribution is focused on a 2D photonic crystal structure formed by Al2O3 layer on silicon substrate, patterned with periodic hexagonal lattice of deep air holes. Azimuthal angle dependences of the specular light reflection were recorded photo-electrically at various angles of icidence and wavelengths. Data obtained were processed via mapping in reciprocal k-space. The method promises a possibility to visualize the equi-frequency contours and get more detailed information about the properties of the sample used.

STS-51C earth observations

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-10-10

51C-143-027 (24-27 Jan 1985) --- This near-vertical photograph taken in January, 1985, shows the distribution pattern of muddy fresh water from the Mississippi River as it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. New Orleans, with its surrounding urban area, is highly reflective and appears at the top center. Light colored streaks of developed land extend on natural levees along the ancient La Fourche Delta to the west located at the top left of the view. The Chandeleur Islands, to the east of the present Mississippi Delta (center right), are remnants of the older delta lobe.

BRDF-dependent accuracy of array-projection-based 3D sensors.

PubMed

Heist, Stefan; Kühmstedt, Peter; Tünnermann, Andreas; Notni, Gunther

2017-03-10

In order to perform high-speed three-dimensional (3D) shape measurements with structured light systems, high-speed projectors are required. One possibility is an array projector, which allows pattern projection at several tens of kilohertz by switching on and off the LEDs of various slide projectors. The different projection centers require a separate analysis, as the intensity received by the cameras depends on the projection direction and the object's bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). In this contribution, we investigate the BRDF-dependent errors of array-projection-based 3D sensors and propose an error compensation process.

Reducing the substrate dependent scanner leveling effect in low-k1 contact printing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, C. S.; Tseng, C. F.; Huang, C. H.; Yang, Elvis; Yang, T. H.; Chen, K. C.

2015-03-01

As the scaling down of design rule for high-density memory device, the small depth of focus (DoF) budget may be deteriorated by focus leveling errors, which arises in unpredicted reflectivity from multilayer structures on the topographic wafer. The leveling sensors of ASML scanner use near infrared (NIR) range wavelength which can penetrate through most of films using in semiconductor fabrication such as photo-resist, bottom anti reflective coating (BARC) and dielectric materials. Consequently, the reflected light from underlying substructures would disturb leveling sensors from accurate leveling. The different pattern densities and layout characteristics between array and periphery of a memory chip are expected to result in different leveling signals. Furthermore, the process dependent variations between wafer central and edge areas are also considered to yield different leveling performances during wafer exposure. In this study, lower blind contact immunity was observed for peripheral contacts comparing to the array contacts especially around wafer edge region. In order to overcome this problem, a series of investigations have been carried out. The wafer edge leveling optimization through circuit dependent focus edge clearance (CDFEC) option doesn't get improvement. Air gauge improved process leveling (AGILE) function of ASML immersion scanner doesn't show improved result either. The ILD uniformity improvement and step height treatments around wafer edge such as edge exclusion of film deposition and bevel etching are also ineffective to mitigate the blind contact problem of peripheral patterns. Altering the etch hard-mask stack is finally found to be an effective approach to alleviate the issue. For instance, through either containing high temperature deposition advanced patterning film (APF) in the hard-mask or inserting higher opaque film such as amorphous Si in between the hard-mask stack.

Micropatterned Azopolymer Surfaces Modulate Cell Mechanics and Cytoskeleton Structure.

PubMed

Rianna, Carmela; Ventre, Maurizio; Cavalli, Silvia; Radmacher, Manfred; Netti, Paolo A

2015-09-30

Physical and chemical characteristics of materials are important regulators of cell behavior. In particular, cell elasticity is a fundamental parameter that reflects the state of a cell. Surface topography finely modulates cell fate and function via adhesion mediated signaling and cytoskeleton generated forces. However, how topographies alter cell mechanics is still unclear. In this work we have analyzed the mechanical properties of peripheral and nuclear regions of NIH-3T3 cells on azopolymer substrates with different topographic patterns. Micrometer scale patterns in the form of parallel ridges or square lattices of surface elevations were encoded on light responsive azopolymer films by means of contactless optical methods. Cell mechanics was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cells and consequently the cell cytoskeleton were oriented along the linear patterns affecting cytoskeletal structures, e.g., formation of actin stress fibers. Our data demonstrate that topographic substrate patterns are recognized by cells and mechanical information is transferred by the cytoskeleton. Furthermore, cytoskeleton generated forces deform the nucleus, changing its morphology that appears to be related to different mechanical properties in the nuclear region.

Defect reduction of patterned media templates and disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Kang; Ha, Steven; Fretwell, John; Ramos, Rick; Ye, Zhengmao; Schmid, Gerard; LaBrake, Dwayne; Resnick, Douglas J.; Sreenivasan, S. V.

2010-05-01

Imprint lithography has been shown to be an effective technique for the replication of nano-scale features. Acceptance of imprint lithography for manufacturing will require a demonstration of defect levels commensurate with cost-effective device production. This work summarizes the results of defect inspections of hard disks patterned using Jet and Flash Imprint Lithography (J-FILTM). Inspections were performed with optical based automated inspection tools. For the hard drive market, it is important to understand the defectivity of both the template and the imprinted disk. This work presents a methodology for automated pattern inspection and defect classification for imprint-patterned media. Candela CS20 and 6120 tools from KLA-Tencor map the optical properties of the disk surface, producing highresolution grayscale images of surface reflectivity and scattered light. Defects that have been identified in this manner are further characterized according to the morphology. The imprint process was tested after optimizing both the disk cleaning and adhesion layers processes that precede imprinting. An extended imprint run was performed and both the defect types and trends are reported.

Optical inverse-square displacement sensor

DOEpatents

Howe, Robert D.; Kychakoff, George

1989-01-01

This invention comprises an optical displacement sensor that uses the inverse-square attenuation of light reflected from a diffused surface to calculate the distance from the sensor to the reflecting surface. Light emerging from an optical fiber or the like is directed onto the surface whose distance is to be measured. The intensity I of reflected light is angle dependent, but within a sufficiently small solid angle it falls off as the inverse square of the distance from the surface. At least a pair of optical detectors are mounted to detect the reflected light within the small solid angle, their ends being at different distances R and R+.DELTA.R from the surface. The distance R can then be found in terms of the ratio of the intensity measurements and the separation length as ##EQU1##

Light trapping structures in wing scales of butterfly Trogonoptera brookiana.

PubMed

Han, Zhiwu; Niu, Shichao; Shang, Chunhui; Liu, Zhenning; Ren, Luquan

2012-04-28

The fine optical structures in wing scales of Trogonoptera brookiana, a tropical butterfly exhibiting efficient light trapping effect, were carefully examined and the reflectivity was measured using reflectance spectrometry. The optimized 3D configuration of the coupling structure was determined using SEM and TEM data, and the light trapping mechanism of butterfly scales was studied. It is found that the front and back sides of butterfly wings possess different light trapping structures, but both can significantly increase the optical path and thus result in almost total absorption of all incident light. An optical model was created to check the properties of this light trapping structure. The simulated reflectance spectra are in concordance with the experimental ones. The results reliably confirm that these structures induce efficient light trapping effect. This functional "biomimetic structure" would have a potential value in wide engineering and optical applications. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012

A Feasibility Study on Generation of Acoustic Waves Utilizing Evanescent Light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuya, I.; Matozaki, K.; Kosugi, A.; Ihara, I.

2014-06-01

A new approach of generating acoustic waves utilizing evanescent light is presented. The evanescent light is a non-propagating electromagnetic wave that exhibits exponential decay with distance from the surface at which the total internal reflection of light is formed. In this research, the evanescent light during total internal reflection at prism surface is utilized for generating acoustic waves in aluminium and the feasibility for ultrasonic measurements is discussed. Pulsed Nd:YAG laser with 0.36 J/cm2 power density is used and the incident angle during the total internal reflection is arranged to be 69.0° for generating the evanescent light. It has been demonstrated that the amplitude of the acoustic waves by means of evanescent light is about 1/14 as large as the one generated by the conventional pulsed laser. This reveals the possibility of using a laser ultrasonic technique with near-field optics.

Particle detection for patterned wafers of 100nm design rule by evanescent light illumination: analysis of evanescent light scattering using Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshioka, Toshie; Miyoshi, Takashi; Takaya, Yasuhiro

2005-12-01

To realize high productivity and reliability of the semiconductor, patterned wafers inspection technology to maintain high yield becomes essential in modern semiconductor manufacturing processes. As circuit feature is scaled below 100nm, the conventional imaging and light scattering methods are impossible to apply to the patterned wafers inspection technique, because of diffraction limit and lower S/N ratio. So, we propose a new particle detection method using annular evanescent light illumination. In this method, a converging annular light used as a light source is incident on a micro-hemispherical lens. When the converging angle is larger than critical angle, annular evanescent light is generated under the bottom surface of the hemispherical lens. Evanescent light is localized near by the bottom surface and decays exponentially away from the bottom surface. So, the evanescent light selectively illuminates the particles on the patterned wafer surface, because it can't illuminate the patterned wafer surface. The proposed method evaluates particles on a patterned wafer surface by detecting scattered evanescent light distribution from particles. To analyze the fundamental characteristics of the proposed method, the computer simulation was performed using FDTD method. The simulation results show that the proposed method is effective for detecting 100nm size particle on patterned wafer of 100nm lines and spaces, particularly under the condition that the evanescent light illumination with p-polarization and parallel incident to the line orientation. Finally, the experiment results suggest that 220nm size particle on patterned wafer of about 200nm lines and spaces can be detected.

Optical Polarization of Light from a Sorghum Canopy Measured Under Both a Clear and an Overcast Sky

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanderbilt, Vern; Daughtry, Craig; Biehl, Larry; Dahlgren, Robert

2014-01-01

Introduction: We tested the hypothesis that the optical polarization of the light reflected by a sorghum canopy is due to a Fresnel-type redirection, by sorghum leaf surfaces, of light from an unpolarized light source, the sun or overcast sky, toward the measuring sensor. If it can be shown that the source of the polarization of the light scattered by the sorghum canopy is a first surface, Fresnel-type reflection, then removing this surface reflected light from measurements of canopy reflectance presumably would allow better insight into the biochemical processes such as photosynthesis and metabolism that occur in the interiors of sorghum canopy leaves. Methods: We constructed a tower 5.9m tall in the center of a homogenous sorghum field. We equipped two Barnes MMR radiometers with polarization analyzers on the number 1, 3 and 7 Landsat TM wavelength bands. Positioning the radiometers atop the tower, we collected radiance data in 44 view directions on two days, one day with an overcast sky and the other, clear and sunlit. From the radiance data we calculated the linear polarization of the reflected light for each radiometer wavelength channel and view direction. Results and Discussion: Our experimental results support our hypothesis, showing that the amplitude of the linearly polarized portion of the light reflected by the sorghum canopy varied dramatically with view azimuth direction under a point source, the sun, but the amplitude varied little with view azimuth direction under the hemispherical source, the overcast sky. Under the clear sky, the angle of polarization depended upon the angle of incidence of the sunlight on the leaf, while under the overcast sky the angle of polarization depended upon the zenith view angle. These results support a polarized radiation transport model of the canopy that is based upon a first surface, Fresnel reflection from leaves in the sorghum canopy.

Simulation of oceanic whitecaps and their reflectance characteristics in the short wavelength infrared.

PubMed

Schwenger, Frédéric; Repasi, Endre

2017-02-20

The knowledge of the spatial energy (or power) distribution of light beams reflected at the dynamic sea surface is of great practical interest in maritime environments. For the estimation of the light energy reflected into a specific spatial direction a lot of parameters need to be taken into account. Both whitecap coverage and its optical properties have a large impact upon the calculated value. In published literature, for applications considering vertical light propagation paths, such as bathymetric lidar, the reflectance of sea surface and whitecaps are approximated by constant values. For near-horizontal light propagation paths the optical properties of the sea surface and the whitecaps must be considered in greater detail. The calculated light energy reflected into a specific direction varies statistically and depends largely on the dynamics of the wavy sea surface and the dynamics of whitecaps. A 3D simulation of the dynamic sea surface populated with whitecaps is presented. The simulation considers the evolution of whitecaps depending on wind speed and fetch. The radiance calculation of the maritime scene (open sea/clear sky) populated with whitecaps is done in the short wavelength infrared spectral band. Wave hiding and shadowing, especially occurring at low viewing angles, are considered. The specular reflection of a light beam at the sea surface in the absence of whitecaps is modeled by an analytical statistical bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of the sea surface. For whitecaps, a specific BRDF is used by taking into account their shadowing function. To ensure the credibility of the simulation, the whitecap coverage is determined from simulated image sequences for different wind speeds and compared to whitecap coverage functions from literature. The impact of whitecaps on the radiation balance for bistatic configuration of light source and receiver is calculated for a different incident (zenith/azimuth angles) of the light beam and is presented for two different wind speeds.

Contrast-enhancement in organic light-emitting diodes.

PubMed

Wu, Zhaoxin; Wang, Liduo; Qiu, Yong

2005-03-07

A high-contrast organic light-emitting diode (OLED) structure is presented. Because of poor contrast of conventional OLED resulting from high reflective metal cathode, the hybrid cathode structure was developed for low reflectivity. It consists the semitransparent cathode layers, passivation layers and a thick light-absorbing film. By optical reflectivity measurement and OLED electrical characterization tests for both OLED with the hybrid cathode and conventional OLED, it was found that the spectrum reflectance of OLED with hybrid cathode is among 8%-12%, about eight times lower than the conventional one when the two types of devices have similar turn-on voltages and current-voltage characteristics. The hybrid cathode for the high-contrast OLED is easily fabricated and its optical reflectance is slightly dependent on wavelength.

Predicting Photosynthetic Fluxes from Spectral Reflectance of Leaves and Canopies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gamon, John A.

1997-01-01

The central hypothesis of this study has been that photosynthetic efficiency and capacity can be predicted from 'physiological reflectance indices' derived from spectral reflectance of leaves and canopies. I have approached this topic with a combination of laboratory and field experiments, and have also explored the potential of deriving a meaningful physiological index from imaging spectrometry (e.g. AVIRIS). A few highlights are presented below. The main emphasis has been on the 'Photochemical Reflectance Index' (PRI), derived from reflectance at 531 nm and 570 nm. Unlike most 'conventional' vegetation indices (e.g. NDVI), PRI changes rapidly both with illumination and physiological state, because it detects the interconversion of xanthophyll cycle pigments, which serve as photoregulatory pigments and control energy distribution for the photosynthetic system. This approach has differed dramatically from most remote sensing in that it has emphasized temporal variation in narrow-band spectral signatures, instead of spatial patterns of broadband indices. Our primary conclusion has been that PRI works well as an index of photosynthetic light-use efficiency at the leaf scale, much in the same way as the fluorescence index DeltaF/Fm. However, unlike DeltaF/Fm which must be measured at close scales, PRI can be sampled at a range of spatial scales, presenting the possibility of monitoring photosynthetic fluxes remotely.

Characterization and Processing of Non-Uniformities in Back-Illuminated CCDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemm, Alia D.; Della-Rose, Devin J.; Maddocks, Sally

2018-01-01

In astronomical photometry, Charged Coupled Device (CCD) detectors are used to achieve high precision photometry and must be properly calibrated to correct for noise and pixel non-uniformities. Uncalibrated images may contain bias offset, dark current, bias structure and uneven illumination. In addition, standard data reduction is often not sufficient to “normalize” imagery to single-digit millimagnitude (mmag) precision. We are investigating an apparent non-uniformity, or interference pattern, in a back-illuminated sensor, the Alta U-47, attached to a DFM Engineering 41-cm Ritchey-Chrétien f/8 telescope. Based on the amplitude of this effect, we estimate that instrument magnitude peak-to-valley deviations of 50 mmag or more may result. Our initial testing strongly suggests that reflected skylight from high pressure sodium city lights may be the cause of this interference pattern. Our research goals are twofold: to fully characterize this non-uniformity and to determine the best method to remove this interference pattern from our reduced CCD images.

The expression of light-related leaf functional traits depends on the location of individual leaves within the crown of isolated Olea europaea trees

PubMed Central

Escribano-Rocafort, Adrián G.; Ventre-Lespiaucq, Agustina B.; Granado-Yela, Carlos; Rubio de Casas, Rafael; Delgado, Juan A.; Balaguer, Luis

2016-01-01

Background The spatial arrangement and expression of foliar syndromes within tree crowns can reflect the coupling between crown form and function in a given environment. Isolated trees subjected to high irradiance and concomitant stress may adjust leaf phenotypes to cope with environmental gradients that are heterogeneous in space and time within the tree crown. The distinct expression of leaf phenotypes among crown positions could lead to complementary patterns in light interception at the crown scale. Methods We quantified eight light-related leaf traits across 12 crown positions of ten isolated Olea europaea trees in the field. Specifically, we investigated whether the phenotypic expression of foliar traits differed among crown sectors and layers and five periods of the day from sunrise to sunset. We investigated the consequences in terms of the exposed area of the leaves at the tree scale during a single day. Key Results All traits differed among crown positions except the length-to-width ratio of the leaves. We found a strong complementarity in the patterns of the potential exposed area of the leaves among day periods as a result of a non-random distribution of leaf angles across the crown. Leaf exposure at the outer layer was below 60 % of the displayed surface, reaching maximum interception during morning periods. Daily interception increased towards the inner layer, achieving consecutive maximization from east to west positions within the crown, matching the sun’s trajectory. Conclusions The expression of leaf traits within isolated trees of O. europaea varies continuously through the crown in a gradient of leaf morphotypes and leaf angles depending on the exposure and location of individual leaves. The distribution of light-related traits within the crown and the complementarity in the potential exposure patterns of the leaves during the day challenges the assumption of low trait variability within individuals. PMID:26944783

Friend or foe: exploiting sensor failures for transparent object localization and classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seib, Viktor; Barthen, Andreas; Marohn, Philipp; Paulus, Dietrich

2017-02-01

In this work we address the problem of detecting and recognizing transparent objects using depth images from an RGB-D camera. Using this type of sensor usually prohibits the localization of transparent objects since the structured light pattern of these cameras is not reflected by transparent surfaces. Instead, transparent surfaces often appear as undefined values in the resulting images. However, these erroneous sensor readings form characteristic patterns that we exploit in the presented approach. The sensor data is fed into a deep convolutional neural network that is trained to classify and localize drinking glasses. We evaluate our approach with four different types of transparent objects. To our best knowledge, no datasets offering depth images of transparent objects exist so far. With this work we aim at closing this gap by providing our data to the public.

Atmospheric scattering effects on ground-based measurements of thermospheric winds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abreu, V. J.; Schmitt, G. A.; Hays, P. B.; Meriwether, J. W., Jr.; Tepley, C. A.; Cogger, L. L.

1983-01-01

Convergent or divergent thermospheric wind patterns detected by ground-based Fabry-Perot interferometric measurements of the Doppler shifts of atomic lines are demonstrated to occur in the presence of strong intensity gradients and a scattering atmosphere. Consideration is given to the color shifts observed when sighting to the north or the south, and a numerical model is developed to describe the wind patterns which produce the recorded shifts. An account is taken of the direct and scattered components of the brightness, with the atmosphere treated as a single scattering layer with a reflecting surface underneath. A scattering coefficient is calculated, together with the line shape of the wavelength shifts. The scattered light is demonstrated, both through simulations and measurements taken near Calgary, Alberta, to produce convergence or divergence of the color shifts, depending on the line-of-sight of the viewing.

Broadband reflective liquid crystalline gels due to the ultraviolet light screening made by the liquid crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Relaix, Sabrina; Bourgerette, Christian; Mitov, Michel

2006-12-01

It is shown that the natural ultraviolet light absorbing properties of the liquid crystal constituent during the photoinduced elaboration of a liquid crystalline gel induce the broadening of the reflection bandwidth. The polymer component is then included in a resin by preserving its spatial distribution, and transmission electron microscopy investigations of cross sections show the existence of a structure gradient, which is at the origin of the broadening phenomenon. Such reflectors may be of interest for reflective polarizer-free displays or smart windows for the control of solar light for which a broadband reflection is required.

Silicon micromachined broad band light source

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

George, Thomas (Inventor); Jones, Eric (Inventor); Tuma, Margaret L. (Inventor); Eastwood, Michael (Inventor); Hansler, Richard (Inventor)

2004-01-01

A micro electromechanical system (MEMS) broad band incandescent light source includes three layers: a top transmission window layer; a middle filament mount layer; and a bottom reflector layer. A tungsten filament with a spiral geometry is positioned over a hole in the middle layer. A portion of the broad band light from the heated filament is reflective off the bottom layer. Light from the filament and the reflected light of the filament are transmitted through the transmission window. The light source may operate at temperatures of 2500 K or above. The light source may be incorporated into an on board calibrator (OBC) for a spectrometer.

Polarized luminescence of nc-Si-SiO x nanostructures on silicon substrates with patterned surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michailovska, Katerina; Mynko, Viktor; Indutnyi, Ivan; Shepeliavyi, Petro

2018-05-01

Polarization characteristics and spectra of photoluminescence (PL) of nc-Si-SiO x structures formed on the patterned and plane c-Si substrates are studied. The interference lithography with vacuum chalcogenide photoresist and anisotropic wet etching are used to form a periodic relief (diffraction grating) on the surface of the substrates. The studied nc-Si-SiO x structures were produced by oblique-angle deposition of Si monoxide in vacuum and the subsequent high-temperature annealing. The linear polarization memory (PM) effect in PL of studied structure on plane substrate is manifested only after the treatment of the structures in HF and is explained by the presence of elongated Si nanoparticles in the SiO x nanocolumns. But the PL output from the nc-Si-SiO x structure on the patterned substrate depends on how this radiation is polarized with respect to the grating grooves and is much less dependent on the polarization of the exciting light. The measured reflection spectra of nc-Si-SiO x structure on the patterned c-Si substrate confirmed the influence of pattern on the extraction of polarized PL.

Nonparametric Bayesian clustering to detect bipolar methylated genomic loci.

PubMed

Wu, Xiaowei; Sun, Ming-An; Zhu, Hongxiao; Xie, Hehuang

2015-01-16

With recent development in sequencing technology, a large number of genome-wide DNA methylation studies have generated massive amounts of bisulfite sequencing data. The analysis of DNA methylation patterns helps researchers understand epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Highly variable methylation patterns reflect stochastic fluctuations in DNA methylation, whereas well-structured methylation patterns imply deterministic methylation events. Among these methylation patterns, bipolar patterns are important as they may originate from allele-specific methylation (ASM) or cell-specific methylation (CSM). Utilizing nonparametric Bayesian clustering followed by hypothesis testing, we have developed a novel statistical approach to identify bipolar methylated genomic regions in bisulfite sequencing data. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed method achieves good performance in terms of specificity and sensitivity. We used the method to analyze data from mouse brain and human blood methylomes. The bipolar methylated segments detected are found highly consistent with the differentially methylated regions identified by using purified cell subsets. Bipolar DNA methylation often indicates epigenetic heterogeneity caused by ASM or CSM. With allele-specific events filtered out or appropriately taken into account, our proposed approach sheds light on the identification of cell-specific genes/pathways under strong epigenetic control in a heterogeneous cell population.

Chiral mirror and optical resonator designs for circularly polarized light: suppression of cross-polarized reflectances and transmittances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hodgkinson, Ian J.; Wu, Qi h.; Arnold, Matthew; McCall, Martin W.; Lakhtakia, Akhlesh

2002-09-01

A left-handed chiral sculptured thin film (STF) that reflects strongly at the wavelength of the circular Bragg resonance tends to partially convert the handedness of incident LCP (left-circularly-polarized) light to RCP (right-circularly-polarized). We show that the cross-polarized component of the reflected RCP beam can be eliminated by interference with an additional RCP beam that is reflected at the interface of an isotropic cover and an AR (antireflecting) layer. For best results the refractive index and thickness of the AR layer need to accommodate a phase change on reflection that occurs at the chiral film. Effective suppression of the reflectances RRR, RRL, RLR and the transmittances TRL, TLR can be achieved by sandwiching the chiral reflector between such amplitude and phase-matched AR coatings. Co-polarized chiral reflectors of this type may form efficient handed optical resonators. For LCP light the optical properties of such a handed resonator are formally the same as the properties of the isotropic passive or active Fabry-Perot resonators, but the handed resonator is transparent to RCP light.

Thin film polarizer and color filter based on photo-polymerizable nematic liquid crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohammadimasoudi, Mohammad; Neyts, Kristiaan; Beeckman, Jeroen

2015-03-01

We present a method to fabricate a thin film color filter based on a mixture of photo-polymerizable liquid crystal and chiral dopant. A chiral nematic liquid crystal layer reflects light for a certain wavelength interval Δλ (= Δn.P) with the period and Δn the birefringence of the liquid crystal. The reflection band is determined by the chiral dopant concentration. The bandwidth is limited to 80nm and the reflectance is at most 50% for unpolarized incident light. The thin color filter is interesting for innovative applications like polarizer-free reflective displays, polarization-independent devices, stealth technologies, or smart switchable reflective windows to control solar light and heat. The reflected light has strong color saturation without absorption because of the sharp band edges. A thin film polarizer is developed by using a mixture of photo-polymerizable liquid crystal and color-neutral dye. The fabricated thin film absorbs light that is polarized parallel to the c axis of the LC. The obtained polarization ratio is 80% for a film of only 12 μm. The thin film polarizer and the color filter feature excellent film characteristics without domains and can be detached from the substrate which is useful for e.g. flexible substrates.

Applications and requirements for MEMS scanner mirrors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolter, Alexander; Hsu, Shu-Ting; Schenk, Harald; Lakner, Hubert K.

2005-01-01

Micro scanning mirrors are quite versatile MEMS devices for the deflection of a laser beam or a shaped beam from another light source. The most exciting application is certainly in laser-scanned displays. Laser television, home cinema and data projectors will display the most brilliant colors exceeding even plasma, OLED and CRT. Devices for front and rear projection will have advantages in size, weight and price. These advantages will be even more important in near-eye virtual displays like head-mounted displays or viewfinders in digital cameras and potentially in UMTS handsets. Optical pattern generation by scanning a modulated beam over an area can be used also in a number of other applications: laser printers, direct writing of photo resist for printed circuit boards or laser marking and with higher laser power laser ablation or material processing. Scanning a continuous laser beam over a printed pattern and analyzing the scattered reflection is the principle of barcode reading in 1D and 2D. This principle works also for identification of signatures, coins, bank notes, vehicles and other objects. With a focused white-light or RGB beam even full color imaging with high resolution is possible from an amazingly small device. The form factor is also very interesting for the application in endoscopes. Further applications are light curtains for intrusion control and the generation of arbitrary line patterns for triangulation. Scanning a measurement beam extends point measurements to 1D or 2D scans. Automotive LIDAR (laser RADAR) or scanning confocal microscopy are just two examples. Last but not least there is the field of beam steering. E.g. for all-optical fiber switches or positioning of read-/write heads in optical storage devices. The variety of possible applications also brings a variety of specifications. This publication discusses various applications and their requirements.

Comparative study of GaN-based ultraviolet LEDs grown on different-sized patterned sapphire substrates with sputtered AlN nucleation layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Shengjun; Hu, Hongpo; Liu, Xingtong; Liu, Mengling; Ding, Xinghuo; Gui, Chengqun; Liu, Sheng; Guo, L. Jay

2017-11-01

GaN-based ultraviolet-light-emitting diodes (UV LEDs) with 375 nm emission were grown on different-sized patterned sapphire substrates (PSSs) with ex situ 15-nm-thick sputtered AlN nucleation layers by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). It was observed through in situ optical reflectance monitoring that the transition time from a three-dimensional (3D) island to a two-dimensional (2D) coalescence was prolonged when GaN was grown on a larger PSS, owing to a much longer lateral growth time of GaN. The full widths at half-maximum (FWHMs) of symmetric GaN(002) and asymmetric GaN(102) X-ray diffraction (XRD) rocking curves decreased as the PSS size increased. By cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis, it was found that the threading dislocation (TD) density in UV LEDs decreased with increasing pattern size and fill factor of the PSS, thereby resulting in a marked improvement in internal quantum efficiency (IQE). Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations quantitatively demonstrated a progressive decrease in light extraction efficiency (LEE) as the PSS size increased. However, owing to the significantly reduced TD density in InGaN/AlInGaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) and thus improved IQE, the light output power of the UV LED grown on a large PSS with a fill factor of 0.71 was 131.8% higher than that of the UV LED grown on a small PSS with a fill factor of 0.4, albeit the UV LED grown on a large PSS exhibited a much lower LEE.

Compact battery-less information terminal (CoBIT) for location-based support systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishimura, Takuichi; Itoh, Hideo; Yamamoto, Yoshinobu; Nakashima, Hideyuki

2002-06-01

The target of ubiquitous computing environment is to support users to get necessary information and services in a situation-dependent form. Therefore, we propose a location-based information support system by using Compact Battery-less Information Terminal (CoBIT). A CoBIT can communicate with the environmental system and with the user by only the energy supply from the environment. It has a solar cell and get a modulated light from an environmental optical beam transmitter. The current from the solar cell is directly (or through passive circuit) introduced into an earphone, which generates sound for the user. The current is also used to make vibration, LED signal or electrical stimulus on the skin. The sizes of CoBITs are about 2cm in diameter, 3cm in length, which can be hanged on ears conveniently. The cost of it would be only about 1 dollar if produced massively. The CoBIT also has sheet type corner reflector, which reflect optical beam back in the direction of the light source. Therefore the environmental system can easily detect the terminal position and direction as well as some simple signs from the user by multiple cameras with infra-red LEDs. The system identifies the sign by the modulated patterns of the reflected light, which the user makes by occluding the reflector by hand. The environmental system also recognizes other objects using other sensors and displays video information on a nearby monitor in order to realize situated support.

A finger-free wrist-worn pulse oximeter for the monitoring of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Chang-Sheng; Chuang, Shuang-Chao; Lee, Yeh Wen; Fan, Chih-Hsun; Chung, Lung Pin; Li, Yu-Tang; Chen, Jyh-Chern

2016-03-01

Herein, a finger-free wrist-worn pulse oximeter is presented. This device allows patients to measure blood oxygen level and pulse rate without hindering their normal finger movement. This wrist-worn pulse oximeter is built with a reflectance oximetry sensor, which consists of light emitting diodes and photodiode light detectors located side by side. This reflectance oximetry sensor is covered with an optical element with micro structured surface. This micro structured optical element is designed to modulate photon propagation beneath the skin tissue so that the photoplethysmogram signals of reflected lights or backscattered lights detected by the photodetector are therefore enhanced.

Microelectromechanical mirrors and electrically-programmable diffraction gratings based on two-stage actuation

DOEpatents

Allen, James J.; Sinclair, Michael B.; Dohner, Jeffrey L.

2005-11-22

A microelectromechanical (MEM) device for redirecting incident light is disclosed. The MEM device utilizes a pair of electrostatic actuators formed one above the other from different stacked and interconnected layers of polysilicon to move or tilt an overlying light-reflective plate (i.e. a mirror) to provide a reflected component of the incident light which can be shifted in phase or propagation angle. The MEM device, which utilizes leveraged bending to provide a relatively-large vertical displacement up to several microns for the light-reflective plate, has applications for forming an electrically-programmable diffraction grating (i.e. a polychromator) or a micromirror array.

The evolution of adult light emission color in North American fireflies.

PubMed

Hall, David W; Sander, Sarah E; Pallansch, Jennifer C; Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F

2016-09-01

Firefly species (Lampyridae) vary in the color of their adult bioluminescence. It has been hypothesized that color is selected to enhance detection by conspecifics. One mechanism to improve visibility of the signal is to increase contrast against ambient light. High contrast implies that fireflies active early in the evening will emit yellower luminescence to contrast against ambient light reflected from green vegetation, especially in habitats with high vegetation cover. Another mechanism to improve visibility is to use reflection off the background to enhance the light signal. Reflectance predicts that sedentary females will produce greener light to maximize reflection off the green vegetation on which they signal. To test these predictions, we recorded over 7500 light emission spectra and determined peak emission wavelength for 675 males, representing 24 species, at 57 field sites across the Eastern United States. We found support for both hypotheses: males active early in more vegetated habitats produced yellower flashes in comparison to later-active males with greener flashes. Further, in two of the eight species with female data, female light emissions were significantly greener as compared to males. © 2016 The Author(s). Evolution © 2016 The Society for the Study of Evolution.

A real-time photo-realistic rendering algorithm of ocean color based on bio-optical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Chunyong; Xu, Shu; Wang, Hongsong; Tian, Fenglin; Chen, Ge

2016-12-01

A real-time photo-realistic rendering algorithm of ocean color is introduced in the paper, which considers the impact of ocean bio-optical model. The ocean bio-optical model mainly involves the phytoplankton, colored dissolved organic material (CDOM), inorganic suspended particle, etc., which have different contributions to absorption and scattering of light. We decompose the emergent light of the ocean surface into the reflected light from the sun and the sky, and the subsurface scattering light. We establish an ocean surface transmission model based on ocean bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) and the Fresnel law, and this model's outputs would be the incident light parameters of subsurface scattering. Using ocean subsurface scattering algorithm combined with bio-optical model, we compute the scattering light emergent radiation in different directions. Then, we blend the reflection of sunlight and sky light to implement the real-time ocean color rendering in graphics processing unit (GPU). Finally, we use two kinds of radiance reflectance calculated by Hydrolight radiative transfer model and our algorithm to validate the physical reality of our method, and the results show that our algorithm can achieve real-time highly realistic ocean color scenes.

Hidden Patterns of Light Revealed by Spitzer

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-06-07

Astronomers have uncovered patterns of light that appear to be from the first stars and galaxies that formed in the universe. The light patterns were hidden within a strip of sky observed by NASA Spitzer Space Telescope.

Aperture lamp

DOEpatents

MacLennan, Donald A.; Turner, Brian P.

2003-01-01

A discharge lamp includes means for containing a light emitting fill, the fill being capable of absorbing light at one wavelength and re-emitting the light at a different wavelength, the light emitted from the fill having a first spectral power distribution in the absence of reflection of light back into the fill; means for exciting the fill to cause the fill to emit light; and means for reflecting some of the light emitted by the fill back into the fill while allowing some light to exit, the exiting light having a second spectral power distribution with proportionately more light in the visible region as compared to the first spectral power distribution, wherein the light re-emitted by the fill is shifted in wavelength with respect to the absorbed light and the magnitude of the shift is in relation to an effective optical path length. Another discharge lamp includes an envelope; a fill which emits light when excited disposed in the envelope; a source of excitation power coupled to the fill to excite the fill and cause the fill to emit light; and a reflective ceramic structure disposed around the envelope and defining an light emitting opening, wherein the structure comprises a sintered body built up directly on the envelope and made from a combination of alumina and silica.

Heterodyne interferometer with angstrom-level periodic nonlinearity

DOEpatents

Schmitz, Tony L.; Beckwith, John F.

2005-01-25

Displacement measuring interferometer systems and methods are disclosed. One or more acousto-optic modulators for receiving a laser light beam from a laser light source can be utilized to split the laser light beam into two or more laser light beams, while spatially separating frequencies thereof. One or more reflective mechanisms can be utilized to reflect one or more of the laser light beams back to the acousto-optic modulator. Interference of two or more of the laser light beams generally at the acousto-optic modulator can provide an interfered laser light beam thereof. A detector for receiving the interfered laser light beam can be utilized to provide interferometer measurement data.

Cost effective flat plate photovoltaic modules using light trapping

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bain, C. N.; Gordon, B. A.; Knasel, T. M.; Malinowski, R. L.

1981-01-01

Work in optical trapping in 'thick films' is described to form a design guide for photovoltaic engineers. A thick optical film can trap light by diffusive reflection and total internal reflection. Light can be propagated reasonably long distances compared with layer thicknesses by this technique. This makes it possible to conduct light from inter-cell and intra-cell areas now not used in photovoltaic modules onto active cell areas.

Nocturnality constrains morphological and functional diversity in the eyes of reef fishes.

PubMed

Schmitz, Lars; Wainwright, Peter C

2011-11-19

Ambient light levels are often considered to drive the evolution of eye form and function. Diel activity pattern is the main mechanism controlling the visual environment of teleost reef fish, with day-active (diurnal) fish active in well-illuminated conditions, whereas night-active (nocturnal) fish cope with dim light. Physiological optics predicts several specific evolutionary responses to dim-light vision that should be reflected in visual performance features of the eye. We analyzed a large comparative dataset on morphological traits of the eyes in 265 species of teleost reef fish in 43 different families. The eye morphology of nocturnal reef teleosts is characterized by a syndrome that indicates better light sensitivity, including large relative eye size, high optical ratio and large, rounded pupils. Improved dim-light image formation comes at the cost of reduced depth of focus and reduction of potential accommodative lens movement. Diurnal teleost reef fish, released from the stringent functional requirements of dim-light vision have much higher morphological and optical diversity than nocturnal species, with large ranges of optical ratio, depth of focus, and lens accommodation. Physical characteristics of the environment are an important factor in the evolution and diversification of the vertebrate eye. Both teleost reef fish and terrestrial amniotes meet the functional requirements of dim-light vision with a similar evolutionary response of morphological and optical modifications. The trade-off between improved dim-light vision and reduced optical diversity may be a key factor in explaining the lower trophic diversity of nocturnal reef teleosts.

SU-E-CAMPUS-T-03: Four-Dimensional Dose Distribution Measurement Using Plastic Scintillator

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

Hashimoto, M; Kozuka, T; Oguchi, M

2014-06-15

Purpose: To develop the detector for the four-dimensional dose distribution measurement. Methods: We made the prototype detector for four-dimensional dose distribution measurement using a cylindrical plastic scintillator (5 cm diameter) and a conical reflection grass. The plastic scintillator is used as a phantom. When the plastic scintillator is irradiated, the scintillation light was emitted according to absorbed dose distribution. The conical reflection grass was arranged to surround the plastic scintillator, which project to downstream the projection images of the scintillation light. Then, the projection image was reflected to 45 degree direction by flat reflection grass, and was recorded by camcorder.more » By reconstructing the three-dimensional dose distribution from the projection image recorded in each frame, we could obtain the four-dimensional dose distribution. First, we tested the characteristic according to the amount of emitted light. Then we compared of the light profile and the dose profile calculated with the radiotherapy treatment planning system. Results: The dose dependency of the amount of light showed linearity. The pixel detecting smaller amount of light had high sensitivity than the pixel detecting larger amount of light. However the difference of the sensitivity could be corrected from the amount of light detected in each pixel. Both of the depth light profile through the conical reflection grass and the depth dose profile showed the same attenuation in the region deeper than peak depth. In lateral direction, the difference of the both profiles was shown at outside field and penumbra region. We consider that the difference is occurred due to the scatter of the scintillation light in the plastic scintillator block. Conclusion: It was possible to obtain the amount of light corresponding to the absorbed dose distribution from the prototype detector. Four-dimensional dose distributions can be reconstructed with high accuracy by the correction of the scattered light.« less

Plasmon Geometric Phase and Plasmon Hall Shift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Li-kun; Song, Justin C. W.

2018-04-01

The collective plasmonic modes of a metal comprise a simple pattern of oscillating charge density that yields enhanced light-matter interaction. Here we unveil that beneath this familiar facade plasmons possess a hidden internal structure that fundamentally alters its dynamics. In particular, we find that metals with nonzero Hall conductivity host plasmons with an intricate current density configuration that sharply departs from that of ordinary zero Hall conductivity metals. This nontrivial internal structure dramatically enriches the dynamics of plasmon propagation, enabling plasmon wave packets to acquire geometric phases as they scatter. At boundaries, these phases accumulate allowing plasmon waves that reflect off to experience a nonreciprocal parallel shift. This plasmon Hall shift, tunable by Hall conductivity as well as plasmon wavelength, displaces the incident and reflected plasmon trajectories and can be readily probed by near-field photonics techniques. Anomalous plasmon geometric phases dramatically enrich the nanophotonics toolbox, and yield radical new means for directing plasmonic beams.

Transparent binary-thickness coatings on metal substrates that produce binary patterns of orthogonal elliptical polarization states in reflected light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azzam, Rasheed M. A.; Angel, Wade W.

1992-12-01

A reflective division-of-wavefront polarizing beam splitter is described that uses a dual- thickness transparent thin-film coating on a metal substrate. A previous design that used a partially clad substrate at the principal angle of the metal [Azzam, JOSA A 5, 1576 (1988)] is replaced by a more general one in which the substrate is coated throughout and the film thickness alternates between two non-zero levels. The incident linear polarization azimuth is chosen near, but not restricted to, 45 degree(s) (measured from the plane of incidence), and the angle of incidence may be selected over a range of values. The design procedure, which uses the two-dimensional Newton-Raphson method, is applied to the SiO2-Au film- substrate system at 633 nm wavelength, as an example, and the characteristics of the various possible coatings are presented.