Surface profile inspection of a moving object by using dual-frequency Fourier transform profilometry

The 2π phase ambiguity caused by surface isolations and large height step can be solved by dual-frequency projection grating profilometry. However, in the Fourier transform profilometry (FTP) of a moving object, only one single deformed fringe pattern can be obtained. In order to introduce the dual-frequency technique into the FTP of moving object, a novel experimental system is designed to capture two fringe patterns with different frequency at the same time. A grating structure comprising two regions with different frequencies is projected upon the surface of the detected object. Two line-scan CCD cameras are used to capture the surface images encoded by the two kinds of patterns, respectively. By getting the corresponding image intensity at the same point of the object surface in the two acquired images, the dual-frequency technique is applied to extract the real phase without phase ambiguity. The surface profile of a specimen with a large height step is measured to prove the feasibility of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the proposed method can solve the 2π phase ambiguity problem successfully in the surface profile inspection of a moving object.     

A novel method for measuring optical fiber delay lines based on the optical fiber low-coherence Young's interferometer

According to the principle of double-beam interference imaging using an infrared broadband light source, a novel method based on the optical fiber low-coherence Young's interferometer for the measurement of programmable optical fiber delay line is proposed. By measuring the small length increments of delay fiber through the evaluation of the central positions of zero-order interference fringes, we successfully construct a system with a variety of important functions, such as real-time controlling, measurement and displaying. This system offers the benefit that it can be regulated precisely to generate interference stripes once again after the length of fiber segment changes. When the locations of central stripes are moved to coincide with the original markers, the determination of the corresponding fiber optical delay time becomes really simplified, as just by reading out the tinny displacement of the reference arm. Multiple groups of experimental results demonstrate the outstanding performance of the proposed system since it bears a measuring accuracy of μm and a measuring range from 1 mm to 20 cm.     

The fluctuating phase error analysis in the digital grating phase-shifting profilometry

The nonlinear response of the experimental system and the saturation of fringe patterns can induce the fluctuating phase error in the projection grating phase-shifting profilometry. Two major factors of the fluctuating phase error are discussed by simulation. The fluctuating phase error caused by the nonlinear response of the system is four times the frequency of the fringe pattern when the conventional four-frame phase extracting algorithm is used. However, such error can be decreased by five-frame algorithm. On the other hand, the fluctuating phase error caused by the fringe saturation is five times the frequency of the fringe pattern by using conventional five-frame phase extracting algorithm. A novel phase recovering algorithm is used to decrease the phase error caused by the saturation. Furthermore, the applicability range of the proposed phase recovering algorithm is analyzed by simulation and experiments with different saturation degree of the fringe pattern and nonlinearity of the measurement system.     

Chaos synchronization and encoding in coupled semiconductor lasers of multiple modulated time delays

We numerically investigate the synchronization performance of unidirectionally and bidirectionally coupled chaotic semiconductor lasers subject to multiple modulated time delays optical feedbacks. Moreover, by studying the autocorrelation function of the coherent feedback semiconductor laser output, we find that the signatures of time delays can be erased in systems incorporating modulated feedback time delays, which largely improve the system security. Finally, chaos masking switching (CMS) is utilized to examine the communication ability. Numerical results indicate that the messages could be successfully recovered both in unidirectionally and bidirectionally coupled lasers, which confirms the possibility of applying multiple modulated delay system in optical chaos secure communication.     

Synthesis and photonic band gap characterization of high quality photonic crystal heterostructures

High quality photonic crystal heterostructures with a thin titania planar defect layer between its two constitutional photonic crystals were fabricated and their structural and optical properties were analyzed. The results suggest that the thin planar defect layer is beneficial to separate the two constitutional photonic crystals from each other and to reduce the roughness of the interface. The quality of the resulting photonic crystal heterostructures is improved largely and the main features of the photonic band gaps of the two constitutional photonic crystals are inherited. The predominant optical quality of these heterostructures (e.g. deep double photonic band gaps and steep photonic band edges) may afford new flexibility and functionality for engineered photonic behavior in practical devices such as late-model light-operated switches.     

Effect of the laser fluence on the surface characterization of β-FeSi2 films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Single-phase β-FeSi₂ films on silicon (1 0 0) were fabricated by pulse laser deposition. The structure and crystal quality of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The field scanning electron microscopy showed that the film thickness increases with the increasing of the laser fluence. Moreover, atomic force microscopy observations revealed the changes of surface properties with different laser fluence. Based upon all experimental results, it is found that 7 J/cm² is the most favorable for the formation of β-FeSi₂ thin films.     

Bioactive calcium phosphate coating formed on micro-arc oxidized magnesium by chemical deposition

In order to improve the bioactivity of the micro-arc oxidized magnesium, a calcium phosphate coating was formed on the surface of micro-arc oxidized magnesium using a chemical method. The microstructures of the substrate and the calcium phosphate coating before and after the simulated body fluids (SBF) incubation were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the calcified coating was composed of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (HA) and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD). After SBF incubation, some new apatite formation on the calcified coating surface from SBF could be found. The corrosion behaviours of the samples in SBF were also investigated by potentiodynamic polarization curves and immersion tests. The results showed that calcium phosphate coating increased the corrosion potential, and decreased the hydrogen gas release.     

Adsorption of CO, NH3 and O2 on Fe site of La0.875Sr0.125FeO3 (0 1 0) surface by density function theory calculation

The adsorption of CO, NH₃ and O₂ gas molecules on Fe site of La_0.875Sr_0.125FeO₃ (0 1 0) surface has been investigated based on the density functional theory (DFT) with the spin polarized generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The optimal adsorption orientations as well as the adsorption energies for these molecules adsorption on Fe site of La_0.875Sr_0.125FeO₃ (0 1 0) surface are derived. Results show that adsorption configurations with C-down for CO, N-down for NH₃ are stable. For the O₂ molecule adsorption, the mode with an angle about 120° between the oxygen molecule and La_0.875Sr_0.125FeO₃ (0 1 0) surface is stable.     

Effect of stearic acid, zinc stearate coating on the properties of synthetic hydromagnesite

Synthetic hydromagnesite (SHM), used as flame retardant for polymers, may have similar or better flame retardancy effectiveness than aluminum tri-hydroxide (ATH) and magnesium di-hydroxide (MDH). Suitable surface modifiers are often employed to improve its dispersion and compatibility with polymer matrix. In this study, we chose stearic acid (SA) and zinc stearate (ZS) as the surface modifier, and investigated the properties of SHM modified with various surface modifier content using dry blending coating process. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry (TG), particle size distribution, contact angle, oil absorption, bulk density, tapped density and Carr's index were employed to characterize the effect of surface modification. The results showed that the surface of SHM powders was changed from hydrophilic to lipophilic. The flowability of the surface modified powder was also improved. TG graphs showed that the surface modifier had no obvious influence on the degradation pathway of the SHM.     

Ferromagnetism induced by intrinsic defects and nitrogen substitution in SnO2 nanotube

The possibilities of magnetism induced by intrinsic defects and nitrogen substitution in (5,5) single-wall SnO₂ nanotube are investigated by ab initio calculations. The calculated results indicate that a stoichiometric SnO₂ nanotube is nonmagnetic. The tin (Sn) vacancy can induce the magnetic moments rather than oxygen vacancy, which is originated from the polarization of O 2p electrons. A couple of tin vacancies can lead to the ferromagnetic coupling. A nitrogen substitution for oxygen also produces magnetic moments. When substituting two nitrogen atoms, the characteristics of exchange coupling depend upon the distance of two nitrogen atoms. The longer distance of two nitrogen atoms prefers the ferromagnetic coupling, whereas the short distance leads to the antiferromagnetic coupling.