Numerical simulation of PRESS localized MR spectroscopy

Numerical simulations of NMR spectra can provide a rapid and convenient method for optimizing acquisition sequence parameters and generating prior spectral information required for parametric spectral analysis. For spatially resolved spectroscopy, spatially dependent variables affect the resultant spectral amplitudes and phases, which must therefore be taken into account in any spectral simulation model. In this study, methods for numerical simulation of spectra obtained using the PRESS localization pulse sequence are examined. A comparison is made between three different simulation models that include different levels of detail regarding the spatial distributions of the excitation functions, and spin evolution during application of the pulses. These methods were evaluated for measurement of spectra from J-coupled spin systems that are of interest for in vivo proton spectroscopy and results compared with experimental data. It is demonstrated that for optimized refocusing pulses it is sufficient to account for chemical shift effects only, although there is some advantage to implementing a more general numerical simulation approach that includes information on RF pulse excitation profiles, which provides sufficient accuracy while maintaining moderate computational requirements and flexibility to handle different spin systems.     

Ultrafast relaxation of optically excited nonequilibrium electron-hole distributions in germanium

New measurements of the nonlinear, nonequilibrium optical (1.06μm) properties of the germanium solid-state plasma are presented. Single pulse transmission has been measured as a function of incident pulse energy at sample temperatures of 105 K and 297 K. In addition the relative transmission of a probe pulse as a function of time delay after an excitation pulse has been measured for three different excitation pulse energies and two temperatures. A model which explains the observed behavior of germanium under intense radiation is briefly, qualitatively described, and theorectical curves are plotted with the experimental data.     

Excitation of the Morse oscillator by an ultrashort chirped pulse

The excitation of the classic Morse oscillator by an ultrashort electromagnetic pulse with a linear frequency chirp is studied theoretically. Formulas are derived for the oscillation amplitude and the radiation power averaged over a period as functions of the excitation energy for free oscillations of the Morse oscillator. Analytical expressions for describing the oscillator motion after the end of the pulse are obtained in the harmonic limit. In the general case of arbitrary parameters of the problem, the specific features of an excited Morse oscillator are analyzed numerically. Prominence is given to the effect of chirp on the excitation energy. The consideration is performed in terms of dimensionless variables, which makes it possible to apply the results obtained to a wide range of molecular systems and exciting-pulse parameters.     

Emission dynamics of a GaAs microcavity with embedded quantum wells under intense nonresonant excitation

In a GaAs-based microcavity with embedded quantum wells, the dynamics of emission processes under high levels of nonresonant picosecond laser-pulse excitation is studied. For pump levels above the stimulation threshold, the kinetics of the intensity, spectral position, and linewidth of the emission are measured. Upon the arrival of an excitation pulse, the emission line shifts to higher energies over a time interval comparable to the time it takes for the emission intensity to attain its peak value, and then shifts in the opposite direction towards its position at low polariton densities. The width of the emission line is largest immediately after the excitation pulse and attains a minimum when the stimulated-emission intensity is maximum. It is shown that after the excitation pulse, the system is initially in a weak exciton-photon coupling regime, and a transition to a strong-coupling regime occurs with time.     

Electron dynamics triggered by double attosecond pulses: Simulations based on time-dependent density functional theory

In order to observe the high-field effect, the external laser field must reach its peak intensity before the electron ionization. To this end, it is important to reduce pulse duration to typical attosecond timescale. In this paper, the interaction electron dynamics between attosecond pulses and dielectric is investigated within the time-dependent density functional theory. Taking the CaF₂ crystal as an example, we give a comparison of electron dynamics response between single and double pulses. Moreover, the nonlinear energy absorption and electron excitation processes are simulated by adjusting the polarization direction of the sub-pulse. Present results demonstrate that the double pulses show lower electron excitation and energy absorption than the single pulse, which is in accordance with experimental higher ablation threshold and smaller heat-affected zones of the double pulses. In addition, the curves of final excited electron number and energy absorption exhibit the quasi-symmetry about the axis of 180°, which has not been reported yet.     

Time characteristics of the luminescence of Al-ZnS:Mn-InxOy structures excited by a single voltage pulse

We have studied and compared oscillograms of the brightness and the reactive current during the excitation of Al-ZnS:Mn-In_xO_y structures by a single voltage pulse. Disagreement of the results obtained with solutions of the kinetic equations which describe direct collisional excitation of the activator by hot electrons was observed. Based on the results found and analysis of data in the literature it is proposed that there are excitations which transmit the energy to the manganese centers.Tomsk State Academy for Control Systems and Radio Electronics. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 37–41, February, 1995.     

Contrast ratio variation caused by radiation attenuation in pulse width measurement by two-photon absorption fluorescence

In the technique for measuring pulse width by two-photon absorption fluorescence, theoretical calculations indicate that one can hope to obtain a maximum contrast ratio of three between the point at which the two peaks overlap and the point at which there is no superposition. Nevertheless, this calculation has been carried out assuming that the pulse is not attenuated as it traverses the fluorescent medium. In this paper it will be shown that this attenuation gives rise to a decrease in the contrast ratio. As the fluorescence intensity is proportional to the absorption, an increase in the former will be to the detriment of the contrast ratio. We will attempt to give a criterion for the selection of experimental conditions which lead to maximum intensity without an appreciable decrease in the contrast ratio.     

Dynamics of traveling reaction pulses

The growth of activator losses is accompanied by the decay of a traveling reaction pulse. In a ring reactor, this propagation threshold is present simultaneously with a threshold related to the ring diameter. The results of numerical experiments with pulses of an exothermal reaction reveal the transition from pulse propagation to a homogeneous hot regime, established regimes with periodic variations of the pulse velocity, and oscillatory decay of the pulse. When the medium becomes “bistable” as a result of the variation in parameters, this factor does not prevent the propagation of pulses, but leads to changes in the pulse structure.     

Effect of air breakdown on microwave pulse energy transmission

The energy transmission of the long microwave pulse for the frequency of 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz is studied by using the electron fluid model, where the rate coefficients are deduced from the Boltzmann equation solver named BOLSIG+. The breakdown thresholds for different air pressures and incident pulse parameters are predicted, which show good agreement with the experimental data. Below the breakdown threshold, the transmitted pulse energy is proportional to the square of the incident electric field amplitude. When the incident electric field amplitude higher than the breakdown threshold increases,the transmitted pulse energy decreases monotonously at a high air pressure, while at a low air pressure it first decreases and then increases. We also compare the pulse energy transmission for the frequency of 2.45 GHz with the case of 5.8 GHz.     

Enhanced superradiance effect in a system of interacting two-level atoms and crossover from coherent to many-atom multiphoton relaxation regime

We study effects of direct interatomic interaction on cooperative processes in atom-photon dynamics. Using a model of two-level atoms with Ising-type interaction as an example, it is demonstrated that interparticle interaction can promote cooperative radiative relaxation. For small number of atoms this results in inhibition of incoherent spontaneous decay leading to the regime of collective pulse relaxation. Above superradiance threshold increase in delay time and enhancement of superradiance is occurred. In the case of strong interaction (as compared to excitation energy of an atom) transition to the regime of multiphoton relaxation occurs, which we discuss using a simple model of two atoms in a high-Q single mode cavity. It is shown that such transition is accompanied by Rabi oscillations involving many-atom multiphoton states. Dephasing effect of dipole-dipole interaction and solitonic mechanism of relaxation are discussed as well.     

Excitation threshold for subharmonic generation from contrast microbubbles

Six models of contrast microbubbles are investigated to determine the excitation threshold for subharmonic generation. The models are applied to a commercial contrast agent; its characteristic parameters according to each model are determined using experimentally measured ultrasound attenuation. In contrast to the classical perturbative result, the minimum threshold for subharmonic generation is not always predicted at excitation with twice the resonance frequency; instead it occurs over a range of frequencies from resonance to twice the resonance frequency. The quantitative variation of the threshold with frequency depends on the model and the bubble radius. All models are transformed into a common interfacial rheological form, where the encapsulation is represented by two radius dependent surface properties-effective surface tension and surface dilatational viscosity. Variation of the effective surface tension with radius, specifically having an upper limit (resulting from strain softening or rupture of the encapsulation during expansion), plays a critical role. Without the upper limit, the predicted threshold is extremely large, especially near the resonance frequency. Having a lower limit on surface tension (e.g., zero surface tension in the buckled state) increases the threshold value at twice the resonance frequency, in some cases shifting the minimum threshold toward resonance.     

Experimental and numerical investigation on structural effects of laser pulses for modal parameter measurement

In this paper it has been described part of the research devoted to the development of a complete non-intrusive experimental modal analysis procedure based on laser techniques both for excitation and for measurement. In particular, attention has been focused on the thermal effects generated by laser pulses on the excited structure. An analytical model of the energy exchange between the light pulse and the target surface is proposed together with a finite element model of thermal and mechanical behaviour of the structure under excitation. Both the models (analytical and numerical) have been experimentally validated by measuring the thermal and the vibration responses induced by the laser pulses. The experimental part of the study has been performed on a cantilever beam excited with laser pulses from an Nd : YAG source (532 nm, 100 mJ/pulse) using an high-speed infrared camera and a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer. Results from this work can be used to improve understanding concerning the features of laser excitation and to establish a mechanical equivalent system of forces and moments, useful in order to increase the accuracy in the measurements of modal parameters when laser pulses are used as excitation sources.     

调频激励增强微气泡的次谐波理论和实验研究

超声造影剂的次谐波成像可以提高造影组织比，提供更好的图像质量. 提出一种利用调频脉冲激励以增强造影剂微气泡产生的次谐波新方法. 基于修正的Church方程，从理论上讨论了次谐波的产生与调频激励声压的关系及产生阈值，并且实验证实了优化调频信号的带宽及调频时间可以提高次谐波信号幅度及改善主瓣和旁瓣特性. 理论与实验表明，与传统脉冲信号激励相比，调频信号激励产生的次谐波幅度可提高约22dB. 关键词： 调频激励 超声造影剂 微气泡 次谐波     

Reducing SAR in parallel excitation using variable-density spirals: a simulation-based study

Parallel excitation using multiple transmit channels has emerged as an effective method to shorten multidimensional spatially selective radiofrequency (RF) pulses, which have a number of important applications, including B1 field inhomogeneity correction in high-field MRI. The specific absorption rate (SAR) is a primary concern in high-field MRI, where wavelength effects can lead to local peaks in SAR. In parallel excitation, the subjects are exposed to RF pulses from multiple coils, which makes the SAR problem more complex to analyze, yet potentially enables greater freedom in designing RF pulses with lower SAR. Parallel-excitation techniques typically employ either Cartesian or constant-density (CD) spiral trajectories. In this article, variable-density (VD) spiral trajectories are explored as a means for SAR reduction in parallel-excitation pulse design. Numerical simulations were conducted to study the effects of CD and VD spirals on parallel excitation. Specifically, the electromagnetic fields of a four-channel transmit head coil with a three-dimensional head model at 4.7 T were simulated using a finite-difference time domain method. The parallel RF pulses were designed and the resulting excitation patterns were generated using a Bloch simulator. The SAR distributions due to CD and VD spirals were evaluated quantitatively. The simulation results show that, for the same pulse duration, parallel excitation with VD spirals can achieve a lower SAR compared to CD spirals for parallel excitation. VD spirals also resulted in reduced artifact power in the excitation patterns. This gain came with slight, but noticeable, degrading of the spatial resolution of the resulting excitation patterns.     

Dynamics of ultrashort pulsed laser radiation induced non-thermal ablation of graphite

We report on the dependence of a laser radiation induced ablation process of graphite on the applied pulse duration of ultrashort pulsed laser radiation smaller than 4 ps. The emerging so-called non-thermal ablation process of graphite has been confirmed to be capable to physically separate ultrathin graphitic layers from the surface of pristine graphite bulk crystal. This allows the deposition of ablated graphitic flakes on a substrate in the vicinity of the target. The observed ablation threshold determined at different pulse durations shows a modulation, which we ascribe to lattice motions along the c axis that are theoretically predicted to induce the non-thermal ablation process. In a simple approach, the ablation threshold can be described as a function of the energy penetration depth and the absorption of the applied ultrashort pulsed laser radiation. Based on the analysis of the pulse duration dependence of those two determining factors and the assumption of an invariant ablation process, we are able to reproduce the pulse duration dependence of the ablation threshold. Furthermore, the observed pulse duration dependences confirm the assumption of a fast material specific response of graphite target subsequent to optical excitation within the first 2 ps.     

飞秒激光微加工Au膜

飞秒激光微加工薄膜对于MEMS设备的制造是一个急需的技术。文章使用波长为775 nm的Ti: sapphire飞秒激光器(脉宽约为130 fs, 频率为1 000 Hz)研究厚度为4 μm的Au薄膜,在不同加工参数下的结构特性,发现单脉冲消融时消融直径随着脉冲能量的增大而增大。当单脉冲能量一定时,消融直径随着脉冲的个数变化不大。计算得到Au膜的单脉冲消融阈值为F_th＝0.7 J·cm-2,使用脉冲能量略大于阈值时,在薄膜上所划出的线为凸起状;当超过阈值时所得直线为凹起状。同时发现在脉冲能量一定时所得线宽随着加工速度的增加而减小;当加工速度一定时线宽随着能量的增加而增大。     

Incommensurability in the magnetic excitations of the bilinear-biquadratic spin-1 chain

We study the magnetic excitation spectrum of the spin-1 chain with Hamiltonian .We focus on the range where the spin chain is in the gapped Haldane phase. The excitation spectrum and static structure factor is studied using direct Lanczos diagonalization of small systems and density-matrix renormalization group techniques combined with the single-mode approximation. The magnon dispersion has a minimum at until a critical value is reached at which the curvature (velocity) vanishes. Beyond this point, which is distinct from the VBS point and the Lifshitz point, the minimum lies at an incommensurate value that goes smoothly to when approaches , the Lai-Sutherland point. The mode remains isolated from the other states: there is no evidence of spinon deconfinement before the point .These findings explain recent observation of the behavior of the magnetization curve for . Received 16 December 1998     

Effects of pulse energy ratios on plasma characteristics of dual-pulse fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced plasmas of dual-pulse fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with different pulse energy ratios are studied by using the optical emission spectroscopy(OES)and fast imaging.The energy of the two laser pulses is independently adjusted within 0–30 m J with the total energy fixed at 30 m J.The inter-pulse delay remains 450 ns constantly.As the energy share of the first pulse increases,a similar bimodal variation trend of line intensities is observed.The two peaks are obtained at the point where the first pulse is half or twice of the second one,and the maximum spectral enhancement is at the first peak.The bimodal variation trend is induced by the change in the dominated mechanism of dual-pulse excitation with the trough between the two peaks caused by the weak coupling between the two mechanisms.By increasing the first pulse energy,there is a transition from the ablation enhancement dominance near the first peak to the plasma reheating dominance near the second peak.The calculations of plasma temperature and electron number density are consistent with the bimodal trend,which have the values of 17024.47 K,2.75×10¹⁷cm;and 12215.93 K,1.17×10¹⁷cm;at a time delay of 550 ns.In addition,the difference between the two peaks decreases with time delay.With the increase in the first pulse energy share,the plasma morphology undergoes a transformation from hemispherical to shiny-dot and to oblate-cylinder structure during the second laser irradiation from the recorded images by using an intensified charge-coupled device(ICCD)camera.Correspondingly,the peak expansion distance of the plasma front first decreases significantly from 1.99 mm in the single-pulse case to 1.34 mm at 12/18(dominated by ablation enhancement)and then increases slightly with increasing the plasma reheating effect.The variations in plasma dynamics verify that the change of pulse energy ratios leads to a transformation in the dual-pulse excitation mechanism.     

针对限制幅值磁共振脉冲的优化设计

在磁共振脉冲优化领域,优化脉冲普遍存在幅值过大的问题,这极大地限制了优化脉冲的使用范围。为了限制优化脉冲的幅值,扩大其应用范围,提出了一种基于L-BFGS-B数值算法的脉冲优化设计方法。首先基于Liouville-von Neuman方程,使用最优控制思想构建优化模型;然后使用L-BFGS-B算法,在限制幅值的条件下对优化模型进行数值迭代求解;最后以脉冲的激发效率以及激发轮廓的均匀性作为衡量优化脉冲优劣的标准对该方法进行仿真和实验验证。结果表明,采用该方法获得的优化脉冲在幅值被限制的前提下,仍能获得较传统磁共振脉冲更好的共振激发效果,进而增强信号的灵敏度,提高图像的质量。     

Linear phase slope in pulse design: application to coherence transfer

Using optimal control methods, robust broadband excitation pulses can be designed with a defined linear phase dispersion. Applications include increased bandwidth for a given pulse length compared to equivalent pulses requiring no phase correction, selective pulses, and pulses that mitigate the effects of relaxation. This also makes it possible to create pulses that are equivalent to ideal hard pulses followed by an effective evolution period. For example, in applications, where the excitation pulse is followed by a constant delay, e.g. for the evolution of heteronuclear couplings, part of the pulse duration can be absorbed in existing delays, significantly reducing the time overhead of long, highly robust pulses. We refer to the class of such excitation pulses with a defined linear phase dispersion as ICEBERG pulses (Inherent Coherence Evolution optimized Broadband Excitation Resulting in constant phase Gradients). A systematic study of the dependence of the excitation efficiency on the phase dispersion of the excitation pulses is presented, which reveals surprising opportunities for improved pulse sequence performance.