Absolute fringe order calculation using optimised multi-frequency selection in full-field profilometry

We present novel algorithms using multi-frequency analysis for full-field profilometry. The technique provides absolute order of interference in an interferogram. The process is based on an optimisation criterion to utilise the minimum number of projected fringe frequencies to give the largest possible measurement dynamic range. The algorithms presented have been generalised for n frequencies. A set of solutions for three-frequency interferometry is presented that satisfies the optimisation criterion. Results are presented for 3 projected fringe frequencies and we demonstrate by simulation that the approach is indeed optimal. The algorithms given are generic and are equally applicable to any metrological measurement using interferometry.     

Exact frequency comb mode number determination in precision optical frequency measurements

We demonstrate a method to determine the absolute mode number of a frequency comb when it is used for high-precision laser frequency measurement, without the help of wavemeters. Our technique involves changing the repetition rate of the frequency comb in a two-step process. Guidelines for choosing the correct repetition rates for different laser linewidths are given. As a demonstration, the absolute frequencies of two lasers with different linewidths are measured with our method.     

Determination of elastic modulus of a beam by using electronic speckle pattern interferometry

This paper proposes a sonic resonance test for an elastic modulus measurement which is based on the electronic speckle pattern interferometry. Previous measurement technique of elastic constant has the limitation of application for thin film or polymer material because contact to specimen affects the result. It has been developed as a non-contact optical measurement technique which can visualize resonance vibration mode shapes with whole field. The maximum vibration amplitude at each vibration mode shape is a clue to find the resonance frequencies. The dynamic elastic constant of test material can be easily determined from vibration of a beam equation using the measured resonance frequencies. The proposed technique is able to give high accurate elastic modulus of materials through a simple experimental set-up and analysis. The experimental result also compared to the theoretical result.     

结构微裂纹混频非线性超声检测方法研究

给出了一种基于混频效应的非线性超声微裂纹检测方法。首先,对结构损伤混频检测机理及信号特征提取方法进行了理论分析,之后,根据试件中差频分量及和频分量幅值分布随激励信号频率变化关系,优化确定出混频检测参数。最后,进行了异侧混频激励下无损检测试验研究,并分析了激励信号频率变化对混频检测效果的影响。结果表明,异侧激励混频检测模式不仅可以实现结构中疲劳微裂纹检测,而且可以实现缺陷的定位。且检测信号频率选择对混频检测信噪比有一定的影响。当检测信号中的混频分量幅值最大时,混频检测效果最佳。因此,在优化检测参数基础上,异侧混频激励检测模式可以很好实现结构微裂纹的检测与定位。      

Intrinsic noise properties of atomic point contact displacement detectors

We measure the noise added by an atomic point contact operated as a displacement detector. With a microwave technique, we increase the measurement speed of atomic point contacts by a factor of 500. The measurement is then fast enough to detect the resonant motion of a nanomechanical beam at frequencies up to 60 MHz and sensitive enough to observe the random thermal motion of the beam at 250 mK. We demonstrate a shot-noise limited imprecision of 2.3 fm/square root[Hz] and observe a 78 aN/square root[Hz] backaction force, yielding a total uncertainty in the beam's displacement that is 42 times the standard-quantum limit.     

Characterization of a cylindrical rod by inversion of acoustic scattering data

In this paper, a new approach is proposed for nondestructive characterization of immersed and embedded isotropic rod-shaped samples by inversion of acoustic scattering data. The normal mode expansion technique is used for modelling the scattered field and the compression incident and compression scattered waves are considered. Genetic algorithm is the inversion technique used for estimating the elastic wave velocities and density of the rods from their measured backscattered pressure spectrum. The inversion technique is capable of computing the parameter values that best fit a particular set of data. A perturbation study is conducted on the sensitivity of the resonance frequencies to changes in elastic properties and density of the rods. The numerical results indicate that proper selection of resonance frequencies leads to accurate measurement of elastic constants and density. The proposed approach showed very good convergence and the results obtained were found to agree very well with available data.     

小波变换轮廓术在双频光栅条纹中的应用

为了解决非连续物体三维面形测量中所存在的非连续相位解包问题,采用计算机生成的两频率之比为一无理数的电子光栅作为空间载频光栅条纹投影到待测物体表面。另外结合伽博小波变换分析的相位解调原理,在一幅变形双频光栅图像中分析得到两个频率各自所对应的包络相位分布,并且应用钟金钢等所提出的双频条纹查表法进行解包得到确定的调制相位分布。提出的双频光栅-小波变换-查表相位解包法很好地解决了傅里叶变换轮廓术,以及连续相位解包法在非连续物体三维面形测量中所存在的问题。给出了详细完整的理论推导过程、计算机模拟以及实验验证,证实了该方法的可行性。     

Generation of squeezed vacuum on cesium D2 line down to kilohertz range

We report the experimental generation of a squeezed vacuum at frequencies ranging from 2.5 kHz to 200 kHz that is resonant on the cesium D2 line by using a below-threshold optical parametric oscillator(OPO). The OPO is based on a periodically-poled KTiOPO_4(PPKTP) crystal that is pumped using a bow-tie four-mirror ring frequency doubler. The phase of the squeezed light is controlled using a quantum noise locking technique. At a pump power of 115 mW, maximum quadrature phase squeezing of 3.5 d B and anti-squeezing of 7.5 d B are detected using a home-made balanced homodyne detector. This squeezed vacuum at an atomic transition in the kilohertz range is an ideal quantum source for quantum metrology of enhancing measurement precision, especially for ultra-sensitive measurement of weak magnetic fields when using a Cs atomic magnetometer in the audio frequency range.     

Indirect measurement of acoustic power into a small room at low frequencies

An essential step towards improving sound insulation is a reliable means of quantifying the performance. However, for various reasons sound insulation measurements at low frequencies are associated with relatively high uncertainty and wide variance values. The objective of this research is to develop a method of sound insulation measurement which complements the standard ISO 140 measurement methods by providing improved accuracy at low frequencies. In this paper part of the problem is considered, namely the measurement of power radiated into the receiver room. The ‘peak envelope method’ is based on mode theory and the measurement employs a pair of microphones in the receiver room and a calibrated volume velocity source. No reverberation time measurements are required. The theory is outlined and computer simulations and trial measurements are carried out in order to validate the theory. Good agreement in numerical and experimental validation is demonstrated. We conclude that the peak envelope method is suitable for the measurement of radiated sound power at modal frequencies where ISO 140 methods are poorly adapted. In order to obtain transmission loss, a measure of incident power in the source room will also be required, which will be the subject of future works.     

A novel excitation scheme to enhance image resolution in dynamic atomic force microscopy

We propose a novel multifrequency excitation technique for the non-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM). The probe is excited at two frequencies that are far from resonances while their subtraction is close to the fundamental frequency. Due to combination resonance occurring in nonlinear systems, the response includes a term with frequency equal to subtraction of excitation frequencies. We suggest to employ this term as the main signal for imaging. It is found that the present excitation improves signal sensitivity to sample topography and increases resolution. This technique is especially convenient for highly-damped environments where non-contact AFMs are very difficult to use.     

Recent approaches to the measurement of acoustic impedance and materials characterization

Three methods are discussed: an automated pulse tube system; a direct, point measurement technique; and the application of a parametric array for oblique angle measurement.The first of these extends the capability of a proven impedance measurement technique using a waterborne acoustic waveguide (pulse tube). Data obtained in a frequency range 3 to 100 kHz, determined from complex reflection coefficients, are presented, via a transfer function analyser interfacing with a computer and plotter, to produce impedance diagrams.A direct, point impedance technique based on sensing particle velocity, or displacement of a surface and associated acoustic pressure is next discussed. Use is made of laser interferometry to measure the vector quantity, while scalar values are determined from a pressure sensor. This data affords a direct measurement of point impedance and can be applied in obtaining complex response information from heterogeneous materials or structures.The last method employs a non-linear acoustic device to obtain a requisite acoustic beam-width allowing characterization of materials at oblique angles, with samples of limited size, at low ultrasonic frequencies.     

Cost Optimized Non-Contacting Experimental Modal Analysis Using a Smartphone

The vibrations behavior analysis is an essential step in the mechanical design process. Several methods such as analytical modelling, numerical analysis and experimental measurements can be used for this purpose. However, the numerical or analytical models should be validated through experimental measurements, usually expensive. This paper introduces an inexpensive smartphone as an accurate, non-intrusive vibrations’ behavior measurement device. An experimental measurement procedure based on the video processing method is presented. This procedure allows the measurement of the natural frequencies and the mode shapes of a vibrating structure, simply by using a smartphone built-in camera. The experimental results are compared to those obtained using an accurate analytical model, where the natural frequencies error is less than 2.7% and the modal assurance criterion is higher than 0.89. In order to highlight the obtained results, a comparison has been done using a high quality and high frame per second (fps) camera-based measurement of material properties. Since the highest recovered natural frequency and its associated mode shape depend on the frame per second rate of the recorded video, this procedure has great potential in low frequencies problems such as for big structures like buildings and bridges. This validated technique re-introduces the personal smartphone as an accurate inexpensive non-contacting vibration measurement tool.     

Simultaneous measurement of several near-parallel surfaces with wavelength-shifting interferometry and a tunable phase-shifting method

Wavelength-shifting interferometry can distinguish in frequency space interference signals from different surfaces, and therefore allows the measurement of optical thickness variation between several quasi-parallel surfaces of a composite transparent object. Frequency analysis of the signal spectrum with a tunable phase-shifting formula can then detect the phase of the individual signals. We have devised a tunable phase-shifting method which uses a freely adjustable number of intensity samples and can be adapted to any frequency spectrum. To extract the signal reliably, two properties of the phase-shifting method are particularly important: it should suppress cross-talk from unwanted frequencies, and it should allow for some variation in the signal frequency. We show that a carefully designed sampling function envelope will combine these benefits, and demonstrate the technique in measurements of three different composite objects each consisting of three reflecting surfaces. The importance of phase-shift linearisation is discussed, and methods for selecting optimal set-up parameters are given.     

Resonantly enhanced strip-line technique to measure microwave permeability of thin films

The sensitivity of a reflective single-port strip-line technique is increased by 10-20 times by amplification of a measured reflectivity response at a set of resonance frequencies. The resonant behavior is organized by connecting the strip cell to a network analyzer through a capacitor with a long coaxial cable. The capacitance defines the amplification; the cable length defines the resonance frequencies. S-parameters of the coaxial-to-strip junction and the field inhomogeneity inside the cell are accounted for by a reference measurement of sample with known constitutive parameters. Two methods for permeability calculation are suggested. The fist method is based on the comparison of Lorentzian parameters of resonance reflectivity curves. The second method is based on numerical solution of Fresnel's equation. The enhancement is essential at low-frequency part of the band, where the cell reflectivity is close to unity and the sensitivity of non-resonant technique is poor. The technique sensitivity is estimated by permeability measurements of Al stripes with different cross-section.     

Photothermal measurement of thermal anisotropy in pyrolytic graphite

We investigated the anisotropic thermal conductivity in pyrolytic graphite by thermoreflectance. A laser-heated circular spot on a surface perpendicular to the planes developed into an elliptical temperature distribution which was recorded by a raster scanning technique at modulation frequencies ranging from 600 Hz to 100 kHz. The ratio of in-plane and perpendicular thermal conductivity was determined by fitting the phase of the temperature data with an analytical model, and was found to decrease with increasing modulation frequency. Highest conductivity values were considerably smaller than previously published data based on steady-state measurements. The frequency dependence and additional features in the phase profiles at high frequencies are discussed in view of sample surface preparation and the local nature of the thermoreflectance measurement.     

Results of Determining the Electron Number Density in the Ionospheric E Region from Relaxation Times of Artificial Periodic Irregularities of Different Scales

We present the first results of determining the electron number density in the ionospheric E region by a novel technique based on the creation of artificial periodic irregularities when the ionosphere is affected by powerful radio emission at two frequencies. Using the results of the measurements performed in October 2006 during heating of the ionosphere by the “Sura” facility radiation at frequencies 4.7 and 5.6 MHz, we obtained the electron number density profiles in an altitude range of 100 to 110 km. Features of the procedure of measurement and calculation of the electron number density are described in detail. It is shown that the method can be used for a study of the irregular structure of the lower ionosphere. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 477–484, June 2008.     

混频技术测量单次脉冲微波频率的实验研究

 介绍了用混频技术测量单次脉冲微波频率的方法,用50ns、5GHz的单次脉冲微波对混频系统进行了实验研究。目前, 已用此技术测量了虚阴极振荡高功率微波锁频产生的单次微波的频率,并对混频输出的中频信号进行快速傅里叶变换(FFT),得到单次脉冲微波的3dB带宽。     

Measurement of multi-exponential optical decay processes by?phase-shift cavity ring-down

Multi-exponential decay waveforms are common occurrences in cavity ring-down spectroscopy and the respective ring-down times are typically obtained by fitting the ring-down waveform to the sum of exponential decay functions. In phase-shift cavity ring-down (CRD) spectroscopy the measurement of a single phase angle will not provide sufficient information and needs to be complemented by either intensity measurements or phase angle measurements at different modulation frequencies. Here, a formalism analogous to that developed for fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy is adapted to the phase-shift CRD technique and is tested for two types of waveguide CRD systems: (1) a single-mode fiber cavity in which light is confined by two identical Fiber Bragg Gratings and (2) a multimode fiber loop. By measuring the phase angle at different modulation frequencies, lifetimes for up to three different decay processes were obtained.     

Estimation of tensile force in tie-rods using a frequency-based identification method

A technique is developed to identify in-situ the tensile force in tie-rods which are used in ancient monumental masonry buildings to eliminate the lateral load exercised by the vaults and arcs. The technique is based on a frequency-based identification method that allows to minimize the measurement error and that is of simple execution. In particular, the first natural frequencies of the tie-rods are experimentally identified by measuring the frequency response functions (FRFs) with instrumented hammer excitation; four to six natural frequencies can be easily identified with a simple test. Then, a numerical model, based on the Rayleigh-Ritz method, is developed for the axially loaded tie-rod by using the Timoshenko beam theory retaining shear deformation and rotary inertia. Non-uniform section of the rod is considered since this is often the case for hand-made tie-rods in old buildings. The part of the tie-rod inserted inside the masonry wall is also modeled and a simple support is assumed at the extremities inside the walls. The constraints given to the part of the tie-rod inserted inside the masonry structure are assumed to be elastic foundations. The tensile force and the stiffness of the foundation are the unknowns. In some cases, the length of the rod inside the masonry wall can be also assumed as unknown. The numerical model is used to calculate the natural frequencies for a given set of unknowns. Then, a weighted difference between the calculated and identified natural frequencies is calculated and this difference is minimized in order to identify the unknowns, and in particular the tensile force. An estimation of the error in the identification of the force is given. The technique has been tested on five tie-rods at the ground floor of the famous castle of Fontanellato, Italy.