An Entropy-Based Anti-Noise Method for Reducing Ranging Error in Photon Counting Lidar

Photon counting lidar for long-range detection faces the problem of declining ranging performance caused by background noise. Current anti-noise methods are not robust enough in the case of weak signal and strong background noise, resulting in poor ranging error. In this work, based on the characteristics of the uncertainty of echo signal and noise in photon counting lidar, an entropy-based anti-noise method is proposed to reduce the ranging error under high background noise. Firstly, the photon counting entropy, which is considered as the feature to distinguish signal from noise, is defined to quantify the uncertainty of fluctuation among photon events responding to the Geiger mode avalanche photodiode. Then, the photon counting entropy is combined with a windowing operation to enhance the difference between signal and noise, so as to mitigate the effect of background noise and estimate the time of flight of the laser pulses. Simulation and experimental analysis show that the proposed method improves the anti-noise performance well, and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively mitigates the effect of background noise to reduce ranging error despite high background noise.     

基于多重散射强度和偏振特征的舰船尾流气泡激光探测方法

研究多重散射效应对舰船尾流气泡群光散射强度和偏振特征的影响是舰船光尾流探测以及新型光自导鱼雷研究的基础. 基于矢量Monte Carlo方法建立了舰船尾流气泡群激光后向探测仿真模型, 重点研究了尾流气泡群的多重散射机理,分析了多重散射效应、尾流气泡群密度对回波信号强度和偏振特征的影响规律. 基于粒子碰撞重要性抽样的基本思想, 在传统能量接收方法的基础上, 提出了回波光子偏振贡献接收方法和回波信号偏振信息统计方法, 解决了小视场系统光子返回概率低无法形成回波能量的难题. 构建了模拟尾流气泡群激光散射强度和偏振探测实验平台, 从实验的角度验证了模拟结果的准确性. 实验和模拟结果的一致性表明, 利用回波强度、偏振信息可表征气泡群距离、密度信息, 从而可对舰船尾流特别是低密度尾流进行高精度的探测和辨识. 关键词： Monte Carlo 偏振 多重散射 气泡     

利用光子统计概率测量单分子光子源的信号背景比

理论上研究了基于Hanbury Brown Twiss 探测方式，利用单光子和双光子统计概率P RS(1),PRS(2),直接测量单分子光子源的信号背景比.在研究过程中同时考 虑到单分子布居于暂稳态和探测器量子效率对测量结果的影响.在满足PRS(1)2 PRS(2)-3PRS(2)的条件时，研究给出了一种有效测量信号背景比的方 法SBR=P2RS(1)/2PRS(2).另外，分析讨论了Mandel参数Q 与信号背景比之间的关系. 关键词： 单分子光子源 信号背景比 光子统计 暂稳态 Mandel参数     

光子计数深度获取系统误差机理研究和矫正

采用两路光子时间到达点构建光纤式光子计数伪随机码深度获取系统.为了研究降低深度误差的方法,以高斯函数为激光回波脉冲,计算瞬时概率密度函数,引入"时间行走"效应数学模型,推导深度误差克拉美罗下限.随着激光回波能量的增大,深度误差先降低再增大,并且码长越长,深度误差越小.采用理论推导的累积分布函数,生成光子时间到达点,蒙特卡洛仿真伪随机序列光子探测过程,结果大于理论数值模拟,符合克拉美罗下界原理.17组标定实验表明:由于目标表面特性的不同而导致探测到激光回波中光子数的浮动,该浮动引发光子"时间行走"效应,并带来伪随机码深度获取系统的互相关函数的整体偏移.采用数值拟合方程拟合不同光子计数比例值下的深度误差,测量得到的光子计数比例值,代入拟合的矫正方程,矫正后的深度均方误差下降至1cm.     

激光拍频信号光子到达时间间隔特性分析

为了得到周期激光拍频信号的频率,从理论上推导了光信号相邻光子到达时间间隔满足的概率密度函数(PDF),以数值计算为基础,对周期性激光拍频信号进行详细分析,得到了稳定光强信号和周期拍频信号光子到达时间间隔PDF曲线形状的差别,从该差别中能够获取信号的拍频频率。设计了验证实验光路系统,采用多像素光子计数器(MPPC)记录光子时间,对6、8、10、12MHz拍频信号进行探测,证明了理论分析的正确性。在光子计数频率为拍频频率1/5的条件下,得到较好的实验结果,估计两光束混合效率为0.65。以暗计数噪声为限制条件,分析了该方法能够探测到的最小拍频频率为0.2333MHz。     

Photon counts modulation in optical time domain reflectometry

The quantum fluctuation of photon counting limits the field application of optical time domain reflection. A method of photon counts modulation optics time domain reflection with single photon detection at 1.55 μm is presented. The influence of quantum fluctuation can be effectively controlled by demodulation technology since quantum fluctuation shows a uniform distribution in the frequency domain. Combined with the changing of the integration time of the lock-in amplifier, the signal to noise ratio is significantly enhanced. Accordingly the signal to noise improvement ratio reaches 31.7 dB compared with the direct photon counting measurement.     

基于超导纳米线单光子探测器深空激光通信模型及误码率研究

高速深空通信是深空探测的关键技术之一,具备单光子灵敏度的激光通信系统将大大提高现有的深空通信速度.然而,单光子条件下的激光通信不仅需要考虑传输环境的影响,还需要考虑实际单光子探测器性能和光子数量子态的分布.本文在不考虑大气湍流影响的情况下,以光电探测模型为基础,引入超导纳米线单光子探测器(SNSPD)系统的探测效率和暗计数,建立了反应系统差错性能的数学模型,提出了系统误码率的计算公式.先对公式中的光强和激光脉冲重复频率对误码率的影响进行仿真,再通过实验结果验证仿真模型.结果表明,光强对误码率的影响最明显,随着光强从0.01光子/脉冲到1000光子/脉冲的增加,误码率从10~(-1)到10~(-7)量级明显下降;激光脉冲重复频率对误码率的影响受到不同光强的制约,但都随着脉冲重复频率的增加呈下降趋势.与此同时,当增加光强或者提高速度时,误码率高于仿真结果,约在10~(-4)量级,其原因可能是实际通信中调制光信号的消光比不足和光纤引入背景噪声提高了系统暗计数.以上模型和实验结果为进一步开展基于SNSPD的月球-地球、火星-地球等高速深空激光通信奠定了基础.     

时间关联单光子计数中的多光子污染

从推导光子时间概率密度分布函数出发,研究了时间关联单光子计数法测量荧光寿命中,多光子修正函数的特征及其对测量误差的影响,并给出了定理关系式。     

A multi-gate time-of-flight technique for estimation of temperature distribution in heated tissue: theory and computer simulation

Non-invasive determination of temperature distribution in biological media is important in many heating-related studies, such as thermal treatment. In this paper, we present an in vitro ultrasound technique for estimation of temperature distribution in heated tissue. Our technique consists of two major steps: (1) using multiple time gates to track echo signals scattered from tissue regions at different depths; (2) estimating temperature distribution based on heating-induced changes of arrival times of echo signals scattered from the targeted tissue regions. We use the conventional cross-correlation approach to track echoes. For temperature estimation, we have developed an iterative method that takes into account the influences of thermal expansion and heating-induced change in the speed of sound on the time of flight. We have introduced a concept of thermal sensitivity of the time of flight and used it to derive a theoretical formula that relates the achievable accuracy on the estimation of tissue temperature to seven parameters. The seven parameters are tissue thermal sensitivity of the time of flight, signal-to-noise ratio, bandwidth and center frequency of the signal, degree of signal decorrelation induced by changes in tissue physical properties during tissue heating, and widths and spacing of the time gates. We tested our technique by computer simulation, using a random discrete scatterer model and temperature distribution data acquired in our laser heating experiments on prostate tissue of live dog. Simulation results showed that our technique could accurately estimate the temperature distribution in the heated tissue. Our technique is fast in terms of computation and could be used as a research tool for in vitro real-time monitoring of temperature distribution in tissue under hyperthermal heating.     

用单光子计数系统检测微弱光信号

阐述了单光子计数实验中采用脉冲幅度甄别器和光子计数器测量光子数的实验原理,绘制了不同光照时间下的实验曲线,讨论了可能影响实验测量精度及产生误差的原因.     

光子图像统计处理

讨论了一种对有限光子图像累加的统计处理方法。在超微弱发光的研究中（例如细胞的超微弱光），由于发光强度较弱，需要用像增强器对超微弱发光图像进行增强得到可视光子图像，超微弱发光的光子图像不可避免地受到像增强系统暗噪声及背景噪声的影响，使光子图像湮没在噪声中。为从原始图像中检验出信号，常将采集到的有限光子图像进行累加以增加样本数，根据信号光子和噪声光子的不同统计分布，运用似然比检验方法得到有效判断累加图像中某像素是否含有信号光子，由此剔除图像中的噪声光子，得到信噪比改善的光子图像。     

生物光子图像的探测概率和极限

分析了生物超微弱发光的光子图像特点,从而看出对光子图像进行统计研究的必要,讨论了生物超微弱发光的统计分布,分析了生物超微弱发光在光子成像系统中的探测概率和光子图像的探测极限。     

小样本光子图像的统计处理

讨论了一种对小样本光子图像的统计处理方法。在超微弱发光的研究中（例如细胞的超微弱荧光）,由于发光强度极弱,需要用像增强器对超微弱发光图像进行增强得到可视图像,超微弱发光图像不可避免地受到像增强系统暗噪声及背景噪声的影响,使光子图像湮没在噪声中。为从原始图像中检验出信号,根据信号光子和噪声光子的不同统计分布,运用信号检测与的方法判断光子是否属于信号光子,并得到一简明的判据,由此判据剔除图像中的噪声光子,得到信噪比改善的光子图像。并用此方法处理了人掌的超微弱发光光子图像。     

基于Gabor时频滤波的电磁超声螺栓轴力测量*

高强度螺栓轴向预紧力(轴力)的测量在工程应用中具有重要意义。使用电磁超声波对螺栓轴力检测时对超声回波声时测量精度要求较高,传统互相关估计法对超声回波声时估计易因噪声干扰发生估计错误,无法满足轴力测量精度要求。本文针对互相关法对电磁超声测量信号声时估计存在不准确的问题,提出了Gabor时频滤波法。通过螺栓轴力测量实验采集测量信号,对测量信号进行Gabor变换,在时频域中进行滤波,再对去噪后的信号进行互相关估计测得信号的声时,进而计算出螺栓轴力。实验表明：Gabor时频滤波法能有效地滤除电磁超声信号中的噪声,改善互相关估计的稳定性,提高螺栓轴力测量的准确率。     

光的波粒二象性的实验演示

用光子计数仪作光强检测装置,通过测量衍射后的光子计数的空间分布来演示光的波粒二象性。     

圆合成孔径声呐多点定位运动补偿

圆合成孔径声呐(CSAS)的成像性能受平台运动误差影响而下降,利用单侧回波可估计CSAS基阵的斜距误差,但单侧回波在小测绘带时无法估计升沉误差,针对此问题,提出了一种利用单侧回波信号的声呐平台三维运动估计和补偿方法。首先,对CSAS在不同观测角度的目标回波取极大值获得目标回波的到达时间;其次,基于多个点目标的到达时间建立CSAS三维定位模型;然后利用列文伯格-马夸尔特方法对声呐三维坐标进行估计;最后将位置估计结果与时域反投影成像方法结合实现对目标的成像.仿真结果表明:该方法能精确估计声呐平台运动误差,其空间坐标的估计误差小于仿真信号波长的1/8,从而精确补偿了CSAS在不同空间采样点上的阵元回波时间差,显著提高了目标成像质量。湖上试验结果表明,该算法能够实现对CSAS的运动误差补偿。仿真和试验结果均验证了方法的可行性和有效性。      

利用多像素光子计数器的光学串话效应提高光子探测效率

通过分析多像素光子计数器(MPPC)的工作原理和其光学串话(OC)效应的特点,提出在使用MPPC输出雪崩信号的幅度或电荷量作为光子计数的参量时,利用MPPC的OC效应能提高MPPC的光子探测效率的观点,并从理论上分析了OC效应对光子探测效率的影响。理论分析结果显示,在这两种光子计数模式下,利用OC效应能明显提高MPPC的光子探测效率。利用本文模型计算得出当MPPC的雪崩单元数M为1 600个,忽略OC效应时的光子探测效率等于30%,光学串话概率等于50%,以及单脉冲入射光子数均值为10时,包含OC效应影响的等效光子探测效率可提高50%,达45%左右。该结果对MPPC在天体物理、粒子物理、荧光光谱探测等弱光探测场合的应用有一定指导意义。     

Analysis of saturation signal correction of the troposphere lidar

Usually, lidar detection systems are optimized for the measurement of the low intensity signal using the photon counting technique, but this approach results in the nonlinear signal response for the higher intensity signal. The problem is successfully solved by the combination of analog-to-digital （AD） and photon- counting （PC） detection. The optimized processing procedure of the signal combination of AD and PC is described, and the corrected result is analyzed and compared with the results by the dealt-time correction method. In this way, the accuracy of wind and aerosol measurement in the nonlinear range is improved. In addition, the signal-to-noise ratios （SNRs） of the two detection methods of AD and PC are compared in the overall dynamic range of signal for the performance analysis.     

新型门控光子计数法测量高散射介质的光学参量

讨论了一种新型而且简单的门控光子计数法，用来测量高散射介质的光学参量。当一束光脉冲入射到高散射介质后，该方法可以恢复出光脉冲经过散射后从介质表面逸出的波形。与传统的门控光子计数法相比，该方法利用计数器控制门可以移动的特点，通过滑动宽度为60ns的控制门实现较高的时间分辨力200ps。在此波形的基础上，Patterson—Chance方法可以快速而且准确计算出被测介质的光学参量。在模型介质上的实验，验证了该方法的可行性，实验结果与复杂的时间相关的单光子计数加曲线拟合方法相比较，误差小于10％。     

Derivation of generalized quantum jump operators and comparison of the microscopic single photon detector models

The recent experiment of Parigi et al. [Science 317, 1890 (2007)] shows, in agreement with theory, that subtraction of one photon can increase the expectation value of the number of photons in the thermal state. This observation agrees with the standard photon counting model in which the quantum jump superoperator (QJS) gives a count rate proportional to the number of photons. An alternate model for indirect photon counting has been introduced by Dodonov et al. [Phys. Rev. A 72, 023816 (2005)]. In their model the count rate is proportional to the probability that there are photons in the cavity, and the cavity field is bidirectionally coupled with a two state quantum system which is unidirectionally coupled to a counting device. We give a consistent first principle derivation of the QJSs for the indirect photon counting scheme and establish the complete relations between the physical measurement setup and the QJSs. It is shown that the time-dependent probability for photoelectron emission event must include normalization of the conditional probability. This normalization was neglected in the previous derivation of the QJSs. We include the normalization and obtain the correct photoelectron emission rates and the correct QJSs and show in which coupling parameter regimes these QJSs are applicable. Our analytical results are compared with the exact numerical solution of the Lindblad equation of the system. The derived QJSs enable analysis of experimental photon count rates in a case where a one-to-one correspondence does not exist between the decay of photons and the detection events.