Feasibility of optical computerized tomography for measuring the species concentration distribution of flow fields

In this paper, the feasibility of using optical computerized tomography (OCT) methods for measuring the distribution of species concentration for flow fields is analyzed and discussed. First, feasible methods are chosen for two or three objects composed flow fields from the perspective of the measurable principle. Second, both common gas and plasma are chosen as two typical examples for specific analysis and discussion. The results show that the feasibility and applicable range of OCT methods are related to the temperature, pressure, and species composition of the measured flow fields. Finally, the study indicates that OCT methods are more suitable for measuring the distribution of species composition for common gas rather than plasma. In a word, this study could be helpful for extending the applicable range of OCT methods, which are based on the measurement of the refractive index.     

Introduction of equilibrium-constant method into flame's temperature reconstruction from the measurement of refractive index

The Equilibrium-Constant Method is introduced to flame's temperature reconstruction for the combustion region from the experimentally measured refractive index. The mole fractions of species composition are described as the functions of equivalence ratio, temperature and pressure. Based on which, the dependence of the mole fractions on temperature and pressure can be obtained once the equivalence ratio is known. Finally, the temperatures which are reconstructed based on the method proposed by us are compared with those of obtained by previous method, as well as the imperfectness of the proposed method is analyzed and discussed.     

Skin layer detection of optical coherence tomography images

In this paper, we present an image processing algorithm to automatically and more precisely detect the boundary between the main skin layers: stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis. The aim of the proposed skin layer detection algorithm is to assist the dermatologists to measure the epidermal thickness (ET) for skin diseases diagnosis and also to assist pharmacologists so that they can make a better decision for prescribing according to the advancement of the skin disorders characterized with ET change.     

Analysis on the feasibility of optical tomography in measuring gas jet flow velocity

Enlightened by the wide application of optical computerized tomography (OCT) in various flow fields’ visualization and parameter measurement, the potential feasibility of it on measuring gas jet flow velocity is discussed in this paper. The dependence of flow velocity on flow field's refractive index and dynamic pressure is deduced initially. An argon gas jet flow is chosen as an example for experiment, and the refractive index measurement is achieved by moiré tomography, while the dynamic pressure is obtained by a pressure sensor. In a word, both the theoretical and experimental results prove that OCT could be feasible to obtain the flow velocity of gas jet flows.     

Three-dimensional non-destructive optical evaluation of laser-processing performance using optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a non-destructive diagnostic tool for evaluating laser-processing performance by imaging the features of a pit and a rim. A pit formed on a material at different laser-processing conditions is imaged using both a conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM) and OCT. Then using corresponding images, the geometrical characteristics of the pit are analyzed and compared. From the results, we could verify the feasibility and the potential of the application of OCT to the monitoring of the laser-processing performance.     

Fiber type of optical coherence tomography with an auto-focus device

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel technique for non-invasive imaging based on low coherence interferometer. In this study, we develop a new optical fiber type of OCT with a commercial auto-focus device to simultaneously measure the refractive index and thickness of a single-layer for demonstration. An auto-focus device can be easily implemented into the new OCT in order to diminish the measurement error resulting from the slight vibration of the sample and/or the sample stage. However, if the conventional OCT is implemented with an auto-focus device, it would be extremely difficult in locating and controlling the positions of the sample and scanning stages.From the experimental results, the error percentage from various frequency of the simulated noise is almost under 0.4%. Due to the resonance frequency of a DVD pickup head is around 40 Hz, the error percentage is apparently highest up to 1%; however still acceptable. It is concluded that the auto-focus device indeed works in an OCT system.     

Corona discharge as a temperature probe of atmospheric air microwave plasma jet

We developed and tested a new method for temperature measurements of near-LTE air plasmas at atmospheric pressure. This method is specifically suitable for plasmas at relatively low gas temperature (800–1700 K) with no appropriate radiation for direct spectroscopic temperature measurements. Corona discharge producing cold non-equilibrium plasma is employed as a source of excitation and is placed into the microwave plasma jet. The gas temperature of the microwave plasma jet is determined as the rotational temperature of N₂? produced in the corona discharge. The corona probe temperature measurement was tested by the use of a thermocouple. We found a fairly good agreement between the two methods after correcting the thermocouple measured temperatures for radiative losses. The corona probe method can be generally applied to determine the temperature of the near-LTE plasmas and contrary to the thermocouple it can be used for higher plasma temperatures and is not affected by radiative losses and problems of interaction with the microwave plasma and electromagnetic fields.     

自适应发射光谱体层析技术重建三维等离子体场

提出一种基于多目标优化原理的自适应权重因子调节发射光谱体层析图像重建新算法SVRT(Self_adap tiveVolumeReconstructionTechnique)。通过计算机数值模拟,考察了该算法对非对称单峰发射系数场分布的重建效果。结果表明,SVRT算法具有收敛快,重建精度高的特点,仅用两个方向的投影数据就能高精度地重建单峰三维发射系数场分布。作为一个应用实例,结合谱线相对强度测量方法重建了自由电弧等离子体的三维温度场及电离度场分布。     

共路径光相干成像系统光纤探头的研究

本文提出了基于楔形光纤以及端面成角度光纤的共路径光相干成像系统探头,实现背向散射信号在其端部的共路径相位干涉,从而获得待测件断面成像信息.首先,建立了共路径光相干成像系统光路及探头相位干涉的理论模型,分析了各光纤探头尺寸与干涉信号强度、系统性能的关系.其次,分别设计出楔形光纤、端面成角光纤探头,开展了共路径光路干涉实验,搭建了工作波长为1 550 nm的共路径光路测试系统.然后,根据不同待测样品的散射率,设计并研制了不同角度的楔形光纤探头,分析了不同尺寸的光纤探头对系统性能的影响,针对不同样品开展了固定探头探测实验.实验结果表明,楔形光纤端部可直接对输出光聚焦,照射在被测样品上,且其端面成一定角度时,可调节输出分光比,实现对参考信号的调节,提高了系统信噪比.为进一步开展共路径光相干成像系统的研究奠定了基础.     

光学层析重建算法改进的研究

光学层析技术在温度、密度等流场的非接触测试中有着广泛的应用前景，然而光学层析的重建是非完全数据的投影重建，通常采用的代数迭代法不能很好地解决重建精度这一难题。为此提出了一种新的光学层析技术的代数迭代重建算法，在算法中引入了包含先验知识的属性矩阵，并摒弃了通常所采用的对超松弛系数人为的确定取法，采用了变超松弛系数。实验计算结果表明，引入属性矩阵和变超松弛系数的代数迭代法能够较好的重建非完全数据投影的待测场，极大地提高重建精度，较好地与实测结果吻合。     

大气压射流等离子体中O及OH自由基的发射光谱在线诊断

OH自由基及氧原子在大气化学、表面处理及化学污染物分解等方面有着重要的作用。利用发射光谱技术在线测量了大气压射流等离子体中OH自由基紫外波段与O自由基777,844 nm波段的发射光谱。研究了OH自由基与氧原子光谱强度随放电功率及放电体系中所加入的氧浓度的变化。将实验测得的OH自由基光谱图与用Lifbase数据库模拟光谱图进行比较,估算了OH自由基的转动温度。结果表明：OH自由基的转动温度随放电功率的增加而增加,随工作气体流速的增加而减小。     

Simultaneous measurement of flow velocity and Doppler angle by the use of Doppler optical coherence tomography

Monitoring blood flow velocity could have great value for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. One of current restrictions to determine flow velocity by the use of Doppler optical coherence tomography (Doppler OCT) is that the Doppler angle should be predefined. However, from a practical point of view, it is not easy to predetermine Doppler angle for a flow beneath the tissue surface. In this work, a novel method for measuring both flow velocity and Doppler angle simultaneously by the use of Doppler OCT is proposed and demonstrated. Based on Doppler spectrum analysis, this technique measures both longitudinal and transverse components of flow velocity by detecting its Doppler shift and Doppler bandwidth to determine velocity and Doppler angle simultaneously. Such a technique extends flow velocity measurement into a broadening practical use of Doppler OCT where Doppler angle would not need to be predefined, for example, blood flow beneath the tissue surface. Therefore, with this technique, Doppler OCT could be applied to more practical diagnoses of microcirculation.     

Investigation of limitations of optical diffraction tomography

Optical diffraction tomography (ODT) applied to measurement of optical microelements is limited by low dynamic range, i.e., only objects with small deviations of refractive-index distribution can be measured. Therefore in this paper the limitations and errors of ODT are investigated throughout extensive numerical experiments. It is shown that these errors can be reduced by introduction of additional numerical focusing in the tomographic reconstruction algorithm. Additionally, new tomographic reconstruction algorithm using back propagation in reference medium for optical microelements measurement with known design is proposed. This hybrid reconstruction algorithm allows significant extension of ODT applicability in measurement of elements having large deviations of refractive-index distribution.     

南海一号出水景德镇窑与龙泉窑青瓷特征的无损分析研究

古代陶瓷产地研究是陶瓷考古的重要内容,也是科技考古工作者研究的重点。目前国内古代陶瓷产地研究主要依赖化学成分分析技术,对陶瓷釉层结构特征的无损分析研究却相对缺乏,难以对古代陶瓷进行全方位的认知。该研究首次将光学相干层析(OCT)与X射线荧光(XRF)光谱分析技术相结合,对南海一号沉船出水的南宋初期景德镇窑和龙泉窑青瓷瓷釉的断层结构特征和化学成分特征进行综合无损分析研究。首先采用扫频OCT成像系统对两个窑址青瓷瓷釉断层结构及装饰工艺特征进行了研究,分析了青瓷瓷釉类型、釉层厚度、釉层内气泡、包裹体、表面裂纹等特征及分布状况,对比了两窑址青瓷瓷釉断层结构特征,确定了可能采用的装饰工艺。其次,利用X射线荧光(XRF)光谱分析获得了两窑址青瓷胎釉的化学成分,对比研究了两个窑址青瓷胎釉化学成分差异,进而探讨了瓷釉断层OCT图像特征与釉层化学成分之间存在的联系。实验结果表明,景德镇青瓷和龙泉青瓷样品在釉层厚度、气泡、裂纹、包裹体等瓷釉断层结构特征上差异明显,在胎釉化学成分方面,两类青瓷在胎釉着色相关元素、釉层碱性氧化物等成分含量上也存在差异。同时,瓷釉断面结构特征差异与釉层化学成分差异存在紧密联系。实验证明,将OCT与XRF相结合是一种有效的辨别瓷器窑口的科学技术方法。     

Numerical analysis of one-shot full-range FD-OCT system based on orthogonally polarized light

Full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) is generally achieved using a phase shifting algorithm. A novel design is presented for a one-shot full-range Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) system utilizing orthogonally polarized light. The phase-shifted interferograms required to reconstruct the sample structure are obtained using an apochromatic quarter-wave retarder rather than a mechanical scanning operation, and thus the imaging results are free of vibrational-induced errors. The numerical analysis shows that it enhances the quality of high resolution FD-OCT and reduces the acquisition time. Moreover, the simulation results show that the proposed system is robust toward both the presence of noise in the power spectrum of the super luminescent diode (SLD) and a slight non-orthogonality of the two light beams incident on the spectrum analyzers, respectively.     

ZnSe and copper-doped ZnSe nanocrystals (NCs): Optical absorbance and precise determination of energy band gap beside their exact optical transition type and Urbach energy

The using of a reliable and accurate new method (called in literature as derivation of absorption spectrum fitting (DASF)) for evaluation of the optical band gap (E_g) and also the exact nature of charge carriers optical transitions, is investigated in ZnSe and ZnSe:Cu nanocrystals (NCs) synthesized by rapid microwave irradiation. This method can be performed by using the output of UV–Visible spectroscopy. The obtained E_g values are within the range of 2.985–3.261 eV, depending to the microwave irradiation time and Cu dopant percentage (decreasing trend with increasing of irradiation time and Cu content). The DASF-based obtained results for ZnSe and ZnSe:Cu nanoparticles, showed the more precise values of band gap, with the same trend of previously qualitative reported data on the same samples. Also, the direct gap nature of their optical transitions was justified. To perform the method, there is no any need to the concentration of solutions and merely one need the direct absorption or transmission spectra. In other word, DASF technique was employed on ZnSe NCs to confirm its validity and to avoid non-precise reports on optical band gap which can affect on the device optimizations based on these samples. Moreover, using the values of E_g, refractive index and dielectric constant of each sample were obtained at the absorption edge. Also, the width of the tailing states in the gap (Urbach energy: E_Tail) was estimated and were within the range of 0.049–0.122 eV, which their very small values in compare with E_g imply to the sharp valence and conduction band edges; it means the good crystallinity nature of the produced samples.     

Mechanism and optimization of non-thermal plasma-activated water for bacterial inactivation by underwater plasma jet and delivery of reactive species underwater by cylindrical DBD plasma

Plasma-activated water (PAW) has been in use for the past decade in sanitization against bacteria and other microorganisms. This research study compared PAW generated by a DC positive flyback transformer (FBT) underwater plasma jet with delivery of reactive species underwater by cylindrical dielectric barrier discharge (C-DBD) with a neon transformer. A Box–Behnken design was adopted as a response surface methodology (RSM) to design the experimental plan and optimize operating parameters including time, gas flow, and gas ratio. The physical responses comprise optical emission spectroscopy (OES), pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and electrical conductivity (EC). The chemical responses consist of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl radicals (OH·). The biological responses include Escherichia coli reduction and Staphylococcus aureus reduction. The optimal condition for underwater plasma jet was found to be Ar gas with a flow rate of 3 slm for 6.5 min of treatment time, which can reduce E. coli and S. aureus to 7.14 ± 0.14 and 3.10 ± 0.26 in log, respectively. Also, the optimal condition for delivery of reactive species underwater by C-DBD plasma was found to be Ar (99%): O₂ (1%) gas mixture with an Ar gas flow rate of 4 slm for a treatment time of 11.5 min, which could reduce E. coli and S. aureus to 0.45 ± 0.07 and 2.45 ± 0.23 in log, respectively.     

Ar/H2O大气压等离子体射流放电特性

为了研究水蒸气体积分数对大气压等离子体射流放电机理及放电效率的影响,进而产生高活性低温等离子体并优化其效率。通过对大气压氩水等离子体射流的电压电流波形和Lissajous图形等电气特性的测量及发射光谱和发光图像等光学特性诊断,研究了不同水蒸气体积分数时,等离子体射流的放电特性。通过计算放电功率、传输电荷量、电子激发温度、分子振动温度和分子转动温度等主要放电参量,研究了它们随水蒸气体积分数的变化趋势,并结合放电机理对所得实验结果进行分析。结果表明,Ar/H2O等离子体射流除了产生N2和Ar,还有OH和O,气体温度在525~720 K之间变化,为典型的低温等离子体;随着水蒸气体积分数的增加,等离子体羽喷出管口的长度减小,放电功率减小,发光强度减弱,转动温度和振动温度增加;相同功率下,水蒸气体积分数为0.5%时,产生的OH达到最大。     

Surface modification of a biomedical polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by air plasma

In this work, low-pressure air plasma has been used to improve polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface properties for technical applications. Surface free energy values have been estimated using contact angle value for different exposure times and different test liquids. Surface composition and morphology of the films were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface topography changes related with the etching mechanism have been followed by weight loss study. The results show a considerable improvement in surface wettability and the surface free energy values even for short exposure times in the different discharge areas (discharge area, afterglow area and remote area), as observed by a remarkable decrease in contact angle values. Change of chemical composition made the polymer surfaces to be highly hydrophilic, which mainly depends on the increase in oxygen-containing groups. In addition to, the surface activation and AFM analyses show obvious changes in surface topography as a consequence of the plasma-etching mechanism.     

Analysis of radiation performances of plasma sheet antenna

A novel concept of plasma sheet antennas is presented in this paper, and the radiation performances of plasma sheet antennas are investigated in detail. Firstly, a model of planar plasma antenna (PPA) fed by a microstrip line is developed, and its reflection coefficient is computed by the JE convolution finite-difference time-domain method and compared with that of the metallic patch antenna. It is found that the design of PPA can learn from the theory of the metallic patch antenna, and the impedance matching and reconstruction of resonant frequency can be expediently realized by adjusting the parameters of plasma. Then the PPA is mounted on a metallic cylindrical surface, and the reflection coefficient of the conformal plasma antenna (CPA) is also computed. At the same time, the influence of conformal cylinder radius on the reflection coefficient is also analyzed. Finally, the radiation pattern of a CPA is given, the results show that the pattern agrees well with the one of PPA in the main radiation direction, but its side lobe level has deteriorated significantly.