Zernike phase contrast in scanning microscopy with X-rays

Scanning X-ray microscopy focuses radiation to a small spot and probes the sample by raster scanning. It allows information to be obtained from secondary signals such as X-ray fluorescence, which yields an elemental mapping of the sample not available in full-field imaging. The analysis and interpretation from these secondary signals can be considerably enhanced if these data are coupled with structural information from transmission imaging. However, absorption often is negligible and phase contrast has not been easily available. Originally introduced with visible light, Zernike phase contrast(1) is a well-established technique in full-field X-ray microscopes for visualization of weakly absorbing samples(2-7). On the basis of reciprocity, we demonstrate the implementation of Zernike phase contrast in scanning X-ray microscopy, revealing structural detail simultaneously with hard-X-ray trace-element measurements. The method is straightforward to implement without significant influence on the resolution of the fluorescence images and delivers complementary information. We show images of biological specimens that clearly demonstrate the advantage of correlating morphology with elemental information.     

Precise full-field distortion rectification and evaluation method for a digital projector

Digital projectors have been widely used in many accuracy-sensitive fields. Although some calibration methods have been proposed to obtain the intrinsic parameters for a digital projector, especially the radial and tangential distortion, there are few studies on how to rectify the projected image to obtain an ideal projection pattern and further evaluate the results. In this paper, a precise full-field image rectification technique is proposed based on the principle of projector calibration. The pixel remapping and interpolation techniques are detailed step by step. All of the method’s steps maintain subpixel accuracy. Moreover, a full-field verification method is presented to evaluate the effectiveness of the projector distortion procedure using a full-field phase map. A full-field non-linear distortion distribution map can be generated to represent distortion characteristics of nearly all the pixels of a projector in a very intuitive way. The experimental results validate and show the effectiveness of the proposed full-field rectification technique and evaluation method.     

Full-field quantitative phase imaging by white-light interferometry with active phase stabilization and its application to biological samples

We report a Koehler-illumination-based full-field, actively stabilized, low-coherence phase-shifting interferometer, which is built on a white-light Michelson interferometer. By using a phase-stepping technique we can obtain full-field phase images of the sample. An actively stabilized phase-lock circuit is employed in the system to reduce phase noise. An application to human epithelial cells (HeLa cells) is achieved in our experiment. The advancement of this technique rests in its ability to take images of unstained biological samples quantitatively and on a nanometer scale.     

用于全场光学相干层析成像的无色散相移器研究

提出了基于旋转λ/2波片无色散相移器的理论模型,和实施该相移器功能的全场光学相干层析成像(Optical coherence tomography,OCT)系统,为实现快速、高分辨光学相干层析成像提供了一种有效方法。该相移器能在宽光谱范围内无色散地获得八倍于λ/2波片旋转角的相移量,避免了利用单色光相移算法提取信号时存在的系统误差。针对修正Carré算法和三步相移算法所要求的不同相移量,在240 nm波长范围内,对相移器的性能进行了数值分析。结果表明,在给定光谱范围内,相移量越大,相移误差的绝对值也越大,幅值比变化范围也越大。用于实施无色散相移器功能的全场光学相干层析成像系统结构,与现有结构相比,具有一些有益的特点。     

Defect information detection of a spare part by using a dual-frequency line-scan method

The surface defect of a moving spare part is measured by a line-scan system online. The experimental system is combined with a line-scan CCD, a LCD projector, a translation stage, and a personal computer. The deformed fringe patterns of the spare part can be captured and stored in the personal computer. The Fourier transform method is used to extract the fringe deformation. Following the geometric relationship between the fringe deformation and the surface height, the full-field surface 3D information can be obtained. Furthermore, the projection dual-frequency composite grating technique is used to solve 2π phase ambiguity problem because of some bigger surface defect steps. Some experimental results are presented to prove the feasibility of the proposed method and the inspection system.     

Full-field supercritical angle fluorescence microscopy for live cell imaging

We introduce a full-field fluorescence imaging technique with axial confinement of about 100 nm at the sample/substrate interface. Contrary to standard surface imaging techniques, this confinement is obtained through emission filtering. This technique is based on supercritical emission selectivity. It can be implemented on any epifluorescence microscope with a commercial high numerical aperture objective and offers a real-time surface imaging capability. This technique is of particular interest for live cell membrane and adhesion studies. Using human embryonic kidney cells, we show that one can observe simultaneously the surface and in-depth cell phenomena.     

Modified spectrum autointerferometric correlation (MOSAIC) for single-shot pulse characterization

A method for generation of the modified spectrum autointerferometric correlation that allows single-shot pulse characterization is demonstrated. A sensitive graphical representation of the ultrashort pulse phase quality is introduced that delineates the difference between the presence of temporal and spectral phase distortions. Using these schemes, full-field reconstruction of ultrashort laser pulses is obtained in real time using an efficient iterative technique.     

Accurate measurement of composite laminates deflection using digital speckle pattern interferometry

The modern digital speckle pattern interferometry (DSPI) technique is applied for the accurate measurement of the full-field deflection distribution of a bent composite laminates. Two kinds of powerful phase-shifting methods, phase of differences method (PDM) and difference of phases method (DPM), are described briefly and employed in DSPI to quantitatively extract the phase information, respectively. A comparison of the deflection distributions measured by DPM and PDM indicates that the former has a better measurement accuracy than the latter in laminate's static test experiment.     

Generalized frequency selection in multifrequency interferometry

We present a generalized frequency selection method for N-frequency interferometry to form an optimum geometric series at synthetic wavelengths. The absolute range that is measurable is bounded by the number of beat frequency operations, phase noise, and the number of wavelengths used to form the geometric series of synthetic wavelengths. Theoretical predictions are compared with experimental results from a full-field fringe projector. A comparison of this technique with the method of excess fractions shows orders-of-magnitude faster processing with similar measurement reliability.     

Residual strain measurement using photoelastic coatings

There are several practical methods in use today for conducting a residual stress analysis. The principal advantage of the full-field photoelastic coating technique is that any residual stress present in a part is revealed everywhere it occurs over the part's surface after sectioning. This article provides a general introduction to photoelastic analysis, and then describes the photoelastic coating technique in particular, and how it is used for the detection and measurement of residual strain. Case history applications are presented on a metal fan hub, and an injection molded washroom sink.     

Full-field optical sectioning and three-dimensional localization of fluorescent particles using focal plane modulation

We present a technique for imaging fluorescent particles based on the axial modulation of the objective's focal plane position. This technique provides full-field optical sectioning and can be used to localize the fluorophores in three dimensions. We describe the technique and apply it to image 200 nm diameter fluorescent beads immobilized in a gel. We show that full-field optical sectioning is obtained and that the beads are localized with a precision of 10 nm in the transverse plane and 14 nm in the axial direction.     

Digital correlation of grainy shadow images for surface profile measurement

An optical method, combining the projection of a structured light pattern with the digital correlation technique, is discussed in this paper. This method allows measurement of full-field profile on object surface of about 20 mm square size. Tests on a rotated plane surface have been performed in order to quantify the method capabilities. It is shown that this technique leads to an accuracy of about 1 μm for a spatial resolution of around half a millimeter. Profile measurements of a micro-engraved object and at the crack tip of a polymer sample are also presented. Results give proof that this technique remains efficient even in presence of important height slope.     

Full-field laser metrology for fluid velocity measurement

This paper reviews the development of full-field laser metrology from its inception as a dynamic extension of scattered light speckle photography, a voherent optical technique originally developed to make full-field measurements of quasi-static displacements in transparent solids, to its present applications in fluid dynamic studies. The full-field laser velocimetry technique, including both double exposure and multiple exposure recording methods, is discussed in detail, and comparison is made of their advantages and disadvantages in applications to steady and unsteady flows. Both the coherent light speckle and the particle image modes of operation are defined and evaluated. Computer aided ‘point-wise’ (Young's fringe) and ‘global’ (Fourier filtering) methods of optically analyzing the specklegrams are also discussed. Finally, experiments in which full-field laser velocimetry has been applied to a study of convective flow in a liquid are described, thus illustrating the potential of this new, non-onvasive optical technique.     

数字散斑技术在混凝土单轴压缩试验中的应用

数字散斑技术作为一种新兴的测量方法,它具有非接触、全场量测、精度高、操作简单等特点,随着计算机技术的迅猛发展,数字散斑技术得到了广泛的应用与研究。针对混凝土在外荷载作用下具有明显的非均匀变化的特征,借助传统的测量方法很难得到混凝土表面的全场变形结果的问题,结合数字散斑相关方法测量技术,开展了混凝土单轴压缩试验,拍摄了混凝土表面在单轴压缩过程中的位移与应变矢量场,为分析混凝土试件的损伤区域奠定了基础;与电测法测量结果进行了对比,其测量结果表明,这两种测量方法误差相对较小,且数字散斑技术能更早的发现混凝土表面的破坏,验证了数字散斑相关方法的准确性和可靠性。借助数字散斑技术可以更加方便准确的得到材料表面的变形场,这也将在一定程度上促进土木工程领域的发展,具有广阔的应用前景。     

Dynamic displacement field reconstruction through a limited set of measurements: Application to plates

The paper presents a procedure for the identification of the full-field dynamic response of a structure from a limited set of experimental measurements. An iterative technique based on modal decomposition maps the displacement field of the vibrating structure by using experimental data in conjunction with the numerical model of the considered structure. Algebraic relationships between experimental measurements and equivalent modal loads allow the identification of the full-field dynamic response from few experimental data. This procedure is detailed for a plate structure subjected to a harmonic concentrated load.     

Conversion from phase map to coordinate: Comparison among spatial carrier, Fourier transform, and phase shifting methods

For full-field phase measurement methods, many algorithms have been developed to extract a phase map from fringe image(s). Both phase wrapping and unwrapping algorithms have been extensively investigated by many researchers, but few papers can be found on how to calculate the coordinates of surface points from a phase map. This paper focuses on algorithms that show how a phase map can be used to calculate coordinates. Details are given for single image methods such as Fourier transform, spatial carrier methods, and multiple image methods like traditional phase-shifting methods. Algorithms that can be used to convert a phase map to coordinates and some issues related to these conversion algorithms are discussed. An artifact is measured using these phase measurement methods. The results show that using the correct algorithm to convert a phase map to coordinates is a key to obtaining accurate measurement results.     

A temporal phase unwrapping algorithm for photoelastic stress analysis

Photoelastic stress analysis is a full-field optical technique for experimental stress analysis whose automation has received considerable research attention over the last 15 years. The latest developments have been made possible largely due to the availability of powerful calculators with large memory capacity and colour, high resolution, cameras. A further stimulus is provided by the photoelastic resins now used for rapid prototyping. However, one critical aspect which still deserves attention is phase unwrapping. The algorithms most commonly used for this purpose have been developed in other scientific areas (classical interferometry, profilometry, moiré, etc.) for solving different problems. In this article a new algorithm is proposed for temporal phase unwrapping, which offers several advantages over those used today.     

Full-field heterodyne interference microscope with spatially incoherent illumination

A heterodyne interference microscope arrangement for full-field imaging is described. The reference and object beams are formed with highly correlated, time-varying laser speckle patterns. The speckle illumination confers a confocal transfer function to the system, and by temporal averaging, the coherence noise that often degrades coherent full-field microscope images is suppressed. The microscope described is similar to a Linnik-type microscope and allows the use of high-numerical-aperture objective lenses, but the temporal coherence of the illumination permits the use of a low-power achromatic doublet in the reference arm. The use of a doublet simplifies alignment of the microscope and can reduce the cost. Preliminary results are presented that demonstrate full-field surface height precision of 1 nm rms.     

Modeling Three-Dimensional Multiphase Flow Using a Level Contour Reconstruction Method for Front Tracking without Connectivity

Three-dimensional multiphase flow and flow with phase change are simulated using a simplified method of tracking and reconstructing the phase interface. The new level contour reconstruction technique presented here enables front tracking methods to naturally, automatically, and robustly model the merging and breakup of interfaces in three-dimensional flows. The method is designed so that the phase surface is treated as a collection of physically linked but not logically connected surface elements. Eliminating the need to bookkeep logical connections between neighboring surface elements greatly simplifies the Lagrangian tracking of interfaces, particularly for 3D flows exhibiting topology change. The motivation for this new method is the modeling of complex three-dimensional boiling flows where repeated merging and breakup are inherent features of the interface dynamics. Results of 3D film boiling simulations with multiple interacting bubbles are presented. The capabilities of the new interface reconstruction method are also tested in a variety of two-phase flows without phase change. Three-dimensional simulations of bubble merging and droplet collision, coalescence, and breakup demonstrate the new method's ability to easily handle topology change by film rupture or filamentary breakup. Validation tests are conducted for drop oscillation and bubble rise. The susceptibility of the numerical method to parasitic currents is also thoroughly assessed.     

Homodyne full-field interferometer for measuring dynamic surface phenomena in microstructures

We describe a stabilized homodyne full-field interferometer capable of measuring vertical surface deformations of microstructures in the time domain. The interferometer is stabilized to a chosen operation point by obtaining a feedback signal from a non-moving, freely selectable, reference region on the sample surface. The stabilized full-field interferometer enables detection of time-dependent changes in the surface profile with nanometer scale vertical resolution, while the temporal resolution of the measurement is ultimately limited by the refresh rate of the camera only. The lateral resolution of the surface deformation is determined by the combination of the imaging optics together with the pixel size of the camera. The setup is used to measure the deformation of an Aluminum nitride membrane as a function of time-dependent pressure change. The data analysis allows for unambiguous determination of surface deformations over multiple fringes of the interferogram, hence enabling the study of a wide range of physical phenomena with varying magnitude of vertical surface movement.