The impact of the orientation angles uncertainty of instrument polarizers on polarization measurement accuracy

Improving the polarimetric measurement accuracy of the polarization CCD camera is a fundamental task in the remote sensing of the earth. This paper presents a simple approach for estimating the degree of polarization errors caused by the orientation angles uncertainty of the instrument polarizers. We show that the measured degree of polarization error for a certain orientation angle of the instrument polarizers in the same spectral band depends on the polarization state (polarization angle or degree of polarization) of the incident light. In order to evaluate the polarimetric measurement performance of the instrument, the average degree of polarization error is defined based on the assumption that the incident light beams have equal polarization angle probability. The simulated test showed that the average degree of polarization errors of the 3 polarized spectral bands in the airborne polarization CCD camera is nearly equal because of the same orientation angles uncertainty of the instrument polarizers, though the instrument polarizers in the 3 polarized spectral bands are equipped a little differently; the instrument often encounters a large average degree of polarization errors for the large degree of polarization of the incident beams.     

Experimental determination of scattering matrices of dust particles at visible wavelengths: The IAA light scattering apparatus

We present a new apparatus for measuring the complete scattering matrix as a function of the scattering angle of dust irregular particles. The design is based on the well-known apparatus located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In this improved version we have extended the scattering angle ranging from 3° to 177°. Moreover, the measurements are performed with a tunable argon–krypton laser that emit at a wavelength (λ) of 483, 488, 520, 568, or 647 nm. The apparatus has been developed at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA), Granada, Spain. To measure the scattering matrix elements we use a number of different optical components such as polarizers, a quarter-wave plate, and an electro-optic modulator. These components are used to manipulate the polarization state of light. By using eight different combinations for the orientation angles of the optical components, all scattering matrix elements are obtained as functions of the scattering angle. The accuracy of the instrument is tested by comparing the measured scattering matrices of water droplets at 488, 520, and 647 nm with Lorenz–Mie calculations for a distribution of homogeneous water droplets.     

The Gaussian Atomic Orbital Multiplied by a Field-Dependent Gauge Phase for the Hydrogen Molecular Ion in Non-aligned Magnetic Fields

We multiply the anisotropic Gaussian atomic orbital by a field-dependent gauge phase to describe the wave function for the hydrogen molecular ion in non-aligned magnetic fields. With the kind of basis set, the convergence of the total energy at the equilibrium distance for the 1 _u state is much improved compared to the same atomic orbital without the gauge phase. For 2.35 × 10⁴ ≤ B ≤ 10⁷ T, better total energies of the 1 _u state at the corresponding equilibrium are obtained for the deviations 15°–90° of the magnetic field relative to the molecular axis. The result also shows that, there is a transition of the equilibrium configuration from the vertical orientation to the parallel orientation with increasing field strength.     

Constraining dark matter properties with gamma-rays from the Galactic Center with Fermi-LAT

We study the capabilities of the Fermi-LAT instrument on board of the Fermi mission to constrain particle dark matter properties, as annihilation cross section, mass and branching ratio into dominant annihilation channels, with gamma-ray observations from the Galactic Center. Besides the prompt gamma-ray flux, we also take into account the contribution from the electrons/positrons produced in dark matter annihilations to the gamma-ray signal via inverse Compton scattering off the interstellar photon background, which turns out to be crucial in the case of dark matter annihilations into μ⁺μ⁻ and e⁺e⁻ pairs. We study the signal dependence on different parameters like the region of observation, the density profile, the assumptions for the dark matter model and the uncertainties in the propagation model. We also show the effect of the inclusion of a 20% systematic uncertainty in the gamma-ray background. If Fermi-LAT is able to distinguish a possible dark matter signal from the large gamma-ray background, we show that for dark matter masses below ∼200 GeV, Fermi-LAT will likely be able to determine dark matter properties with good accuracy.     

snapMRF: GPU-accelerated magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary generation and matching using extended phase graphs

Purpose:Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a state-of-the-art quantitative MRI technique with a computationally demanding reconstruction process, the accuracy of which depends on the accuracy of the signal model employed. Having a fast, validated, open-source MRF reconstruction would improve the dependability and accuracy of clinical applications of MRF.Methods:We parallelized both dictionary generation and signal matching on the GPU by splitting the simulation and matching of dictionary atoms across threads. Signal generation was modeled using both Bloch equation simulation and the extended phase graph (EPG) formalism. Unit tests were implemented to ensure correctness. The new package, snapMRF, was tested with a calibration phantom and an in vivo brain.Results:Compared with other online open-source packages, dictionary generation was accelerated by 10–1000× and signal matching by 10–100×. On a calibration phantom, T₁ and T₂ values were measured with relative errors that were nearly identical to those from existing packages when using the same sequence and dictionary configuration, but errors were much lower when using variable sequences that snapMRF supports but that competitors do not.Conclusion:Our open-source package snapMRF was significantly faster and retrieved accurate parameters, possibly enabling real-time parameter map generation for small dictionaries. Further refinements to the acquisition scheme and dictionary setup could improve quantitative accuracy.     

Retrieval of ozone profile from ground-based measurements with polarization: A synthetic study

We perform a retrieval based on optimal estimation theory to retrieve the vertical distribution of ozone from simulated spectra in the Huggins bands. The model atmosphere includes scattering by aerosol as well as Rayleigh scattering. The virtual instrument is ground-based and zenith-viewing. Using this algorithm, we show that it is possible to retrieve the ozone profile provided that the spectral resolution is at least 0.2 nm and the signal to noise ratio greater than 500. Our synthetic retrievals suggest that if we are able to measure the Stokes parameters Q, U and V with accuracy comparable to that of the intensity, the information contained in the measurements, and therefore the inversion, will improve. Furthermore, we find that the measurement of the full Stokes vector from the ground-based instrument will especially enhance the retrieval of tropospheric ozone. Utilizing concepts from information theory, our arguments are confirmed by increases in the degrees of freedom and the Shannon information content in the simulated measurements.     

Optimized t-expansion method for the Rabi Hamiltonian

A polemic arose recently about the applicability of the t-expansion method to the calculation of the ground state energy E₀ of the Rabi model. For specific choices of the trial function and very large number of involved connected moments, the t-expansion results are rather poor and exhibit considerable oscillations. In this Letter, we formulate the t-expansion method for trial functions containing two free parameters which capture two exactly solvable limits of the Rabi Hamiltonian. At each order of the t-series, E₀ is assumed to be stationary with respect to the free parameters. A high accuracy of E₀ estimates is achieved for small numbers (5 or 6) of involved connected moments, the relative error being smaller than ¹⁰−4 (0.01%) within the whole parameter space of the Rabi Hamiltonian. A special symmetrization of the trial function enables us to calculate also the first excited energy E₁, with the relative error smaller than ¹⁰−2 (1%).     

A TERAHERTZ PHASE FREQUENCY CHANGER WITH THE CRYSTAL QUARTZ PHASE SECTIONS

A phase frequency changer (PFC) for quasi-optical transmission line with phase sections made of crystal quartz and polarizers executed on the basis of small-period wire gratings has been considered. The PFC is intended for operation in terahertz (THz) frequency region. It has been examined at the frequency f _o= 0.89THz. The influence of the differential phase shift deviation in the sections on the output signal spectrum and the influence of the sections mismatch on the reflection signal spectrum have been considered. In the frequency region ± 10% f _o the levels of the spurious spectral components of output signal are less than −40 dB with regard to the level of the useful signal of the shifted frequency. The levels of all spectral components of the reflection signal are less than −60 dB with regard to the level of the useful component of the PFC output signal.     

Nonlinear optical properties of CNHP4 nanofibers: Molecular dipole orientations and two photon absorption cross-sections

Polarized second harmonic measurements are used to determine the in- and out-of plane orientations of molecular dipoles in optical active, elongated, surface bound nanoaggregates. As a specific example, nonlinear optical active nanofibers grown from CNHP4 molecular dipoles on muscovite mica are investigated. The orientation of the dipoles relative to the substrate is found to be 7 ± 5°, whereas that of the dipoles relative to the long nanofiber axes is ± 13 ± 5°. Following 780 nm femtosecond laser excitation, the two photon action potential ησ₂ for CNHP4 is determined to be 4.7 × 10⁻⁵⁴ cm⁴ s/photon. For comparison, ησ₂ for para-hexaphenylene nanofibers is measured to be 12 × 10⁻⁵⁴ cm⁴ s/photon.     

Effects of the edge shape and the width on the structural and electronic properties of silicene nanoribbons

Under the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), the structural and electronic properties are studied for H-terminated silicene nanoribbons (SiNRs) with either zigzag edge (ZSiNRs) or armchair edge (ASiNRs) by using the first-principles projector-augmented wave potential within the density function theory (DFT) framework. The results show that the length of the Si-H bond is always 1.50 Å, but the edge Si-Si bonds are shorter than the inner ones with identical orientation, implying a contraction relaxation of edge Si atoms. An edge state appears at the Fermi level E_F in broader ZSiNRs, but does not appear in all ASiNRs due to their dimer Si-Si bond at edge. With increasing width of ASiNRs, the direct band gaps exhibit not only an oscillation behavior, but also a periodic feature of Δ_3n > Δ_3n+1 > Δ_3n+2 for a certain integer n. The charge density contours analysis shows that the Si-H bond is an ionic bond due to a relative larger electronegativity of H atom. However, all kinds of the Si-Si bonds display a typical covalent bonding feature, although their strength depends on not only the bond orientation but also the bond position. That is, the larger deviation of the Si-Si bond orientation from the nanoribbon axis as well as the closer of the Si-Si bond to the nanoribbon edge, the stronger strength of the Si-Si bond. Besides the contraction of the nanoribbon is mainly in its width direction especially near edge, the addition contribution from the terminated H atoms may be the other reason.     

Coherent signal beam amplification in two-wave mixing experiments with photorefractive Bi12SiO20 crystals

The amplification of the input signal beam in two-wave mixing experiments with photorefractive Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ crystals is achieved when an additional phase shift is established between the photoinduced index modulation (phase volume hologram) and the incident fringe pattern. This stationary phase shift is introduced by either moving the crystal or the interference fringes at a constant speed. The transferred intensity is measured versus the applied electric field, fringe spacing and crystal velocity. The crystallographic orientation and the relative displacement with respect to the applied electric field polarity determine the amplitude of the energy transfer. For the first time in this crystal, signal beam amplification is reached for an applied field E₀ > 8 kV cm^?1 and a crystal or fringe displacement speed around 5 μm s^?1 at the green line (λ = 514 nm) of an argon laser.     

Accurate color predictability based on a spectral retardance model of a twisted-nematic liquid-crystal display

In this work we present the application of a simple physical model to accurately predict the broadband spectral transmittance and colorimetric properties of a twisted-nematic liquid crystal display (TNLCD). We spectroscopically calibrate the retardance parameters to evaluate the spectrum of the light transmitted by a TNLCD sandwiched between two linear polarizers. When the TNLCD is illuminated with a broadband light source, the full spectrum can be predicted as a function of the addressed gray level for any arbitrary orientation of the polarizers. Thus, the color of the transmitted light can be also be estimated with very good accuracy. As an example, a polarizers' configuration is shown that yields, without using color filters, a relatively large color gamut compared to the standard configuration. Experimental results confirming the validity of such predictions are presented, both on the measured spectral responses as well as on the trajectories at different chromatic diagrams.     

Langevin simulations of rod-shaped object alignment by surface flow

Nano or micro-scale rod shaped objects suspended in a liquid flowing on a flat solid surface might be aligned or orientated by the nature of the liquid, type of flow and planar channel geometry containing the flow. Orientation might enhance or inhibit certain chemical reactions between the objects, the underlying surface, other chemicals or with the walls of the vessels holding the flowing suspension. The probability density function describing the orientations of the objects satisfies a Fokker–Planck equation whose solution is obtained with Langevin simulation for different surface flow parameters. The methods developed in the present work enable us to evaluate the orientation probability density function for a range of the Peclet number α covering several orders of magnitude, 10^? 4 ≤ α ≤ 10⁸. The experimental detection of orientation control is obtained optically from the measurement of dichroism and birefringence of the suspension. We describe different methods providing experimental proof of the onset of alignment control.     

Exact laser line-width requirements evaluation for optical PSK homodyne communication systems with Dither loop

The laser line-width required in PSK homodyne communication systems with Dither phase-locked loop receivers are exactly evaluated. It is shown that second-order phase-locked loops require at least 0.2 pW of signal power per every Hz of laser line-width (this number refers to the system with the detector responsivity 0.94 A/W, damping ratio 0.707, and the phase error standard deviation 10°). This signal power is used for phase locking, and is, therefore lost from the data receiver. This study for the first time shows the imperfect-phase-recovery-induced power penalty as a function of laser line-width. It can be estimated from the theoretical result that an optimal dither phase locked-loop receiver requires the laser line-width as Δυ ≤ 3.14 × 10⁻⁵ × R_b, where R_b is the system bit rate. This number refers to the system with power penalty of 1 dB at BER = 10⁻¹⁰.     

Improving the accuracy and precision of equivalent doses determined using the optically stimulated luminescence signal from single grains of quartz

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) measurements of quartz are widely used to measure equivalent dose (D_e). At radiation doses above ～100 Gy, saturation of traps results in a decrease in the rate of growth of the OSL signal, and this makes calculation of D_e increasingly difficult. A series of dose recovery experiments was undertaken using single grains of quartz from Kalambo Falls, Zambia to explore saturation of single grains. When the OSL signal from many grains is averaged, the characteristic dose (D₀) is 47 Gy, typical of published values for quartz. However, D₀ for individual grains varies from ～10 to 100 Gy. Doses up to two times the average D₀ could be accurately recovered, but above this dose the D_e became increasingly underestimated. Overdispersion for this type of experiment should be zero, but was observed in all data sets; furthermore the value of overdispersion increased with D_e. An additional acceptance criterion, the Fast Ratio, is suggested for single grain OSL analysis. This criterion assesses the relative contribution of the fast component of the OSL signal. Including this as an additional acceptance criterion leads to an improved precision, with overdispersion reduced to zero, and improved accuracy in dose recovery at high doses.     

Measurement of small phase shifts of radio signals using acoustooptic reduction

Results are presented of model-based experimental investigations of an interference correlator intended for the measurement of small phase shifts of radar signals received from two antennas. The correlator is based on a Mach-Zender interferometer system. Introduction of a radio signal for the data reduction was simulated by phase diffraction gratings placed in the interferometer arms and displaced relative to one another. The operation of the system was investigated in a regime with measurements in the region of the extrema of the correlation function and in a regime with measurements near zeros (extrema of the derivative) of the correlation function. The investigations were carried out for signals formed in first, second, and third order of diffraction. It is shown that the sensitivity of the system for measurements in the region of a correlation-function zero is higher by an order of magnitude than in the extrem~ m region. It is shown that for radio signals in the 100-MHz band, with allowance for the experimental measurement error, the accuracy of determining the time delays reaches 10^–11 sec. The accuracy with which geometric displacements of diffraction gratings are determined reaches 5·10^-5 mm.Lebedev Physics Institute. Severo-Osetinsk State University.     

Reprint of: Taking laser Doppler vibrometry off the tripod: correction of measurements affected by instrument vibration

Laser Doppler vibrometers (LDVs) are now well-established as an effective non-contact alternative to traditional contacting transducers. Despite 30 years of successful applications, however, very little attention has been given to sensitivity to vibration of the instrument itself. In this paper, the sensitivity to instrument vibration is confirmed before development theoretically and experimentally of a practical scheme to enable correction of measurements for arbitrary instrument vibration. The scheme requires a pair of correction sensors with appropriate orientation and relative location, while using frequency domain processing to accommodate inter-channel time delay and signal integrations. Error reductions in excess of 30 dB are delivered in laboratory tests with simultaneous instrument and target vibration over a broad frequency range. Ultimately, application to measurement on a vehicle simulator experiencing high levels of vibration demonstrates the practical nature of the correction technique and its robustness in a challenging measurement environment.     

The ultimate in real-time ellipsometry: Multichannel Mueller matrix spectroscopy

A review of the techniques and applications of multichannel ellipsometry in the dual-rotating-compensator configuration is given. This ellipsometric approach has been established as the ultimate in real-time, single-spot optical measurement, as it determines the entire 16-element Mueller matrix of a sample over a wide spectral range (up to 1.7-5.3 eV) from raw data collected over a single optical period of 0.25 s. The sequence of optical elements for this ellipsometer is denoted PC_1rSC_2rA, where P, S, and A represent the polarizer, sample, and analyzer. C_1r and C_2r represent two MgF₂ rotating compensators, either biplates or monoplates that rotate synchronously at frequencies of ω₁ = 5ω and ω₂ = 3ω, where π/ω is the fundamental optical period. Previous high-speed Mueller matrix measurements with this instrument have been performed on uniform, weakly anisotropic samples such as (110) Si, in which case one can extract the bulk isotropic and near-surface anisotropic optical responses simultaneously. In such an application, the instrument is operated at its precision/accuracy limits. Here, ex situ results on a strongly anisotropic, locally biaxial film are presented that demonstrate instrument capabilities for real-time analysis of such films during fabrication or modification. In addition, the use of the instrument as a real-time probe to extract surface roughness evolution on three different in-plane scales for an isotropic film surface is demonstrated for the first time.     

Influence of ferroelectric polarization on the energetics of the reaction of 2-fluoroethanol on BaTiO3

The influence of ferroelectric polarization on the reaction of 2-fluoroethanol on ferroelectric BaTiO₃ thin films was characterized. 2-Fluoroethanol was found to absorb dissociatively on the BaTiO₃ surface to form an alkoxide that reacts upon heating to produce acetaldehyde, ethylene, and adsorbed fluorine atoms which remain on the surface. Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) studies showed that the activation energy for the production of the acetaldehyde product was a function the orientation of the ferroelectric dipoles with an ∼4 kJ mol⁻¹ higher value on the c+ termination relative to the c− termination.     

Brewster’s angle polarizer design based on a gyrotropic double-periodic perforated layer

This paper is devoted to the study of the features of artificial gyrotropic magneto-dielectric layer with two-dimensional periodicity. Such a layer can be used in the development of the polarizers operating in the microwave and optical ranges. Analytical solution of a plane wave scattering from a double-periodic gyrotropic layer is obtained by the Method of Integral Functionals in the quasi-static approximation. The numerical results allow to realize the TE- and TM-pass Brewster’s angle polarizers.