Exclusive measurement of the pp --> pppi(+)pi(-) reaction near threshold

The pp-->pp pi(+) pi(-) reaction has been measured exclusively near threshold at CELSIUS. The total cross sections are nearly an order of magnitude lower than expected from previous inclusive measurements. The differential cross sections reveal pp-->pp(*)(1440)-->pp sigma = pp(pi(+)pi(-))(I = l = 0) as the dominant process as well as significant contributions from p(*)-->Delta(++)pi(-)-->psigma. The observed anisotropy in the proton angular dependence is consistent with heavy-meson exchange. In the invariant mass spectra, no narrow structures of statistical relevance (3sigma) are found.     

Determination of the scattering coefficient of biological tissue considering the wavelength and absorption dependence of the anisotropy factor

The anisotropy factor g, one of the optical properties of biological tissues, has a strong influence on the calculation of the scattering coefficient μ _s in inverse Monte Carlo (iMC) simulations. It has been reported that g has the wavelength and absorption dependence; however, few attempts have been made to calculate μ _s using g values by taking the wavelength and absorption dependence into account. In this study, the angular distributions of scattered light for biological tissue phantoms containing hemoglobin as a light absorber were measured by a goniometric optical setup at strongly (405 nm) and weakly (664 nm) absorbing wavelengths to obtain g. Subsequently, the optical properties were calculated with the measured values of g by integrating sphere measurements and an iMC simulation, and compared with the results obtained with a conventional g value of 0.9. The μ _s values with measured g were overestimated at the strongly absorbing wavelength, but underestimated at the weakly absorbing wavelength if 0.9 was used in the iMC simulation.     

Genetic optical design for a compressive sensing task

We present a sophisticated optical design method for reducing the number of photodetectors for a specific sensing task. The chosen design parameter is the point spread function, and the selected task is object recognition. The point spread function is optimized iteratively with a genetic algorithm for object recognition based on a neural network. In the experimental demonstration, binary classification of face and non-face datasets was performed with a single measurement using two photodetectors. A spatial light modulator operating in the amplitude modulation mode was provided in the imaging optics and was used to modulate the point spread function. In each generation of the genetic algorithm, the classification accuracy with a pattern displayed on the spatial light modulator was fed-back to the next generation to find better patterns. The proposed method increased the accuracy by about 30 % compared with a conventional imaging system in which the point spread function was the delta function. This approach is practically useful for compressing the cost, size, and observation time of optical sensors in specific applications, and robust for imperfections in optical elements.     

Holographic window for solar power generation

A new photovoltaic generation unit based on the application of holographic technologies called a Holo-Window is proposed in this work. The basic principle and the optical configuration used for the basic experimental unit are described. Suitable fabrication technology for a hologram with the broadband spectrum required to provide the appropriate sunlight capture capability is then discussed. Finally, a laboratory-prototype Holo-Window unit was developed and its performance was evaluated.     

Optimization of detection device geometry for NIR spectroscopy using a three-layered model of stone fruit

The influences of detection device geometry and fiber optic parameters on near infrared spectroscopy measurements were assessed using stone fruit models based on Monte Carlo simulation. The stone fruit was modeled as concentric spherical layered tissues including the skin, the flesh and the core. The choices of the detection angle, the diameter of the detection fiber, the numerical aperture, and the height of the probe were discussed. Receiving diffuse reflectance signals at detection angles in the range of 35°–50° and normalizing the detection signals by the collection area and the solid acceptance angle prior to use are suggested. Fiber probes with diameters D = 0.06 cm or 0.1 cm, NA = 0.20 or 0.30, and height h ≤ 0.8 cm are preferred. The probe deflection angle should be limited to within ±5° to guarantee measurement accuracy.     

Light reflection from finite conductors with a Gaussian random roughness using Kirchhoff and geometric optics approximations

A comparison between exact solutions and two approximate models, Kirchhoff approximation (KA) and geometric optics approximation (GOA), for reflection from random Gaussian rough conductive metallic surfaces for three regimes of correlation length in both cases of polarization TM and TE has been reported. The phenomenon of excitation of surface plasmons (SPs) has been shown only at TM polarization for KA. The domains of validity of both approximate models have been quantified. It is shown that accuracy and efficiency of any approximate method depended of various parameters: surface roughness, polarization, SPs effects, wavelength, and surface materials. KA is efficient for weakly rough surfaces with correlation length greater than wavelength, but when rms height increases GOA is more suitable than KA. Excitation of SPs is observed only at TM-polarized light, only for weakly rough surfaces with correlation length less than wavelength using KA and not GOA.