Two-dimensional measurements of velocity using two rotating gratings

A two-dimensional vector velocimeter is proposed on the basis of the time-varying spatial filtering method using a rotating disk with two transmission gratings. The filtering characteristics of the spatial filter used in the velocimeter were studied theoretically. A preliminary experiment was performed to measure the velocity vector of a rotating random pattern. The experimental results show the usefulness of the present velocimeter for measurements of the velocity.     

Single-molecule force spectroscopy for studying kinetics of enzymatic dextran elongations

Catalytic elongation of dextran by a single molecule of dextransucrase (DSase) was directly monitored by observing the movements of the positions of a rupture peak, which represented the adhesive force between an isomaltoheptaose (dextran 7-mer)-immobilized probe and a DSase-immobilized mica surface. This was initiated with the addition of sucrose monomers. From the histograms of the rupture peaks after elongation reactions on each individual enzyme and the continuous peak shift of certain single enzymes, the catalytic elongation rate constant (k(cat)) was ascertained to be 1.2-2.7 s(-1).     

Prediction method for sound from passing vehicle transmitted through building façade

This study proposes a prediction method for assessing the sound of a passing vehicle that is transmitted through a glass plate, which employs the vibro-acoustic finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The noise that is transmitted through the glass in a building façade, which is affected by the sound-insulation characteristics of its glass plates, can have a psychological influence such as a sleep disorder on the residents. In this study, a prediction method for the spectral characteristics of the transmitting sound through glass plates is proposed. The sound-insulation characteristics of glass plates are obtained using a vibro-acoustic FDTD method, and are then synthesized with the sound of passing vehicles obtained by in situ measurement. Firstly, the sound transmitted through several kinds of glass plates is simulated using the proposed method. Then, in order to confirm the validity of this method, the simulated results are compared to measured sounds transmitted by passing vehicles into a room near the street.     

Effect of the point spread function on the average contrast of image speckle patterns

The effect of the point spread function on the average contrast of image speckle patterns is studied by varying its form depending on the optical imaging system. This effect is actually evaluated on the basis of a computer simulation of various rough surfaces by investigating the average contrast variation of image speckle patterns as a function of the point spread of the optical system. It becomes clear that the form of the point spread function, i.e. the type of the optical imaging system producing image speckle patterns, does not largely affect the average contrast of image speckle patterns.     

Statistical properties of the dynamic dichromatic laser speckle

The statistical properties of dynamic elongated speckle patterns produced in the far-field diffraction region by a moving diffuse object under illumination of the dichromatic laser beam are experimentally investigated by means of a correlation method. The experimental results show that the correlation length of the normalized autocorrelation function of time-varying dichromatic speckle intensity fluctuations depends strongly on the fibrous radial structure of elongated speckle patterns. The qualitative discussions are given for the experimental results.     

Statistical properties of speckle intensity variations in the diffraction field under illumination of coherent light

The statistical properties of speckle intensity variations produced by coherent light in the diffraction field of diffusely transmitting objects are investigated experimentally with intimate relation to their surface roughness. The probability distribution and the average contrast of intensity variations in speckle patterns are studied as a function of the surface roughness of the objects and the receiving plane in the diffraction field.     

Spatial coherence of laser light passed through rotating ground glass

The ensemble-averaged spatial coherence of quasi-thermal light, produced by passing a focused laser beam through a rotating ground glass plate, is studied as a function of the illuminated area, the fineness of the glass used, the speed of rotation of the glass, and the laser mode selected as a primary source. It becomes clear that the ensemble-averaged spatial coherence depends strongly upon the illuminated area and on the fineness of the rotating ground glass, and also on the laser mode chosen but not on the speed of rotation of the glass.     

Aberrated diffraction patterns of off-axis Gaussian beams

Fraunhofer diffraction patterns of off-axis Gaussian beams passing through an optical system having primary spherical aberration are investigated. The resultant diffraction patterns show a nearly elliptical form with a transverse focal shift which depends on the incident position of the Gaussian beams on the pupil and on their radius.