Real-time increase in depth of field of an uncooled thermal camera using several phase-mask technologies

Imaging systems that combine a phase mask in the pupil and digital postprocessing may have better performance than conventional ones. We have built such a system to enhance the depth of field of an uncooled thermal camera. The phase masks are binary, their structures are optimized thanks to an image quality criterion, and they have been realized with three different technologies that give equivalent results. The deconvolution postprocessing is performed in real time with a graphics processing unit. A significant increase of the depth of field of a factor 3 has been obtained.     

Detection of multicomponent signals: effect of difference in level between components

The detection of multicomponent signals for which the components are not equidetectable is precisely investigated as a function of the level difference ΔL(i∕j) between components. The detection thresholds are determined for a seven-tone complex signal with random starting phases masked by white noise. Level differences between the components are examined. A model for non-equidetectable conditions based on the statistical summation model is described. The improvement in detection is calculated from the level difference between components that is related to the thresholds for single components. The model predictions are in accordance with the experimental results.     

Exact partition functions and correlation functions of multiple Hamiltonian walks on the Manhattan lattice

This is a general and exact study of multiple Hamiltonian walks (HAW) filling the two-dimensional (2D) Manhattan lattice. We generalize the original exact solution for a single HAW by Kasteleyn to a system ofmultiple closed walks, aimed at modeling a polymer melt. In 2D, two basic nonequivalent topological situations are distinguished. (1) the Hamiltonian loops are allrooted andcontractible to a point:adjacent one to another, and, on a torus,homotopic to zero. (2) the loops can encircle one another and, on a torus, canwind around it. Forcase 1, the grand canonical partition function and multiple correlation functions are calculated exactly as those of multiple rooted spanningtrees or of a massive 2Dfree field, critical at zero mass (zero fugacity). The conformally invariant continuum limit on a Manhattantorus is studied in detail. The melt entropy is calculated exactly. We also consider the relevant effect of free boundary conditions. The number of single HAWs on Manhattan lattices with other perimeter shapes (rectangular, Kagomé, triangular, and arbitrary) is studied and related to the spectral theory of the Dirichlet Laplacian. This allows the calculation of exact shape-dependent configuration exponents y. An exact surface critical exponent is obtained. Forcase 2, nested and winding Hamiltonian circuits are allowed. An exact equivalence to thecritical Q-state Potts model exists, whereQ ^1/2 is the walk fugacity. The Hamiltonian system is then always critical (forQ<-4). The exact critical exponents, in infinite numbers, are universal and identical to those of theO(n=Q ^1/2) model in its low-temperature phase, i.e. are those of dense polymers. The exact critical partition functions on the torus are given from conformai invariance theory. These models 1 and 2 yield the two first exactly solved models of polymer melts.     

A multiwave approximate Riemann solver for ideal MHD based on relaxation II: numerical implementation with 3 and 5 waves

In the first part of this work Bouchut et al. (J Comput Phys 108:7–41, 2007) we introduced an approximate Riemann solver for one-dimensional ideal MHD derived from a relaxation system. We gave sufficient conditions for the solver to satisfy discrete entropy inequalities, and to preserve positivity of density and internal energy. In this paper we consider the practical implementation, and derive explicit wave speed estimates satisfying the stability conditions of Bouchut et al. (J Comput Phys 108:7–41, 2007). We present a 3-wave solver that well resolves fast waves and material contacts, and a 5-wave solver that accurately resolves the cases when two eigenvalues coincide. A full 7-wave solver, which is highly accurate on all types of waves, will be described in a follow-up paper. We test the solvers on one-dimensional shock tube data and smooth shear waves.     

Systematic study of muon transfer to sulphur dioxide

In a systematic study of the transfer process to sulphur dioxide, in seven different H₂ + SO₂ gas mixtures, the time spectra of the muonic sulphur X-rays yield muon transfer rates to the SO₂ molecule, deduced from the lifetimes of the p atoms, which agree all well with each other. The muonic oxygen time spectra show an additional structure as if p atoms of another kind were present. Reduced transfer rates_O are reproducible if one uses the model of ephemeral p atoms. The intensity ratios between the different kinds of p atoms are also discussed in the framework of this model and the one of black and white p atoms.     

High-power laser with Nd:YAG single-crystal fiber grown by the micro-pulling-down technique

We present optical characterization and laser results achieved with single-crystal fibers directly grown by the micro-pulling-down technique. We investigate the spectroscopic and optical quality of the fiber, and we present the first laser results. We achieved a cw laser power of 10 W at 1064 nm for an incident pump power of 60 W at 808 nm and 360 kW peak power for 12 ns pulses at 1 kHz in the Q-switched regime. It is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest laser power ever achieved with directly grown single-crystal fibers.     

Simultaneous estimation of attenuation and structure parameters of aggregated red blood cells from backscatter measurements

The analysis of the ultrasonic frequency-dependent backscatter coefficient of aggregating red blood cells reveals information about blood structural properties. The difficulty in applying this technique in vivo is due to the frequency-dependent attenuation caused by intervening tissue layers that distorts the spectral content of backscattering properties from blood microstructures. An optimization method is proposed to simultaneously estimate tissue attenuation and blood structure factor. With in vitro experiments, the method gave satisfactory estimates with relative errors below 22% for attenuations between 0.101 and 0.317 dBcmMHz, signal-to-noise ratios>28 dB and kR<2.7 (k being the wave number and R the aggregate radius).     

Optoelectronic,Aggregation, and Redox Properties of Double-Rotor Boron Difluoride Hydrazone Dyes

We develop the chemistry of boron difluoride hydrazone dyes (BODIHYs) bearing two aryl substituents and explore their properties. The low-energy absorption bands (λ_max=427–464 nm) of these dyes depend on the nature of the N-aryl groups appended to the BODIHY framework. Electron-donating and extended π-conjugated groups cause a redshift, whereas electron-withdrawing groups result in a blueshift. The title compounds were weakly photoluminescent in solution and strongly photoluminescent as thin films (λ_PL=525–578 nm) with quantum yields of up to 18 % and lifetimes of 1.1–1.7 ns, consistent with the dominant radiative decay through fluorescence. Addition of water to THF solutions of the BODIHYs studied causes molecular aggregation which restricts intramolecular motion and thereby enhances photoluminescence. The observed photoluminescence of BODIHY thin films is likely facilitated by a similar molecular packing effect. Finally, cyclic voltammetry studies confirmed that BODIHY derivatives bearing para-substituted N-aryl groups could be reversibly oxidized (E_ox1=0.62–1.02 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺) to their radical cation forms. Chemical oxidation studies confirmed that para-substituents at the N-aryl groups are required to circumvent radical decomposition pathways. Our findings provide new opportunities and guiding principles for the design of sought-after multifunctional boron difluoride complexes that are photoluminescent in the solid state.     

Drag Force Calculations in Polydisperse DEM Simulations with the Coarse-Grid Method: Influence of the Weighting Method and Improved Predictions Through Artificial Neural Networks

Transport in Porous Media - Several methods are employed for drag force calculations with the discrete element method depending on the desired accuracy and the number of particles involved. For...