Multi-frequency harmonic arrays: initial experience with a novel transducer concept for nonlinear contrast imaging

Nonlinear contrast imaging modes such as second harmonic imaging (HI) and subharmonic imaging (SHI) are increasingly important for clinical applications. However, the performance of currently available transducers for HI and SHI is significantly constrained by their limited bandwidth. To bypass this constraint, a novel transducer concept termed multi-frequency harmonic transducer arrays (MFHA's) has been designed and a preliminary evaluation has been conducted. The MFHA may ultimately be used for broadband contrast enhanced HI and SHI with high dynamic range and consists of three multi-element piezo-composite sub-arrays (A-C) constructed so the center frequencies are 4f(A) = 2f(B) = f(C) (specifically 2.5/5.0/10.0 MHz and 1.75/3.5/7.0 MHz). In principle this enables SHI by transmitting on sub-array C receiving on B and, similarly, from B to A as well as HI by transmitting on A receiving on B and, likewise, from B to C. Initially transmit and receive pressure levels of the arrays were measured with the elements of each sub-array wired in parallel. Following contrast administration, preliminary in vitro HI and SHI signal-to-noise ratios of up to 40 dB were obtained. In conclusion, initial design and in vitro characterization of two MFHA's have been performed. They have an overall broad frequency bandwidth of at least two octaves. Due to the special design of the array assembly, the SNR for HI and SHI was comparable to that of regular B-mode and better than commercially available HI systems. However, further research on multi-element MFHA's is required before their potential for in vivo nonlinear contrast imaging can be assessed.     

Applying the finite-thickness model to designs of cylindrical microlenses with small -numbers

The finite-thickness model (FTM) is applied to the design of cylindrical microlenses based on the wave-front interference principle, rather than the existing zero-thickness model (ZTM). This design method is very simple in physics and highly efficient in computations. For cylindrical lenses with different f-numbers (from f/1.5 to f/0.6), the detailed designs by using both the FTM and the ZTM are carried out. To show the superiority of the FTM to the ZTM, we investigate the focal performance of all the designed lenses based on rigorous electromagnetic theory and the boundary element method. Numerical results reveal that the constructed cylindrical lenses by the FTM are witnessed to exhibit much better focusing performance than those by the ZTM, especially for the small f-numbers.     

Auxiliary probe design adaptable to existing probes for remote detection NMR, MRI, and time-of-flight tracing

A versatile, detection-only probe design is presented that can be adapted to any existing NMR or MRI probe with the purpose of making the remote detection concept generally applicable. Remote detection suggests freeing the NMR experiment from the confinement of using the same radio frequency (RF) coil and magnetic field for both information encoding and signal detection. Information is stored during the encoding step onto a fluid sensor medium whose magnetization is later measured in a different location. The choice of an RF probe and magnetic field for encoding can be made based solely on the size and characteristics of the sample and the desired information quality without considering detection sensitivity, as this aspect is dealt with by a separate detector. While early experiments required building probes that included two resonant circuits, one for encoding and one for detection, a modular approach with a detection-only probe as presented here can be used along with any existing NMR probe of choice for encoding. The design of two different detection-only probes is presented, one with a saddle coil for milliliter-sized detection volumes, and the other one with a microsolenoid coil for sub-microliter fluid quantities. As example applications, we present time-of-flight (TOF) tracing of hyperpolarized (129)Xe spins in a gas mixture through coiled tubing using the microsolenoid coil detector and TOF flow imaging through a nested glass container where the gas flow changes its direction twice between inlet and outlet using the saddle coil detector.     

KBA显微镜成像系统的成像模拟及X光成像实验的研究

KBA显微镜是一种非轴对称、非共轴的掠入射成像系统。其结构复杂,调节精度要求很高,在实际成像实验操作中难以掌握其成像特性。利用光学设计软件模拟其成像,对系统的调节和成像分析提供有益的参考。利用光学设计软件ZEMAX模拟了KBA显微镜对点源的成像过程,给出了KBA显微镜成像系统的焦深约为1 mm,景深为50 mm左右。并且由模拟可知,掠入射角对成像的影响很大。对像素尺寸约10μm的探测设备,模拟得出KBA成像系统的空间分辨力上限为3μm左右。基于星光Ⅱ装置对周期为20μm的网格靶成像,获得了KBA显微镜较为清晰的X光图像。该项工作为进一步开展掠入射成像系统的研究奠定了基础。     

Design of LD in-band direct-pumping side surface polished micro-rod Nd:YVO_4 laser

To diminish the thermal load, two ways, that is, in-band direct pumping and micro-rod crystal, could be adopted at the same time. The efficiency of LD in-band direct-pumping side surface polished micro-rod Nd:YVO_4 laser is numerically analyzed. By optimizing parameters such as crystal length, laser mode radius, pump beam radius, doping concentration and crystal cross-section size, the overall efficiency can reach over 50%. It is found that with micro-rod crystal implemented in the laser oscillator, high overall efficiency LD in-band direct-pumping Nd:YVO_4 laser could be realized. High efficiency combined with low thermal load makes this laser an outstanding scheme for building high-power Nd:YVO_4 lasers.     

同步辐射X射线成像光束线劳厄双晶单色器设计

上海光源X射线成像光束线采用多极扭摆器(wiggler)作为辐射光源, 提出一种劳厄双弯晶单色器的设计方案. 计算结果显示, 可获得固定出口的平行单色光束, 能量调谐范围覆盖19—120keV, 在33keV时, 输出光子通量及通量密度分别为1.9×10¹³phs/s和3.8×10¹⁰phs/s/mm². 分析了劳厄晶体的聚焦及单色化性能, 计算了输出光子通量及单色器的热负载情况. 与传统的双平晶方案相比, 本设计在获得高通量和解决热负载等方面有明显的优越性, 并能有效控制热形变.     

钢铁检测微型光谱仪的研制

针对国内光电直读型钢铁检测微型光谱仪研究的不足,提出基于Czerny-Turner结构的系统设计方法,讨论了优化方法及验证方法,并加工出了光谱仪。光谱仪采用三次多项式拟合标定波长,实测分辨率在436 nm~608 nm全谱段达0.225 nm、中心谱段达0.135 nm,基本满足钢铁检测要求。提出一种基于多帧判断的定性分析方法,7种待测元素检出限优于1.5%,通过建立拟合光谱数据库实现半定量分析,25种样品检测精度达2%,为钢铁牌号识别提供重要参考。     

Characterization of an in‐vacuum PILATUS 1M detector

A dedicated in‐vacuum X‐ray detector based on the hybrid pixel PILATUS 1M detector has been installed at the four‐crystal monochromator beamline of the PTB at the electron storage ring BESSY II in Berlin, Germany. Owing to its windowless operation, the detector can be used in the entire photon energy range of the beamline from 10 keV down to 1.75 keV for small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) experiments and anomalous SAXS at absorption edges of light elements. The radiometric and geometric properties of the detector such as quantum efficiency, pixel pitch and module alignment have been determined with low uncertainties. The first grazing‐incidence SAXS results demonstrate the superior resolution in momentum transfer achievable at low photon energies.