Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Refractometry”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,135 records · Page 63Linked to original sources

Sensitivity metric approach for retrieval of aerosol properties from multiangular and multispectral polarized radiances.

Linearly polarized radiation is sensitive to the microphysical properties of aerosols, namely, to the particle-size distribution and refractive index. The discriminating power of polarized radiation increases strongly with the increasing range of scattering angles and the addition of multiple wavelengths. The polarization and directionality of the Earth's reflectances (POLDER) missions demonstrate that some aerosol properties can be successfully derived from spaceborne polarimetric, multiangular measurements at two visible wavelengths. We extend the concept to analyze the retrieval capabilities of a spaceborne instrument with six polarimetric channels at 412, 445, 555, 865, 1250, and 2250 nm, measuring approximately 100 scattering angles covering a range between 50 and 150 deg. Our focus is development of an analysis methodology that can help quantify the benefits of such multiangular and multispectral polarimetric measurements. To that goal we employ a sensitivity metric approach in a framework of the principal-component analysis. The radiances and noise used to construct the sensitivity metric are calculated with the realistic solar flux for representative orbital viewing geometries, accounting for surface reflection from the ground, and statistical and calibration errors of a notional instrument. Spherical aerosol particles covering a range of representative microphysical properties (effective radius, effective variance, real and imaginary parts of the refractive index, single-scattering albedo) are considered in the calculations. We find that there is a limiting threshold for the effective size (approximately 0.7 microm), below which the weak scattering intensity results in a decreased signal-to-noise ratio and minimal polarization sensitivity, precluding reliable aerosol retrievals. For such small particles, close to the Rayleigh scattering limit, the total intensity provides a much stronger aerosol signature than the linear polarization, inspiring retrieval when the combined signals of intensities and the polarization fraction are used. We also find a strong correlation between aerosol parameters, in particular between the effective size and the variance, which forces one to simultaneously retrieve at least these two parameters.

Aerosols↗

Effects of index-mismatch-induced spherical aberration in pump--probe microscopic image formation.

Pump--probe fluorescence microscopy has been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for obtaining three-dimensional, time-resolved information in bioimaging applications. However, the use of this technique can be complicated by the fact that the different wavelengths used to achieve pump--probe microscopy can result in wavelength-dependent spherical aberration, thus limiting the usefulness of the technique. We address this issue by investigating the effects of refractive-index-mismatch-induced spherical aberration on pump--probe image formation. We model the effects by considering pump--probe imaging performed with an objective with a numerical aperture of 0.75 focusing through an oil-water interface. Our results show that spherical aberration has the greatest effect in degrading an axial point-spread function. In addition to signal loss, the redistribution of signal strength along the axial direction results in broadening of the FWHM of the plane response function. The inclusion of confocal detection tends to improve image resolution but at a significant loss of signal strength.

Algorithms↗

Transillumination optical tomography of tissue-engineered blood vessels: a Monte Carlo simulation.

A Monte Carlo technique has been developed to simulate the transillumination laser computed tomography of tissue-engineered blood vessels. The blood vessel was modeled as a single cylinder layer mounted on a tubular mandrel. Sequences of images were acquired while rotating the mandrel. The tomographic image was reconstructed by applying a standard Radon transform. Angular discrimination was applied to simulate a spatial filter, which was used to reject multiply scattered photons. The simulation results indicated that the scattering effect can be overcome with angular discrimination because of the thin tissue thickness. However, any refractive-index mismatch among the tissue, the surrounding media, and the mandrel could produce significant distortions in the reconstructed image.

Animals↗

Real-time absorption and scattering characterization of slab-shaped turbid samples obtained by a combination of angular and spatially resolved measurements.

We present a fast and accurate method for real-time determination of the absorption coefficient, the scattering coefficient, and the anisotropy factor of thin turbid samples by using simple continuous-wave noncoherent light sources. The three optical properties are extracted from recordings of angularly resolved transmittance in addition to spatially resolved diffuse reflectance and transmittance. The applied multivariate calibration and prediction techniques are based on multiple polynomial regression in combination with a Newton--Raphson algorithm. The numerical test results based on Monte Carlo simulations showed mean prediction errors of approximately 0.5% for all three optical properties within ranges typical for biological media. Preliminary experimental results are also presented yielding errors of approximately 5%. Thus the presented methods show a substantial potential for simultaneous absorption and scattering characterization of turbid media.

Absorption↗

Polarization microscopy by use of digital holography: application to optical-fiber birefringence measurements.

We present a digital holographic microscope that permits one to image polarization state. This technique results from the coupling of digital holographic microscopy and polarization digital holography. The interference between two orthogonally polarized reference waves and the wave transmitted by a microscopic sample, magnified by a microscope objective, is recorded on a CCD camera. The off-axis geometry permits one to reconstruct separately from this single hologram two wavefronts that are used to image the object-wave Jones vector. We applied this technique to image the birefringence of a bent fiber. To evaluate the precision of the phase-difference measurement, the birefringence induced by internal stress in an optical fiber is measured and compared to the birefringence profile captured by a standard method, which had been developed to obtain high-resolution birefringence profiles of optical fibers.

Birefringence↗

Tensorial analysis of a Fourier-transform profilometric setup devoted to the evaluation of muscular contractions.

We explore the potential use of the Fourier-transform profilometry technique in in vivo studies of muscular contractions through the variation of muscle-group cross sections. Thanks to a tensorial analysis of the technique, a general expression of its sensitivity vector is established. It allows derivation of the expression of the resolution and the limit condition imposed by the spatial sampling of the fringe pattern. Key parameters that maximize the sensitivity are then simulated. A measurement system is accordingly built up and characterized. It is then successfully applied to the evaluation of the deformation of the forearm muscles during grasping exertions.

Algorithms↗

Measurement of wave-front aberration in soft contact lenses by use of a Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor.

Lower- and higher-order wave-front aberrations of soft contact lenses were accurately measured with a Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor. The soft contact lenses were placed in a wet cell filled with lens solution to prevent surface deformation and desiccation during measurements. Aberration measurements of conventional toric and multifocal soft contact lenses and a customized soft contact lens have proved that this method is reliable. A Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor can be used to assess optical quality of both conventional and customized soft contact lenses and to assist in enhancing lens quality control.

Algorithms↗

Two-dimensional surface profile imaging technique based on a double-grating frequency shifter.

A two-dimensional surface profile imaging technique that uses a low-coherence heterodyne interferometer is proposed. A double-grating frequency shifter was used in a tandem interferometer to provide the achromatic frequency shift for low-coherence light. A chopper, together with a processing circuit, was implemented to modulate the interference fringes. The surface profile was measured from the interference fringes taken by a CCD camera using a five-step method. The uncertainty in the displacement measurement is 0.34 microm for a displacement range of 43 microm. The surface profile of a glass sample with low effective reflectivity was acquired.

Algorithms↗

Dynamic time-resolved diffuse spectroscopy based on supercontinuum light pulses.

We present a detailed characterization of a system for fast time-resolved spectroscopy of turbid media based on supercontinuum generation in a photonic crystal fiber. The light source provides subpicosecond pulses in the 550-1000-nm spectral range, at 85 MHz, at an average power of up to 50 mW. Wavelength-resolved detection is accomplished by means of a spectrometer coupled to a 16-channel, multianode photomultiplier tube, giving a resolution of 4.5-35 nm/channel, depending on the grating. Time-dispersion curves are acquired with time-correlated single-photon counting, and absorption and reduced scattering coefficients are determined by fitting the data to the diffusion equation. We characterized the system by measuring the time-resolved diffuse reflectance of epoxy phantoms and by assessing the performance in terms of accuracy, linearity, noise sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility. The results were similar to those from previous systems, whereas the full-spectrum (610-810 nm) acquisition time was as short as 1 s owing to the parallel acquisition. We also present the first in vivo real-time dynamic spectral measurements showing tissue oxygenation changes in the arm of a human subject.

Algorithms↗

Phase extraction from a single fringe pattern based on guidance of an extreme map.

A method for automatic phase extraction from a single fringe pattern based on the guidance of an extreme map is introduced. The method uses an adaptive weighted filter to reduce noise and enhance contrast and to locate the fringe extremes. Wrapped phase values are calculated by use of an arccosine function obtained from the extreme map. With this method, wrapped phase values can be efficiently demodulated from a single fringe pattern without the need for assigning fringe order or interpolating fractional fringe order. The validity of the method is demonstrated by use of closed-fringe patterns generated by digital speckle interferometry.

Algorithms↗

Sorting method to extend the dynamic range of the Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor.

We propose a simple and powerful algorithm to extend the dynamic range of a Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor. In a conventional Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor the dynamic range is limited by the f-number of a lenslet, because the focal spot is required to remain in the area confined by the single lenslet. The sorting method proposed here eliminates such a limitation and extends the dynamic range by tagging each spot in a special sequence. Since the sorting method is a simple algorithm that does not change the measurement configuration, there is no requirement for extra hardware, multiple measurements, or complicated algorithms. We not only present the theory and a calculation example of the sorting method but also actually implement measurement of a highly aberrated wave front from nonrotational symmetric optics.

Algorithms↗

High-contrast, all-optical switching in bacteriorhodopsin films.

We report experiments with nonlinear-absorption-based, high-contrast, all-optical switching in photochromic bacteriorhodopsin (BR) films. The switching action is accomplished by control of the transmission of a weak probe beam through a BR sample with the help of strong pump beam illumination at 532 nm wavelength. We found that the switching properties of BR films depend on several experimentally controllable parameters such as probe wavelength, pump beam intensity, and excitation rate. A comparative study of the switching behavior and other parameters of practical use was carried out at three probe wavelengths (543, 594, and 633 nm) and various beam powers and pump excitation rates. The results are presented for commercially available wild-type and D96N variant BR films.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Phase-space formulation for phase-contrast x-ray imaging.

Phase-space formulation based on the Wigner distribution has been presented for analyzing phase-contrast image formation. Based on the statistical nature and affine canonical covariance of Wigner distributions in the phase space, we show that the partial coherence effects of incident x-ray wave field on image intensity are simply accounted for by a multiplication factor, which is the reduced complex degree of coherence of the incident x-ray wave field. We show especially that with the undulator sources one cannot obtain the phase-contrast intensity by summing over the contributions from all electron positions, since the van Cittert-Zernike theorem fails in general for undulators. We derive a comprehensive formula that quantifies the effects of partial spatial coherence, polychromatic spectrum, body attenuation, imaging-detector resolution, and radiation dose on phase-contrast visibility in clinical imaging. The results of our computer modeling and simulations show how the formula can provide design guidelines and optimal parameters for clinical x-ray phase-contrast imaging systems.

Algorithms↗

Fourier-transform method of data compression and temporal fringe pattern analysis.

Temporal fringe pattern analysis is invaluable in studies of transient phenomena but necessitates large data storage for two essential sets of data, i.e., fringe pattern intensity and deformation phase. We describe a compression scheme based on the Fourier-transform method for temporal fringe data storage that permits retrieval of both the intensity and the deformation phase. When the scheme was used with simulated temporal wavefront interferometry intensity fringe patterns, a high compression ratio of 10.77 was achieved, with a significant useful data ratio of 0.859. The average root-mean-square error in phase value restored was a low 0.0015 rad. With simulated temporal speckle interferometry intensity fringe patterns, the important paremeters varied with the modulation cutoff value applied. For a zero modulation cutoff value, the ratio of data points and the compression ratio values obtained were roughly the same as in wavelength interferometry, albeit the average root-mean-square error in the phase value restored was far higher. By increasing the modulation cutoff value we attained significant reduction and increase in the ratio of data points and the compression ratio, respectively, whereas the average root-mean-square error in the restored phase values was reduced only slightly.

Algorithms↗

Two improved algorithms with which to obtain contoured windows for fringe patterns generated by electronic speckle-pattern interferometry.

Fringe patterns generated by electronic speckle-pattern interferometry are full of high-spatial-frequency and high-contrast speckle noise. Filtering with contoured windows has proved to be an efficient approach to filtering out speckle noise while retaining the fringe patterns. Furthermore, with contoured windows the contoured correlation fringe pattern method can be used to derive smooth, normalized, consistent fringes. Contoured windows previously were determined by fringe orientation only, and this process generated accumulated errors. We propose two new algorithms with which to obtain the contoured windows according to the fringe intensity slope and the distance ratio to neighboring skeletons. These new techniques can determine contoured windows more precisely.

Algorithms↗

Exploration of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness by measurement of the linear dichroism.

An electro-optic device mounted on a slit lamp to assess the degree of polarization of a light beam that has double passed through the retina about the optic-nerve head in the living human eye is described. The asymmetric structure of the retinal nerve's fiber layer possesses a linear-form dichroism and will partially polarize an unpolarized light beam that is scattered at the fundus of the eye and has double passed the ocular media (cornea, lens, retina). This partial polarization is a function of the retinal nerve's fiber layer thickness, and its measurement may be used for exploring glaucoma and other retinal neuropathies. Experimental conditions allow us to neglect corneal dichroism. The first clinical measurements show a different degree of polarization between normal and glaucomatous eyes and a good correlation with the results obtained by optical coherence tomography.

Algorithms↗

Three-dimensional laparoscope based on the manipulation of polarized light by a cellophane half-wave plate.

A three-dimensional laparoscope that can capture three-dimensional images during surgery is reported. The principle is solely based on the manipulation of polarized light by a cellophane half-wave plate rather than computer processing; hence there is no time delay (it operates in real time) and lesions are viewed in true color, which is important for diagnostics. Three-dimensional images are obtained with a single laparoscope. A unique feature of this three-dimensional laparoscope is that it includes a virtual ruler to measure distances without physically touching the affected areas. The structure is simple, sturdy, lightweight, and its diameter is no bigger than a standard 10 mm diam laparoscope.

Algorithms↗