Gas microchannel plate-pixel detector for X-ray polarimetry

POLAR-2 is a gamma-ray burst(GRB)polarimeter that is designed to study the polarization in GRB radiation emissions,aiming to improve our knowledge of related mechanisms.POLAR-2 is expected to utilize an on-board polarimeter that is sensitive to soft X-rays(2-10 keV),called low-energy polarization detector.We have developed a new soft X-ray polari-zation detector prototype based on gas microchannel plates(GMCPs)and pixel chips(Topmetal).The GMCPs have bulk resistance,which prevents charging-up effects and ensures gain stability during operation.The detector is composed of low outgassing materials and is gas-sealed using a laser welding technique,ensuring long-term stability.A modulation factor of 41.28%±0.64% is obtained for a 4.5 keV polarized X-ray beam.A residual modulation of 1.96%±0.58% at 5.9 keV is observed for the entire sensitive area.

Polarimetry feature parameter deriving from Mueller matrix imaging and auto-diagnostic signicance to distinguish HSIL and CSCC

High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL)is regarded as a serious precancerous state of cervix,and it is easy to progress into cervical invasive carcinoma which highlights the importance of earlier diagnosis and treatment of cervical lesions.Pathologists examine the biopsied cervical epithelial tissue through a microscope.The pathological examination will take a long time and sometimes results in high inter-and intra-observer variability in outcomes.Polarization imaging techniques have broad application prospects for biomedical diagnosis such as breast,liver,colon,thyroid and so on.In our team,we have derived polarimetry feature parameters(PFPs)to characterize microstructural features in histological sections of breast tissues,and the accuracy for PFPs ranges from 0.82 to 0.91.Therefore,the aim of this paper is to distinguish automatically microstructural features between HSIL and cervical squamous cell carcinoma(CSCC)by means of polarization imaging techniques,and try to provide quantitative reference index for patho-logical diagnosis which can alleviate the workload of pathologists.Polarization images of the H&E stained histological slices were obtained by Mueller matrix microscope.The typical path-ological structure area was labeled by two experienced pathologists.Calculate the polarimetry basis parameter(PBP)statistics for this region.The PBP statistics(stat PBPs)are screened by mutual information(MI)method.The training method is based on a linear discriminant analysis(LDA)classier whichnds the most simplied linear combination from these stat PBPs and the accuracy remains constant to characterize the specic microstructural feature quantitatively in cervical squamous epithelium.We present results from 37 clinical patients with analysis regions of cervical squamous epithelium.The accuracy of PFP for recognizing HSIL and CSCC was 83.8%and 87.5%,respectively.This work demonstrates the ability of PFP to quantitatively charac-terize the cervical squamous epithelial lesions in the H&E pathological sections.Signicance:Polarization detection technology provides an effcient method for digital pathological diagnosis and points out a new way for automatic screening of pathological sections.

Current Status and Future Challenges of Weather Radar Polarimetry: Bridging the Gap between Radar Meteorology/Hydrology/Engineering and Numerical Weather Prediction

After decades of research and development, the WSR-88 D(NEXRAD) network in the United States was upgraded with dual-polarization capability, providing polarimetric radar data(PRD) that have the potential to improve weather observations,quantification, forecasting, and warnings. The weather radar networks in China and other countries are also being upgraded with dual-polarization capability. Now, with radar polarimetry technology having matured, and PRD available both nationally and globally, it is important to understand the current status and future challenges and opportunities. The potential impact of PRD has been limited by their oftentimes subjective and empirical use. More importantly, the community has not begun to regularly derive from PRD the state parameters, such as water mixing ratios and number concentrations, used in numerical weather prediction(NWP) models.In this review, we summarize the current status of weather radar polarimetry, discuss the issues and limitations of PRD usage, and explore potential approaches to more efficiently use PRD for quantitative precipitation estimation and forecasting based on statistical retrieval with physical constraints where prior information is used and observation error is included. This approach aligns the observation-based retrievals favored by the radar meteorology community with the model-based analysis of the NWP community. We also examine the challenges and opportunities of polarimetric phased array radar research and development for future weather observation.

Crosstalk-free achromatic full Stokes imaging polarimetry metasurface enabled by polarization-dependent phase optimization

Imaging polarimetry is one of the most widely used analytical technologies for object detection and analysis.To date,most metasurface-based polarimetry techniques are severely limited by narrow operating bandwidths and inevitable crosstalk,leading to detrimental effects on imaging quality and measurement accuracy.Here,we propose a crosstalkfree broadband achromatic full Stokes imaging polarimeter consisting of polarization-sensitive dielectric metalenses,implemented by the principle of polarization-dependent phase optimization.Compared with the single-polarization optimization method,the average crosstalk has been reduced over three times under incident light with arbitrary polarization ranging from 9μm to 12μm,which guarantees the measurement of the polarization state more precisely.The experimental results indicate that the designed polarization-sensitive metalenses can effectively eliminate the chromatic aberration with polarization selectivity and negligible crosstalk.The measured average relative errors are 7.08%,8.62%,7.15%,and 7.59%at 9.3,9.6,10.3,and 10.6μm,respectively.Simultaneously,the broadband full polarization imaging capability of the device is also verified.This work is expected to have potential applications in wavefront detection,remote sensing,light-field imaging,and so forth.

Assessment of C-band compact polarimetry SAR for sea ice classification

The C-band synthetic aperture radar（SAR） data from the Bohai Sea of China, the Labrador Sea in the Arctic and the Weddell Sea in the Antarctic are used to analyze and discuss the sea ice full polarimetric information reconstruction ability under compact polarimetric modes. The type of compact polarimetric mode which has the highest reconstructed accuracy is analyzed, along with the performance impact of the reconstructed pseudo quad-pol SAR data on the sea ice detection and sea ice classification. According to the assessment and analysis, it is recommended to adopt the CTLR mode for reconstructing the polarimetric parameters σ_（HH）~0,σ_（VV）~0, H and α,while for reconstructing the polarimetric parameters σ_（HV）~0, ρ_（H-V）, λ_1 and λ_2, it is recommended to use the π/4 mode.Moreover, it is recommended to use the π/4 mode in studying the action effects between the electromagnetic waves and sea ice, but it is recommended to use the CTLR mode for studying the sea ice classification.

The Study of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness of Normal Eyes Using Scanning Laser Polarimetry

Purpoe: To evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements in local normal Chinese subjects of different age groups and analyse the correlation of RNFL thickness with age using scanning laser polarimetry (SLP,GDxVCC). To assess the reproducibility of RNFL thickness measurement with GDxVCC. Methods: The RNFL thickness of 67 normal subjects (123 eyes) were measured by GDxVCC. The average TSNIT parameters were calculated. The differences of RNFL thickness between sex,right and left eyes,superior and inferior were compared. The relationship between RNFL thickness and age was analyzed with correlation analysis and linear regression analysis. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of three images in every eye were calculated. Results: The average peripapillary RNFL thickness at the superior,inferior and whole ellipse regions in 123 eyes of 67 normal subjects were (70.30±6.76)(?)m,(67.35±6.77)(?)m and (56.87±4.53)(?) m,respectively. The average TNSIT standard deviation was 23.68±4.61 and the average inter-eye symmetric value was 0.86±0.11. There were significant difference of RNFL thickness between superior and inferior (t=4.952,P < 0.001). There were significant difference of inferior RNFL thickness and TNSIT standard deviation between right and left eyes (P=0.005 and 0.002),while not significant difference of superior RNFL thickness and whole mean RNFL thickness between right and left eye (P=0.086 and 0.529). There was no significant difference in TSNIT parameters between different genders. There was a slight negative correlation average RNFL thickness in superior sector with age (decreased approximately 0.15 microns per year,P=0.047) in the subjects aged below 60 years old. The ICC values of RNFL thickness were >0.8 in superior,inferior and global. Conclusions: The RNFL thickness can be measured accurately by GDxVCC and the reproducibility of RNFL thickness measurement by GDxVCC is good. There was a slight negative correlation between average RNFL thickness in superior with age. More researches on the effects of age on RNFL thickness by GDxVCC are needed.

Multi-polarization reconstruction from compact polarimetry based on modified four-component scattering decomposition

An improved algorithm for multi-polarization reconstruction from compact polarimetry （CP） is proposed. According to two fundamental assumptions in compact polarimetric reconstruction, two improvements are proposed. Firstly, the four-component model-based decomposition algorithm is modified with a new volume scattering model. The decomposed helix scattering component is then used to deal with the non-reflection symmetry condition in compact polarimetric measurements. Using the decomposed power and considering the scattering mechanism of each component, an average relationship between copolarized and crosspolarized channels is developed over the original polarization state extrapolation model. E-SAR polarimetric data acquired over the Oberpfaffenhofen area and JPL/AIRSAR polarimetric data acquired over San Francisco are used for verification, and good reconstruction results are obtained, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

X-ray polarimetry and its application to strong-field quantum electrodynamics

Polarimetry is a highly sensitive method to quantify changes of the polarization state of light when passing through matter and is therefore widely applied in material science.The progress of synchrotron and X-ray free electron laser(XFEL)sources has led to significant developments of X-ray polarizers,opening perspectives for new applications of polarimetry to study source and beamline parameters as well as sample characteristics.X-ray polarimetry has shown to date a polarization purity of less than 1.4×10^(-11),enabling the detection of very small signals from ultrafast phenomena.A prominent application is the detection of vacuum birefringence.Vacuum birefringence is predicted in quantum electrodynamics and is expected to be probed by combining an XFEL with a petawatt-class optical laser.We review how source and optical elements affect X-ray polarimeters in general and which qualities are required for the detection of vacuum birefringence.

Flexible high-resolution thin micropolarizers for imaging polarimetry

More durable[with high impact force],lighter,and more compact flexible azo dye micropolarizers are attractive candidates for low-cost,simple polarization imaging systems.The liquid crystal polymer[LCP],as an emerging material developed by photo-alignment technology,is a potential material for organizing the long-range ordered structure of azo dyes.However,little research has been done on LCP aligned azo dyes.This paper points out and solves a key problem that restricts the fabrication of high-precision arrays in guest[azo dye]-host[LCP]systems:the doping of dyes leads to disorder of the LCP during curing.After solving the problem,the relationship between the thickness of the LCP and the extinction ratio of the polarizing film was investigated,which effectively improved the extinction ratio.Alignment of azo dye molecules in the range of 2μm[0°-180°]and arrays of micropolarizers[0°,45°,90°,-45°]with 8μm×8μm pixel pitch was achieved by laser direct writing technology.The bending cycle test demonstrates the mechanical stability of the ultrathin flexible polarizer.The flexible patterned polarizer with robust chemical and mechanical stabilities provides a flexible way to capture the polarization of the light and highly integrated advanced flexible optoelectronic devices.

The enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry mission—eXTP

In this paper we present the enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry mission—eXTP. eXTP is a space science mission designed to study fundamental physics under extreme conditions of density, gravity and magnetism. The mission aims at determining the equation of state of matter at supra-nuclear density, measuring effects of QED, and understanding the dynamics of matter in strong-field gravity. In addition to investigating fundamental physics, eXTP will be a very powerful observatory for astrophysics that will provide observations of unprecedented quality on a variety of galactic and extragalactic objects. In particular, its wide field monitoring capabilities will be highly instrumental to detect the electro-magnetic counterparts of gravitational wave sources.The paper provides a detailed description of:(1) the technological and technical aspects, and the expected performance of the instruments of the scientific payload;(2) the elements and functions of the mission, from the spacecraft to the ground segment.

Spatially modulated polarimetry based on a vortex retarder and Fourier analysis

We report a spatially modulated polarimetry scheme by using a zero-order vortex half-wave retarder(ZVHR)and a spatial Fourier analysis method.A ZVHR is employed to analyze the input polarized light and convert it into a vectorial optical field,and an analyzer is set after the ZVHR to form an hourglass intensity pattern due to the spatial polarization modulation.Then,the input light’s Stokes parameters can be calculated by spatial Fourier analysis of the hourglass pattern with a single shot.The working principle of the polarimeter has been analyzed by the Stokes-Mueller formalism,and some quantitative measuring experiments of different polarization states have been demonstrated.The experimental results indicate that the proposed polarimeter is accurate,robust,and simple to use.

Multifunctional geometric phase optical element for high-efficiency full Stokes imaging polarimetry

Polarization imaging finds applications in many areas, such as photoelasticity, ellipsometry, and biomedical imaging. A compact, snapshot, and high-efficiency imaging polarimeter is highly desirable for many applications.Here, based on a single multifunctional geometric phase optical element(GPOE), a new method is proposed for high-efficiency snapshot imaging polarimetry. With tailored spatially varying orientation of each anisotropic unit cell, the GPOE works highly efficiently as both a spin sorter and a half-wave plate, enabling snapshot retrieving of a full Stokes vector of incident light. The designed GPOE is implemented in the form of liquid crystal fabricated with a photo-alignment technology, and its application in imaging polarimetry is experimentally demonstrated by retrieving full Stokes parameters of a cylinder vector beam. This method can also work in the form of plasmonic or dielectric metasurfaces, enabling ultra-compact polarization detection systems by monolithic integration with other devices such as metalenses.

Retinal nerve fiber layer in primary open-angle glaucoma with high myopia determined by optical coherence tomography and scanning laser polarimetry

Background Fundus changes associated with high myopia （HM） may mask those associated with primary open-angle glaucoma （POAG）. This study aim to determine the characteristics of RNFL thickness changes in patients with both POAG and HM and compare these to changes in patients with only HM. The diagnostic capabilities of both OCT and GDxVCC in this subset of patients are also evaluated. Methods Twenty-two eyes with POAG and HM （spherical equivalent （SE） between -6.0 and -12.0 D） were evaluated, and 22 eyes with HM were used for comparison. Characteristic retinal nerve fiber layer （RNFL） thickness profiles in patients with POAG and HM were examined using optical coherence tomography （OCT） and scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation （GDxVCC）, and the diagnostic capabilities of these imaging modalities were compared. RNFL parameters evaluated included superior average （Savg-GDx）, inferior average （lavg-GDx）, temporal-superior-nasal- inferior-temporal （TSNIT） average, and nerve fiber indicator （NFI） on GDxVCC and superior average （Savg-OCT）, inferior average （lavg-OCT）, nasal average （Navg-OCT）, temporal average （Tavg-OCT）, and average thickness （AvgThick-OCT） on OCT （fast RNFL scan）. Visual field testing was performed and defects were evaluated using mean defect （MD） and pattern standard deviation （PSD）. Results The RNFL parameters （P 〈0.05） significantly different between groups included Savg-GDx, lavg-GDx, TSNIT average, NFI, Savg-OCT, lavg-OCT, Tavg-OCT, and AvgThick-OCT. Significant correlations existed between TSNIT average and AvgThick-OCT （r=0.778）, TSNIT average and MD （r=0.749）, AvgThick-OCT and MD （r=0.647）, TSNIT average and PSD （r=-0.756）, and AvgThick-OCT and PSD （r=-0.784）. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve （AUROC） values of TSNIT average, Savg-GDx, lavg-GDx, NFI, Savg-OCT, lavg-OCT, Navg-OCT, Tavg-OCT, and AvgThick-OCT were 0.947, 0.962, 0.973, 0.994, 0.909, 0.917, 0.511, 0.906, and 0.913, respectively. The NFI AUROC was the highest value. Conclusions RNFL thickness was significantly lower in all but the nasal quadrant in patients with POAG and HM, compared to patients with only HM. Measurements with OCT and GDxVCC were well-correlated, and both modalities detected RNFL thickness chanaes. However. GDxVCC was better than OCT in detectina POAG in HM Datients.

Simulation of photoelectric X-ray polarimetry and reconstruction of the photoelectron azimuthal angle

Sensitive X-ray polarimetry in the keV energy range can be achieved by measuring the azimuthal angle distribution of emitted electrons after the photoelectric absorption of X-rays in a micropattern gas detector. However, the initial direction of the electron is not readily measurable due to the randomization of its motion during energy loss. By using the Geant4, Maxwell and Garfield packages, we simulated the detected electron tracks following photoelectric absorption, electron drift and diffusion in the gas, and proposed a technique capable of reconstructing the initial direction of the emitted photoelectron. The technique allows us to measure the angular modulation of flux predicted for a polarized X-ray beam. We calculated the modulation factors in 2-10 keV with a gas mixture of neon and CO;, and discussed how electron diffusion along the drift will dilute the track and suppress the modulation. These results are useful for the design of the X-ray polarimeter.

Polarimetry for four Stockes parameters in space

Continuously growing attention has been paid to potential of polarimetry to provide additional information of remote sounding of the earth and other planets and to detect some special targets. In the present paper the polarimetric technique in space for all the four Stockes parameters is presented.

Identification of serous ovarian tumors based on polarization imaging and correlation analysis with clinicopathological features

Ovarian cancer is one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous female tumors in the world,and serous ovarian cancer(SOC)is of particular concern for being the leading cause of ovarian cancer death.Due to its clinical and biological complexities,ovarian cancer is still considered one of the most di±cult tumors to diagnose and manage.In this study,three datasets were assembled,including 30 cases of serous cystadenoma(SCA),30 cases of serous borderline tumor(SBT),and 45 cases of serous adenocarcinoma(SAC).Mueller matrix microscopy is used to obtain the polarimetry basis parameters(PBPs)of each case,combined with a machine learning(ML)model to derive the polarimetry feature parameters(PFPs)for distinguishing serous ovarian tumor(SOT).The correlation between the mean values of PBPs and the clinicopathological features of serous ovarian cancer was analyzed.The accuracies of PFPs obtained from three types of SOT for identifying dichotomous groups(SCA versus SAC,SCA versus SBT,and SBT versus SAC)were 0.91,0.92,and 0.8,respectively.The accuracy of PFP for identifying triadic groups(SCA versus SBT versus SAC)was 0.75.Correlation analysis between PBPs and the clinicopathological features of SOC was performed.There were correlations between some PBPs(δ,β,q_(L),E_(2),rqcross,P_(2),P_(3),P_(4),and P_(5))and clinicopathological features,including the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(FIGO)stage,pathological grading,preoperative ascites,malignant ascites,and peritoneal implantation.The research showed that PFPs extracted from polarization images have potential applications in quantitatively differentiating the SOTs.These polarimetry basis parameters related to the clinicopathological features of SOC can be used as prognostic factors.

Establishment and study of a polarized X-ray radiation facility

With the advancement in X-ray astronomical detection technology,various celestial polarization detection projects have been initiated.To meet the calibration requirements of polarimeters on the ground,a polarized X-ray radiation facility was designed for this study.The design was based on the principle that X-rays incident at 45°on a crystal produce polarized X-rays,and a second crystal was used to measure the polarization of the X-rays produced by the facility after rotation.The effects of different diaphragm sizes on the degree of polarization were compared,and the facility produced X-rays with polarization degrees of up to 99.55±0.96%using LiF200 and LiF220 crystals.This result revealed that the polarization of incident X-rays is one of the factors affecting the diffraction efficiency of crystals.The replacement of different crystals can satisfy the calibration requirements of polarized X-ray detectors with more energy points in the energy range(4-10)keV.In the future,the facility should be placed in a vacuum environment to meet the calibration requirements at lower energies.

Depolarizing metrics in the biomedical field:Vision enhancement and classification of biological tissues

Polarimetry encompasses a collection of optical techniques broadly used in a variety of fields.Nowadays,such techniques have provided their suitability in the biomedical field through the study of the polarimetric response of biological samples(retardance,dichroism and depolarization)by measuring certain polarimetric observables.One of these features,depolarization,is mainly produced by scattering on samples,which is a predominant efiect in turbid media as biological tissues.In turn,retardance and dichroic efiects are produced by tissue anisotropies and can lead to depolarization too.Since depolarization is a predominant efiect in tissue samples,we focus on studying difierent depolarization metrics for biomedical applications.We report the suitability of a set of depolarizing observables,the indices of polarimetric purity(IPPs),for biological tissue inspection.We review some results where we demonstrate that IPPs lead to better performance than the depolarization index,which is a well-established and commonly used depolarization observable in the literature.We also provide how IPPs are able to significantly enhance contrast between difierent tissue structures and even to reveal structures hidden by using standard intensity images.Finally,we also explore the classificatory potential of IPPs and other depolarizing observables for the discrimination of difierent tissues obtained from ex vivo chicken samples(muscle,tendon,myotendinous junction and bone),reaching accurate models for tissue classification.

旋光法研究Co(phen)_3^(3+)同Co(Ⅱ)络合物的电子转移反应

应用Mureinik和Spiro方程到通过外球电子转移的(+)D-Co(phen)_3^(3+)外消旋反应,证明了电子转移反应对Co(Ⅲ)和Co(Ⅱ)络离子的浓度是一级的,V=k_2[Co(Ⅲ)][Co(Ⅱ)].测得在水溶液中其活化能Ea为24.5kJ/mol,活化熵ΔS^+为-151J/mol·K,20℃下的速度常数k_2为3.60 l/mol·S.作者还研究了水溶液中配体为H_2O、py、on、NH_3和bipy的六配位CO(Ⅱ)络离子对(+)D-Co(phen)_3^(3+)外消旋速度的影响,得出Co(Ⅱ)络离子同Co(phen)_3^(3+)的电子转移反应速度的顺序为: Co(H_2O)_6^(2+)<Co(py)_6^(2+)<Co(en)_3^(2+)<Co(NH_3)_6^(2+)<Co(phen)_3^(2+)<Co(bipy)_3^(2+)

Solution for polarimetric radar cross section measurement and calibration

The exact radar cross-section （RCS） measurement is difficult when the scattering of targets is low. Ful polarimetric cali-bration is one technique that offers the potential for improving the accuracy of RCS measurements. There are numerous polarimetric calibration algorithms. Some complex expressions in these algo-rithms cannot be easily used in an engineering practice. A radar polarimetric coefficients matrix （RPCM） with a simpler expression is presented for the monostatic radar polarization scattering matrix （PSM） measurement. Using a rhombic dihedral corner reflector and a metal ic sphere, the RPCM can be obtained by solving a set of equations, which can be used to find the true PSM for any target. An example for the PSM of a metal ic dish shows that the proposed method obviously improves the accuracy of cross-polarized RCS measurements.