Effect of Scanning Beam Profile to Fabricate Fused Fiber Tapers by CO_2 Laser Irradiation Method

Beam uniformity is a crucial building block of CO2 experiments aimed at fusing and stretching optical fibers in a lossless manner. When the irradiation beam is expanded through a galvanometer mirror, ways to achieve beam uniformity are investigated.

Piecewise Linear Weighted Iterative Algorithm for Beam Alignment in Scanning Beam Interference Lithography

To obtain a good interference fringe contrast and high fidelity,an automated beam iterative alignment is achieved in scanning beam interference lithography(SBIL).To solve the problem of alignment failure caused by a large beam angle(or position)overshoot exceeding the detector range while also speeding up the convergence,a weighted iterative algorithm using a weight parameter that is changed linearly piecewise is proposed.The changes in the beam angle and position deviation during the alignment process based on different iterative algorithms are compared by experiment and simulation.The results show that the proposed iterative algorithm can be used to suppress the beam angle(or position)overshoot,avoiding alignment failure caused by over-ranging.In addition,the convergence speed can be effectively increased.The algorithm proposed can optimize the beam alignment process in SBIL.

Collection efficiency of a monitor parallel plate ionization chamber for pencil beam scanning proton therapy

The collection efficiency of monitor parallel plate ionization chambers is the main uncertainty in the beam control of pencil beam scanning systems.Existing calculation methods for collection efficiency in photon or passive scattering proton systems have not considered the characteristics of non-uniform charge density in pencil beam scanning systems.In this study,Boag’s theory was applied to a proton pencil beam scanning system.The transverse distribution of charge density in the ionization chamber was considered to be a Gaussian function and an analytical solution was derived to calculate collection efficiency in the beam spot area.This calculation method is called the integral method and it was used to investigate the effects of beam parameters on collection efficiency.It was determined that collection efficiency is positively correlated with applied voltage,beam size,and beam energy,but negatively correlated with beam current intensity.Additionally,it was confirmed that collection efficiency is improved when the air filling the monitor parallel plate ionization chamber is replaced with nitrogen.

Reformatted method for two-dimensional detector arrays measurement data in proton pencil beam scanning

The spatial resolution of a commercial two-dimensional(2D)ionization chamber(IC)array is limited by the size of the individual detector and the center-to-center distance between sensors.For dose distributions with areas of steep dose gradients,inter-detector dose values are derived by the interpolation of nearby detector readings in the conventional mathematical interpolation of 2D IC array measurements.This may introduce significant errors,particularly in proton spot scanning radiotherapy.In this study,by combining logfile-based reconstructed dose values and detector measurements with the Laplacian pyramid image blending method,a novel method is proposed to obtain a reformatted dose distribution that provides an improved estimation of the delivered dose distribution with high spatial resolution.Meanwhile,the similarity between the measured original data and the downsampled logfilebased reconstructed dose is regarded as the confidence of the reformatted dose distribution.Furthermore,we quantify the performance benefits of this new approach by directly comparing the reformatted dose distributions with 2D IC array detector mathematically interpolated measurements and original low-resolution measurements.The result shows that this new method is better than the mathematical interpolation and achieves gamma pass rates similar to those of the original low-resolution measurements.The reformatted dose distributions generally yield a confidence exceeding 95%.

Evaluation of Single Field Uniform Dose (SFUD) Proton Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) Planning Strategy for Lung Mobile Tumor Using a Digital Phantom

Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate four different Proton SFUD PBS initial planning strategies for lung mobile tumor. Methods and Materials: A virtual lung patient’s four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) was generated in this study. To avoid the uncertainties from target delineation and imaging artifacts, a sphere with diameter of 3 cm representing a rigid mobile target (GTV) was inserted into the right side of the lung. The target motion is set in superior-inferior (SI) direction from ?5 mm to 5 mm. Four SFUD planning strategies were used based on: 1) Maximum-In-tensity-Projection Image (MIP-CT);2) CT_average with ITV overridden to muscle density (CTavg_muscle);3) CT_average with ITV overridden to tumor density (CTavg_tumor);4) CT_average without any override density (CTavg_only). Dose distributions were recalculated on each individual phase and accumulated together to assess the “actual” treatment. To estimate the impact of proton range uncertainties, +/?3.5% CT calibration curve was applied to the 4DCT phase images. Results: Comparing initial plan to the dose accumulation: MIP-CT based GTV D98 degraded 2.42 Gy (60.10 Gy vs 57.68 Gy). Heart D1 increased 6.19 Gy (1.88 Gy vs 8.07 Gy);CTavg_tumor based GTV D98 degraded 0.34 Gy (60.07 Gy vs 59.73 Gy). Heart D1 increased 2.24 Gy (3.74 Gy vs 5.98 Gy);CTavg_muscle based initial GTV D98 degraded 0.31 Gy (60.4 Gy vs 60.19 Gy). Heart D1 increased 3.44 Gy (4.38 Gy vs 7.82 Gy);CTavg_only based Initial GTV D98 degraded 6.63 Gy (60.11 Gy vs 53.48 Gy). Heart D1 increased 0.30 Gy (2.69 Gy vs 2.96 Gy);in the presence of ±3.5% range uncertainties, CTavg_tumor based plan’s accumulated GTV D98 degraded to 57.99 Gy (+3.5%) 59.38 Gy (?3.5%), and CTavg_muscle based plan’s accumulated GTV D98 degraded to 59.37 Gy (+3.5%) 59.37 Gy (?3.5%). Conclusion: This study shows that CTavg_Tumor and CTavg_Muscle based planning strategies provide the most robust GTV coverage. However, clinicians need to be aware that the actual dose to OARs at distal end of target may increase. The study also indicates that the current SFUD PBS planning strategy might not be sufficient to compensate the CT calibration uncertainty.

TEMPLATE MATCHING ALGORITHM OF RADAR BEAM SCAN TYPE RECOGNITION

Phased array radar has been applied broadly because of its sound performance.But signal of phased array radar is of a wide variety of types.Therefore,recognition of phased array radar is the most puzzling aspect of the whole emitter identification domain.To solve the problem,the article proposes the method that identifies phased array radar by pulse amplitude information,and studies the phased array radar,models transmit signal of them,and receiving signal by radar countermeasure reconnaissance receiver.From constructing template of pulse train's amplitude vector of mechanical scanning radar,computing distance of samples and standard template,finding threshold of the template matching arithmetic,the article puts forward the template matching algorithm of radar beam scan type recognition to identify phased array radar automatically.

Angle amplifier in a 2D beam scanning system based on peristrophic multiplexed volume Bragg gratings

In this paper,a 2D angle amplifier based on peristrophic multiplexed volume Bragg gratings is designed and prepared,in which a calculation method is firstly proposed to optimize the number of channels to a minimum.The induction of peristrophic multiplexing reduces the performance difference in one bulk of the grating,whereas there is no need to deliberately optimize the fabrication process.It is revealed that a discrete 2D angle deflection range of±30°is obtained and the relative diffraction efficiency of all the grating channels reaches more than 55%with a root-meansquare deviation of less than 3.4%in the same grating.The deviation of the Bragg incidence and exit angles from the expected values is less than 0.07°.It is believed that the proposed 2D angle amplifier has the potential to realize high-performance and large-angle beam steering in high-power laser beam scanning systems.

Broadband transmission-type 1-bit coding metasurface for electromagnetic beam forming and scanning

Coding metasurfaces make it possible to manipulate electromagnetic(EM)waves digitally by means of several discrete particles.Hence,there have been rapid advances in this field recently.Here we propose a novel design of a broadband transmission-type coding metasurface,which is valid to both x-and y-polarized EM incidences from 8.1-12.5 GHz while satisfies the requirements of 1-bit coding without changing the polarization.Two types of multi-layer coding particles with different geometrical parameters are adopted to represent the digital states"0"and"1",which are easily promoted to terahertz and optics through modifying the size scale.To verify the ability to manipulate the EM waves,we first adopt the coding metasurface to achieve broadband beam forming by converting spherical waves to plane waves and realize high-directivity pencil beam in far field with low side lobes.We further arrange the particles according to the coding sequence 010101…to steer two symmetrical beams in different directions controlled by frequencies with the maximum range of the scanning angle of 30°-50.5°.The good agreements between the simulated and measured results validate the proposed broadband coding metasurface,indicating its huge potential in communication and radar imaging systems.

Characterization of 3D pore nanostructure and stress-dependent permeability of organic-rich shales in northern Guizhou Depression,China

The three-dimensional(3D)pore structures and permeability of shale are critical for forecasting gas production capacity and guiding pressure differential control in practical reservoir extraction.However,few investigations have analyzed the effects of microscopic organic matter(OM)morphology and 3D pore nanostructures on the stress sensitivity,which are precisely the most unique and controlling factors of reservoir quality in shales.In this study,ultra-high nanoscale-resolution imaging experiments,i.e.focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy(FIB-SEMs),were conducted on two organic-rich shale samples from Longmaxi and Wufeng Formations in northern Guizhou Depression,China.Pore morphology,porosity of 3D pore nanostructures,pore size distribution,and connectivity of the six selected regions of interest(including clump-shaped OMs,interstitial OMs,framboidal pyrite,and microfractures)were qualitatively and quantitatively characterized.Pulse decay permeability(PDP)measurement was used to investigate the variation patterns of stress-dependent permeability and stress sensitivity of shales under different confining pressures and pore pressures,and the results were then used to calculate the Biot coefficients for the two shale formations.The results showed that the samples have high OM porosity and 85%of the OM pores have the radius of less than 40 nm.The OM morphology and pore structure characteristics of the Longmaxi and Wufeng Formations were distinctly different.In particular,the OM in the Wufeng Formation samples developed some OM pores with radius larger than500 nm,which significantly improved the connectivity.The macroscopic permeability strongly depends on the permeability of OM pores.The stress sensitivity of permeability of Wufeng Formation was significantly lower than that of Longmaxi Formation,due to the differences in OM morphology and pore structures.The Biot coefficients of 0.729 and 0.697 were obtained for the Longmaxi and Wufeng Formations,respectively.

Nanoparticles Production and Inclusion in <i>S. aureus</i>Incubated with Polyurethane: An Electron Microscopy Analysis

This study shows that submicron/nanoparticles found in bacterial cells (S. aureus) incubated with polyurethane (a material commonly used for prostheses in odontostomatology) are a consequence of biodestruction. The presence of polyurethane nanoparticles into bacterial vesicles suggests that the internalization process occurs through endocytosis. TEM and FIB/SEM are a suitable set of correlated instruments and techniques for this multi facet investigation: polyurethane particles influence the properties of S. aureus from the morpho-functional standpoint that may have undesirable effects on the human body. S. aureus and C. albicans are symbiotic microorganisms;it was observed that C. albicans has a similar interaction with polyurethane and an increment of the biodestruction capacity is expected by its mutual work with S. aureus.

Technical commissioning of the spot scanning system in Shanghai Proton Therapy Facility

Background In the field of particle therapy,the method of pencil beam scanning is of great potential for clinical application,now and in the future.Purpose The authors made strong effort to develop a spot scanning system for Shanghai Proton Therapy Facility.Design parameters and basic layout of the system are introduced.Methods Functionalities and specifications of crucial devices are described in detail.Most of the devices in the system were designed in house by the authors themselves,including scanning nozzle,scanning magnets and their power supplies,beam monitors,irradiation control modules and safety interlock modules.During the technical commissioning stage in the fix beam room,the spot scanning system was tested and verified.Results Under conditions of the maximum dose rate and minimum dose rate,a)repeatability of the single spot dose is less than±0.1%;b)nonlinearity of the single spot dose is less than±0.1%;c)FWHM for spot size in air at isocenter varies from 8mm to 12mm for full energy,consistent with the design values;d)lateral dose distribution achieves a flatness of less than 2%for multiple proton energies.Conclusion According to the results of technical commissioning,the spot scanning system is capable of producing a pre-scribed 3D dose distribution for target tumor successfully.

Transmitarray and Reflectarray Antennas Based on a Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna

This paper presents a review of transmitarray(TA)and reflectarray(RA)antennas based on the magnetoelectric(ME)dipole antenna struc-ture.First,the basic operating principles of ME dipole,TA and RA antennas are introduced.Next,ME-dipole-based TA and RA designs are discussed,with four antenna designs presented in detail,including two fixed-beam TA designs with high aperture efficiencies and two reconfigurable designs with a beam-scanning capability.The techniques involved in these designs are also analyzed to provide insight into the ME-dipole-based TA and RA designs.The simulated and measured results of the reported prototypes show that the introduction of the ME dipole antenna significantly broadens the band-widths of the TA and RA antennas not only in the fixed-beam designs but also in the reconfigurable designs.The ME-dipole-based TA and RA designs reported in this paper are compared to highlight their benefits and limitations.Future possible research directions and challenges are also discussed.

Effect of non-uniform efficiency on higher-order cumulants in heavy-ion collisions

We perform a systematic study on the effect of non-uniform track efficiency correction in higher-order cumulant analysis in heavy-ion collisions.Through analytical derivation,we find that the true values of cumulants can be successfully reproduced by the efficiency correction with an average of the realistic detector efficiency for particles with the same charges within each single phase space.The theoretical conclusions are supported by a toy model simulation by tuning the non-uniformity of the efficiency employed in the track-by-track efficiency correction method.The valid averaged efficiency is found to suppress the statistical uncertainties of the reproduced cumulants dramatically.Thus,usage of the averaged efficiency requires a careful study of phase space dependence.This study is important for carrying out precision measurements of higher-order cumulants in heavy-ion collision experiments at present and in future.