Dynamic Speckle Research Articles

Dynamic speckle image segmentation using self-organizing maps

The aim of this work is to build a computational model able to automatically identify, after training, dynamic speckle pattern regions with similar properties. The process is carried out using a set of descriptors applied to the intensity variations with time in every pixel of a speckle image sequence. An image obtained by projecting a self-organized map is converted into regions of similar activity that can be easily distinguished. We propose a general procedure that could be applied to numerous situations. As examples we show different situations: (a) an activity test in a simplified situation; (b) a non-biological example and (c) biological active specimens. The results obtained are encouraging; they significantly improve upon those obtained using a single descriptor and will eventually permit automatic quantitative assessment.

Online fast Biospeckle monitoring of drug action in Trypanosoma cruzi parasites by motion history image.

This paper reports on the application of the motion history image (MHI) method on dynamic laser speckle processing as a result of a specific drug action on Trypanosoma cruzi parasites. The MHI procedure is based on human action recognition, and unlike other methods which use a sequence consisting of several frames for recognition, this method uses only an MHI per action sequence for recognition. MHI method avoids the complexity as well as the large computation in sequence matching-based methods and detects a change in the speckle pattern. Experimental results of MHI on real-time monitoring of activity (motility) under the influence of the drug demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The MHI showed an online result without loss of resolution and definition if we compare with routine LASCA method. The obtained results highlight the advantage of the MHI analysis over traditional qualitative image intensity-based methods and demonstrate the potential of measuring the activity of parasites via dynamic laser speckle analysis. The data was further numerically analyzed in the time domain, and the results presented the ability of the technique to monitor the action of the drug, particularly Epirubicin (100μg/ml).

Active dynamics of colloidal particles in time-varying laser speckle patterns.

Colloidal particles immersed in a dynamic speckle pattern experience an optical force that fluctuates both in space and time. The resulting dynamics presents many interesting analogies with a broad class of non-equilibrium systems like: active colloids, self propelled microorganisms, transport in dynamical intracellular environments. Here we show that the use of a spatial light modulator allows to generate light fields that fluctuate with controllable space and time correlations and a prescribed average intensity profile. In particular we generate ring-shaped random patterns that can confine a colloidal particle over a quasi one-dimensional random energy landscape. We find a mean square displacement that is diffusive at both short and long times, while a superdiffusive or subdiffusive behavior is observed at intermediate times depending on the value of the speckles correlation time. We propose two alternative models for the mean square displacement in the two limiting cases of a short or long speckles correlation time. A simple interpolation formula is shown to account for the full phenomenology observed in the mean square displacement across the entire range from fast to slow fluctuating speckles.

Characterization of drying paint coatings by dynamic speckle and holographic interferometry measurements.

In this work we implemented dynamic speckle and holographic interferometry techniques to characterize the drying process of solvent-based paint coatings. We propose a simple way to estimate drying time by measuring speckle activity and incrementally fitting experimental data through standard regression algorithms. This allowed us to predict drying time after about 20-30 min of paint application, which is fast compared to usual times required to reach the so-called tack-free state (≈2 h). In turn, we used holographic interferometry to map small thickness variations in the coating surface during drying. We also demonstrate that results obtained from both techniques correlate with each other, which allows us to improve the accuracy of the drying time estimation.

Characterization of spatial–temporal patterns in dynamic speckle sequences using principal component analysis

Abstract. Speckle is being used as a characterization tool for the analysis of the dynamics of slow-varying phenomena occurring in biological and industrial samples at the surface or near-surface regions. The retrieved data take the form of a sequence of speckle images. These images contain information about the inner dynamics of the biological or physical process taking place in the sample. Principal component analysis (PCA) is able to split the original data set into a collection of classes. These classes are related to processes showing different dynamics. In addition, statistical descriptors of speckle images are used to retrieve information on the characteristics of the sample. These statistical descriptors can be calculated in almost real time and provide a fast monitoring of the sample. On the other hand, PCA requires a longer computation time, but the results contain more information related to spatial–temporal patterns associated to the process under analysis. This contribution merges both descriptions and uses PCA as a preprocessing tool to obtain a collection of filtered images, where statistical descriptors are evaluated on each of them. The method applies to slow-varying biological and industrial processes.

Accuracy in dynamic laser speckle: optimum size of speckles for temporal and frequency analyses

The dynamic laser-speckle phenomenon has been used as a potential tool to monitor the activity of many biological and nonbiological samples; however, a key tailoring of the experimental configuration must be taken into account to avoid wrong measurements, since the general rules addressed to speckle as information cannot be directly adopted in dynamic laser-speckle monitoring. The speckle/pixel size ratio is provided by the f-number and by the magnification of the macro lens, and attention is mainly directed toward adjusting a speckle/pixel ratio higher than 1. However, a speckle/pixel ratio much higher than one does not mean an optimum adjustment. This work tested different apertures with fixed magnification yielding to monitor a drying paint process. The outcomes were evaluated in the time and frequency domains. The highest speckle/pixel size ratio was not the best to monitor the process using the dynamic laser speckle under frequency analysis. Tailoring of the devices must take into account the optimum speckle/pixel size ratio, which could vary depending on the application, and the known Nyquist theorem cannot be considered as a sufficient condition since the setup of the optical camera with its macro and iris must also be adjusted in accordance with the frequency response.

Spatial filtering velocimetry for real-time measurements of speckle dynamics due to out-of-plane motion.

This paper describes an optical spatial filtering velocimetry technique that converts an expanding or contracting speckle pattern into a photocurrent. This photocurrent will have a quasi-sinusoidal dependency on this specific speckle motion. The spatial filter consists of a series of concentric rings. Each ring divides the incoming light into two radial-wise, almost even contributions and directs them by refraction toward two half-rings of photodetectors. The corresponding two photocurrents are balanced and provide a differential photocurrent. In this paper the optical spatial filtering velocimetry technique is used to demonstrate real-time measurements of speckle dynamics due to out-of-plane motion.

Biospeckle numerical assessment followed by speckle quality tests

The biospeckle or dynamic speckle phenomenon reflects the information regarding activity of both biological and non-biological material under study. However, due to having a complex interaction between light and material, the analysis of such phenomenon has been a challenge. This study therefore, presents quality tests of biospeckle data obtained from a Plumeria leaf surface, where it was possible to identify some problems in the images related to the tested features. In order to obtain speckle images of best quality, the saturation, the contrast and the homogeneity tests were carried out before the main analysis to be processed. In addition, we present numerical analysis of the biospeckle data to obtain biological information related to the activity of a leaf surface. Significant changes in biospeckle activities were observed. The activity distributions indicated the detection of higher activities around the midvein of the leaf. Activities measured using the IM and AVD values at midvein and lamina regions were found significantly different with a higher correlation observed with the AVD approach.

Use of dynamic speckle interferometry for contactless diagnostics of fatigue crack initiation and determining its growth rate

Steel 09G2S specimens are subjected to cyclic tests, and real-time monitoring of the initiation of a fatigue crack and its growth kinetics is performed by dynamic speckle interferometry. The time averaging of speckles are used to reveal a relation between the parameters that characterize random and deterministic changes in the relief height and speckle images of the surface near the notch during crack initiation.

Utilizing dynamic laser speckle to probe nanoscale morphology evolution in nanoporous gold thin films.

This paper demonstrates the use of dynamic laser speckle autocorrelation spectroscopy in conjunction with the photothermal treatment of nanoporous gold (np-Au) thin films to probe nanoscale morphology changes during the photothermal treatment. Utilizing this spectroscopy method, backscattered speckle from the incident laser is tracked during photothermal treatment and both the characteristic feature size and annealing time of the film are determined. These results demonstrate that this method can successfully be used to monitor laser-based surface modification processes without the use of ex-situ characterization.

Algorithm for dynamic Speckle pattern processing

In this paper we present a new algorithm for determining surface activity by processing speckle pattern images recorded with a CCD camera. Surface activity can be produced by motility or small displacements among other causes, and is manifested as a change in the pattern recorded in the camera with reference to a static background pattern. This intensity variation is considered to be a small perturbation compared with the mean intensity. Based on a perturbative method we obtain an equation with which we can infer information about the dynamic behavior of the surface that generates the speckle pattern. We define an activity index based on our algorithm that can be easily compared with the outcomes from other algorithms. It is shown experimentally that this index evolves in time in the same way as the Inertia Moment method, however our algorithm is based on direct processing of speckle patterns without the need for other kinds of post-processes (like THSP and co-occurrence matrix), making it a viable real-time method. We also show how this algorithm compares with several other algorithms when applied to calibration experiments. From these results we conclude that our algorithm offer qualitative and quantitative advantages over current methods.

Measurement of shrinkage during photopolymerization of methacrylate resins by interferometric techniques: Local and global analyses

Light based measurement techniques have largely proven its efficiency on polymer materials. In this study we describe a method based on specific optical techniques for characterization of dental composites. First, a Dynamic Speckle Pattern (DSP) global analysis was made, which allowed qualitative descriptions of the behavior of samples during polymerization from their upper surface view. This analysis is complemented with local measurements of shrinkage by means of a fiber optic Fizeau Interferometer. Second, a Time History Speckle Pattern (THSP) analysis of different samples was carried out in order to gain a better understanding of the shrinkage development as the polymerization reaction takes place. To show the virtues of these techniques, we applied them to both a commercial resin dental composite and a model resin based on methacrylate monomers. Both techniques could serve as a good comparing test protocol among different commercial resins.

Light intensity independence during dynamic laser speckle analysis

We explore some different normalizations of current dynamic laser speckle activity measures searching for their performance with respect to the illumination inhomogeneity of the samples. Inertia Moment and Average Value of Differences of the co-occurrence matrix are compared using a paint-drying case study on a uniform sample where attenuation in a portion of the illuminated area is introduced using a neutral density filter. In this way, all environmental conditions being equal but non-uniform illumination permits the comparison on a better approximation to objectivity. The results presented show that it is possible to mitigate the effects of the illumination in the activities measured by the dynamic laser speckle.

Detection of defects in bulging processes by means of dynamic laser speckle

The method described in this paper has been used to determine the moment when defects appear in the form of strain localization and grooves in the Marciniak bulging tests. In this method based on dynamic laser speckle, the sheet is illuminated by laser. Interference after reflection from the specimen surface creates a characteristic image of bright and dark spots. Specimen surface changes related with deformations and movements cause changes in the shape and size of spots, which are presented by authors in the form of speckle activity image. In order to identify the type of defect, the additional 3D microscopy measurements were performed. This paper presents analysis of the changes in the speckle activity image during the bulging process which enabled the defects identification during the bulging process.

Hydro-Adsorption Study by Dynamic Laser Speckle of Natural Zeolite for Adsorbent and Fertilizer Applications

The dynamic behavior caused by hydro-adsorption process of materials based on a rich mineral clinoptilolite together with their acidic, basic and calcinated forms has been studied by the dynamic laser speckle (DLS) technique. We propose a modified Peleg’s equation to improve fitting of DLS data. Textural (BET), structural (XRD) and spectroscopic (FTIR) properties were also studied and compared. We demonstrated that DLS was the most sensitive, simple and inexpensive method for comparing the performance of adsorptive materials with slightly modified surfaces. It also allowed the correlation with physicochemical properties.

Taking the pulse of a plant: dynamic laser speckle analysis of plants

Ideally, to achieve optimal production in agriculture, crop stress needs to be measured in real- time, and plant inputs managed in response. However, many important physiological responses like photosynthesis are difficult to measure, and current trade-offs between cost, robustness, and spatial measurement capacity of available plant sensors may prevent practical in-field application of most current sensing techniques. This paper investigates a novel application of laser speckle imaging of a plant leaf as a sensor with an aim, ultimately, to detect indicators of crop stress: changes to the dynamic properties of leaf topography on the scale of the wavelength of laser light. In our previous published work, an initial prototype of the laser speckle acquisition system specific for plant status measurements together with data processing algorithms were developed. In this paper, we report a new area based statistical method that improves robustness of the data processing against disturbances from various sources. Water and light responses of the laser speckle measurements from cabbage leaves taken by the developed apparatus are exhibited via growth chamber experiments. Experimental evidence indicates that the properties of the laser speckle patterns from a leaf are closely related to the physiological status of the leaf. This technology has the potential to be robust, cost effective, and relatively inexpensive to scale.

Taking the pulse of a plant: dynamic laser speckle analysis of plants

Taking the pulse of a plant: dynamic laser speckle analysis of plants

Study on Particle Size and Concentration Using Laser Speckle Technique in Light Scattering Liquid Medium

A high coherent Laser beam is scattered from a colloidal medium of liquid (milk) due to the movement of sedimentation and Brownian motion and a random grainy image known as speckle pattern is formed in the observation plane. The resultant speckle having a statistical distribution of the intensity and it is dynamic in nature. Sequential laser speckle images were recorded for different concentrations and the time evolution of this interference image carries information about the dynamics of the scattering particles. The aim of this work is to evaluate the use of dynamic speckle for the assessment of particle size and corresponding speckle size for different concentration with the help of image processing technique.

Monitoring of changes in cluster structures in water under AC magnetic field

A fundamental possibility of visualizing cluster structures formed in distilled water by an optical method based on the analysis of dynamic speckle structures is demonstrated. It is shown for the first time that, in contrast to the existing concepts, water clusters can be rather large (up to 200 -m in size), and their lifetime is several tens of seconds. These clusters are found to have an internal spatially inhomogeneous structure, constantly changing in time. The properties of magnetized and non-magnetized water are found to differ significantly. In particular, the number of clusters formed in magnetized water is several times larger than that formed in the same volume of non-magnetized water.

The use of laser dynamical speckle interferometry in the study of cellular processes

A speckle interferometry setup is mounted, tested and approved that allows the analysis of intracellular processes with large optical magnification. For different part of the cell, the dependences of speckle image correlation coefficients upon time are found. It is shown that the method allows the detection of differences in the process that occur in the nutrient solution outside the cell and inside the cell, as well as those occurring in different parts of the cell.