Point Reflectors Research Articles

Low-Threshold, High-Efficiency Random Fiber Laser With Linear Output

In this letter, we numerically study and experimentally achieve a low-threshold, high-efficiency random fiber laser, featuring a linear output as well. The lasing cavity incorporates a section of standard single-mode fiber and a band-selective point reflector placed at the far end of the fiber. The numerical result indicates that most energy is further pushed toward the pump side comparing with the open cavity scheme, producing a high-efficiency output. Then, we analyze the dependence of threshold and slope efficiency on cavity length and pumping wavelength. Most importantly, shorter cavity length would yield higher efficiency, and for different pumping wavelengths, there will be different cavity lengths corresponding to the lowest lasing threshold. Finally, we deliberately choose the parameters and experimentally achieve an 1145-nm random fiber laser with 7.13-W output and >90% slope efficiency (with 10-W pump), while the slope efficiency is almost constant above the 2-W lasing threshold. This letter provides a comprehensive guideline for designing such random fiber lasers with tailored performance.

Role of the mirror's reflectivity in forward-pumped random fiber laser.

In this paper, we thoroughly analyze the role of the point reflector's reflectivity in the performance of forward-pumped random fiber laser, in both the long- and short-cavity cases. The results show that the power performance is sensitive to the small reflection added on the pump side of the fiber end, whereas both the power distribution and threshold tend to be stable when the reflectivity reaches a relatively high level (>0.4). Moreover, for the short cavity case (e.g. 500m), the maximum achievable 1st-oder random lasing output can even increase when the reflectivity decreases from 0.9 to 0.01, due to the different lasing power distributions with different reflectivity values. This work reveals a new and unique property of random fiber lasers and provides insights into their design for the applications such as distributed amplification and high power sources.

Simulation of Recording the Microwave Holograms of Complex Objects by the Near Range Radars

Radar is an object-detection technology that uses radio waves to determine the presence, range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. In the recent time, there is an increasingly arising interest to the near range microwave imaging that allows detection of the shape and, in some cases, the inner structure of the investigated objects. For design engineering and efficiency evaluation of the cutting-edge radars as well as for testing the developed recovery algorithms a set of microwave holograms of various objects obtained under different conditions is needed. Microwave holograms cannot be obtained only on the basis of the experimental researches related to the measurements of electromagnetic scattering by the real objects since such experiments are time consuming and quite expensive. Therefore, to simulate electromagnetic scattering processes via objects examination is quite a challenge. This investigation goal is to develop a computer simulation method to record the microwave holograms of complex objects by the near range radars. To specify the shape of the investigated objects, Autodesk 3ds Max (3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, and images) is used. At a second stage the surface of the created object is described by a set of triangular facets. While calculating the reflected field, a final representation of the object as a set of point reflectors is used. Thus, the model of single scattering, is used without taking into consideration re-reflection and cross-influence of reflectors. Methods are also described to form the focused images of the microwave holograms that allow us to obtain a function describing object reflectivity, by which in most cases an object shape can be easily recognized. A comparison of computer-simulated holograms with experimental data proves the model adequacy. The model can be used to find a dependence of the plane resolution on used frequency, step of scanning, and distance to the object and a dependence of the range resolution on the used frequency band. It can be also used for estimation of the aperture size and unambiguous range and to answer the other questions arising in designing the near range radars.

Successfully mitigating sidelobes in radar returns with complex targets

Recent studies investigated square-complementary waveforms for sidelobe suppression in radar. Targets were assumed to have a constant radar cross section (RCS). However, complex targets exhibit a RCS that varies wildly with frequency. This study reviews the necessity of a constant RCS, particularly for targets composed of isotropic point reflectors. The source of variable RCS is shown to manifest as cross terms in complementary processing output. Cross terms are mitigated by increasing frequency over a pulse train and performing Doppler processing, improving performance.

Artifact Reduction of Ultrasound Nakagami Imaging by Combining Multifocus Image Reconstruction and the Noise-Assisted Correlation Algorithm

Several studies have investigated Nakagami imaging to complement the B-scan in tissue characterization. The noise-induced artifact and the parameter ambiguity effect can affect performance of Nakagami imaging in the detection of variations in scatterer concentration. This study combined multifocus image reconstruction and the noise-assisted correlation algorithm (NCA) into the algorithm of Nakagami imaging to suppress the artifacts. A single-element imaging system equipped with a 5 MHz transducer was used to perform the brightness/depth (B/D) scanning of agar phantoms with scatterer concentrations ranging from 2 to 32 scatterers/mm(3). Experiments were also carried out on a mass with some strong point reflectors in a breast phantom using a commercial scanner with a 7.5 MHz linear array transducer operated at multifocus mode. The multifocus radiofrequency (RF) signals after the NCA process were used for Nakagami imaging. In the experiments on agar phantoms, an increasing scatterer concentration from 2 to 32 scatterers/mm(3) led to backscattered statistics ranging from pre-Rayleigh to Rayleigh distributions, corresponding to the increase in the Nakagami parameter measured in the focal zone from 0.1 to 0.8. However, the artifacts in the far field resulted in the Nakagami parameters of various scatterer concentrations to be close to 1 (Rayleigh distribution), making Nakagami imaging difficult to characterize scatterers. In the same scatterer concentration range, multifocus Nakagami imaging with the NCA simultaneously suppressed two types of artifacts, making the Nakagami parameter increase from 0.1 to 0.8 in the focal zone and from 0.18 to 0.7 in the far field, respectively. In the breast phantom experiments, the backscattered statistics of the mass corresponded to a high degree of pre-Rayleigh distribution. The Nakagami parameter of the mass before and after artifact reduction was 0.7 and 0.37, respectively. The results demonstrated that the proposed method for artifact reduction allows a sensitive and effective scatterer characterization by Nakagami imaging.

Third-order random lasing via Raman gain and Rayleigh feedback within a half-open cavity

Third-order random lasing operating in 1670 nm spectral band is experimentally demonstrated for the first time to the best of our knowledge, with only 2.45 W pump threshold. The lasing cavity is formed by G.652 fiber and fiber loop mirrors (FLMs), while the former acts as the distributed reflector and the latter acts as the point reflector. The G.652 fiber and the FLMs are connected via a multi-band wavelength-division-multiplexer, which ensures each of the three Raman Stokes components generated in the long fiber is routed to one FLM and then reflected back with minimum loss. Unlike existing half-open random lasing cavities using fiber Bragg gratings, the reflection bandwidth of FLMs is wide enough to preserve the intrinsic spectral features of each lasing bands, providing a valuable platform to study the mechanism of high-order random lasing in fibers. Also, the reflection efficiency can be treated as an invariant as the pump power grows, significantly reducing the threshold of high-order random lasing. The stationary model is used to calculate the output power, and the results fit the experimental data well.

Comparison of ultrasonic array imaging algorithms for nondestructive evaluation

Ultrasonic array imaging algorithms have been widely used and developed in nondestructive evaluation in the last 10 years. In this paper, three imaging algorithms [total focusing method (TFM), phase-coherent imaging (PCI), and spatial compounding imaging (SCI)] are compared through both simulation and experimental measurements. In the simulation, array data sets were generated using a hybrid forward model containing a single defect among a multitude of randomly distributed point scatterers to represent backscatter from material microstructure. The number of point scatterers per unit area and their scattering amplitude were optimized to reduce computation cost. The SNR of the final images and their resolution were used to indicate the quality of the different imaging algorithms. The images of different types of defects (point reflectors and planar cracks) were used to investigate the robustness of the imaging algorithms. It is shown that PCI can yield higher image resolution and higher SNR for defects in material with weak backscatter than TFM, but that the images of cracks are distorted. Overall, TFM is the most robust algorithm across a range of different types of defects. It is also shown that the detection limit of all three imaging algorithms is almost equal for weakly scattering defects.

Transducer characterization by sound field measurements

The paper discusses different methods for characterizing an ultrasonic transducer by sound field measurements and introduces a novel easy-to-implement method besides the commonly known point reflector and hydrophone measurement methods. The characterization methods that are presented are particularly suited to measuring the actual transducer element size and determining fabrication details and asymmetries, where the necessary information is derived from the position of the ultrasonic focus and the structure of the sound field. The procedure is discussed on the basis of the following practical problems: measurement of the acoustically relevant element size of a planar 3-MHz annular array made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) using a single point reflector; visualization of inaccuracies, asymmetries, and fabrication details for different setups with transducer frequencies between 3 and 50 MHz; determination of the element sizes of the single elements of a spherically curved 9-MHz sparse annular array and examination of the transducer¿s focusing characteristics in a fluid containing scattering particles; and determination of the focus position of a 9-MHz single-element transducer with acoustic lens and comparison between two lens materials.

Modified multi-element synthetic transmit aperture method for ultrasound imaging: A tissue phantom study

The paper presents the modified multi-element synthetic transmit aperture (MSTA) method for ultrasound imaging. It is based on coherent summation of RF echo signals with apodization weights taking into account the finite size of the transmit subaperture and of the receive element. The work presents extension of the previous study where the modified synthetic transmit aperture (STA) method was considered and verified [1]. In the case of MSTA algorithm the apodization weights were calculated for each imaging point and all combinations of the transmit subaperture and receive element using their angular directivity functions (ADFs). The ADFs were obtained from the exact solution of the corresponding mixed boundary-value problem for periodic baffle system modeling the transducer array. Performance of the developed method was tested using Field II simulated synthetic aperture data of point reflectors for 4MHz 128-element transducer array with 0.3mm pitch and 0.02mm kerf to estimate the visualization depth and lateral resolution. Also experimentally determined data of the tissue-mimicking phantom (Dansk Fantom Service, model 571) obtained using 128 elements, 4MHz, linear transducer array (model L14-5/38) and Ultrasonix SonixTOUCH Research platform were used for qualitative assessment of imaging contrast improvement. Comparison of the results obtained by the modified and conventional MSTA algorithms indicated 15dB improvement of the noise reduction in the vicinity of transducer’s surface (1mm depth), and concurrent increase in the visualization depth (86% augment of the scattered amplitude at the depth of 90mm). However, this increase was achieved at the expense of minor degradation of the lateral resolution of approximately 8% at the depth of 50mm and 5% at the depth of 90mm.

Aberration correction by time reversal of moving speckle noise

Focusing a wave through heterogeneous media is an important problem in medical ultrasound imaging. In such aberrating media, in the presence of a small number of point reflectors, iterative time reversal is a well-known method able to focus on the strongest reflector. However, in presence of speckle noise generated by many non-resolved scatterers, iterative time reversal alone does not work. In this paper, we propose the use of the echoes coming from moving particles in a flow, such as red blood cells, to generate a virtual point reflector by iterative time reversal. The construction of the virtual point reflector is performed by a coherent addition of independent realizations of speckle coming from moving particles. After focusing on a virtual point reflector, ultrasound images can be locally corrected inside an isoplanatic patch. An application for the correction of power Doppler images is presented. A theoretical analysis shows that this iterative method allows focusing on the point of maximal insonification of the uncorrected beam.

A statistical approach to target detection and localization in the presence of noise

The problem addressed in this paper is the combined detection and localization of a point reflector embedded in a medium by sensor array imaging when the array response matrix is obtained in a noisy environment. We consider additive measurement noise or a clutter noise in the multiple scattering regime. We study a detection test based on reverse-time migration of the array response matrix that is the most powerful for a given false alarm rate and compare it with a test based on the singular values of the response matrix. Moreover, we show that reflector localization should be performed with reverse-time migration rather than any other form of weighted-subspace migration and we give the standard deviation of the localization error.

Optimization of the Multi-element Synthetic Transmit Aperture Method for Medical Ultrasound Imaging Applications

The paper presents the optimization problem for the multi-element synthetic transmit aperture method (MSTA) in ultrasound imaging applications. The optimal choice of the transmit aperture size is made as a trade-off between the lateral resolution, penetration depth and the frame rate. Results of the analysis obtained by a developed optimization algorithm are presented. The maximum penetration depth and lateral resolution at given depths are chosen as optimization criteria. The results of numerical experiments carried out in MATLABr using synthetic aperture data of point reflectors obtained by the FIELD II simulation program are presented. The visualization of experimental synthetic aperture data of a tissue mimicking phantom and in vitro measurements of the beef liver performed using the SonixTOUCH Research system are also shown.

Modified synthetic transmit aperture algorithm for ultrasound imaging

The modified synthetic transmit aperture (STA) algorithm is described. The primary goal of this work was to assess the possibility to improve the image quality achievable using synthetic aperture (SA) approach and to evaluate the performance and the clinical applicability of the modified algorithm using phantoms. The modified algorithm is based on the coherent summation of back-scattered RF echo signals with weights calculated for each point in the image and for all possible combinations of the transmit–receive pairs. The weights are calculated using the angular directivity functions of the transmit–receive elements, which are approximated by a far-field radiation pattern of a narrow strip transducer element vibrating with uniform pressure amplitude over its width. In this way, the algorithm takes into account the finite aperture of each individual element in the imaging transducer array. The performance of the approach developed was tested using FIELD II simulated synthetic aperture data of the point reflectors, which allowed the visualization (penetration) depth and lateral resolution to be estimated. Also, both simulated and measured data of cyst phantom were used for qualitative assessment of the imaging contrast improvement. The experimental data were obtained using 128 elements, 4 MHz, linear transducer array of the Ultrasonix research platform. The comparison of the results obtained using the modified and conventional (unweighted) STA algorithms revealed that the modified STA exhibited an increase in the penetration depth accompanied by a minor, yet discernible upon the closer examination, degradation in lateral resolution, mainly in the proximity of the transducer aperture. Overall, however, a considerable (12 dB) improvement in the image quality, particularly in the immediate vicinity of the transducer’s surface was demonstrated. The modified STA method holds promise to be of clinical importance, especially in the applications where the quality of the “near-field” image, that is the image in the immediate vicinity of the scanhead is of critical importance such as for instance in skin- and breast-examinations.

Raman fiber lasers with a random distributed feedback based on Rayleigh scattering

We demonstrate lasing based on a random distributed feedback due to the Raman amplified Rayleigh backscattering in different types of cavities with and without conventional point-action reflectors. Quasistationary generation of a narrowband spectrum is achieved despite the random nature of the feedback. The generated spectrum is localized at the reflection or gain spectral maxima in schemes with and without point reflectors, respectively. The length limit for a conventional cavity and the minimal pump power required for the lasing based purely on a random distributed feedback are determined.

A model of distributed phase aberration for deblurring phase estimated from scattering

Correction of aberration in ultrasound imaging uses the response of a point reflector or its equivalent to characterize the aberration. Because a point reflector is usually unavailable, its equivalent is obtained using statistical methods, such as processing reflections from multiple focal regions in a random medium. However, the validity of methods that use reflections from multiple points is limited to isoplanatic patches for which the aberration is essentially the same. In this study, aberration is modeled by an offset phase screen to relax the isoplanatic restriction. Methods are developed to determine the depth and phase of the screen and to use the model for compensation of aberration as the beam is steered. Use of the model to enhance the performance of the noted statistical estimation procedure is also described. Experimental results obtained with tissue-mimicking phantoms that implement different models and produce different amounts of aberration are presented to show the efficacy of these methods. The improvement in b-scan resolution realized with the model is illustrated. The results show that the isoplanatic patch assumption for estimation of aberration can be relaxed and that propagation-path characteristics and aberration estimation are closely related.

The transducer vibratory profile effects on the detection of the transient ultrasonic field scattered by a rigid point reflector

In this study a generalized approach, based on the impulse response technique, is developed to evaluate the transient ultrasonic field scattered by a rigid point reflector and detected by a planar circular transducer characterized by a non-uniform vibratory profile. For this purpose, several analytical functions are used to represent the non-uniform vibration amplitude of the transducer. All these functions have maximum amplitude at the transducer’s center and decrease monotonically away from axis. The amplitude variation of these functions has a direct effect on the shape of the average pressure detected by the transducer. Some numerical results are presented to illustrate the effects of a non-uniformly vibrating source on the detected transient pressure. The results show the relative importance of the edge wave modifications in the case of source having non-uniform vibration amplitude distribution.

A lower crustal “bright spot” under the Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand

Marine seismic reflection measurements across the central Bay of Plenty, northern North Island, New Zealand, detected a strong seismic reflection in the lower crust at a depth of about 10 km (5 s twt). This reflection is observed on the stacked seismic section for about 8.5 km across and below a young actively rifting basin that lies along the offshore extension of the active Taupo Volcanic Zone. The reflection is unusual in that its maximum extent on any shot record is about 1250 m, about half the Fresnel zone diameter, suggesting a series of point reflectors or reflectors of limited extent. Wave equation modelling indicates that the reflection event probably represents a positive increase in acoustic impedance and thus does not represent a magma body or partial melt, as has been suggested previously. The preferred model suggests a thin layer, such as a mafic sill, with the large reflectivity and apparent wavelength caused by wavelet tuning, similar to that deduced for the Surrency bright spot in the USA. A mafic sill would be consistent with the geological setting, although other explanations, such as a highly altered shear zone, cannot be excluded. From the restricted extent of the reflections on the shot gathers and their spatial relationship, we infer that the sill is fragmented.

Laboratory experiment studies on quantitative blood flow measurement with the continuous-wave ultrasound Doppler procedure: I. Transducer evaluation

Cw-Doppler transducers designed for volume blood flow measurement were evaluated experimentally. Both sensitivity plotting using a ball point reflector and comparative volume flow measurement on a flow-rig using EMF as reference method evidenced unequal sensitivity along the transducer. With increasing distance to the transducer the longer axis of the oval sound field assumed an orientation perpendicular to the longer axis of the active transducer surface. Sensitivity decreased from the centre of the sound field to its periphery. Differences of more than 2 mm between the length of the transducer and the diameter of the latex tube resulted in over- or underestimations of volume flow. Underestimations found with transducers longer than the tube diameter were interpreted as resulting from the increased contribution of stable echoes to the signal.

Ultrasonic imaging using a computed point spread function

An explicit point spread function (PSF) evaluator in the frequency domain is described for an ultrasonic transducer operating in the pulse-echo mode. The PSF evaluator employs the patch element model for transducer field determination and scattered field assessment from a small but finite "point" reflector. The PSF for a planar transducer in a medium has been evaluated in the near and the far field. The computed PSFs were used to deconvolve and restore surface images, obtained experimentally, of a single hole and a five-hole cluster in an Al calibration block. A calibration plot is arrived at for estimating, without the need for deconvolution, the actual diameters of circular reflectors from apparent diameters obtained experimentally for a single-medium imaging configuration. The PSF, when the transducer and the point reflector are in two media separated by a planar interface, was evaluated in the near and far field. The computed PSFs were used to deconvolve and restore subsurface images, obtained experimentally, of flat bottom holes (FBHs) in an Al calibration block. We show that the PSF, in the presence of a planar interface, can be obtained from a single-medium PSF model using an effective single-medium path length concept. The PSFs and modulation transfer functions (MTFs) are evaluated for spherical focused and annular transducers and compared with those for the planar transducer. We identify imaging distances to get better-resolved images when using planar, spherical focused, and annular transducers.

가상 3D 그래픽을 이용한 집속형 초음파 탐촉자 성능평가 방법

초음파 의료 영상기기나 산업용 초음파 검사 시스템의 성능은 초음파 탐촉자의 성능에 의해 크게 좌우된다. 탐촉자의 성능 특성 정보는 보통 제작자가 제공하는 반사원의 초음파 R/F 신호와 주파수 특성에 의해 기술된다. 그러나 집속형 초음파 탐촉자의 경우, 두 자료로는 선명한 C-Scan 이미지를 얻을 수 있다는 것을 보증할 수는 없다. 그래서 집속형 초음파 탐촉자의 성능 평가를 위한 새로운 척도로 상대 초점크기 및 상대 유효초점영역의 모양을 제안한다. 상대 초점의 크기와 상대 유효초점영역의 모양은 쇠구슬로부터 획득된 초음파 R/F 신호를 가상 3차원 영상 복원 프로그램으로 처리하여 얻는다. 제시된 방법은 기존 자료로는 알 수 없었던 탐촉자 성능을 정확히 평가할 수 있었으며, 방법도 간단하여 실제 탐촉자 제작시 불/양품을 쉽게 가려 낼 수 있으며, 탐촉자 경년열화에 따른 성능 저하도 검출할 수 있는 장점을 갖는다. 결과적으로 초음파 영상기기나 산업용 초음파 검사 시스템의 성능을 담보할 수 있다. The performance of ultrasonic testing systems for industrial or medical purpose largely depends on the performance of ultrasonic transducers. Generally, the information about an ultrasonic transducer performance characteristics are expressed by the ultrasonic R/F signal back from a reflector and its frequency characteristics in the data sheet provided by manufacturers. In case of focused ultrasonic transducers, the two pieces of information can, however, hardly assure that the focused ultrasonic transducer would produce well-focused C-scan images. Therefore, we propose the measured size of focal spot and the reconstructed shape of effective focal zone in the focused sound field as novel measures for the performance evaluation of the focused ultrasonic transducers. The process of getting the both measures of the transducers is conducted by the implemented software including sound field scanning and virtual 3D reconstruction functions which requires the echo of a point reflector. The proposed method could, otherwise impossible in the existing method, effectively and simply distinguish superior ones among many transducers made in the same specification and be also used to detect the performance degradation due to the aging of the transducers. Eventually, the quality of performance of the ultrasonic testing systems for industrial or medical purpose is secured.