Reversible holographic 3D data storage in oxide glasses using visible lasers

Antimony based glasses have been investigated for the first time regarding the possibility of holographic data storage using visible lasers sources. Changes in both refractive index and the absorption coefficient were measured using a holographic setup. The modulation of the optical constants is reversible by heat treatment. Bragg gratings were written under visible light of an Ar laser and erased thermally.

Automated diagnosis of human intestinal parasites using optical microscopy images

Intestinal parasitosis constitutes a serious health problem in most tropical countries. The diagnosis of enteroparasites in laboratory routine relies on the examination of stool samples using optical microscopy and the error rates usually range from moderate to high. Approaches based on automatic image analysis have been proposed, but the methods are usually specific for some species, some of them are computationally expensive, and image acquisition and focus are manual. We present a solution to automate the diagnosis of the 15 most common species of enteroparasites in Brazil, using a sensitive parasitological technique, a motorized microscope with digital camera for automatic image acquisition and focus, and fast image analysis methods. The results indicate that our solution is effective and suitable for laboratory routine, in which the exam must be concluded in a few minutes. © 2013 IEEE.

Bulk photochromism in a tungstate-phosphate glass: A new optical memory material?

In this work, we present a new photochromic tungstate based glass which have both absorption coefficient and refractive index modified under laser exposure. The photosensitive effect is superficial under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation but occurs in the entire volume of the glass under visible irradiation. The effect can be obtained in any specific point inside the volume using an infrared femtosecond laser. In addition, the photosensitive phenomenon can be erased by specific heat treatment. This glass can be useful to substitute actual data storage supports and is a promising material for 3-dimensional (3D) and holographic optical storage.

Reversible holographic glasses using visible lasers

Antimony based glasses have been investigated for the first time regarding the possibility of holographic data storage using visible lasers sources. Changes in both refractive index and the absorption coefficient were measured using a holographic setup. The modulation of the optical constants is reversible by heat treatment. Bragg gratings were written under visible light of an Ar laser and erased thermally.

Case-based system: Indexing and retrieval with fuzzy hypercube

In some applications with case-based system, the attributes available for indexing are better described as linguistic variables instead of receiving numerical treatment. In these applications, the concept of fuzzy hypercube can be applied to give a geometrical interpretation of similarities among cases. This paper presents an approach that uses geometrical properties of fuzzy hypercube space to make indexing and retrieval processes of cases.

Pitch detection algorithms based on zero-cross rate and autocorrelation function for musical notes

This paper discusses two pitch detection algorithms (PDA) for simple audio signals which are based on zero-cross rate (ZCR) and autocorrelation function (ACF). As it is well known, pitch detection methods based on ZCR and ACF are widely used in signal processing. This work shows some features and problems in using these methods, as well as some improvements developed to increase their performance. © 2008 IEEE.

Optical and transport properties of rare-earth trivalent ions located at different sites in sol-gel SnO2

Photoluminescence and photo-excited conductivity data as well as structural analysis are presented for sol-gel SnO2 thin films doped with rare earth ions Eu3+ and Er3+, deposited by sol-gel-dip-coating technique. Photoluminescence spectra are obtained under excitation with various types of monochromatic light sources, such as Kr+, Ar+ and Nd:YAG lasers, besides a Xe lamp plus a selective monochromator with UV grating. The luminescence fine structure is rather different depending on the location of the rare-earth doping, at lattice symmetric sites or segregated at the asymmetric grain boundary layer sites. The decay of photo-excited conductivity also shows different trapping rate depending on the rare-earth concentration. For Er-doped films, above the saturation limit, the evaluated capture energy is higher than for films with concentration below the limit, in good agreement with the different behaviour obtained from luminescence data. For Eu-doped films, the difference in the capture energy is not so evident in these materials with nanoscocopic crystallites, even though the luminescence spectra are rather distinct. It seems that grain boundary scattering plays a major role in Eu-doped SnO2 films. Structural evaluation helps to interpret the electro-optical data. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Effect of annealing atmosphere on phase formation and electrical characteristics of bismuth ferrite thin films

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Nucleation and growth evolution of InP dots on InGaP/GaAs

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Stabilization of fluoroindate glasses by magnesium fluoride

This paper describes the stabilizing effect of MgF2 on the binary system InF3-BaF2. A complete investigation of the In-Ba-Mg system led to samples up to 5 mm in thickness. Further optimization of this system was achieved by incorporation of other fluorides, resulting in increased resistance to devitrification. Thermal and optical data are reported.

Geração de modelos digitais de superfície por meio de plataformas computacionais com estrutura vetorial e raster

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) integrate the technologies related to Geoprocessing, with the ability to manipulate georeferenced information through data storage, management and analysis. One of the GIS applications is the generation of Digital Elevation Models (DEM) as a result of rebuilding the elevation of a region using computation tools and artificial representation. This paper presents the DEM created from a point base in two computational frameworks with different structures (vector and raster), comparing the contour lines generated from these models with the original contour lines from analog cartographic base. It was observed that one of the generated models presented some discrepancies related to real space for both GIS structures. However, using constrained Delaunay's triangulation in raster GIS a digital elevation model was generated with contour lines quite close to the original ones, with satisfactory results. A 3-D terrain representation was also created offering a very useful tool for analysis.

Classification of petroleum well drilling operations using Support Vector Machine (SVM)

During the petroleum well drilling operation many mechanical and hydraulic parameters are monitored by an instrumentation system installed in the rig called a mud-logging system. These sensors, distributed in the rig, monitor different operation parameters such as weight on the hook and drillstring rotation. These measurements are known as mud-logging records and allow the online following of all the drilling process with well monitoring purposes. However, in most of the cases, these data are stored without taking advantage of all their potential. On the other hand, to make use of the mud-logging data, an analysis and interpretationt is required. That is not an easy task because of the large volume of information involved. This paper presents a Support Vector Machine (SVM) used to automatically classify the drilling operation stages through the analysis of some mud-logging parameters. In order to validate the results of SVM technique, it was compared to a classification elaborated by a Petroleum Engineering expert. © 2006 IEEE.

Antimony glasses with large nonlinear refractive indices, small two-photon absorption coefficients and ultrafast response at telecom wavelengths

Nonlinear (NL) optical properties of antimony oxide based glasses (AG) were characterized for excitation wavelengths from 800 to 1600 m. The NL refractive indices, n2, and the two-photon absorption (TPA) coefficient, β, have been evaluated using the Z-scan technique. Values of n2≈ 10-15 - 10-14 cm2/W of electronic origin were measured and negligible TPA coefficients (β < 0.003 cm/GW) were determined. The response time of the nonlinearity is faster than 100 fs as determined using the Kerr shutter technique. The figure-of-merit usually considered for all-optical switching, T = 2βλ/n2 , indicates that AG are very good materials for ultrafast switches at telecom wavelengths. © 2007 IEEE.

Geoprocessamento aplicado na distribuição espacial da capacidade de uso de uma microbacia

The present study aimed to show the spatial distribution of the Rochas watershed (Avaré-SP, Brazil) soil use capacity using the Idrisi geographical information system in order to contribute to a better territorial organization and the planning of the appropriate soil occupation. The obtained results using this methodology showed that most of the Rocha watershed areas are from the following groups: dystrophic yellow-red latosol (36.64%), eutroferric and distroferric red latosol (30.30%) with sandy texture. There was a predominance of areas with slope classes of 0-12%, plain to wavy relief (61.37% of the watershed area) showing that these areas are appropriate for annual culture plantations with wide use of machinery. Most of these areas were classified as class IV (73.79%) as to use capacity. In the studied area the following subclasses of land use capacity were found: IIe, s; IIIe; IVe; IVs; IVe,s; VIe and VIIe. Capacity subclasses IVe; IVe,s; IVs and Vie were the most significant because they are areas that can be used for agriculture but subject to severe soil impoverishment if there are no special care mainly for annual cultures. The Idrisi geographical information system was efficient to determine soil use capacity of the Rocha's watershed showing that the use of geoprocessing tools makes data analysis easier and faster, allowing digital data storage for future analysis uses mainly for territorial planning and environmental studies.

Profilometry of semiconductor components by two-colour holography with Bi12TiO20 crystals

We studied the shape measurement of semiconductor components by holography with photorefractive Bi12TiO20 crystal as holographic medium and two diode lasers emitting in the red region as light sources. By properly tuning and aligning the lasers a synthetic wavelength was generated and the resulting holographic image of the studied object appears modulated by cos2-contour fringes which correspond to the intersection of the object surface with planes of constant elevation. The position of such planes as a function of the illuminating beam angle and the tuning of the lasers was studied, as well as the fringe visibility. The fringe evaluation was performed by the four stepping technique for phase mapping and through the branch-cut method for phase unwrapping. A damage in an integrated circuit was analysed as well as the relief of a coin was measured, and a precision up to 10 μm was estimated. © 2009 SPIE.