A Genetic Algorithm to associate optical measurements and estimate orbits of geocentric objects

Cataloging geocentric objects can be put in the framework of Multiple Target Tracking (MTT). Current work tends to focus on the S = 2 MTT problem because of its favorable computational complexity of O(n²). The MTT problem becomes NP-hard for a dimension of S˃3. The challenge is to find an approximation to the solution within a reasonable computation time. To effciently approximate this solution a Genetic Algorithm is used. The algorithm is applied to a simulated test case. These results represent the first steps towards a method that can treat the S˃3 problem effciently and with minimal manual intervention.

Associating optical measurements and estimating orbits of geocentric objects through population-based meta-heuristic methods

Currently several thousands of objects are being tracked in the MEO and GEO regions through optical means. The problem faced in this framework is that of Multiple Target Tracking (MTT). In this context both, the correct associations among the observations and the orbits of the objects have to be determined. The complexity of the MTT problem is defined by its dimension S. The number S corresponds to the number of fences involved in the problem. Each fence consists of a set of observations where each observation belongs to a different object. The S ≥ 3 MTT problem is an NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem. There are two general ways to solve this. One way is to seek the optimum solution, this can be achieved by applying a branch-and- bound algorithm. When using these algorithms the problem has to be greatly simplified to keep the computational cost at a reasonable level. Another option is to approximate the solution by using meta-heuristic methods. These methods aim to efficiently explore the different possible combinations so that a reasonable result can be obtained with a reasonable computational effort. To this end several population-based meta-heuristic methods are implemented and tested on simulated optical measurements. With the advent of improved sensors and a heightened interest in the problem of space debris, it is expected that the number of tracked objects will grow by an order of magnitude in the near future. This research aims to provide a method that can treat the correlation and orbit determination problems simultaneously, and is able to efficiently process large data sets with minimal manual intervention.

Pigment data set from the SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System (1961-1996)

The oceans play a critical role in the Earth's climate, but unfortunately, the extent of this role is only partially understood. One major obstacle is the difficulty associated with making high-quality, globally distributed observations, a feat that is nearly impossible using only ships and other ocean-based platforms. The data collected by satellite-borne ocean color instruments, however, provide environmental scientists a synoptic look at the productivity and variability of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere, respectively, on high-resolution temporal and spatial scales. Three such instruments, the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) onboard ORBIMAGE's OrbView-2 satellite, and two Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) onboard the National Aeronautic and Space Administration's (NASA) Terra and Aqua satellites, have been in continuous operation since September 1997, February 2000, and June 2002, respectively. To facilitate the assembly of a suitably accurate data set for climate research, members of the NASA Sensor Intercomparison and Merger for Biological and Interdisciplinary Oceanic Studies (SIMBIOS) Project and SeaWiFS Project Offices devote significant attention to the calibration and validation of these and other ocean color instruments. This article briefly presents results from the SIMBIOS and SeaWiFS Project Office's (SSPO) satellite ocean color validation activities and describes the SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System (SeaBASS), a state-of-the-art system for archiving, cataloging, and distributing the in situ data used in these activities.

Processing Pipeline for Digitalizing the Lineage Tree of Early Zebrafish Embryogenesis from Multiharmonic Imaging

The reconstruction of the cell lineage tree of early zebrafish embryogenesis requires the use of in-vivo microscopy imaging and image processing strategies. Second (SHG) and third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy observations in unstained zebrafish embryos allows to detect cell divisions and cell membranes from 1-cell to 1K-cell stage. In this article, we present an ad-hoc image processing pipeline for cell tracking and cell membranes segmentation enabling the reconstruction of the early zebrafish cell lineage tree until the 1K-cell stage. This methodology has been used to obtain digital zebrafish embryos allowing to generate a quantitative description of early zebrafish embryogenesis with minute temporal accuracy and μm spatial resolution

Subjective Evaluation of Transmission Errors in IPTV and 3DTV

The increase of multimedia services delivered over packet-based networks has entailed greater quality expectations of the end-users. This has led to an intensive research on techniques for evaluating the quality of experience perceived by the viewers of audiovisual content, considering the different degradations that it could suffer along the broadcasting system. In this paper, a comprehensive study of the impact of transmission errors affecting video and audio in IPTV is presented. With this aim, subjective assessment tests were carried out proposing a novel methodology trying to keep as close as possible home environment viewing conditions. Also 3DTV content in side-by-side format has been used in the experiments to compare the impact of the degradations. The results provide a better understanding of the effects of transmission errors, and show that the QoE related to the first approach of 3DTV is acceptable, but the visual discomfort that it causes should be reduced.

Multi-Resolution Texture Coding for Multi-Resolution 3D Meshes

We present an innovative system to encode and transmit textured multi-resolution 3D meshes in a progressive way, with no need to send several texture images, one for each mesh LOD (Level Of Detail). All texture LODs are created from the finest one (associated to the finest mesh), but can be re- constructed progressively from the coarsest thanks to refinement images calculated in the encoding process, and transmitted only if needed. This allows us to adjust the LOD/quality of both 3D mesh and texture according to the rendering power of the device that will display them, and to the network capacity. Additionally, we achieve big savings in data transmission by avoiding altogether texture coordinates, which are generated automatically thanks to an unwrapping system agreed upon by both encoder and decoder.

Analysis of the modified optical properties and band structure of GaAs12xSbx-capped InAs/GaAs quantum dots

The origin of the modified optical properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QD) capped with a thin GaAs1−xSbx layer is analyzed in terms of the band structure. To do so, the size, shape, and composition of the QDs and capping layer are determined through cross-sectional scanning tunnelling microscopy and used as input parameters in an 8 × 8 k·p model. As the Sb content is increased, there are two competing effects determining carrier confinement and the oscillator strength: the increased QD height and reduced strain on one side and the reduced QD-capping layer valence band offset on the other. Nevertheless, the observed evolution of the photoluminescence (PL) intensity with Sb cannot be explained in terms of the oscillator strength between ground states, which decreases dramatically for Sb > 16%, where the band alignment becomes type II with the hole wavefunction localized outside the QD in the capping layer. Contrary to this behaviour, the PL intensity in the type II QDs is similar (at 15 K) or even larger (at room temperature) than in the type I Sb-free reference QDs. This indicates that the PL efficiency is dominated by carrier dynamics, which is altered by the presence of the GaAsSb capping layer. In particular, the presence of Sb leads to an enhanced PL thermal stability. From the comparison between the activation energies for thermal quenching of the PL and the modelled band structure, the main carrier escape mechanisms are suggested. In standard GaAs-capped QDs, escape of both electrons and holes to the GaAs barrier is the main PL quenching mechanism. For small-moderate Sb (<16%) for which the type I band alignment is kept, electrons escape to the GaAs barrier and holes escape to the GaAsSb capping layer, where redistribution and retraping processes can take place. For Sb contents above 16% (type-II region), holes remain in the GaAsSb layer and the escape of electrons from the QD to the GaAs barrier is most likely the dominant PL quenching mechanism. This means that electrons and holes behave dynamically as uncorrelated pairs in both the type-I and type-II structures.

Experimental measurements of the scattered-light polarization from different liquid flows

An experimental system designed to measure very low optical powers, of the order of a few picowatts, is presented. Its main aid is to detect the polarisation state of scattered light from a fluid flow, in different angular directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flow. A laser beam incident linearly polarized crosses the fluid flow orthogonally. The scattered light is detected by means of a photodetector situated behind a lineal polarizer whose orientation can be rotated. The outgoing electrical signal is amplified by means of a Mode-lockin amplifier and is digitally processed.

Optical properties and microstructure of 2.02-3.30 eV ZnCdO nanowires: effect of thermal annealing

ZnCdO nanowires with up to 45% Cd are demonstrated showing room temperature photoluminescence (PL) down to 2.02 eV and a radiative efficiency similar to that of ZnO nanowires. Analysis of the microstructure in individual nanowires confirms the presence of a single wurtzite phase even at the highest Cd contents, with a homogeneous distribution of Cd both in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Thermal annealing at 550 °C yields an overall improvement of the PL, which is blue-shifted as a result of the homogeneous decrease of Cd throughout the nanowire, but the single wurtzite structure is fully maintained.

Optical absorption and applications of the ABO4 (A=Ca, Pb and B= Mo, W) semiconductors

Ternary molybdates and tungstates ABO4 (A=Ca, Pb and B= Mo, W) are a group of materials that could be used for a variety of optoelectronic applications. We present a study of the optoelectronic properties based on first-principles using several orbitaldependent one-electron potentials applied to several orbital subspaces. The optical properties are split into chemical-species contributions in order to quantify the microscopic contributions. Furthermore, the effect of using several one-electron potentials and orbital subspaces is analyzed. From the results, the larger contribution to the optical absorption comes from the B-O transitions. The possible use as multi-gap solar cell absorbents is analyzed.