Imaging fascicular organization of rat sciatic nerves with fast neural electrical impedance tomography

Imaging compound action potentials (CAPs) in peripheral nerves could help avoid side effects in neuromodulation by selective stimulation of identified fascicles. Existing methods have low resolution, limited imaging depth, or are invasive. Fast neural electrical impedance tomography (EIT) allows fascicular CAP imaging with a resolution of <200 µm, <1 ms using a non-penetrating flexible nerve cuff electrode array. Here, we validate EIT imaging in rat sciatic nerve by comparison to micro-computed tomography (microCT) and histology with fluorescent dextran tracers. With EIT, there are reproducible localized changes in tissue impedance in response to stimulation of individual fascicles (tibial, peroneal and sural). The reconstructed EIT images correspond to microCT scans and histology, with significant separation between the fascicles (p < 0.01). The mean fascicle position is identified with an accuracy of 6% of nerve diameter. This suggests fast neural EIT can reliably image the functional fascicular anatomy of the nerves and so aid selective neuromodulation

Compression and microbunching of electron beams by ultra-intense laser pulses

The formation of coherent structures, induced by a super-intense plane electromagnetic wave with a sharp rising edge in an ensemble of electrons (electron beam) in vacuum, is considered. The theory describing this process is elaborated. It is shown that the laser pulse can strongly compress the electron beam and also generate fast density modulations (microbunching) in it. Depending on the duration of a laser pulse front, two harmonics can be present simultaneously in longitudinal density modulations of the electron beam-one with laser wavelength and the other with half of the laser wavelength. By changing the form of the laser pulse envelope, one can control the average density of the electron beam (slow density modulation). By varying the laser pulse amplitude and initial length of the electron beam, it is possible to change the number of microbunches in the compressed electron beam, and for certain conditions only one electron bunch can be produced with ultrashort length smaller than the laser wavelength (attosecond length electron beam). The results of the theory are compared with 1D PIC (particle-in-cell) simulations and a good agreement is found.close4

Bunching of electron beams by ultra-relativistic laser pulses

The bunching of an electron beam by an ultra-relativistic laser pulse in vacuum is considered. The one-dimensional theory describing this process is elaborated. The laser pulse is shown to compress the electron beam and to generate fast density modulations (microbunching) in it. Two spatial harmonics can be present simultaneously in longitudinal density modulations of the electron beam - one with the laser wavelength and the other with half of the laser wavelength, and the ratio of the amplitudes of the harmonics depends on the duration of the laser pulse front. The average density of the electron beam (slow density modulation) can be controlled by changing the form of the laser pulse envelope. The number of microbunches in the compressed electron beam can be changed by varying the amplitude of the laser pulse and the initial length of the electron beam, and for certain conditions, only one electron bunch with an attosecond length can be produced. The results of the theory are compared with 1D PIC (Particle-In-Cell) simulations, and a good agreement is found.open4