Approximate Solutions of the Boltzmann Equation for Secondary Electron Emission: Results and Comparisons to Experiments

The aim of the present paper is to survey the theoretical work performed in Brussels about secondary electron emission (SEE). Two new approximate solutions of the Boltzmann equation for internal secondary electrons are applied to both electron and ion induced SEE. Using a realistic set of interaction cross sections, most calculated characteristics of electron emission compare fairly well to experiments. The improved age-diffusion model can be used to calculate the electron yield, the energy and angular spectrum and also the depth and radial distributions of outgoing electrons for incident electrons and ions. The transport-albedo model assumes an uniform internal electron source in a semiinfinite medium and gives the electron yield and the energy spectrum of secondary electrons for incident light ions. Taking into account the anisotropy of the internal electron source, the ratio of the forward and backward yields and the influence of the angle of incidence have been calculated for thin targets

Représentations analytiques des objets géométriques et contours actifs en imagerie

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal

Quantification en imagerie optique diffuse cérébrale : analyse du signal et étude du problème direct

Physiologie -- Physiologie cérébrale humaine -- Couplage neurovasculaire -- Les vaisseaux sanguins cérébraux : les principaux sinus -- Imagerie optique diffuse et analyse du signal -- Définition du problème -- Problème direct -- Problème inverse -- Méthode d'analyse en imagerie optique diffuse -- Neuronavigation IRM-IOD -- IRM fonctionnelle -- Physique de l'IRM -- Neuronavigation -- Équipement de neuronavigation et de visualisation -- Analyse de la sensibilité -- Inverted responses in diffuse optical imaging and their correlation with negative BOLD signal -- Materials and methods -- Results -- Quantification -- Problème direct en imagerie optique diffuse -- Segmentation des tissus à partir de données IRMa -- Simulation Monte Carlo -- Formulation du problème -- Discrétisation et mise en oeuvre numérique -- Hybrid boundary element method applied to volumetric diffuse optical tomography -- Definition of the problem -- Born approximation -- Numerical discretization -- Results

Structure of the outer layers of cool standard stars

Context: Among late-type red giants, an interesting change occurs in the structure of the outer atmospheric layers as one moves to later spectral types in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram: a chromosphere is always present, but the coronal emission diminishes and a cool massive wind steps in. Aims: Where most studies have focussed on short-wavelength observations, this article explores the influence of the chromosphere and the wind on long-wavelength photometric measurements. Methods: The observational spectral energy distributions are compared with the theoretical predictions of the MARCS atmosphere models for a sample of 9 K- and M-giants. The discrepancies found are explained using basic models for flux emission originating from a chromosphere or an ionized wind. Results: For 7 out of 9 sample stars, a clear flux excess is detected at (sub)millimeter and/or centimeter wavelengths. The precise start of the excess depends upon the star under consideration. The flux at wavelengths shorter than about 1 mm is most likely dominated by an optically thick chromosphere, where an optically thick ionized wind is the main flux contributor at longer wavelengths. Conclusions: Although the optical to mid-infrared spectrum of the studied K- and M-giants is well represented by a radiative equilibrium atmospheric model, the presence of a chromosphere and/or ionized stellar wind at higher altitudes dominates the spectrum in the (sub)millimeter and centimeter wavelength ranges. The presence of a flux excess also has implications on the role of these stars as fiducial spectrophotometric calibrators in the (sub)millimeter and centimeter wavelength range.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, 7 pages of online material, submitted to A&

Quantitative investigation of the effect of the extra-cerebral vasculature in diffuse optical imaging: a simulation study

Diffuse optical imaging (DOI) is a non invasive technique allowing the recovery of hemodynamic changes in the brain. Due to the diffusive nature of photon propagation in turbid media and the fact that cerebral tissues are located around 1.5 cm under the adult human scalp, DOI measurements are subject to partial volume errors. DOI measurements are also sensitive to large pial vessels because oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin are the dominant chromophores in the near infrared window. In this study, the effect of the extra-cerebral vasculature in proximity of the sagittal sinus was investigated for its impact on DOI measurements simulated over the human adult visual cortex. Numerical Monte Carlo simulations were performed on two specific models of the human head derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The first model included the extra-cerebral vasculature in which constant hemoglobin concentrations were assumed while the second did not. The screening effect of the vasculature was quantified by comparing recovered hemoglobin changes from each model for different optical arrays and regions of activation. A correction factor accounting for the difference between the recovered and the simulated hemoglobin changes was computed in each case. The results show that changes in hemoglobin concentration are better estimated when the extra-cerebral vasculature is modeled and the correction factors obtained in this case were at least 1.4-fold lower. The effect of the vasculature was also examined in a high-density diffuse optical tomography configuration. In this case, the difference between changes in hemoglobin concentration recovered with each model was reduced down to 10%

Systematic investigation of changes in oxidized cerebral cytochrome c oxidase concentration during frontal lobe activation in healthy adults

Using transcranial near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure changes in the redox state of cerebral cytochrome c oxidase (Δ[oxCCO]) during functional activation in healthy adults is hampered by instrumentation and algorithm issues. This study reports the Δ[oxCCO] response measured in such a setting and investigates possible confounders of this measurement. Continuous frontal lobe NIRS measurements were collected from 11 healthy volunteers during a 6-minute anagram-solving task, using a hybrid optical spectrometer (pHOS) that combines multi-distance frequency and broadband components. Only data sets showing a hemodynamic response consistent with functional activation were interrogated for a Δ[oxCCO] response. Simultaneous systemic monitoring data were also available. Possible influences on the Δ[oxCCO] response were systematically investigated and there was no effect of: 1) wavelength range chosen for fitting the measured attenuation spectra; 2) constant or measured, with the pHOS in real-time, differential pathlength factor; 3) systemic hemodynamic changes during functional activation; 4) changes in optical scattering during functional activation. The Δ[oxCCO] response measured in the presence of functional activation was heterogeneous, with the majority of subjects showing significant increase in oxidation, but others having a decrease. We conclude that the heterogeneity in the Δ[oxCCO] response is physiological and not induced by confounding factors in the measurements. © 2012 Optical Society of America