Objective and efficient terahertz signal denoising by transfer function reconstruction

As an essential processing step in many disciplines, signal denoising efficiently improves data quality without extra cost. However, it is relatively under-utilized for terahertz spectroscopy. The major technique reported uses wavelet denoising in the time-domain, which has a fuzzy physical meaning and limited performance in low-frequency and water-vapor regions. Here, we work from a new perspective by reconstructing the transfer function to remove noise-induced oscillations. The method is fully objective without a need for defining a threshold. Both reflection imaging and transmission imaging were conducted. The experimental results show that both low- and high-frequency noise and the water-vapor influence were efficiently removed. The spectrum accuracy was also improved, and the image contrast was significantly enhanced. The signal-to-noise ratio of the leaf image was increased up to 10 dB, with the 6 dB bandwidth being extended by over 0.5 THz

Utilizing multilayer structures to enhance terahertz characterization of thin films ranging from aqueous solutions to histology slides

We propose a multilayer geometry to characterize thin-film samples in reflection terahertz time domain spectroscopy. Theory indicates that this geometry has higher sensitivity compared to ordinary transmission or reflection geometries when characterizing both low- and high-absorption samples. Pure water and water–ethanol mixtures are measured to verify the characterization accuracy of the proposed geometry and its capability to measure trace liquids. Paraffin-embedded oral cancer tissue is imaged to further show how the proposed geometry enhances the sensitivity for solid low-absorptive films

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Terahertz (THz) thin-film total internal reflection (TF-TIR) spectroscopy is shown to have an enhanced sensitivity to the vibrational properties of thin films in comparison with standard THz transmission spectroscopy. This increased sensitivity was used to track photoinduced modifications to the structure of thin films of methylammonium (MA) lead halide, MAPbI3–xBrx (x = 0, 0.5, 1, and 3). Initially, illumination strengthened the phonon modes around 2 THz, associated with Pb–I stretch modes coupled to the MA ions, whereas the 1 THz twist modes of the inorganic octahedra did not alter in strength. Under longer term illumination, the 1 THz phonon modes of encapsulated films slowly reduced in strength, whereas in films exposed to moisture and oxygen, these phonons weaken more rapidly and blue-shift in frequency. The rapid monitoring of environmentally induced changes to the vibrational modes afforded by TF-TIR spectroscopy offers applications in the characterization and quality control of the perovskite thin-film solar cells and other thin-film semiconductors

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In IDL-1120

A Broadband Conformal Phased Array Antenna on Spherical Surface

A Ku-band wideband conformal array antenna with 13 × 19 elements is presented in the paper. The array has a spherical structure, and its element is a proximity-coupled stacked patches antenna with a cavity-backed ground plane. The stacked patches and the cavity produce multiple coupled resonances, which enhance the bandwidth of the element extremely. A simulated model with the reasonable dimensions is framed with the coupling analyses, and the effective simulated results and good computing efficiency are obtained simultaneously. The measured results of the center embedded element in the whole array show a bandwidth exceeding 40% (VSWR < 2), which is close to the simulated matching performance

Exploiting total internal reflection geometry for terahertz devices and enhanced sample characterization

To promote potential applications of terahertz (THz) technology more advanced functional THz devices with high performance are needed, including modulators, polarizers, lenses, wave retarders and anti-reflection coatings. This article summarizes recent progress in THz components built on functional materials including graphene, vanadium dioxide and metamaterials. Our key message is that while the choice of materials used in such devices is important, the geometry in which they are employed also has a significant effect on the performance achieved. In particular, we review devices operating in total internal reflection geometry and explain how this geometry is able to be exploited to achieve a variety of THz devices with broadband operatio

A Broadband Conformal Phased Array Antenna on Spherical Surface

A Ku-band wideband conformal array antenna with 13×19 elements is presented in the paper. The array has a spherical structure, and its element is a proximity-coupled stacked patches antenna with a cavity-backed ground plane. The stacked patches and the cavity produce multiple coupled resonances, which enhance the bandwidth of the element extremely. A simulated model with the reasonable dimensions is framed with the coupling analyses, and the effective simulated results and good computing efficiency are obtained simultaneously. The measured results of the center embedded element in the whole array show a bandwidth exceeding 40% VSWR<2, which is close to the simulated matching performance

Application of evolutionary and swarm optimization in computer vision: a literature survey

Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) and swarm algorithms (SAs) have shown their usefulness in solving combinatorial and NP-hard optimization problems in various research fields. However, in the field of computer vision, related surveys have not been updated during the last decade. In this study, inspired by the recent development of deep neural networks in computer vision, which embed large-scale optimization problems, we first describe a literature survey conducted to compensate for the lack of relevant research in this area. Specifically, applications related to the genetic algorithm and differential evolution from EAs, as well as particle swarm optimization and ant colony optimization from SAs and their variants, are mainly considered in this survey

Preliminary Characterization of Phytochemicals and Polysaccharides in Diverse Coffee Cascara Samples: Identification, Quantification and Discovery of Novel Compounds

Coffee cascara is the first and most significant by-product of the coffee processing industry, whose valorization has become an urgent priority to reduce harmful environmental impacts. This work aimed to provide an improved understanding of phytochemicals and polysaccharides in coffee cascara in order to offer information for the better evaluation of potential applications. Phytochemicals in 20 different coffee cascara samples were ultrasonically extracted and analyzed by HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS/MS. Four novel compounds were isolated for the first time from coffee cascara, including two still unknown tautomers (337 Da), and two dihydroflavonol glycosides (dihydromyricetin glycoside and dihydromyricetin rhamnosylglycoside). Their presence can contribute to the design of new value-added applications of coffee cascara. Chemical characterization of two polysaccharides from two of the coffee cascara pulp samples showed that they were mainly composed of homogalacturonan, with rhamnose and arabinose as minor neutral sugars. In addition, principal component analysis results indicated that coffee cultivar and/or country significantly impacted the phytochemical composition of coffee cascara, although differences may be reduced by the external environment and processing method. It is suggested that processing method should be carefully designed when generating coffee cascara from the same cultivar and country/farm