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At least 37 records · Page 2

A cascaded model of spectral distortions due to spectral response effects and pulse pileup effects in a photon-counting x-ray detector for CT

Purpose: Energy discriminating, photon-counting detectors (PCDs) are an emerging technology for computed tomography (CT) with various potential benefits for clinical CT. The photon energies measured by PCDs can be distorted due to the interactions of a photon with the detector and the interaction of multiple coincident photons. These effects result in distorted recorded x-ray spectra which may lead to artifacts in reconstructed CT images and inaccuracies in tissue identification. Model-based compensation techniques have the potential to account for the distortion effects. This approach requires only a small number of parameters and is applicable to a wide range of spectra and count rates, but it needs an accurate model of the spectral distortions occurring in PCDs. The purpose of this study was to develop a model of those spectral distortions and to evaluate the model using a PCD (model DXMCT-1; DxRay, Inc., Northridge, CA) and various x-ray spectra in a wide range of count rates. Methods: The authors hypothesize that the complex phenomena of spectral distortions can be modeled by: (1) separating them into count-rate independent factors that we call the spectral response effects (SRE), and count-rate dependent factors that we call the pulse pileup effects (PPE), (2) developing separate models for SRE and PPE, and (3) cascading the SRE and PPE models into a combined SRE+PPE model that describes PCD distortions at both low and high count rates. The SRE model describes the probability distribution of the recorded spectrum, with a photo peak and a continuum tail, given the incident photon energy. Model parameters were obtained from calibration measurements with three radioisotopes and then interpolated linearly for other energies. The PPE model used was developed in the authors’ previous work [K. Taguchi et al., “Modeling the performance of a photon counting x-ray detector for CT: Energy response and pulse pileup effects,” Med. Phys. 38(2), 1089–1102 (2011)]. The agreement between the x-ray spectra calculated by the cascaded SRE+PPE model and the measured spectra was evaluated for various levels of deadtime loss ratios (DLR) and incident spectral shapes, realized using different attenuators, in terms of the weighted coefficient of variation (COV{sub W}), i.e., the root mean square difference weighted by the statistical errors of the data and divided by the mean. Results: At low count rates, when DLR < 10%, the distorted spectra measured by the DXMCT-1 were in agreement with those calculated by SRE only, with COV{sub W}'s less than 4%. At higher count rates, the measured spectra were also in agreement with the ones calculated by the cascaded SRE+PPE model; with PMMA as attenuator, COV{sub W} was 5.6% at a DLR of 22% and as small as 6.7% for a DLR as high as 55%. Conclusions: The x-ray spectra calculated by the proposed model agreed with the measured spectra over a wide range of count rates and spectral shapes. The SRE model predicted the distorted, recorded spectra with low count rates over various types and thicknesses of attenuators. The study also validated the hypothesis that the complex spectral distortions in a PCD can be adequately modeled by cascading the count-rate independent SRE and the count-rate dependent PPE.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Using Spectral Measurements to Characterize Solar Reference Cells on a Two-Axis Tracker

A study is commencing relating the spectral responsivity of reference cells in the field to changing spectral distribution during the day. Initial results indicate that measurements of the incident spectral distribution can be used to match results of reference cell measurements on a two-axis tracker with a standard deviation of ±0.25% under clear-sky conditions. Initial results are provided. As more data are obtained covering a variety of field conditions and locations, the robustness of these results will be tested. The website https://midcdmz.nrel.gov/apps/sitehome.pl?site=PVRES contains the data generated by this project.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗

X-ray spectral and timing behavior of Scorpius X-1. Spectral hardening during the flaring branch

We present an analysis of the spectral and timing properties of X-ray emission from the Z-source Sco X-1 during its evolution between the horizontal (HB) and flaring (FB) branches observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer during the 1996-2002 period. We find that the broadband (3-250 keV) energy spectra during all spectral states can be adequately reproduced by a model, consisting of two Comptonized components and an iron line. We suggest that the seed photons of kT{sub s1} ≲ 0.7 keV coming from the disk and of temperature kT{sub s2} ≲ 1.8 keV coming from the neutron star (NS) are each upscattered by hot electrons of a 'Compton cloud' (hereafter the Comptb1 and Comptb2 components, respectively, which are associated with the similarly subscripted parameters). The photon power-law index Γ{sub 2} is almost constant (Γ{sub 2} ∼ 2) for all spectral states. In turn, Γ{sub 1} demonstrates a two-phase behavior with the spectral state: Γ{sub 1} is quasi-constant at the level Γ{sub 1} ∼ 2 for the HB–NB and Γ{sub 1} is less than 2, namely in the range of 1.3 < Γ{sub 1} < 2, when the source traces the FB. We also detect a decrease kT{sub s2} from 1.8 keV to 0.7 keV during the FB. We interpret this apparent quasi-stability of the indices during the HB–NB in the framework of the model in which the spectrum is determined by the Comptonized thermal components. This effect established for the Comptonized spectral components of the Z-source Sco X-1 is similar to what was previously found in the atoll sources 4U 1728-34, GX 3+1 and 4U 1820-30 and the Z-source GX 340+0 through all spectral states. However, we interpret the index reduction phase detected during the FB in Sco X-1 within the framework of a model in which the spectrum at the FB is determined by high radiation pressure from the NS surface.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Spectral State Evolution of 4U 1820-30: the Stability of the Spectral Index of Comptonization Tail

We analyze the X-ray spectra and their timing properties of the compact Xray binary 4U 1820-30. We establish spectral transitions in this source seen with BeppoSAX and the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). During the RXTE observations (1996 - 2009), the source were approximately approximately 75% of its time in the soft state making the lower banana and upper banana transitions combined with long-term low-high state transitions. We reveal that all of the X-ray spectra of 4U 1820-30 are fit by a composition of a thermal (blackbody) component, a Comptonization component (COMPTB) and a Gaussian-line component. Thus using this spectral analysis we find that the photon power-law index Gamma of the Comptonization component is almost unchangeable (Gamma approximately 2) while the electron temperature kTe changes from 2.9 to 21 keV during these spectral events. We also establish that for these spectral events the normalization of COMPTB component (which is proportional to mass accretion rate ˙M) increases by factor 8 when kTe decreases from 21 keV to 2.9 keV. Before this index stability effect was also found analyzing X-ray data for Z-source GX 340+0 and for atolls, 4U 1728-34, GX 3+1. Thus, we can suggest that this spectral stability property is a spectral signature of an accreting neutron star source. On the other hand in a black hole binary Γ monotonically increases with ˙Mand ultimately its value saturates at large ˙M.

evolution↗

Spectral Gap Filling Method Using the Spectral Information from CLARREO-Pathfinder Measured Earth-Reflected Solar Spectra to Support CPF-CERES Intercalibration

The high-accuracy Earth-reflected solar spectral radiances from CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) will serve as in-orbit benchmark measurements for intercalibrating other satellite imagers. The CPF team is developing a state-of-the-art intercalibration method to calibrate the shortwave channel (300-5000 nm) of the CERES instrument against the CPF reference with an uncertainty of 0.3%. Because the CPF instrument only covers spectral range from 350 nm to 2300 nm, the team has developed a spectral extension method to fill in the gaps between the spectral domains of CPF and the CERES shortwave channel. The method solely relies on using the hyperspectral information from the CPF wavelengths to predict the radiances below 350 nm and above 2300 nm. To quantify the relationship between the CPF spectrum and the non-overlapping portions of the spectrum between CPF and CERES, the team has simulated a large ensemble of spectra that cover the spectral range for both CPF and CERES. A hyperspectral bidirectional reflectance model for land surface based on thousands of measured land surface reflectance has been developed. This land surface model as well as the Cox-Munk model for ocean surface are used in the spectral gap filling. Various water/ice clouds, aerosols, atmosphere profiles and surfaces were used to simulate Earth-reflected radiances from 200 nm to 15 um under different solar and sensor geometries. The targeted uncertainty for the CPF-extended broadband CERES radiances is less than 0.1%. The previously derived training spectra were updated to replace the Kurucz solar irradiance model with the TSIS-1 Hybrid Solar Reference Spectrum. The influence of the scalar assumption in radiative transfer model equations on the uncertainty in estimating the broadband radiances was also investigated.

Hyperspectral↗

Systematic analysis on spectral statistics of odd-A nuclei

Level statistics for given spin and parity below 10 MeV within A≤71, 71≤A≤151, and 151≤A≤221 mass regions are systematically analyzed. We have taken 5316 level spacings from 266 odd-A nuclei in the light mass region, 6897 level spacings from 478 ones in the medium mass region, and 2768 level spacings from 143 ones in the heavy mass region for the statistics. In the analysis, the chaoticity parameter in the Berry–Robnik distribution is determined based on the method of maximum likelihood estimation. The results show a mass number A-dependence in the level statistics. The larger the mass number, the relatively stronger in chaoticity. In addition, with the level statistics in using data sequences classified according to the order of magnitude of half-lives, it is shown that the level energies to be more chaotic for longer lived light and heavy mass odd-A nuclei, and intermediate between regular and chaotic in medium mass odd-A nuclei. The level statistical analysis in concerning E2 transition strengths of E2 or mixed E2+M1 transitions in odd-A nuclei is also made, which shows chaos in level energies likely occurring in those with weaker E2 transition strengths. Therefore, it can be concluded that odd-A nuclei are, more often than not, chaotic. Chaos is likely emergent in level energies of stable light mass nuclei with weaker E2 transition strengths, while it is definitely emergent in level energies of heavy mass nuclei, and even stronger in comparatively stable ones and those with weaker E2 transition strengths.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Frequency–wavenumber spectral analysis of spatio-temporal flows

We propose a fully spatio-temporal approach for identifying spatially varying modes of oscillation in fluid dynamics simulation output by means of multitaper frequency–wavenumber spectral analysis. One-dimensional spectrum estimation has proven to be a valuable tool in the analysis of turbulence data applied spatially to determine the rate of energy transport between spatial scales, or temporally to determine frequencies of oscillatory flows. It also allows for the quantitative comparison of flow characteristics between two scenarios using a standard basis. It has the limitation, however, that it neglects coupling between spatial and temporal structures. Two-dimensional frequency–wavenumber spectral analysis allows one to decompose waveforms into standing or travelling variety. The extended higher-dimensional multitaper method proposed here is shown to have improved statistical properties over conventional non-parametric spectral estimators, and is accompanied by confidence intervals which estimate their uncertainty. Multitaper frequency–wavenumber analysis is applied to a canonical benchmark problem, namely, a direct numerical simulation of von Kármán vortex shedding off a square wall-mounted cylinder with two inflow scenarios with matching momentum-thickness Reynolds numbers $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}}\approx 1000$ at the obstacle. Frequency–wavenumber analysis of a two-dimensional section of these data reveals that although both the laminar and turbulent inflow scenarios show a turbulent $-5/3$ cascade in wavenumber ( $\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}$ ) and frequency ( $f$ ), the flow characteristics differ in that there is a significantly more prominent discrete harmonic oscillation near $(f,\unicode[STIX]{x1D708})=(0.2,0.21)$ in wavenumber and frequency in the laminar inflow scenario than the turbulent scenario. This frequency–wavenumber pair corresponds to a travelling wave with velocity near one near the centre path of the vortex street.

Geoga, Christopher J. (ORCID:0000000250604799)↗

Spectral control of nonclassical light pulses using an integrated thin-film lithium niobate modulator

Abstract Manipulating the frequency and bandwidth of nonclassical light is essential for implementing frequency-encoded/multiplexed quantum computation, communication, and networking protocols, and for bridging spectral mismatch among various quantum systems. However, quantum spectral control requires a strong nonlinearity mediated by light, microwave, or acoustics, which is challenging to realize with high efficiency, low noise, and on an integrated chip. Here, we demonstrate both frequency shifting and bandwidth compression of heralded single-photon pulses using an integrated thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) phase modulator. We achieve record-high electro-optic frequency shearing of telecom single photons over terahertz range (±641 GHz or ±5.2 nm), enabling high visibility quantum interference between frequency-nondegenerate photon pairs. We further operate the modulator as a time lens and demonstrate over eighteen-fold (6.55 nm to 0.35 nm) bandwidth compression of single photons. Our results showcase the viability and promise of on-chip quantum spectral control for scalable photonic quantum information processing.

Optics↗

Tunneling-enabled spectrally selective thermal emitter based on flat metallic films

Infrared thermal emission from metals has important energy applications in thermophotovoltaics, radiative cooling, and lighting. The emissivity of flat metal films is close to zero because the screening effect prevents metals' fluctuating currents from emitting to the far field. As a result, metal films are often used as reflecting mirrors instead of thermal emitters. Recently, nanostructured metals, such as metamaterials, have emerged as an interesting way to enhance and to spectrally control thermal emission based on plasmonic resonant effects. However, they require sophisticated lithography. Here, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a completely different mechanism to achieve spectrally selective metallic emitters based on atunneling effect. Furthermore, this effect allows a simple flat metal film to achieve a near-unity emissivity with controlled spectral selectivity for efficient heat-to-light energy conversion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

SPECTRAL STATE EVOLUTION OF 4U 1820-30: THE STABILITY OF THE SPECTRAL INDEX OF THE COMPTONIZATION TAIL

We analyze the X-ray spectra and their timing properties of the compact X-ray binary 4U 1820-30. We establish spectral transitions in this source seen with BeppoSAX and the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). During the RXTE observations (1996-2009), the source was in the soft state approximately {approx}75% of the time making the lower banana and upper banana transitions combined with long-term low-high state transitions. We reveal that all of the X-ray spectra of 4U 1820-30 are fit by a combination of a thermal (Blackbody) component, a Comptonization component (COMPTB), and a Gaussian-line component. Thus, using this spectral analysis, we find that the photon power-law index {Gamma} of the Comptonization component is almost unchangeable ({Gamma} {approx} 2), while the electron temperature kT{sub e} changes from 2.9 to 21 keV during these spectral events. We also establish that for these spectral events the normalization of the COMPTB component (which is proportional to the mass accretion rate M-dot ) increases by a factor of eight when kT{sub e} decreases from 21 keV to 2.9 keV. Previously, this index stability effect was also found analyzing X-ray data for the Z-source GX 340+0 and for the atolls 4U 1728-34 and GX 3+1. Thus, we can suggest that this spectral stability property is a spectral signature of an accreting neutron star source. On the other hand, in a black hole binary {Gamma} monotonically increases with M-dot and ultimately its value saturates at large M-dot .

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Polarization of Tau in Quasielastic (Anti)Neutrino Scattering: The Role of Spectral Functions

We present a study of the τ polarization in charged-current quasielastic (anti)neutrino-nucleus scattering. The spectral function formalism is used to compute the differential cross section and the polarization components for several kinematical setups, relevant for neutrino-oscillation experiments. The effects of the nuclear corrections in these observables are investigated by comparing the results obtained using two different realistic spectral functions, with those deduced from the relativistic global Fermi gas model, where only statistical correlations are accounted for. We show that the spectral functions, although they play an important role when predicting the differential cross sections, produce much less visible effects on the polarization components of the outgoing τ.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A New Measurement of the Spectral Lag of Gamma-Ray Bursts and its Implications for Spectral Evolution Behaviors

We carry out a systematical study of the spectral lag properties of 50 single-pulsed gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor. By dividing the light curves into multiple consecutive energy channels, we provide a new measurement of the spectral lag that is independent of energy channel selections. We perform a detailed statistical study of our new measurements. We find two similar power-law energy dependencies of both the pulse arrival time and pulse width. Our new results on the power-law indices would favor the relativistic geometric effects for the origin of spectral lag. However, a complete theoretical framework that can fully account for the diverse energy dependencies of both arrival time and pulse width revealed in this work is still lacking. We also study the spectral evolution behaviors of the GRB pulses. We find that a GRB pulse with negligible spectral lag would usually have a shorter pulse duration and would appear to have a “hardness-intensity tracking” behavior, and a GRB pulse with a significant spectral lag would usually have a longer pulse duration and would appear to have a “hard-to-soft” behavior.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗