The Optical System Simulator (OSS) provides a comprehensive platform for the analysis and design of isolated optical devices and entire optical systems, with special focus on semiconductor lasers and system exhibiting fast dynamics. The OSS is able to simulate "1-D" (or fundamental mode) optical devices, such as ideal optical sources, narrow stripe semiconductor lasers, wave-guides, passive cavities, mirrors, beam splitters, etc. These individual elements can be combined to form into complex optical systems. Once the optical system is defined, the user can interact with the simulation interactively using a set of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). These provide a visual representation of user-defined sensor outputs, and allow on-the-fly modification of system parameters, in a manner similar to that of an experimental setup. Additionally, the user can use the simulator in a background mode, with no user interfaces required, allowing very long simulations that can run unattended for hours or days. The users may reattach the GUIs at any time to monitor the simulation progress or to modify system parameters. The OSS provides a unique software simulation environment for teaching, research and design of broadband integrated optical and opto-electronic systems, where several Terahertz of optical bandwidth needs to be resolved, from femtoseconds to milliseconds time scales.

A fundus camera a complex optical system that makes use of the principle of reflex free indirect ophthalmoscopy to image the retina. Despite being in existence as early as 1900's, little has changed in the design of a fundus camera and there is minimal information about the design principles utilized. Parameters and specifications involved in the design of fundus camera are determined and their affect on system performance are discussed. Fundus cameras incorporating different design methods are modeled and a performance evaluation based on design parameters is used to determine the effectiveness of each design strategy. By determining the design principles involved in the fundus camera, new cameras can be designed to include specific imaging modalities such as optical coherence tomography, imaging spectroscopy and imaging polarimetry to gather additional information about properties and structure of the retina. Design principles utilized to incorporate such modalities into fundus camera systems are discussed. Design, implementation and testing of a snapshot polarimeter fundus camera are demonstrated.

Diabetes mellitus affects 25.8 million Americans (8.3%) and over 300 million people worldwide. Clinical trials indicate that proper management of blood glucose levels is critical in preventing or delaying complications associated with diabetes. Thus, there is a common need to monitor and manage blood glucose properly for people with diabetes. However, the patients’ compliance for recommended monitoring frequency is low due to the pain and inconvenience of current standard finger-pricking tests. To promote patient adherence to the recommended self-monitoring frequency, non-invasive/ minimally invasive glucose testing approaches are needed. Luminescent microparticle sensor is an attractive solution. For these sensors to be deployed in vivo, a matched optical system is needed to interrogate dermally-implanted sensors. This research project investigated the light propagation in skin and the interaction with implants using Monte Carlo modeling. The results of the modeling were used to design an optical system with high interrogation and collection efficiency (40~300 times improvement). The optical system was then constructed and evaluated experimentally. A stable skin phantom mimicking the optical properties of human skin was developed as a permanent evaluation medium to minimize the use of animals. The optical properties of the skin phantom matched the maximum published values of human skin in scattering and absorption over the spectral range of 540~700nm in order to avoid overestimation of the capability of the system. The significant photon loss observed at the connection between the designed system and a commercial spectrometer was overcome using two optimized designs: a two-detector system and a customized low-resolution spectrometer system. Both optimization approaches effectively address the photon loss problem and each showed good SNR (>100) while maintaining a sufficient system resolution for use with fluorescent materials. Both systems are suitable for luminescence measurement, because broad bands of the luminescent spectrum are of interest. In the future, either system can be easily modified into a more compact system (e.g. handheld), and it can be directly coupled to an analog-to-digital converter and integrated circuits offering potential for a single compact and portable device for field use with luminescent diagnostic systems as well as implanted sensors.

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The performance of the auroral large imagining system (ALIS_4D) and an automatic track detection algorithm was evaluated for space debris surveillance and tracking. The evaluation of the ALIS_4D was done through a numerical simulation and data annotations, while the track detection results were manually evaluated. The effect of auroral conditions, filters, and the detection mode were evaluated for the performance of both.  It was found that  ALIS_4D can detect resident space objects. The peak detection rate per hour was dependent on the time of the year, day, and the limiting magnitude set by the filters and the sensor among others. The peak was simulated to be approximately 120 in January and 70 in April and September. A space object observation campaign was performed in April 2020 for 90 minutes. During that period across the used four stations 61 unique objects were detected and 37 unique objects were detected at the Abisko station, that was used for the simulation. During the observation time there was auroral activity which can block the line-of-sight to resident space objects.  The track detection algorithm was evaluated for data gathered in a dedicated space situational awareness (SSA) mode and other modes. In SSA mode, the algorithm found 60% of the subsections of the image with visible traces. The false detection rate was 17% when no auroras were present and 56% when there were. In other modes the evaluation was simplified due to large number of false positives. When assumed best case scenario 99.2% of the detections were false. The auroral activity and the used mode had the most significant effect on the track detection algorithm performance. It was found that in SSA mode the used filter did not effect on the track detection performance.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida uma instrumentação óptica in-line para filmagem de partículas in situ, utilizando a técnica de sombreamento, acompanhada de softwares para processamento das imagens. As novas ferramentas foram implementadas e foi conduzido um estudo de caso para a avaliação da dinâmica de partículas e suas forçantes ambientais em uma região costeira de Ubatuba. O sistema com 4 sensores acoplados, adquiriu dados oceanográficos e de imagens a cada 40 minutos, no período entre 20 de fevereiro e 7 de junho de 2017. Dados metereológicos adicionais foram obtidos para análises correlativas. Testes com os softwares de visão computacional estabeleceram o uso dos filtros de tamanho entre 500 e 16300 pixels e contraste maior que 50% para segmentação das Regiões de Interesse (ROIs). Os testes também indicaram a melhor performance do algoritmo de segmentação ModeValue e de uma base de treinamento composta por 9 classes com 300 organismos cada para a classificação automática. Devido à baixa acurácia obtida na etapa de classificação automática de imagens desconhecidas de organismos (27%), os objetos foram analisados nesse estudo como partículas, divididos de acordo com o tamanho de seu eixo maior em três ranges (<385 μm; 385-620 μm; >620μm). A análise das partículas, por questões estatísticas, considerou o maior intervalo de amostragens contínuas da série, de 5 de abril a 7 de maio de 2017. Primeiramente a série de cada variável foi decomposta em componentes harmônicas, com base na análise de Fourier, visando detectar padrões recorrentes e, em seguida, as variáveis com picos de densidade espectral mais expressivos em frequências da ordem de uma semana e de um dia foram comparadas por meio da coerência quadrada. As partículas menores, do range 1, foram as que melhor representaram a abundância total e os maiores valores de coerência foram entre as variáveis com período característico de um dia. A instrumentação implementada e testada ao longo de cerca de 3 meses possibilitou a aquisição de imagens de qualidade e de resultados iniciais úteis para o aprimoramento do sistema, visando instalações futuras de longo prazo em ambientes costeiros. / In this work, in-line optical optical instrumentation was developed for in situ particle filming, using the shadowgraphic technique, accompanied by image processing software. The new tools were implemented and a case study was carried out to evaluate the dynamics of particles and their environmental forcing in a coastal region of Ubatuba. The system, with 4 coupled environmental sensors, acquired oceanographic and image data every 40 minutes, between February 20 and June 7, 2017. Aditional meteorological data were obtained for correlative analyzes. Tests with the implemented computer vision software have stablished the use of size filters between 500 and 16300 pixels and contrast level greater than 50% for the segmentation of Regions of Interest (ROIs). The test also indicated the best performance of the Mode Value segmentation algorithm and of a training set composed by 9 classes with 300 organisms each for automatic classification. Due to the low global accuracy obtained in the automatic classification stage of unknown images of organisms (27%), the objects were analyzed in this study as particle, divided according to the size of their major axis in three ranges (<385 μm; 385 - 620 μm; >620μm). Particle analysis, for statistical reasons, considered the largest continuous sampling range of the series, from April 5 to May 7, 2017. First, the series of each variables decomposed into harmonic components, based on Fourier analysis, aiming to detect recurrent patterns, and then the variables with more expressive spectral density peaks at frequencies of the order of one week and one day were compared by means of square coherence. The smaller particles of range 1 were the ones that best represented the total abundance, and the highest values of coherence were among the variables with characteristic period of one day. The instrumentation implemented and tested over about 3 months allowed the acquisition og high-quality images and the initial results were useful for improving the system, aiming at future long-term deployments in coastal environments.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida uma instrumentação óptica in-line para filmagem de partículas in situ, utilizando a técnica de sombreamento, acompanhada de softwares para processamento das imagens. As novas ferramentas foram implementadas e foi conduzido um estudo de caso para a avaliação da dinâmica de partículas e suas forçantes ambientais em uma região costeira de Ubatuba. O sistema com 4 sensores acoplados, adquiriu dados oceanográficos e de imagens a cada 40 minutos, no período entre 20 de fevereiro e 7 de junho de 2017. Dados metereológicos adicionais foram obtidos para análises correlativas. Testes com os softwares de visão computacional estabeleceram o uso dos filtros de tamanho entre 500 e 16300 pixels e contraste maior que 50% para segmentação das Regiões de Interesse (ROIs). Os testes também indicaram a melhor performance do algoritmo de segmentação ModeValue e de uma base de treinamento composta por 9 classes com 300 organismos cada para a classificação automática. Devido à baixa acurácia obtida na etapa de classificação automática de imagens desconhecidas de organismos (27%), os objetos foram analisados nesse estudo como partículas, divididos de acordo com o tamanho de seu eixo maior em três ranges (<385 μm; 385-620 μm; >620μm). A análise das partículas, por questões estatísticas, considerou o maior intervalo de amostragens contínuas da série, de 5 de abril a 7 de maio de 2017. Primeiramente a série de cada variável foi decomposta em componentes harmônicas, com base na análise de Fourier, visando detectar padrões recorrentes e, em seguida, as variáveis com picos de densidade espectral mais expressivos em frequências da ordem de uma semana e de um dia foram comparadas por meio da coerência quadrada. As partículas menores, do range 1, foram as que melhor representaram a abundância total e os maiores valores de coerência foram entre as variáveis com período característico de um dia. A instrumentação implementada e testada ao longo de cerca de 3 meses possibilitou a aquisição de imagens de qualidade e de resultados iniciais úteis para o aprimoramento do sistema, visando instalações futuras de longo prazo em ambientes costeiros. / In this work, in-line optical optical instrumentation was developed for in situ particle filming, using the shadowgraphic technique, accompanied by image processing software. The new tools were implemented and a case study was carried out to evaluate the dynamics of particles and their environmental forcing in a coastal region of Ubatuba. The system, with 4 coupled environmental sensors, acquired oceanographic and image data every 40 minutes, between February 20 and June 7, 2017. Aditional meteorological data were obtained for correlative analyzes. Tests with the implemented computer vision software have stablished the use of size filters between 500 and 16300 pixels and contrast level greater than 50% for the segmentation of Regions of Interest (ROIs). The test also indicated the best performance of the Mode Value segmentation algorithm and of a training set composed by 9 classes with 300 organisms each for automatic classification. Due to the low global accuracy obtained in the automatic classification stage of unknown images of organisms (27%), the objects were analyzed in this study as particle, divided according to the size of their major axis in three ranges (<385 μm; 385 - 620 μm; >620μm). Particle analysis, for statistical reasons, considered the largest continuous sampling range of the series, from April 5 to May 7, 2017. First, the series of each variables decomposed into harmonic components, based on Fourier analysis, aiming to detect recurrent patterns, and then the variables with more expressive spectral density peaks at frequencies of the order of one week and one day were compared by means of square coherence. The smaller particles of range 1 were the ones that best represented the total abundance, and the highest values of coherence were among the variables with characteristic period of one day. The instrumentation implemented and tested over about 3 months allowed the acquisition og high-quality images and the initial results were useful for improving the system, aiming at future long-term deployments in coastal environments.

Optical switchers can fulfill the same functions as all-electrical switching systems and are expected to play a key role in the near future. In this thesis an analysis if an optical system that can potentially behave as an optical switcher is discussed. This configuration consists of three microring resonators which are coupled and tangential to one another in a topology that is similar to the Leibniz packing or Apollonian gasket. The ray-transfer matrix approach is used in order to represent the whole system by a single matrix. The structure receives an initial input signal and gives an output signal, which is changed by only a scalar factor. This description is equal to an eigenvalue problem, where the matrix of the system operates over an initial vector and results a product of a scalar (the eigenvalue) times the initial vector. Due to its unique geometry each ring is divided into two unequal segments. We introduce the loss coefficients to express the attenuation along those segments. The relation between the loss coefficients is being examined and the results are verified by simulations.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar o sistema óptico desenvolvido para a câmera WFI (Wide Field Imaging Camera) que integrará os satélites CBERS 3 e 4 (China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite). O Brasil é responsável por duas das câmeras dos satélites CBERS 3 e 4, a WFI e a MUX (Multispectral Camera). Estas câmeras são destinadas a sensoriamento remoto orbital da Terra. É a primeira vez que câmeras destinadas a este tipo de aplicação são inteiramente desenvolvidas e construídas no país. Devido ao alto nível de vibração durante o vôo, à exposição a vácuo e a radiação espacial durante o período de vida útil em órbita, o desenvolvimento desta câmera exige um cuidadoso processo de análise e avaliação do desempenho óptico em terra de modo a garantir seu funcionamento a bordo. Em especial, serão apresentados as análises ópticas realizadas durante a fase de projeto preliminar e os testes ópticos realizados em terra dos requisitos: distância focal, campo de visada - FOV, função de transferência de modulação - MTF, distorção, sensibilidade à polarização, transmitância, sensibilidade à luz espalhada e degradação da transmitância com a radiação espacial. Os resultados obtidos comprovaram que o desempenho do sistema óptico atende os requisitos de projeto. / The purpose of this work is to present the optical system developed for the WFI camera (Wide Field Imaging Camera), which will be integrated to the CBERS 3 and 4 satellites (China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite). Brazil is responsible for two cameras of CBERS 3 and 4 satellites, WFI and MUX (Multispectral Camera). These cameras are used for orbital remote sensing of the Earth. It is the first time that cameras for this type of application are being entirely developed and built in our country. Due to the high vibration level during flight, the vacuum and space radiation exposure during the lifetime in orbit, the development of this camera requires a meticulous analysis process and evaluation of optical performance on the ground in order to ensure the effective operation on board. In particular, the optical analyses performed during the preliminary design and optical test requirements performed on ground will be presented, such as: focal length, field of view - FOV, modulation transfer function - MTF, distortion, polarization sensitivity, transmittance, stray light sensitivity and transmittance degradation with space radiation. The results obtained exhibit that the optical system performance satisfies all project requirements.

Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are a candidate for calibration sources in space-based remote sensing applications. However, the output beam from a QCL has some characteristics that are undesirable in a calibration source. The output beam from a QCL is polarized both temporally and spatially coherent, and has a non-uniform bivariate Gaussian profile. These characteristics need to be mitigated before QCLs can be used as calibration sources. This study presents the design and implementation of an optical system that manipulates the output beam from a QCL so that it is spatially and angularly uniform with reduced coherence and polarization.