<p> </p><p>Acquired data from dynamic contrast enhanced MRI measurements can be used to non-invasively assess tumour vascular characteristics through pharmacokinetic modelling. The modelling requires an arterial input function which is the concentration of contrast agent in the blood reaching the volume of interest as a function of time. The aim of this work is testing and optimizing a turboFLASH sequence to appraise its suitability for measuring the arterial input function by measuring phase.</p><p>Contrast concentration measurements in a phantom were done with both phase and relaxivity techniques. The results were compared to simulations of the experiment conditions to compare the conformance. The results using the phase technique were promising, and the method was carried on to in-vivo testing. The in-vivo data displayed a large signal loss which motivated a new phantom experiment to examine the cause of this signal reduction. Dynamic measurements were made in a phantom with pulsatile flow to mimic a blood vessel with a somewhat modified turboFLASH sequence. The conclusions drawn from analyzing the data were used to further improve the sequence and this modified turboFLASH sequence was tested in an in-vivo experiment. The obtained concentration curve showed significant improvement and was deemed to be a good representation of the true blood concentration.</p><p>The conclusion is that phase measurements can be recommended over relaxivity based measurements. This recommendation holds for using a slice selective saturation recovery turboFLASH sequence and measuring the arterial input function in the neck. Other areas of application need more thorough testing.</p><p> </p>

<p>In the pulp industry, digesters are used to disolve lignin in wood chips. The concentration of lignin is measured and is called the Kappa number. In this thesis, the question of whether an online Kappa sensor, taking samples from the mid-phase of the digester, is useful or not is analyzed. For the samples to be useful, there has to be a relationship between the measured Kappa at the mid- phase and the measured Kappa in the blowpipe at the bottom of the digester. An ARX model of the lower part of the digester has been estimated. Despite a lot of noise, it seems that it might be possible to use the mid-phase samples and for this model predict the blowpipe flow Kappa signal. It is concluded that the mid-phase samples should be further improved to be more useful. The mid-phase samples have also been used in another ARX model, this time to LP-filter these values without time loss. </p><p>Another important issue has been to examine if the existing controller is good or not. In order to be able to compare it with other controllers, a simulator has been created in MATLAB - Simulink. Test results from this simulator show that the existing controller's use of the mid-phase Kappa samples improves its performance. For a simplified digester model, the existing controller has also been compared with an MPC controller. This test shows that the MPC controller is significantly better. Hence, the conclusion in this thesis is that it might be interesting to study MPC further using a more advanced model.</p>

In the pulp industry, digesters are used to disolve lignin in wood chips. The concentration of lignin is measured and is called the Kappa number. In this thesis, the question of whether an online Kappa sensor, taking samples from the mid-phase of the digester, is useful or not is analyzed. For the samples to be useful, there has to be a relationship between the measured Kappa at the mid- phase and the measured Kappa in the blowpipe at the bottom of the digester. An ARX model of the lower part of the digester has been estimated. Despite a lot of noise, it seems that it might be possible to use the mid-phase samples and for this model predict the blowpipe flow Kappa signal. It is concluded that the mid-phase samples should be further improved to be more useful. The mid-phase samples have also been used in another ARX model, this time to LP-filter these values without time loss. Another important issue has been to examine if the existing controller is good or not. In order to be able to compare it with other controllers, a simulator has been created in MATLAB - Simulink. Test results from this simulator show that the existing controller's use of the mid-phase Kappa samples improves its performance. For a simplified digester model, the existing controller has also been compared with an MPC controller. This test shows that the MPC controller is significantly better. Hence, the conclusion in this thesis is that it might be interesting to study MPC further using a more advanced model.

Acquired data from dynamic contrast enhanced MRI measurements can be used to non-invasively assess tumour vascular characteristics through pharmacokinetic modelling. The modelling requires an arterial input function which is the concentration of contrast agent in the blood reaching the volume of interest as a function of time. The aim of this work is testing and optimizing a turboFLASH sequence to appraise its suitability for measuring the arterial input function by measuring phase. Contrast concentration measurements in a phantom were done with both phase and relaxivity techniques. The results were compared to simulations of the experiment conditions to compare the conformance. The results using the phase technique were promising, and the method was carried on to in-vivo testing. The in-vivo data displayed a large signal loss which motivated a new phantom experiment to examine the cause of this signal reduction. Dynamic measurements were made in a phantom with pulsatile flow to mimic a blood vessel with a somewhat modified turboFLASH sequence. The conclusions drawn from analyzing the data were used to further improve the sequence and this modified turboFLASH sequence was tested in an in-vivo experiment. The obtained concentration curve showed significant improvement and was deemed to be a good representation of the true blood concentration. The conclusion is that phase measurements can be recommended over relaxivity based measurements. This recommendation holds for using a slice selective saturation recovery turboFLASH sequence and measuring the arterial input function in the neck. Other areas of application need more thorough testing.

In this thesis I consider the general problem of how to make the best possible phase measurements using feedback. Both the optimum input state and optimum feedback are considered for both single-mode dyne measurements and two-mode interferometric measurements. I derive the optimum input states under general dyne measurements when the mean photon number is fixed, both for general states and squeezed states. I propose a new feedback scheme that introduces far less phase uncertainty than mark II feedback, and is very close to the theoretical limit. I also derive results for the phase variance when there is a time delay in the feedback loop, showing that there is a lower limit to the introduced phase variance, and this is approached quite accurately under some conditions. I derive the optimum input states for interferometry, showing that the phase uncertainty scales as 1/N for all the common measures of uncertainty. This is contrasted with the |j0> state, which does not scale as 1/N for all measures of phase uncertainty. I introduce an adaptive feedback scheme that is very close to optimum, and can give scaling very close to 1/N for the uncertainty. Lastly I consider the case of continuous measurements, for both the dyne and interferometric cases.

The present thesis concerns with a few investigations on sensing/measurement of small angle rotation/tilt using Pattern Imaging Method. The methodology involves looking at the tailored-objects located adjacent to the observer (CCD camera) through a mirror and extracts the angular position of the mirror from their images by processing the latter through object specific algorithm. Its principal advantage stems from the fact that small-angle measurement can be done using ambient light which is neither collimated nor filtered for single wavelength. This makes the associated optical configuration not only simple but also robust for the said application, in comparison to currently competing technologies based on Autocollimation and Interferometry. The present thesis elaborates specifically four new Pattern-Designs proposed for tailoring the spatial-brightness of the objects. Introducing for the first time, processing algorithms based on ‘Modified Fringe-Processing Strategy’ and ‘Phase-Only-Correlation’, the investigations demonstrate enhanced performance for small angle measurement with all the proposed pattern designs. The first three designs for the pattern are evaluated for 1-D measurement through fringe processing approach while the fourth pattern design is evaluated for 2-D measurement through Phase-only-Correlation. The results of the investigations are utilized to propose, design and develop a novel optical inclinometer which can work with any of the proposed pattern designs as the object. The first three pattern-designs rely upon sinusoidal modulation of the object surface and utilize three custom developed algorithms -Algorithm-A, Algorithm-B and Algorithm-C -to extract two quantities namely wrapped phase Δαw and unwrapped phase Δαuw , from the captured images. Each of these quantities will have an associated measurement range and accuracy corresponding to any of the three pattern designs. All measurements are carried out keeping the object/camera to mirror distance constant at 250 mm. From wrapped phase measurement, all the three designs, each with pitch of 2mm for sinusoidal modulation and held at a distance of 250 mm from the mirror, have been found to facilitate reliable angle measurement over a range of 850 arc seconds with accuracy better than 1 arc second after curve fitting the experimentally obtained data. From unwrapped phase measurement, the color coded as well as BCD coded composite patterns, when tested using five bands of sinusoidal modulation (with a pitch of 2mm) and held at a distance of 250 mm from the mirror, facilitated reliable angle measurement over a larger range of nearly 10 . The 2-D angle measurement using fourth pattern-design and the Algorithm-D, facilitated measurement over a range of 10 with an accuracy of 9 arc seconds when the distance between the mirror and the pattern is held at 250 mm. A comparison of the results from the present investigation with the best performance from other investigators reveals the following. The proposed modifications in the processing algorithms as well as the pattern designs help to achieve a measurement range of 750 arc seconds with accuracy better than 1 arc second from this method, with an object pattern whose lateral size is smaller by a factor of nearly 15. Such a size reduction in the object as well as the associated mirror would help to construct angle measuring instruments that work on this method more compactly. The results of the investigation have been utilized to propose and demonstrate a novel prototype optical inclinometer which has been experimentally found to work in a range of 0.40 with accuracy nearly 6 arc seconds.

Au-delà de son utilisation en géophysique ou en métrologie à grande échelle, la télémétrie laser des longues distances devrait trouver de nombreuses applications pour les missions spatiales. Les instruments d'observation par synthèse ouverture en vols en formation demandent que la géométrie de la constellation soit connue et contrôlée à bien mieux que la longueur d’onde de la fenêtre d’observation. Pour répondre à ces besoins, nous avons étudié un nouveau schéma de mesure qui combine une mesure interférométrique, réalisée sur un faisceau à deux modes et une mesure de temps de vols. Mon travail de thèse a porté sur la conception, mise en œuvre et la caractérisation de la mesure interférométrique. Pour qu'elles ne soient pas affectées par les dérives lentes de l'instrumentation microonde, les deux mesures de phase de longueur d’onde optique (1.55 µm) et de longueur d’onde synthétique (15 mm) sont extraites d'un même signal d’interférence à deux modes en utilisant une procédure de mesure dédiée : on réalise des mesures du signal d’interférence à trois valeurs de la fréquence optique de la source, calculées d'après le résultat de la mesure de temps de vol. Le télémètre met à profit les propriétés du signal d'interférence à deux modes et exploite la phase et l'amplitude du signal à 20 GHz de façon à éliminer les dérives de phase à long terme du signal microonde dans les chaînes de mesure. On peut en attendre, en moins de 0.1 s, une mesure de résolution et d'exactitude inférieures au nanomètre. Le montage expérimental a permis de montrer que le principe de mesure est correct. Sur la mesure d’un chemin optique dans l'air, nous avons obtenu une résolution de 100 pm à 100 µs, qui nous permet d'observer le bruit acoustique. Le bruit sur la mesure des signaux permet d'espérer une résolution de à 10 pm à 43 ms. Les imperfections optiques du montage ont été mises en évidence: elles ont été décrites par une expression analytique, puis à l’aide d’optiques dédiées réduites au niveau nécessaire pour le fonctionnement de l'instrument. La phase des signaux de battement à 20 GHz est affectée d'erreurs de plusieurs 10-3 cycles qui, si elles ne sont pas corrigées, provoquent des erreurs de la mesure de longueur par une ou plusieurs fois la longueur d'onde optique. Nous avons réalisé une étude spécifique du couplage amplitude-phase à l'origine de cette déformation, et montré qu'il est en partie d'origine thermique, lié à la puissance de plusieurs kW/cm² dissipée dans les photodiodes à 20 GHz. Cet effet, voisin de ce qui est connu depuis quelques années en instrumentation microonde sous le nom d' "effet mémoire", est difficile à prendre en compte et la correction qui est faite sur les données ne parvient pas totalement à éviter que le télémètre délivre des valeurs erronées de la distance. En conclusion de ce mémoire deux options sont présentées afin de remédier à cette déformation du signal et d'aboutir à un instrument de haute exactitude. / Beyond its use in geophysics or in large scale metrology, laser-based measurement of long distances is expected to find numerous applications in space missions. Synthetic aperture instruments in formation flight require that the constellation geometry be known and controlled to much better than the wavelength of the observation window. To meet these needs, we have been studying a novel laser ranging scheme that combine an interferometric measurement, performed on a two-mode laser beam, and a time of flight measurement. My thesis focused on the design, implementation, and characterization of the interferometric measurement. To prevent systematic errors due to slow drifts in the microwave components, the two phase measurements of optical wavelength (1.55 microns) and the synthetic wavelength (15 mm) are extracted from the same two-mode interference signal by using a dedicated measurement procedure: we perform interference signal measurements at three optical frequency values of the laser source, calculated based on the time of flight measurement result. The rangefinder utilizes the two-mode interference signal properties and exploits phase and amplitude of the 20 GHz signal in a manner to eliminate long-term phase drifts of the microwave signal in the measurement chain. We can expect in less than 0.1 s, a measurement with sub-nanometer accuracy and resolution. The experimental setup showed that the principle is correct. On an optical path measurement in air, we obtained a 100 pm resolution in 100 us, which allows us to observe the acoustic noise. The measurement signal noise allows expecting a 10 pm resolution in 43 ms. Optical imperfections in the setup have been observed. They were described by an analytical expression, then, using dedicated optics, they were reduced to the level required for the instrument operation. The phase of two-mode signal is affected to several 10-3 cycle errors which, if not corrected, result in errors in the measurement length by multiples of the optical wavelength. We performed a specific study of amplitude-to-phase coupling causing this deformation, and showed that it is part of thermal origin, related to the power of several kW/cm² dissipated in the 20 GHz photodiodes. This effect, close to what has been known for some years in microwave instrumentation under the name of "memory effects", is difficult to take into account and the correction made on the data can not completely prevent the rangefinder from delivering incorrect values of the distance. In concluding this thesis two options are presented to remedy this signal distortion and result in a high accuracy instrument.

Large area flat displays are nowadays considered being a commodity. After the era of bulky CRT TV technology, LCD and OLED have taken over as the most prevalent technologies for high quality image display devices. An important factor underlying the success of these technologies has been the development of high performance photomask writers in combination with a precise photomask process. Photomask manufacturing can be regarded as an art, highly dependent on qualified and skilled workers in a few companies located in Asia. The manufacturing yield in the photomask process depends to a great extent on several steps of measurements and inspections. Metrology, which is the focus of this thesis, is the science of measurement and is a prerequisite for maintaining high quality in all manufacturing processes. The details and challenges of performing critical measurements over large area photomasks of square meter sizes will be discussed. In particular the development of methods and algorithms related to the metrology system MMS15000, the world standard for large area photomask metrology today, will be presented. The most important quality of a metrology system is repeatability. Achieving good repeatability requires a stable environment, carefully selected materials, sophisticated mechanical solutions, precise optics and capable software. Attributes of the air including humidity, CO2 level, pressure and turbulence are other factors that can impact repeatability and accuracy if not handled properly. Besides the former qualities, there is also the behavior of the photomask itself that needs to be carefully handled in order to achieve a good correspondence to the Cartesian coordinate system. An uncertainty specification below 100 nm (3σ) over an area measured in square meters cannot be fulfilled unless special care is taken to compensate for gravity-induced errors from the photomask itself when it is resting on the metrology tool stage. Calibration is therefore a considerable challenge over these large areas. A novel method for self-calibration will be presented and discussed in the thesis. This is a general method that has proven to be highly robust even in cases when the self-calibration problem is close to being underdetermined. A random sampling method based on massive averaging in the time domain will be presented as the solution for achieving precise spatial measurements of the photomask patterns. This method has been used for detection of the position of chrome or glass edges on the photomask with a repeatability of 1.5 nm (3σ), using a measurement time of 250 ms. The method has also been used for verification of large area measurement repeatability of approximately 10 nm (3σ) when measuring several hundred measurement marks covering an area of 0.8 x 0.8 m2. The measurement of linewidths, referred to in the photomask industry as critical dimension (CD) measurements, is another important task for the MMS15000 system. A threshold-based inverse convolution method will be presented that enhances resolution down to 0.5 µm without requiring a change to the numerical aperture of the system. As already mentioned, metrology is very important for maintaining high quality in a manufacturing environment. In the mask manufacturing industry in particular, the cost of poor quality (CoPQ) is extremely high. Besides the high materials cost, there are also the stringent requirements placed on CD and mask overlay, along with the need for zero defects that make the photomask industry unique. This topic is discussed further, and is shown to be a strong motivation for the development of the ultra-precision metrology built into the MMS15000 system. / <p>QC 20130515</p>

This dissertation is focused on developing a new passband behavioral model in order to account for asymmetric intermodulation distortion resulted from memory effect. First, a measurement setup is prepared to measure the AM/AM, AM/PM distortion, magnitudes and the phases of intermodulation (IMD) and fundamental (FUND) components which are created by the amplifier where phase is calculated only by measuring magnitudes. Then, responses of a sample amplifier are measured for different excitation situations (center frequency and tone spacing are swept). A new modeling technique, namely Odd Order Modeling (OOM), is proposed which has unequal time delay terms. The reason of unequal time delay addition is the change of effective channel length according to the average power passing through that channel. These unequal delays create asymmetry in the IMD components. General Power Series Expansion (GPSE) model is also extracted, OOM and GPSE model performances are compared by using NMSE metric. In order to improve model performance, even order terms with envelope of input are added. It is mathematically proven that even order terms with envelope of the input have contribution to IMD and FUND components&rsquo / . This improved version of modeling is named as Even Order modeling (EOM). EOM model performance is compared with the others&rsquo / performance for two-tone excitation measurement results. It is shown that EOM gives the most accurate result. Model performance is checked for unequal four-tone signal as well. EOM model is applied to baseband DPD circuit after making some modifications. Model linearization performance is compared with the performances of the other memory polynomial modeling techniques.

A new approach to the absolute measurement of two-dimensional optical path differences is presented in this thesis. The method, which incorporates a white light interferometer and a hyperspectral imaging system, is referred to as Hyperspectral Interferometry. A prototype of the Hyperspectral Interferometry (HSI) system has been designed, constructed and tested for two types of measurement: for surface profilometry and for depth-resolved displacement measurement, both of which have been implemented so as to achieve single shot data acquisition. The prototype has been shown to be capable of performing a single-shot 3-D shape measurement of an optically-flat step-height sample, with less than 5% difference from the result obtained by a standard optical (microscope) based method. The HSI prototype has been demonstrated to be able to perform single-shot measurement with an unambiguous 352 (m depth range and a rms measurement error of around 80 nm. The prototype has also been tested to perform measurements on optically rough surfaces. The rms error of these measurements was found to increase to around 4× that of the smooth surface. For the depth-resolved displacement field measurements, an experimental setup was designed and constructed in which a weakly-scattering sample underwent simple compression with a PZT actuator. Depth-resolved displacement fields were reconstructed from pairs of hyperspectral interferograms. However, the experimental results did not show the expected result of linear phase variation with depth. Analysis of several possible causes has been carried out with the most plausible reasons being excessive scattering particle density inside the sample and the possibility of insignificant deformation of the sample due to insufficient physical contact between the transducer and the sample.