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24 pages, 4781 KB  
Article
DFDP-QuadDiff: A Dual-Frequency Dual-Polarization Quad-Differential Framework for Weak-Echo Ship Target Detection in GNSS-Based Bistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar
by Gang Yang, Tianwen Zhang, Zhen Chen, Bingxiu Yao, Yucong He, Dunyun He, Tianyi Wei and Qinglin He
Remote Sens. 2026, 18(8), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18081130 - 10 Apr 2026
Abstract
Weak-echo ship target detection in GNSS-based bistatic synthetic aperture radar is severely limited by the coupled effects of burst-type strong windows and polarization mismatch, cross-frequency mis-registration, and long-sequence chain drift in dual-frequency dual-polarization observations. To address these issues, this paper proposes DFDP-QuadDiff, a [...] Read more.
Weak-echo ship target detection in GNSS-based bistatic synthetic aperture radar is severely limited by the coupled effects of burst-type strong windows and polarization mismatch, cross-frequency mis-registration, and long-sequence chain drift in dual-frequency dual-polarization observations. To address these issues, this paper proposes DFDP-QuadDiff, a dual-frequency dual-polarization quad-differential framework for weak-echo ship target detection using B1/B3 × horizontal–horizontal (HH)/vertical–vertical (VV) four-channel complex range-time data. The proposed framework integrates polarization-consistency-driven strong-window suppression, intra-band adaptive polarimetric synthesis, joint delay–Doppler–phase cross-frequency registration, segment-wise Jones drift calibration, and quality-aware final fusion in a unified hierarchical processing chain. In this way, multi-source inconsistencies are progressively constrained and suppressed from the polarization level to the segment level before final accumulation and detection are performed. Experimental results on self-developed four-channel GNSS-S demonstrate that, relative to the best raw single-channel result, the proposed framework increases the median SCR from 6.51 dB to 9.04 dB (+2.53 dB), improves the P10 SCR from −1.76 dB to 3.05 dB (+4.81 dB), and raises the track continuity from 0.85 to 0.97. In addition, the standard deviation of segment-wise delay drift is reduced from 0.97 bin to 0.29 bin, and positive multi-scale accumulation gains are maintained up to the second-long integration range. These results indicate that the proposed framework not only substantially enhances the stability, continuity, and long-time integrability of weak-target responses under low-SNR maritime conditions, but also maintains robust gains under weak-visibility, interference-dominant, and mismatch-sensitive local conditions in the stratified evaluation, thereby establishing a physically interpretable and implementation-ready solution for collaborative weak-target detection in dual-band dual-polarization GNSS-S. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in SAR Object Detection)
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32 pages, 5560 KB  
Article
MTEC-SOC: A Multi-Physics Aging-Aware Model for Smartphone Battery SOC Estimation Under Diverse User Behaviors
by Yuqi Zheng, Yao Li, Liang Song and Xiaomin Dai
Batteries 2026, 12(4), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries12040130 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 109
Abstract
State-of-charge (SOC) estimation for lithium-ion batteries in smartphones is complicated by nonlinear load variation, electro-thermal coupling, aging effects, and heterogeneous user behaviors. This study proposes a multi-physics coupled SOC estimation framework, termed the Multi-Physics Thermo-Electrochemical Coupled SOC Model (MTEC-SOC), to characterize battery behavior [...] Read more.
State-of-charge (SOC) estimation for lithium-ion batteries in smartphones is complicated by nonlinear load variation, electro-thermal coupling, aging effects, and heterogeneous user behaviors. This study proposes a multi-physics coupled SOC estimation framework, termed the Multi-Physics Thermo-Electrochemical Coupled SOC Model (MTEC-SOC), to characterize battery behavior under representative user-load conditions within controlled ambient thermal boundaries. The model combines system-level power profiling, thermal evolution, voltage dynamics, and aging-related capacity correction within a unified framework. To support model development and validation, a dual-source dataset is established using laboratory battery characterization data and real-world smartphone behavioral data, from which users are classified into light, heavy, and mixed usage patterns. Comparative results against four benchmark models (M1–M4) show that MTEC-SOC achieves the highest overall accuracy, with average MAE, RMSE, and TTE error values of 0.0091, 0.0118, and 0.08 h, respectively. The results suggest distinct degradation tendencies across user types: calendar aging dominates under prolonged high-voltage dwell in light-use scenarios, whereas, within the tested thermal range, heavy-use scenarios exhibit stronger voltage sag, relative temperature rise, and polarization-related stress; mixed-use scenarios are characterized by transient responses induced by abrupt load switching. Sensitivity analysis further indicates that the predictive behavior of the model is strongly scenario-dependent, with higher-load operation within the calibrated range amplifying parameter perturbations. Overall, the proposed MTEC-SOC framework provides accurate SOC estimation and physically interpretable insight within the evaluated dataset and operating conditions, offering potential guidance for battery management and energy optimization in intelligent mobile terminals. Full article
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24 pages, 3734 KB  
Article
Evolution of Driver Strategies Under Platform-Led Incentives: A Stackelberg–Evolutionary Game Model with Large-Scale Ride-Hailing Data
by Wenbo Su, Jingu Mou, Zhengfeng Huang, Yibing Wang, Hongzhao Dong, Manel Grifoll and Pengjun Zheng
Systems 2026, 14(4), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14040399 - 4 Apr 2026
Viewed by 181
Abstract
Online ride-hailing platforms increasingly rely on differentiated incentive mechanisms to regulate driver participation and balance supply and demand. However, drivers’ adaptive responses to such incentives introduce dynamic feedback and uncertainty that static equilibrium models fail to capture. This study develops a dual-layer Stackelberg–evolutionary [...] Read more.
Online ride-hailing platforms increasingly rely on differentiated incentive mechanisms to regulate driver participation and balance supply and demand. However, drivers’ adaptive responses to such incentives introduce dynamic feedback and uncertainty that static equilibrium models fail to capture. This study develops a dual-layer Stackelberg–evolutionary game framework in which the platform acts as a strategic leader setting the order allocation rates and prices, while heterogeneous drivers adapt their working-hour strategies through evolutionary dynamics. Using operational data from Ningbo, China, we calibrated the demand elasticity and driver cost parameters and identified endogenous fatigue-cost thresholds that govern regime shifts in strategy dominance. Simulation results show that uniform incentives tend to drive the system toward single-strategy lock-in, whereas differentiated order allocation and pricing effectively sustain multi-strategy coexistence and mitigate extreme supply polarization. The findings reveal how platform-led differentiation reshapes the evolutionary fitness landscape of drivers, providing actionable guidance for incentive design aimed at stabilizing supply structures, improving platform revenue, and protecting driver welfare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Systems Theory and Methodology)
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27 pages, 8337 KB  
Article
VNIR/SWIR Multispectral Polarimetric Imager for Polymer Discrimination and Identification
by Ramon Prats Consola and Adriano Camps
Sensors 2026, 26(7), 2040; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26072040 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 427
Abstract
This work presents a portable polarimetric multispectral imaging (PMSI) system operating in the visible to shortwave infrared range (VNIR–SWIR: 400–1700 nm) and its application to target detection, discrimination from aquatic backgrounds, and polymer identification. The instrument integrates two synchronized cameras with motorized bandpass [...] Read more.
This work presents a portable polarimetric multispectral imaging (PMSI) system operating in the visible to shortwave infrared range (VNIR–SWIR: 400–1700 nm) and its application to target detection, discrimination from aquatic backgrounds, and polymer identification. The instrument integrates two synchronized cameras with motorized bandpass filters and piezoelectric polarization control, enabling the acquisition of 48 wavelength–polarization measurements per capture. This configuration allows the extraction of both intensity-based and polarimetric features, including the degree of linear polarization (DoLP). A complete radiometric and polarimetric calibration framework is implemented, encompassing system response characterization, polarization-dependent gain correction, and reflectance normalization under variable illumination. Experiments conducted on a representative set of 16 polymer materials show that polarimetric information consistently improves class separability compared to intensity-only features, with a mean gain of 6.9 (95% CI: 6.35–8.47). Although the correlation between intensity- and DoLP-based separability is moderate (r = 0.44), the results indicate complementary identification capability. Material recoverability was further evaluated using spectral unmixing techniques (VCA, N-FINDR, and PPI), with VCA offering the best accuracy–complexity trade-off on the calibrated Stokes reflectance dataset. Despite these gains, identification among chemically similar polyethylene variants remains challenging due to limited spectral and polarimetric contrast. An underwater detectability study under natural illumination reveals strong wavelength-dependent constraints: SWIR penetration is limited to 4 cm, whereas VNIR bands (430–550 nm) preserve detectability up to 20 cm, with DoLP enhancing edge visibility. These results motivate future validation in more complex aquatic conditions and with increased spectral dimensionality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hyperspectral Imaging for Environmental Monitoring)
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24 pages, 3820 KB  
Review
Advances in Magnetic and Electrochemical Techniques for Monitoring Corrosion and Microstructural Degradation in Steels
by Polyxeni Vourna, Pinelopi P. Falara, Aphrodite Ktena, Evangelos V. Hristoforou and Nikolaos D. Papadopoulos
Metals 2026, 16(3), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/met16030352 - 21 Mar 2026
Viewed by 283
Abstract
Steels remain among the most widely used structural and engineering materials in modern infrastructure, energy systems, and industrial facilities. Their long-term reliability depends critically on the early detection of corrosion damage and microstructural degradation. This review surveys recent advances in two complementary families [...] Read more.
Steels remain among the most widely used structural and engineering materials in modern infrastructure, energy systems, and industrial facilities. Their long-term reliability depends critically on the early detection of corrosion damage and microstructural degradation. This review surveys recent advances in two complementary families of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods: magnetic techniques, including magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN), magnetic flux leakage (MFL), eddy current testing (ECT), and magnetic hysteresis analysis; and electrochemical methods including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarization resistance (LPR), scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET), and electrochemical noise (EN). Recent progress in sensor miniaturization, signal processing algorithms, and multi-technique integration is reviewed. Particular attention is given to the sensitivity of these methods to microstructural changes reported in the literature, including carbide dissolution, phase transformations, temper embrittlement, and sensitization in stainless steels, as well as to the conditions under which such sensitivity has been demonstrated. The potential synergy between magnetic and electrochemical monitoring is discussed as a possible pathway toward more robust, condition-based maintenance frameworks. Challenges related to field deployment, environmental interference, calibration, and data interpretation are identified, and future directions—including machine learning-assisted analysis and multi-physics sensor arrays—are outlined. Full article
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19 pages, 9543 KB  
Article
Miniaturized Aiming/Tracking System and Control Model Analysis Based on Risley Gratings
by Xiaoming Li, Hao Wang, Lun Jiang, Tong Wang, Sheng Yang and Keyan Dong
Photonics 2026, 13(3), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13030298 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 282
Abstract
With the development of a photoelectric system in the aviation field, the requirements for airborne equipment have increased accordingly. The photoelectric aiming and tracking turntable as a crucial component in the photoelectric system has stringent requirements on weight and volume. A new type [...] Read more.
With the development of a photoelectric system in the aviation field, the requirements for airborne equipment have increased accordingly. The photoelectric aiming and tracking turntable as a crucial component in the photoelectric system has stringent requirements on weight and volume. A new type of structure with the coaxial dual-axis turntable has been researched, it adopts a structural form with two rotating axes connected in series and rotating Risley gratings by two independent mechanical shaft axes to complete pointing, capturing and tracking functions. This type of structure features compactness, small moments of inertia and fast response speed; this miniaturized aiming and tracking system with Risley grating is more suitable for airborne equipment. The Risley grating aiming and tracking system adjusts the optical axis angle using two rotating Risley gratings; it realizes beam pointing within a conical range through polarization diffraction. The aiming and tracking system based on Risley grating has small moving parts so it is lighter; it has more advantages than the traditional turntable. Although the tracking range is relatively limited, it still offers significant lightweight effects for certain special applications and can effectively reduce weight and volume. In this paper, we research the system of aiming and tracking with Risley gratings, the influence of mechanical turntable parameters on the system’s tracking accuracy is analyzed based on its working principle; error analysis and allocation of turntable errors are carried out. Subsequently, the decoupling model of the system is analyzed and system errors are compensated; the miniaturized tracking and calibration system based on Risley gratings is developed. Then, the photoelectric testing method based on dual reference mirrors proposed by us is used to test the coaxiality and axis jitter accuracy of the turntable. The system has an effective aperture > Φ120 mm, weight < 10 kg and volume < Φ190 × 155 mm. Pointing accuracy and dynamic tracking test show that the system’s pointing accuracy is ≯10″ and tracking accuracy is ≯380 μrad. Finally, a field tracking test is carried out and verify the system’s capability and performance. Full article
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15 pages, 7599 KB  
Article
Measurement of the Surface Spacing of Optical Components Based on Low-Coherence Four-Quadrant Envelope Detection
by Xiaoqin Shan, Zhigang Han and Rihong Zhu
Photonics 2026, 13(3), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13030281 - 15 Mar 2026
Viewed by 298
Abstract
A four-quadrant low-coherence envelope detection method was proposed for measuring the surface spacing of optical components, eliminating the requirement for precise control of the delay line scanning step to generate a π/2 phase shift. The method employs an orthogonal polarization Mach–Zehnder (MZ) fiber [...] Read more.
A four-quadrant low-coherence envelope detection method was proposed for measuring the surface spacing of optical components, eliminating the requirement for precise control of the delay line scanning step to generate a π/2 phase shift. The method employs an orthogonal polarization Mach–Zehnder (MZ) fiber interferometer, illuminated by a broadband superluminescent diode (SLD), and a four-quadrant polarization-resolved detector to simultaneously acquire spatially phase-shifted interference signals carrying surface spacing information. The interference envelope is directly demodulated to extract surface spacing, thereby decoupling measurement accuracy from mechanical stepping constraints. To enable real-time, high-precision calibration of the delay line, two complementary schemes were implemented: wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-based calibration and dual optical path calibration. Experimental results confirm that the dual-path scheme exhibits weak dependence on scanning velocity and remains stable across a wide speed range. Repeat measurements of the surface spacing of a 1 mm thick sapphire plate yielded a standard deviation (STD) of 1.3 μm. By relaxing the strict π/2 phase shift condition traditionally imposed on scanning step size, this method improves operational efficiency while maintaining measurement reliability—providing a robust and broadly applicable solution for metrology, including lens surface spacing and transparent plate thickness characterization. Full article
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41 pages, 2517 KB  
Review
A Comparative Review of Modeling and Metaheuristic Parameter Identification Strategies for Zero-Dimensional PEMFC Polarization Models
by Yesheng Fang, Fuyong Yang, Yanfeng Xing, Xiaobing Zhang, Wei Wang and Shengyao Lin
Energies 2026, 19(6), 1438; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19061438 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 259
Abstract
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are promising energy conversion de-vices owing to high efficiency and zero local emissions. Accurate PEMFC performance assessment and control require well-posed models, whose predictive accuracy is largely determined by the correct calibration of key parameters. Metaheuristic algorithms [...] Read more.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are promising energy conversion de-vices owing to high efficiency and zero local emissions. Accurate PEMFC performance assessment and control require well-posed models, whose predictive accuracy is largely determined by the correct calibration of key parameters. Metaheuristic algorithms (MHAs) have therefore been widely applied to PEMFC stack parameter estimation, but their rapid proliferation calls for a more systematic and fine-grained synthesis. This review refines the taxonomy of PEMFC mathematical modeling approaches and summarizes Zero-Dimensional PEMFC modeling methods, key parameters, and representative improvement directions aimed at reducing identification difficulty while retaining physical meaning. Newly developed MHAs and enhanced variants of existing methods are then surveyed, and over 40 distinctive optimization approaches are selected for systematic comparison. Modeling approaches and parameter identification methodologies are summarized. In addition, an algorithm selection guide and 26 representative algorithms with their variants are compiled and benchmarked across the five most widely used commercial PEMFC models to enable cross-model comparison. Full article
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15 pages, 3088 KB  
Article
Lightweight Semantic Segmentation Algorithm Based on Gated Visual State Space Models
by Kui Di, Jinming Cheng, Lili Zhang and Yubin Bao
Electronics 2026, 15(6), 1175; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15061175 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 362
Abstract
LiDAR serves as the primary sensor for acquiring environmental information in intelligent driving systems. However, under adverse weather conditions, point cloud signals obtained by LiDAR suffer from intensity attenuation and noise interference, leading to a decline in segmentation accuracy. To address these issues, [...] Read more.
LiDAR serves as the primary sensor for acquiring environmental information in intelligent driving systems. However, under adverse weather conditions, point cloud signals obtained by LiDAR suffer from intensity attenuation and noise interference, leading to a decline in segmentation accuracy. To address these issues, this paper designs a lightweight semantic segmentation system based on the Gated Visual State Space Model (VMamba), named RainMamba. Specifically, the system utilizes spherical projection to transform point clouds into 2D sequences and constructs a physical perception feature embedding module guided by the Beer–Lambert law to explicitly model and suppress spatial noise at the source. Subsequently, an uncertainty-weighted cross-modal correction module is employed to incorporate RGB images for dynamically calibrating the degraded point cloud data. Finally, a VMamba backbone is adopted to establish global dependencies with linear complexity. Experimental results on the SemanticKITTI dataset demonstrate that the system achieves an inference speed of 83 FPS, with a relative mIoU improvement of approximately 7.2% compared to the real-time baseline PolarNet. Furthermore, zero-shot evaluations on the real-world SemanticSTF dataset validate the system’s robust Sim-to-Real generalization capability. Notably, RainMamba delivers highly competitive accuracy comparable to the state-of-the-art heavy-weight model PTv3 while requiring a significantly lower parameter footprint, thereby demonstrating its immense potential for practical edge-computing deployment. Full article
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15 pages, 2042 KB  
Article
Matrix Effect Variability in Urine Samples from Different Cohorts and Implications on LC-ESI-MS Mycotoxin Biomarker Analysis
by Michael Kuhn, Åsa Svanström, Nicholas N. A. Kyei, Sanna Lignell, Hans-Ulrich Humpf and Benedikt Cramer
Toxins 2026, 18(3), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18030135 - 10 Mar 2026
Viewed by 512
Abstract
Matrix effects (ME) during LC-ESI-MS analysis are a commonly acknowledged issue for a variety of matrices and analytes. Although sample preparation techniques are steadily evolving to reduce ME, the complexity and variability of the urine matrix remain a challenge, especially for multi-analyte methods. [...] Read more.
Matrix effects (ME) during LC-ESI-MS analysis are a commonly acknowledged issue for a variety of matrices and analytes. Although sample preparation techniques are steadily evolving to reduce ME, the complexity and variability of the urine matrix remain a challenge, especially for multi-analyte methods. To investigate the extent of ME implications on method performance and quantification, we used stable isotope-labelled standards (SIL-IS) of 11 mycotoxins to evaluate the magnitude and variability of ME in urine samples from two cohorts: Bangladeshi adult women (n = 50) and Swedish children of both sexes (n = 340). Significant ME differences were observed between the two cohorts for eight of the 11 mycotoxins. Additionally, intra-cohort ME variability turned out to be very high with interquartile ranges (IQR) above 15% for 14 out of 22 analyte-cohort combinations. Maximum IQR values were observed for sterigmatocystin in the Bangladeshi cohort (318%), strongly impacting quantitative results obtained with matrix(-matched) calibration. Further experiments on a small German cohort of four subjects, each providing four to five urine samples, revealed high variability of ME within each individual. Factors influencing ME were investigated, showing little to no impact of sex and a moderate impact of age for some analytes in the Swedish cohort. Nonetheless, especially the more polar analytes, showing stronger signal suppression, demonstrated clear correlation of ME with density and creatinine concentration of the urine samples. As a result, urine samples with very high or low density or creatinine values require careful handling in regard to sensitivity or quantification errors when matrix(-matched) calibration without SIL-IS is applied. Full article
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19 pages, 10559 KB  
Article
RadioObservations of Microquasars with FAST
by Botao Li and Wei Wang
Astronomy 2026, 5(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/astronomy5010006 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 282
Abstract
We report six radio observations of four microquasars—SS 433, GRS 1915+105, Cyg X-3 and MAXI J1820+070—conducted between 2022 and 2025 with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) using its pulsar backend, achieving a time resolution of 98.304 μs across an effective [...] Read more.
We report six radio observations of four microquasars—SS 433, GRS 1915+105, Cyg X-3 and MAXI J1820+070—conducted between 2022 and 2025 with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) using its pulsar backend, achieving a time resolution of 98.304 μs across an effective feed range of 1.04–1.45 GHz. A major focus of this work is the development of a standardized calibration pipeline for microquasar observations, including RFI mitigation, flux density, and polarization calibration, as well as multi-beam correlation inspections. Using On–Off mode and cross-beam verification, radio activity was detected in SS 433, GRS 1915+105 and Cyg X-3, while MAXI J1820+070 remained inactive. Both SS 433 and GRS 1915+105 show low linear polarization degrees of only a few percent. No credible quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) were detected in the 0.01–100 Hz range, suggesting that radio QPOs within this frequency range are relatively rare compared to those observed in the X-ray band. We therefore highlight the importance of future monitoring with high–time-resolution and high–sensitivity radio telescopes such as FAST, which will be crucial for revealing the correlation between jet and accretion processes and for uncovering the physical origin of QPOs. Full article
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16 pages, 3767 KB  
Article
A Single-Cell Optically Pumped Intrinsic Gradiometer
by Nicholaus Zilinski, Ash M. Parameswaran, Bonnie L. Gray and Teresa Cheung
Sensors 2026, 26(5), 1678; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26051678 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 576
Abstract
Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) provide a non-cryogenic alternative to superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for detecting weak biomagnetic fields. We report the design, construction, and characterization of a single-cell intrinsic OPM gradiometer. The gradiometer employs a rubidium-87 vapor cell in an orthogonal pump [...] Read more.
Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) provide a non-cryogenic alternative to superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for detecting weak biomagnetic fields. We report the design, construction, and characterization of a single-cell intrinsic OPM gradiometer. The gradiometer employs a rubidium-87 vapor cell in an orthogonal pump and probe beam configuration. The pump beam was split to illuminate two parallel sensing regions of the cell, separated by a baseline of 3 cm, with opposing circular polarization. A linearly polarized probe beam propagated through both regions and was captured by a balanced polarimeter whose output directly measured the spatial magnetic gradient. This prototype achieved a common-mode rejection ratio exceeding 50 dB and a sensitivity of 267 pT/cm/√Hz without passive magnetic shielding, using active ambient-field coils. As a proof of concept, we recorded preliminary cardiac-synchronous magnetic measurements using an optical pulse sensor for beat segmentation. After bandpass filtering and ensemble averaging, a cardiac-synchronous waveform was observed, consistent with cardiac timing. Unlike many multi-cell gradiometers that require complex calibration, modulation, and passive shielding, this single-cell design reduces cost and complexity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
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23 pages, 4673 KB  
Article
Mode-Selective Integrated Optical Waveguide for OTTD Systems: Intrinsic Mode Analysis and Wavelength-Dependent Transmission Optimization
by Ting An, Limin Liu, Yafeng Meng, Sai Zhu, Chunhui Han and Yunfeng Jiang
Photonics 2026, 13(3), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13030239 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 269
Abstract
Traditional electronic phased array radars are constrained by electronic bottlenecks, resulting in inherent limitations including large form factor, fixed operational parameters, and narrow instantaneous bandwidth, which fail to meet the stringent requirements of next-generation high-performance radar systems. Optical true time delay (OTTD) technology [...] Read more.
Traditional electronic phased array radars are constrained by electronic bottlenecks, resulting in inherent limitations including large form factor, fixed operational parameters, and narrow instantaneous bandwidth, which fail to meet the stringent requirements of next-generation high-performance radar systems. Optical true time delay (OTTD) technology based on integrated optical waveguides emerges as a core solution for realizing broadband, compact optically controlled beamforming systems. Traditional silicon-based waveguides suffer from severe mode competition (delay jitter > ±0.05 ps), energy leakage (transmission loss > 0.5 dB/cm) and large beamforming angle fluctuation (>0.3°) in OTTD systems, failing to meet the picosecond-level delay accuracy and broadband beam squint-free requirements of next-generation phased array radars. Thus, a customized mode-selective waveguide design for OTTD systems is urgently required. To address these critical challenges, this study proposes an OTTD-customized mode-selective integrated optical waveguide design tailored for OTTD systems, with three distinct innovations: (1) A systematic OTTD-oriented mode classification and selection methodology is established—instead of a conventional single-mode design, the fundamental TE0 mode is identified as the optimal operating mode through Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) simulation, (95% TE polarization fraction and 2.0553 effective refractive index at 1548.39 nm, which cannot be achieved by other guided modes for OTTD applications). (2) The wavelength-dependent transmission characteristics of the TE0 mode are quantitatively characterized, revealing a linear correlation between the effective refractive index (2.05–2.10) and wavelength (1500–1550 nm), alongside a controllable group delay range of 1.4315–1.4395 ps—this precise linear model fills the gap of lacking OTTD-specialized delay calibration theory in conventional waveguide research. (3) An OTTD-optimized practical mode selection criterion for OTTD applications is proposed by modifying the standard guided-vs-leaky condition for asymmetric waveguides: the effective refractive index of the operating mode must exceed the substrate refractive index with a fabrication tolerance margin (neff > 1.44 ± 0.02 for SiO2 substrate) to mitigate leakage and adapt to OTTD picosecond-level delay precision. This criterion is validated through system-level beamforming experiments (rather than only device-level simulation), and the designed waveguide achieves a mode suppression ratio (MSR) of >30 dB for leakage modes and a transmission loss of <0.2 dB/cm, which is significantly superior to conventional single-mode waveguides in OTTD systems. Experimental results indicate that the angle fluctuation of the beamforming system is less than 0.08°, which is significantly superior to the 0.3° fluctuation observed in traditional silicon waveguide OTTD systems. This work provides a technical solution for improving the performance of optical phased array radar and laser radar and has broad engineering application prospects in microwave photonics and optical communication fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Optoelectronic Systems)
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21 pages, 4038 KB  
Article
Fused Complementary 3D Reconstruction Based on Polarization Binocular Line-Structured Light
by Mingsheng Liu, Hongyuan Zhou, Sisheng Nie, Yan Jiang, Zhong Wu, Dahai Xu, Ling Zhu, Yanliang Zhan and Zhenmin Zhu
Photonics 2026, 13(3), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13030238 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 398
Abstract
Line-structured light three-dimensional (3D) measurement is commonly used for three-dimensional contour reconstruction of objects in complex industrial environments, but the problem of missing information occurs when three-dimensional reconstruction is performed on objects with smooth surfaces, single texture, and high reflectivity, resulting in defective [...] Read more.
Line-structured light three-dimensional (3D) measurement is commonly used for three-dimensional contour reconstruction of objects in complex industrial environments, but the problem of missing information occurs when three-dimensional reconstruction is performed on objects with smooth surfaces, single texture, and high reflectivity, resulting in defective reconstructed object surfaces. For this reason, this study proposes a fused complementary 3D reconstruction technique based on a polarization-based binocular line-structured light system. First, the reconstructed image of the object is captured using a Polarization Binocular Camera, and the polarized imaging effectively reduces the strong highlights and extracts more detailed information on the surface of the object. Then, the calibrated camera and optical planes are used to acquire the spatial coordinates of the object reconstructed by the left camera and right camera. Finally, the spatial coordinates obtained by the left camera and right camera are aligned, and the high-precision 3D reconstruction results are generated. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the accuracy and robustness of 3D reconstruction, has a good application prospect, and can meet the technical requirements of industrial 3D measurement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Micro-Nano Optical Design and Manufacturing)
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16 pages, 1349 KB  
Article
Chemical and Enantioselective Analysis of the Leaf Essential Oil from Varronia crenata Ruiz & Pav. Growing in Ecuador
by Karem Cazares, Yessenia E. Maldonado, Nixon Cumbicus, Gianluca Gilardoni and Omar Malagón
Molecules 2026, 31(3), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31030532 - 3 Feb 2026
Viewed by 466
Abstract
Essential oils from species of the genus Varronia (Boraginaceae) are recognized for their chemical diversity and biological potential; however, phytochemical information on Varronia crenata Ruiz & Pav. remains scarce, despite its wide distribution in the Andean region. The aim of this study was [...] Read more.
Essential oils from species of the genus Varronia (Boraginaceae) are recognized for their chemical diversity and biological potential; however, phytochemical information on Varronia crenata Ruiz & Pav. remains scarce, despite its wide distribution in the Andean region. The aim of this study was to provide the first chemical and enantioselective characterization of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of V. crenata growing in Ecuador. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out by GC–MS and GC–FID, respectively, using two columns with stationary phases of contrasting polarity. Compounds were identified by matching linear retention indices and mass spectra to literature references and quantified by external calibration using relative response factors (RRFs) calculated for each compound based on its combustion enthalpy. The most abundant constituents (≥3.0% on average between the two columns) of the essential oil of V. crenata, both in the nonpolar and polar stationary phases, were germacrene D (18.4%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (13.3%), α-copaene (10.4%), tricyclene (9.3%), δ-cadinene (8.9%), and α-pinene (8.3%). The volatile fraction was dominated by sesquiterpenes (60.2%) and monoterpenes (22.1%), while other chemical families were present in minor proportions. The enantioselective analysis was performed on two different columns, coated with stationary phases based on β-cyclodextrins: 2,3-diacetyl-6-tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin and 2,3-diethyl-6-tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin. Nine chiral compounds were analyzed; among them, (1R,5R)-(+)-α-pinene, (1R,5R)-(+)-sabinene, and (S)-(+)-β-phellandrene were detected as enantiomerically pure, while the other metabolites presented scalemic mixtures. Overall, the high content of bioactive sesquiterpenes and the observed stereochemical complexity highlight the potential pharmaceutical and agricultural relevance of V. crenata essential oil, while also providing novel chemotaxonomic information for the genus. Full article
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