Optical Imaging Sensors And Systems For Homeland Security Applications

Optical and photonic systems and devices have significant potential for homeland security. "Optical Imaging Sensors and Systems for Homeland Security Applications" presents original and significant technical contributions from leaders of industry, government, and academia in the field of optical and photonic sensors, systems and devices for detection, identification, prevention, sensing, security, verification and anti-counterfeiting. The chapters have recent and technically significant results, ample illustrations, figures, and key references. This book is intended for engineers and scientists in the relevant fields, graduate students, industry managers, university professors, government managers, and policy makers.

Homeland security and context In the Geographical Dimensions of Terrorism (GDOT) (Cutter et al. 2003), the first book after 9/11 to address homeland security and geography, we developed several thematic research agendas and explored intersections between geographic research and the importance of context, both geographical and political, in relationship to the concepts of terrorism and security. It is good to see that a great deal of new thought and research continues to flow from that initial research agenda, as illustrated by many of the papers of this new book, entitled Geospatial Technologies and Homeland Security: Research Frontiers and Future Challenges. Context is relevant not only to understanding homeland security issues broadly, but also to the conduct of research on geospatial technologies. It is impossible to understand the implications of a homeland security strategy, let alone hope to make predictions, conduct meaningful modeling and research, or assess the value and dangers of geospatial technologies, without consideration of overarching political, social, economic, and geographic contexts within which these questions are posed.

Speckle metrology includes various optical techniques that are based on the speckle fields generated by reflection from a rough surface or by transmission through a rough diffuser. These techniques have proven to be very useful in testing different materials in a non-destructive way. They have changed dramatically during the last years due to the development of modern optical components, with faster and more powerful digital computers, and novel data processing approaches. This most up-to-date overview of the topic describes new techniques developed in the field of speckle metrology over the last decade, as well as applications to experimental mechanics, material science, optical testing, and fringe analysis.

This book deals with the latest achievements in the field of optical coherent microscopy. While many other books exist on microscopy and imaging, this book provides a unique resource dedicated solely to this subject. Similarly, many books describe applications of holography, interferometry and speckle to metrology but do not focus on their use for microscopy. The coherent light microscopy reference provided here does not focus on the experimental mechanics of such techniques but instead is meant to provide a users manual to illustrate the strengths and capabilities of developing techniques. The areas of application of this technique are in biomedicine, medicine, life sciences, nanotechnology and materials sciences.

This book deals with the latest achievements in the field of ferroelectric domain engineering and characterization at micro- and nano-scale dimensions and periods. The book collects the results obtained in the last years by world scientific leaders in the field, thus providing a valid and unique overview of the state-of-the-art and also a view to future applications of those engineered and used materials in the field of photonics. The second edition covers the major aspects of ferroelectric domain engineering and combines basic research and latest updated applications such as challenging results by introducing either new as well as extended chapters on Photonics Crystals based on Lithium Niobate and Lithium Tantalate crystals; generation, visualization and controlling of THz radiation; latest achievements on Optical Parametric Oscillators for application in precise spectroscopy. Further more recent advancements in characterization by probe scanning microscopy and optical methods with device and technological orientation. A state-of-the-art report on periodically poled processes and their characterization methods are provided on different materials (LiNbO3, KTP) furnishing update research on ferroelectric crystal by extending materials research and applications.

Worldwide, Ovarian carcinoma continues to be responsible for more deaths than all other gynecologic malignancies combined. International leaders in the field address the critical biologic and basic science issues relevant to the disease. The book details the molecular biological aspects of ovarian cancer. It provides molecular biology techniques of understanding this cancer. The techniques are designed to determine tumor genetics, expression, and protein function, and to elucidate the genetic mechanisms by which gene and immunotherapies may be perfected. It provides an analysis of current research into aspects of malignant transformation, growth control, and metastasis. A comprehensive spectrum of topics is covered providing up to date information on scientific discoveries and management considerations.

The thesis presents an original and smart way to manipulate liquid and polymeric materials using a “pyro-fluidic platform” which exploits the pyro-electric effect activated onto a ferroelectric crystal. It describes a great variety of functionalities of the pyro-electrohydrodynamic platform, such as droplet self-assembling and dispensing, for manipulating multiphase liquids at the micro- and nanoscale. The thesis demonstrates the feasibility of non-contact self-assembling of liquids in plane (1D) using a micro engineered crystal, improving the dispensing capability and the smart transfer of material between two different planes (2D) and controlling and fabricating three-dimensional structures (3D). The thesis present the fabrication of highly integrated and automated ‘lab-on-a-chip’ systems based on microfluidics. The pyro-platform presented herein offers the great advantage of enabling the actuation of liquids in contact with a polar dielectric crystal through an electrode-less configuration. The simplicity and flexibility of the method for fabricating 3D polymer microstructures shows the great potential of the pyro-platform functionalities, exploitable in many fields, from optics to biosensing. In particular, this thesis reports the fabrication of optically active elements, such as nanodroplets, microlenses and microstructures, which have many potential applications in photonics. The capability for manipulating the samples of interest in a touch-less modality is very attractive for biological and chemical assays. Besides controlling cell growth and fate, smart micro-elements could deliver optical stimuli from and to cells monitoring their growth in real time, opening interesting perspectives for the realization of optically active scaffolds made of nanoengineered functional elements, thus paving the way to fascinating Optogenesis Studies.