Engineering Commons^™

Spontaneous Mode Locking In Long-Cavity Xenon Lasers, Manuela Fe Tarroja, Mohammad Sharafi, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Spontaneous mode locking in Fabry—Perot xenon lasers has been experimentally investigated for cavity lengths up to 66 m. Our results show dependence of the number of pulses per round-trip time on the cavity length and the excitation current. Other dynamical effects such as the ringing and modulation of the mode-locked pulses have been observed. A semiclassical model for the self-locking of an inhomogeneously broadened laser is also presented. Numerical results based on this model describe many dynamical features observed in our experiments.

A Comparative Study Of The Performance Of Various Image Analysis Methods For Dimensional Inspection With Vision Systems, Ralf Heinrich Koeppe

Dissertations and Theses

Dimensional inspection with Vision Systems requires a careful selection of image analysis methods in order to obtain accurate information about the geometry of the parts to be measured.

The purpose of this project is to study, implement and compare different image evaluation methods and to show their strengths and weaknesses with respect to dimensional inspection. Emphasis is made on the inspection of circular features. The criteria of comparison for these methods are discussed. Using synthetically generated images, various analysis methods are compared and conclusions for their use are drawn. Results of the comparison show that the selection of a method …

Invariant Pattern Recognition Algorithm Using The Hough Transform, Duwang Li

Dissertations and Theses

A new algorithm is proposed which uses the Hough Transform to recognize two dimensional objects independent of their orientations, sizes and locations. The binary image of an object is represented by a set of straight lines. Features of the straight lines, namely the lengths and the angles of their normals, their lengths and the end point positions are extracted using the Hough Transform. A data structure for the extracted lines is constructed so that it is efficient to match the features of the lines of one object to those of another object, and determine if one object is a rotated …

Theory Of A Synchronously Pumped Mode-Locked Dye Laser In The Short Pump Pulse Limit, Duncan Leo Macfarlane, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

We study the operation of a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser when the pump pulse is taken as a Dirac delta function, a limit that is sometimes experimentally reasonable. We find that in this limit the model simplifies considerably and that with further assumptions the physical interpretation of synchronously pumped mode-locked operation becomes apparent. Specifically, our nonlinear dynamical model reduces to the same set of equations that govern a prepumped Q-switched laser, and from this simple picture we are able to derive approximate analytic formulas for the synchronously pumped mode-locked laser pulse width and peak intensity. Additionally, we present a …

The Application Of The Ordered List Method And The Dynamic Programming To The Unit Commitment, Hoang Uong

Dissertations and Theses

The thesis presents a method of committing generating units in a hydro-thermal power system within practical computer resources such as computer time and data storage.

Direct Current-Excited Cw Co² Metal Waveguide Laser, Fahad S. Al-Mashaabi, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A novel design for a dc-excited cw CO₂ metal waveguide laser has been developed in which a slotted hollow cathode also doubles as a metal waveguide for the cavity modes. This design has been implemented in a compact structure that produces over 1 W of cw 10.6-µm radiation. The discharge characteristics, laser gain, and laser output have been studied as functions of various discharge parameters. The advantages of the transverse discharge of the slotted hollow cathode geometry include low voltage, positive impedance, rugged structure, and high optical gain. Overall efficiency is comparable with that of conventional longitudinal CO² lasers. The …

A Finite State Machine Synthesizer, Jiuling Liu

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis presents a Finite State Machine (FSM) Synthesizer developed at Portland State University. The synthesizer starts from a high level behavioral description, in which no states are specified, and generates the lower level FSM descriptions for simulation and physical layout generation.

Pump Pulse Effects In Synchronously Pumped Mode-Locked Dye Lasers, Duncan Leo Macfarlane, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

We consider the role of the pump pulse in the output of a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser. Our theoretical formalism is a nonlinear dynamical model that includes semiclassical effects, dipole orientation, and intrband relaxation. In particular, we study the shortenting of the output pulse with decreasing pump pulse length and increasing pump level. Both of these predictions agree with experiments.

Spontaneous Coherent Pulsations In Standing-Wave Laser Oscillators: Frequency Characteristics, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The output signal from a spontaneously pulsing laser must, by definition, consist of more than one frequency component. The experimental and theoretical study of the frequency components'associated with such a laser can provide valuable insights into the pulsation processes. The results of an investigation into the frequency characteristics of a spontaneously pulsing standing-wave laser are reported.

Application Of Hough Transformation To Detect Ovulatory Patterns In Cervical Mucus Images, Shiliang Wang

Dissertations and Theses

A microcomputer system called ovulocomputer is proposed. The system is used to predict and detect ovulation of women. It will use image processing and analysis, pattern recognition theory, spectrophotometry, ionometry and conductometry to measure various physical and chemical properties of cervical mucus that are related to blood hormone levels.

The functions and characteristics of cervical mucus are introduced in this thesis. Among them, the identification of cervical mucus images, named the ferning test, and related features, are well described.

A new idea, called ferning test automation, which has been neither proposed nor developed before, is presented and explained in detail …

The Effects Of Bandwidth Limiting Tuning Elements On A Synchronously Pumped Mode-Locked Dye Laser, Bahram Zandi

Dissertations and Theses

In this study an improved description of the bandwidth limiting tuning filters has been introduced into a semiclassical model for a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser system. This model is an improvement over the traditional rate equation approach since it has detailed representations of the energy levels, rotational distribution, and coherence effects. The new set of equations has been solved numerically using the best available values for the various parameters, and autocorrelations have been computed for a range of different length detuning and bandwidth limiting elements. In the experiments, an acousto-optically mode-locked argon ion laser is used to synchronously pump …

A New Approach To State Minimization Of Finite State Machines, William Yue Zhao

Dissertations and Theses

A complete program to ease the task of large scale Finite State Machine (FSM) minimization presented in this thesis: TDFM (Two Dimensional FSM Minimizer), is a part of the DIADES system. DIADES is an Automatic Design Synthesis System whose development in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Portland State University is supported in part by a research grant from SHARP Microelectronics Technology.

Parallel Architectures For Solving Combinatorial Problems Of Logic Design, Phuong Minh Ho

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis presents a new, practical approach to solve various NP-hard combinatorial problems of logic synthesis, logic programming, graph theory and related areas. A problem to be solved is polynomially time reduced to one of several generic combinatorial problems which can be expressed in the form of the Generalized Propositional Formula (GPF) : a Boolean product of clauses, where each clause is a sum of products of negated or non-negated literals.

Ultrashort Pulse Production In Synchronously Pumped Mode-Locked Dye Laser Systems, Duncan Leo Macfarlane

Dissertations and Theses

The concern of this dissertation is the understanding and improvement of a class of lasers that is responsible for some of the shortest optical pulses available today. In particular, we seek ways to produce from synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser systems, shorter pulses of higher intensity with improved pulse-to-pulse consistency. Specific topics.that are discussed herein include the study of the role of the pump pulse in synchronously pumped mode-locked lasers, the study of the pulse shaping and shortening due to an intracavity saturable absorber, and the study of a fundamental pulse train instability associated with these lasers.

A Cmos Circuit Generator Using Differential Pass Transistors For Implementing Boolean Functions, Rabe'eh Mahooti

Dissertations and Theses

This study uses differential pass transistor methodology for implementing and evaluating Boolean functions. The main goal is investigation of CMOS and nMOS approaches in pass transistor logic design. Pass-transistor logic is most effective in the implementation of Boolean functions when the vectors are in the same format. It has been demonstrated that nMOS pass transistor logic driven by a control signal voltage above the V_dd level offers a significant improvement in speed. nMOS pass transistorsalso offer less area consumption in comparison to the CMOS approach.

The philosophy developed here has been used in the design of a program for …

A Lagrangian For A System Of Two Dyons, Rainer Georg Thierauf

Dissertations and Theses

Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field are symmetrized by introducing magnetic charges into the formalism of electrodynamics. The symmetrized equations are solved for the fields and potentials of point particles. Those potentials, some of which are found to be singular along a line, are used to formulate the Lagrangian for a system of two dyons (particles with both electric and magnetic charge). The equations of motion are derived from the Lagrangian. It is shown that the dimensionality constants k and k*, which were introduced to define the units of the electromagnetic fields, have to be equal in order to avoid …

Logic Design Using Programmable Logic Devices, Loc Bao Nguyen

Dissertations and Theses

The Programmable Logic Devices, PLO, have caused a major impact in logic design of digital systems in this decade. For instance, a twenty pin PLO device can replace from three hundreds to six hundreds Transistor Transistor Logic gates, which people have designed with since the 60s. Therefore, by using PLD devices, designers can squeeze more features, reduce chip counts, reduce power consumption, and enhance the reliability of the digital systems.

This thesis covers the most important aspects of logic design using PLD devices. They are Logic Minimization and State Assignment. In addition, the thesis also covers a seldomly used but …

The Lunar Date Of Ramesses Ii, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Due largely to the efforts of R. A. Parker, the various calendars used in Egypt are now fairly well understood. Dates which the Egyptians expressed in both their civil and lunar calendars can sometimes be determined exactly, and the study of such dates has been extremely important in efforts to establish an accurate Egyptian chronology. However, the successful use of this method obviously depends on one's ability to reconstruct accurately the astronomical and observational conditions on which the lunar calendar was based. The author re-examined the methods used to calculate lunar dates and have suggested some ways in which those …

Implementing Ray Tracing Algorithm In Parallel Environment, Tjah Jadi

Dissertations and Theses

Ray tracing is a very popular rendering algorithm in the field of computer graphics because it can generate highly-realistic images from three-dimensional models. Unfortunately, the computational cost is very expensive. To speed up the rendering process we present both static and dynamic scheduling (balancing) strategies for a multiprocessor system. Hence, the load balancing among the processors is the most important problem in parallel processing. The implementation of the algorithm is based on a modified octree structure.

Dc-Excited Cw Co₂ Metal Waveguide Laser, Fahad Saleh Al-Mashaabi

Dissertations and Theses

A novel design for a DC excited cw CO₂ metal waveguide laser has been developed in which a slotted hollow-cathode in a transverse discharge also doubles as a metal waveguide. This design has been implemented in a compact design that produces up to 1 watt of cw, 10.6 μm radiation. The discharge characteristics, laser gain and laser output has been studied as functions of various discharge parameters. The advantages of the new transverse discharge of the slotted hollow cathode geometry include low voltage, positive impedence and high optical gain. Overall efficiency is comparable with those of conventional longitudinal CO …

Spectral Behavior And Pulse Train Instabilities Of A Synchronously Pumped Mode-Locked Dye Laser, Duncan Leo Macfarlane, Lee W. Casperson, Anthony A. Tovar

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The pulse-train envelope of a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser has been experimentally studied as a function of cavity length detuning. When a bandwidth-limiting birefringent tuning filter is included and the cavity is adjusted to the length that yields optimally short (˜2-psec) pulse, there is a slow (≤800 kHz), erratic amplitude modulation that provides a 20% variation in pulse energies. As the cavity length is detuned on the order of one part in 10⁴, the modulation vanishes, but the individual pulse lengths increade dramtically. Further detuning results in a clean periodic envelope with a 20% modulation depth and a˜5-μsec period. …

Spontaneous Coherent Pulsations In Standing-Wave Laser Oscillators, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Spontaneous pulsation phenomena in xenon lasers are now well known, and related effects have been observed with other laser types. Most theoretical analyses of such pulsations are formulated for unidirectional ring lasers, whereas most experiments involve standing-wave resonator geometries. Described here are rigorous semiclassical models governing the spontaneous pulsation instability in standing-wave laser oscillators. The standing-wave results are more complex and closer to experimental observations than the ring results for operation in the Lambdip region near line center.

A New General Purpose Systolic Array For Matrix Computations, Hai Van Dinh Le

Dissertations and Theses

In this thesis, we propose a new systolic architecture which is based on the Faddeev's algorithm. Because Faddeev's algorithm is inherently general purpose, our architecture is able to perform a wide class of matrix computations. And since the architecture is systolic based, it brings massive parallelism to all of its computations. As a result, many matrix operations including addition, multiplication, inversion, LU-decomposition, transpose, and solutions to linear systems of equations can now be performed extremely fast. In addition, our design introduces several concepts which are new to systolic architectures:

- It can be re-configured during run time to perform different …

Voltage Controlled Resistance Model For Mos Transistors, Joey Zong-Yi Jia

Dissertations and Theses

The voltage controlled resistance model is developed for a reliable MOS transistor resistance mapping. The model includes both system and local parameters, and incorporates the effect of rise and fall time variations on the gate delay. MOS transistor resistance mapping is applied in logic simulation and timing verification. Also, it can be used in automatic transistor sizing and critical path analysis.

Two Dimensional And Three Dimensional Path Planning In Robotics, Hyun Suk Kim

Dissertations and Theses

A methodology for 2D and 3D collision free path planning algorithm in a structured environment is presented. The isolated free convex areas are represented as a nodes in a graph, and a graph traversal strategy that dynamically allocates costs to graph path is used. Modification of the algorithm for small computational time and optimality is discussed. The 3D path planning is done in the three orthogonal two-dimensional projections of a 3D environment. Collision checking to increase the optimality for 3D paths is done in each of the three orthogonal two-dimensional subspaces.

Off-Axis Multimode Light Beam Propagation In Tapered Lenslike Media Including Those With Spatial Gain Or Loss Variation, Anthony Alan Tovar

Dissertations and Theses

The propagation of light beams in inhomogeneous dielectric media is considered. The derivation begins with first principles and remains general enough to include off-axis asymmetric multimode input beams in tapered lenslike media with spatial variations of gain or loss. The tapering of lenslike media leads to a number of important applications. A parabolic taper is proposed as a model for a heated axially stretched fiber taper, and beams in such media are fully characterized. Other models are proposed by the concatenation of a parabola with other taper functions.

Safety Related Model And Studies Of Trojan Nuclear Power Plant Electrical Distribution System, Hamidreza Sharifnia

Dissertations and Theses

The most important requirement for running a nuclear power plant safely is having a reliable safety system, especially during the emergency shutdown condition. For performing a scrutiny load flow and voltage drop study a detailed and comprehensive electrical model for the emergency electrical distribution system of the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant has been developed. This model includes the representation of the transformers, circuit breakers, motors, cables and load data from 4160 volts level down to the individual 480 volts loads.

Hyperbolic Soil Parameters For Granular Soils Derived From Pressuremeter Tests For Finite Element Programs, Dieter Neumann

Dissertations and Theses

In the discipline of geotechnical Engineering the majority of finite element program users is familiar with the hyperbolic soil model. The input parameters are commonly obtained from a series of triaxial tests. For cohesionless soils however, today's sampling techniques fail to provide undisturbed soil specimen. Furthermore, routine triaxial tests can not be carried out on soils with grains exceeding 10 - 15 mm in size.

Initial developments towards a link between high quality pressuremeter tests and the hyperbolic finite parameters element input are presented. Theoretical and empirical approaches are used to determine the entire set of and from pressuremeter tests. …

Development Of A Parametric Analysis Microcomputer Model For Evaluating The Thermodynamic Performance Of A Reciprocating Brayton Cycle Engine, Thomas Joseph White

Dissertations and Theses

In this thesis, applicable data from research on IC engines have been adapted to PACE engine designs. Data from studies on heat transfer, friction, and pressure losses, in particular, have been used. Certain parameters which define operation and design characteristics appear to influence PACE engine performance very strongly. Some of the more critical parameters, notably friction and heat transfer coefficients, must be determined experimentally if accurate model results are to be expected. Pressure ratio, compressor RPM, and maximum combustor temperature, the independent operating parameters, also have a dramatic effect on engine performance. Other design or operating characteristics and working fluid …

Pulse-Train Instabilities In A Mode-Locked Argon Laser: Experimental Studies, Duncan Leo Macfarlane, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The output train of pulses from an acousto-optically mode-locked argon-ion laser was studied as a function of the loss modulation frequency for small detunings from the optimum c/2L modulation. A shift away from the optimum frequency by as little as 1 part in 10⁴ was found to produce several strong lower-frequency components that amplitude modulate the mode-locked pulse train. Notably, the strongest subharmonic is a frequency near ƒopt/4. Further detuning results in an irregular, slow (of the order of 10⁵ Hz) amplitude envelope on the pulse train. The homodyne spectrum of this phase of operation represents a progressive filling-in behavior …