Presently a large number of superconducting accelerators under construction or proposed impose stringent requirements on the rf control of the accelerating fields, operability, and reliability. The accelerator application range from linear colliders, UV-FELs and X-FELs, ERL based light sources, high power proton accelerators to heavy ion accelerators. Examples are TESLA and NLC, the European XFEL and Lux, the Cornell ERL based light source, the high power ERL based IR-FEL at JLAB, the neutron spallation source SNS, the heavy ion accelerator RIA, and the energy upgrade of the CEBAF accelerator at JLAB. The requirements on the rf systems range from low to high current, medium to high gradient, and relativistic to non-relativistics beam. With the technology in analog and digital electronics developing rapidly, the technology for rf feedback system is changing more and more from analog or hybrid systems towards fully digital systems. Todays DSPs and FPGAs can process sophisticated feedback algorithms on a time scale of some 100 ns to a few us with ADCs and DACs with about 100 MHz bandwidth at 14 bit and latencies less than 100 ns available to inter-face to the field detectors and field control actuators. Also fast analog multiplier technology allows for field detection and actuators for rf control with high linearity, measurement and control bandwidth while maintaining low noise levels.

The paper describes an integrated, hardware system for the control and simulation of a superconducting cavity of the linear accelerator. The photonic and electronic control system was realized using a programmable FPGA chip Xilinx Virtex II 3000. The chip was placed on a board Xtreme DSP Development Kit by Nallatech. The system was implemented using the VHDL technology. The hardware multiplying blocks from the Virtex II series chip were used. The resultant controller device worked in the real time, in accordance with the requirements of the TESLA Test Facility project, for the LLRF sub-system of the resonant cavities. In particular, the paper describes the functional layer of the system. Individual executing blocks of the controller implemented in the FPGA chip were debated. The functional structure and hardware implementation of the controller communication layer were presented. Some examples of the system in action were chosen. A number of the real time processes were monitored.

This paper describes the results obtained with the first prototype of the embedded PC (Axis ETRAX LX MCM) based board for control and data acquisition system, to be used in TESLA controller and simulator (SIMCON). This board is a result of the new approach to the architecture of measurement systems, where the VME controller is replaced with the embedded PC, to improve the functionality and to reduce cost of the system. This new concept assures better scalability and testability of the SIMCON board.

The paper describes design and practical realization of software for laboratory purposes to control FPGA-based photonic and electronic equipment. There is presented a universal solution for all relevant devices with FPGA chips and gigabit optical links. The paper describes architecture of the software layers and program solutions of hardware communication based on Internal Interface (II) technology. Such a solution was used for superconducting Cavity Controller and Simulator (SIMCON) for the TESLA experiment in DESY (Hamburg). A number of practical examples of the software solutions for the SIMCON system were given in this paper.

The UV Free-Electron Laser (UVFEL) and The TeV-Energy Superconducting Linear Accelerator (TESLA) projects will require phase synchronization of 0.1 ps short term (millisecond), 1 ps short term (minutes) and 10 ps long term (days). The stringent synchronization requirement of 10fs was given for the X-Ray Free- Electron Laser (XFEL). To fufill this requirement the XFEL may use a fiber laser as reference generator. But this requirement applies for a special location only, therefore the RF phase reference distribution system developed UVFEL and TESLA will also be used in the XFEL. The RF phase reference distribution system must deliver phase stable signals to hundreds of stations over a length of 33 km. Long, optical fiber based links are planned to be an important part of the entire distribution system. This paper describes the concept of a long optical link, with a feedback system suppressing long term drifts of the RF signal phase. Stability requirements are given and most important design issues affecting system performance are discussed. Finally, an experimental setup and measurement results demonstrating system performance is shown.

The paper describes design and performance of the DOOCS (distributed, object oriented) based control system for the cavity simulator and controller (SIMCON). A concise description of the DOOCS system is given. Resident data types and data flow throughout the Simcon system are discussed. The basic ideas and implementation issues of the server and client application are described as well as some alternatives to the DOOCS solution (considered as partial) is presented.

The paper introduces a dedicated LLRF control module developed for the Free Electron Laser (FEL) called internally also the "TESLA Test Facility phase II" because of some daring scientific plans to build in the future the X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) as well as the TESLA project. This DSP-board has been dedicated for electron beam gun called RF-gun feedback system and also for the cavity (superconducting electromagnetic resonator) feedback system and cavity simulator implemented in one DSP system chip. The system for the elctromagnetic field parameters control is meant as the feedback system -- in this document. The board is based on a large modern Field Programmble Gate Array (FPGA) chip by "Xilinx" and fast Analog to Digital Converters (ADC) and Digital to Analog converters (DAC) by "Analog Devices."

The work presents a structural and functional model of a distributed low level radio frequency (LLRF) control system for the TESLA-XFEL accelerator. The design of a system basing on the FPGA chips and multi-gigabit optical network was debated. The system design approach was fully parametric. The major emphasis is put on the methods of the functional and hardware concentration to use fully both: a very big transmission capacity of the optical fiber telemetric channels and very big processing power of the latest series of the, DSP enhanced and optical I/O equipped, FPGA chips. The subject of the work is the design of a universal, laboratory module of the LLRF sub-system. Initial parameters of the system model under the design are presented.

Electronic components during High Energy Physics experiments are exposed to high level of radiation. Radiation environment causes many problems to electronic devices. This report highlights the major hazards to electronics caused by radiation. Several experiments were done and results are included.

Strong fields of bremsstrahlung photons and photoneutrons are produced during the operation of high-energy electron linacs. Therefore, a mixed gamma and neutron radiation field dominates the accelerators environment. The gamma radiation induced Total Ionizing Dose (TID) effect manifests the long-term deterioration of the electronic devices operating in accelerator environment. On the other hand, the neutron radiation is responsible for Single Event Effects (SEE) and may cause a temporal loss of functionality of electronic systems. This phenomenon is known as Single Event Upset (SEU). The neutron dose (KERMA) was used to scale the neutron induced SEU in the SRAM chips. Hence, in order to estimate the neutron KERMA conversion factor for Silicon (Si), dedicated calibration experiments using an Americium-Beryllium (²⁴¹Am/Be) neutron standard source was carried out. Single Event Upset (SEU) influences the short-term operation of SRAM compared to the gamma induced TID effect. We are at present investigating the feasibility of an SRAM based real-time beam-loss monitor for high-energy accelerators utilizing the SEU caused by fast neutrons. This paper highlights the effects of gamma and neutron radiations on Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), placed at selected locations near the Superconducting Linear Accelerator driving the Vacuum UV Free Electron Laser (VUVFEL) of DESY.

The radiation hardness is a critical issue for a number of ASIC applications. The ASICs used in space, physics experiments or in medical instrumentations have to deal with the radiation and its effects. The paper gives a short overview of the radiation-induced effects in the CMOS devices and presents design and system aspects of the ASIC radiation hardening. Examples of chips designed for heavy radiation environment are presented.

The paper contains a description of the parameterized model of a hierarchical sorter for the RPC Muon Trigger in the CMS experiment at the LHC accelerator. The work debates a general principle of the used sorting algorithm. The algorithm uses specific requirements for the discovery, identification and classification process of the muon trajectories. The problem was solved in a general way, which allows for using a similar approach in other applications. A detailed presentation concerns the costs of the implementation results. The costs depend on the realized system parameters.

This paper presents readout for RPC based muon trigger system, part of CMS experiment on LHC collider at CERN (Geneva). All RPC data used to perform trigger algorithm are collected on RPC trigger boards of and send to general CMS data acquisition system. Zero suppression used to transfer data from detector to control room is used to decrease the amount the links and data to be stored.

This paper describes the RPC Link Box Control System (RLBCS) developed for the RPC muon trigger in the CMS experiment on LHC collider under construction in CERN (Geneva). RLBCS subsystem is reponsible for relatively slow, bidirectional communication between the link electronics placed on detector and devices of CMS Detector Control System (DCS) located in the control room. The RLBCS is used for diagnostic and control purposes, and therefore it is essential for the RPC muon trigger. The RLBCS is also responsible for configuration of the FPGAs in the RPC link electronics, working in the harsh, irradiated environment. Additionally most part of the RLBCS itself works in the irradiated area, so assuring its reliable operation required some special solutions. All the above factors make this subsystem an important and non-trivial task in the CMS RPC muon trigger development.

The paper presents a design and realization of the fast and synchronous data transmission system for the RPC Muon Trigger in the CMS experiment. There is described a method of data distribution system design on the TriDAQ board. The solution takes into account the realization methods of particular building components of the involved transmission channels. The chosen solution enables signal distribution originating from the multi gigabit optical links. The data signals are transmitted from the RPC chambers to the trigger processors and to the data acquisition block. The distribution network was build using a differential standard of data transmission -- the LVDS (low voltage differential signaling system). The solution applied practically for building a dedicated PCB is described.

The main task of the RPC (Resistive Plate Chamber) Muon Trigger monitoring system design for the CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) experiment (at LHC in CERN Geneva) is the visualization of data that includes the structure of electronic trigger system (e.g. geometry and imagery), the way of its processes and to generate automatically files with VHDL source code used for programming of the FPGA matrix. In the near future, the system will enable the analysis of condition, operation and efficiency of individual Muon Trigger elements, registration of information about some Muon Trigger devices and present previously obtained results in interactive presentation layer. A broad variety of different database and programming concepts for design of Muon Trigger monitoring system was presented in this article. The structure and architecture of the system and its principle of operation were described. One of ideas for building this system is use object-oriented programming and design techniques to describe real electronics systems through abstract object models stored in database and implement these models in Java language.

The aim of the diagnostic system for the ZEUS Backing Calorimeter (BAC) is to maintain high efficiency and reliability of the detector. The diagnostic system includes hardware tests and a setup configuration tool for the First Level Trigger (FLT) of BAC. This paper describes the test functions of the BAC FLT diagnostic system. Examples of its applications are also presented.

The paper is focused on problems of optical radiation, which occurs in systems and devices of optical fiber communications, during their usual exploitation, and in breakage situations. Mainly in aspects of open (possible to disconnect) fiber optic optical system and/or accidental affection of electromagnetic radiation (in visible and infrared spectrum) on human being. Considerations about safeness of using fiber optical systems and devices were examined on the basis of directions and obligatory standards or propositions of changing them as results of newest research.

In this paper simulations of 32x10Gb/s DWDM transmission based on Alcatel 1696MS system are presented. Analysis of propagated signals is demonstrated.

Optical systems whose principle of work is change in optical radiation intensity are clled intensity systems. This type of system design, while fulfilling specific functions, at a chosen level of accuracy, encountered certain difficulties. This was caused by the use of inappropriate model types, which were worked out for phase conditions of radiation propagation in a simplified geometrical scheme. A study was undertaken of the facilitation and effectiveness intensity methods of modeling components, along with an analysis of working conditions and synthesis of systems for the extrapolation of such systems. Intensity methods relate to phenomena connected with changes in optical radiation's intensity distribution. These methods use phenomena connected with radiation intensity distribution changes. They are designed for optical systems, in which the length of optical track is such that the phenomena of distribution averaging are not predominant. These methods are based on intensity models which are deduced from wave, geometric, quantum and physical optics. A precise description of optical scheme geometry is an integral in this case.

We demonstrate the idea of optical transmission with the Optical 3R Regenerator. It is based on polarization-discriminating Symmetric Mach-Zehnder (PD-SMZ) switches and the mode-locked laser diodes (MLLD). In the presentation we will show how the Optical 3R Regenerator works. We will present all-optical signal processing using Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) based on SMZs and idea of cross phase modulation (XPM) requiring interferometric structure.

In IEEE 802.3ae standard two links based on multimode fibers are specified: 80 meters basing on standards multimode fiber and 300 meters incorporating next generation multimode fiber (NGMMF). Increase of reach in NGMMF links is achieved by restricting fiber refractive index profile, source launch parameters like encircled flux and alignments. Further increase by tightening those restrictions won't come without rising total link cost. The other way of increasing link length is using equalization technique to filter out so called ghost signal and decrease intersymbol interference penalty. This can increase the link length of both standard and next generation fiber regardless of launch parameters and alignments. Principles and various implementation of this technique are the subject of this paper. Also the results achieved by various scientist are cited.

In the paper the results of numerical analysis are presented of ultrashort pulse propagation in a highly birefringent optical fiber for hyperbolic secant, Gaussian and super Gaussian initial pulse. It is assumed that the initial pulse is polarized linearly and guided into the fiber at an angle of 45° to its polarization axes. The analysis was carried out by numerically solving a pair of coupled Nonlinear Schrodinger Equations using the Split Step Fourier Method. The calculations were performed for an optical fiber without attenuation.

In this article combined effects of PDL and PMD are taken into consideration. These may be divided into two main groups: PDL affecting DGD probability density function and loss of orthogonality of principal polarization modes causing destructive interferences. The above mentioned problems are investigated through numerical simulations based on a cascade model of a fiber. It is shown that PDL may affect the system with PMD when it is spread around the fiber as well as if it is placed between fiber's sections in PDL only elements. Based on these two cases, plots describing evolution of DGD probability density function are shown. The problem of principal polarization modes orthogonality loss is investigated with the help of numerical simulations, too. The probability density function of orthogonality of two principal polarization modes is shown for different PDL. To summarize the problem, the plot of system malfunction time during a one-year period due to average PDL is provided.

The key to efficient systems based on fiber bragg gratings is a flexible and accurate inscription of these components with demanded parameters. This paper presents basic information about fiber Bragg gratings and offers a flexible method of writing long gratings at any wavelength with the same phase mask.

In this paper there are described setup for modification of exposure time in fiber Bragg gratings fabrication with using scanning phase mask method. Using this laboratory stage we are able to write uniform, apodized and chirped gratings. Depending on exposure time and grating length it is possible to write gratings with various attenuation for Bragg wavelength. Also, it is possible to change Bragg wavelength, and obtain chirped gratings by linear and gradient post-processing respectively.

In this paper a FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) sensor for measuring temperature and temperature distribution is presented. We have used a phase retrieval algorithm for the temperature measurement. There is presented a method for obtaining the distributed temperature distribution along a fiber Bragg grating by measuring the reflectivity spectrum. We have also a priori knowledge about the complex coupling coefficient's magnitude.

Application of photonic crystals in the future photonic integrated circuits (PICs) is one of the most interesting issues in modern photonics. With the photonic-crystal-based PICs it will be possible, at last, to realize compact in size, multicomponent optical integrated circuits. Nanostructured materials with ordered arrays of holes or rods are practical realization of photonic band-gap concept. In this paper we present a fabrication method for periodic arrays with openings of arbitrary shape and size. The method is based on exposition of thin photoresist film with two interfering laser beams 3^rd harmonics of Nd-YAG laser source and positive photoresist has been used. Two examples of periodic structures are described here: obtained with 75° and 90° substrate rotation. In both cases the starting structure was one-dimensional diffraction grating with period of 1.26 μm. Two different patterns has been obtained in photoresist as a result of the test exposures. In one case nearly circular openings with diameter of 780 nm has been obtained. Periodicity of the resulting array, grid pattern, shape and size of the openings can be varied by adjustment of exposure parameters which can lead to fabrication of two-dimensional photonic crystal.

A challenge to invent the material of a glass-ceramics type with a network of nanocrystals in the glassy matrix by means of a glass controlled crystallization is presented in the paper. The structures occur at the time of a glass heat treatment. The studies were carried out on fluoroindate glasses doped with rare-earth elements. Controlled crystallization was performed in order to obtain transparent glass-ceramics: the network of nanocrystallites (or at least microcrystallites) with higher content of rare earth ions in comparison to their content in the glassy matrix. In order to compare the initial glass and the new material of a glass-ceramics type properties, several experimental techniques were emloyed like X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and luminescence measurements.

The main aim of the analysis is the dependence of the coefficient of the wave coupling among the cores in the tree-core optical fiber on the technological parameters. As a result of this a family of tree-core optical fibers of various core diameters, various distances between them and also various numerical apertures were obtained finishes. It was found out that these changes trigger changes of the coefficients of the coupling between the cores. It follows from the above that an appropriate choice of the process parameters allows to manufacture tree-core optical fibers of "in advance" predetermined interaction parameters, which is most essential in the manufacture of optoelectronic devices.

This work presents analysis of influence of ring-core optical fiber parameters on electrical field distribution inside the fiber and two methods of manufacturing new type of optical fibers with ring refractive index profile. Multicomponent glasses have been used. Signal processing, device oriented, ring-index fibers have a unique capability of transmitting either quasi planar modes for large ring diameters or the second order mode in a quasi single-mode regime at lossy discrimination of the fundamental mode, for small ring diameters. Ring-index fibers can maintain singlemode transmission for considerable values of normalized frequency for particular cases of the refractive index profile. Theoretically predicted features of ring index fibers were confirmed experimentally on the samples manufactured by the author.

Elliptical core optical fibers are a fundamental kind of a large family of non-cylindrical core optical fibers because of their natural, geometrical, linear birefringence. The basic demand in such applications is to maintain the state of polarization, through proper separation of propagation constants between both polarization states of the fundamental mode. The separation assumes that both components of orthogonal polarizations do not mix. Two methods of elliptical fibers manufacturing has been presented.

Lead-bismuth-gallium-cadmium glasses doped by Nd³⁺ ions have been investigated. The synthesis conditions of obtained glasses and their optical and thermal properties have been determined. The results of absorption and luminescence of Nd³⁺ ions are presented. A fiber transmitting in the range 0.5 - 7.6 μm with the high numerical aperture NA = 0.9 was obtained. The specific spectral properties of the obtained glasses may find application in optoelectronics and fiber optics.

Lead-bismuth-gallium-barium glasses demonstrate far transmittance in infrared (about 7.4 μm) and high refractive index in comparison with other oxide glasses. These glasses find application in optoelectronics as fiber optics, optical amplifiers, optical couplers and various elements of devices applying non-linear optical effects. Obtaining these glasses as well as their processing (e.g. in order to obtain fibers) is a difficult process because of their tendency to crystallization. The aim of the present study were the synthesis of glasses of this type, determination the most important properties and investigation of their tendency to crystallize. The region of the glassy state of the above system was examined, and the tendency of representative glass to crystallization has been determined by means of thermal differential analysis, X-ray analysis and EDAX method. The obtained results of investigations help to carry out properly the process of synthesis and to transform glass into the desired optical elements.

This paper presents state and ways of development of plastic optical fibers (POF) for use in transmission-measuring devices for small area object networks (LAN networks in stationary and dynamic objects). Transmission links (with new fiber optics, simple optical components -- optical transmitters/receivers) allows nowadays transmission speed of a few Gb/s for a distance of hundreds meters. Properties and advantages of solutions based on plastic optical fiber for control, communication and managing are shown. Example practical solutions, regarding entering new standards and technologies, presents technical and economical advantages, compared to difficult and unfortunately expensive technology of transmission networks based on glass optical fiber.

The condition to be satisfied for satisfactory heat removal from electronic structures is that the number of phase boundaries (interfaces) present in the ceramic-metal joint should be limited. The number of continuous interfaces can be reduced by using the technique of direct bonding of the ceramic to copper. This process, known as the Copper Direct Bonding (CDB), has well been known in joining alumina ceramics. Compared to alumina, AlN-Cu substrates have however much more advantageous properties (e.g. better heat conductivity) and are more often used for the fabrication of heat sinks of electronic devices. This paper describes studies on the surface modification of the aluminium nitride ceramic intended for joining with copper by the CDB technique. Prior to the joining, the AlN surface was modified by isothermal oxidation or by oxygen ion implantation. The effects of the oxidation process temperature, within the range from 673K (400°C) to 1373K (1100°C), and of the doses and energies of the implanted ions upon the microstructure of the ceramic material were analyzed. In the oxidized samples, the increase of the sample mass was determined using the differential thermal analysis (DTA). In the implanted samples, the depth profiles of the elements were examined by the RBS technique. The direct bonding of aluminium nitride with copper was conducted at a temperature of about 1353K (1080°C) in a nitrogen atmosphere. After the bonding process, the microstructure, phase changes and shear strength of the joints were determined.

Digital holography has the potential to greatly extend holography's applications and move it from the lab into the field: a single CCD or other solid-state sensor can capture any number of holograms while numerical reconstruction within a computer eliminates the need for chemical processing and readily allows further processing and visualization of the holographic image. The steady increase in sensor pixel count and resolution leads to the possibilities of larger sample volumes and of higher spatial resolution sampling, enabling the practical use of digital off-axis holography. However, this increase in pixel count also drives a corresponding expansion of the computational effort needed to numerically reconstruct such holograms to an extent where the reconstruction process for a single depth slice takes significantly longer than the capture process for each single hologram. Grid computing -- a recent innovation in large-scale distributed processing -- provides a convenient means of harnessing significant computing resources in ad-hoc fashion that might match the field deployment of a holographic instrument. In this paper we consider the computational needs of digital holography and discuss the deployment of numerical reconstruction software over an existing Grid testbed. The analysis of marine organisms is used as an exemplar for work flow and job execution of in-line digital holography.

The Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) in digital holography is discussed. Theoretical derivation of its form is given. Specific properties of the MTF for different parameters of hologram detector are presented.

Interference images (figures) are the result of interference of light ray passing through anisotropy medium. In the case of ideal homogeneity structure, interference image is characterized by minimal influence of high-frequency spectrum coefficients. In the case of inhomogeneity of crystal structure a characteristic noise in the image is observed. In this paper, the schema of detecting process of crystal optical inhomogeneities based on wavelet transform of interference images is described. Some results of simulation of theoretically generated images are also presented.

Due to anatomical variability and limited visibility of endoscopic image, endoscopic operations of nose and paranasal sinuses are ones of the most difficult surgical procedures. The field of operation often comprises anatomical structures, which often present anomalies. Computer-assisted navigational endoscopic surgery consists of routine tomography with the possibility of 3-axis projection allowing for localization of surgical instruments in proper relation to anatomic structures. This potential permits the surgeon to penetrate specific structures with surgical instruments and visualize their localization on computer tomography, which was earlier entered to the computer and projected. Projection of the images and endoscopic picture on the same monitor provides comfort to the operator and feeling of safety to the operated patient. The image analysis feature supplies a set of information necessary for safer and more effective procedure conduction and decreased number of complications. This technique may considerably contribute to training programs in endoscopic surgery. Computer-aided navigation in surgical procedures allows for precise biopsy specimen uptake for pathological examination, even in cases requiring precision up to 1 mm. The authors present an overview of surgical computer-aided navigation systems and their own experience in endoscopic ethmoid and maxillary sinus surgery performed with the use of computer-assisted navigation system.

Estimation of skin prick test results in IgE allergy usually depends on subjective measurement of performer. One of usually used method of estimation skin reaction is measuring the longest and midpoint orthogonal diameters of an erythema and a wheal. Then an average diameter is computed. The method is not precise for irregular objects. Contours of the irregular wheal are encircled with a pen and transferred to a record sheet. There were elaborated methods of estimation results from skin prick test and methods of picture's archiving in the study. There were proposed own image processing algorithms, which are used to estmate an area of the erythema and wheal. Algorithm and conclusion were proposed using data taken from four patients: two children in age 5 years (tests were applied on the back) and two adults in age 21 and 30 years (tests were applied on the upper arms). Skin reaction results are taken as medical images through the digital camera. Images are brought into computer and process in program. Algorithm automatically estimates area of the erythema and the wheal. The area was estimated from H component in HSV color space. Contours of objects were separated using median filterng. The measured field was computed in square millimeters using a calibrating pattern. Elaborated digital image's acquisition system gives possibility of archiving very good qualities images. There were proposed own image processing algorithms, which are used to estimate an area of the erythema and wheal. Algorithm using HSV color space and H component allows receiving satisfactory results.

The problem accessibility of metrological parameters features of objects appeared in many measurements. Especially if it is biological object which parameters very often determined on the basis of indirect research. Accidental component predominate in forming of measurement results with very limited access to measurement objects. Every measuring process has a lot of conditions limiting its abilities to any way processing (e.g. increase number of measurement repetition to decrease random limiting error). It may be temporal, financial limitations, or in case of biological object, small volume of sample, influence measuring tool and observers on object, or whether fatigue effects e.g. at patient. It's taken listing difficulties into consideration author worked out and checked practical application of methods outlying observation reduction and next innovative methods of elimination measured data with excess variance to decrease of mean standard deviation of measured data, with limited aomunt of data and accepted level of confidence. Elaborated methods wee verified on the basis of measurement results of knee-joint width space got from radiographs. Measurements were carried out by indirectly method on the digital images of radiographs. Results of examination confirmed legitimacy to using of elaborated methodology and measurement procedures. Such methodology has special importance when standard scientific ways didn't bring expectations effects.

A variety of microelements require enhanced tools for their testing at various stages of production and exploitation. It refers to their analysis at static, quasistatic and vibration modes. Especially active, vibrating elements introduce unprecedented requirements concerning their design and testing. In the paper we present methodology and system based on combined digital holographic interferometry (DHI) and time average digital holography (TADH) which enables quantitative analysis of static and slowly changing microelements as well as qualitative analysis of vibrating objects. In DHI due to usage of numerical phases calculated from a sequence of holograms, an arbitrary phase difference related to a chosen stage of varying object can be calculated. TADH provides information about the vibration mode shapes which is crucial for the further analysis of vibrating microelements. Exemplary quantitative results of PZT actuator and membrane out-of-plane deformation measurement and qualitative results of vibrating membrane testing are presented and discussed.

There are several tens of burners operating in a power boiler and their control based on averaged and delayed measurements (e.g. gas analyzers located inside the chimney) is often not enough effective. The article describes attempts to obtain information about levels of emission of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide from the signals of the fiber-optic flame monitoring system developed in the Department of Electronics of the Technical University of Lublin. Artificial neural networks are used for estimation of emission. The article contains description of an object and the measurement system as well as results of research of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide modeling.

An analyse of evolutionary algorithm operation allows us to understand how controlled spontaneity of an individual specimen leads to dynamic order of the whole community that efficiently uses emerging adaptive possibilities. This paper presents sequel of research concerning implementation of GA in controlling burning process in industrial conditions. A simulation was conducted and proved that implementing GA to the process is possible and brings improvement of flue gases parameters, what is a direct measure of power boiler quality of work, both in ecologic and economical way.

The paper deals with measurements data processing of a flame photometer output. Due to a large time-constant and presence of signal linear drift a digital adaptive filter has been proposed. The objective of the paper is to develop a filtering algorithm which makes it possible to increase the signal to noise ratio (SNR) without any additional signal delay. Obtained results are compared with previously used such as the transversal filter with uniform taps. The simulation results reveal better accuracy of the adaptive filter in comparison with the transversal filter.

This paper presents a versatile experimental and educational module, which can be used both for prototyping of embedded PC based electronic devices, and for teaching of computer engineering. The FPGA chip may be used to implement or to emulate wide range of hardware devices, while the embedded PC, able to run the Linux OS, provides an efficient environment for controlling this hardware using different techniques.

Hardware description languages (HDLs) allow creating bigger and bigger designs nowadays. The size of prototyped systems very often exceeds million gates. Therefore verification process of the designs takes several hours or even days. The solution for this problem can be solved by hardware acceleration of simulation.

In this paper, design of safety critical logic controller by means of programmable logic and microprocessor is described. The solution is based on duplicated Master-Slave architecture and results comparison from both pairs. The architecture was adapted to a FPGA device with embedded microprocessor -- in considered solution the Atmel FPSLIC was chosen. In design process tasks have been divided between hardware and software parts. The hardware part has been described in HDLs. The software for microprocessor has been written in its assembler or low-level C language. The process of verification that is based on simulation comparisons of solutions obtained in two different ways is also presented.

In the presented article a multivariable non-linear state equation system x = f(x,u,t), x(0) = x₀ was solved and a general form of the global linearization method was introduced. The above method was used for the analysis of the dynamics of a DC drive system supplied by a solar generator with a non-linear characteristics.

This paper presents a graphical environment for a parallel solver of systems of linear algebraic equations. Its application is to set parameters of the solver and define a cluster configuration. It is applicable in clusters that work under control of Windows operating system and using the WMPI library. The application has been used for solving a few practical examples. One of them is presented. It is a task of determining a surface density of an external thermal power, needed for obtaining desirable temperatures on the walls inside a cuboidal warming chamber of a furnace. The speedup obtained during parallel solving of this task is presented.

The computer aided BPH diagnosis system based on Bayesian network is described in the paper. First result are compared to a given statistical method. Different statistical methods are used successfully in medicine for years. However, the undoubted advantages of probabilistic methods make them useful in application in newly created systems which are frequent in medicine, but do not have full and competent knowledge. The article presents advantages of the computer aided BPH diagnosis system in clinical practice for urologists.

In this paper the modified speculative method will be presented. The speculative method is an original approach to the transient states analysis in electrical circuits, described by systems of linear or nonlinear ordinary differential equations. In this method the time of the transient state analysis is divided into subintervals. Computations in particular subintervals are conducted in parallel with the use of one of well-known sequential numerical methods of solving ordinary differential equations systems. The parallel execution of computations requires the determination of the initial conditions at the beginning of each subinterval. In the speculative method, instead of one condition, several initial conditions are determined for each state variable, therefore, computations in particular subintervals are conducted repeatedly. In the modified speculative method several initial conditions are also determined, but the computations in each subinterval are executed only once. As the example of the modified speculative method application, the analysis of the transient states in a transmission line will be presented.

The speculative method is an original approach to the analysis of transient states appearing in electrical circuits in which the transient state is described by a system of linear or nonlinear ordinary differential equations. A general idea of this method is based on the decomposition of the time domain. Computations in the particular subintervals of time are conducted in parallel with the use of one of well-known numerical methods of solving ordinary differential equations systems. In this paper the analysis of the dynamics of an asynchronous slip-ring motor, as the example of the application of the speculative method, will be presented.

A new type of circuit-bridge supplied unconventionally by two current sources will be discussed. An idea of this circuit has been suggested in some publications by Zygmunt Warsza under a name: double current bridge. The bridge conditioner makes possible to operate with the resistive sensors and to measure one, two or four parameters at one time. In this paper the relations between the arm currents and voltages of DC current supply bridges will be simulated. Also a sensitivity and a nonlinearity of these circuits will be discussed.

The problem of illumination distribution nonuniformity in the detector (scientific CCD sensor) plane, resulting from natural and geometrical vignetting effects in the camera optical system. The complex and nonlinear nature of this illumination changes are discussed, leading to the necessity of the calibration procedures in high precision photometric measurements.

The following paper presents the construction and operation principle along with measurement results of the manufactured temperature sensors. The elaborated temperature sensor was constructed with the application of double-core optical fibers and employs the dependency between the temperature and variations in the coupling coefficient for both cores.

The following paper presents results of simulations and calculations of the Monte Carlo based flux method employed for analysis of the luminous flux distribution in "side-light" optical fibers. The characteristics of the luminous flux emitted from the side surface of the optical fiber were presented for various total, internal reflection coefficients and variable geometric parameters.

The PSpice environment enables the working point analysis of the electronics circuits, consisting of opto-electronics and electro-optics converters. To do this, an equivalent electronics model of the opto-electronics subdivisions should be designed. Models of this type require assumptions concerning the intensity of the optical radiation, which can be represented as a voltage or current in areas isolated from the rest of the electronic circuit. In this way the models of two gate's types are created. The first gate represents electrical characteristics and the second one the optical. Therefore, in the photo diode case, the optical power from optical gate is transferred into the voltage on electrical gate by defined sensitivity. For the laser diode, the current in its electrical gate is changed into optical power in optical gate by parameter called external conversion efficiency. This situation is convenient in case when the analysis of the optical radiation is done in the narrow band. That happens quite often, because the spectrum of the sensitivity of the photo diode is significantly wider than intensity spectra of laser diode or light emitting diodes.

This paper presents a concept of highly computerized students lab for teaching of electronic circuits. Wide use of modern technologies, like microcontrollers, FPGA chips and computer controlled measurement systems allows to free students from the tedious manual recording of measurements, and let them concentrate on the real investigation of the analyzed circuit. Additionally, due to the limited functionalities and lack of mechanical controls such setup may be a cheaper and more durable alternative for standard lab equipment.

The paper presents design of a random repetitive sampling oscilloscope time-base circuit. The measurement system based on the pulse generator wih the precise pulse width control functionality is shown. The linearity measurements were performed and employed to verify the time-base circuit design.

The work will present results of laboratory investigation of optoelectronic detector of carbon monoxide that uses an external cavity semiconductor laser turned within 1,5 and 1,6 μm. Measurement set-up incorporates cells 1 m and 2 m long containing the measured gas at variable concentration. Such set-up reflects the product of partial pressure and path length that can be found inside the power boiler.

The authors present rhinomanometry as a method for nasal cavity respiratory resistance measurement on the basis of results from 185-patients study group and 30 persons control group. Thanks to the results from this study we estimated normal respiratory resistance oscillation and effectiveness of different surgical methods, that improve nasal patency.

The following work presents the experimental environment of electromagnetic field measurements, which was created as a data acquisition system controlled by a personal computer. The system enables us to conduct remote measurements of the electromagnetic fields from an outer position of emitting structure. The work contains examples of the measurements of the half-wave areial conducted with the use of this system.

This paper presents a way of visualization of a two-dimensional version of a parallel algorithm of the FDTD method. The visualization module was created on the basis of the OpenGL graphic standard with the use of the GLUT interface. In addition, the work includes the results of the efficiency of the parallel algorithm in the form of speedup charts.

The paper shows the applicability of computer aided modeling to some sub-problems of electrochemical technology. The direct modeling of electrolytic coating technology involves solution of current distribution in a solvent, electrochemical dissolution, and shape of the electrodes. The presented method is applied to analyze distribution of a fluid stream, temperature distribution and concentration of ions in the electroplating cell. Two different methods of control of solution circulation are analyzed. Classification of the properties of these methods enables to qualify the extension of usability each of them in the electroplating technology. The spatial distribution of the velocity of electrolyte is discussed. Essential advantages of the presented method are its flexibility, and applicability to a wide range of electrolytic coating processes.

The paper presents a method of measuring points location for water quality assessment in water distribution network for monitoring purposes. An algorithm of this method includes two aspects of water quality monitoring i.e. detection possibility and detection rapidity of water pollution in the network. A hydraulic model of water distribution network for simulation of water flow and quality is used within this method. Based on the network hydraulic simulations an optimization task is being solved. Its goal is a selection of water quality measuring points.

Retention tanks are an essential part of stormwater collection systems. This paper considers a probabilistic model which allows to design and plan modernization of retention tanks or conduct risk analysis of already existing ones. The proposal makes use of a submodel of high rainfall sum in a given time period and simple dependences accounting for the stormwater balance in the tank. The parameters used in the model require calibration. Therefore, its practical application necessitates the monitoring of runoff from the drainage area of the tank under analysis as well as of rainfall in that area.

A system of wastewater flow measurements is a base element of wastewater networks monitoring. A properly designed system of measurements requires suitable selection of methods and measuring devices enable realization of on-line network monitoring. This paper discusses the most serviceable ultrasonic and electromagnetic devices for continues flow measurements. Their application along with requirements and limitation appears in the wastewater network.

The main aim of the paper is to present application of the artificial neural network in the web traffic prediction. First, the general problem of time series modelling and forecasting is shortly described. Next, the details of building of dynamic processes models with the neural networks are discussed. At this point determination of the model structure in terms of its inputs and outputs is the most important question because this structure is a rough approximation of the dynamics of the modelled process. The following section of the paper presents the results obtained applying artificial neural network (classical multilayer perceptron trained with backpropagation algorithm) to the real-world web traffic prediction. Finally, we discuss the results, describe weak points of presented method and propose some alternative approaches.

This paper presents flexible solutions to the clustering and classification of World Wide Web documents. The method proposed in this paper applies the self-organizing Kohonen network known also a self-organizing map (SOM) with two-layer architecture. In this architecture documents become mapped as points on the SOM, in a geometric order that describes the similarity of their contents. This network has been learned by means of unsupervised training technique. After learning process has been completed, the network visualizes semantic relationship between input documents as two-dimensional semantic map. This map is a retrieval interface for an online WWW documents classification system. In this paper, first, the main idea of solution based on SOM has been presented. Next, the operation of this method has been illustrated with the us of synthetic data set. Finally, this technique has been tested by means of real-life WWW documents set.

In this paper we present application of several theoretical tools to a problem of generation of WWW user pofile. First, we present the idea of user profiling and the problem of classification using decision rules. The user profile consists of rules concerning time of day, amount of pages that were browsed and presumable time spent on browsing pages in one WWW host. This profile can be used for planning of advertisement on WWW sites. In the next section, we shortly describe selected tools for generation of decision rules that were used to create user profile. We have chosen two tools -- CART and C4.5 that are examples of decision tree algorithms. We also present the process of data mining. The following section of this paper presents the discussion of results.

In this paper we present our system for distant learning support, and its current content -- neural networks and distributed systems courses. The system provides users with remote access to learning materials, features dynamic glossary of terms and supports inline multimedia.

The work describes selected components of a standardized, modular and interactive broadband Internet based, information system for a research and didactic unit at the WUT. There are presented descriptions of the realization of a few issues and achievements which are the results of work continuation on the web service for the Measurement Systems and Optoelectronics Unit (referred later to as the ZSPiO) of the Institute of Electronic Systems in the Department of Electronics and Information Technologies of the Warsaw University of Technology. The service is available through the ISE WUT portal www.ise.pw.edu.pl. The theoretical and design considerations were implemented practically in the existing web service. The further chapters describe all solutions and their implementations. The first part of this work was published in reference 1. The application uses broadband Internet LAN.

This paper presents, in a concise way, recent development of the e-learning systems in the context of broader advances of the field of broadband optical Internet and applications. The current solutions used in the domestic and international universities are quoted. The main part of the work is devoted to the description of the novel, own solution augmenting the e-learning process. This application was practically introduced in the "OKNO" system at the WUT. In particular, the full registration module for students of "OKNO" was described embracing: automatic registration for a new semester and enrolling for next stages of the study. The work concludes with a discussion of implemented solutions, comparisons with other solutions, presentation of chosen application examples and indications for the future work.

The paper concerns a new research area that is Quality of Web Service (QoWS). The need for QoWS is motivated by a still growing number of Internet users, by a steady development and diversification of Web services, and especially by popularization of e-commerce applications. The goal of the paper is a critical analysis of the literature concerning scheduling algorithms for e-commerce Web servers. The paper characterizes factors affecting the load of the Web servers and discusses ways of improving their efficiency. Crucial QoWS requirements of the business Web server are identified: serving requests before their individual deadlines, supporting user session integrity, supporting different classes of users and minimizing a number of rejected requests. It is justified that meeting these requirements and implementing them in an admission control (AC) and scheduling algorithm for the business Web server is crucial to the functioning of e-commerce Web sites and revenue generated by them. The paper presents results of the literature analysis and discusses algorithms that implement these important QoWS requirements. The analysis showed that very few algorithms take into consideration the above mentioned factors and that there is a need for designing an algorithm implementing them.

The aim of the paper is to increase human awareness of the dangers connected with social engineering methods of obtaining information. The article demonstrates psychological and sociological methods of influencing people used in the attacks on IT systems. Little known techniques are presented about one of the greater threats that is electromagnetic emission or corona effect. Moreover, the work shows methods of protecting against this type of dangers. Also, in the paper one can find information on devices made according to the TEMPEST technology. The article not only discusses the methods of gathering information, but also instructs how to protect against its out-of-control loss.

The article presents selected problems of local network security, methodology of attack and security measures.

Optoelectronic implementation of neuron and neural networks plays an important role in signal processing, in particular to analyze output signals coming from optical fiber sensor systems. In our laboratory, by using liquid crystal cells and optical fiber connections, we built up a simple optoelectronic neuron that allowed processing of four output signals coming from different optical fiber sensors. However, more complicated optical fiber sensor system would require more advanced optoelectronic neurons for output signal processing. In this paper we present an optoelectronic implementation of two additional types of neuron. In summary an application of different kind of optoelectronic neurons for multilayer neural networks is discussed.

The aim of this paper is to present a new micro-actuator, which is currently being used to design and develop high resolution, lightweight and compact interfaces for tactile information representation. Based on shape memory alloy (SMA) technology, the actuator is capable of producing a mechanic deformation on the skin of the user's fingertip in order to re-create a realistic touch sensation. This actuator of 1.5 mm diameter, 5 cm length, 150 mg weight, 0.7 mm total excursion, 170 mN pull force and 4 Hz bandwidth represents a high spatial and temporal resolution actuation principle for tactile feel displays. The SMA actuator's design concept, modeling and implementation are presented and described in detail. In conclusion, the prototype and preliminary performance results are reported and discussed.

This paper describes fundamental logical and arithmetical calculations carried out on the molecular level using DNA solution. In our approach specific mapping of logic signals into DNA strands is assumed. Appropriate DNA sequences are applied to represent both logic states. The design and operation of a molecular flow-cell has been described in detail. The XOR logic gate is considered. The implementation of a Moore's automaton realizing for sample graph has been presented, where growing size of input and output alphabet as well as number of states results only in increasing number of components while the design methodology remains the same. It has been mentioned that lab-on-a-chip type devices that allow automation of sequential DNA processing can realize the functionality of molecular flow-cell. Such flow-cells may play an important role in construction of future computing hardware.

DNA computing provides new molecular mechanism for storing and processing information. DNA macrostructures are bases of specially designed algorithms realized by so called soft hardware applications. To obtain these structures a special DNA sequences design tool is required. In this paper comparison of two such computer programs was provided. In our program a custom genetic algorithm with new hybrid operators was involved in creating a set of DNA chains. The second program written by Winfree makes random changes using a given set of short constant forbidden fragments.

The paper deals with investigations concerning new optical fiber structures type D which may be applied in optical fiber sensors of electric current. These structures have been designed, produced and tested. The results of measurements of the magneto-optical effect and the distribution of mode fields in such optical fibers have been presented, as well as the test stand designed for investigations of magneto-optical phenomena.

The paper deals with investigations concerning the optical parameters of the layers of selected phthalocyanines by means of the surface plasmon resonance method. The values of the refracting index and the coefficient of extinction for copper and lead phthalocyanines have been determined. The presented results concern the layers occurring in the surrounding atmospheric air before and after exposure to 100 ppm nitrogen dioxide. The obtained dispersive characteristics were determined ellipsometrically and using the surface plasmon resonance method, by adapting theoretical relations to the experimental dependence of the surface plasmon resonance. The resulting values of the complex refracting index for the tested phthalocyanines were compared with the values obtained by ellipsometric measurements.

The results of the theoretical analysis of influence of the refractive index of the liquid adjacent to the planar structure of optical fiber on the real and the imaginary parts of the propagation constant has been presented. From the theoretical analysis there appears a possibility of construction of the refractometric phase heads as well as the amplitude ones. There have been presented the results of experimental implementation of chosen structures of optical waveguides into the construction of a refractometric head.

Theoretical approach to the operation of a prism-waveguide coupler is presented. It has been shown that application of a suitable optical structure in the measurement device creates waveguide conditions for the investigated liquid-crystalline layer. Basing on this fact a measurement system for determining of propagation constants of waveguide modes has been proposed. Influence of the refractive index distribution in a layer as well as its thickness on the liquid-crystalline waveguides are presented and discussed. Investigation results for liquid crystalline layers, also these modified by influence of an electric field are also described.

Interferometric sensors exhibit very high measurement resolution. In order to attain high accuracy, these sensors are often implemented as polarization interferometers, in which stable and well-defined states of polarization are maintained. By using correction techniques originally developed for metrology and outlined in this paper, accuracy of discussed sensors can be further increased by adjusting gains and offsets in detection setup. Sensors that can use this technique are presented and problems arising in implementation of polarization interferometric sensors are discussed.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a new type of an imaging technique of the internal microstructure of the material. Among several detection techniques which can be used to implement OCT, Optical Low-Coherence Reflectometry (OLCR) is the most common and the most promising one. OLCR uses a broadband source, which parameters: the spectral characteristics and the noise property, determine metrological abilities of the designed OCT system. Authors measured the power spectral density of the intensity noise, as well as the spectral characteristic of various broadband sources. Obtained results has been used to determine metrological properties of the design OCT system.

The aim of the study is to present the results of investigations of glasses in the system lead-bismuth-gallium-cadmium doped by Ho³⁺ ions. The thermal and optical properties of glasses have been determined. The structure of lead-bismuth-gallium-cadmium glasses using infrared and Raman spectroscopy methods have been determined. The investigation results have shown that the glasses are characterized by light transmittance in the range 0.5 - 7.5 μm and their refractive index equals 2,15 (4-6 μm). The results of absorption and luminescence rare earth doped glass are presented. A fiber with numerical aperture NA = 0.8 was obtained.

The aim of the presented investigations was to develop a technique of producing Bragg's grating couplers on planar waveguides obtained by means of the sol-gel technique. The introduction of a beam of light into the structure of the waveguide is in the case of planar optical systems always an essential technological problem, requiring simple and reproducible solutions without extending the waveguide structure too much. The paper deals with the technology of producing grating couplers by impressing the pattern of the network while forming the planar waveguide structure applying the sol-gel method. The results of the investigations on grated couplers obtained in such a way have been presented, too. Attention has been drawn to the possibility of using such structures in optoelectronic sensors, particularly gas sensors, including sensors of toxic gases.

This paper is concerned with analysis of interference patterns in gradient multimode interference (MMI) structures. Analyzed images presenting self-imaging effects were obtained at experimental arrangement which enables direct observation of modal fields interference using fluorescent cover on MMI sections. Investigated structures were produced by K⁺ ↔ Na⁺ ion exchange process in glass. Described analysis contains the quantitative approach to multiple images of input field. The received results concerning the quantitative dependences and geometry of obtained images are presented.

The paper deals with investigations concerning the coefficient of optical transmission of selected metalphthalocyanine layers, viz. CuPC, NiPc, PbPc, FePc and CoPc by means of optical spectroscopy method. The coefficient of transmission was investigated for phthalocyanine layers in the presence of atmospheric air and after the exposition of these layers to 100 ppm nitrogen dioxide. These investigations concerned wavelengths in the range from about 300 to 1300 nm. Moreover, several phthalocyanine layers were measured in the air and at 100 ppm NO₂ applying the X-ray diffraction method. These investigations have made it possible to determine changes occurring in the structure of phthalocyanine exposed to nitrogen dioxide.