Breast phantom for comparison X-ray and polarimetric optical tomography imaging.

Breast phantom made as combination of paraffin and INTRALIPID™ was tested by use of X-ray classical computed tomography and polarimetric optical tomography. The INTRALIPID™ is a liquid commonly used for simulation breast tissues optical properties but it is useless as X-ray phantom. During our tests we have observed that X-ray tomography allows to recognize a proper placement of INTRALIPID™ inclusions inside paraffin medium but we cannot distinguish density of INTRALIPID™ within each inclusions. On the other hand the polarimetric optical tomography allows to distinguish density of INTRALIPID™ (0%, 10%, 20%) in inclusions but with relatively low accuracy of their placement.

Optical scanner for 3D radiotherapy polymer gel dosimetry.

Sophisticated techniques employed in radiotherapy for irradiation of tumours require comprehensive dosimetry allowing for precise, high resolution measurements of radiation dose distribution in three dimensions and verification of treatment planning systems. Polymer gel dosimetry has been shown to be a unique technique for three-dimensional high resolution measurements of absorbed radiation dose distributions. If exposed to ionizing radiation, radical polymerisation and crosslinking of monomeric components take place in a 3D polymer gel dosimeter, leading to the formation of large polymeric structures that scatter visible light. This feature allows for optical observation of the effects of the absorbed dose and its distribution. Presently, magnetic resonance imaging is employed the most often for analysis of 3D polymer gel dosimeters. However, much attention is also being given to the development of optical computed tomography since this technique is hoped to serve as a substitute for expensive and not easily available magnetic resonance imaging. The optical scanner presented in this work consists of a laser diode, a scanning system and a signal detector. A 3D polymer gel dosimeter is measured in an immersion liquid in order to reduce deflection of the light from the dosimeter phantom. The very first results were obtained with the newly constructed scanner for PABIGnx 3D polymer gel dosimeter, which was inhomogeneously irradiated with 192Ir brachytherapy source. The results have been contrasted with those for magnetic resonance imaging and are presented in this work together with the description of the optical scanner. Currently, optimization of the optical scanner is performed.

Noisefree stochastic multiresonance near chaotic crises.

We report on the phenomenon of noisefree stochastic multiresonance that appears in a natural way in systems where the threshold crossing probability has a nonmonotonous derivative with respect to the control parameter. In particular, we consider periodically driven chaotic dynamical systems above crisis threshold where the nonmonotonicity is caused by the fractal structure of precritical attractors and, possibly, their basins of attraction. The spectral power amplification as a function of the control parameter can be easily obtained from the postcritical average transient times, and the heights of its multiple maxima can be estimated on the basis of simple geometric models.

Stochastic multiresonance in a chaotic map with fractal basins of attraction.

Noise-free stochastic resonance in a chaotic kicked spin model at the edge of the attractor merging crisis is considered. The output signal reflects the occurrence of crisis-induced jumps between the two parts of the attractor. As the control parameter-the amplitude of the magnetic field pulses-is varied, the signal-to-noise ratio shows plateaus and multiple maxima, thus stochastic multiresonance is observed. It is shown that the multiresonance occurs due to a fractal structure of the precritical attractors and their basins. In the adiabatic approximation theoretical expression for the signal-to-noise ratio is derived, based on the theory of oscillations in average crisis-induced transient lifetimes. Numerical and theoretical results agree quantitatively just above the threshold for crisis and qualitatively in a wide range of the control parameter.

Influence of stable Floquet exponents on time-delayed feedback control

The performance of time-delayed feedback control is studied by linear stability analysis. Analytical approximations for the resulting eigenvalue spectrum are proposed. Our investigations demonstrate that eigenbranches that develop from the stable Lyapunov exponents of the free system also have a strong influence on the control properties, either by hybridization or by a crossing of branches which interchanges the role of the leading eigenvalue. Our findings are confirmed by numerical analysis of two particular examples, the Toda and the Rossler models. More important is the verification by actual electronic circuit experiments. Here, the observed reduction of control domains can be attributed to these additional eigenvalue branches. The investigations lead to a thorough analytical understanding of the stability properties in time-delayed feedback systems.

Theory of oscillations in average crisis-induced transient lifetimes.

Analytical and numerical study of the roughly periodic oscillations emerging on the background of the well-known power law governing the scaling of the average lifetimes of crisis induced chaotic transients is presented. The explicit formula giving the amplitude of "normal" oscillations in terms of the eigenvalues of unstable orbits involved in the crisis is obtained using a simple geometrical model. We also discuss the commonly encountered situation when normal oscillations appear together with "anomalous" ones caused by the fractal structure of basins of attraction.