The measurement of X-ray continuous emission from laser-driven plasma was achieved through multiple monochromatic imaging utilizing a multilayer mirror array. This methodology was exemplified by the development of an eight-channel X-ray imaging system, capable of operating in the energy range of several keV with a spatial resolution of approximately 3 μm. By integrating this system with a streak camera, the temperature and trajectory of imploding capsules were successfully measured at the kJ-class Shenguang III prototype laser facility. This approach provides a synchronous diagnostic method for the spatial, temporal and spectral analysis of laser-driven plasma, characterized by its high efficiency and resolution.

The use of limiters may impact both accuracy and resolution of a solution. And the accuracy and resolution are highly dependent on the amount of numerical dissipation in a scheme, so the ability of limiters to control numerical dissipation should be improved. In this view, based on the examination of several classical limiters to control dissipation, a class of general piecewise-linear flux limiters (termed GPL limiters) are presented in this paper for Multi-step time-space-separated unsteady schemes. The GPL limiters can satisfy the second-order TVD criterion and contain some existing limiters such as Superbee and Minmod. Using the decrement of discrete total entropy to represent the amount of numerical dissipation, an entropy dissipation function of GPL limiters is defined with three parameter variables. By proving the monotonicity of this function, a new GPL type limiter (named MDF individually), which can minimize the numerical dissipation and improve the calculation accuracy, is proposed. A high resolution entropy-consistent scheme is obtained by MDF limiter, which will be proved to satisfy entropy stability and entropy consistency. Computational results of this scheme for several 1-D and 2-D Euler test cases are presented, demonstrating the accuracy, monotonicity and robustness of MDF limiter.

An idea of designing oscillation-less and high-resolution hybrid schemes is proposed and several types of hybrid schemes based on this idea are presented on block-structured grids. The general framework, for designing various types of hybrid schemes, is established using a Multi-dimensional Optimal Order Detection (MOOD) method proposed by Clain, Diot and Loubère [1]. The methodology utilizes low dissipation or dispersion but less robust schemes to update the solution and then implements robust and high resolution schemes to deal with problematic situations. A wide range of computational methods including central scheme, MUSCL scheme, linear upwind scheme and Weighted Essentially Non Oscillatory (WENO) scheme have been applied in the current hybrid schemes framework. Detailed numerical studies on classical test cases for the Euler system are performed, addressing the issues of the resolution and non-oscillatory property around the discontinuities.

To diagnose the implosion of a laser-driven-fusion target such as the symmetry, the hydrodynamic instability at the interface, a high-resolution, large field-of-view kilo-electron-volt X-ray imaging is required. A Kirkpatrick-Baez (K-B) microscope is commonly used, but its field of view is limited to a few hundred microns as the resolution decreases rapidly with the increase of the field of view. A higher resolution could be realized by using a Fresnel zone plate (FZP) for imaging. Presented in this work is a numerical study on the imaging properties of an FZP at Ti-Kα wavelength of 0.275 nm, and a comparison to a K-B imager. It is found that the FZP can realize not only a resolution better than 1 µm, but also a field-of-view larger than 20 mm when the FZP is illuminated by X-rays of spectral bandwidth less than 1.75%. These results indicate the feasibility of applying the FZP in high-resolution, large field-of-view X-ray imaging.

Three-dimensional (3D) analysis is an essential tool to obtain quantitative results from 3D datasets. Considerable progress has been made in 3D imaging techniques, resulting in a growing need for more flexible, complete analysis packages containing advanced algorithms. At the Centre for X-ray Tomography of the Ghent University (UGCT), research is being done on the improvement of both hardware and software for high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT). UGCT collaborates with research groups from different disciplines, each having specific needs. To meet these requirements the analysis software package, Morpho+, was developed in-house. Morpho+ contains an extensive set of high-performance 3D operations to obtain object segmentation, separation, and parameterization (orientation, maximum opening, equivalent diameter, sphericity, connectivity, etc.), or to extract a 3D geometrical representation (surface mesh or skeleton) for further modeling. These algorithms have a relatively short processing time when analyzing large datasets. Additionally, Morpho+ is equipped with an interactive and intuitive user interface in which the results are visualized. The package allows scientists from various fields to obtain the necessary quantitative results when applying high-resolution X-ray CT as a research tool to the nondestructive investigation of the microstructure of materials.

Taking into account sparsity of the reflectivity function of several radar targets of interest, efficient low-complexity automatic target recognition (ATR) systems can be designed. Such ATR systems would be based on two-dimensional (2D) spatial target models of low dimensionality, where critical information on the radar target signature is summarized. Discrete 2D radar target models can be estimated using high range resolution (HRR) data, measured at a sparse system of view angles. This being the main objective, incoherent tomographic processing of HRR data from a distributed surveillance system, made up of several radar nodes, is studied in this paper. A sparse angular sampling scheme is proposed, which exploits diversity due to both the distributed radar system and the target motion. The novelty is in the exploitation of this locally dense, but otherwise sparse set of viewing angles of the targets, obtained using a sparse network of radars. The de-ghosting efficiency of such a sampling scheme is demonstrated geometrically. This results in identification of minimal information resources for unambiguous estimation of a 2D target model, useful for radar target classification.

Tilted illumination exit-wave restoration is compared for two aberration-corrected instruments at different accelerating voltages. The experimental progress of this technique is also reviewed and the significance of off-axial aberrations examined. Finally, the importance of higher order aberration compensation combined with careful correction of the lower order aberrations is highlighted.

Conodont faunal dynamics and high-resolution biostratigraphy in the lithologically and faunally anomalous ‘Täljsten’ succession, which spans the Darriwilian Lenodus variabilis–Yangtzeplacognathus crassus Zone boundary, were investigated in a 2·5 m-thick section on Mt Kinnekulle that includes an interval yielding fossil meteorites and extraterrestrial chromite. The previous interpretation that this interval reflects a regression is consistent with the occurrence and abundance patterns of some conodont taxa. The disappearance of e.g., Periodon, suggests that the regression began prior to the deposition of the grey ‘Täljsten’. The transition from red to grey limestone coincides with a conspicuous faunal re-arrangement. The lower half of the ‘Täljsten’ reflects a gradual shallowing favourable for some taxa, such as Lenodus, and the immigration of Microzarkodina cf. ozarkodella and Histiodella holodentata. In the middle of the ‘Täljsten’ interval, coinciding with the appearance of abundant cystoids, conditions became less hospitable for conodonts, resulting in a low diversity and low abundance fauna, which occurs to the top of the interval. The overlying red limestone, apparently deposited during a deepening event, marks a return to pre-‘Täljsten’ conditions with a re-organised fauna. The close correlation between the lithologic shifts and conodont faunal changes demonstrates the usefulness of conodonts as environmental indicators.

The capabilities of millimeter wave radars have been demonstrated for a long period of time for missile seeker applications and for automotive radars. The technological advantages of this type of radar can be adapted to security applications in air traffic management at short and medium range as well as on the ground. The application discussed in this paper focuses on inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging techniques for the derivation of high-resolution signatures of helicopters in the air and the determination of reference images using turntable measurements.

SOLARNET is a medium size high resolution solar physics mission proposed to CNES and ESA for a new start in 2007 and a possible launch in 2012 (CNES) or later (ESA Cosmic Vision framework: 2015–2016). Partnerships with India and China are under discussion, and several European contributions are considered. At the center of the SOLARNET mission is a 3-telescope interferometer of 1 meter baseline capable to provide 40 times the best ever spatial resolution achieved in Space with previous, current or even planned solar missions: 20 mas - 20 km on the Sun in the FUV. The interferometer is associated to an on-axis Subtractive Double Monochromator coupled to an Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer capable of high spectral (0.01 nm) and high temporal resolutions (50 ms) on a field of view of 40 arcsec and covering the FUV and UV spectral domains (from 117.5 to 400 nm). This will allow to access process scales of magnetic reconnection, dissipation, emerging flux and much more, from the chromosphere to the low corona with emphasis on the transition zone where the magnetic confinement is expected to be maximum. A whole new chapter of the physics of solar magnetic field structuring, evolution and mapping from the photosphere to the high atmosphere will be opened. The interferometer is completed by instruments providing larger field of view and higher temperature (EUV-XUV coronal imaging & spectroscopy) to define the context and extension of the solar phenomena. The 3-telescope interferometer design results of an extensive laboratory demonstration program of interferometric imaging of extended objects. We will review the scientific program of SOLARNET, describe the interferometer concept and design, present the results of the breadboard and give a short overview of the mission aspects. In a different category, LAIME, the Lyman Alpha Imaging-Monitor Experiment, is a remarkably simple (no mechanisms) and compact full Sun imager to be flown with TESIS on the CORONAS-PHOTON mission in 2008. It could be the only chromospheric imager to be flown in the next years, supporting Solar-B, STEREO, SDO and the Belgian LYRA Lyman Alpha flux monitor. We will give a short description of this unique 60 mm aperture imaging telescope, dedicated to the investigation of the UV sources of solar variability and of the chromospheric and coronal disruptive events (Moreton waves, prominences, CMEs, etc.).

Silicon is currently the most commonly used material for the fabrication of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). However, silicon-based MEMS will not be suitable for long-endurance devices involving components rotating at high speed, where friction and wear need to be minimized, components such as 2-D cantilevers that may be subjected to very large flexural displacements, where stiction is a problem, or components that will be exposed to corrosive environments. The mechanical, thermal, chemical, and tribological properties of diamond make it an ideal material for the fabrication of long-endurance MEMS components. Cost-effective fabrication of these components could in principle be achieved by coating Si with diamond films and using conventional lithographic patterning methods in conjunction with e. g. sacrificial Ti or SiO2 layers. However, diamond coatings grown by conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods exhibit a coarse-grained structure that prevents high-resolution patterning, or a fine-grained microstructure with a significant amount of intergranular non-diamond carbon. We demonstrate here the fabrication of 2-D and 3-D phase-pure ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) MEMS components by coating Si with UNCD films, coupled with lithographic patterning methods involving sacrificial release layers. UNCD films are grown by microwave plasma CVD using C60-Ar or CH4-Ar gas mixtures, which result in films that have 3-5 nm grain size, are 10-20 times smoother than conventionally grown diamond films, are extremely resistant to corrosive environments, and are predicted to have a brittle fracture strength similar to that of single crystal diamond.

The new standard conodont zonation includes, in succession from below: Lower Ps. bicornis Zone, Upper Ps. bicornis Zone, Lower P. procerus Zone, Upper P. procerus Zone, Lower K. ranuliformis Zone, Upper K. ranuliformis Zone, 0. s. rhenana Zone, Lower K. walliseri Zone, Middle K. walliseri Zone, K. patula Zone, uppermost K. walliseri range, post K. walliseri interregnum, K. o. ortus Zone and 0. s. sagitta Zone. Lower boundaries for each zone are defined or redefined. A less detailed biostratigraphic nomenclature at the superzone level is suggested for use where collections are inadequate: The Pterospathodus Zonal group, the Upper Pterospathodus Zonal group, the P. amorphognathoides Zonal group, the Ps. bicornis Superzone, the P. procerus Superzone, the K. ranuliformis Superzone, the O. s. rhenana Superzone, the K. walliseri Zonal group, the Upper K. walliseri Superzone and the K. o. ortus Superzone. These partly overlap and can be used according to the taxa present. The proposed zonation is applied to most known conodont sequences. The taxonomic concept of the taxa used is discussed; new taxa include Nudibelodina sensitiva, Ozarkodina paraconfluens and O. martinssoni. The species name Ozarkodina ortus is a senior synonym of Kockelella absidata.