Construction of a polichromator assigned to 9-wavelength lidar is presented. Combining the technique of narrowband interference filters and dispersion due to diffraction gratings the bandwidth of several nanometers as well as a relatively high transmission for each wavelength of interest has been achieved.

Application of chemiluminescent methods for monitoring and quantification of degradation processes of humus substances (HS) in soil organic matter under detrimental environment conditions is described. Single photoelectron counting and imaging techniques of chemiluminescence accompanying degradation reactions of HS as well as quenching of electrochemiluminescence and lucigenin chemiluminescence by degraded HS are applied.

It was found that the radiation reflected by adaxial surface of leaf was elliptic polarization with maximum near Brewster. The ellipticity of reflected by leaves radiation increased with the increasing of mesophyll air spaces and the decreasing of leaf chlorophyll concentration. It can be explained that the non-polarized fraction of light from internal structure depends on the leaf pigments concentration and the quantity of air spaces in mesophyll.

This work deals with light emission changes from Characeae cells induced in them by mechanical injury, metabolites e.g. ascorbic acid (AsA) and local anaesthetic (LA) - lignocaine. Two optoelectronic methods: (1) the single photon counting (SPC) with an EMI Thorn 9558A (340 - 800 nm) photomultiplier, and (2) the single photon imaging (SPCI) using Molecular Light Imager "Night Owl" LB 981 EG&G Berthold were employed for ultraweak light emission changes record. These methods were used as the complementary ones. Spontaneous ultraweak emission from plants (kept in darkness) as a photonic response to the perturbation of their oxidative metabolism was studied. The reagents used here are antioxidants quenching singlet oxygen ¹O₂*, and lignocaine is an efficient scavenger of OH*. An increase of the emission intensity was observed both in the case of the mechanical injury and action of AsA or LA. It is pointed out that the use of the SPC is justifiable for samples requiring a high time resolution while the use of the SPCI for samples requiring determination of the space-distribution of emission. The procedure of analysis of temporal-spatial changes in the light emission by objects with a complex shape has been elaborated. It is suggested that ultraweak light emission changes could be considered as an optical determinant of homeostasis security state in plant cells.

A continuously operating route meter of low concentrations of gases, based on optoelectronic recirculation, is proposed. A semiconductor laser diode with an asymmetric quantum-well heterostructure providing emission at two different wavelengths is used for the radiation source. The regime of opto-electronic recirculation simultaneously at two wavelengths is realized in the system, that makes it possible to perform route measurements of the gas concentration and determine the length of the controlled route with a high accuracy.

To obtain an acceptable comfort degree is a common practice to use a conventional air conditioning systems as radiators and coolers. However, they suppose high energy costs and are directly associated with some occupational diseases. We propose an alternative method to get comfort using a window galleria to take advantage of solar radiation. We have made a complete study of solar radiation in order to characterize the building. Results show us that we can achieve comfort levels without resorts to conventional systems.

In the Galician Rias (north west of the Iberian Peninsula), the culture of mussels is threatened by populations of toxic phytoplankton that are advected from the continental platform and bloom onto the coast. This produces important losses to the harvesting shellfish sector. The study of the environmental conditions and its correlation with the blooms onset has led to the development of an Early Warning System that is to be operative in the near future. To contribute to the Early Warning System, an Information System for Decision Support has been developed using environmental field and remote sensing data. Field data have been analyzed with a customized GIS and related to remote sensing data to feed a Knowledge Based System, which analyzed all the information and produced a positive index of bloom ocurrence some weeks before the bloom beginning.

Visual features of classical and high-tech security holograms are described and their advantages and shortbacks discussed. New holographic features, improving both security hologram visual appeal and its anticounterfeiting value are described. 2D/3D backgrounds can be highly improved using multicolor textures, smooth changing color pattern and variable background depth. Complex grating based images with a lot of colors and smooth transitions between them highly improves visual and security value of grating based optically variable devices. Modulation of grating parameters may create distinguishing effect of glossy 3D surface. Combining various holographic features increases security holograms value very significantly.

The protection of security papers and documents from a fake is the important state problem. In a system of Department of Goznak Belarus of the Ministry of Finance of Republic of Belarus the laboratory on development of means of a guard of valuable papers and documents in frameworks URDE "CRYPTOTECH" is created. The responsibilities of a realization of examination of authenticity of valuable papers and documents are assigned to above-stated laboratory. The laboratory of means of a guard is equipped with the modern equipment intended for detail examination of the passports, driver's certificates, identification cards, technical and other documents with a special guard, revealing of indications of a partial fake of the documents. Among them television spectral, comparator lamp of a UF-radiation etc. Equipment is supported program system "VideoScope", which represents a software product permitting to eneter in the computer a videoimages to make their processing, comparison and archiving. The system of a comparison of images is intended for detection of distinctions (differences) between standard and researched by images of object. The comparison can be made by methods of mutual subtraction, addition of images and method of visual overlapping of a researched image with a part standard. In a mode of mutual subtraction an outcome of a comparison is the difference image received for want of subtraction of one image from other. For want of it the most distinguished plots will have color closer to black and white, and least distinguished -- gray. An outcome of full concurrence with be gray image. In a mode of addition of images an outcome will be their sum. For want of it the details of both images will be looked through, that enables of an additional visual comparison of images. The system is intended for a grouping on the certain principle, description and storage of images.

We describe several methods to extend security techniques based on optical processing to work under broadband illumination. The key question of our procedures is the design of dispersion-compensated optical processors by combining a small number of diffractive and refractive lenses. Our optical configurations provide, in a first-order approximation, the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of the input signal in a single plane and with the same scale for all the wavelengths of the incident light. In this way, our achromatic hybrid systems allow us to reconstruct color holograms with white light. These achromatic hybrid (diffractive-refractive) systems are applied, in a second stage, for implementing color processing operations with white light, such as color pattern recognition. In this direction, we design also a technique to encrypt color input objects into computer generated color holograms, which are decrypted optically with an achromatic joint transform correlator architecture under white-light illumination. Finally, we describe a totally-incoherent optical processor that is able to perform color processing operations under natural illumination (both spatially and temporally incoherent). This system is applied to perform color pattern recognition and optical encryption operations under natural light. Numerical and experimental results are shown.

The method of face recognition by using optical correlator with wavelet preprocessing is presented. The wavelet transform is used to improve the performance of standard Vander Lugt correlator with phase only filter (POF). The influence of various wavelet transforms of images of human faces on the recognition results has been analyzed. The quality of the face recognition process was tested according to two criteria: the peak to correlation energy ratio (PCE), and the discrimination capability (DC). Additionally, proper localization of correlation peak has been controlled. During the preprocessing step a set of three wavelets -- mexican hat, Haar, and Gabor wavelets, with various scales was used. In addition, Gabor wavelets were tested for various orientation angles. During the recognition procedure the input scene and POF are transformed by the same wavelet. We show the results of the computer simulation for a variety of images of human faces: original images without any distortions, noisy images, and images with non-uniform light ilumination. A comparison of results of recognition obtained with and without wavelet preprocessing is given.

Biometrics is recently a key interest of many institutions, especially those interested in public security. Biometrics relies on recognition, identification and verification of physiological or/and behavioral features of human body. These include e.g. fingerprints, retina or iris images, examination of DNA or way of handwriting and many others. Face recognition is one of these modalities. The successful security systems should offer high efficiency, meaning high rate of properly classified and verified images. They should be also free from external disturbances like unstable environment conditions, illumination etc. In this paper we demonstrated that biometric verification based on the analysis of thermal images could fulfill these requirements and thermal image of the human face can be regarded as a biometric feature, as well. Analyzed database incorporates thermal images of 26 adults, registered by high quality infrared camera AGEMA 900 LW in various conditions under the influence of externally induced changes to the thermal characteristics. In order to perform the image processing the compression step was applied, so the acquired 270 x 135 pixels image was reduced to the size of 85 x 85 pixels. The reduced images were further analyzed. Our system worked in three regimes, based on Eigenfaces, Fisherfaces and joint transform correlator. Receiver Operator Characteristic was used for evaluation of each of the mentioned above modalities. Equal Error Rate was applied for evaluation of the tested systems. It was shown that the highest rate of system efficiency was achieved by implementation of Fisherfaces 96,54% and joint transform correlator 88,40%. Thus, it was also demonstrated that temperature distribution can be regarded as biometrics feature and can be used for person verification.

The dyadic shift-based image processing uses the address permutation of the individual pixels or the permutation of their gray levels or both by means of the XOR operation. It is properly described within the framework of the two-dimensional Walsh functions and Walsh transforms. The dyadic shift procedures allow the transformation of the original image and its posterior recovery without information loss by simply performing further permutations. In addition, comparison of particular features of different images can be achieved by applying dyadic correlations, which in turn can also take advantage of the Walsh transforms. Therefore, the dyadic shift-based image processing has potential applications on image encryption, image enhancement and filtering and pattern recognition among others.

We present theoretical analysis of the sensitivity and signal to noise ratio of spectral of OCT. It will be experimentally demonstrated that Spectral OCT is able to reproduce one line of the tomogram within time shorter than 0.1 ms. This technique has potential to produce images in very demanding conditions like tomograms of the fundus in the cataractous eye.

Recent developments in human eye aberration measurements allow to design and fabricate compensating elements aiming to achieve aberration-limited imaging. This is important not merely from a subject's viewpoint (improving the sharpness of the outer world images formed at the retina) but mainly for clinical instrumentation purposes, especially those dealing with high-resolution retinal imaging (eye fundus cameras, scanning laser ophtlalmosopes, etc.). Here we report recent developments in the correction of the static component of the eye aberrations. Aberration data of several subjects were used for manufacturing personally customized phase plates designed to compensate for the wave aberration in the human eye. These plates were made by gray-level single-mask photosculpture in photoresist and then placed in front of the eye. The effects of misalignments as well as the strategy to design wide-field correcting elements are briefly revised. Applications include improving images in scanning laser ophtalmoscopes. The future plans of research including application of axicons for compensation of the lack of accommodation and kinoforms cancelling high amounts of eye's aberrations in monochromatic illumination are also sketched.

The human pupillomotor response to light (the pupil light reflex -- PLR) is an example of nonlinear biological systems. The time characteristic of the PLR response is determined by the successive activation of the parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation of the iris muscles. The shape of characteristics is typically evaluated from the changes in pupil size following a pulse stimulation. The paper presents the system for studies of the dynamic behavior of the pupillary system. Results of the experiments and analysis are presented.

The aim of our study was to define such shape of videokeratometric Placido disc based illuminator that would guarantee quasi flat image formation and due to that sharp and reliable information of corneal geometry receiving. The new shape of surface, which Placido rings would be painted on, is "cigar" like and was the result of our model study. Now analytical comparison with existing, commercially used videokeratometric illuminator was performed. Such cylindrical illuminator is used in the Tomey TMS-3 videotopographer. The study relied upon simple analytical path of rays calculations. The calculations were performed for 17 rays in inproportionate configuration at the entrance pupil plane. The results show the difference between image surfaces created by both illuminators on the average cornea. The image surface formed by introduced stimulator is much more flatter than the image of TMS-3 illuminator. This means that in order to receive sharp images providing reliable data, one can use the camera with smaller depth of sharpness.

The advanced prototype presented here is based on Thermal Emission Spectroscopy (TES) and promises a new generation of non-invasive human tissue analyte instruments. The method and instrument are based on the discovery that natural mid-infrared emission from the human body, especially from the tympanic membrane, is modulated by the state of the emitting tissue. In a simple experimental arrangement, it was demonstrated that emission from glucose could be detected using room temperature detectors in a filter-based setup. Thermal infrared emission characteristics of different glucose concentrations in human plasma solutions were measured. To our knowledge, this is the first time such measurements are reported. In-vivo measurements demonstrated the reproducibility of the methodology of the non-invasive glucose monitor. The non-invasive measurement was calibrated to the serum glucose concentration using 432-paired measurements and subsequently tested (results of Power Analyses) in a blind fashion with 126-paired measurements from diabetic subjects. Non-invasive glucose results were compared with laboratory reference measurements using Error-in-Variable methods. Clark Error Grid analysis showed that 100% of the measurements fell within zones A and B (90% in zone A and 10% in zone B). The Standard Deviation for all non-invasive measured concentrations is 27 mg/dL, Mean Absolute Relative Error %MARE = 8.6, and the correlation coefficient is r = 0.94. This first independent clinical study of a non-invasive blood glucose prototype has demonstrated glucose measurements with clinically acceptable accuracy without the necessity of individual daily calibration.

The subject of this paper relates to the measurable effects of light behavior in biological materials. The modulations of biooptical signals, induced in tissues by arterial pulsations, are the basis of photoplethysmography (PPG), which by definition is an optoelectronic method for measuring and recording changes in volume of a body part. The PPG signal may be considered as the response of a given dynamic system to an input cyclical signal that is quasi-periodical. In the literature, the PPG attributes have been presented many times; however, the descriptions are mostly non-parametrical. On the contrary, a way of parametrical description using the methods that are utilized to identify dynamic systems is considered in this paper. A flow model and its mathematical description have been presented.

The dynamic thermography technique, extensively used for non-destructive testing in industry, applied to a human body can be very attractive for medical diagnostics purposes. The study presented in this paper introduces methodology of dynamic thermography to applications in medical diagnostics. Review of properties of several excitation sources and techniques as well as some experimental results are given.

The results of scientific and technological experiments performed in the Glass Department of Electronic Material Technology in Warsaw are presented. Research on fiber optic elements were carried out in areas of light guides made from multi component chalcogenide glass (Ge-Sb-Se). The laboratory methods of manufacturing the glass elements which are the starting for preparation of optimally material bathes and melting the glass in silica glass crucible. Method of pulling glass fibers for IR transmission was improved. Goal is to elaborate technology producing of IR fiber and ordered bundle for transferring pictures from inside human body without none additional illumination. Ability transmitting CO₂ laser radiation by IR fiber optic may by simultaneously used as laser scalpel. Fiber optic made from chalcogenide glass is very promising.

The paper presents benefits of optical time-of-flight spectroscopy for medical applications. It also presents the principles of measurement and describes how the basic optical properties of tissue can be estimated from measured data. The potential of time-of-flight spectroscopy is demonstrated, based on measurements conducted for highly scattering materials, such as paper samples, technological liquids from paper mills and aqueous milk solutions. Picosecond semiconductor pulse lasers and fast light detectors (a streak camera and an avalanche photodiode working in Geiger mode) were used. Obtained results show that it is possible to construct a new type of optic fiber sensors for medical applications. The chief advantage of the sensors is their ability to perform measurements in difficult to reach places (e.g. inside human body). Moreover, it is expected that fiber optic sensors based on time-of-flight spectroscopy will significantly reduce the costs of medical diagnosis.

For the purpose of determining how the physical and chemical parameters of blood influence the fluctuation spectra S (ω) under multiple scattering conditions, a series of experiments were made using specimens of both whole blood and blood diluted by plasma and serum in different proportions. Measurements of the viscosity of whole blood and the prepared specimens as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were made by standard methods. The variance estimates of the mathematical model coefficients were made. It is shown that variance estimates depend strongly on the viscosity and ESR of whole blood.

The possibility of diagnostics of the composition and state of blood in a cuvette with plane-parallel walls by the polarization characteristics of the scattered laser radiation has been investigated. It has been shown experimentally, that the polarization characteristics of a scattered radiation at λ = 0.63 μm and under certain conditions of probing, linearly polarized in a plane of incidence by a laser radiation, and also observation are responsive to changes in structure and composition of a blood and can be used for the diagnostic purposes.

An optical model of erythrocyte aggregation with blood-plasma capture is proposed. The shape of erythrocytes was approximated by a circular cylinder with a concave ball-like base. The ratios relating the optical constants averaged over the volume of the aggregates to the geometric parameters of erythrocytes and the number of the aggregated erythrocytes have been obtained. In the homogeneous sphere approximation we have calculated the following basic characteristics of scattering, determining the radiation transfer in a scattering medium under the multiple scattering conditions: extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, photon survival probability, first coefficient in the expansion of the scattering indicatrix in terms of the Legandre polynomials. Three variants of an elementary volume of blood were examined: a suspension of isolated individual erythrocytes, a suspension containing aggregates formed without blood-plasma capture, and a suspension in which erythrocyte aggregation occured with capture of blood plasma by the concave bases of erythrocytes. The methods of designing an optical experiment were used for analyzing the calculation results. It is shown that the processes of erythrocyte aggregation and possible blood-plasma capture, occurring as a result of the formation of aggregates, can cause significant changes in the optical characteristics of an elementary volume of blood. Simple mathematical expressions relating the value of the diffuse-reflection factor of radiation reflected from a blood layer to the parameters and the number of erythrocytes in the composition of the aggregates have been obtained. The statistical significance of the influence of the optical and geometric parameters of erythrocytes has been estimated.

Oxygen metabolism of neutrophils after stimulation with opsonized zymosan was examined using chemiluminescence test (in the presence of the patient serum or pooled serum). Into the study 37 children aged from 2 to 12 years were enrolled (20 girls and 17 boys). 10 healthy volunteers comprised the control group (group III). Two groups of patients were established: group I -- children with bronchial asthma (without infection), group II -- children with pneumonia. The examination in both groups was performed twice -- in acute phase and in remission period. The group I in acute phase comprised 16 children and in remission phase 9 children, group II - 21 children in acute phase and 9 children in remission phase, respectively. The following parameters of CL were estimated average value of so called spontaneous CL, maximal excitation of neutrophils after stimulation by zymogen (CLmax), time of zymosan opsonization. The following results were obtained: increased spontaneous CL and CLmax (at the presence of both sera) in acute phase of bronchial asthma and pneumonia in comparison to the control group. In the period of remission both these parameters were insignificantly decreased. The longest time of zymosan opsonization in acute period of disease was observed in children with pneumonia (18 min.). This time did not change during remission phase. Only slightly longer time of opsonization was observed in the patients from group I (in exacerbation) (15 min) than in the control group (13,1 min). This time was prolonged in the clinical remission (20 min).

Camptothecins, fluorescent anticancer agents, exhibit at neutral and physiological pH changes over time in absorption and fluorescence spectra. Analysis of these changes is a subject of this paper. Factor analysis of fluorescence spectra enabled to determine the kinetics of hydrolysis of camptothecin, i.e. the rate of converting of biologically active lactone form into inactive carboxylate. Obtained results are compared with HPLC data.

The possible methods of local and general hyperthermia creation are reviewed. The advantages of a laser hyperthermia of oncologic neoplasms are determined. The comparative analysis of characteristics of different apparatus for creation of a local hyperthermia of cancers, including laser hyperthermia is carried out. The model of a laser hyperthermia of a cancer of a glandular epithelium of bronchuses is offered. The temperature conditions for destruction of cancer are determined.

The applicability of laser induced fluorescence for early caries diagnosis was tested. The influence of laser radiation wavelength on emission characteristics of sound and demineralized enamel was examined using various fiber spectrum analysers and systems for fluorescence imaging. Samples of healthy enamel, carious enamel, and enamel demineralized in vitro were ground and pressed to form flat, uniform samples. Different laser light sources emitting wavelengths of 442, 532 and 633 nm were used to induce fluorescence in the samples. The spectra of fluorescence were registered and fluorescence images were captured with a CCD camera and then analyzed. Results showed the intensity of fluorescence of enamel decalcified in vitro to be lower than that of healthy enamel, regardless of the wavelength of excitation light. In the case of carious enamel, changes were found to depend on the wavelength of excitation light. When excited by wavelengths of 442 nm (green light) and 532 nm (blue light), the fluorescence intensity of carious enamel was found to be lower than that of sound enamel. When excited by wavelengths of 633 nm (red light) the fluorescence intensity of carious enamel was found to be greatly higher than that of sound enamel. Concluding, the difference in fluorescence intensity between sound and carious enamel may justify the use of this phenomenon in early caries diagnosis. However, fluorescence intensity registered in enamel samples depends on several factors: the wavelength of excitation light, character of demineralization (in vivo or in vitro), and the structure of the fiber optic sensor used for measurement. Deeper penetration of dental tissue obtained by red light suggests that this may be the appropriate source to use for more advanced carious lesions. The systems equipped with blue light sources are more effective in early caries diagnosis.

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the universal regulators of cell and tissue metabolism. Besides, it plays the role of one of the main cytotoxic effectors in cell immunity system. High reactivity of NO determines its short lifetime (several seconds) in organism. Low-molecular-weight S-nitrosothiols, S-nitrosocompounds of proteins, dinitrosyl compounds, along with nitrosohemoglobin, nitrosomyoglobin are more stable compounds than NO and probably create physiological depot of NO in organism. In this work it is shown that semiquinone and leuko forms of riboflavin (RF) interacted with S-nitrosoglutathione and buthylnitrite to release NO. Leuko form of RF was obtained under action of laser irradiation (λ = 337 nm, nitrogen laser) in the presence of electron donors (NADH, pyruvate). After mixing of reduced, uncolored leuko form of RF with nitrosoglutathione or buthylnitrite absorption spectrum underwent transformation which testified about RF oxidized form production. Simultaneously with RF oxidized form production growth of fluorescence with maximum at 533 nm occurred. Production of RF oxidized form due to interaction of S-nitrosoglutathione with leuko or semiqiuinone forms of RF was accompanied by formation of glutathione and release of NO. In the case of buthylnitrite butanol and NO were formed. Semiquinone form of RF was obtained under action of laser irradiation in anaerobic conditions on oxidized RF in the presence of bivalent metal ions [Zn (II), Mg (II)]. Semiquinone form of RF as well as leuko form transfer electrons to nitrosoglutathione molecules. This process is also accompanied by formation of glutathione, NO, oxidized RF. Obtained results testify that RF plays important role in NO metabolism due to interactions of its redox forms with S-nitrosocompounds and alkylnitrites which possibly can serve as components of NO physiological depot in organism.

The Special Ordered Structures of Specialty Fiber included into Multifunctional and Multi Channel Fiber Optic Bundles (MFOB) and Sensors are proposed. Optimal construction of fiber optic channels in the MFOB exhibit reduced speckle noise and high intensity transmission resulting from spatial homogeneity and symmetry of radiation. Improved new type of the Fibers: Metal Coated Multimode, Special Plastic Coated, Fibers for UV-VIS, Fibers for VIS-NIR spectral Range, Fibers for NIR and IR spectral range. Hexagonal package of sensitive end of the MFOB structures designed with different type and fiber core diameters fibers are transferred into the different configured input/output optical channels. For fluorescence spectroscopy and FDT Diagnostic described optimal arrangement with 7-256 Fibers included into MFOB structure. Remote spectroscopic Probes are used for "in Vivo" or "in Vitro" experimental devices. Sensors with MFOB probes bifurcated from two up to seven channels are used for process photometry and for mini-fiber spectrometric devices. Customized Software and flexible numerical simulations for data analysis are based into two levels of programming: -micro program part for ATMEL microprocessor, Visual C++ version 6.0 for PC computers with Windows -98-2000Me Programs. Advanced Applications of MFOB type of probes show some features for Biomedical Remote Sensing Systems: High Optical Throughput for Special Fluorescence Probes; High Stability for fool spectral range; Minimal cross link between fibers into MFOB-M structures; High stability for Endoscopes and sterilization proof tested solutions; Quality Controlled Scattered Reflection MFOB. MFOB structures designed with Mini Fiber Spectrometers show high spectral resolution (7 - 12 nm) and possibility to combine in one set different function: Normalization function for different light sources, Multi scan measurements with adjusted time duration, Spectral band analysis (including integrated characters for selected wavebands), Fast time resolution for selected types of scanning characters.

The operation principle of now used smokemeters is based on the measurement of attenuation of optical radiation transmitted through a vehicle emission and additional measurement of quantity of a compensation optical flux. The instability of instrumental constants of emitting-receiving and recording units of a measuring system due to the changes in measurement conditions (temperature, optical surfaces pollution, background illumination, etc.) results in the necessity of correction (tuning) of zero value by calibration measurements. Often (in quickly changed conditions) the calibration is difficult or even impossible. The additional measurements of a compensation flux reduce only influence of instability in emitted light pulse power (energy) on the measurement accuracy and cannot reduce an influence of other factors. Proposed method of exhaust opacity determination and devices for its realization are intended for operative determination of mass concentration of soot in the emission of vehicles. We propose the system in which sending and recording of sounding radiation is carried out by two light emitters and two photoreceivers on two crossing directions in a scattering medium (emission). In addition the same two photoreceivers register optical fluxes scattered by the medium (in the area of crossing of sounding directions). Mass concentration of the soot in an emission is determined on the base of registered sounding light fluxes, scattered by the emission fluxes and past through the emission fluxes.

The paper presents development of a research project oriented towards application of optical sensors and optical wave-guides for the investigation and diagnostics of the combustion process in the internal-combustion automotive engine. Applied measurement method assumes usage of photometric techniques, and in particular spectrophotometry of the flames existing in the combustion chamber. Emission signal during combustion is picked up by an optical sensor with direct access to the combustion chamber, then transmitted using two parallel fiber-optic bundles. The signal can be filtered with set of interference filters and finally it is converted using grating monochromator or photodetector. The main goal of the project is to develop a laboratory diagnostic system enabling on-line identification of the abnormal combustion phenomena like knocking or misfires (lack of combustion). Extracted synthetic quality indexes will be used in the improvement of combustion process and as a feedback signals in the engine control algorithms. The paper is illustrated with some results obtained during previous experiments.

The fiber optic monitoring system was utilized in controlling combustion of pulverized coal with some additives. These additives have a negative influence on combustion stability, which eventually can lead to flameout. To be based on optical signals corresponding to flame radiation intensity contained within a region defined by NA of optical fibers, it is possible to foresee a flameout. It can be done by converting optical signal into electrical form and applying sophisticated methods of signal analysis such as wavelet transform.

This paper presents results of the researches upon humidity sensors based on humidity sensitive composite material: PVA + Pb. Construction of the sensor is presented. Dynamic properties of the sensors are also included.

The paper presents known for above 60 years phenomenon of intrinsic electroluminescence and its practical use in modern light sources called light emitting capacitors or electroluminescent lamps. Applying polymer thick film technology the authors have realized multilayer electroluminescent structures (Destriau cells). The influence of various constructional factors and exploitational conditions (supplying voltage, temperature) on luminance level of structures was determined. The test results achieved are presented in the diagrams and tables. A few examples of applications of electroluminescent lamps in emergency and warning systems are reported.

Human eye is able to change its sensitivity to light in the process of adaptation. Still the process of vision can be accompanied by inconvenient phenomena, e.g. glare. The newest European norms recommended the CIE Unified Glare Rating method to estimate glare. A condition of practical realization of this method is the knowledge of the luminance distribution in the room. The best detection method is to use a CCD camera, which allows to evaluate all the quantities needed to calculate the UGR index: the background luminance, the luminance of the luminous parts of each luminaire at the observer's eye, the solid angle of the luminous parts of each luminaire and the position index for each luminaire. In the paper a definition of the background luminance L_b and the influence of the errors in L_b estimation on the value of the UGR index are presented. Two methods of the background luminance measurement are described and discussed.

In practice, the problem of vision discomfort appears at a number of different work-stands. Among others, it concerns people like drivers or people working with screen monitors. As a result of extensive research into appropriate illumination, a number of recommendations have been produced in order to ensure comfort of vision at work-stands. It is assumed that if the work-stand is provided with sufficiently high level of illuminance, and if the luminance distribution is uniform, and there is no glare, then we have comfort of vision and the eye fatigue is acceptable. Currently, to measure luminance distribution in order to assess the quality of illumination, it is necessary to carry out a large number of point measurements by using the luminance meter. Another way of determining the luminance distribution coming from the sources lying in a relatively small solid angle is the application of luminance meter built by using a CCD camera. Measurements of this type require, however, a great number of exposures to determine luminance distribution coming from light sources located in a large solid angle (e.g. a halfspace). This paper presents a design model of luminance distribution meter which makes it possible to obtain data about the distribution of luminance coming from light sources located in the whole halfspace only by a single measurement. Furthermore, the meter enables simultaneous determination of all the parameters on the work-stand illumination quality.

The amorphous As₂S₃ and As₄₀S₁₅Se₄₅ films as a recording media for optical holography and lithography were studied. The results on research of the transmission, surface-relief and Bragg reflection grating holographic recording and readout conditions are presented. The recording of transmission holographic gratings in As₄₀S₁₅Se₄₅ films was performed by He-Ne (0.6328 μm) laser beam, while the redout of the diffraction efficiency was made at Bragg agle using diode (0.805 μm) laser lines. The Bragg reflection gratings in As₂S₃ films were recorded and studied by Ar⁺ laser line 0.5145 μm. The surface-relief modulated gratings with a period of 0.15 μm - 1 μm were recorded.

The optical properties of the birefringent multi-objects (heterogeneous objects) can simply be determined if the thickness of each layer is known. The highly accurate measurement of the thickness of each layer of the birefringent multi-object is not trivial operation and it should be performed with more care. Therefore, oblique incidence Pluta birefracting microinterferometer is used for highly accurate thickness measurement. In the presented paper, two general interferometric approaches are used for refractive indices and thickness measurement of each layer of the birefringent multi-medium objects. This measurement can be done when only the extraordinary fringe deflection in the image of each layer is measured as function of the incidence angle.

A new way leading to estimate Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG) parameters is presented. We describe calculating influence of accuracy of FBG execution on their basic characteristics. In this paper we report and present an FBG element as an optical fiber sensor. An FBG quality characterize two mainly essential parameters. There are Full Width at Half Maximum to stand for FWHM (also presented as Δλ) and reflection index to stand for R. We examine influence of accuracy of FBG with reference to following quantity: modulation of the refraction index Δn and the grating period Λ. On the basis of well known analytical relationship which describe FWHM and R we have estimated influence of FBG construction on above parameters. After obtain final analytical dependences we make suitable graphs to depict all calculations.

New obtained single crystal LATGS and its selected dielectric properties are presented in this paper. Samples of the single crystal were utilized as active elements of pyroelectric detector. This paper contains also theoretical considerations for this type of detector, making possible determination of voltage-current sensitivity.

The imaging polarimetry with carrier frequency uses periodically space variation of light polarization obtained with a birefringent wedge, inserted into an optical setup. Implementation of required phase shifting in measuring optical system is performed by use of Liquid Crystal Modulator (LCM). Application of LCM instead of rotational phase plates significantly accelerates measurements and enables recording fast, dynamical variations of both distributions of birefringence and azimuth angle of anisotropic objects. Accuracy of calculation of birefringence and azimuth angle distributions of measured object depends on orientation of LCM in relation to the other optical elements of the system and on accuracy of phase shift given by the LCM. This paper presents the model calculations, which enable to evaluate the influence of the adjustment parameters of LCM on reconstruction of the maps of birefringence and azimuth angle of the measured object.

Interference patterns imaged by an optical system and registered by CCD camera are applied in automatic systems for surface shape and deformation measurements. The digital holographic registration of fringe patterns is proposed to avoid the influence of the optical imaging system. Theoretical relationships and numerical simulation results are presented.

Spectral properties of excitation and emission path of epifluorescence microscope at object and image planes has been determined and analyzed for two of filter sets. Attenuation of excitation path at object plane and attenuation of emission path at image plane were proved to be useful for this purpose. Calculations were carried out for epifluorescence filters made for FITC (fluorescein) type fluorophores (494ex/518em).

The paper presents selected problems connected with medical application of laser radiation. Special attention has been paid to pulsed radiation with subnanosecond pulse duration. Three main directions of basic research and investigations of laser medical devices are widely described. These are the problems related to pulse interaction, including short, piko- and femtosecond pulses used in laser therapy, the problems of interaction of mid-IR laser radiation with special consideration of interaction of nanosecond pulses of 3-μm wavelength radiation with tissues, and the problems of laser radiation used in optical diagnostics.

Security issues of telecommunication networks present complicated and versatile problems. Data transfer of classified information should be secure and in compliance with the law. Presented fiber optic sensors make it possible to adjust electronic business to currently-in-force requirements for network protection. The proposed implementations of fiber optic sensors into telecommunication networks, apart from signalling of an unauthorized access, in more sophisticated arrangements localize a place where an attempt to connection is made. Interferometric fiber optic sensors with distributed sensitivity both with multimode and monomode fibers are presented. Computer simulations shows a possibility of a disturbance point localization along a fiber optic cable. Conceptions of sensors for data transfer security in links, cables and networks by means of proposed sensors is also presented.