Microwave frequency detectors enable immediate determination of an unknown microwave signal frequency. Measurement is possible if the output characteristic of a frequency detector is unequivocal in a selected band of operation. The paper presents a method for obtaining unequivocal output characteristics for a given band of frequency detector operation.

The paper presents a study of the performance of some selected UV detectors. Unlike many similar works, the obtained data refer to commercial photodiodes (not only to detector materials). The main task of the research was to determine the influence of the operating temperature and annealing on the detector spectral responsiveness. A comparison of the results obtained for the photodiodes made of GaN and SiC was also performed. Although both kinds of detectors can work at high temperatures for a long time, some modification of their properties was observed. However, for GaN and SiC photodiodes, this modification has a substantially different nature. It is very important for some applications, e.g. fire alarms and a military equipment.

Sensors designed by Polish engineers help detect traces of life beyond Earth. Adam Piotrowski of Vigo System tells us what else these devices can do.

The paper reports on the photoelectrical performance of the long wavelength infrared (LWIR) HgCdTe high operating temperature (HOT) detector. The detector structure was simulated with commercially available software APSYS by Crosslight Inc. taking into account SRH, Auger and tunnelling currents. A detailed analysis of the detector performance such as dark current, detectivity, time response as a function of device architecture and applied bias is performed, pointing out optimal working conditions.

A limited ability to discriminate between different materials is the fundamental problem with all conventional eddy-current-based metal detectors. This paper presents the use, evaluation and classification of nontraditional excitation signals for eddy-current metal detectors to improve their detection and discrimination ability. The presented multi-frequency excitation signals are as follows: a step sweep sine wave, a linear frequency sweep and sin(x)/x signals. All signals are evaluated in the frequency domain. Amplitude and phase spectra and polar graphs of the detector output signal are used for classification and discrimination of the tested objects. Four different classifiers are presented. The classification results obtained with the use of poly-harmonic signals are compared with those obtained with a classical single-tone method. Multifrequency signals provide more detailed information, due to the response function – the frequency characteristic of a detected object, than standard single-tone methods. Based on the measurements and analysis, a metal object can be better distinguished than when using a single-tone method.

Beamforming is an advanced signal processing technique used in sensor arrays for directional signal transmission

or reception. The paper deals with a system based on an ultrasound transmitter and an array of

receivers, to determine the distance to an obstacle by measuring the time of flight and – using the phase

beamforming technique to process the output signals of receivers for finding the direction from which the

reflected signal is received – locates the obstacle. The embedded beam-former interacts with a PID-based

line follower robot to improve performance of the line follower navigation algorithm by detecting and

avoiding obstacles. The PID (proportional-integral-derivative) algorithm is also typically used to control

industrial processes. It calculates the difference between a measured value and a desired set of points, then

attempts to minimize the error by adjusting the output. The overall navigation system combines a PID-based

trajectory follower with a spatial-temporal filter (beamformer) that uses the output of an array of sensors to

extract signals received from an obstacle in a particular direction in order to guide an autonomous vehicle

or a robot along a safe path.

The work proposes a new method for vehicle classification, which allows treating vehicles uniformly at the stage of defining the vehicle classes, as well as during the classification itself and the assessment of its correctness. The sole source of information about a vehicle is its magnetic signature normalised with respect to the amplitude and duration. The proposed method allows defining a large number (even several thousand) of classes comprising vehicles whose magnetic signatures are similar according to the assumed criterion with precisely determined degree of similarity. The decision about the degree of similarity and, consequently, about the number of classes, is taken by a user depending on the classification purpose. An additional advantage of the proposed solution is the automated defining of vehicle classes for the given degree of similarity between signatures determined by a user. Thus the human factor, which plays a significant role in currently used methods, has been removed from the classification process at the stage of defining vehicle classes. The efficiency of the proposed approach to the vehicle classification problem was demonstrated on the basis of a large set of experimental data.

Prof. Ewa Rondio from the National Center for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) explains the nature of neutrinos, the measurements taken by the Super-Kamiokande detector, and the involvement of Polish scientists in the project.

The review includes results of analyses and research aimed at standardizing the concepts and measurement procedures associated with photodetector parameters. Photodetectors are key components that ensure the conversion of incoming optical radiation into an electrical signal in a wide variety of sophisticated optoelectronic systems and everyday devices, such as smartwatches and systems that measure the composition of the Martian atmosphere. Semiconductor detectors are presented, and they play a major role due to their excellent optical and electrical parameters as well as physical parameters, stability, and long mean time to failure. As their performance depends on the manufacturing technology and internal architecture, different types of photodetectors are described first. The following parts of the article concern metrological aspects related to their characterization. All the basic parameters have been defined, which are useful both for their users and their developers. This allows for the verification of photodetectors’ workmanship quality, the capabilities of a given technology, and, above all, suitability for a specific application and the performance of the final optoelectronic system. Experimentally validated meteorological models and equivalent diagrams, which are necessary for the correct analysis of parameter measurements, are also presented. The current state of knowledge presented in recognized scientific papers and the results of the authors’ works are described as well.

The Long March-2F rocket was launched on 15 September 2016 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China, carrying the Tiangong-2 space laboratory. The laboratory is fitted with the detector of the POLAR experiment, which was prepared jointly with Polish scientists.

This article presents the results of the research of noiseimmunity of wireless communication systems using signals that are formed on the basis of eight-position quadrature-amplitude modulation (8-QAM) and eight-position amplitude modulation of many components (8-AMMC). The research was conducted using simulation of a wireless communication system, built using a detector, implemented on the basis of a phase locked loop. The influence of phase locked loop parameters on the detection quality of these signals in the condition of the interference in the communication channel was researched, and a comparative analysis of the noise immunity of wireless communication systems using these signals was carried out.

The void fraction is one of the most important parameters characterizing a multiphase flow. The prediction of the performance of any system operating with more than single phase relies on our knowledge and ability to measure the void fraction. In this work, a validated simulation study was performed in order to predict the void fraction independent of the flow pattern in gas-liquid two-phase flows using a gamma ray 60Co source and just one scintillation detector with the help of an artificial neural network (ANN) model of radial basis function (RBF). Three used inputs of ANN include a registered count under Compton continuum and counts under full energy peaks of 1173 and 1333 keV. The output is a void fraction percentage. Applying this methodology, the percentage of void fraction independent of the flow pattern of a gas-liquid two-phase flow was estimated with a mean relative error less than 1.17%. Although the error obtained in this study is almost close to those obtained in other similar works, only one detector was used, while in the previous studies at least two detectors were employed. Advantages of using fewer detectors are: cost reduction and system simplification.

The development of gravitational wave detectors has made it possible for astronomers to penetrate the deepest corners of the universe in search of black holes and neutron stars.

Infrared detectors are usually characterized by 1/f noise when operating with biasing. This type of noise significantly reduces detection capabilities for low-level and slow signals. There are a few methods to reduce the influence of 1/f noise, like filtering or chopper stabilization with lock-in. Using the first one, a simple 1st-order analog low-pass filter built-in amplifier usually cuts off 1/f noise fluctuations at low frequencies. In comparison, the stabilization technique modulates the signal transposing to a higher frequency with no 1/f noise and then demodulates it back (lock-in amplifiers). However, the flexible tuned device, which can work precisely at low frequencies, is especially desirable in some applications, e.g., optical spectroscopy or interferometry. The paper describes a proof-of-concept of an IR detection module with an adjustable digital filter taking advantage of finite impulse response type. It is based on the high-resolution analog-to-digital converter, field-programmable gate array, and digital-to-analog converter. A microcontroller with an implemented user interface ensures control of such a prepared filtering path. The module is a separate component with the possibility of customization and can be used in experiments or applications in which the reduction of noises and unexpected interferences is needed.

Non-intentionally doped GaSb epilayers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on highly mismatched semi-insulating GaAs substrate (001) with 2 offcut towards (110). The effects of substrate temperature and the Sb/Ga flux ratio on the crystalline quality, surface morphology and electrical properties were investigated by Nomarski optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Hall measurements, respectively. Besides, differential Hall was used to investigate the hole concentration behaviour along the GaSb epilayer. It is found that the crystal quality, electrical properties and surface morphology are markedly dependent on the growth temperature and the group V/III flux ratio. Under the optimized parameters, we demonstrate a low hole concentration at very low growth temperature. Unfortunately, the layers grown at low temperature are characterized by wide FWHM and low Hall mobility.

Germanium (Ge) PiN photodetectors are fabricated and electro-optically characterised. Unintentionally and p-type doped Ge layers are grown in a reduced-pressure chemical vapour deposition tool on a 200 mm diameter, <001>-oriented, p-type silicon (Si) substrates. Thanks to two Ge growth temperatures and the use of short thermal cycling afterwards, threading dislocation densities down to 107 cm−2 are obtained. Instead of phosphorous (P) ion implantation in germanium, the authors use in situ phosphorous-doped poly-crystalline Si (poly-Si) in the n-type regions. Secondary ion mass spectrometry revealed that P was confined in poly-Si and did not diffuse in Ge layers beneath. Over a wide range of tested device geometries, production yield was dramatically increased, with almost no short circuits. At 30 °C and at −0.1 V bias, corresponding to the highest dynamic resistance, the median dark current of 10 µm diameter photodiodes is in the 5–20 nA range depending on the size of the n-type region. The dark current is limited by the Shockley-Read-Hall generation and the noise power spectral density of the current by the flicker noise contribution. A responsivity of 0.55 and 0.33 A/W at 1.31 and 1.55 µm, respectively, is demonstrated with a 1.8 µm thick absorption Ge layer and an optimized anti-reflection coating at 1.55 µm. These results pave the way for a cost-effective technology based on group-IV semiconductors.

This article describes a novel approach to measure responsivity of a FET-based sub-THz detector using on-wafer probes to directly feed a bare antenna-less detecting device. Thus, the approach eliminates the need to know beforehand the detector’s effective aperture, which can be a source of large variation between responsivity measurements of various FET-based detectors often cited in the literature. It seems that the presented method can be useful at making direct comparisons between responsivity of various devices (e.g., MOSFETs, HEMTs etc.). As a demonstration, the sub-THz responsivity of a pHEMT device fabricated using a commercial GaAs process has been measured in a WR-3 frequency band. Additionally, the results have been compared against data obtained using an alternative approach. The verification method consisted in integrating exactly the same device with a broad-band antenna and a carefully selected high-resistivity silicon lens and comparing its performance with that of a commercial calibrated detector based on Schottky diodes.

Based on the publications regarding new or recent measurement systems for the tokamak plasma experiments, it can be found that the monitoring and quality validation of input signals for the computation stage is done in different, often simple, ways. In the paper is described the unique approach to implement the novel evaluation and data quality monitoring (EDQM) model for use in various measurement systems. The adaptation of the model is made for the GEM-based soft X-ray measurement system FPGA-based. The EDQM elements has been connected to the base firmware using PCI-E DMA real-time data streaming with minimal modification. As additional storage, on-board DDR3 memory has been used. Description of implemented elements is provided, along with designed data processing tools and advanced simulation environment based on Questa software.

Graphene applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices have been thoroughly and intensively studied since graphene discovery. Thanks to the exceptional electronic and optical properties of graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials, they can become promising candidates for infrared and terahertz photodetectors.

Quantity of the published papers devoted to 2D materials as sensors is huge. However, authors of these papers address them mainly to researches involved in investigations of 2D materials. In the present paper this topic is treated comprehensively with including both theoretical estimations and many experimental data.

At the beginning fundamental properties and performance of graphene-based, as well as alternative 2D materials have been shortly described. Next, the position of 2D material detectors is considered in confrontation with the present stage of infrared and terahertz detectors offered on global market. A new benchmark, so-called “Law 19”, used for prediction of background limited HgCdTe photodiodes operated at near room temperature, is introduced. This law is next treated as the reference for alternative 2D material technologies. The performance comparison concerns the detector responsivity, detectivity and response time. Place of 2D material-based detectors in the near future in a wide infrared detector family is predicted in the final conclusions.

The dual-band avalanche photodiode (APD) detector based on a HgCdTe material system was designed and analysed in detail numerically. A theoretical analysis of the two-colour APD intended for the mid wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long wavelength infrared (LWIR) ranges was conducted. The main purpose of the work was to indicate an approach to select APD structure parameters to achieve the best performance at high operating temperatures (HOT). The numerical simulations were performed by Crosslight numerical APSYS platform which is designed to simulate semiconductor optoelectronic devices. The current-voltage characteristics, current gain, and excess noise analysis at temperature T = 230 K vs. applied voltage for MWIR (U = 15 V) and LWIR (U = –6 V) ranges were performed. The influence of low and high doping in both active layers and barrier on the current gain and excess noise is shown. It was presented that an increase of the APD active layer doping leads to an increase in the photocurrent gain in the LWIR detector and a decrease in the MWIR device. The dark current and photocurrent gains were compared. Photocurrent gain is higher in both spectral ranges.

Recent advances in THz detection with the use of CMOS technology have shown that this option has the potential to be a leading method of producing low-cost THz sensors with integrated readout systems. This review paper, based on authors’ years of experience, presents strengths and weaknesses of this solution. The article gives examples of some hints, regarding radiation coupling and readout systems. It shows that silicon CMOS technology is well adapted to the production of inexpensive imaging systems for sub-THz frequencies. As an example paper presents the demonstrator of a multipixel Si-CMOS THz spectroscopic system allowing for chemical identification of lactose. The THz detectors embedded in this system were manufactured using the CMOS process.

HPM meters are required for the assessment of fields generated by sources of high-power microwaves. Finding the inverse calibration curves for such instruments is important for ensuring accuracy. The procedure is relatively simple for meters consisting of linear devices but there can also be hardware solutions implementing nonlinear ones. The objective of the present work was to develop a convenient procedure to allow finding such a curve when the meter uses a D-dot probe and a power detector. For that purpose, the results of low voltage measurements describing the properties of the detector were first analysed. Then a software code was developed to estimate the RMS value of an incident field based on measured output and frequency response. The response was estimated with very low electric field. And finally, the performance of the proposed procedure was verified by tests conducted with high electric field in a TEM cell. High conformity of the output of the meter with fields of known values was demonstrated. The maximum error related to the meter range did not exceed 4%.

This paper takes a look at the state-of-the-art solutions in the field of spectral imaging systems by way of application examples. It is based on a comparison of currently used systems and the challenges they face, especially in the field of high-altitude imaging and satellite imaging, are discussed. Based on our own experience, an example of hyperspectral data processing is presented. The article also discusses how modern algorithms can help in understanding the data that such images can provide.