A system can calculate estimated strain data for a fracture in a geological formation at each of a plurality of selected locations detectable by a strain measurement device. The system can receive real strain data from the strain measurement device for the geological formation. The system can perform an inversion to determine a probable distribution of fluid volume and hydraulic fracture orientation in the geological formation based on the estimated strain data and real strain data. The system can determine adjustments for a fracturing operation based on the inversion.

Methods and systems for measuring optical properties of transistor channel structures and linking the optical properties to the state of strain are presented herein. Optical scatterometry measurements of strain are performed on metrology targets that closely mimic partially manufactured, real device structures. In one aspect, optical scatterometry is employed to measure uniaxial strain in a semiconductor channel based on differences in measured spectra along and across the semiconductor channel. In a further aspect, the effect of strain on measured spectra is decorrelated from other contributors, such as the geometry and material properties of structures captured in the measurement. In another aspect, measurements are performed on a metrology target pair including a strained metrology target and a corresponding unstrained metrology target to resolve the geometry of the metrology target under measurement and to provide a reference for the estimation of the absolute value of strain.

Apparatus can comprise a cavity at least partially defined by a first major surface of a reference block and configured to receive a sample. The apparatus can comprise a first polarization-switching light source configured to emit a first polarization-switched light beam toward the cavity and a first detector configured to detect a corresponding signal. The apparatus can comprise a second polarization-switching light source configured to emit a second polarization-switched light beam toward the cavity and a second detector configured to detect a corresponding signal. The first reference block can be positioned between the second detector and the second reference block. Methods of determining an estimated stress profile can comprise determining a central tension from a measured retardation profile of the sample. Methods can comprise determining an initial stress profile from a refractive index profile of the sample. Methods can comprise scaling and adjusting stress profiles.

Apparatus can comprise a cavity at least partially defined by a first major surface of a reference block and configured to receive a sample. The apparatus can comprise a first polarization-switching light source configured to emit a first polarization-switched light beam toward the cavity and a first detector configured to detect a corresponding signal. The apparatus can comprise a second polarization-switching light source configured to emit a second polarization-switched light beam toward the cavity and a second detector configured to detect a corresponding signal. The first reference block can be positioned between the second detector and the second reference block. Methods of determining an estimated stress profile can comprise determining a central tension from a measured retardation profile of the sample. Methods can comprise determining an initial stress profile from a refractive index profile of the sample. Methods can comprise scaling and adjusting stress profiles.

The present disclosure relates to a sensor module for measuring a displacement occurring in a sensor by a confocal principle, a strain sensor device comprising the same, and a method for measuring a strain in a target using the same. Specifically, the sensor module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first single-mode optical fiber, a first GRIN optical fiber, a multi-mode optical fiber, a second GRIN optical fiber and a second single-mode optical fiber connected in an axial direction, wherein light inputted through the first single-mode optical fiber is transmitted to the second single-mode optical fiber through the series of optical fibers, and light forming a focal point in the core of the second single-mode optical fiber is detected using a confocal principle.

A medical device, system, and method having a flexible shaft and a multi-core fiber within the flexible shaft. The multi-core fiber includes a plurality of optical cores dedicated for shape sensing sensors, and a plurality of optical cores dedicated for force sensing sensors. A medical device flexing structure assembly can comprise a multi-core fiber comprising a plurality of cores, and a flexing structure comprising at least one slot. Each of the plurality of cores can comprise a fiber Bragg grating, and the flexing structure can be configured to bend in response to a force imparted on the flexing structure.

Multiplexed fiber optic sensors are able to monitor a multitude of sensor positions along an optical fiber from a single interrogation point. A long-standing goal is to increase the length of fiber and the number of multiplexed sensors without significantly compromising performance or increasing the size, weight, power and cost of the fiber and interrogation system. A technique is provided for performing extremely long-range, multiplexed fiber optic strain sensing in an efficient manner. This technique utilizes a serial optical frequency comb based interrogation system to probe an array of sensors placed along a single optical fiber.

A semi-translucent photovoltaic device is described having a translucent substrate with a photovoltaic stack interrupted in spatially distributed openings filled with a translucent polymer. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the device. The method comprises providing the substrate at a first side with the photovoltaic stack; removing material from the stack in spatially distributed regions, therewith forming openings within these regions; blanket-wise depositing a protective layer over the substrate with the photovoltaic stack; blanket-wise depositing a layer of a radiation-curable precursor for the translucent polymer over the protective layer; irradiating the substrate from a second side opposite its first side to therewith selectively cure the radiation-curable precursor within and in front of the spatially distributed openings, the radiation-curable precursor being converted therewith into said translucent polymer; removing an uncured remainder of the layer of the radiation-curable precursor.

A system and method for targeting a feature on a surgical device, includes a shape sensing element coupled to a surgical device. A guide system having a moveable guide aperture is coupled to the surgical device in communication with the shape sensing element. An interrogator is operable to poll the shape sensing element for information related to the deflection of the targeted feature coupled in communication with a portion of the shape sensing element. A data processor is operable to communicate with the interrogator and provide adjustment information to the user related to the change in shape of the shape sensing element, which is related to a translation of the guide aperture with respect to the first device end such that the guide axis is aligned with the target axis. The shape sensing element may comprise at least one optical fiber, which may comprise a set of Bragg Gratings.

A method of predicting the gravity-free shape of a glass sheet and a method of managing the quality of a glass sheet based on the gravity-free shape of the glass sheet. The initial shape of a glass sheet is determined. When the glass sheet is flattened, values of stress at a plurality of locations in the glass sheet are obtained. A shape that the glass sheet will have when the flattened glass sheet is deformed such that the values of stress are zero is predicted as a stress-induced shape and a gravity-free shape of the glass sheet is predicted by combining the initial shape and the stress-induced shape. Quality management is performed on glass sheets based on gravity-free shapes thereof predicted using the method of predicting the gravity-free shape of a glass sheet.