arXiv subjects

K. S. Sim

Publications and source records attributed to K. S. Sim.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Signal-to-Noise Ratio in Scanning Electron Microscopy: A Comprehensive Review

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is critical in nanotechnology, materials science, and biological imaging due to its high spatial resolution and depth of focus. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is an essential parameter in SEM because it directly impacts the quality and interpretability of the images. SEM is widely used in various scientific disciplines, but its utility can be compromised by noise, which degrades image clarity. This review explores multiple aspects of the SEM imaging process, from the principal operation of SEM, sources of noise in SEM, methods for SNR measurement and estimations, to various aspects that affect the SNR measurement and approaches to enhance SNR, both from a hardware and software standpoint. We review traditional and emerging techniques, focusing on their applications, advantages, and limitations. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of SNR optimization in SEM for researchers and practitioners and to encourage further research in the field.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2025

Adaptive Optimizable Gaussian Process Regression Linear Least Squares Regression Filtering Method for SEM Images

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images often suffer from noise contamination, which degrades image quality and affects further analysis. This research presents a complete approach to estimate their Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and noise variance (NV), and enhance image quality using NV-guided Wiener filter. The main idea of this study is to use a good SNR estimation technique and infuse a machine learning model to estimate NV of the SEM image, which then guides the wiener filter to remove the noise, providing a more robust and accurate SEM image filtering pipeline. First, we investigate five different SNR estimation techniques, namely Nearest Neighbourhood (NN) method, First-Order Linear Interpolation (FOL) method, Nearest Neighbourhood with First-Order Linear Interpolation (NN+FOL) method, Non-Linear Least Squares Regression (NLLSR) method, and Linear Least Squares Regression (LSR) method. It is shown that LSR method to perform better than the rest. Then, Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) are tested by pairing it with LSR. In this test, the Optimizable GPR model shows the highest accuracy and it stands as the most effective solution for NV estimation. Combining these results lead to the proposed Adaptive Optimizable Gaussian Process Regression Linear Least Squares Regression (AO-GPRLLSR) Filtering pipeline. The AO-GPRLLSR method generated an estimated noise variance which served as input to NV-guided Wiener filter for improving the quality of SEM images. The proposed method is shown to achieve notable success in estimating SNR and NV of SEM images and leads to lower Mean Squared Error (MSE) after the filtering process.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2019

Wide acceptance measurement of the K$^-$/K$^+$ ratio from Ni+Ni collisions at 1.91A GeV

The FOPI Collaboration at the GSI SIS-18 synchrotron measured charged kaons from central and semi-central collisions of Ni+Ni at a beam energy of 1.91A GeV. We present the distribution of the K$^-$\K$^+$ ratio on the energy vs polar angle plane in the nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass frame, with and without subtraction of the contribution of $ϕ$(1020) meson decays to the K$^-$ yield. The acceptance of the current experiment is substantially wider compared to the previous measurement of the same colliding system. The ratio of K$^-$ to K$^+$ energy spectra is expected to be sensitive to the in-medium modifications of basic kaon properties like mass. Recent results obtained by the HADES Collaboration at 1.23A and 1.76A GeV indicate that after inclusion of the $ϕ$ meson decay contribution to the K$^-$ production no difference between the slopes of the K$^-$ and K$^+$ energy spectra is observed within uncertainties. For our data a linear fit to this ratio obtained after subtraction of the $ϕ$ meson contribution still shows a decrease with kinetic energy, although a constant value cannot be rejected. The contribution of $Λ(1520) \rightarrow p\text{K}^-$ decays estimated from fitting the thermal model to the experimental yields appears to be another factor of moderate relevance.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2018

Determination of N* amplitudes from associated strangeness production in p+p collisions

We present the first determination of the energy-dependent production amplitudes of N$^{*}$ resonances with masses between 1650 MeV/c$^{2}$ and 1900 MeV/c$^{2}$ for an excess energy between $0$ and $600$ MeV. A combined Partial Wave Analysis of seven exclusively reconstructed data samples for the reaction p+p $\rightarrow pKΛ$ measured by the COSY-TOF, DISTO, FOPI and HADES collaborations in fixed target experiments at kinetic energies between 2.14 and 3.5 GeV is used to determine the amplitude of the resonant and non-resonant contributions.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

Centrality dependence of subthreshold $ϕ$ meson production in Ni+Ni collisions at 1.9A GeV

We analysed the $ϕ$ meson production in central Ni+Ni collisions at the beam kinetic energy of 1.93A GeV with the FOPI spectrometer and found the production probability per event of $[8.6 ~\pm~ 1.6 ~(\text{stat}) \pm 1.5 ~(\text{syst})] \times 10^{-4}$. This new data point allows for the first time to inspect the centrality dependence of the subthreshold $ϕ$ meson production in heavy-ion collisions. The rise of $ϕ$ meson multiplicity per event with mean number of participants can be parameterized by the power function with exponent $α= 1.8 \pm 0.6$. The ratio of $ϕ$ to $\text{K}^-$ production yields seems not to depend within the experimental uncertainties on the collision centrality, and the average of measured values was found to be $0.36 \pm 0.05$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

Strange meson production in Al+Al collisions at 1.9A GeV

The production of K$^+$, K$^-$ and $φ$(1020) mesons is studied in Al+Al collisions at a beam energy of 1.9A GeV which is close or below the production threshold in NN reactions. Inverse slopes, anisotropy parameters, and total emission yields of K$^{\pm}$ mesons are obtained. A comparison of the ratio of kinetic energy distributions of K$^-$ and K$^+$ mesons to the HSD transport model calculations suggests that the inclusion of the in-medium modifications of kaon properties is necessary to reproduce the ratio. The inverse slope and total yield of $ϕ$ mesons are deduced. The contribution to K$^-$ production from $ϕ$ meson decays is found to be [17 $\pm$ 3 (stat) $^{+2}_{-7}$ (syst)] %. The results are in line with previous K$^{\pm}$ and $ϕ$ data obtained for different colliding systems at similar incident beam energies.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

Influence of $ϕ$ mesons on negative kaons in Ni+Ni collisions at 1.91A GeV beam energy

$ϕ$ and K$^-$ mesons from Ni+Ni collisions at the beam energy of 1.91A GeV have been measured by the FOPI spectrometer, with a trigger selecting central and semi-central events amounting to 51% of the total cross section. The phase space distributions, and the total yield of K$^-$, as well as the kinetic energy distribution and the total yield of $ϕ$ mesons are presented. The $ϕ$\K$^-$ ratio is found to be $0.44 \pm 0.07(\text{stat}) ^{+0.18}_{-0.12} (\text{syst})$, meaning that about 22% of K$^-$ mesons originate from the decays of $ϕ$ mesons, occurring mostly in vacuum. The inverse slopes of direct kaons are up to about 15 MeV larger than the ones extracted within the one-source model, signalling that a considerable share of gap between the slopes of K$^+$ and K$^-$ could be explained by the contribution of $ϕ$ mesons to negative kaons.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

Azimuthal Emission Patterns of $K^{+}$ and of $ K^{-} $ Mesons in Ni + Ni Collisions near the Strangeness Production Threshold

Azimuthal emission patterns of $K^\pm$ mesons have been measured in Ni + Ni collisions with the FOPI spectrometer at a beam kinetic energy of 1.91 A GeV. The transverse momentum $p_{T}$ integrated directed and elliptic flow of $K^{+}$ and $K^{-}$ mesons as well as the centrality dependence of $p_{T}$ - differential directed flow of $K^{+}$ mesons are compared to the predictions of HSD and IQMD transport models. The data exhibits different propagation patterns of $K^{+}$ and $K^{-}$ mesons in the compressed and heated nuclear medium and favor the existence of a kaon-nucleon in-medium potential, repulsive for $K^{+}$ mesons and attractive for $K^{-}$ mesons.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2011

Systematics of azimuthal asymmetries in heavy ion collisions in the 1 A GeV regime

Using the large acceptance apparatus FOPI, we study central and semi-central collisions in the reactions (energies in A GeV are given in parentheses): 40Ca+40Ca (0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 1.93), 58Ni+58Ni (0.15, 0.25, 0.4), 96Ru+96Ru (0.4, 1.0, 1.5), 96Zr+96Zr (0.4, 1.0, 1.5), 129Xe+CsI (0.15, 0.25, 0.4), 197Au+197Au (0.09, 0.12, 0.15, 0.25, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5). The observables include directed and elliptic flow. The data are compared to earlier data where possible and to transport model simulations. A stiff nuclear equation of state is found to be incompatible with the data. Evidence for extra-repulsion of neutrons in compressed asymmetric matter is found.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

Systematics of central heavy ion collisions in the 1A GeV regime

Using the large acceptance apparatus FOPI, we study central collisions in the reactions (energies in A GeV are given in parentheses): 40Ca+40Ca (0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 1.93), 58Ni+58Ni (0.15, 0.25, 0.4), 96Ru+96Ru (0.4, 1.0, 1.5), 96Zr+96Zr (0.4, 1.0, 1.5), 129Xe+CsI (0.15, 0.25, 0.4), 197Au+197Au (0.09, 0.12, 0.15, 0.25, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5). The observables include cluster multiplicities, longitudinal and transverse rapidity distributions and stopping, and radial flow. The data are compared to earlier data where possible and to transport model simulations.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2009

Measurement of the in-medium K0 inclusive cross section in pi- -induced reactions at 1.15 GeV/c

The K0 meson production by pi- mesons of 1.15 GeV/c momentum on C, Al, Cu, Sn and Pb nuclear targets was measured with the FOPI spectrometer at the SIS accelerator of GSI. Inclusive production cross-sections and the momentum distributions of K0 mesons are compared to scaled elementary production cross-sections and to predictions of theoretical models describing the in-medium production of kaons. The data represent a new reference for those models, which are widely used for interpretation of the strangeness-production in heavy-ion collisions. The presented results demonstrate the sensitivity of the kaon production to the reaction amplitudes inside nuclei and point to the existence of a repulsive KN-potential of 20+-5 MeV at normal nuclear matter density.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2005

Measurement of the Xi-p Scattering Cross Sections at Low Energy

In this paper we report cross-section measurements for $Ξ^-p$ elastic and inelastic scatterings at low energy using a scintillating fiber active target. Upper limit on the total cross-section for the elastic scattering was found to be 24 mb at 90% confidence level, and the total cross section for the $Ξ^-p\toΛΛ$ reaction was found to be $4.3^{+6.3}_{-2.7}$ mb. We compare the results with currently competing theoretical estimates.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2004

A new limit of T-violating transverse muon polarization in the $K^{+}\toπ^{0}μ^{+} ν$ decay

A search for T-violating transverse muon polarization ($P_T$) in the $K^{+}\to π^{0}μ^{+}ν$ decay was performed using kaon decays at rest. A new improved value, $P_T= -0.0017\pm 0.0023 (stat)\pm 0.0011 (syst)$, was obtained giving an upper limit, $| P_T | < 0.0050$. The T-violation parameter was determined to be Im$ξ= -0.0053 \pm 0.0071(stat)\pm 0.0036(syst)$ giving an upper limit, $|$Im$ξ| <0.016$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2004

Azimuthal dependence of collective expansion for symmetric heavy ion collisions

Detailed studies of the azimuthal dependence of the mean fragment and flow energies in the Au+Au and Xe+CsI systems are reported as a function of incident energy and centrality. Comparisons between data and model calculations show that the flow energy values along different azimuthal directions could be viewed as snapshots of the fireball expansion with different exposure times. For the same number of participating nucleons more transversally elongated participant shapes from the heavier system produce less collective transverse energy. Good agreement with BUU calculations is obtained for a soft nuclear equation of state.

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